What to see in Kikinda is a question with an answer that goes well beyond a handful of the city’s best-known sights. This peaceful town in northern Banat conceals an intriguing history, unusual museums, valuable architecture, and several quite distinctive reasons why you will remember it for a long time. There is Suvača, a unique horse-powered mill, Kika the mammoth, terracotta sculptures, and the owls that have become one of the city’s symbols. And if you happen to be in Kikinda during the Pumpkin Days festival, you will discover just how important an ordinary pumpkin can become to an entire city’s identity!
FROM BELGRADE: 130 km
FROM NIŠ: 350 km
The best way to get to know the city is without rushing, walking its streets and taking in the old façades, parks and buildings that preserve traces of life from another time. The centre is compact enough that you can easily pause for a coffee between museums and sights, or simply sit down somewhere pleasant and watch the town go by. Then, almost without looking for them, you will come across the details that make Kikinda different – from sculptures in the streets to the tree canopies where owls hide.
Kikinda is one of the most important towns in northern Banat, and its history reaches much further back than the cityscape you see today. Settlements existed in the area long before modern Kikinda took shape, while the town’s later development is associated with the 18th century, when this part of the region became incorporated into the organisation of the Habsburg Monarchy. Kikinda gained particular importance towards the end of the 18th century, when it became the seat of the Great Kikinda District, a special territorial area with certain privileges. This encouraged the development of trade, crafts and agriculture, and the town gradually became an important regional centre. During the 19th and early 20th centuries, Kikinda developed rapidly, with public buildings, churches, schools, merchants’ houses and other structures being built that still shape the city centre today. The arrival of the railway further connected the town with other parts of the monarchy and contributed to its economic growth.
Today, Kikinda retains its distinctive Banat atmosphere, combining broad streets, peaceful squares, old houses and a varied cultural heritage.
Promenade towards the Catholic Church
I visited Kikinda in 2026 as part of my work updating the British travel guide to Serbia published by Bradt Guides, which gave me another reason to explore this part of Banat in greater detail. As with my other trips for this project, it was particularly valuable to discover the city with the help of people from the Kikinda Tourist Organisation, who know it well and pointed out details I might easily have overlooked as an ordinary visitor.
A few days spent exploring with Tanja were enough to make me realise how many different stories Kikinda preserves within a relatively small area. From history and architecture to art, nature and its slightly unusual urban inhabitants – almost every step here reveals something new.
And those are precisely the places I find most interesting to write about, because behind the familiar sights there are often stories that give a city its true character.
Clay sculptures as a symbol of the city
What to See in Kikinda: The Main Square and Churches in the Centre
If you want to begin somewhere that best conveys the city’s history, head for the Main Square. The square is dominated by the Town Hall, the Serbian Orthodox Church of St Nicholas and the Roman Catholic Church of Saints Joachim and Anne, which together tell an important part of the story of Kikinda and its inhabitants.
The Town Hall is one of the representative buildings in the centre and bears witness to the period when Kikinda was an important administrative and trading centre of Banat. The Church of St Nicholas was built in the second half of the 18th century and is one of the oldest surviving Orthodox buildings in the city. The Roman Catholic Church of Saints Joachim and Anne, also known as the Franciscan Church, likewise belongs to the older layer of Kikinda’s architecture and recalls the history of the local Catholic community.
Several other interesting buildings have survived around the square and along the surrounding streets, so it is worth venturing just a few dozen metres beyond the main area. This is the part of the city where you can best see what Kikinda looked like during its period of civic development. That makes the main square the logical place to begin when exploring what to see in Kikinda.
Town Hall in the center
I started my visit here, and I particularly enjoyed walking through the Town Hall and having a look inside its rooms. Almost every step through central Kikinda reveals some lovely reminder of the city’s former architecture, from old bourgeois houses to buildings with carefully designed details. I especially liked the pastel façades, which give the centre a slightly nostalgic appearance and fit beautifully with the city’s peaceful atmosphere.
Entrance to this magnificent building
I enjoyed not following a predetermined sightseeing route, but simply walking and occasionally stopping to look at a building or a detail through the tree canopies. The square is spacious enough that you never feel rushed, and from here it is easy to continue walking towards the other sights.
