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Full-day Nis and Serbian History Tour from Sofia: Authentic Serbian Cuisine and Historic Exploration
4.5
81 Ratings
Sofia
Embark on a full-day Nis and Serbian History Tour from Sofia and discover the birthplace of Constantine the Great. Indulge in authentic Serbian cuisine and explore the intriguing history of former Yugoslavia.
Embark on a full-day Nis and Serbian History Tour from Sofia and discover the birthplace of Constantine the Great. Indulge in authentic Serbian cuisine and explore the intriguing history of former Yugoslavia.
Duration:
10 hours
Cancellation:
24 hours
Highlights
- Mediana - This Roman estate exhibits the remains of a granary, craft centre, villas , thermae, and the remains of ancient villa with rich mosaics. Most mosaics exhibit geometrical or floral motifs, while two mosaics presenting figures - the head of the Medusa and a semi-prostrate figure of a river deity (probably Neptune). The museum contains…
- Mediana - This Roman estate exhibits the remains of a granary, craft centre, villas , thermae, and the remains of ancient villa with rich mosaics. Most mosaics exhibit geometrical or floral motifs, while two mosaics presenting figures - the head of the Medusa and a semi-prostrate figure of a river deity (probably Neptune). The museum contains sculptures and portraits of Roman gods and goddesses, utensils for daily use (bowls, pitchers, lamps) and remnants of lead pipes used to provide healing hot water from the nearby Niska Banja (Nis Spa).
- Skull Tower - Upon our arrival in Niš we will first visit the famous Cele Kula (Skull Tower NIS) where you will learn about the atrocities of the Turks against the Serbs and you will see a unique in the world monument for the sacrifice of Serbian revolutionaries.
- Red Cross Nazi Concentration Camp - At 15:00h we will drive to Niš Concentration Camp - a small but very authentic concentration camp set by the Germans during World War 2 to imprison and kill Jews, Romas and other minorities. We leave back to Sofia around 16:00h and expect to arrive around 18:30h.
- Nis Fortress - 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).
What's Included
- In-vehicle air conditioning
- Driver/guide in English
- In-vehicle air conditioning
- Driver/guide in English
What's Not Included
- Food and drinks
- Entrance fees (10 € per person) cash or card
- Food and drinks
- Entrance fees (10 € per person) cash or card
Additional Information
Nis, just 163 kilometers from Sofia, offers a great opportunity to gain a Serbian stamp in your passport, all the while remaining lodged in your Bulgarian hotel. As Serbia’s third largest city and the birthplace of Constantine the Great, a significant emperor in Roman history, Nis has a lot to offer. Delve into the compelling history of the former…
Nis, just 163 kilometers from Sofia, offers a great opportunity to gain a Serbian stamp in your passport, all the while remaining lodged in your Bulgarian hotel. As Serbia’s third largest city and the birthplace of Constantine the Great, a significant emperor in Roman history, Nis has a lot to offer. Delve into the compelling history of the former Yugoslavia while enjoying delicious traditional Serbian roshtil (grill). You can either dine in a local restaurant, where many vegetarian and vegan options are available and cards are accepted, or experience the street food culture of Serbia.
- Children must be accompanied by an adult
- Balkan boarders are busy during July and August. To avoid delays, alternative routes might be taken, adding a few hours to the trip.
- Cash (10 € per person) or credit/debit card needed for entrance fees.
- On 07 January and 14 January the sites and the museums will not be open.
Location
Serdika Meeting Point - V Travel Day Tours Departures
bulevard "Knyaginya Maria Luiza"
8:30 Departure from Serdika Meeeting Point (2, Maria Luiza boulevard across McDonalds on the main street). Please show up at least 10 minutes earlier and look for a V Travel branded vehicle (car, minivan, van, minibus).
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
4.5
(81 Ratings)
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Annie_l
May 18, 2025
Highly recommended day trip from Sofia - We had an excellent time on our tour to Nis. Our guide Georgi was very good, super knowledgeable and an excellent driver. Mediana, the Skull Tower, and the concentration camp were really interesting. A bit more time at the concentration camp would have been good as there was a lot of information to read. The tour was structured very well and the day did not feel long at all. Overall an excellent day trip
from Bulgaria.
