Vršac (in Serbian Вршац, in Romanian Vârșeț, in Hungarian Versec or Versecz, in German Werschetz) is a town in Serbia 84 km from Belgrade and 75 km from Timișoara in Romania, in the eastern part of Vojvodina, close to the border with Romania, and has around 35,000 residents. The town is known for vineyards and premium quality wines in the larger municipality area. The wine cellars in villages around Vršac have become symbols of the Vrsac Wine Route which is held every year during the town's celebratory Grape Ball (Grođžebal).
Along with its wine offerings, Vršac is also known for the tallest mountains in the region, that provide a stark contrast to Vojvodina plains. They have a rich ecosystem, and are very specific in nature because they are island mountains which were once a part of the Pannonian Sea.
The town has a rich history of multiethnicity that spans over 200 years, and it can be seen best in today's various cultural communities and religious landmarks.
Get in
[edit]By car
[edit]The European route E-70 connects Belgrade and Timișoara via Vršac. The road is in very good condition and the trip takes less than 2 hours from Belgrade and an hour and a half from Timișoara.
By bus
[edit]1 STUP Vršac. The local bus company with routes from and to Belgrade and Novi Sad on an hourly basis. Prices are slightly more expensive than other methods of transport, but it's the fastest and safest way to get around.
- Every day there is a bus from Timișoara, just over the border with Romania, leaving at 12:00, ~2 hours.
By train
[edit]2 Vršac Railway Station. There are two trains per day from Timișoara Nord Train station to Vršac. The trains are operated by CFR (Căile Ferate Române) and are modern and very comfortable. Pass control usually lasts for about 20 minutes for the entire train to be checked. Ride duration is approximately longer than 2 hours with the train going faster when on Romanian territory. Pass control and customs are made at Stamora-Moravița, (Romania). The ticket in one direction from Timișoara to Vršac is approximately €5. Should you choose to continue to Belgrade, you need to switch trains at the train station in Vršac, and vice-versa.
The train to Belgrade is scheduled to depart half an hour after the train from Timișoara comes in Vršac. Tickets must be bought at the station before entering the train. The train connecting Vršac and Belgrade is a modern and fast one, the only downside being that is stops in every village en route to Belgrade. One way ticket to and from Belgrade costs less than €4.
|
Note: As of August 2017 the train connection between Vršac and Timișoara has been suspended. The only way to get from Vršac to Timișoara by train is to cross the border into Romania and take the train from Stamora Moravița train station in order to get to Timișoara. |
Get around
[edit]
On foot
[edit]Vršac is very small and compact, easily covered by foot, but reaching further destinations such as up on the hill can be a time-consuming experience and a good solution might be taking a taxi which is very affordable. It will take you about an hour from town center to reach Vršac Castle on foot. As of 2014, there were no bike nor motorbike rentals available.
By car
[edit]The traffic in town is usually light, except on Saturdays in the morning when it's grocery day. If you are traveling by car, be sure to pay attention to bikes as they are a very common method of transport for elderly citizens. Parking is available, but you need to buy a parking ticket the required parking zones where sign is displayed. Paper tickets are available at nearby kiosks and are valid for an hour. You need to scratch out the numbers which represent the hours you will be parked and leave them on your dash window. Otherwise, the easiest way to pay for parking is by sending an SMS to 8131 (+381 8131 if you use a foreign SIM card) with your full licence plate number (no spaces, no dashes, no dots). You can send multiple messages to extended your parking time. The cost of these messages is approximately between €0.25 and €0.4 and depend on the zone in which you parked your car. Buying a parking ticket is required M-F 07:00-21:00, and Sa 07:00-14:00. You don't need to buy a parking ticket on Sundays.
By taxi
[edit]All the taxis (including the freelance ones) have a defined fare with taxi meters exposed, so the possibility of paying a higher price than that shown is reduced to a minimum. An average trip will cost you between €1.5 and €3. There are a couple of taxi stations in the town, with the most relevant being the one in front of Hotel Srbija. Here you will find taxis at any time of day and night. Some taxis might have free Wi-Fi service available. If you want to connect all you need to do is ask the driver for network ID and password.
There are three major local taxi companies:
- Maxi Taxi, ☏ +381 13 833 833, +381 63 50 80 50 (mobile).
- Hallo Taxi, ☏ +381 13 831 11 11.
- Prestige Taxi, ☏ +381 13 833 333.
See
[edit]- 1 Vršac Castle (Vršački zamak). It is a symbol of the town and dates back to the mid-15th century. The castle is an authentic remnant of the medieval Vršac fortress. It stands at the top of the hill (399 m) overlooking Vršac and it provides a great view of the entire town.
- 2 The Gudurica Peak (Gudurički Vrh). The highest mountain peak in Vojvodina at 641 meters. Nicknamed 'the roof of Vojvodina', it provides a breathtaking view which extends across to the Carpathian mountains in Romania.
