Niška tvrđava, Fortress of Nis

Niš (pronounced: 'neesh') is a city in Serbia. Niš is the administrative centre of the Nišava District.

Understand

Tourist information

The Niš Tourist Organization has two Tourist information centres as well as a website. In the tourist information centres one can get information related to tourism in Niš. They also sell maps, brochures, souvenirs and postcards. The website is quite comprehensive and detailed (available in both English and Serbian).

• Tourist information centre "The Fortress", Tvrdjava, ☏ +381 18 250222, info@visitnis.com. 
• Tourist information centre Niska Banja Spa, Sindjeliceva 3b, Niska Banja, ☏ +381 18 4548588, info@visitnis.com. 
• Tourist Organization of Nis. 

Get in

Niš is an important crossroad between central Europe and the middle East, and assumes the central position in the Balkan peninsula. It is situated in southeast Serbia, with the coordinates - Latitude: 43° 19' 29 N, Longitude: 21° 54' 12 E. It is located in Niš Valley and surrounded by a number of mountains, two rivers, two beautiful gorges, and numerous sites of historical importance from various periods. Some approximate distances: Niš - Belgrade 240 km, Niš - Sofia 150 km, Niš - Skopje 200 km, Niš - Thessaloniki - 400 km. Niš is a must see historical city for any traveler passing through on his way to Greece or the Middle East.

The streets of this university city with 1/4 million residents are buzzing with life.

By car

While you might not need a visa ... Foreigners are required by law to register themselves with the police station in their district within 24 hours of receiving a Serbian entry stamp at a border crossing or airport. Registration is done automatically by hotel staff upon check-in, however if you are staying with friends in a private dwelling, the responsibility falls on you and your host to register yourself with the police in the district in which you are staying. In case the police station does not provide the form you will need to buy a Foreigner Registration Form from a nearby newsagent or bookstore (these usually cost 15 dinars/approx. €0.12). With completed form in hand, your host and you should submit your passport and your host's Serbian ID card along with the Registration Form. You will receive the bottom half of the Form to carry with you; when exiting the country, you will be required to present it to the Border Police. Most times they will not ask for it, and you can keep it as an administrative memento. Never forget, though, that failure to register and obtain the bottom half of the Registration Form can result in prosecution and a large fine (minimum €50 ) (also for your host).

The European motorway E75 routes through Niš. From the north, you may use any highway from the Hungarian border over Novi Sad and Belgrade to Niš. From the northwest, you can travel over Austria, via Slovenia and Croatia to Belgrade and then to Niš. These are all modern highways, including the section Belgrade-Niš. It is a fast road with six lanes and 120km/h speed limit, which locals seldom observe as the road is in a pretty good shape. Beware of the police, though. At this speed, travel time from Belgrade is usually two hours.

The highway continues for another 10km towards the Bulgarian border, and then turns into a narrower mountainous road to Sofia. Caution is advised here, especially along the 20 kilometres of the beautiful Gorge of Sicevo, starting just after the end of the highway on the outskirts of the city. The other extension of the highway branches to the south, towards Macedonia and Greece. The fine motorway continues for another 60km south of Niš and then narrows down into a normal road, entering the Gorge of Grdelica, where caution is also advised.

Tolls are paid for highways Niš - Belgrade and Niš - Leskovac (south towards Macedonia and on to Greece), while using the road to Sofia is free of charge.

By bus

• 1 Bus station (Autobuska Stanica) (a couple of blocks north of the river. The quickest route from the bus station to the main square (Trg Kralja Milana) is to go left down the side road past all the market stalls and the covered market. This takes you to the fortress entrance from where you can cross the river and head towards the obvious Ambassador hotel.). Almost all buses traveling from the northwest into Bulgaria or further southeast to Turkey will stop in Niš. All buses traveling between Belgrade and Greece or Macedonia will stop in Niš. An average bus ride from Belgrade (three hours), but make sure you opt for a 'direct' bus from Belgrade central bus station, as some buses will stop in a dozen towns on the way, sometimes getting out of the highway, and prolong the ride considerably. 

By train

• 2 Train station (2Km east of the main square, a good half hour's walk.). trains to/from Skopje, Ljubljana, Zagreb, Istanbul, Vienna, Sofia and Budapest. All northbound international trains passed Belgrade. Another important railway link is the one to Bar, Montenegro, which connects Niš with the Adriatic sea. The trains are slow, not very clean, and still in the seventies style, but tickets are cheap, the scenery is sometimes beautiful, and sleeping cars are usually an option. 

