Located in western Serbia, this mountain village is known for its narrow-gauge railway Šargan Eight and the traditional wooden town of Drvengrad built by director Emir Kusturica.
Mokra Gora, a small village in western Serbia, sits between the slopes of Zlatibor and Tara mountains. You can walk through streets named after cultural icons in Drvengrad, watch steam locomotives climb impossible gradients on the Šargan Eight railway, or swim in Zaovine Lake surrounded by pine forests. In 2021, the UN World Tourism Organization included Mokra Gora in its list of best tourist villages worldwide.
Getting to Mokra Gora
The village lies 210 kilometers from Belgrade, with driving time typically around 3-4 hours. A rental car will let you explore the surrounding countryside at your own pace. By public transport, take a train or bus to Užice first, then catch a local bus to the village. From Zlatibor, a taxi to Mokra Gora costs around €15.
Riding the Šargan Eight Railway
The Šargan Eight railway runs on a narrow-gauge track that once connected Belgrade to Sarajevo. The restored section, known as the Nostalgia Express, runs through the mountains twice daily at 10:30 and 13:30. The track climbs the steep terrain by forming a figure eight pattern when viewed from above. Buy tickets at Mokra Gora station for 600 Serbian Dinars (€5).
Exploring Drvengrad
Film director Emir Kusturica created this wooden village for his movie "Life is a Miracle" in 2004. Walk through streets named after Nikola Tesla and Ivo Andrić, visit the Saint Sava Church with its Russian wooden architecture, or watch a film in the underground cinema. The village has an art gallery, library, and a pastry shop selling traditional Serbian sweets. Each January, international filmmakers and actors gather here for the Küstendorf Film Festival.
Visiting Tara National Park
Tara National Park surrounds Mokra Gora with dense pine forests. Hike the 2-kilometer trail to Banjska Stena viewpoint near Mitrovac for views across the Drina River canyon. In summer, locals swim in Zaovine Lake, a 15-minute drive from the village. Look for brown bears, wolves, and Short-toed Snake Eagles while walking the marked forest trails.
Day Trips from Mokra Gora
Take a morning trip to Stopica Cave to walk along its metallic walkways under colored lights. Cross into Bosnia and Herzegovina to see the 16th-century Mehmed Paša Sokolović Bridge in Višegrad, with its 11 stone arches spanning the Drina River. The mountain town of Zlatibor, with its traditional farms and restaurants serving local mountain food, is a 40-minute drive away.
