Searching for Vojvodina towns to visit on your Serbia trip? Let us guide you to one that often gets overlooked. Zrenjanin is a town in the heart of the Vojvodina region, offering a peaceful, scenic escape from the usual tourist trail. Renting a car in Serbia allows you to explore beyond the main roads. On your way to Zrenjanin, you’ll pass through sunflower fields, small villages, and local markets. This Zrenjanin travel guide will show why Zrenjanin deserves a spot on your travel list.
Most travelers pick up their car rental in Belgrade or Niš. If you're coming from Belgrade, Zrenjanin is only a 1.5-hour drive away. Meanwhile, it can take around 3.5 to 4 hours from Niš. Here’s why tourists should visit Zrenjanin:
Zrenjanin is located about 80 kilometers northeast of Belgrade. The drive takes around 1.5 hours via Route 13, which is well-maintained and offers scenic views of the Vojvodina plains. Road signs are clear, and highways are easy to follow. Travelers with EU or international licenses can legally drive in Serbia, and this route has minimal tolls.
Zrenjanin is the second-largest city in the Vojvodina region, with over 80,000 residents. The city’s layout is organized with minimal traffic. It is easily navigated by car, with ample parking around landmarks like Liberty Square and the City Hall. The mix of Austro-Hungarian and socialist-era architecture makes it ideal for photography and sightseeing.
The town’s biggest event is the annual "Dani Piva" (Beer Days), usually held in late August. It features local and international breweries, live music, and cultural performances. The festival is held in the city center, which is closed to traffic during the event. Swedish travelers can park in designated lots outside the main square and walk to the festivities.
Zrenjanin stands out for its Austro-Hungarian architecture, quiet river promenades, and local museums. Visitors will find a calm yet engaging place to explore without tourist crowds. Here’s a list of what Swedish travelers in Serbia can do and see in Zrenjanin:
Liberty Square is Zrenjanin’s central gathering point and a great place to start your visit. The square features a classic Austro-Hungarian layout with broad pedestrian zones and symmetrical paths that lead to key landmarks. The City Hall, built in the late 19th century, shows off a mix of neo-Baroque and Art Nouveau stles, complete with a central tower and stained-glass windows. The Roman Catholic Cathedral and Serbian Orthodox Church also sit nearby, reflecting the city’s diverse cultural past.
The area is paved with smooth stone tiles. There's also free public Wi-Fi in parts of the square. You’ll find benches, well-maintained flowerbeds, and shaded spots perfect for a break. Grab a pastry from a nearby bakery, enjoy views of the historic facades, and watch daily life unfold in one of the most walkable zones in all of Vojvodina.
The Begej River, stretching 254 km in total, flows gently through Zrenjanin for about 13 km. Out of the full length, 76 km runs through Serbia. It was originally a natural waterway until it was reshaped into the Begej Canal, connecting Timișoara to Zrenjanin and the Tisa River. This makes it one of the few navigable canals in the region
Along the way, you'll encounter several bridges, including the historic Small Bridge from 1904 and the Eiffel Bridge, designed by Gustave Eiffel's company in 1903. The riverbanks are lined with notable buildings like the Zrenjanin Courthouse and the Trade Academy that showcase the city's architectural heritage.
The National Museum of Zrenjanin is a complex type of museum that preserves, protects, and interprets the cultural heritage of the middle Banat. Its extensive collection, over 33,000 artifacts, offers insights into the area's natural history, archaeology, ethnology, and art. Visitors can explore exhibits ranging from prehistoric tools to 18th-century paintings, all within a 1,200 m² exhibition space.
Adjacent to the museum is the National Theatre "Toša Jovanović", Serbia's oldest theatre building, dating back to around 1835. Originally believed to be a converted grain warehouse, this theatre has undergone several renovations to enhance its stage and audience facilities. It was named after the renowned 19th-century actor Toša Jovanović, and it hosts various performances, including drama and puppet shows.
If you want to see Zrenjanin's industrial past, visit the Old Brewery. It is one of Serbia's oldest breweries. Situated along the Begej River, this historic site became a significant part of the town's development.
Today, the brewery complex is recognized as part of Zrenjanin's protected historical core. While the buildings are not currently operational, they are monuments to the city's rich industrial heritage. Visitors can admire the architecture and imagine the bustling activity that once took place here. Nearby, the Old Water Tower in Ečka offers another glimpse into the past. Though now in ruins, this tower once played a vital role in the town's water supply system.
