Subotica

There are two languages in everyday use in Subotica: Serbo-Croatian and Hungarian. The former is spoken by nearly everyone, while the latter is spoken natively by ethnic Hungarians who make up around 35% of the city's population and is also understood/spoken by many others to varying degrees. When it comes to global languages most younger people speak at least some English (many are fluent), but when it comes to older generations (60 and over) German is more useful. Your best bet with middle-aged people is also English (don't expect fluency).

Subotica doesn't have an intercity airport. The nearest airports are in Belgrade (about 180 km away), Budapest (200 km), and less recommended in Timisoara (160 km, but requires more time to drive from there).

Subotica is on the line between Belgrade, Novi Sad and Budapest. Additionally, there are regional trains from Szeged across the border in Hungary. Timetables can be checked at the operator Serbian Railways.

• 🌍 Subotica railway station (Železnička stanica Subotica) (In the city centre). (updated Mar 2021)

Buses are also an option when travelling from some nearby large cities like Novi Sad, Belgrade, Budapest, Zagreb, Szeged or Sombor. They are usually more expensive but are also, more often than not, faster than most local trains, and thus can be recommended, unless you want to experience the more unique domestic experience. Online timetable.

🌍 Bus station (Glavna Autobuska stanica), Senćanski put 3. (updated Aug 2018)

A1 motorway (E75), Serbia's longest and most important road, passes through the city limits, if you prefer travel by car. For calculating travel times by car you can use this site.

• 🌍 Main Square - Trg slobode (Liberty Square). Unlike many European towns, the City Hall in Subotica dominates the city centre instead of a church or a cathedral. The City Hall is a master peace of Hungarian version of Art Nouveau built in 1912. It is flanked by a park with a fountain and a vast square where many concerts and bazaars are organized throughout the year. It is surrounded by the building of People's Theatre that is undergoing a major reconstruction. It was built as a classic style building characterized by six Corinthian columns. On the eastern side of the square there is a neo-baroque building of The Public Library. The two Atlases carrying one of the nicest balconies in the city make this building charming. The Emperor Jovan Nenad Monument in the middle of the square represents a controversial historical figure. He styled himself emperor and pronounced Subotica his capital in 1527, but all lasted for a very short period of time. Not far from the monument there were two ceramic fountains. The Green Fountain (1985), and the Blue Fountain (2001). Both were made of Zsolnay tiles, likewise all decorative ceramics and roof tiles of the city’s Art Nouveau buildings. Unfortunately, the Green Fountain could not be easily renovated and was substituted by a generic one. 
• 🌍 Trg žrtava fašizma (Square of the Victims of Fascism). The Cathedral, that dominates the square, was built in late baroque style in 1779. It is dedicated to the patron saint of Subotica, St. Theresa of Avila. The bell towers are 64 m high. It has valuable altar paintings and organs. On the same square lies the monument to the Victims of Fascism. It is 18 m wide and 8 m high what makes it the largest monument in Subotica. In front of the monument there is a rest area with a small fountain and a sculpture the Hands made by a local artist. Opposite to the monument is the Lifka Art Cinema and Kosztolány Dezső Theatre that produce plenitude of cultural events. 

