Best Nis In Serbia Day Trip 2023

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Greetings Internet Stranger! So you’re looking for the best Nis in Serbia day trip? Well, here I am to accommodate you. As a child of the 90s, I grew up with a very negative impression of Serbia from the evening news.

But while I don’t want to minimize the terrible things that happened between Serbia and its neighbors back then, I found it to be a beautiful country with lots of young people eager to look to the future…and delicious meats. Join me for 24 hours in Serbia, and I’ll show you my favorite parts of the country outside of Belgrade.

We’re going to stop in Nis, which is the third largest city in Serbia, and we will also check out a couple of fortresses. Serbia is simply famous for fortresses, don’t you know? So let’s not waste any time and head out on a day of fun!

I am utterly unable to drive, so I needed to take a private tour to go to Nis. You have a couple of options here for your Nis in Serbia day trip. You can either take a private tour from Belgrade, which is what I did, or you can spend the night in Nis and take a tour of Nis once you are there.

If you want to take the tour from Belgrade,

check rates and availability right here.

And if you’d rather take a walking tour in Nis, that’s great too!

Check rates and availability right here!

Nis in Serbia day trip

Where to Stay?

Belgrade is the main metropolis in Serbia, so I suggest using it as your home base for the best Nis in Serbia day trip. I highly recommend the Envoy Hotel in Belgrade. It is a luxury hotel at mid-range prices.

The location right in the center of Belgrade couldn’t be more convenient, the staff was extremely helpful and spoke perfect English, and the breakfast spread every morning was to die for. Even the breakfast meats were amazing! (As we will see, meat is a big theme in Serbia.)

If you’d like to find a great deal on the Envoy, click here.

And if you want to explore the best prices on tons of other hotels in Belgrade or Nis, just click here.

This search engine will help you find the perfect place to stay for your day of the best Nis in Serbia day trip. With hundreds of options to choose from, I’m sure you’ll find something for your schedule and budget.

Nis in Serbia day trip

Morning: Nis

Nis is the third-largest city in Serbia, and while it’s not as pretty as Novi Sad or as cosmopolitan as Belgrade, it’s still an enjoyable place to spend a morning. I recommend getting here as soon as you can from Sofia or Belgrade or wherever you are coming from and spending half a day here. Or you can spend the night here and enjoy a more relaxing time in a unique city that many tourists don’t visit.

The service in restaurants can be a little slow, and you don’t want to have to gobble down your food. Not that this happened to me. Ahem.

But you didn’t come here to learn about my poor time management skills! You came to learn about Nis!

The best way to see Nis is on a guided tour, and if you have more time, I suggest booking this one. You’ll learn all about the most amazing things to see and do in Nis, including all of Nis Fortress and a very good winery.

Check rates and availability by going here.

I’m sure you are eager to see all the wonders that Nis has to offer. In which case I’m happy to oblige you with…

Approximately Top 5: Nis

1) King Milan Square

King Milan Square is one of the most important squares in Nis. You absolutely cannot miss it when you enter the city, so do not even try. The spacious and bodacious square is mostly famous for its giant statue to the Liberators of Nis.

This statue doesn’t seem to be dedicated to only one person–rather it is memorializing those who fought for Serbia against the Ottoman occupation and during World War I. I know any time I see a Serbia war memorial, I get a little nervous, but this one seems okay. And in any case, it’s valuable to remember the young men who lost their lives too soon.

However, even if the war memorial is worth a visit, I was more interested in these cute and colorful buildings that surround the main square. A lot of the buildings I saw in Nis were in the Communist style, which means fugly.

But these colorful buildings that you see in my photo above are so charming and Central European! I mean, do I wish there were more adorable things in these buildings than a SLOT CLUB and a UniCredit Bank? Sure. But you can’t have everything in this life.

2) Nis Fortress

In my opinion, this fortress that you see in my photo above is the Must See Attraction in Nis. Nis Fortress is a Cultural Monument of Great Importance, which I know because there are signs all around Nis saying this is a Cultural Monument of Great Importance. Even though this edifice looks astoundingly old, it was only built back in the 18th century. That’s right; it’s a trompe l’oeil fortress.

