Things to do in Niška Banja: ten ideas
The easiest way to sort the things to do in Niška Banja and around it is into three groups: the spa town and its park, Niš with its fortress and memorials, and the natural sights around the city. The spa town lies about 10 km from Niš, Mediana is about 5 km from Niš according to the museum, and Sokobanja is about 60 km from Niš. All distances are rounded and say nothing about travel time.
The list is a set of topics, not a promise that every place is open at all times. Hours and prices of the museum sites are those listed for 2026. For mountain destinations, check the condition of the trails right before you go.
The spa and Niš: the first six ideas
The spa town, the fortress, three memorials and the museum sites.
1. Niška Banja and the institute
Start with a walk through the town and the park, where a stream runs through the greenery. The Institute for Treatment and Rehabilitation Niška Banja is at Srpskih junaka 2 and is listed as a spa treatment facility. Access to treatment is arranged separately, with medical advice.
The institute and the waters →2. Niš Fortress
A well preserved Ottoman fortress from the 18th century, on the bank of the Nišava in the city center. A former mosque serves as a gallery, and there is an open-air stage inside. Check prices and hours for the interior on the spot.
Niš →3. Skull Tower (Ćele Kula)
A memorial after the battle of Čegar in 1809, when Hurshid Pasha had the tower built from the skulls of fallen Serbian fighters. According to the museum there were originally 952 skulls, and 58 are preserved today. The tower was enclosed and roofed after the liberation of Niš in 1878, and a chapel followed in 1892. Visit quietly and with respect.
Skull Tower →4. Mediana
A late Roman residence complex attributed to Constantine the Great and his sons. The building phases run from the late 3rd and early 4th century to the middle of the 5th, with the most intensive use between 330 and 361. Admission is RSD 500 (about €4).
Mediana →5. The Red Cross camp
Officially the memorial complex 12 February. The museum records a breakout attempt on 12 February 1942, in which 105 of 147 participants escaped and 42 died. Admission is RSD 300 (about €2.50), and the last entry is 30 minutes before closing.
Niš →6. Bubanj memorial park
The place where Serbs, Jews and Roma brought from the Red Cross camp were shot. The monument by Ivan Sabolić was unveiled in 1963, and three monumental concrete forms stand for the raised fists of a man, a woman and a child. Check hours and visiting conditions on the spot.
Niš →Our picks: Niš on a guided trip
Fortress, Skull Tower and more, with a guide and transport from a neighbouring capital.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in euros (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Full-day Niš city tour from Belgrade
Hotel pickup and return, a guide and private transport, with all entry fees included. The programme covers Crveni Krst, the Skull Tower, the fortress and Kazandžijsko Sokače; meals, drinks and tips are not included.
Check availability →
Skopje to Niš day trip, optionally with Pristina
Pickup, an air-conditioned car or minivan and a guide are included. Entry fees, meals and tips are not, and the Pristina extension is optional.
Check availability →
Niš day trip from Sofia with a guide
An English-speaking guide, with road and parking fees covered. Entry fees are extra, and hotel pickup applies only to the option you choose; meals and tips are not included.
Check availability →Tours and day trips from Niš
City tours of Niš, trips to the gorges and the mountain, and other tours around Niška Banja, with live prices and availability.
Nature and another spa: ideas 7 to 10
The gorges, the mountain and Sokobanja.
7. Sićevo Gorge
A nature park between the areas of Niš and Bela Palanka, 7,746 ha in total. It is a nature park, not a national park, and Srbijašume manages it. The Nišava flows through the gorge, but that does not mean swimming is allowed or safe everywhere.
Gorge and mountain →8. Jelašnica Gorge
A special nature reserve, protected for the plants Ramonda serbica and Ramonda natalijae. The cut section of the gorge downstream of Čukljenik is about 1.5 km long, which is not a guaranteed trail length. Follow the signs and leave the protected plants alone.
Gorge and mountain →9. Suva Planina and Trem
A mountain destination, not an easy stroll. Trem is 1,810 m high, and an older mountain club description lists a marked route of 29.5 km from Niška Banja via Devojački grob and Trem to Bojanine vode. The government reported the fire extinguished on 14 October 2026, but check trail conditions locally before you set out.
Suva Planina →10. Sokobanja
A separate spa town, about 60 km from Niš according to its tourist information. A fitting day out if you want to compare two spa towns.
Spa towns in Serbia →
Museum sites in Niš: prices and hours 2026
The Skull Tower, Mediana and the Red Cross camp, according to the museum's price list and opening hours.
| Site | Adult | Reduced | Tuesday to Friday | Saturday and Sunday | Last entry |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Skull Tower | RSD 300 (about €2.50) | RSD 250 (about €2) | 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. | 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. | 15 minutes before closing |
| Mediana | RSD 500 (about €4) | RSD 400 (about €3.50) | 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. | 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. | 30 minutes before closing |
| Red Cross camp | RSD 300 (about €2.50) | RSD 250 (about €2) | 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. | 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. | 30 minutes before closing |
All sites are closed on Mondays. A ticket for all museum sites together costs RSD 1,200 (about €10), or RSD 1,000 (about €8.50) reduced, and you should ask at the ticket desk how long it is valid. Children up to 7 do not pay. Hours can change, so check them before you go.
A practical order for a day in Niš on a weekday: Mediana and the Red Cross camp first, because they close at 4 p.m., and the fortress and the Skull Tower afterwards, since the tower stays open until 7 p.m.
More detail on each topic
Each theme has its own page in this guide.
Niš
The fortress, the Red Cross camp, Bubanj and a walk along the Nišava.
Skull Tower (Ćele Kula)
History, tickets and opening hours.
Mediana
The late Roman residence, prices and hours.
Sićevo Gorge and Suva Planina
Trem, the Sićevo and Jelašnica gorges.
The institute and thermal waters
What is known about the institute and access to treatment.
Getting to Niška Banja
Airport, city buses and the line to the spa.
Things to do in Niška Banja: frequently asked questions
Can I see everything in one day?
Hardly. The spa town, Niš and the natural sights usually make three separate days. On a day in Niš, visit Mediana and the Red Cross camp first on weekdays, because they close at 4 p.m., and then the fortress and the Skull Tower.
Are the museum sites open on Mondays?
No. The Skull Tower, Mediana and the Red Cross camp are closed on Mondays. The 2026 hours are in the table above.
Can I do it without a car?
To Niš and around the city, yes, because public transport has been free for all passengers since 1 July 2025. The city timetable lists line 1 to Niška Banja, but check the departures and the travel time before you go. For the gorges and the mountain, a car or an organized transfer is more practical. More on the getting there page.
Is Suva Planina open to hikers now?
On 14 October 2026 the government reported the fire as extinguished, but that does not prove that all trails are open, marked and safe. Check the situation before you leave and bring suitable equipment. The emergency number of the Mountain Rescue Service of Serbia is 062 46 46 46.
What is the best place to start?
If you arrive at the spa, start with a walk through the park and the town. If you are already in Niš, start with Mediana or the fortress, depending on the day and the opening hours.