• 🌍 The City Hall, Trg slobode 1, ☏ +381 24 67 20 20. Visiting hours: individual tourists Tuesday to Friday at 12:00; groups by appointment. The City Hall was built between 1908 and 1912. The decorative features of Art Nouveau are enriched with a romantic nuance of the Hungarian folklore, by floral elements made of ceramics and wrought ironwork forging. The Council Hall and its splendid stained glass windows are the heart of the building. Building’s 45 m high observatory provides an unforgettable sight of Subotica and its outskirts. 100 dinar. (updated Aug 2018)
• 🌍 Synagogue, Trg sinagoge 2, ☏ +381 24 533 797, +381 63 11 533 20. Built in 1902, it is one of the finest surviving pieces of religious architecture in the Art Nouveau style in Europe, and Europe's second largest synagogue. It is decorated by stylized tulips, carnations and peacock feathers that are typical of the Hungarian version of the style. With daring and modern architectural solutions, it perfectly harmonizes structure and decoration. Visiting hours: by appointment or from March till October on Saturdays 10:00-14:00. (updated May 2023)
• 🌍 Raichle Palace, Park Ferenca Rajhla 5, ☏ +381 24 553 725. M-F 08:00-19:00 and Sa 09:00-13:00. It was built in 1904 by the architect Ferenc Raichle to be his home and his design studio. Expensive materials, the unusual combination of colours, the vibrancy of forms, the lavish interior and the backyard make this sumptuous house an exceptional example of the Art Nouveau architecture. It hosts the Modern Art Gallery “Likovni susret”. (updated Mar 2027)
• 🌍 Women's Lido, Obala Lajoša Vermeša bb, Palić. This, another magnificent example of Hungarian Art Nouveau style building, extends out into the lake. The fairytale-like wooden Women’s Lido is rich in details and reminiscent of folk art. The unusual architecture of this building, intended for rest and relaxation still, after a hundred years, attracts visitors to stop by and have a look 
• 🌍 Water Tower, Horgoški put bb, Palić. The architects of the building had the idea of entering the Grand Park and resort through lavishly decorated entrance – the Water Tower. It was designed in Hungarian Art Nouveau style, inspired by folk elements: handicrafts, laces and embroidery. This symbol of Palić was formally open in 1912. The architects Komor and Jakab designed the City Hall and the Synagogue in Subotica, the Grand Terrace and the Women's Lido in Palić. (updated May 2023)
• 🌍 Dömötör Palace, Trg sinagoge 3, ☏ +381 24 555 128. Tu-Sa 10:00-18:00. The Dömötör family house built in the style of Darmstadt Art Nouveau. It was designed by the Vágó brothers in 1906. Their works had always been decorated with the motive of two birds, which is present on this facade, too. Now it houses the City Museum. 
• 🌍 Former Subotica Savings Bank, Korzo 4. This building was designed by M. Komor and D. Jakab who, after completing one big commission (the Synagogue), were waiting for the new one (the City Hall). Designed also in Hungarian version of the style, it was built in 1908 for the Subotica Savings Bank. Because of its function, many corresponding symbols can be found on the facade. Squirrel – symbol of diligence, beehive - symbol of thrift, owl – symbol of wisdom. (updated May 2023)
• 🌍 Former Golden Lamb Hotel, Korzo 3. Example of the Munich Art Nouveau (Jugendstil) in Subotica is the building number 3 in the Korzo Street. The facade of the 19th century the Golden Lamb Hotel was adapted in 1904 by the local architect Titus Mačković. In the 1980s it was pulled down and built as it once looked like. 
• 🌍 Former Town's Tenement Building, Nušića 2. The architect, Pál Vadász although being the creator of the genuine geometric Viennese Secession in Subotica, designed this building in simple, almost modern concept in 1913. This was a tenement building and it was commissioned by the Council of Subotica. 
• 🌍 Leović Palace, Park Ferenca Rajhla 11. In 1893, by construction of this building the new architecture style stepped into Subotica. Some of the characteristics of the new style such as rejecting old forms, human proportions, asymmetry, new materials etc – can be found here. 

