Subotica: the town hall, the synagogue and a foodie weekend

Subotica guide: the main sights

Subotica is when you're technically still in Serbia,
but suddenly find yourself in Hungarian Art Nouveau.
The perfect weekend option.

And with the arrival of the high-speed train, Subotica has become really easy to reach!
So here's a guide to the must-see places of Subotica.

🏛 City Hall
The main symbol of Subotica and its architectural centerpiece.
The most beautiful and the tallest building in the city — 76 meters.
If you look closely at the City Hall's ornaments, you'll notice stylized tulips, peacocks, waves and the sun.
These are symbols of fertility, abundance and life.
So the City Hall literally wishes the city prosperity, rather than just "standing there looking pretty".

Inside — an impressive council chamber where you can easily imagine yourself in a scene from "Game of Thrones",
huge stained-glass windows based on sketches by the famous Hungarian artist Sándor Nagy,
a white stone staircase…

At the top — an observation deck with the best view of the city.
How to get inside:
Tours run daily except Sunday (seasonal changes are possible).
Be at the City Hall entrance at 12:00 — everyone is let in and tickets are sold.
Tours are in Serbian and English, with two options:
— without the climb
— with the climb to the observation deck (highly recommended)
Yes, there are a lot of steps and a spiral staircase at the end,
but everyone makes it up — kids and elderly people alike.
Price: 200–400 RSD.
And don't rush off — afterwards they often offer a free city tour.

✡️ Synagogue
One of the most beautiful in Europe. The Synagogue, like the City Hall, was built by architects Marcell Komor and Dezső Jakab — the main stars of Hungarian Secession (Art Nouveau).

And even if you're "not into churches" — you still have to come here.
Pastel colors, fantastic chandeliers, ornaments you could gaze at forever.
These days it hosts classical music concerts and organ evenings.
If you catch one of them — consider it hitting the jackpot.
Opening hours:
Tuesday-Friday: 10:00–18:00
Saturday-Sunday: 10:00–14:00
Ticket: 250 RSD

🏠 Raichle Palace
Hungarian Gaudí in its purest form.
Outside — an architectural fairy tale,
inside — a museum of contemporary art.
Even if you don't go in,
it's enough to just stand by the facade and think
"how on earth could anyone build so beautifully".

🏰 Cathedral of St. Teresa of Ávila
The city's main sacred building, a cathedral and minor basilica,
dedicated to the patron saint of Subotica.
Built in 1773–1797
in a transitional Baroque style with elements of Classicism.
Length — about 61 m, towers — 64 m,
so the cathedral can be seen from almost anywhere in the center.
Inside — altarpieces by Joseph Schöfft and other masters,
as well as a late 19th-century organ from Pécs.
The facade is currently partly covered in scaffolding due to repairs and a crack down the middle,
but don't let that put you off — the cathedral is open.

🖼 Subotica City Museum
A true cultural gem of Vojvodina.
Paintings by local artists (including Lajoš Hušvet),
household items, costumes, tools and interiors
from the 19th to early 20th century.
A great place for those who love ethnography.

Tue–Sat: 10:00–18:00
Sun, Mon: closed
Ticket: 200 dinars

⛪ Church of St Francis of Assisi
One of the oldest and most atmospheric churches in Subotica,
in the very heart of the historic centre.
The Franciscans arrived here as early as the 18th century,
and a fragment of the old fortress can still be seen in the façade.
Its present appearance took shape in the 18th–19th centuries
with elements of the Neo-Romanesque style.
Inside there are frescoes, carved altars, stained-glass windows and plenty of details
that you'll want to study in silence.
Opening hours: daily 06:30–19:00

🚪And in general, you should wander around the center of Subotica without a plan: admire the wonderful architecture and quirky shop windows,
try the handles of beautiful doors,
because there's always a chance
that one of them will open
and you'll find yourself in an entrance hall with frescoes, stucco
and wooden staircases.