By plane

• Constantine the Great International airport (code: INI) (The airport is 5km away from the city centre (much closer to the town than in most European cities, but still not suitable for walking to your hotel). Apart from taxis, there are buses taking passengers from the airport to the city on regular basis (every 15 minutes from early morning till midnight on workdays).). Currently there is one plane a day to Podgorica (Montenegro), which can be used to connect to major European capitals. Seasonal flights to Turkish, Montenegrin and Greek resorts are offered during the summer. 

Get around

On foot

Downtown area is easily accessible on foot from the bus or train stations, and most hotels and hostels. For a walk across the whole city in any direction, be prepared to spend at least two or three hours. Note that Niš is located in a small valley, but is surrounded by hills. It is not as bad as in Belgrade, whose central part virtually lies on a number of hills, but in Niš, too, as soon as you get away from broader downtown area, you may find yourself climbing.

By bus

Bus station in Niš

If you decide to use city buses, Niš has well established bus lines. Most buses have clear signs stating their directions, and almost all will at one point stop at the central city square, near the Fortress, or five minutes from it, at the King Alexander Square, near the School of Law and Army Headquarters building. Have in mind that you will be obliged to pay the fare, as there are ticket sellers in the buses. A single ticket, valid for one ride from point A to point B, inside the city zone now costs 40 Serbian dinars. Weekly and monthly tickets are also available at discount prices in small ticket shops near most bus stops.

By taxi

There are a number of small taxi companies. Expect the fare of between 150 and 300 dinars, depending on distance (start - 95 dinars + 45 dinars per km). Make sure the taxi driver turns on the taximeter, just in case. Taxis are available practically on every street, and are also reachable by phone - the local 'taxi' phone numbers cover the range from 9701 to 9721 - if you call from your cell phone, don't forget the country and area code +381 18. Pay phones with instructions in five languages are available throughout the town - a phone card must be purchased in any newspaper shop if these are to be used. Most drivers will speak at least basic English. If not, just write the name of the place/site/hotel/street you are going to and it will be fine. Niš is relatively small and all taxi drivers know all the streets by heart and do not need to consult maps. Taxi rides out of the town (including to Belgrade airport) may be agreed on with the taxi driver (sometimes in a private arrangement, at a much reduced price), but some caution is advised here.

By car

If you come by car, using hotel or hostel parking lots is advised. Car theft is not very common, but foreign license plates and unsecured vehicles parked downtown may be attractive to petty criminals, especially at night. Parking is charged in two zones in downtown area, at about €0.25-0.35/hour. There are clear traffic signs marking the two zones (red - Zone 1, up to 1 hour; green - Zone 2, up to 3 hours, Monday-Friday 7AM-9PM, Saturday 7AM-2PM). This can be paid with a small card purchased in any newspaper shop, where the driver is expected to tick the date and time and leave the card under the windshield of the car so that the traffic warden can see it. Alternatively, you may pay using your cellphone (send an SMS with your license plate number to 9181 for Zone 1 or 9182 for Zone 2 - for instance, NI123456). Failure to pay may result in a €12 fine.

There are a few rent-a-car services in the city. You may check out Euroturs Nis (http://www.euroturs-nis.co.yu/english.php?page=4),Inter Rent-a-car (http://www.rentacarnis.rs) or http://rentalex-rentacar.com/ Rentalex rent a car Nis.Rentalex - Rent a car Nis is a young agency to rent a car from Nis. Currently in its offer at attractive prices, we offer cars from the Volkswagen family. Cars have gasoline engines from 1.2 liters to provide extremely low power costs to be more economical. Expect prices ranging from €20-50 a day, depending on the car type and length of lease. The cars are usually fully ensured, but make sure the clerks you talk to have made this clear prior to any arrangement. Rent-a-car is a good option for sightseeing, as there are many interesting things to visit in the 100km vicinity of Niš in all directions. The roads are getting increasingly better, but be prepared for possible surprises outside main highways leading to Belgrade, Thessaloniki, or Sofia.

Talk

Young people usually speak enough English to communicate. Some speak it extremely well. Professionals, such as hotel personnel, speak English and another foreign language. As Niš is a university centre, if you run into some of its 30,000 students, you will have no problems talking to them.