• Municipal Museum, Trg sinagoge 3 (inside the Dömötör Palace), ☏ +381 24 555 128. Tu-Sa 10:00-18:00. It is a complex museum with archaeological, ethnographic, historical, art and natural collections and a collection of bequests. Today the museum awaits visitors with seasonal exhibitions, while the permanent exhibition is under construction. This Art Nouveau building, was restored in 2008 by the local government to fit the needs and purposes of the museum. 
• Modern Art Gallery Likovni susret, Park Ferenca Rajhla 5 (inside the Raichle palace), ☏ +381 24 553 725. M-F 08:00-19:00; Sa 09:00-13:00. Modern Art Gallery was founded in 1962. It safeguards more than 1200 works of art of the most prominent artists from the former Yugoslavia of the second part of the 20th century – paintings, graphic works, sculptures and ceramics. The gallery produces solo and collective exhibitions, artists' performances and other artistic events. 
• 🌍 Open University Gallery, Trg cara Jovana Nenada 15, ☏ +381 24 554 600. 08:00-20:00. The gallery had the privilege to host many eminent artists from the whole Serbia and also many ensembles of international artists during the International Children's Festival and also during the Palić European Film Festival. 
• 🌍 Native gallery Dr Vinko Perčić, Maksima Gorkog 22, ☏ +381 24 559 063. M-F 07:00-14:00; during temporary exhibitions 09:00-13:00 and 17:00-19:00. This gallery features presentations of visual artists of various art practice: painting, sculpture, graphics, multimedia, performance, etc. It also exhibits art objects, the legacy of Subotica's doctor of medicine Vinko Perčić. 
• 🌍 Straw Art Gallery, Marka Oreškovića 3, Donji Tavankut (17 km from Subotica). Visits by appointment. Straw-work art is a unique naive folk art that is fostered in Subotica and its region. The Straw-work Art Colony has been organized in Tavakut near Subotica since 1986. Some of the straw-works made during these colonies are displayed in the Gallery. Except for the permanent exhibition, gallery organizes exhibitions to popularize this art technique. The gallery is located in an authentic village house in the center of Donji Tavankut. 

• 🌍 Catholic Cathedral of St. Theresa of Avila, Trg Sv. Terezije 1, ☏ +381 24 600 240. 06:30-12:00 and 17:30-20:40. The Cathedral was built in late baroque style and is dedicated to the patron saint of Subotica, St. Theresa of Avila, whose figure appears in the city’s coat-of-arms as well. It was built in 1779 and has been renovated several times since then. In 1974, the Pope awarded the church with the title of a smaller basilica. 
• 🌍 Franciscan Church, Trg franjevaca 13, ☏ +381 24 551 256. At all prayer times. This Church dedicated to St. Michael the Archangel was built in 1736, on the ruins of the medieval fortress from the 15th century. Attached to it is a friary with a chapel dedicated to the votive painting, the Black Madonna. The church, classified as a neo-Romanticism building, is part of the Franciscan monastery. (updated May 2023)
• 🌍 Serb Orthodox Church, Zmaj Jovina 22, ☏ +381 24 522 590. At all prayer times. The baroque church was built in 1726, on the highest part of the old city. In 1910, the new tower and the new iconostasis were added. The Church is dedicated to the Holy Ascension. 
• Senćanska crkva Svetog Đurđa, Борска ulica. The church was built in 1897 in neo-Gothic style and even though it's outside the city center proper by many it's considered the prettiest church in Subotica. 
• 🌍 Muhajir Mosque, Karađorđev put 62, ☏ +381 24 52 80 77. at all prayer times. This Muhajir Mosque is the first Islamic building that was built on the main road from Sofia to Budapest in the last two centuries (2008). It is a harmonious building with a dome and a 25 m high minaret. 
• Small Synagogue near the Synagogue, Dimitrija Tucovića 11, ☏ +381 24 670 970. Sabbath services and other holidays. The buildings of the Jewish Community houses the small synagogue at the ground floor. It was built as a winter synagogue. It is nicely decorated with a meticulous wall painting. Stained glass windows with a representation of Noah's doves of peace, dominates the place. The temple is open for Sabbath services and other holidays. 
• 🌍 Serb Orthodox Church in Aleksandrovo, Beogradski put 159, ☏ +381 24 566 122. This small church, dedicated to St. Dimitrius is located in the suburb of the city. There is an iconostasis, the region’s first art work and the first baroque iconostasis in Serbia. The iconostasis was moved to this church in 1909 from the Orthodox Church in Subotica. 
• 🌍 Pilgrimige Site in Aleksandrovo, Aleksandrovo salaši 124, ☏ +381 24 566 546 (Catholic Church), +381 24 566 122 (Orthodox Church). The site is on the south-west bank of the lake Palić and is a place of pilgrimage for both the Roman Catholic and Serb Orthodox believers, hence it has more names: Bunarić (Croat), Szentkút (Hungarian) and Vodice (Serbian) – meaning a little spring or a well. In a nicely landscaped park, there are two small chapels, which can be visited through the year, thus the biggest pilgrimages take place at the end of August. 