In summer a fountain made of Hungarian blue ceramics works on the square,
and in winter — a Christmas market.

Where to eat and what to visit near Subotica — in the next guide.

And a little tip:
if you're choosing between Saturday and Sunday,
choose Saturday — on Sunday the town noticeably goes quiet.

Published January 24, 2026 · Open the post in Telegram ↗

Christmas in Subotica: food tour and fair

Today I'm going to flood you with announcements!

🎄So — on December 20–21 we're off to Christmas Subotica! 🎄
The perfect time to relax and slow down before the New Year rush.
You could call it a gastro tour — after all, we'll visit the most popular local spots: it'll be delicious, varied, and there'll definitely be plenty to remember. We'll try traditional Hungarian goulash and the queen of Hungarian street food — Lángoš.

At the winter market we'll hold a tasting of every possible kind of mulled wine — red, white, with fruit, dried fruit, maybe with rum, gin… and so on 😄. We'll also try trdelník almost in the homeland of this dessert — because trdelník didn't originate in Czechia at all, as many people think.

And a nice bonus — prices at the Subotica market are usually noticeably lower than in Belgrade.

If we're lucky, there'll be an ice slide set up in the center — we'll ride snow tubes like when we were kids 😉.
And all of this against the backdrop of Subotica's luxurious architecture, with a real festive vibe, street musicians and the aroma of mulled wine.

What's included in the programme:
So, on Saturday in Subotica we have a tour with a Russian-speaking guide, a walk around the old town, plus a visit to the synagogue and the town hall. Lunch, dinner, the fair and mulled wine!
On Sunday we'll have a lazy breakfast at one of Subotica's best cafés, and then we'll go with the mood: we'll decide whether to go to the zoo in neighbouring Palić or return to the fair, with its trdelnik, mulled wine and slide.

Palić Zoo is worth a visit: about 150 animal species, a nature park, greenery, ponds — a great place both to see nature and to simply go for a walk.

Terms of participation:
• 30 € — adults: the tour, tickets to the City Hall and synagogue, organizational matters.
• Children under 8 — free. Children over 8 — pay for admission (if required).

Not included in the price — food, travel, accommodation. Zoo admission — ~500 RSD.
• Everyone books their own accommodation; you can get to Subotica by high-speed train or by car — as you prefer.
• If you like, you can go to Palić by bus or team up and take a taxi.

We're going as a small group, so places are limited. Sign up in the comments↘️

Published December 3, 2025 · Open the post in Telegram ↗

Photo exchange 19–21 December: food Subotica.🫕

Greetings from a carb coma! 😄
This Saturday and Sunday our small group — 16 people and two dogs — spent in Subotica. And let me tell you: it's been a long time since I've eaten so much and so deliciously! It was a true gastro tour.
We ate at Bash House twice and, of course, tried the beer from their own brewery. We enjoyed the most delicious traditional goulash at Bates, and then, on sheer willpower, had dinner at Boss. The most resilient also made it to the market — and yes, it was sooo delicious there too! Subotica, what are you doing to us? 😅 And I haven't even mentioned the trdelník and kuvano vino from the market. We tried mulled wine everywhere — and now we know for sure where it's the tastiest.

But so you don't think we saw nothing but food, let me assure you: with a wonderful guide we strolled around the old center, went into the Franciscan church, peeked into an incredibly beautiful entrance hall, and listened to the organ in the Catholic church. We admired the synagogue and, of course, climbed up to the City Hall tower, which offers a fantastic view of the city's rooftops and pigeons, and the fog made the picture especially atmospheric. We admired the City Hall both inside and out.
Part of our group managed to visit the City Museum, and another part — was dancing up a storm at a party with Grandfather Frost!
All in all, despite the looming clouds and fog, our Subotica was bright, festive and very warm.
Thanks to everyone for the company and the mood! Share your photos and impressions in the comments — and see you on our travels in the New Year! Hugs to everyone🤗✨

Published December 21, 2025 · Open the post in Telegram ↗