Being the places you go not only to buy groceries, but to have chit-chats with people from the neighbourhood, markets usually represent the dynamics of a city. During market days, a whole life happens here. There are no barriers between the customers and the market workers. Every visitor has their own stall where they prefer to buy eggs or cheese. People argue a lot too, but the likeable buyers sometimes get discounts.

Markets in Novi Sad are mostly located in the busiest parts of the city, and it’s quite hectic on the weekends. But let us tell you, you won’t leave the market with an empty shopping bag. Depending on what they need to buy, the citizens of Novi Sad know exactly where to go, which makes the markets even more special. There are ten of them in Novi Sad and these are the most popular ones:

Futoška pijaca (En. Futoška Market)

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The Futoška Market is located near the city centre, at one of the busiest intersections. If you find yourself surrounded by crowds of people any time of the day, be sure you’ve come across the Futoška Market. The market has been at this location, on the corner of Bulevar Oslobođenja and Jevrejska streets, ever since the beginning of the 20th century. Since the Railway Station, Grbavica, Boulevard and city centre are in the immediate vicinity of this market, it’s not surprising that it’s one of the liveliest and most visited markets in the city. At the end of 2007, the exterior of the Futoška Market was changed and modernized.

Limanska pijaca (En. Liman Market)

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The building of the first Railway Station in Novi Sad was located on the site of the best-supplied and best-arranged market in the city nowadays. Today, instead of the Railway Station building, there is the Post Office, and right next to it there is ‘Limanska’, an urban market example that has a well-arranged access to it, electric control ramps, telephone exchange and other characteristics that, apart from the well-known high-quality goods, represent the market’s signature. There’s a small flower market on the side that faces Bulevar Cara Lazara (En. Car Lazar Boulevard), which often overshadows the nearby florist shops and smells of roasted coffee, a smell coming from the coffee shop next to it, where you can both buy and drink Turkish coffee. On the corner of Vojvođanska and Puškinova streets, you will also find a small stall with old magazines, comic books and novels where you can buy a rare copy for less than a euro.

Riblja pijaca (En. Fish Market)

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The famous Fish Market is located in Podbara, the oldest part of the city, and is therefore the first market to ever be mentioned. In the middle of the 19th century, the market stretched from Liberty Square and along Zmaj Jovina Street, initially selling fresh fish only. As the business grew, the Fish Market became a classic green market and moved to its current location. To this day, it is considered one of the most visited urban markets in the city. Of course, the attractive location of the market, the heart of Novi Sad, largely contributes to that, covering the area of 9,000 square meters – encompassing large part of the city centre and the Danube bank. No wonder the tourist offer of Novi Sad included this market, strategically speaking. Various events, such as Urbanluk, Ukus tradicije (En. The Taste of Tradition) and Novosadske priče (En. Novi Sad Stories), are being organised here, while the market’s surroundings offers places where you can slow down and chill – there is a café-restaurant called ‘Špajz’ right next to the market.

Najlon pijaca (En. Nylon Market)

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The Nylon Market is one of the busiest city locations for sure. From Friday till Sunday, it turns into heaven for the fans of antiques, vintage clothes, retro stuff, such as vinyl records, toys and details for interior design, but also for those in need of furniture, tools, spare car parts, the used cars themselves, or pets even. Of course, this market offers food as well. You can shop for groceries here too, and at a much lower price at that! The famous saying ‘everything under the sun’ makes perfect sense at the Nylon Market. If you’re not sure what you’re looking for, arm yourself with patience because this is a huge market, spreading over 38,000 square meters. Prepare for some bargaining as well – something you can’t avoid when visiting this market, but that’s where the charm of the Nylon Market lies. Nylon came to be spontaneously, during the sixties. Its first location was the right side of Temerinski put (en. Temerinski Road). The name comes from the period when the market consisted of two rows of nylon and newspapers by the road, where citizens took out and sold worn-out clothes and shoes, faulty appliances and other ‘junk.’ After moving to the left side of the road, Nylon became a real flea market. It got bigger during 2003 and 2004, its plateau was arranged and they invested in its infrastructure. Due to a large number of people coming here every weekend, they are planning on adding more parking spaces. The fact that the Literary Morning of 2019 was held here as part of the ‘Novi Sad 2021 – European Capital of Culture’ project, proves just how unique this market is. Early in the morning, a couple of local writers gathered to read excerpts from their works and discuss certain topics with the random passers-by – visitors of the Nylon Market. They are planning on transforming Nylon into one of those huge European markets in Paris, Rome and London.

Kvantaš

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A market in search of its place – modelled after world wholesale markets, locally known for its imported products that are much cheaper than what you find in the regular stores. The Kvantaš Market is temporarily located near the Novi Sad Quay (sr. Novosadski kej). Even though it’s kind of tucked away and difficult to access, this market swarms with people who know exactly why they came to the Kvantaš market. They usually come here to buy cosmetics and household cleaning products, but food as well. The fact that Kvantaš supplies numerous city grocery stores, shops, restaurants and hotels, speaks in favour of its prices. Author: Leona Pap Photo: Jelena Ivanović