Experience in Nis, Yugoslavia by Cedomir

What is it like to live in Nis? Would you recommend it? What is the city like?

Nis is the unique and ancient city located at the Nisava river and from the beginning, the city was the crossroad of the East and West. Nis was the Capital of Serbia in several occasions, as the second developed city in Central Serbia. Nis is the city where Constantine the Great was born, the well known and most influential figure in Christianity. To live in Nis, you'll have good balance of calm and friendly environment to work and study, and from the opposite side variety of social events are available such as nice bars, cafés, unbelievably affordable restaurants (locally called Kafana) with plenty of local and international food. City have its own airport, and one of the best spa's with natural mineral water springs called Niska Banja. Nis is in the middle of triangle of three capitals (Belgrade, cap.of Serbia; Sofia, cap.of Bulgaria, and Skopje, cap.of FYROM), and also the middle point between Budapest and Thessaloniki. For example, two-days shopping tour to Budapest or Thessaloniki stays about 25 €, to Sofia or Belgrade about 10 €.

What is the student lifestyle like in Nis?

Students are in position to create balance between their study and their activities, such as nightlife, sport, art etc, on their own. The local students are friendly and very welcome to include foreigners in all their issues and to represent their country in the best possible attitude. The University itself have been well organized to satisfy international student standards and programed for excellent and fulfilled life of its students as well.

How much does it cost to live in Nis?

One of the cheapest in Serbia and Balkan as well. Students are able to rent room for only 50 € monthly, or even studio for 80-100 € near the University. The montly budget for food is about 100 € if you eat at home, or 200-300 if you eat outside. The typical dinner in average restaurant is about 10 € per person, in the student restaurant, but I've also found few bistro's where you can have meal (local dish + salad and drink) for only 2 up to 4 €. The coffee or juice at local bars stays about 1 €, glass of whisky about 2 €, so with 10-20 € of budget per night you'll have a lot of fun during your night tours. Taxi for about 1 km is 0,5 €cents, with initial 1 € at the start, so for the 4 km in taxy which is average distance from suburbs to the pedestrian area you won't pay more than 3 €.

Is it difficult to find accommodation in Nis? Is there any advice you can give?

It is not difficult and I'd recommend to the foreigners to avoid agencies. it is much better to stay few days in hotel/hostel at the arrival and to ask colleagues for assistance if you couldn't find proper accommodation online.

What is the food like? What are your favourite dishes?

Plenty of grilled meat will be your first impression, and unique taste of hamburgers will attract you at the beginning but to discover real Serbian food will be possible when someone invite you to dinner at home. Sarma ( meat sauce rolled in the leaf of cabbage, chard or grape vine - my favourite), Stuffed Paprika, zucchinis or potato's, beans or local goat cheese will be something you wont ever forget.

What places would you recommend visiting in Nis?

Mediana - archaeological place where Constatntin the Great had residence
Jagodin Mala - archaeological place
The Fortress - walls surrounded by the early city of Nis
Cele Kula - Skull Tower - now Chapel with skulls built in the tower, after the Chegar battle.
Chegar - place where the Chegar battle held. Ottomans won the battle, but it will remain as one of the most influential in the period of Liberation of Ottomans when Stevan Sindjelic had decided to shot in the barrels of gunpowder. Explosion took out his and his solders life, but also made a lot of damage to the significantly stronger Ottomans. His skull is also exposed to the Skull Tower.
Castle of Unknown Prince at the top of the hill near Knez Selo (Knez mean Prince, so village was named by that evidence. Only fundament remained there, and it is particularly beautiful during the spring when lilac flower. From that place you may see whole city landscape. There are some evidences (ceramic pipes) that first water supply system started from local springs there and it was built to supply the ancient City (Naissa- now on Mediana location) with fresh watter. Naissa was the first European city with such water supply system in Holy Roman Empire.
Golemas - the Christian church dating from Early Bysantine and possibly strategic place in the era when the Church was built. Probably one of the few survived objects in original form.
Bubanj - the memorial place on the died victims in WWII.
Crveni Krst - concentration camp, now memorial place and mausoleum to the victims in WWII.

Is it good to eat out in Nis? Can you tell us your favourite spots?

You may find food everywhere, no matter when and where you are. Lot of so called "Cevabdzinica" - I'd say corner food shops are open 0-24h, non stop. There you may find different sorts of grilled meat, if you enjoy pork or chicken. There are also few places where you can buy gyros, but the real delicious breakfast (no matter are you ready to go to the University or you just going back home late from the nightlife) are bakeries with hot burek. Burek, invented by the Turk baker was first time baked in Nis. Nowadays, you may find different tastes but two main are with cheese and with meat. Spinach, pizza, or even sweet ones are not so popular, but its up to you.
The typical meal in average restaurant wont exceed 15 eur, and mostly price vary depending of what kind of vine/drink you prefer.
Local vines are great, and the Nis area is surrounded by the grape yards. If you are in Nis at the end of September or beginning of October, you may take local transportation and to spend one day or even weekend countryside - to help farmers to pick up grapes, but also to make amazing experiences. This will be the ideal chance to meet warm hospitality of the locals, to try some local dishes and also to see how do they make vine. Vine is very popular to drink, even from the very start - at the beginning it will be sweet and alcohol free as a grape juice, but when fermentation start, it will be hilarious - both sweet and fancy to make you not to resist it, and also strong enough to make you drunk! :)

Is the nightlife good in Nis? Where is good to go?

God hell YES!!! Few discotheques with live DJ music, but depending on your taste of music you may choose Sunset club or planty of Pubs.

What advice would you give future students heading to Nis?

Whatever you do, don't forget to study :))))