- 3 Mesić Monastery (Manastir Mesić). A monastery located near Mesić village. It dates back to the 15th century.
- 4 Središte Monastery (Manastir Središte).
- 5 Millennium Centar (Centar Millennium).
Do
[edit]Events
[edit]During the third week of September each year, the town is a host to Grožđebal (Grape Ball), a three-day event which celebrates harvesting of the grapes. The town has been a wine-loving region since Roman times making this a very important event for all wine connoisseurs in Serbia. During the event itself, many public institutions are open with diverse cultural, kids and sport events being organized, as well as entertainment programs, competitions and various grape and wine exhibitions.
Eat
[edit]Budget
[edit]- Juga, 17 Žarka Zrenjanina,, ☏ +381 13 832422.
- Domino Fast Food, Trg Pobede 5, ☏ +381 13 837 837.
- Bum 016, Žarka Zrenjanina 5, ☏ +381 13 831 344.
- Leskovački Roštilj Maki, Vuka Karadžića 14, ☏ +381 63 720 78 32.
- Pera Ždera, Heroja Pinkija 55.
Mid-range
[edit]- Pizzeria Masters, Mate Matejića 6a, ☏ +381 13 837 000, +381 13 837 677.
- Pizzeria Contrast, Svetosavski Trg 6, ☏ +381 60 330 50 50. 09-24.
- Pizzeria Travolta, ☏ +381 69 383 06 74.
- Pizzeria Beba, Zelena Pijaca BB, ☏ +381 13 836 928.
- Motel Vetrenjača Restoran, Beogradski put bb., ☏ +381 13 801 156.
- Restoran Crvenog Krsta (Red Cross Restaurant), Topovski put bb, ☏ +381 13 838 657. After a morning hike on the hill, this is the best place to relax and have a cup of coffee and eat breakfast. The food and service are good. Free Wi-Fi available.
- Express Restoran, Dositejeva 10, ☏ +381 13 831 574.
- Banatska Furunica Vršac, Feliksa Milekera 28, ☏ +381 13 834 577.
- Restoran Kantina, Petra Drapšina 1, ☏ +381 64 22 77 001.
- Restoran Kim, Gudurički Put BB, ☏ +381 13 839 600.
If you have a sweet tooth, you might also want to check out:
- Poslastičarnica Đorđević, Trg Save Kovačevića 5, ☏ +381 63 302 023. The oldest pastry shop in town, established in 1854. Some of the specialties include wine and grape-based ice cream and fruit cup, as well as banana split and fruit ice creams.
- Slatka Radionica Jovana, Ruski Park, ☏ +381 13 402 224. A unique cupcake and pastry shop located close to town center.
- Poslastičarnica Zvezda, Anđe Rankovića 20, ☏ +381 13 835 729. Also one of the oldest pastry shops in town.
Splurge
[edit]- Etno Kuća Dinar, Dimitrija Tucovića 82, ☏ +381 13 830 024. 12:00-24:00. Close to the town center, this restaurant provides an authentic meal experience for reasonable prices. It also has a rich wine offering and an outdoor terrace during summer. The food is excellent and the service is great.
- Restoran Alcudia, Hotel 'Srbija', 1st floor, ☏ +381 13 832 933. 7-23h. Delicious and cheap morning breakfast buffet in the town center. Great prices and a broad selection of wines. Has a VIP room for business meetings. Free Wi-Fi available.
- Vega 8, Vuka Karadžića 11, ☏ +381 13 830 080. Pleasant ambiance with a generous offering of Italian and Serbian cuisine. Affordable prices and kind staff.
- Restoran Stanišić, Stevana Nemanje 67, ☏ +381 13 833 686.
Drink
[edit]Most of the café bars and located in the town center (Trg Svetog Teodora Vršačkog) and are open 08:00-24:00. Prices are affordable and expect pay anywhere from €1-2 for two cups of coffee. Beers are priced from €1 (domestic) to €2-3 (imported). Tips are preferred, although not required. During weekends, some cafés have music nights with a live band or a DJ.
- Element Drinks & Food, Trg Pobede 2 (Vis-a-vis Vršac Town Hall.), ☏ +381 13 837 057. 08:00-01:00. The best to go place for drinks and food combination. Broad range of imported beer and wine offerings along with excellent service and delicious food. Prices are mid-range to high. Make sure to prepare at least €20-25 if you are planning a meal for two.
- Velo, Gavrila Principa 6, ☏ +381 64 88 77 005. Cafe Vélo was created as a place of gathering for cycling lovers. It propagates healthy lifestyle, socializing, return to nature and appereciation for life values. The cafe is constantly organizing bike tours and participates in a number of sports projects. It also has a rich offering of over 50 types domestic and imported beer and happy hour promotions.
