2025 Novi Pazar Travel Guide: Must-see attractions, popular food, hotels, transportation routes (updated in February)

Lovely place 🫶🏼🥰

Day 18 of road trip. Drove from Montenegro-Zabljak to Serbia. It was supposed to be only slightly over 200 km but we took about 4.5 hours as the roads are icy and a lot are mountainous roads which are narrow with twist and turns, ups and downs and are icy and slippery, with snow and rain. Went for some shopping and dessert in the neighborhood before we call it a day. Food is relatively cheaper in Serbia I feel.

Despite the limited number of attractions in New Pazar, this border town exudes an authentic Ottoman-era atmosphere and has a unique charm, making a half-day city walk a must. 🏞Route: Novi Pazar Fortress ~ Gradski park i tvrđava (City Park and Fortress) ~ Raska Region Museum 1⃣ Novi Pazar Fortress This fortress 🏰 stands on a small hill in the center of the old town of New Pazar, with only the remaining walls and scattered bastions left. The highlight is the panoramic view of the entire city from the hilltop. 👉 It's right next to the New Pazar City Park, and you can walk up the hill to get there. 2⃣ Gradski park i tvrđava (City Park and Fortress) The city park 🌳 in the center of the old town is a place for locals to relax. The park overlooks the Araka River flowing through the city, with the city hall, square, and several Western restaurants nearby. After coming down from the fortress, you can have a meal here and enjoy a leisurely stroll. 3⃣ Raska Region Museum The museum is housed in an old building in the city center 🏛️ and contains a large collection of archaeological findings from New Pazar and the surrounding areas from the Ottoman period, as well as local handicrafts and textiles, which are quite exquisite. 👉 You need to buy a ticket to enter, and if you want to take photos, you have to buy a photography ticket. Video shooting is not allowed even with a ticket, and it took a long time to communicate before being allowed to take photos.

The Studenica Monastery, surrounded by mountains, is one of the largest cloisters of the Serbian Orthodox Church, founded in 1190 by Stefan Nieman I, the founder of the Serbian kingdom in the Middle Ages. It preserved a large number of Byzantine art and wet mural groups from the 13th to the 14th century and was included in the World Cultural Heritage in 1986. The inside of the monastery could not be photographed, but we saw that we came from afar from China and wanted to promote Serbian tourism through the lens. Therefore, the hospital allowed us to take pictures. The lecturer Zoran Matic also accepted Our interview gave us a lot of interesting stories. The famous wet mural has more legends. For example, the chapel built by the great-grandson of Stefani Manya I painted the image of him and his wife in the murals, but unfortunately his wifes eyes were smashed by Turkish soldiers, but someone wrote a poem. Said that her eyes are like beautiful stars, and the radiant light shines on the eyes of the sweetheart after many years...

The Studenica Monastery, surrounded by mountains, is one of the largest cloisters of the Serbian Orthodox Church, founded in 1190 by Stefan Nieman I, the founder of the Serbian kingdom in the Middle Ages. It preserved a large number of Byzantine art and wet mural groups from the 13th to the 14th century and was included in the World Cultural Heritage in 1986. The war-torn Balkans, why is this monastery so well preserved, basically not much damage? It turned out that it was not only a monastery, but also an important place for medical care and education. The monks provided free medical assistance to local people here, and also cultivated many medical personnel, so even during the war, they would be protected. The Abbey still retains the tradition of reading Bible stories while dining. If you live here for two months, you should be able to listen to the Bible completely. At the innermost part of the monastery, there is this little mini church. In fact, its history is older than the main church, because it was prepared before the construction of the monastery, similar to the function of the construction headquarters. And now it still plays a huge role. In the winter, all the rituals have been transferred to this place, because the floor heating is installed.

Studenica, an ancient monastery built in the Middle Ages, is a Byzantine-style dome painting. It is the largest and most traditional ancient monastery in Serbia. It has a complete defense system, like a strong fortress. It is a pity that the main hall is being repaired and is not allowed to take pictures, but in the inner chapel, a few beautiful murals Studenica Monastery are built. It is an ancient monastery built in the Middle Ages. Byzantine style dome painting It is the largest and most traditional ancient monastery in Serbia, with a complete defense system, like a strong fortress. The road to the monastery is very good, but it is obvious that the location is relatively remote, with few tourists. The monastery is free to open, of course, this way down, all the attractions to go, I remember are free. The main hall is not allowed to take pictures, and it is being repaired, with a lot of scaffolding, and basically no paintings on the walls and domes. The town near the monastery is New Pazar, where tourists can stay in the town.