A calm lakeside resort town near Subotica, with an Art Nouveau spa complex from 1912, a large zoo, and thermal waters that have drawn visitors since the 19th century.
Palić, a town in northern Serbia, sits around a shallow lake where you can swim at three beaches along its 17-kilometer shoreline. You can walk past red-brick Hungarian Art Nouveau buildings from the early 1900s, like the Water Tower with its distinctive dome and the Women's Lido with its wooden changing cabins. Visit the zoo's 450 animals, watch European films at the summer festival, or taste wines at local vineyards.
Swimming and Lake Activities
The 3.8-square-kilometer Lake Palić reaches temperatures between 18 and 25 degrees Celsius during summer. You'll find three beaches with warm showers, paddleboat rentals, and stand-up paddleboarding equipment. Local spas use the lake's therapeutic mud in their treatments.
Hungarian Art Nouveau Architecture
The buildings around Palić Lake represent the Hungarian Secession style, built between 1890 and World War I. The Water Tower's red brick facade, the Grand Terrace's curved roofline, and the Women's Lido's wooden details combine floral patterns with traditional Hungarian motifs. Architects Marcell Komor and Dezső Jakab, who also created Subotica's synagogue, designed these structures.
Palić Zoo and Nature Park
Since opening in 1950 with three animals, the zoo has expanded to 450 specimens across 100 species. Many animals live in fenced areas instead of cages. The Nature Park Palić covers 7.25 square kilometers, protecting local wildlife including the swamp orchid (Orchis laxiflora Lam), which grows in only a few locations in Serbia.
European Film Festival
The Palić European Film Festival runs each July, screening films from across Europe. Film directors and critics gather for discussions and screenings. In 2008, British director Ken Loach received the festival's lifetime achievement award.
Getting to Palić
Drive 180 kilometers north from Belgrade on the E-75 highway and exit at "Subotica-sever," then continue 3 kilometers to Palić. Regular buses connect the town with major Serbian and Hungarian cities via Subotica. A 5-minute train ride links Subotica to Palić, while bus number 6 runs every 40 minutes between the two locations.
Local Wine and Events
Visit vineyards on the Palić Wine Route to taste regional wines. The "Berbanski Dani" festival in late September marks the grape harvest with wine tastings and local food. The area receives 2,190 hours of annual sunshine, creating favorable conditions for grape growing.
