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Things to do in Niš

Our most recommended things to do in Niš

From Sofia: Day Tour to Nis, Serbia

1. From Sofia: Day Tour to Nis, Serbia

During this day tour you will travel through history with the professional lead of your guide. Your journey through time will start from the Roman period, when Nis gave to the world the Roman Emperor, Constantine the Great. You will then continue through the Middle Ages and the period of the Ottoman rule, which left constructions like the Nis Fortress and the Skull Tower, a symbol of the struggle for freedom and independence from the Ottomans, as well as a representation of the violence of the time. The latter of the tour will pay attention to modern history, in particular the period of Nazi occupation of former Yugoslavia by visiting a Nazi concentration camp. Following this concentration camp visit, it will be time for some rest. During this stop you will have the chance to taste typical Serbian cuisine, which is one of the most delicious of the Balkans. You will also have free time for a walk in the historical old part of the old city. At the conclusion of your tour, you will be returned back to your accommodation in Sofia.

Nis City Tour: Full-Day Trip from Sofia

2. Nis City Tour: Full-Day Trip from Sofia

The Serbian city of Nis is growing in popularity as a tourist destination. On this full-day trip from Sofia, you’ll enjoy a scenic drive to this picturesque, relaxed city that dates back to Roman times. Nis was the birthplace of Constantine the Great, the first Christian Emperor. It is home to one of the oldest churches in Serbia, dating to the 4th century, located in the suburb of Medijana. You’ll find some fortress remains, a shopping street, and lovely gardens. The approach to Nis is very scenic, with the road passing through a river gorge. Your first stop is to visit the famous Cele Kula (Skull Tower). Learn about the atrocities committed by the Turks and see the unique monument to the sacrifice of Serbian revolutionaries. The next important site is in suburban Medijana, where you’ll explore an archeological site of a Roman estate. See remains of an ancient villa, a granary, villas, and baths. The museum houses sculptures and portraits of Roman gods and goddesses, utensils for daily use, and other objects unearthed at the site. Visit city sites including Nis fortress with several excavated areas from Roman times, get familiar with findings fron Nis area dated back to 6000 bc in the Archeological hall in town, including more recent findings, discovered in the Royal Villa of Konstantine The Great, Mediana (currently closed for restorations ). You’ll have some free time to walk around the central square and an option to try the famous Serbian grill, either in a traditional restaurant where you can pay with a card (plenty of vegetarian and vegan options available) or try the Serbian street food.. After lunch, your driver will take you to a small concentration camp that was set up by the Germans during World War 2 to imprison and exterminate Jews, Romas, and other minorities. At 16:00 you’ll begin the trip back to Sofia, expecting to arrive at about 18:30.

From Belgrade: Niš and Devil's Town Private Day Tour

3. From Belgrade: Niš and Devil's Town Private Day Tour

Get an early start with a 7 am pickup from your accommodation in Belgrade. Journey directly to Niš, the third largest city in Serbia and birthplace of three Roman emperors. Begin your guided sightseeing tour of the city with a visit to Archaeological site Mediana - one of the most important Serbian Late Antiquity archaeological sites, built between III and the beginning of IV century. A villa with a peristyle with more than 1.000m2 of the valuable floor mosaics takes the central place in Mediana. Continue your guided tour with a visit to Skull Tower, a morbid reminder of the ill-fated First Serbian Uprising against the Ottoman empire in the early 19th century. Built from the skulls of fallen rebel fighters, the tower was initially constructed by the Ottoman's as a warning against further rebellion. Expose yourself further to the darker side of Niš with a visit to the Crveni Krst Concentration Camp. Operated by the Nazis during the Second World War, the camp was used to detain as many as 35,000 Jews, Roma, and Serbs. Enter the three-story complex and familiarize yourself with a lesser-known Holocaust site that speaks to the complex history of WWII-era Serbia. Contemplate the area's dark past by viewing the personal belongings of prisoners, hearing stories about the first major escape from a Nazi concentration camp in Europe, and seeing ten prison cells. Mourn the victims of the camp with a stop at Bubanj Memorial Park where more than 10,000 people were executed. Continue on with the sightseeing tour, making stops at Niš Fortress, King Milan Square and the Monument to the Liberators, Cair's Fountain (a well-preserved drinking fountain that forms an important part of the city's architectural heritage), Memorial of Constantine the Great, and City Hall (a stunning example of neoclassicist architecture built in 1925). Finish your tour in Kazandzijsko Sokace or "Tinkers Alley," a picturesque, cobble-stoned street located in the old town. Take a photo at the iconic Stevan Sremac and Kalča Monument, located at the entrance to the alleyway, and stop for a coffee break before making the drive to Devil's Town. Enjoy a beautiful drive through the countryside of southern Serbia on the way to Devil's Town, a unique rock formation that has been nominated to be one of the new Seven Natural Wonders for good reason. Go on a short hike through the forest to reach the observation platform where your guide will point out the features of this stunning natural landscape and share local lore about the site. Admire 202 striking earthen towers formed during a period of intense volcanic activity millions of years ago. Check out the extremely acidic springs flowing at the base of the towers that have earned it the name Hell Gully.  Take a break for dinner at a nearby local restaurant located nearby before making the drive back to Belgrade and getting dropped off at your accommodation. 

