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Please click on the section titles below to go straight to the information you want.
How to get from the UK to the Exit festival
Coach travel from Hungary
Trains from Budapest
Arrival in Serbia
Money
Mobiles
Camping
Apartments
Food and Drink
Local Transport
How much money do I need?
Electricity
The Legal Stuff
NoviSadians
Cops
Driving from the UK
Warning
Airport Transfers |
Book airport coach transfers to EXIT festival |
Trains for EXIT festival |
 Train tickets are much cheaper if you buy them in the country of travel, but if you want you can buy in advance online at: Serbian Railways www.zeleznicesrbije.com Croatian Railways www.hznet.hr Slovenian Railways InterRail www.interrail.net Loco 2 www.loco2.co.uk – travel to European festivals by train, coach and boat. Budapest to Novi Sad: Journey takes approximately 5 hours and this year there WILL BE additional carriages for those wanting to take this route. Budapest to Novi Sad – Departures daily at 13.20 and 23.20 Novi Sad to Budapest – Departures daily at 08:10 and 23.28 Ticket Price - 50 euros return Ljubljana to Belgrade: Once in Belgrade you can take a train or a bus from the Central Station (nearby) to Novi Sad. Ljubljana to Belgrade: Departures daily at 02.00, 08.35, 14.08, 21.05 Belgrade to Ljubljana: Departures daily at 06.20, 10.45, 15.40, 22.15 Ticket Price – 57 euros return Zagreb to Belgrade: The train takes around 6 hours and once in Belgrade you can take a train or a bus from the Central Station (nearby) to Novi Sad. Zagreb to Belgrade: Departures daily at 06.03, 09.00, 11.10, 16.50, 00.15 Belgrade to Zagreb: Departures daily at 06.20, 10.45, 13.20, 15.40, 22.15 Ticket Price – 40 euros return |
HOW TO GET FROM THE UK TO THE EXIT FESTIVAL
Budget Airlines Easy jet or Wizzair to BUDAPEST HUNGARY is popular as some festival goers want to take a look round Budapest before or after the fest & it is cheap in comparison. It's a top destination with most airlines. Lots of other airlines fly there but are more expensive.
Budapest is 200miles from Novi Sad & there is a border crossing which can be a bit of a nightmare. It's a 5.5 hr minibus transfer - direct from the airport to Novi Sad or can be considerably longer by coach.
There are also trains twice a day. There's a regular shuttle service from Budapest airport to the train station.
You could get a flight to some other eastern European capitals & then train it to Novi Sad.
Longer journey
Belgrade direct:
National airline Jat or BA.
Pricey but only 50 miles from Novi Sad.
Taxi share or minibus is the quickest way from the airport to the Exit festival. Or take a shuttle to Belgrade City train or coach station.
You could use other European airlines with a stop over in Germany or Switzerland and then fly onto Belgrade. It's a cheaper way to Belgrade but involves a couple of hours wait at interlinking airports.
Trains direct from UK are possible but can be expensive with several change-overs.
OSIJEK Croatia:
Last year this was the cheapest but not so popular route.
Planes leaving twice a week meant revellers staying on a week instead of 5 days.
It’s only around 70 miles from Novi Sad.
This is a relatively new service and this year its being provided by Ryan Air.
Driving direct
See Ed's tips below
There are no coaches direct from The UK.
Over the years this has been tried with few takers & has been scrapped as a bad idea.
Coach Travel from Hungary to EXIT festival
If you're coming from Hungary don't bother stocking up on fags - Serbia is much cheaper.
Coach travel time is approx 5-6hrs but can be more, depending on queues at border crossings.
Stops are made at service stations en route in Hungary.
Their currency is the forint but they also take euros.
Ask for change in euros you don't want to get lumbered with forints.
Novi Sad is approx 60miles from the Hungarian border.
The whole journey is not very scenic as flat as East Anglia & definitely no breath takers here.
The town is also very flat until you go a few miles out across the river you will see the skyline of hills.
The festival in the fortress is on the outskirts & if you have time 20mins out you really see some good stuff.
Try 3hrs out on the scenic trails & now you're talking.
About Trains to EXIT from Budapest, Hungary:
"The most common question we receive is: 'would you recommend taking a train from Budapest or Balaton?' In our opinion, if you get first carriage tickets, it's not too bad! But even then, you might find UK revellers cramming into your own pre-paid space.
Overall, this is your holiday, so I would avoid the cattle trains and relax in comfort straight to the Exit festival by taking a private taxi, bus or car rental. After 4 days of hard partying, you'll praise your good sense, to have boycotted the public buses and trains and to have organized your Exit festival transfers.
Why risk the extra hassle of getting to the Exit festival, when there is a direct service being offered. We know, as we speak from experience."
