Day trip Niš from Belgrade: Nazi camp, Skull Tower, fortress

A single day reaches four centuries of Serbian history, from Roman times through Ottoman rule to WWII.

A full-day private tour from Belgrade to Niš, Serbia's third-largest city, with a professional English-speaking guide covering the city's Ottoman heritage, WWII sites, and Roman past. The itinerary includes the Red Cross Nazi Concentration Camp museum, Bubanj Hill's Yugoslav-era memorial, the Skull Tower, Niš Fortress on the Nišava River, and the Archaeological Hall of the Niš National Museum, with free time to explore the city and try local food before returning to Belgrade.

Step-by-step itinerary

Full day trip to Niš city

• Pick up from Belgrade hotel
• Drive to Niš (2+ hours)
• Explore Niš city sights with guide
• Visit Red Cross Nazi Concentration Camp museum
• Visit Bubanj Hill memorial site
• See the Skull Tower monument
• Tour Niš Fortress
• Pass by Banovina Building and monuments
• Visit Archaeological Hall of Niš National Museum
• Free time for individual activities and food
• Drive back to Belgrade hotel

The experience

What makes Niš worth a full day from Belgrade is the density of history layered into one small city. The drive south takes just over two hours on the highway, leaving you the rest of the day to move through sites that span from pre-Roman times to the present. Your guide handles the navigation and the stories. You move through the city in an air-conditioned vehicle, stopping to walk the grounds and absorb what each place meant.

The WWII section anchors much of the day. The Red Cross was a Nazi transit camp where around 30,000 prisoners (Jews, Serbians, and Roma) passed through during the Second World War. What sets it apart from other concentration camps is the mass escape of 105 inmates on February 12, 1942, the first organized breakout of its scale in occupied Europe. From there, Bubanj Hill, 3 kilometers from the city center, holds the Yugoslav-era memorial: three gigantic fists rising from the ground, sculpted by Ivan Sabolić, marking the site where close to 10,000 prisoners were executed. The Skull Tower, unique in the world, was built by the Ottomans as a warning: originally 952 skulls were embedded in it. 59 remain today, still a stark illustration of what the tower was meant to convey.

The Niš Fortress sits on the bank of the Nišava River and took its current form in 1723 when the Turks built it as their rule in the region was ending. The construction brought stonecutters from Constantinople and around 400 bricklayers from Niš. Before that, forts had stood on the same ground since Roman times. You'll also pass the Banovina Building, monuments at King Milan Square, and the memorial to Stevan Sremac, one of Serbia's greatest comedy writers. The Archaeological Hall of the Niš National Museum closes the formal tour with exhibits from the Neolithic Age through the Middle Ages. After that, the day is yours to wander the city and eat: Niš is known for traditional food worth trying. The return to Belgrade takes about two hours.

What’s included

• All fuel, parking and road tolls.
• professional English-speaking guide.
• transport in an air-conditioned minivan or sedan depending on group size.
• hotel pickup and drop-off in Belgrade.
• a bottle of water per person.
• combined entry to the Red Cross Nazi Concentration Camp museum, Skull Tower, and Archaeological Hall of the Niš National Museum.

Before you book

Days and timesTuesday to SundayDeparts at 08:00

Book up to12h before

AgesAdult (13 and older) · Child (3 to 12 years) · Infant (under 3): free

GroupUp to 8

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 2 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyInfant seats availablePets welcome

Operated by VICTOR TOURS

Is this one for you?Choose this if you want a guide-led overview of Niš's Ottoman and modern history in one afternoon, traveling by vehicle between multiple sites rather than exploring on foot.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (3 to 12 years); Infant (under 3): free.

How long is the drive from Belgrade to Niš?

The drive south on the highway takes slightly more than two hours, leaving most of the day to spend in the city itself before the return journey.

What was the Red Cross camp, and why is it different from other Nazi concentration camps?

The Red Cross was a Nazi transit camp where around 30,000 prisoners (Jews, Serbians, and Roma) were held during WWII. Unlike other concentration camps, it was the site of the first mass escape in occupied Europe: on February 12, 1942, 105 inmates organized and fled the camp.

What is the Skull Tower, and why does it still stand?

The Skull Tower is a monument built by the Ottomans as a warning against resistance to their rule. Originally 952 skulls were built into it. 59 remain today. It was never destroyed because it was kept standing as a reminder to future generations of the sacrifices made toward Serbian liberation.

When was Niš Fortress built, and what was it constructed for?

Niš Fortress took its final shape in 1723 when the Turks built it as their rule in the region was ending. Though the current structure is Ottoman, forts have stood on the same site since ancient Roman times.

Is there time to eat local food in Niš, or is the day fully scheduled?

After the formal tour ends at the Archaeological Hall, you have free time for individual activities and to try the traditional delicacies Niš is known for. A traditional Serbian lunch can be added as an optional extra.