• 🌍 National Theatre, Park Ferenca Rajhla 12, ☏ +381 24 557 436. Ticket office open daily 10:00-13:00 and 18:00-19:30. The National Theatre fosters cultural identity of all national communities in Subotica and it is a unique theater in our country because it has two ensembles: one that plays in Serbian and the other that plays in Hungarian language. In terms of repertoire, it tries to satisfy the diverse interests of the audience of different ages. Both ensembles play on Jadran stage till the completion of the theatre building. (updated Jan 2019)
• 🌍 Kosztolányi Dezső Theatre, Trg žrtava fašizma 5, ☏ +381 24 557 471. Ticket office: 10:00-13:00 and 17:30-19:30. Kosztolány Dezső is devoted to producing alternative theatre. From Shakespeare to Mrozek, from Beckett to Brecht. Each new performance brings an entirely different experience. 
• 🌍 Lifka Art Cinema, Trg žrtava fašizma 5, ☏ +381 24 531 991. Art Cinema Alexander Lifka fosters the European cultural orientation of Aleksandar Lifka, a pioneer of cinematography in this region. Beside artistic and documentary movies, box-office movies are shown in the cinema, too. Ticket office: half an hour before the movie show. 
• 🌍 Eurocinema, Trg cara Jovana Nenada 15, ☏ +381 24 554 600. Ticket office: daily 08:00-20:00. EuroCinema has on its repertoire mostly European films including Serbian ones and the award-winning productions at prestigious European film festivals. Beside that some box-office films are occasionally shown in the cinema, too. 
• 🌍 Children's Theatre, Park Rajhl Ferenca 12a. It also houses Athletes' Centre. (updated Aug 2018)

• 🌍 Ludaš Lake (Лудошко језеро). Shallow lake that's a special natural preserve and, since 1977, designated as a swamp area of international significance by the Ramsar Convention. The lake is home to more then 200 species of birds, 140 of them being protected as natural rarities. (updated Jul 2021)

• 🌍 Guesthouse Denis, Aksentija Marodica 56, ☏ +381 24 567210. (updated Aug 2017)
• 🌍 Konak Ljutovo, Čikerijska 28, Ljutovo (20 km away from the city), ☏ +381 63 518 004. (updated Aug 2017)
• Hostel. There is a hostel with clean modern private rooms for RSD900 per night. It is behind the station, Segedenski, behind the Economics Faculty at number 14. The tourist information can supply maps and directions too. (updated Aug 2017)

• Gat, Gundulićeva 42, ☏ +381 24 4557345. Wifi and rooftop patio. (updated Aug 2018)
• Aleksander A (Prenoćište Aleksander), Segedinski put 86, ☏ +381 60 6323336. Continental breakfast. (updated Aug 2018)
• Mali Hotel, Harambašićeva 25, ☏ +381 24 552977. This one is great if you like using wifi to surf the internet while looking at parquet floors. $30. (updated Aug 2018)
• Vila Inn, Aleja Maršala Tita 13, ☏ +381 24 544122. this one feels pretty nondescript, hopefully maybe you brought a crossword puzzle. Comfortable nonetheless. (updated Aug 2018)

• 🌍 Vila Royal Crown, Сомборски пут 75, ☏ +381 24 533666. **** From 6300 dinar. (updated Aug 2018)
• 🌍 Hotel Galleria, Matije Korvina 17. **** (updated Aug 2018)
• 🌍 Hotel Patria, Đure Đakovića 1A, ☏ +381 24 554500. Has restaurant with breakfast and gym to run it off. (updated Aug 2018)
• 🌍 Hotel Vila Majur, 445 Put Edvarda Kardelja (20 km away from Subotica, near Hungarian border), ☏ +381 24 646646. **** From 5500 dinars. (updated Aug 2018)