Quote-Vamos Travel
All bars/ cafes normally ask for payment when you are leaving so it could come in handy if you've just arrived - grab a bite to eat & a drink while your pal goes & gets some cash.
Euros are not accepted in bars clubs & restaurants.
Dinars can be bought at the border but there's a better rate in town if you can wait.
If you're bringing some hard cash, make sure all notes are clean, no tears, no matter how small & definitely no red ink markings or writing on them - they will be rejected with a shrug of shoulders & that can be irritating & downright inconvenient.
Both £20 notes are still being accepted.
Hole in the wall machines - plenty in town but they vary in what cards they accept but you will find most i.e. Cirrus Maestro Visa MasterCard Amex.
They don't charge for withdrawals although your card provider might.
Traveller's cheques- Some banks still require proof of purchase (the little slip with chq no's) + passport of course.
Sterling cheques are advisable as you don't lose in exchanging twice.
There are plenty of small exchange kiosks around town & near the centre a couple of 24hr booths although they sometimes take a break & reopen later.
Mobile sim cards can be bought for around £2 and top ups are £3 and can be charged at most kiosks. A number of places in town can unlock your phones for around a fiver depending on the type of phone.
Calls are around 10p per minute to other Serbian sim holders & a lot less for texts.
It was hitting 40degrees + last year was hot hot hot. A lot of camp dwellers suffered.
Exit Festival arrange camping for you direct (see exit fest camping page).
The site is about 2 miles from the venue and is active 24hrs per day.
If you need to recharge your batteries on a daily basis, definitely give it a miss.
There are some novisadians putting up large tents in their gardens.
Cheaper than rental apartments & use of services in the house make it a little more comfortable & quieter.
But you don't have to camp, even if you're backpacking, a little thought beforehand and you could book....
Mostly within a 3mile radius of Exit.
Cab fares (legitimate prices) shouldn't cost more than a couple of quid to shuttle you around.
Recommend aircon apartments if you can get them.
Most apartments are the high rise type 60's built.
Mostly small one bedroomers squeeze in 4.
Normally have terraces if you leave the windows open at night you may have some unwelcome guests (mozzies) so be prepared with repellent sprays & creams you can buy in town. Chemists there are called APOTEKS by the way.
A lot are very basic Nelson Mandela House themed decor.
Yes some of they even have the famous plastic quilted bar.
Incidentally they love "Only Fools & Horses" so mention Del Boy & you'll set them off.
Actually there are some great appts especially the new builds most have aircon & are right in the heart of town.
There are houses to let but rarely do they have the manicured gardens we are used to & most are old & quite basic but the hospitality & enthusiasm of the owners makes up for that.
Food / Drink during EXIT festival
Places to go
Absolutely loads of cafes, restaurants & bars
& by the way their decor puts ours to shame a lot of Italian style influence -
no worries there!!
But I really love the old style places with the dressed up frowning waiters and dark dull decor.
White table clothes & local brews & the traditional national coffee (Turska cafe) - a small cup.
Three quarters coffee & the rest water - an ideal caffeine hit.
If you're lucky you might be sitting next to a reader who will tell your fortune.
They turn the cup upside down can tell your fortune by the residue left on the walls of the cup a bit like our tea leaf readers.
Don't know about the teeth though.
The goulashes & soups are nice
Mixed Grills
Huge portions by our standard
Lots of meat
Too much to eat
Try ordering one to share
Pizzas Pizzas & more Pizzas
But be careful as its a Serbian custom to smother them with tomato ketchup!
There is a McDonalds but no cheap deals here almost as expensive as the UK
Tipping
In general the locals don't tip so when you do you make a buddy for life.
Restaurants only¯ - don't get carried away now.
Local transport around Novi Sad and to EXIT festival
Taxis £1.50-£2.00 around town.
Mainly metered cabs but these can even treble their rates to the unsuspecting tourist.
Hey what's new in that!!!
However there are 2 great cab companiess both yellow but new vehicles either Golfs or ?
These are more controlled & best to use - about 150 of them in town.
Cabbies - stretch your hand out for change otherwise you may not get any.
Buses are a popular travel method & plenty of them.
A good service & great to have a feel of the town.
How much money do I need for EXIT festival?
£20 per day will give you a great time!!
Beer @ 60p a pint fags @ £1.20 for a decent brand local spirits extremely cheap but imports i.e. whisky etc can be expensive.
£4 for a meal £1.50 for a huge burger or roll with chips.
All visitors have been amazed how cheap it is & have had trouble spending their money.
Electricity in Serbia
Voltage the same no worries.
The Legal Stuff
The British Consul provide some good advice. This document is a year or two old but as the Consul say the advice hasn't changed since then its still useful. Download it here.
The Novi- Sadians are moderate drinkers & party-types. You rarely see them walking in a crooked line. Be prepared for shocked looks of amusement as you lie down between the restaurant tables legless.