And if you know anything about who was in charge of Serbia back in the 18th century days, you know that means Nis Fortress was built by the Ottoman Turks. There were older fortifications on this spot dating all the way back to Roman times, but this is the fortress that has been left standing. Those Ottomans really knew how to build a wall that would last, is all I am saying.

As an American, it’s always crazy to me how Europeans take structures like this for granted. Here are a bunch of people just casually on their way to work while walking through a 300 year old structure. In America we would cover this whole thing up with security guards and charge 20 bucks admission just to see it. Get on it, Serbia!

3) Jazz Museum

If you had asked me to make a list of what I thought the best Nis in Serbia day trip would be before I visited, a jazz museum would not have been on said list. I didn’t even know that jazz had been exported to Serbia. That’s why I was so excited to find the Nisville Jazz Museum. Apparently there is a giant jazz festival held in the Nis fortress every summer called Nisville.

The festival combines jazz and…Serbian folk music, which are two tastes I would not have thought to combine. And that’s why you’ll find objects in the museum belonging to everyone from American R&B legend Solomon Burke to the late Shaban Bajramovic, a Serbian-Romani folk singer.

I had never heard any Serbian folk music before going to Nisville, but when I listen to Bajramovic, I can see how traditional Serbian tunes are similar to jazz in some ways. Give a listen for yourself and see if you can tell what I mean! Truly music is the language that brings all peoples together.

I sadly was not able to attend the Nisville festival because I didn’t have enough time on this trip. Next time, Serbia!

4) Tramway

You might be confused reading the word Tramway and then looking at my delicious lunch. How can I have such a scrumptious meal on a tram? Well, Tramvaj is actually a restaurant in what looks to be an old tram car. If you’ve ever wanted to step inside Murder on the Orient Express, only without any actual murder and with a lot more pancakes, this is the place for you!

For lunch at Tramvaj, I had savory pancakes stuffed with ham and cheese and topped with very fresh sour cream. I loved how the pancakes were as light and fluffy as a baby lamb made of clouds and dreams.

Plus the cukes and tomatoes were so much fresher than the veggies I find at the corner grocery store back home. Who knew one of the best Nis in Serbia day trip would be to eat cucumbers on pancakes?

Tramway is famous for its desserts, but I didn’t have time for a full sit down dessert, so I got this elaborate coffee drink with my pancakes instead as a “lighter” option.

Yes, it has chocolate ice cream, chocolate syrup, and whipped cream on it, so it’s not really that healthy. I think if Starbucks made this drink it would sell out in about five seconds and we’d all be much less healthy.

That’s it for the best Nis in Serbia day trip, focusing on Nis, at least the ones that I could find. You’ll have to book the guided tour for yourself if you want to find out more.

Check rates and availability right here!

Nis in Serbia day trip

Afternoon: Smederevo Fortress

No list of things to do in Serbia including a Nis in Serbia day trip is complete without another fortress. From my brief time in Serbia, I gathered that building fortresses and cooking meat are what Serbs do best.

Fortunately Smederevo Fortress, an authentic Serbian medieval fortress, is right in between Nis and Belgrade. For that reason, there’s absolutely no excuse for not stopping here and seeing the best architecture 15th Serbia has to offer. Especially when you have me to assist you with…

Three Fun Facts: Smederevo Fortress

1) Where is Smederevo Fortress?

It’s just a short drive away from Belgrade, about 45 kilometers. At least I think that’s short but I’m American and don’t really understand kilometers.

My guess is it’s too far away to walk and too close to fly. The Smederevo Fortress is located in the city of Smederevo, which is easy enough to remember. I didn’t get a chance to visit Smederevo on my trip, but I don’t think it’s as interesting as Nis or Belgrade.

But most importantly this fabulous fortress of solitude is located on the bank of one of the most famous rivers in Europe: the Danube. (On the fortress’s other side is the Jezava, but this is less famous because Strauss never wrote the Blue Jezava Waltz.

2) Why is Smederevo Fortress?