Just 17 kilometers south of Zrenjanin, Carska Bara is Serbia’s largest bog and a Special Nature Reserve since 1955. The area spans over 4,700 hectares of wetlands, meadows, and forest patches.
It’s also a haven for birdwatchers and nature enthusiasts because it provides a home to over 240 recorded bird species, including herons, cormorants, and migratory geese. The reserve supports 500 plant species, plus animals like otters, wildcats, and amphibians. You can walk the Health Trail, a 4.8 km path with shaded rest stops and scenic viewpoints, or take a boat ride on the Old Begej River to see the wetlands up close. There's also a visitor center, picnic spots, and clean restrooms.
The Monastery of St. Melania the Roman is a peaceful Orthodox monastery located in the village of Aradac, about 7 kilometers west of central Zrenjanin. It was founded in 1935 and is one the first female monasteries in the Banat region. Built in the Byzantine ecclesiastical stle, the church features a cross-in-square layout, modest domes, and hand-painted frescoes.
The monastery draws religious visitors and history lovers because it provides a spiritual setting for prayer and rest, including a shaded garden, quiet walking paths, and a small chapel where daily liturgies are held. The resident nuns maintain the grounds and produce homemade goods like herbal teas, ointments, and beeswax candles. You can join services, explore the grounds, or sit quietly in the garden and enjoy the silence.
The Ečka Fish Pond stretches more than 15 square kilometers and sits just 10 kilometers south of Zrenjanin, near the village of Ečka. Known as the largest fish pond in Serbia, this aquaculture complex is one of the biggest in all of Europe.
Many travelers head here for fishing and nature watching because it provides a rich aquatic ecosystem that includes four major lakes—Belo, Koča, Mika, and Joca—and several smaller breeding pools. The ponds are used for raising common carp, but you’ll also find zander, grass carp, and even wels catfish in the waters.
You can spend the day fishing, walking the peaceful trails around the ponds, or watching waterbirds glide over the still surface. The area borders the Carska Bara Nature Reserve, so it’s easy to extend your trip and explore even more of the region’s wetlands.
Karađorđev Park Stadium, located in Zrenjanin, Serbia, is a multi-purpose venue primarily used for football matches. The stadium, which opened on May 5, 1953, has a seating capacity of 18,500 spectators. It is the home ground for FK Proleter Zrenjanin and FK Banat Zrenjanin.
It's a must-visit for sports enthusiasts because it provides an authentic Serbian football experience, including local matches, enthusiastic crowds, and a glimpse into the country's sporting culture. Attending a game here allows visitors to immerse themselves in the local community's passion for football and enjoy the vibrant atmosphere that defines match days in Zrenjanin.
The Cathedral of St. John of Nepomuk stands prominently in Freedom Square, serving as the seat of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Zrenjanin. Constructed between 1864 and 1868, this Neoclassical cathedral was designed by architect Franz Xaver Brandeisz. Its interior showcases the artistic work of Josef Goigner from Tyrol, featuring intricate decorations and a pipe organ crafted in Timișoara in 1907.
It's a significant landmark for architecture and history enthusiasts because it provides insight into the city's religious heritage. These include stained glass windows, ornate interior designs, and a towering steeple visible from various parts of Zrenjanin.
The Savremena Galerija is a respected modern art gallery on Trg Slobode (Liberty Square), next to Zrenjanin’s National Museum. Established in 1962, it was the first gallery in former Yugoslavia dedicated to modern and contemporary art. Its roots trace back to the art colony in Ečka, which began in 1956 and became a gathering place for notable Serbian and international artists.
Art lovers and culture seekers will love to visit it because it houses a varied collection of paintings, sculptures, and drawings from the Serbian and Yugoslav post-war period, including works of Vasa Pomorišac, Aleksa Čelebonović, and Milan Konjović. The gallery also hosts the International Aquarelle Biennial, a major event with curated exhibits, awards, and artist-led workshops.
Zrenjanin offers more than just a quick stop in Vojvodina. Swedish travelers can enjoy open roads, scenic countryside, and cultural spots without crowds. It’s one of those places that quietly leaves a mark because it provides peaceful walks, local history, and nature all in one trip. So if you're planning to drive across Serbia, make sure Zrenjanin is on your list. Rent a car with Finalrentals, hit the road from Belgrade or Nis, and discover a charming town with stories worth hearing.