Review provided by Viator
Daniel_t
Apr 27, 2025
Great tour to Serbia for a day! - Great tour! Wish there was more time in Nis. Make sure to buy drinks for the bus ride! Concentration camp is apparently a must but I would have spent more time in Nis over that.
Review provided by Viator
Pulahinge_r
Apr 20, 2025
A day in Nis - It was nice day spent in Nis. The tour guide Mihail / Michael was helpful and knowledgeable. The border crossing was smooth. Overall a great experience.
Review provided by Viator
Jenny_c
Mar 22, 2025
Interesting tour with a great guide - This is a very interesting tour, with stops covering a huge amount of the local history in a relatively short time. This is a good time of year to go as the border crossings were very quiet. And we were only a small group of 3 so we traveled in a comfortable and air conditioned car rather than a van/minibus.
As always, the knowledge and flexibility of the guide makes the tour and Georgi was fantastic. Hugely knowledgeable on Balkan history, language, and politics so that we learnt a lot about historical and modern day Bulgaria and Serbia. He also fit in time for me to quickly find a geocache at one of the stops, fulfilling my own tradition when I go to a new country! And he took the time to drive us on smaller local roads in certain sections, rather than the quicker motorways, so that we could see more of the country and enjoy beautiful mountain views.
Review provided by Viator
Londoner5869
Dec 28, 2024
A Convenient and Amazing Day Trip - This tour is a great way to experience another country while visiting Sofia. The guide was excellent, speaking both languages fluently, which made navigating border control a breeze—a process that could otherwise be a bit tricky.
Once in Nis, there’s plenty of free time to explore the city on your own and enjoy a delicious lunch at a local grill house. It’s a perfect chance to wander around, soak up the atmosphere, and try some authentic Serbian food.
The guided stops were well-organized and very informative. Highlights included the Nis concentration camp, the fascinating Skull Tower, and the Roman ruins of Mediana, each offering insights into Serbia’s rich and complex history.
If you’re looking to add a bit of adventure and cultural discovery to your trip, this is a solid option. A well-paced and enjoyable way to see Serbia for a day!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Emi_m
Dec 1, 2024
Great tour for learning history - I had a great time on this tour. Our driver/guide Ivan was great! He was punctual, organized, knowledgeable, kind and funny.
He shared a lot of cultural and historic insights of Serbia as well as some tips on having fun in Niš.
A lot of people here are saying the road trip is too long, but it didn’t bother me at all. I had a bad jet lag so I got much needed sleep in the van.
The border crossing was easy. On the way there, there was no car ahead of us so it took 5 minutes to exit Bulgaria and another 5 to enter Serbia.
I just wish our free time was a bit longer. We had 2 hours. But it would have been more enjoyable if we had 2.5 or 3 hours.
I didn’t know that in Niš, restaurants allow smoking inside and there is no “no -smoking” area. If you are sensitive to smoke and/or smell like me, it may be challenging. Fortunately the place I went to wasn’t too crowded so I was able to endure it (I guess it’s a part of learning different cultures too).
On our way back at the border, there were a few cars ahead of us but it still took no less than 20 minutes total.
We were back by 6pm.
Niš is a gem if you love learning history.
I highly recommend it.
Review provided by Viator
Andrea_m
Nov 24, 2024
Brilliant tour - Great guide and a nice small group. Very informative and not rushed so learnt a lot. The border was also quiet so we were lucky
Review provided by Viator
Mark
Nov 11, 2024
Great trip. Highly recommended. - Excellent day out to Nis, Philip our driver & guide was fun, informative & great company. He took us to a great Serbian restaurant for lunch and the day was full of interesting stops. Weather was perfect too which helped. Definitely worth it.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Alisonrm2071tr
Oct 24, 2024
Good introduction to Serbia! Nis is v interesting. - Good day out of Sofia to get a quick introduction to Croatian history & more of the Balkans. Ivan our driver-guide was an excellent communicator who enthusiastically regaled us with information & answered all questions. The van was comfortable; attention was paid to our needs. We saw loads of interesting things.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
久美子
Apr 20, 2025
I didn't have a way to contact them to cancel until the last minute, and when I finally did, they had already debited me. Even if I wanted to participate, I had already returned home. It's a pity, even if it's a mistake. Thank you for your consideration. - When I finally got in touch with them last minute because I had no way to cancel, they had already debited me. Will the money not come back? On the day of the activity, I had already returned home.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
