London-based daily The Observer has ranked Novi Sad's Exit Festival first in its category in Europe, in their review of 25 best travelling experiences.

With Glastonbury off the map in 2006, Serbia's Exit Festival is set to fill the gap. Some of Exit's elements - face paint as formal wear, for instance - are in keeping with the grand tradition of music festivals, but Exit, founded in 2000 as a student protest against President Milosevic, has a stronger rationale than most when it comes to the partying-with-a-conscience element.

Last year, when Fatboy Slim headlined, with back-up from the White Stripes and Carl Cox, 150,000 revellers took in everything from extreme sports to extremely avant garde cinema. Beer is cheap (as are tickets), the backdrop - the medieval fortress of Novi Sad - is unique and the climate cheerfully Mediterranean.

As Annie Mac of Radio 1 put it: 'The setting is spectacular, the line-up massive and the people completely inspiring. It's a truly special festival.'

For more information visit (www.exitfest.org)