This mountain resort in western Serbia has pine forests, hiking trails, and ski slopes reaching 1,500m elevation. Local restaurants serve regional specialties like komplet lepinja.
Zlatibor, a mountain town in western Serbia, sits at 1,000 meters above sea level. You can ride the 9-kilometer Gold Gondola to Tornik peak, explore the five chambers of Stopića Cave, or walk along the 22-meter Gostilje Waterfall. The mountain paths lead through pine forests and past clear lakes, while local restaurants serve regional specialties like komplet lepinja and air-dried mountain ham.
Getting to Zlatibor
The mountain town lies 230 kilometers southwest of Belgrade, with regular bus connections running every hour. If you're driving from Belgrade, take the highway toward Montenegro - the journey takes about three hours. The nearest train station sits in Užice, 24 kilometers away, with local buses connecting to Zlatibor's center.
Gold Gondola Experience
The Gold Gondola spans 9 kilometers from Zlatibor's center to Tornik peak, crossing over Ribnica Lake. You'll sit in a 10-seat cabin with panoramic windows, watching the landscape unfold during the 25-minute journey. The gondola runs year-round, serving skiers in winter and connecting to hiking trails in summer.
Caves and Waterfalls
Inside Stopića Cave, you'll walk through five chambers spanning 2 kilometers, where water has carved limestone formations and created underground cascades. At Gostilje Waterfall, water drops 22 meters over multiple rock levels, with forest walking paths circling the falls. Ribnica Lake's clear waters mirror the surrounding peaks, making it ideal for swimming in summer and fishing throughout the year.
Seasonal Mountain Activities
Tornik ski resort's slopes start at 1,496 meters elevation, with runs for beginners through advanced skiers. From spring through fall, you can follow 20 marked hiking paths - most extend beyond 10 kilometers but maintain gentle grades suitable for regular walkers. The steady winds and clear landing areas at Čigota-Čukar ridge make it a reliable spot for paragliding.
Mountain Railways and Villages
The Šargan Eight Railway curves through the mountains in a figure-eight pattern, with a restored steam locomotive pulling vintage carriages. In Drvengrad, director Emir Kusturica built an entire village using local wooden architecture techniques. At Sirogojno's open-air museum, you can walk through preserved mountain houses and workshops that show how locals lived and worked in past centuries.
Mountain Cuisine
In Zlatibor's restaurants, you'll find komplet lepinja - a warm bread roll filled with eggs, kajmak (dairy spread), and meat drippings. Local producers still cure meats in the mountain air, particularly their distinctive ham. Small dairy farms in the surrounding villages make kajmak and cheese using methods passed down through families.