Other officials, such as police officers, have had some basic English lessons recently, but do not expect miracles.

There can be more problems communicating with the elderly. Still, if you encounter a group of four or five persons, there is a good chance one will know enough English to help you get by.

There are now many signposts all around the city in Serbian Cyrilic script followed by English translation which should help you find your way to hotels, central city institutions and sites. Familiarization with basic Cyrilic script would be a good idea, because, following recent Serbian national laws, this traditional script is encouraged, and Latin script, once all-present in the former Yugoslavia, is getting more rare. The Latin script is dominant on advertisements and in shops, though.

Occasionally, you may encounter individuals speaking German, French or Russian, sometimes Italian or Spanish, but this is not very common.

See

Mediana, ancient mosaic floors

Niš is packed with historical sites worth visiting, dating from various periods.

• Mediana (on the road Niš - Niška Banja (Spa)). (4th cent.)- Birthplace of Emperor Constantine the Great. This ancient historical site is a testimony of the wealth and glory of the imperial Naissus . The remains of imperial palace, together with peristyle (range of surrounding columns) have been discovered. Luxury villas with mosaic floors, sacral objects (baptistery room), farming buildings with pithos, Roman bathrooms, water tanks, fort remains etc testify about Naissus culture and wealth from the times of Emperor Constantine the Great, who was born in Nis. Constantine is best remembered in modern times for three great achievements: the Edict of Milan in 313, which fully legalized Christianity in the Empire, the Council of Nicaea in 325, which made the Trinity the orthodox teaching, and the founding of Constantinople, today's Istanbul, in 330. 
• Skull Tower (Cele kula). Skull Tower was built (19th cent.) by the Turks from the skulls of the Serbs killed in the battle of Cegar, near Nis, in May 1809. It is of rectangular shape, about 3 m high and was built from quicklime, sand and the skinned skulls, upon the order of Khurshid Pasha who had first sent the skulls filled with cotton to the Sultan in Istanbul. Each side of the Tower has 14 rows with 17 openings where the skulls were embedded. There were 952 skulls, but today only 58 have remained. The rest were pulled out to be buried or were lost in time. In 1892 a chapel was built around the Tower, according to the design of the Belgrade architect Dimitrie T. Leko. The skulls are situated inside the small chapel consisting of four glass walls. Europe came to know about this horrible monument of Serbian martyrdom from the work "Voyage to the East" by the French poet Alphonse de Lamartine (1790 - 1869). 
• Niš Fortress (On the Nišava riverbank). over the remains of a Roman military camp, then Roman town called Naissus, and finally the remains of a destroyed Byzantine fortification, the Turks built a strong fortress at the beginning of 18th century. The construction of this fortress lasted from 1719 to 1723. It was built with the help of local laborers, Istanbul stonecutters and bricklayers. Beside those well saved walls and gates, numerous facilities remain from various periods, such as the armory, Turkish steam bath, Turkish post station, Bali-mosque, powderroom and prison. 
• Rusalia Church. Church of Holy Trinity of Rusalia is located above the village of Gornji Matejevac. Rusalia is the most attractive ancient structure in Niš. The church was built after the order of a local Byzantine dignitary in the first half of 11th century. 
• Kazandzijsko sokace (Tinkers alley), Kopitareva Street. This is an old urban quarter. It was built in the first half of 18th century. It was a street full of tinkers and other craftsmen, together with their houses coming from Turkish period. Unfortunately, only some of those are preserved today and protected by the state. The street has recently become packed with cafes, a favorite site for the visitors. 
• Serbian Wartime Parliament Building - Birthplace of Yugoslavia. The building of the "Youth Home" Restaurant was erected in 1890. At first, the "Bulevar" restaurant was situated in the building. The Army General Staff bought the building in 1903 and turned it into an Officers' Home, which remained there until 1941. At the beginning of World War I this building was in the focus of public attention as the centre of the political life of Serbia. On December 7, 1914 a war session of the National Assembly was held there. On that occasion the Assembly made the "Niš Declaration", which explicitly stated the military objectives of Serbia - to fight for the liberation and unification of the Balkan peoples. On May 6, 1915 the Yugoslav Congress was held in this building. The Congress issued the "Niš Resolution" which once again emphasized the need for national unity. 
• Red Cross Concentration Camp (in the city centre, close to the central bus station.). The first Nazi concentration camp in the former Yugoslavia, constructed in 1941. One of the few fully preserved concentration camps in Europe, almost intact since 1944, 'Lager Nis' was the venue of the dramatic escape in February 1942 when about 100 prisoners managed to flee . 
• Holocaust memorial on Bubanj hill (On the hill of Bubanj, south of the city centre). a monumental sculpture representing three enormous fists was erected in honor of 10,000 people, mostly Serbs and Romanies, but also about 1,100 Jews, executed in this place during World War Two. The monument is the work of sculptor Ivan Sabolic and was erected in 1963. 