Elegant staircase in the Town Hall building
The churches add further character to this part of the city and show how different communities have intertwined here for centuries. If you enjoy architecture and photography, give yourself enough time not merely to follow the main “route”, but to explore some of the surrounding streets as well. That is where you will find some of those understated details that make you want to extend your walk just a little longer.
Orthodox Church in the town center
Kikinda City Museum
The Kikinda City Museum is one of the best places to learn about the history of this region, as its collections tell a much broader story than anything you can discover while walking through the streets. The museum was founded in 1946 and today houses archaeological, historical, ethnological and art collections. Particularly interesting are the collections documenting the lives of the people of Kikinda and northern Banat through different periods. Here you can learn more about the development of the town, everyday life, crafts and customs that were once an integral part of life in this part of the country.
The museum objects also show just how much life in Banat has changed over the past several centuries. For me, collections like these are especially valuable because they allow history to be seen not merely through dates and major events, but through objects that “ordinary” people used and preserved. And in Kikinda, the museum has another reason for attracting visitors – this is where the story of the famous Kika is also connected.
National Museum of Kikinda
As I walked through the museum rooms, it was fascinating to piece together a broader picture of Kikinda and this part of Banat through its collections. After walking through the centre, a visit like this is an excellent way to understand what happened behind the façades you see along the city streets. I particularly like museums where objects are not merely decoration, but provide an opening into the stories of the people who used them.
Old crafts exhibition
That is exactly how I experienced this collection – as a continuation of a walk through Kikinda’s history. You can stop to see what a pharmacy in the town once looked like, what traditional costumes looked like, or examine an ornate dress chest or an old gramophone. The museum staff may even play one of the old “records” for you.
What to See in Kikinda: What a Pharmacy Once Looked Like
A 500,000-Year-Old Mammoth
When you think of Kikinda, a mammoth probably is not the first thing that comes to mind, yet Kika has become one of the city’s most recognisable symbols. Her fossilised remains were discovered near Kikinda in 1996, and they belong to an almost complete skeleton of a female woolly mammoth (Mammuthus primigenius) that lived more than half a million years ago.
Kika stood around 4.7 metres tall, so even seeing her reconstructed figure in the museum courtyard is quite an impressive experience. The discovery was of great importance to palaeontology, but over time it also became an important part of the city’s tourism identity. Today, a replica of the mammoth can be seen at the City Museum and is one of those attractions that both adults and children are unlikely to forget. Kika is so firmly woven into the life of the city that you will encounter her name and image beyond the museum as well.
One of the city’s attractions: Kika the Mammoth
Of course, while visiting the City Museum, I could hardly wait to see Kika too. Photographs are one thing, but when you stand beside a reconstruction of an animal this enormous, its size suddenly becomes very real. It is slightly surreal to think that an animal whose remains were discovered right here once walked across the Banat plain. I find that connection between the distant prehistoric past and the modern city particularly fascinating – Kika is no longer simply a museum exhibit, but part of Kikinda’s identity.
If you are travelling with children, this is certainly one of the attractions they are likely to remember. Even if palaeontology is not normally your thing, it is difficult to remain indifferent when faced with a mammoth of this size. Make sure you add at least one item to your “what to see in Kikinda” list: the enormous mammoth tooth that you can actually hold in your hand and which weighs, believe it or not, five kilograms!
This is wha a mommoth tooth looks like
Terra, Art in Clay
Kikinda also has a completely distinctive artistic story connected with terracotta and the international Terra Sculpture Symposium. The idea was launched in the early 1970s, and thanks to the project Kikinda became a meeting place for sculptors from Serbia and around the world who create monumental clay sculptures. Today, some of these works can be seen throughout the city, so art is not confined to gallery spaces but becomes part of the everyday urban landscape.
The Terra Gallery in central Kikinda is an important space for exhibiting these and other works, while a much larger complex is located outside the city in a former brickworks. The industrial setting of the old factory gives the entire story an additional atmosphere and shows how closely art and the local industrial tradition are connected here. The monumental sculptures created as part of the symposium require large spaces, specific conditions and considerable patience, which makes this complex much more than a conventional museum.
Over the decades, Terra has brought together a large number of artists and left its mark on the international world of sculpture. Kikinda has therefore become one of the most important centres for terracotta in this part of Europe. If you are interested in art, this is one of those places that will probably surprise you, as you would hardly expect such a story in a town of this size. And it becomes even more fascinating when you can not only see the sculptures, but also watch them being created.