Full-Day Tour to Nis in Serbia from Sofia

4. Full-Day Tour to Nis in Serbia from Sofia

The tour starts from your hotel in Sofia. After approximately three hours' transfer you will reach Nis, the third Serbian city by size, after Belgrade and Novi Sad. Before reaching the old town, stop to visit the unique monument, ’’Skull Tower’’. It is a tower made of human skulls built in 1809. Continue to the old town in Nis, where you will have a walking tour and see The King Milan Square with the Cair’s Fountain and the monument of the Liberators. Head past the Nis Fortress and continue through the main pedestrian street to the reach the last preserved street of the former Nis bazaar from the beginning of the 19th century, called Tinkers Alley (Kazandzijsko sokace). After the tour you will have time for lunch and to relax. In the afternoon transfer back to Sofia and be dropped off at your hotel.

From Skopje: Day Tour to Niš, Serbia

5. From Skopje: Day Tour to Niš, Serbia

Dive into Serbian history on this tour of Niš. Visit significant historical locations like Čegar hill, Skull Tower, Niš Fortress, and Mediana. End the tour with local wine and lunch. To start, go back in time with a visit to Čegar hill and learn about the famous Battle of Čegar, the first Serbian Uprising. While there, visit the remains of the fallen rebels that were built into Skull Tower. Continue to Tsarigrad road to Niška Banja and visit the locations where Agatha Christie was inspired to write "Murder on the Orient Express." Next, visit the Mediana archaeological site and learn about Constantine the Great and Edict of Milan. Admire Niš Fortress and its notable Stambol Gate, Hamam, Bali Bey Mosque, and its unique Lapidarium. To wrap up the tour, end in the oldest street of Niš for a refreshing cup of coffee before making your way to lunch. Enjoy your lunch with a taste of wine from local winery, Malca.

Sofia: Private Day Trip to Nis in Serbia

6. Sofia: Private Day Trip to Nis in Serbia

Following a pickup from your hotel, travel directly to Nis in Serbia. Arrive in Nis after a 2-hour drive and explore the town known as the birthplace of the famous Roman Emperor Constantine the Great. Your first stop will be the Skull Tower, also known as Chele Tower. Marvel at the stone structure embedded with human skulls. It was constructed by the Ottomans following the Battle of Cegar of May 1809, during the First Serbian Uprising. The next stop is the former concentration camp, opened in 1941 during World War II. More than 10,000 people are thought to have been killed at the camp. Today, you can explore the museum and learn about its dark history. The final stop leads you to the city museum in Nis where you can find all archeological findings from the area and learn about the long history of the town. After a guided tour of the most important monuments, enjoy 1.5 hours of free time to explore the city. Take a stroll along the central pedestrian street and visit the local shops and restaurants with their delicious food. You’ll return to Sofia at around 6:00 PM.

From Belgrade: Private 2-Day Nis, Pirot & Devil's Town Trip

7. From Belgrade: Private 2-Day Nis, Pirot & Devil's Town Trip

Wander through the South of Serbia in the company of a professional guide on this sightseeing adventure. Visit its most famous destinations: the cities of Nis and Pirot, as well as Devil's Town. Day one will give you the chance to explore Nis, the birthplace of Constantine the Great. After exploring the city, continue to Skull Tower, where you will learn about the first Serbian uprising against the Ottomans in the 19th century. You will then travel to Pirot, a small trading town famous for its traditional carpets and its patented cheese. Spend the night in this lovely village. On the second day, make your way to the iconic Devil's Town, a natural monument comprised of two natural phenomena: the stone formations caused by erosion and two springs of extremely acid water with high mineralization. For these reasons, Devil's Town was a New Seven Wonders of Nature nominee.

