1Belgrade Fortress (Kalemegdan)
A fortress and park at the confluence of the Sava and the Danube. The route starts here: climb the walls for views of the rivers and the modern city.
DURATION
6 daysDISTANCE
≈ 1350 kmSEASON
April–OctoberDIFFICULTY
EasyCOUNTRIES
Serbia, BulgariaRoute on the map
Open in Google Maps ↗The line shows the approximate driving route and the return to Belgrade. Map © OpenStreetMap contributors.
Day-by-day itinerary
- 1Day 1Belgrade → Niš
Niš Fortress, the Skull Tower and the Roman ruins of Mediana.
- 2Day 2Niš → Sofia
The Bulgarian border, Alexander Nevsky Cathedral and Vitosha Boulevard.
- 3Day 3Sofia → Rila Monastery
Bulgaria's best-known monastery, UNESCO-listed, in the Rila mountains.
- 4Day 4Rila Monastery → Plovdiv
The Roman theatre and Plovdiv's old town.
- 5Day 5Plovdiv → Sofia → Niš
The drive back across the border.
- 6Day 6Niš → Belgrade
The last leg on the motorway.
What to see along the way
The stops in order: the numbers match the markers on the map.
1
2Niš Fortress
An 18th-century Ottoman fortress on the Nišava river, now a park with cafés and summer concerts.
3Skull Tower (Niš)
A memorial from 1809 with the skulls of Serbian rebels killed at the Battle of Čegar set into its walls.
4Mediana (Niš)
The remains of a 4th-century Roman residence near Niš, the city where Emperor Constantine the Great was born.
5Alexander Nevsky Cathedral (Sofia)
Bulgaria's largest Orthodox cathedral with golden domes, built in the early 20th century. Inside are paintings and mosaics.
6Rila Monastery
Bulgaria's main monastery in the Rila mountains, with striped arches, founded in the 10th century. A UNESCO site.
7Roman Theatre (Plovdiv)
A 2nd-century ancient theatre in the centre of the old town, still used for concerts and performances.
Photos of the places: Wikimedia Commons, free licences. The author and licence of every photo are listed on the page «Photo credits».
Suitable vehicles
These vehicles suit this route.
CompactCross-border allowed
Toyota Yaris Hybrid
5 seatsAutomatichybrid300 km/day
from €28
per day for rentals of 7+ days
Sedan / estateCross-border allowed
Škoda Octavia Combi
5 seatsAutomaticdiesel300 km/day
from €34
per day for rentals of 7+ days
Sedan / estateCross-border allowed
Škoda Superb
5 seatsAutomaticdiesel300 km/day
from €42
per day for rentals of 7+ days
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