Tourism

TOURIST ORGANIZATION OF NIŠ
Director: Vladimir Jovanović
Address: TPC Kalča II floor, section C/62, 18000 Niš
Phone: +381-18/524-877; Fax: +381-18/523-118
Е-mail: ton@nistourism.org.rs
Website: www.nistourism.org.rs

"Niš Tourist Organization" was founded in 1995. Its basic activities pertain to the advancement and promotion of tourism in Niš and Niška Banja. These include promotional activities (brochures, city plans, posters, CD presentations, postcards, souvenirs, etc.), the promotion of the tourist offer of Niš and Niška Banja in tourist market projects and fairs in the country and abroad, and organization of information centres.

Within Niš Tourist Organization there are two tourist information centres available, one in Niš in Vožda Karađorđa 7 street, and the other in Niška Banja whose address is Sinđelićeva 3b.

In our information centres you can:

• get all information related to tourism in the city (prices of accommodation in hotels in Niš and Niška Banja, working hours and prices of museum tickets, prices of renting guides, etc.)
• buy brochures on Niš and Niška Banja
• buy postcards of Niš and Niška Banja
• buy the plan of the city of Niš (mini plan, big plan, and CD plan)
• buy books on archeological finds and historical monuments
• choose and purchase a Niš souvenir
• book and pay for a room in Niška Banja private accommodation

The Gate between East and West

Historians, geographers and writers have always called this city "the Gate between East and West". City of Niš, one of the oldest cities in this part of Europe, stands at a crossroads of major European routes, linking Middle and West Europe lowland of Vlaška and Pomoravlje with the Adriatic, Aegean and Black Sea. This kind of strategic position has always had great influence on the destiny of Niš.

Discoveries at the localities Bubanj, Humska Čuka and others point at the population of Niš in Neolith and Bronze Ages. The history of this area, mostly warlike and destructive, was created by the Romans, Goths, Illyrians, Thracians, Celts, Huns and others.

The Hometown of the Great Emperor

With the birth of Flavius Valerius Constantinus in Niš (in the second half of the third century), who later became a great Roman Emperor, protector of Christianity, great warrior and statesman, this town got its significant place in the world history. It continued shining with the same glorious light in the 6th century, during the rule of Emperor Justinian I, the Emperor responsible for recovering this Empire.

Niš developed significantly during the period of Nemanjić dynasty. Stefan Nemanja, the great Serbian Head of the state and the father of Saint Sava, intended to make Niš the capital of his state. Until the fall of Serbian medieval state under the Turkish power, Niš was a great economic, strategic and cultural centre.

Modern development of Niš started in 1878 with the liberation from the Turks after almost five centuries of slavery. That was not only the liberation from the old oriental profile but also an initiation into the most significant period of its history - Niš actually became the second most developed Serbian city.

The residence of Kings Milan and Aleksandar Obrenović, the so called Prince castle, where they spent a lot of time especially in the period of Assembly sessions, was also situated in Niš. During World War I Niš was a military capital (from July, 1914 until the middle of October, 1915). Niš was the residence of both Serbian Government and National Assembly, together with all the diplomatic representatives. Important decisions regarding war, country protection and liberation and the uniting of Yugoslav nations and peoples were reached here. King Petar I and Regent Aleksandar Karađorđević also spent their time here in the period.

A City Rich in Culture and History

Due to its turbulent history, Niš has literally become a city - museum. The showcases and depots of the National Museum abound in invaluable historical items originating from numerous finds.

The National Theatre has a century long tradition. The curtain of the Puppet Theatre was first lifted in 1951. The Gallery of Contemporary Fine Arts is the guardian of artistic treasury, but also a promoter of modern flows in fine arts. Several galleries are available for exhibitions ("Srbija", "Paviljon", and "Salon 77" in the Fortress).