Guides & tips
Public transport in Novi Sad — a beginner’s guide
Updated: 21 July 2026 · busevi.rs editorial team
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New to Novi Sad — for studies, work or a visit? The city and suburban network covers the whole city and surrounding settlements, and tickets work through the NSMART system, which can be confusing if you arrive from Belgrade where transport is free.
This guide explains how fares work in Novi Sad, which ticket types exist, who rides free, and how to use busevi.rs to find the right line, its timetable and the fastest door-to-door route.
How fares work: the NSMART system
Tickets are used through the NSMART system — personalised NSMART cards, a mobile app and an e-wallet. For occasional rides there are non-personalised options: a single-ride ticket (sold on board) and a paper day ticket.
If you ride regularly, a personalised NSMART card with a monthly pass pays off — categories exist for citizens, pupils and students, employees and pensioners under 65, plus annual passes for pupils and students under 26.
Who rides free
For residents of the City of Novi Sad, transport is free or subsidised for several categories, including:
- citizens over 65
- blind and visually impaired people and persons with disabilities, with escorts
- children with developmental disabilities and their escorts
- dialysis patients and organ-transplant recipients
- voluntary blood donors (women 50+, men 100+ donations)
- children from families with three or more children
- children under 6 (no ticket needed)
Finding your way around the lines
The network covers the city and suburban settlements on both banks of the Danube. On busevi.rs, Novi Sad has a complete list of lines with timetables for weekdays, Saturday and Sunday — each line shows both directions and every stop in order, with travel times between them.
Not sure which line you need? Open the journey planner: enter where you start and where you are going, and it builds the route with transfers and times.
Stops and arrivals
Every stop in Novi Sad has its own page listing the lines that call there and timetable-based arrival estimates. Save your stop with the star and it will always be at hand on the “My transport” page.
Practical tips
A few habits that make everyday riding easier:
- Weekend timetables differ from weekdays — always check Saturday/Sunday separately.
- Changing the NSMART card type (e.g. employee ↔ citizen) is done at the NSMART centre; once a year it is free.
- Fares change from time to time — check the official price list before buying (links on the “Tickets & fares” page).
- Subsidised pupil/student transport is topped up at counter 14 of the bus station.
Frequently asked questions
Is public transport in Novi Sad free?
Not for everyone — fares run through the NSMART system. It is free for several resident categories (65+, persons with disabilities, children under 6 and others).
Where do I buy a single-ride ticket?
On board. For regular travel, monthly passes on a personalised NSMART card are better value.
How do I find my line’s timetable?
Open Novi Sad on busevi.rs and pick the line — timetables are shown for weekdays, Saturday and Sunday, with both directions and all stops.
How do I find the fastest route from A to B?
Use the journey planner on busevi.rs: enter origin and destination and it suggests routes with transfers and times.