Novi Sad is a colorful and enchanting city, and its charm extends to the festive Christmas season when you can visit the Novi Sad Christmas Market.
Keep in mind that Serbia celebrates Christmas on January 7th and Christmas Eve is on January 6th, so if you’re used to celebrating on December 25th you’ll love being able to enjoy the Christmas season for a bit longer here! However, the market doesn’t stay open until Orthodox Christmas – just until December 30th (though there’s a special New Year’s Eve display on the 31st as well).
We spoke with the Tourism Organisation of Novi Sad to help you get everything you need to plan the perfect visit to the Novi Sad Christmas Market this year!
Read Next: 7 Magical Things to Do in Novi Sad in Winter
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How to Visit the Novi Sad Christmas Market
Here’s everything you need to know to plan your trip to the Novi Sad Christmas Market:
What are the dates and times for the 2019 Novi Sad Christmas Market?
Photo by Aleksanar Milutinović courtesy of Tourism Organisation of Novi Sad
The Novi Sad Christmas Market runs from November 21st through December 30th.
Where is the Novi Sad Winter Fest located?
The market is located in Liberty Square, which is the city’s main square across from the Novi Sad Cathedral.
What kind of entertainment will there be for adults?
Photo by Aleksanar Milutinović courtesy of Tourism Organisation of Novi Sad
Adults can enjoy traditional European Christmas Market activities along with special concerts, local food, and Serbian wine tasting.
What kind of entertainment will there be for children?
Children can enjoy riding the carousel, the Christmas treats, singing at the Christmas Tree, wandering through the Icy Forest, and ice skating.
What kind of goods will be for sale?
You can shop the booths for traditional Serbian handicrafts, regional souvenirs, and local produce.
What kind of food and drinks will be available?
Make sure to sample the honey products, buy a licider hearts to take home, and fill your pockets with Serbian candies. You can also enjoy the cakes, BBQ, grilled meats, and mulled wine (gluhwein).
Is there a ticket price to get into the events?
Photo by Aleksanar Milutinović courtesy of Tourism Organisation of Novi Sad
There is no charge to attend the Christmas Market in Novi Sad.
Are there any other special festivities in Novi Sad this December or January that travelers might want to attend?
How can travelers learn more?
Photo by Aleksanar Milutinović courtesy of Tourism Organisation of Novi Sad
Final tip? Dress warm!
We have our recommendations and resources for visiting Novi Sad below. I want to thank the Tourism Organisation of Novi Sad for answering our questions about this spectacular event! For more detailed information about the market, check out Novi Sad’s tourism website.
Where to stay in Novi Sad
Here are our top recommendations for where to stay in Novi Sad. Generally, budget means hostel beds for around $10 a night and singles/doubles for around $30, mid-range is from about $40-100 per night, and luxury will cost over $100 per night.
Budget: If you’re looking for a nice place to stay in Novi Sad without spending too much, we recommend either of these two cute design hostels: Tesla Art Hostel or Alterna Home Hostel!
Mid-Range: If you want a nicer hotel in Novi Sad without breaking the budget, we recommend the trendy Garni CitiHotel Veliki or Arhiv.
Luxury: Since Novi Sad in winter is the offseason, we wouldn’t be surprised if you could snag a fantastic deal on one of these top luxury hotels in Novi Sad: Prezident Hotel or Hotel Leopold I
Planning to visit Belgrade as well on your trip? We’ve curated a list of all the best Belgrade hotels and hostels.
What to Pack for Serbia
We have a full Serbia packing list, but in case you just want the quick version, here are a few essentials you shouldn’t forget to pack!
A good guidebook: While travel blogs are great, we still think a good guidebook is always handy. Lonely Planet Western Balkans is the main guidebook we recommend for Serbia, as it covers the country well plus others in the region.
Plenty of winter clothing: You can check our packing list above for our full winter packing suggestions for men and women. At a minimum, you’ll want to bring a warm winter jacket (I love this North Face parka), cozy snow boots, warm wool socks, touch-screen friendly gloves, a scarf, and a winter hat.
Moisturizer: Travel will beat your skin up in the best of times — and winter travel in addition to skiing will do a number on it! If you use a moisturizer at home, bring it. If you’ve never used a moisturizer before, you really should start. You’ll be happy to give your face a boost before heading outside in the cold all day.
Read Next: Essential Serbia Packing List: What to Wear & What to Pack for Serbia
More Serbia Travel Resources
Still planning your trip to Novi Sad? Start with our guide to the best things to do in Novi Sad and our 2-day Novi Sad itinerary. We also have a guide of the best Instagram spots in Novi Sad as well as what to do in Novi Sad in winter.
Most people to visit Novi Sad also allocate some time for Belgrade – where we have tons of resources. We have this mega-guide to 101 things to do in Belgrade, the most Instagrammable spots in Belgrade, what to do in Belgrade in winter, and the best Belgrade street art. We also have a Serbian souvenir guide and Serbian wine guide if you want to do some shopping.
If you love guided tours, here are eleven great Belgrade tours to pick from. If you want to get out of the city for a day, here are our guide to Belgrade day trips and what you should know before renting a car in Serbia. We also have lists of our favorite places to visit in Serbia and the best Serbian towns and cities if you need more day trip inspiration.
For country planning, check out our guide to planning a trip to Serbia and Serbia travel advice.
We have tons more Serbia and Balkans resources, and we publish new content nearly daily. Bookmark our Serbia and Balkans travel pages so you can find any new resources that come out before your trip!
Don’t Forget About Travel Insurance!
If you’re planning a trip to Serbia, it’s a good idea to travel with a valid travel insurance policy, so that you will be covered in case of an emergency. Travel insurance covers you in case of theft or an accident, which can save your trip if there’s an incident, fall (a big winter risk!), or cancellation or trip interruption.
For travel insurance, I use World Nomads. I’ve been a happy customer of theirs for almost three years, and I’ve never had an issue when making a claim. I’m happy to refer them to anyone I meet.
>>Get a travel insurance quote for your trip here.<<
Pin this Guide to Visiting the Christmas Market in Novi Sad for Your Trip!
Stephanie has been living in and traveling around the Balkans for the past three years. She’s written for National Geographic Online, appeared on CNN Arabic and in the New York Times, and ridden more Balkan buses than is good for a person.