Further afield

• Mausoleum of Count Alexei Kirillovich Vronsky - lover of Anna Karenina (in Gornji Adrovac (municipality of Aleksinac)). The Holy Trinity Church near Nis was built (19th cent.) in commemoration of the death of Nikolai Rayevsky. Rayevsky was celebrated as Count Vronsky in Tolstoy's famous novel Anna Karenina. 
• Niška Banja (Niš Spa) (a couple of kilometers to the southeast). There is a large park and some restaurants to accompany the nice view out over the valley. The spa is famous for its mildly radioactive hot water springs which help treat rheumatic disorders. Heart conditions are also successfully treated in the vicinity. 5km away from the spa, one reaches Sicevacka and Jelasnicka Gorges, state-protected natural reserves with intact scenery, ancient monasteries, and endemic species. 
• Villa of the "ill" Prince George (in Gornja Toponica). In 1926, the heir to the Serbian throne, Prince George Karadjordjevic, was committed to the mental hospital on grounds of insanity by his younger brother, Alexander, who was then crowned king. The prince was kept in the spacious villa locked within the mental hospital for 15 years. After World War Two his family were declared state enemies by the communist regime but George was allowed to retire in Belgrade as the only member of the Royal family in the country. 

Do

Niš is the venue of a number of national and international festivals.

• Nisville international jazz festival is held every August on the Summer Stage of the Fortress. With numerous international participants, it has been the trademark of the city for two decades, and has become especially prominent in recent years. (http://www.nisville.com/)

• Nis Choral Festival is an international festival of choral music, held on the Summer Stage biennially (in July).

• Nis Acting Festival is an international festival of film acting, once the biggest film festival in the former Yugoslavia (along with the Pula festival, now Croatia), today with a growing international reputation. It is traditionally organized in the last week of August, every year. (http://www.fsnis.org.yu/ - in Serbian)

• Nimus is the classical music festival held in late autumn (October-November). Nis is also a centre of classical music in this part of Serbia, with the growing Academy of Arts and the second-by-size Philharmonic Orchestra in the country. The classical music festival includes performances in the Symphony Orchestra building and the National Theater building, with concerts, chamber, symphonic music, and opera. (http://www.nimusfest.com/, in Serbian)

• Nisomnia popular music international festival is organized in September.

Buy

• Market (Between the fortress and the bus station). the lively market is worth a visit. You can get almost anything you can imagine, and hundreds of local smallholders sell their fruit and veg in the covered market. Also farm made soft cheese. 

Kalca

• Forum shopping mall. the biggest shopping mall in Niš. It is a huge, three-storey building, with virtually all kinds of shops: clothes, shoes, music, stationery, computer equipment, unlocked mobile phones... you name it. There are also several bars, coffee shops and one or two restaurants where you can refresh yourself after your spending spree. 
• Mercator Centar (2km from the city centre. Catch a taxi to get there.). which has a nice selection of shops and supermarket with a lot of foreign food products. Since the opening of Forum some shows had to close in Mercator due to competition. 
• Underground passage. another trademark of Niš, virtually an entire street under the central city promenade. It throngs with small shops of all kinds. They can be a bit cheaper since they often fail to pay VAT. 

Following the fashion in all Europe, the Balkans, and Serbia, Niš now hosts a variety of grand shopping malls and hypermarkets located on all outskirts of the city, where practically all goods can be purchased. The malls are usually a bit cheaper than small shops and visiting them is advisable if you should need supplies for a longer period of time (food, clothing, stationery, equipment...). Major streets contain numerous signs directing a traveler to one of these (Mercator Center, Tempo, Metro, Interex, Impex Mega Market).

Souvenirs are available in small shops in the Fortress, in the central squares of the city, or in shops near historical locations.