Sculptures in front of the town gallery
During my visit to Kikinda, I first noticed the sculptures throughout the city, and I was particularly intrigued to learn that they had been created by artists who had taken part in previous editions of the symposium. I then visited the Terra Gallery, where the scale and significance of the artistic project became much clearer. The most remarkable part of the visit, however, was waiting for me in the old brickworks, not far from the centre.
Museum and atelier at the old factory
I had the privilege of seeing artists actually working on new sculptures for the 45th International Terra Sculpture Symposium, held in 2026. It was fascinating to watch enormous pieces of clay gradually taking shape and to see artists working in a space so different from a conventional studio. The atmosphere of the old brickworks, the monumental scale of the sculptures and the people actually creating them probably made the strongest impression on me. At that moment Terra was no longer simply a museum or gallery exhibition, but living art that you could witness in the making.
What to See in Kikinda: Sculptures at the Terra Museum
Besides the fact that the special conditions of the old brickworks make Kikinda the only place in the world where large-format clay sculptures can be fired, and that the city welcomes three artists from Serbia and three from abroad each year, every artist has also left at least one of their works in the city. There are now more than 1,300 works, some of which are several decades old, and you can see examples in the gallery or museum.
Artists at work
Suvača, the Horse-Powered Mill
One of Kikinda’s most unusual sights is undoubtedly Suvača, an old mill powered not by water or wind, but by horses. It was built in 1899 and is now one of the few surviving mills of this type in Europe. Kikinda once had several suvača mills, but this is the only one that has survived.
The mechanism worked by having horses walk in a circle, powering a large wooden mechanism connected to the millstones used to grind grain. Several horses could work at the same time, and the mill was once an important part of everyday life for the town and surrounding villages. The building itself is simple, but the internal wooden structure is remarkably interesting and shows how skilled craftsmen could create complex mechanisms without modern technology. Suvača is now protected as an immovable cultural property of exceptional importance and represents one of the most valuable examples of traditional industrial heritage in Serbia.
The famous dry mill in Kikinda
When I entered Suvača, I was immediately struck by how different the space felt from everything else I had visited in Kikinda. The large wooden structure and massive parts of the mechanism immediately attract your attention, and once you understand how everything worked, you begin to appreciate the skill of the people who built the system even more. I found it particularly interesting to imagine what an ordinary day must have looked like when horses powered the mill and flour was produced in this way.
Suvača from inside
Today it is difficult to believe that technology like this was once part of everyday life, which is precisely why Suvača leaves such a strong impression. I did not feel as though I was looking at merely an old building, but at part of a way of life that has almost completely disappeared. If you enjoy places with a story, rather than attractions created merely for photographs, Suvača will probably be one of the most interesting parts of your visit.
This is where the flour came out
Owls as a Symbol of Kikinda
There is something quite unusual that makes Kikinda special – owls that spend the winter in the very centre of the city. These are long-eared owls, a species that gathers during the colder months in the tree canopies around the main square and other central streets. In some years there are hundreds of them, making Kikinda one of the best-known wintering sites for this species in Europe. It is not entirely clear why they choose this particular place for their winter stay, but the fact that they live so close to people is one of the city’s most fascinating natural peculiarities.
During the day they generally remain high in the trees, so you have to look carefully among the branches to spot them. They are easiest to find when you know where to look – sometimes the characteristic pellets on the branches will give them away, or the sight of a pair of large orange eyes. Over time, the owls have become one of Kikinda’s symbols and an important part of its tourism identity. They attract birdwatchers and photographers, as well as curious visitors who simply want to witness this unusual sight. When making a list of what to see in Kikinda, remember that some of the most interesting “sights” are not behind museum doors, but high above your head.
Owls as the City’s Trademark
As I visited Kikinda in summer, I did not have the chance to see its famous owls, which return to the city during the colder months. Their presence, however, is so deeply woven into the city’s identity that it was impossible not to notice how important they are. Around the centre I came across information and notices about the owls, while the large owl sculptures installed at various locations particularly caught my attention.
I liked seeing how these birds have become part of the urban landscape and something of a trademark of Kikinda, even when the real “residents” are absent from the trees. The sculptures are also a lovely reminder that nature here is not merely a subject for tourism stories, but part of everyday life in the city. If you visit in winter, look up into the trees in the centre and try to spot one of the real owls; during the rest of the year, keep an eye out for their sculptures and the signs that remind you of this unusual phenomenon.
