Novi Pazar

The hilly Novi Pazar

Novi Pazar is a city of 100,000 people (2011) in Podrinje. The city is the cultural centre of the Bosniaks in Serbia and the region of Sandžak. A multicultural area of Muslims and Orthodox Christians, many monuments of both religions, like the Altun-Alem Mosque and the Church of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul, are found in the region which has a total of 30 protected monuments of culture.

Get in

By bus

Buses from Belgrade depart frequently (5-6 hours; €15 one-way)

From Bosnia and Herzegovina

Buses from Sarajevo run daily, departing at 15:00 and 22:00 (7½ hours, €15 one-way or €22 with a return ticket - return has to be within a month).

From Montenegro

Buses from Podgorica depart several times a day (€12-15; 5-6 hours, depending on lines at the Montenegro-Serbia border). This route goes through the mountains of Montenegro and is among the most scenic in Europe; if you want some nice sunset photos, get a seat on one of day/late afternoon departures.

From Kosovo

Buses from Pristina depart daily at 08:30, 14:20, and 18:30. 3-3.5 hours to Novi Pazar, €7.50. As of August 2018, Serbian border control is strict about passport stamps for passengers on this bus, checking closely that foreigners entered Kosovo through Serbia rather than via another country.

From North Macedonia

Buses to Skopje, North Macedonia depart daily, and also make stops in Mitrovica and Pristina.

Get around

Walk around, it’s a small, but charming city with a decent pedestrian street with many cafés in the city center.

Taxis are pink and easy to spot.

See

• 1 Church of St. Peter. From the 9th-century.  
• 2 Altun-Alem mosque. The main mosque of the city, and it is the largest in this region of the Balkans and dates from 16th century.  
• 3 Amir-agin Han. A historic 17th-century Ottoman building. (updated Aug 2018)
• 4 Turkish fortress. Built in the 15th-century. (updated Aug 2018)
• 5 Isa-begov hamam. 08:00-00:00. Built by the founder of Novi Pazar Isa beg Ishaković in 15th-century. (updated Aug 2018)

Further afield

Sopocani monastery

• 6 Old Ras and the Sopocani monastery (Сопоћани , "Manastir Sopoćani"), Vicinity of Novi Pazar, Raška District (W 15 km West). Part of the World Heritage List, built in 1260 and it is noteworthy for its exceptional frescoes 
• 7 Saint George monastery (Ђурђеви ступови, "Saint Djordje monastery, Pillars of Djurdje monastery, Djurdjevi Stupovi monastery, Tracts of Saint George"), Boturovina, Raška (4 km). This is a 12th-century Serbian Orthodox monastery. Parts: Church of Saint George, dining-room, refectory, water tanks and walls around entry tower. Part of the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites  

Do

Talk with locals; there are not that many tourists in the city and people may not speak much English. However, many of those who fled to other European counties during the 1990s war have returned and are fluent in German, French or Swedish.

Buy

The region is known for pršuta, air—dried or smoked beef, available as tenderloin or sausage links.

• Dućan Kod Esnafa, Ulica Stevana Nemanje (on one of the main streets in the city center, across the street from a playground). Friendly staff will offer you a sample slice of meat or fresh cheese. Approximately €15 for a kilo of smoked tenderloin. The meat travels well as it does not need to be refrigerated and they will vacuum-seal it for you in the shop. (updated Aug 2014)

Eat

• Rile. Typical Serbian barbecue restaurant on Ulica 1. Maja. A little bit before the road splits up on your left hand side. It's a family owned business and at least one of the sons speaks good English. (updated Aug 2014)

Drink

• Café Saray, Ulica 1. Maja (when you're walking towards the Altum Alem mosque on your right hand side). A courtyard with relaxed seats and cushions around a little fountain with a small selection of non-alcoholic drinks. (updated Aug 2014)

Sleep

• Hotel Vrbak, 37. Sandžačke divizije 2, ☏ +381 20 314 844, office@hotelvrbak.com. Centrally located and easily spotted because of its distinctive architecture, the hotel offers 30 rooms. (updated Dec 2015)
• Hotel Palma (listed as Hostel Palma on booking.com), Jošanički Kej (right by the river, there is a white Cadillac DeVille Limousine parked out front), ☏ +381 20 335400, office@hotelpalma.rs. Pleasant hotel with decent rooms, 10 minute walk from the bus station and city center. 24-hour reception, with a restaurant and bar on the ground floor. For some reason, it's listed as "Hostel Palma" on booking.com, but it is in fact, a hotel. Ask if the King Room is available- it's on the top floor and has a large balcony with a nice view of the surrounding hills. (updated Aug 2018)

Go next

• Kosovo: Mitrovica and Pristina
• Kraljevo
• Skopje, North Macedonia