Niš

Tours

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.

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.

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.

South - east part of Serbia was always known as a region that is full of mysteries and interesting stories. You will be introduced to some of them and who knows, maybe we will create a new story ourselves. Our first destination is city of Niš, many people call it city on a crossroad and for a good reason. Positioned on river Nišava banks, in spacious and fertile valley, Niš was destined to become significant place on the Balkans since the first centuries of its existence. With such strategic advantages, Niš was growing during the centuries as significant military, economy, cultural and religious center of the people who inhabited it and states that owned it (Celts, Romans, Byzantines, medieval Serbia, Ottoman Empire and modern Serbian state). Niš is a birthplace of Constantine the Great, one of the most important Roman emperor that legalised Christianity throughout the empire. Fortress that is surrounded by Nišava river is good example of Ottoman fortification architecture. Another side of the coin is Skull Tower and monument of the Battle of Čegar which shows how Serbs fought for liberty and freedom against Ottomans and story of courage and sacrifice. Liberation from varios ocupators continues in memorial park Bubanj and Red Cross contrencation camp – places that wisper the stories from Word war II.In the center of the city there is one old Caldron street that had a lot of craft workshops and in it you can see what is true way to drink Balkan coffee and you will learn about „institution“ of merak. Eat burek in a city where burek was originaly made in 16th century, our suggestion is quarter with meat.

South - east part of Serbia was always known as a region that is full of mysteries and interesting stories. You will be introduced to some of them and who knows, maybe we will create a new story ourselves. Our first destination is city of Niš, many people call it city on a crossroad and for a good reason. Positioned on river Nišava banks, in spacious and fertile valley, Niš was destined to become significant place on the Balkans since the first centuries of its existence. With such strategic advantages, Niš was growing during the centuries as significant military, economy, cultural and religious center of the people who inhabited it and states that owned it (Celts, Romans, Byzantines, medieval Serbia, Ottoman Empire and modern Serbian state). Niš is a birthplace of Constantine the Great, one of the most important Roman emperor that legalised Christianity throughout the empire. Fortress that is surrounded by Nišava river is good example of Ottoman fortification architecture. Another side of the coin is Skull Tower and monument of the Battle of Čegar which shows how Serbs fought for liberty and freedom against Ottomans and story of courage and sacrifice. Liberation from varios ocupators continues in memorial Red Cross contrencation camp – places that wisper the stories from Word war II. In the center of the city there is one old Caldron street that had a lot of craft workshops and in it you can see what is true way to drink Balkan coffee and you will learn about „institution“ of merak. Eat burek in a city where burek was originaly made in 16th century, our suggestion is quarter with meat. After bustle of city we will go to the nature, we will visit infamous Devil’s town. It is a natural phenomenon with 202 earth figures in a specific forms of relief which appear rather attractive, and two springs of extremely acid water with high mineralization. Natural surroundings of the soil figures, seeming very harsh are almost mystical, and in the wider area picturesque and tame, the remains of a settlement, the old church and a few interesting mining groves, only add to the uniqueness of this place. Legend says that on that place there was going to be a wedding of brother and sister that didn’t know they are related and it was orchestrated by the Devil himself. In order to stop the incest, God made all the wedding guests into stone and they still stand today to show the power of God in form of earth figures. Entire valley does feel eerie but there is nothing to be afraid, it is ’’just’’ a natural phenomenon and it will leave you intrigued and happy that you visited something unique.

At 8a.m your #destinationserbia tour guide will pick you up from your accommodation. Departing from Belgrade, our journey heads south along the Morava valley. After approximately 2.5 hours, with a short break on the way, we arrive to Niš. Our first destination within the city is Mediana, an archaeological site and the best-preserved segment of the Roman city Naissus. Birthplace of Constantine the Great, Naissus witnessed the construction of Mediana—a luxurious royal palace on its outskirts—during Constantine's rule. Exploring the site, we encounter mosaics and remnants of this palace used by Constantine the Great and his successors. Transitioning to the early 19th century, we delve into the time of the First Serbian Uprising—a revolutionary period that laid the groundwork for modern-day Serbia. Our next stop is the Skull Tower, a poignant symbol built by Ottomans using the skulls of fallen Serbian soldiers. A testament to resistance and the Serbian people's pursuit of freedom. Following this, we visit the Red Cross concentration camp from WWII. Operated by the German Gestapo, the camp detained around 30,000 individuals, primarily Jews, Serbians, and Romas. While serving as a transit camp, few were directly killed on-site; instead, many were transported to Bubanj Hill in Niš for execution or to other concentration camps. Notably, this camp distinguished itself with a historic event—the first mass escape of prisoners in occupied Europe on February 12, 1942, where 105 individuals successfully fled. A core attraction of Niš is its Fortress, initially built by the Romans and later shaped by the Ottomans in the 18th century. The fortress encapsulates traces of numerous historical periods and stands as both a historical monument and a picturesque park in the heart of Niš. Our exploration continues through the city center, concluding with a gastronomic indulgence in the world-class cuisine of Southern Serbia. The unique flavors of the South, accompanied by local wine and rakija, offer an essential experience. As we savor the culinary delights and immerse ourselves in the stories of the local bohemians, our palate satisfied, we embark on our return journey to Belgrade, where we’ll arrive in the evening.

This service will include a shuttle taxi from Skopje to Belgrade or vise versa. You will be picked up from your address in Skopje (or Belgrade) and make a transfer to Belgrade (or Skopje). Traveling time will be about 5 to 6-hours so you will have time for a coffee break and lunch at one of the nearby cities in Serbia can be arranged for you (suggestion - city of Vranje). This trip will be organized by car for a maximum of 3 persons or van with a maximum of 8 persons. You can be picked up from any address in Skopje (or Belgrade) and dropped off to any address in Belgrade (or Skopje). No additional costs. Also, you will have a possibility for doing a tour in Nis, if you are interested or visit some winery in Vranje.

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.

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 Roman Emperor Constantine the Great. 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 lunch/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.