A town center info about owls
Pumpkin Days, When a Pumpkin Becomes the Star of the City
If there is one festival that is almost inseparably linked with Kikinda, it is Pumpkin Days. This traditional autumn festival celebrates the pumpkin and, over several days, transforms the town into a large-scale celebration of this characteristic Banat crop. The programme includes exhibitions, competitions, cultural and entertainment events, while particular attention is devoted to choosing the heaviest and longest pumpkin. Competitors from Serbia and neighbouring countries bring enormous specimens that are difficult to imagine until you see them in person.
The festival began back in 1986 and has grown over the decades into one of the best-known tourist events in northern Banat. Records for the heaviest pumpkin are particularly important, changing from year to year as growers attempt to surpass previous results. Kikinda has thus turned an ordinary agricultural tradition into a recognisable part of its identity and a reason for people from different parts of Serbia to visit in autumn. If you want to experience the city at its liveliest, Pumpkin Days are an excellent time to come.
As I mentioned, I was in Kikinda during the summer, so I did not experience Pumpkin Days in person, but I did look into just how seriously the city takes this festival. The record in the heaviest pumpkin category was set in 2023 by Hungarian grower Tibor Kokai, whose pumpkin weighed an astonishing 865.5 kilograms; in 2025 he won again, with an 832-kilogram pumpkin, becoming a five-time consecutive champion. In the longest pumpkin category, the record still stands at 366 centimetres, set in 2019 by Kikinda resident Milan Vučen. Interestingly, the festival is not limited to competitions for the heaviest and longest pumpkins: in 2025 there was also a competition for the sweetest “tamburica” pumpkin. Pumpkin Days have long since grown beyond an agricultural competition – during the festival, the main square becomes a gathering place, with a traditional Banat breakfast, local specialities, music and a whole range of events. If you find yourself in Kikinda in September, it is worth planning your visit so that you can experience this unusual festival for yourself.
Urban architecture through lush foliage
What Else to See in Kikinda
If you have more time to explore, continue walking through the centre and pay attention to the old urban architecture. Kikinda has broad streets and a fairly peaceful rhythm, making it pleasant to discover old bourgeois houses, courtyards and façades that have survived through different eras. I particularly liked the fact that history here is not confined to museums, but forms part of the everyday cityscape. Along the way, you can stop at one of the cafés on the main square or in the surrounding streets and watch everyday life unfold.
Another look at clay sculptures
It is also worth exploring the city’s parks and green spaces, particularly if you want a break after visiting the museums and Suvača. If you are interested in local gastronomy, ask around for places where you can try Banat specialities, as food is another important part of getting to know this region. And if you are in Kikinda during winter, leave some time for watching the owls, even if you have seen them before – their sight among the tree branches is unlikely to become boring. It is precisely these small things that make Kikinda memorable not only for a handful of major attractions, but for the overall impression.
Lake near the city centre
For those who want to venture beyond the centre, the surrounding Banat plain offers several possibilities for a slower day outdoors. One pleasant option is the small lake not far from the city, where you can take a break and replace the urban setting with a walk beside the water. It is not a spectacular tourist complex, and that is precisely its advantage – this is a place where you can slow down, sit down and enjoy the open space. After museums, historic buildings and city streets – one of which, General Drapšin Street, has been named one of the most beautiful in the world – such a break provides a lovely conclusion to a visit to Kikinda.
Sunflowers around Kikinda
If you have more time, you can also explore the surrounding villages and farmsteads, as this is when the character of this part of Banat becomes even more apparent. The wide plain, quiet roads and distinctive Vojvodina settlements create an entirely different experience from the city centre. So, if you can, I would devote at least one full day to Kikinda, and ideally a weekend. After all, where else can you see a mammoth hundreds of thousands of years old, an old mill powered by horses, monumental clay sculptures and owls sleeping in the trees of the city centre – all in the same day? And that is, in fact, one of the loveliest parts of updating the Serbia guide for Bradt Guides: you visit a place because of work and end up wondering when you might be able to return.
2 responses
This is just beautiful…photos and texts…excellent job. Realy proud to know You 💞
Hey, thank you so much! 🙂 So glad you like the post. I had a really nice time in Kikinda.