The local currency is dinar (€1 = approx. 110 dinars). The Serbian law does not allow that you pay in euros, dollars or any other currency in the shops, so, if you use cash, you must convert the money into dinars. Fortunately, this may be done in any bank or exchange office, and there are many in the city centre (including some automatic exchange machines in the very core of the city). In addition, a variety of credit cards are now welcome in most city shops. Vendors are legally obliged to provide fiscal stubs after any transaction. In practice, many places such as hotels will accept euro notes (often at a nominal rate of €1=110 dinars) and give change in dinars.

Eat

Niš is a food paradise. It is said that Niš produces the best Burek, a sort of greasy, phyllo dough pastry filled with cheese or ground meat that is popular throughout the Balkan peninsula. It resembles a cheese pie, but contains more fat and has stronger flavour. Also, by general consent, it is much more delicious. Some vendors sell other varieties such as apple, spinach or pizza burek (frequently just a combination between the meat and cheese Burek). Traditionally, you eat burek with yoghurt.

The Shopska salad is another phenomenal, yet simple, dish to be found in Niš. It consists of chopped up tomato, cucumber, onion, oil, a little salt and a generous topping of a domestic feta-like cheese. The local feta is usually less sharp than feta typically found in the west by a considerable margin. Most websites with recipes simply call it a brined sheep cheese and the French are known to make a similar feta. Another local trademark is the 'Urnebes' salad, literally translated as 'chaos' or 'pandemonium' - basically cream cheese in oil mixed with ground peppers, garlic and sometimes sesame.

Pljeskavica, sometimes referred to as the "Balkans Burger," is ubiquitous. Typically it contains a concoction of spiced ground beef, pork and lamb. It may be served in a bun, pita bread or by itself on a plate depending on where you get one. It usually is accompanied by onions, a paprika based sauce and in the case of the fast-food-esque vendors you'll have a variety of sauces and toppings to accompany it.

Chevapchichi (usually spelt with accented "c" instead of "ch", i.e. ćevapčići) is similarly made from spiced ground beef, pork and lamb. The mixture is formed into a 2-to-3 inch long sausage and served with onions and a paprika based sauce. Sometimes it will be served in a pita bread for easy, "on-the-go" consumption.

Other favorites include pizza, of which the Serbs do a splendid job, and various pasta dishes.

For those who do not wish to experiment too much, there are numerous traditional bakeries and pastry shops, and the inevitable McDonald's on the central city square.

Vegetarians had been almost totally neglected in Serbia until recently, but now most restaurants will have some options for them, too. Vegans might encounter more problems, although most are usually solved with the help of kind local restaurant owners. Note the traditional fasting periods, especially in April before Orthodox Easter holidays, when many restaurants offer fish and non-animal food, including some specialties.

Budget

Mićko bakery, Vožda Karađorđa 76a (Opposite of the school (gimnazija).). Small bakery specialized in burek. Has the reputation of being of the better burek shops in Niš. The burek is certainly less greasy than in some other bakeries. 

Mid-range

• 1 Restoran Riblja konoba, Kralja Stefana Prvovenčanog 5, ☏ +31 18-257728. 10:00 - 22:00. Fish restaurant in the centre, where both the cooking and the interior is old-fashioned. The menus are in both English and Serbian, and the waiters speak English. They have both salt and fresh-water fish, as well as other seafood such as squid. During the summer there are tables outside. The cheapest meal would be fried fish (girice) and a potato salad (krompir salata) for about €2. The other dishes are more expensive. (updated Mar 2015)

Drink

Tap water is drinkable in Niš. Locals like to boast that, in addition to Vienna, Niš has the best water in central and southeast Europe. Although this claim can probably be contested, the water from the central supply system is drunk by most residents. More cautious visitors are advised to buy bottled water in any shop: a variety of brands are available, and Serbian mineral waters are very good, especially Knjaz Miloš, Vlasinska Rosa, Mivela and Heba. You can also try Jamnica and Jana which are imported from Croatia.

There is a throng of cafes in downtown Niš, most of which serve various coffee drinks, beers and liquors. Some specialty bars serve a more limited scope of beverages. There is also a branch of Costa Coffee on the central square.

Local wines are usually not the best of quality. The more expensive the better. International brands are offered in most bars.

Rakija, a powerful brandy made from various fruits (usually plum or apricot), is a local favorite. Attention: some kinds may be pretty strong for a newbie.