This fortress was commissioned in the 15th century by the last medieval despot of Serbia, Đurađ Branković. (I think that’s pronounced dzuradz brankovich, but my Serbian is really terrible so you shouldn’t trust me.)

I was amused to see that he is officially known as a despot because I thought despot was something only your enemies called you. But maybe Đurađ Branković liked striking fear into the hearts of all and sundry? I don’t know his life.

Smederevo was actually the capital of medieval Serbia for a brief period of time. Belgrade was the capital of Serbia before then, but apparently the Serbs needed to give Belgrade to Hungary for some reason that I assume involved violence. I can’t imagine Hungary took a city just by asking really nicely.

So Brankovic needed to find a new capital and build a fortress to keep the Ottoman Empire out. (Spoiler alert: it didn’t work.) Medieval Times were a lot rougher than medieval-themed restaurants would have us believe.

3) What is there to do here?

Well the best, easiest, and funnest thing to do is just wander about the walls and take photos of the stunning walls and rivers. There is a small charge for admission, so I hope you brought Serbian cash with you!

There was a Societe Generale ATM right around King Milan Square in Nis that gave me all the currency I needed, as I was coming from Bulgaria. Included with the price of admission to the fortress is a small brochure about the fortress, but since it was entirely in Serbian, I still have no idea what it says.

As it’s a fortress with high walls, you’ll need to do a fair bit of climbing to get to the top. They didn’t have elevators in the 14th century, I believe. So bring your stepcounter so you can feel truly smug at the end of the day. You’ll definitely have earned the fine glass of Serbian wine we’re about to partake in.

Nis in Serbia day trip

Evening: Dinner at Hometown Food Restaurant

It’s the end of our Nis in Serbia day trip, and we’ve just arrived in Belgrade for our dinner. I was excited to find that there was a popular restaurant near my hotel called Hometown Food Restaurant. I was hoping it would serve the guests the food of their hometown, whether they were from Paris, France or Paris, Texas.

But instead, it just seems to serve some yummy Serbian-style home cooking, which was more than satisfying after a long day of driving and walking around fortresses.

I especially recommend the homemade sausages which are actually made with real, quality meat and not whatever passes for meat in the hot dogs back home in NYC.

24 Hour Treasure

I cannot tell you how surprised I was to turn the corner and find a silver man just chillaxing on a building. I was even more surprised to learn this was no street performer, but rather a large statue of late character actor Karl Malden just hanging out here in Belgrade.

I know him from the Natalie Wood-Rosalind Russell classic musical Gypsy and his Oscar-winning work in A Streetcar Named Desire. But you might know him from his shilling for American Express cards on the TV.

However, what I did not know is that Mr. Malden was born with the name Mladen George Sekulovich. That’s right, his father was Serbian, and Malden spoke Serbian fluently all his life. Truly it’s amazing what you learn when you go wandering about random cities.

Nis in Serbia day trip

Tools For Travel

• A portable cell charger so that your phone won’t die a miserable death during your Nis in Serbia day trip
• The best international travel adapter because if you’re American like I am, you’ll need one to be able to plug in electronics during your Nis in Serbia day trip
• I always get good advice from Lonely Planet’s guide to the Western Balkans, including a Nis in Serbia day trip. They divide the guide into sections by region, which is very helpful.
• The most reliable travel umbrella that is small enough to fit in my purse, but strong enough to stand up to powerful winds on our day
• These great TSA approved clear toiletries bags, so I can always keep spare toothpaste and travel sized toiletries in any carry-on.
• My book Get Lost, that I wrote myself with all my best travel tips. This book will show you how travel can take you on a journey of self-discovery.

And That’s a Nis in Serbia day trip!

What would you do on a Nis in Serbia day trip? Are you ready to start booking your hotel in Belgrade, Serbia right now? Did you know that Karl Malden was Serbian? Did you even know who Karl Malden is? Be honest, Internet Stranger! And please email me at stellajane@aroundtheworldin24hours.com and let me know!

Note: If you want to know how I put my travel itineraries together, just click here. Keep in mind that while each article is about how to spend 24 hours in a place, that doesn’t mean you should ONLY try 24 hours of a Nis in Serbia day trip.

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