- Kuća Vina RAB (RAB Wine House), Trg Svetog Teodora Vršačkog 15, ☏ +381 13 837 338, [email protected]. 09:00-01:00. An authentic Vojvodinian wine cellar with over 250 types of wine and 40 types of cheese from around the world. The place is a must for experiencing Vršac in its true, laidback, cozy and hospitable form. Prices vary from mid to high depending on your wine preference. With the addition of a meal, expect to pay anywhere from €20-30 for two persons.
- Juice Bar Koliba, Svetosavski Trg 4, ☏ +381 61 640 33 28. A unique ambient targeted for health freaks with a wide range of smoothies and juices.
- London Pub, Žarka Zrenjanina 101, ☏ +381 65 300 0096. 08:00-01:00. A beer pub and rock 'n' roll music during the weekends.
- Kafeterija Kwon, Abreševićeva 2, ☏ +381 65 3866 166. Good place for long drinks and relaxation. The café also includes ice cream and fast food offerings.
- Max Caffe, Vuka Karadžića 4. A local chain of three cafe spots in the city center. Excellent cheap coffee (Short Espresso).
- Caffe BIMS 059, Sterijna 24, ☏ +381 65 2 059 059. 08:00-24:00. A posh interior and a rich drink offering. Good for groups.
- Eskada Bar, Trg Svetog Teodora Vršačkog 9, ☏ +381 62 227 203.
- Izlog Caffe, Dositejeva 1, ☏ +381 13 836 361.
- Fine Cafe, Đure Jakšića 3-7. Quiet place tucked away between residential buildings, very close to city center.
- Cafe Bar Jazzva, Trg Svetog Teodora Vršačkog 4. A really cozy cafe in the heart of the town.
Sleep
[edit]- Hotel Villa Breg, Goranska bb, ☏ +381 13 831 000, [email protected]. Check-in: 14:00, check-out: 12:00. A 4-star hotel overlooking the town. It offers a full welness program along with an outdoor pool. Prices start from €100.
- Hotel Srbija, Svetosavski Trg 12, ☏ +381 13 834 170, +381 13 835 545, +381 13 835 252, [email protected]. Check-in: 15:00, check-out: 11:00. A 3-star hotel in the heart of Vršac and a member of Eix Hotel Group. It has 78 rooms and 8 suites with all the modern amenities. Ideal for short stays and business trips. Price starts from €50 for a double room.
- Motel Vetrenjača, Beogradski Put BB, ☏ +381 13 801 156, fax: +381 13 801 155, [email protected].
- Apartmani Vršac, Ive Milutinovića 135, ☏ +381 63 212 062, [email protected].
- Hotel Zona Optimizma, Trg Pobede 3, ☏ +381 60 40 40 645.
- Hotel Stari Mlin, ☏ +381 60 843 52 44, +381 13 283 01 55.
Connect
[edit]Municipal Tourist Organization of Vrsac is the main provider of information and services to incoming tourists and they will help you with any inquiries regarding your trip to and from Vršac.
Free public wireless internet service is available in town center. The majority of cafés, restaurants and hotels also have their own Wi-Fi services, but you need to ask for the password in order to get online.
4G network coverage is also available throughout town from all the major providers (VIP, Telenor and MTS).
Stay safe
[edit]Vršac is generally a safe town and muggings are extremely rare. Downtown area is very well lit and it is are safe to walk around during the night. Outskirts of the town are also safe, but caution is advised during the night. Thefts and break-ins are somewhat of an uncommon occurrence and if you are staying in a rented house you should always make sure that the front door is locked when you leave the house. Otherwise, in hotels and motels you should be fine.
As always, take care of your belongings and pockets. If you manage to lose your wallet or belongings, visit the local police station to report them missing.
Emergency numbers
[edit]As throughout of the entire Serbia, the police can be reached at 192, fire department at 193 and ambulance at 194.
If, for any reason, you need to contact the local police, fire station or hospital directly, you can do so by calling the following numbers:
- Local police station: +381 13 833 000
- Local fire station: +381 13 831 745
- Local hospital: +381 13 832 552
Cope
[edit]Consulates
[edit]
Romania, Trg Zelene Pijace nr 3A, ☏ +381 13 831 099, fax: +381 13 830 322, [email protected]. M-Th 9:00-13:00.
Go next
[edit]- Belgrade, the capital of the Republic of Serbia. Various styles of architecture dominate the city. Its resurgence as the leading hub in south-eastern Europe makes it a must-see destination.
- Timisoara, a university city and industrial centre in western Romania. It is often described as the most cosmopolitan city in Romania.
- Novi Sad, the capital of Vojvodina, the northern Autonomous Province of Serbia on the Danube River between Budapest and Belgrade. It is a treasured regional and cultural centre.