Language
The younger ones funnily enough don't speak that much.
Some over 30's do.
In most shops & municipal services people rarely speak English.
People in this town are helpful & friendly although the language barrier problem can give the wrong impression.
They are however sometimes in awe as to the amount of people suddenly appearing in their town.
These guys are serious dudes so behave when in their gunsights - no shit.
Fancy driving all the way from UK to EXIT festival
One night stop over in Austria
Ferries
Fuel/ Meals/ Drinks etc
Allow £150 per head.
36hr trip including overnight stop-over in Austria ( 2 driving).
Hungary is a little cheaper than Europe but they're catching up fast.
Lights on while driving (24hrs a day) otherwise on the spot fines.
Watch your speed - don't follow the local speeding motors you will be targeted.
Serbia
You need a green card
Check with your insurance company most don't cover Serbia
Be prepared to fork out £70 for third party basic insurance at the Serbian border
A bit of waiting around though
Minimum term is one month
Fuel is about 25% cheaper in Serbia
Warning
Hungary only allows strict limitations on booze & fags & are aware of cheap stuff being brought across the border especially from Serbia.
You take your chances there.
THESE TIPS ARE BASED ON ED'S OWN EXPERIENCES, BUT ARE FOR GENERAL GUIDANCE ONLY.
The main Exit campsite is across the Danube from the festival site, but that doesn't mean it will be quiet. Entertainment, usually in the form of sound systems, is laid on all day. Check for the presence of nearby amplifiers before pegging down. Bear in mind too that if you take Exit in the spirit in which it is intended, you will not be going to sleep before dawn on any of the four days. Alternatively, think about finding some accommodation in town, which is just a short walk over the bridge. Even the four-star Hotel Aleksandar costs just 90 euros a night, and there are cheaper rooms to be had in the city if you book far enough in advance. Just forgo washing on the final day, and everyone back home will think you spent the week in a field. |
First things first; give yourself plenty of time to get to the headline acts. Experienced festivalgoers will know this from past experience, but Exit festival can be particularly deceptive. Firstly, there's the huge size of the site, occupying an Austro-Hungarian fortress on a promontory overlooking a bend in the Danube. It can take well over half an hour to get from one of the minor stages near the citadel to the main stage, even when the crowds are relatively light. Secondly, most of the larger stages are strung out in sequence, meaning that you have to cross each to get the next, with all the shoving that can involve. Thirdly, towards the top of the fortress, Napoleonic military requirements mean that a lot of the architecture looks very similar, and it can be all too easy to find yourself looping round one of the concentric rings of fortifications. Having said all that, the distance between the smaller stages can be startlingly short, precisely because the thick walls, intended to withstand a pounding by Turkish cannons, can easily absorb the sound of a salsa band, meaning each stage can be tucked into a nook without interference from its neighbour. So don't hesitate to move around the warren of lesser acts; if you don't like what's next door, you can be back again in seconds. A word about timings. In contrast to British festivals, nothing happens during the day. The main acts start at around 8pm, with the headliners taking the stage at around 10pm. Sets are generous, and a third big act normally plays from midnight until around 2am. After that, the central stage either closes down or hosts a couple of smaller acts, and the main dance stage really takes off. By about 6am, most of the smaller stages are winding down, but the dance areas can continue for another couple of hours. If you want to catch some Balkan pop or folk music - and you probably should - head for those stages, usually within the citadel, as soon as the main act is over. Lastly, as at any festival, there's plenty of interest outside the music. Political debates and documentary films can be a real eye-opener. Even though Exit is run, and attended, by very westward-looking Serbs, it's illuminating to hear their grievances about what they see as unjust treatment by the rest of Europe. You'll find it hard to avoid, and hard not to enjoy, meeting some Serbs; many speak very good English, and are friendly and keen to talk to foreigners. And don't forget the simple majesty of the Danube. There are several places in the festival site to sit with a beer and watch the sunset or sunrise over the river, or to enjoy the reflections of the fireworks that open and close the event. |
You might not want to spend four days in Novi Sad under normal circumstances; there's not quite enough to occupy you. But it makes a very agreeable backdrop to the festival. Here are five suggestions to take up the dead hours between your hangover fading and the music starting up again: 1. Have lunch, northern European style 2. Have lunch, Balkan style 3. The Vojvodina museum 4. Swim in the Danube 5. Have dinner, Serbian style |
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CONTACT US
For enquiries and information:
E-mail info@EXITconnectUK.com
Call Nick direct - 07505 960 674 or 01926 827557
41 Oxford St
Leamington Spa, Warks, CV32 4RB
Email Ed@exitconnectUK.com with any info useful to add to this site: alternate flight travel, Travel tips, experiences with exit do's & don'ts ... In fact anything of relevance. WE'LL POST IT. This site exists to assist fellow travellers so please don't be shy!!
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