Belgrade: Private Day-Trip to Niš

8. Belgrade: Private Day-Trip to Niš

Your tour will begin once you are collected from your accommodation. After just over 2 hours of driving, you will reach Niš. From here your day is reserved for your exploration of the birth city of the famous Roman Emperor, Constantine the Great. You will begin by visiting the Niš Fortress, which lies on the bank of Nišava River. It assumed its final shape in 1723, at which point the Turks completed it whilst facing the end of their reign in this area. Its construction required that over 40 stone cutters from Constantinople, and around 400 bricklayers from Niš had to be hired. You will continue your sightseeing of the most important sights in the city including the Banovina Building, The Niš Liberators Monument at King Milan Square, the Monument of well-known Serbian writer Stevan Sremac. You will then explore the Mediana Archeological Site and the infamous Skull Tower (which was erected by the Turks as an example to others of the folly of opposition to their rule). Your tour will then conclude with a visit to the Red Cross Nazi Concentration Camp, which is today a museum. The German Gestapo operated the camp and held captured Jews, Serbians, and Romas during the Second World War. After that, you will have free time for individual activities in Niš and to try some of the traditional delicacies for which Niš is widely famous.

From Belgrade: Full-Day Guided Tour to Nis & Devil's Town

9. From Belgrade: Full-Day Guided Tour to Nis & Devil's Town

Take a full-day tour to South Serbia and visit its most famous destinations, the city of Nis and Devil's Town. The tour is led by professional English speaking tour guide. Nis is the largest city in this part of Serbia, known as the birthplace of Constantine the Great. After exploring the city and listening to the story about this famous Roman emperor, the tour continues to Skull tower, where you will learn about The First Serbian uprising against Ottomans in 19th century and its victims.  Finally, explore Devil's Town, a natural monument comprised of two natural phenomena: the soil figures (specific forms of relief) and two springs of extremely acid water with high mineralization. In fact, Devil's Town is a New Seven Wonders of Nature nominee.

Sofia: Sofia to Nis, Serbia Private Car Transfer

10. Sofia: Sofia to Nis, Serbia Private Car Transfer

Sit, back, and relax with this effortless transfer to reach your desired destination between Sofia, Bulgaria, and Nis, Serbia. Benefit from a one-way private car or minivan transfer service to start off your vacation, business trip, or visit. Indicate your preferred time and pickup point when booking and be ready for collection at least 5 minutes before the specified pickup time. The comfortable vehicles and friendly staff are fully equipped to meet your needs for a real VIP experience. Settle in for the ride for the transfer duration of approximately two hours across 160 kilometers.

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What people are saying about Niš

Overall rating

4.6 / 5

based on 82 reviews

This tour to the city of Niš in Serbia is a wonderful opportunity to get to know one more country for the list when in Sofia, Bulgaria. The trip was made with a very small group, so it soon became a great personalized experience. The tour was amazing, mainly thanks to the company of our guide Daniel, who gave one of the best experiences I've ever had in my life. A very professional, intelligent and fun guide, he informed us many very interesting things about serbian customs and history, also guiding us to a lot of famous places of the city of Niš. So friendly that at the end of the day we could say he was already our friend. I highly recommend this tour, the company Bultrips and also the fantastic guide Daniel.

I am glad that I visited Niš in mid-late February. The weather was beautiful and the food was wonderful. The location wasn’t too far away for a day trip, so, with another traveler, we visited a couple of historical/touristic sites and the local market. Big thanks to our guide, who was such a nice person and kindly recommended us local food and places to go during our free time. I really enjoyed this trip and I highly recommend it to everyone!

Absolutely wonderful experience with a great guide - Mikhail. Despite the longer drive to and back, Mikhail engaged in conversation en route and even gave us recommendations for Sofia. The pace was steady and the overall day went very smooth.

Great day out, our guide was very friendly and extremely knowledgeable about history. Would highly recommend this trip.

Amazing experience all round. The cultural stops were so interesting and the city had a lot to offer.