Nightclubs

Nightclubs in Niš are somewhat different than those typically found in Belgrade or in other larger cities. Firstly, there is relatively little dancing and most clubs don't feature a dancefloor. Instead, clubs have tables and most people stand at their table and drink, while listening to the music. Tables must be reserved beforehand, though this is usually for free.Secondly electronical dance music is quite rare, with most clubs playing folk music instead. Most clubs have only a Facebook page, so check that to see what they're doing that day.

• 1 Feedback, Davidova (Next to the defunct synagogue). This placed is alternative, playing rock and metal and occasionally electronical dance music. 

• 2 Vavilon, Nikole Pašića 36. 

• Simphony club, Generala Milojka Lešjanina. Unusual for playing electronical dance music. Also a somewhat "fancy" club. 

• 3 Cubo klub, Balkanska 2. Lively atmosphere, and often crowded. They play mostly folk music. 

• Diamond, Prijezdina 4. 

Sleep

Hotels

View over the city of Nis, Serbia. Seen from Hotel Aleksandar

Niška Banja (the Spa) has a couple of older but decent hotels, such as Ozren, with prices from €24 for a single room incl breakfast. Alternatively, it may be possible to arrange a home-stay in Niška Banja. In November 2006, usual price per person per bed per night, was 500 dinars (about €6). Still, the Spa is a few kilometers away from the town, so a bus or taxi ride to the centre is inevitable.

• The Ambassador Hotel. The tallest building on the central square, dominates the downtown area, and is one of the few options for visitors on a budget. The rooms are not as cheap as one might expect and feel a little outdated but they are comfortable enough and the hotel is in a great location. If you want a real Yugo experience, try this hotel, dark brown formica fittings, appliances that might or might not work, and an amazing restaurant with retro sculptures and chandeliers, a flashback to the 60s. €42 for an apartment with en-suite. Expect ~€30 breakfast included. 

• My Place (just by the Nišava rive). In a quiet quarter in the downtown area, a couple of minutes from the central square on foot From €65.50 (2014). 

• Niški cvet (Nis Flower). now also fully operational (the site has English and Serbian versions now). Expect €50 or more/night, with buffet breakfast included.. 

• Regent Club Hotel, Obrenoviceva Street. Entrance is via Gorca shopping mall in the city's main promenade street 

• Aleksandar Palace, Njegoseva 81a, ☏ +381 18 562 333, fax: +381 18 562 056. A brand new hotel on the hills overlooking the city from the southern side with a small pool, around €60-€80/night. 

• 1 Panorama, 51 Svetolika Rankovića Str,, info@panoramalux.co.rs. a bit more remote up the hill, but also with a nice view of the city, and with a bit lower prices. Taxi needed from over here, especially upwards. Sgl/dbl €45/55 (2014). 

Hostels

• 2 Hostel Nis, Dobrička 3/A (next to the building of the University of Nis (Banovina palace)), ☏ +381 18 513703. In the very downtown area, one minute walk from city's fortress, central bus station, and another minute away from the city's central square, in three stories pre-WW2 house. Dorms with 4 and 8 beds per room, privates have 2 beds. There's no check in or check out, staff work 24h/day, two bathrooms, two toilets, and there's hot water 24h/day. Internet (WiFi, desktop) is fast and free of charge. Breakfast isn't included, but you can use the kitchen (one kitchen per floor) to prepare your meal or store your food. Coffee, tea, or home-made rakija brandy is free of charge, as well as using secured parking lot if you travel with your vehicle/bike. Separated area for smoking. €9-15 per night (dorms/privates). 
• 3 Sweet-Hostel Nis', Milorada Veljkovica Spaje 11/4 (There is a map on the website). is another hostel in Nis. It is located in the centre of town, only 5 minutes from The square of King Milan (main city square). They offer comfortable rooms and welcoming, hospitable service for a small amount of money. Hot showers and free towels are there as well, as is a fully equipped kitchen and a shared room with TV, DVD & very slow Internet access. hostel sgl/dbl 1650/2200din, Apt's sgl/dbl 2200/3200din, incl. tax (2014). 
• Downtown Hostel Nis, Kej Kola srpskih sestara 3/2 (50 meters from the central town square (Trg kralja Milana Obrenovica) in a pedestrian area on the Nišava river-banks), ☏ +381 18 526756. Downtown Hostel occupies a renovated flat in one of the oldest town buildings, which stands for one of the town symbols. It has two dorms with 3 and 8 beds per room. There is possibility of renting 3 bed room for one or two persons. Their offer include: 24-hour reception, possibility of using all of the hostel facilities 24 hours a day, free lockers in the rooms, free sheets and towels, free internet and WI-FI in all rooms, free coffee, tea and welcome drink - domestic rakia, completely furnished kitchen usage, lounge area with cable TV and separated smokers area. The hostel might be noisy during weekends as the near by restaurants and bar are open until late. €9-13 per night (dorms). 
• 4 Hostel Kosmopolit, Anastasa Jovanovica 15 (The hostel is located in `Ledena Stena` area. Taxis are cheap, or you can use a direct bus line number 1 `Ledena stena - Niska banja` exiting at the station called `MIN naselje`), ☏ +381 63 472705, hostelkosmopolit@hotmail.com. Hostel `Kosmopolit` is a beautiful contemporary building with 120 square meters of residential space and a spacious garden. We offer a wide range of services and amenities that make us distinctive from other similar facilities such as free high-speed internet, WiFi, garden barbecue grill and bar, self-service kitchen with dining room and balcony, lounge room with self-service bar, cable TV and computer with internet, air-conditioning in every room, 24 hour service and assistance and many more. €11 per bed (eight bed dorms and private rooms). 

