landmark
Skull Tower (Ćele Kula)
A chilling Ottoman-era tower embedded with the skulls of defeated Serbian rebels, a unique and sobering monument to the struggle for independence.
2 km · about 5 min drive
EuropeSerbiaCentral Serbia
Niš
Central Serbia, Serbia · Europe
About Niš
Niš is worth a stop: 15 minutes from Niška Banja, 55km from Đavolja Varoš.
Niš is in Central Serbia, Serbia, with about 250,000 people. You drive on the right here. The nearest town is Niška Banja, about 9 km away.
Niš (; Serbian Cyrillic: Ниш, Serbian pronunciation: [nîːʃ] ; names in other languages), less often spelled in English as Nish, is the third largest city in Serbia and the administrative center of the Nišava District. It is located in the southern part of Serbia. According to the 2022 census, the city proper has aRead more
population of 178,976, while its administrative area has a population of 249,501 inhabitants.
Several Roman emperors were born in Niš or used it as a residence: Constantine the Great, the first Christian emperor and the founder of Constantinople, Constantius III, Constans, Vetranio, Julian, Valentinian I, Valens; and Justin I. Emperor Claudius Gothicus decisively defeated the Goths at the Battle of Naissus (present-day Niš). Later playing a prominent role in the history of the Byzantine Empire, the city's past would earn it the nickname Imperial City.
After about 400 years of Ottoman rule, the city was liberated in 1878 and became part of the Principality of Serbia, though not without great bloodshed—remnants of which can be found throughout the city. Today, Niš is one of the most important economic centers in Serbia, especially in the electronics, mechanical engineering, textile, and tobacco industries. Constantine the Great Airport is Niš's international airport. The city is also the seat of the University of Niš, the Eparchy of Niš and the Command of Serbian Army.
In 2013, the city was host to the celebration of 1,700 years of Constantine's Edict of Milan.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is there to see near Niš?
Within an hour or so of Niš: Skull Tower (Ćele Kula) (2 km), Đavolja Varoš (55 km), Stara Planina (Balkan Mountains) (56 km).
Are there any good drives near Niš?
The nearest famous roads are Petrohan Pass and Iskar Gorge.
Where is Niš?
Niš is in Central Serbia, Serbia, about 9 km from Niška Banja.
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Quick Information
- Population
- 250,000
- Continent
- Europe
- Country
- Serbia
- Region
- Central Serbia
- Timezone
- Europe/Belgrade
- Coordinates
- 43.3247, 21.9033
Tags
Worth the detour from Niš
3 notable places within an hour's drive.
natural wonder
Đavolja Varoš
A field of roughly 200 eroded earth pyramids capped with stone on Radan mountain, with a signed access road, car park and boardwalk trail.
55 km · about 65 min drive
natural wonder
Stara Planina (Balkan Mountains)
A rugged mountain range stretching across Serbia and Bulgaria with pristine waterfalls, alpine meadows, and remote villages.
56 km · about 65 min drive
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