The old town of Sremski Karlovci with a population of only 10,000 people is one of the most charming places in the Vojvodina region and throughout Serbia. Its historic center is home to richly decorated baroque and neoclassical mansions, graceful churches and interesting museums. Walking along the old streets of Sremski Karlovtsy, you feel like you are in the 18th century – the silence of a provincial town, almost doll houses and the comfort of shady squares. Sremski Karlovci is also an indispensable stopping point on the Serbian Wine Road: there are a lot of excellent wineries in the region (there are already 17 in the city itself!), in each of which you will be offered to taste their own wines. The abundance of cultural events can be envied by another European capital – the Grape Harvest Festival is the most important of them, attracting up to one hundred thousand tourists annually. See andyeducation.com for education and training in Serbia.
How to get to Sremski Karlovtsy
Sremski Karlovci is located 12 km from Novi Sad and 50 km from Belgrade. The nearest airport is Belgrade named after Nikola Tesla, from where a direct shuttle bus follows to Novi Sad, and from the city itself you can get to Sremski Karlovci.
You can get from the Serbian capital to Sremski Karlovci by train and bus. The city is located on the railway line Belgrade – Novi Sad, up to 20 trains pass through it per day in both directions. The journey will take about 40 minutes.
The historic Romans train from the 1930s leaves Belgrade for Sremski Karlovci on Saturdays at 09:00, leaving at 18:05. A round trip ticket includes a city tour and entrance tickets to museums and costs 1320 RSD.
Buses from Belgrade to Novi Sad also pass through Sremski Karlovci. You can use the express service or, if you are in the mood for a leisurely journey, take the regional buses number 60, 61 or 62. The ticket will cost about 140 RSD. For a trip on a direct express bus, you will be asked to pay about 170 RSD.
Transport in the city
The calm and slightly old-fashioned atmosphere of Sremski Karlovtsy is conducive to hiking. The distances here are short, so even avid transport lovers will surely prefer to embark on a trip on their own two feet. If you plan to go out of town or get to Novi Sad, you can use the services of Novi Sad buses that make several stops within Sremski Karlovci.
Sremski Karlovtsy Hotels
A city as rich in wine history as Sremski Karlovci is bound to have a couple of hundred beds available for tasting-weary tourists. And the city did not let us down: there are more than enough of all kinds of hotels, inns and boarding houses here – from the magnificent “five” Premier President Hotel to two-star “rooms”, however, very charming. Accommodation prices start at 35 EUR per night in a modest family run guesthouse. For a quality hotel of the category three or four stars, they will be asked to pay 70–90 EUR, and accommodation with pomp will cost about 135–160 EUR.
In addition, in the city and its surroundings, you can stay in guest houses at wineries – a view of the vineyards and a fresh “natural product” are included.
Cuisine and restaurants of Sremski Karlovci
The best establishments of the city are concentrated in the historical center. You can have a bite to eat in numerous cafes and eateries located literally at every step. The menu includes meat and kebabs in all variations, vegetable stews and rich, thick soups, as well as, of course, wine. In search of color, head to the Sremski Kutak, a tavern that occupies one of the oldest houses in the city, or the bonton Four Lions, also in an 18th-century mansion.
The historic center of Sremski Karlovtsy is home to richly decorated baroque and neoclassical mansions, graceful churches and interesting museums.
Shopping and shops
From Sremski Karlovtsy, you should definitely bring a couple of bottles of the best local wine (which you can decide on during tastings), in particular, two local “appellations” – “bermet” and “probus”. A good selection of souvenirs can be found in the Tourist Office shop. And for the famous gugelhupf cake (or kuglof in Serbian), you should go to the Gea confectionery.
Entertainment and attractions of Sremski Karlovci
The Patriarch’s Palace is one of the main attractions of Sremski Karlovtsy, which is worth starting your acquaintance with the city. The building was built in the 19th century and served as the residence of the head of the Serbian Orthodox Church. Admire the magnificent architecture and well-kept gardens and visit the Museum of the Serbian Orthodox Church located here. The Karlovice Magistracy is the oldest building in the city, built in 1811 in neo-classical style and delighting visitors with a picturesque balcony decorated with flowers.
The Cathedral of St. Nicholas is a snow-white masterpiece of the Serbian Baroque. Built at the end of the 18th century in honor of the discovery of the relics of the saint, it delights with magnificent frescoes by the famous painter Zakharia Orfelin and the miraculous icon of the Holy Virgin of Bezdinskaya. Inside the cathedral lie the relics of St. Arseniy of Sremsky. Among other remarkable churches of the city are the Church of Saints Peter and Paul, in the inner courtyard of which a 150-year-old plane tree grows, the Church of the Apparition of the Holy Virgin with the richest 58-icon iconostasis, the Catholic Churches of the Holy Trinity with a magnificent baroque entrance and Our Lady of Peace, dedicated to the signing of the Karlowitz peace. in 1699.
The Fountain of the Four Lions is a meeting place for the residents of Sremski Karlovtsy and a favorite place for tourists to take photos. “Fluffy” jets perfectly cool the cozy square with benches, and the majestic sculptures of animals are designed to remind you of the memorable date of the opening of the city water supply in 1779.
The legend says that everyone who drank the water from the fountain will definitely return to Sremski Karlovci. Worth checking out!
Even in the city, it is worth seeing the Karlovice High School, the theological seminary, the student hostel of the early 20th century “Stefaneum” and the old pharmacy, which has been operating since 1880. Of the museums, the city museum of Sremski Karlovci, the Museum of Beekeeping and the Winery of Jovan Zivanovic and the reconstructed Swabian mansion of the 17th century deserve attention.
You should definitely visit the wineries of Sremski-Karlovtsov: the oldest Kish, founded in 1830, Kosovich, Dulka and Doshen. All host tastings of their own and imported wines.
Events in the city
The Grape Harvest Festival is the main event of Sremski Karlovtsy. On the last weekend of September or the first of October, the city blossoms: houses are decorated with garlands, residents dress up in national costumes, folklore performances and wine tastings are held everywhere.
The Gugelhupfa festival is dedicated to the competition in baking the traditional Swabian cake. Creations of confectioners are evaluated by a strict jury, and in the end, regardless of the place taken, gugelhupfs are eaten by a much more condescending audience.