Stay safe

Nis is a very safe city. In summer months, even late into the night, you will see people walking through its streets with no fear whatsoever. In winter months, late at night, and in suburban areas, some reasonable caution is warranted. As with any other travel, keep your money, cell phones, travel documents and other valuables in secure places. As a pedestrian, follow regulations, including zebra crossings and green lights, even when you see locals ignoring them, as traffic wardens may jump out of nowhere and fine you.

Emergencies

In case of an emergency, call 192 (police), 193 (fire), 194 (ambulance) or the European standard 112.

In case of injury or illness, the place to go is the Hitna Pomoc (Emergency Aid Centre) of Nis Clinical Centre. If the urgency is not total, you may ask for help in the state Clinical Centre (follow the white signs with this name in the streets) or any of the numerous small private clinics scattered downtown. Be aware that not all medical facilities are well-stocked or have personnel that speak foreign languages, including English. Cash payment on the spot will almost certainly be required for medical services. Consult the embassy of your country, if possible.

Serbia has a social insurance agreement with most European nations. If you get a form from your local health insurance you can obtain free treatment in the local hospitals. You would first need to go to the national social insurance (RZZO) branch office in Niš to hand in the form and get another form for the local hospital or health centre. Since this procedure is complicated to complete without Serbian language skills it may be easier to visit a private doctor or polyclinic. Prices are very reasonable by European standards, starting from 10€ for a simple consultation with a PD.

Pharmacies are located all over the central city zone. They are marked with green crosses in front of the entrance. Their working hours are 7AM - 9 or even 10PM every day, including weekends. The central pharmacy, located in front of the National Theater building, a 2-minute walk from the central city square, is open 24/7. Serbia is still very liberal in terms of purchasing medication, so you are allowed to buy practically any basic drugs over the counter (painkillers, fever medication). However, for antibiotics a prescription is now required. Prior consultation with a physician would be a good idea, though.

Go next

• Sofia and beyond to the east (Buses and trains both available). 
• Skopje. Buses and trains both available 
• Belgrade (frequent bus and train service). 
• Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro or Croatia (can catch a bus). 
• Kopaonik National Park (Take the bus from the Niš bus station to Kruševac bus station at 07:25. Then the bus to Kopaonik at 10:00. The bus stops near the Konaci complex in Kopaonik. The total trip costs around €10.). 
• Kosovska Mitrovica, Kosovo (twice daily going over Novi Pazar (Serbia)). Arrive to Mitrovica there should change bus if going to Priština or somewhere else. 
• Priština, Kosovo (only one direct bus). 
• Germany, Swiss and France. Companies like Eurolines-Lasta, Touring, Jedinstvo or Niš-Ekspres, have long-distance buses to almost any bigger city. 

As with most of Europe it is usually recommended that one travels by train for safety, cost and speed. The trains are old and there have been delays. However, trains will be more comfortable and almost always more scenic. All buses depart from the central bus station, just behind the fortress and the green market. Same is for trains, but central train station is located a bit far from the bus station, so calculate at least good 20 minutes of walking to reach one from another.