Zlatibor is located in the south-west of Serbia and is a picturesque mountain massif, which has long become a popular tourist center, receiving more than a million tourists annually. A unique microclimate prevails here, which allows you to treat many diseases, and wonderful natural landscapes are an excellent addition to the appearance of this magical land.
Features
Zlatibor includes several resort villages, including the small town of Kraljevo-Vodi and the administrative center of the region – Chaetina. On the territory of the tourist center there are many hotels, hostels, boarding houses, villas and holiday homes, which have the most comfortable conditions for accommodation. Basically, people come here to get cured of ailments and have an exciting time, playing sports or traveling through the most beautiful areas of the region, visiting local attractions. In summer, Zlatibor attracts fans of tourist routes and hunters who want to hunt wolves, bears, deer, wild boars, martens, hares and other animals. In winter, you can go sledding and skiing here, thanks to lifts and a number of good ski tracks, which are integral attributes of the local tourist infrastructure. The main medical institution of the resort is the Institute of Thyroid Treatment and Rehabilitation. However, in addition to it, there are many sanatoriums in Zlatibor, equipped with everything necessary for effective treatment. As for the name of the mountain massif, which means “golden pine”, it got it from a unique type of pine that grows only in these places.
Zlatibor, Serbia
A short excursion into history
These places enjoyed success even in the Ottoman era, when prominent representatives of the Ottoman Empire came here to rest. King Oleksandr Obrenovich, who ruled here in the 19th century, also had a special love for Zlatibor. In many ways, thanks to him, the resort gained even more popularity. In the 20th century, the tourist center developed more and more rapidly, eventually gaining wide popularity not only in the Balkans, but also throughout Europe.
Climate
Zlatibor is the only place in Serbia where the Mediterranean and Alpine climates merge together. This area is characterized by a large number of sunny days a year, the number of which is about 200, unique atmospheric pressure and almost complete absence of fog. The winter here is mild, and the summer is warm, but not hot, which allows you to visit the mountain massif during all 12 months.
How to get there
The most convenient way to get to the tourist center is to fly to Belgrade, and from there by train or bus. In the case of train travel, it is best to get off at the Užice station and then change to a bus.
Local taxi drivers often have problems with English, so you should keep this in mind before your trip.
Where to stay
Let’s take a short tour of local hotels. One of the best hotels is the four-star “Zlatibor Mopa”, located in the very center of the resort.
The interiors of the hotel are distinguished by modern design. The walls are so richly decorated with paintings that it seems as if you are in a gallery of modern art. You can feel the same sensations in cozy rooms. In the hotel you can not only relax, but also work – there is a new congress center with 500 seats.
The hotel is famous for its SPA center “Wellness Mona & Bar”. This is a real area of beauty and health, where massage rooms, a Turkish bath, a sauna, a jacuzzi, a pool with a geyser and a waterfall are located on an area of one thousand square meters. Guests are offered face and body care services, therapeutic mud, and classes in the fitness room. There are also classes for children. The hotel has a game room “Playroom Monica”. A labyrinth, a pool with balls, a climbing wall, a “Lego” constructor, slides, a house in the form of a windmill – all this allows you to interest and captivate the child for a long time.
In “Zlatibor Mopa” they practice catering according to the HB system – breakfast and dinner in the “buffet” format, which is traditionally liked by tourists. There are restaurants “Vila” and “Perun”, as well as bar “Lada”. By the way, Zlatibor is famous for smoked sausage, homemade cheese and cream cheese – all these products are traditionally present in the restaurant menu.
Hotel Palisad 4-star hotel
Hotel Palisad is located in Zlatibor and offers ski equipment rental, massage services and a Relax and Beauty spa with hot tub, Finnish sauna and gym . A ski school is open in the hotel during the winter months.
The Palisad Hotel offers functional rooms decorated in a contemporary style with wooden furniture, carpeted floors, a seating area and cable TV. Some rooms have a flat-screen TV.
The hotel has restaurants and bars with a special unique atmosphere. Dishes from the special diet menu must be ordered in advance. The Pastry cafe prepares pies and homemade pastries according to traditional recipes.
Guests of Hotel Palisad can relax on the shores of Lake Zlatibor, play tennis and football, and go on long horseback rides through the scenic Dinaric Highlands. A team of professional animators organizes entertainment for guests. Free Wi-Fi is available in public areas.
Villa Natural Wood 4 stars
The Villa Natural Wood complex is located in an idyllic location among lush green meadows, 1.5 km from the center of Zlatibor. It offers beautiful wooden cottages with free Wi-Fi, free bicycles and free private parking.
The Villa Natural Wood complex consists of a main wooden cottage with unique apartments. The apartment is decorated with decorative elements made of stone and wood. 2 separate single cottages are also available.
All apartments and cottages have their own furnished balcony or terrace. Amenities include living rooms with modern flat-screen cable TVs and comfortable sofas. Modern fully equipped kitchenettes with a dining area are equipped with dishes, a microwave oven and a refrigerator.
Guests of the Natural Wood Villa complex have a garden with a children’s playground and barbecue facilities. You can rent snowmobiles in the winter, and a small mountain ATV in the summer.
Guests can visit the spa center with sauna and hot tub. The cafe bar serves hot drinks.
Apartman Oka 4 stars
Located in Zlatibor , Apartments Oka offers air-conditioned accommodation with a balcony and free WiFi . The windows offer a view of the mountains.
The apartment has 1 bedroom, 1 bathroom, a flat-screen TV with satellite channels, a dining area, a fully equipped kitchen, and a patio with garden views.
The area is popular for skiing and cycling. Ski equipment hire and ski-to-door access are available.
The village of Mokra Gora is 28 km from the apartments, and the village of Kalujerske Bari is 37 km away.
Ski resort
When the big snow covers the meadows and valleys, and the branches bend under the white burden, Zlatibor becomes beautiful in a new way. This is a large center of skiing and the largest winter recreation center in Serbia, which has places for both beginners and masters of skiing and alpine skiing.
The non-steep slopes of Obudovitsa are recommended for the inexperienced. So that the ascent is not difficult for you, there are lifts for vacationers. Experienced skiers, most likely, will go to the high peak of Tornike, where there is a ski center with the same name with four ski tracks, very beneficial for alpine skiing disciplines. Three lifts for skiers free you from that boring and time-consuming duty that no one likes – climbing to the top of 1490 m. For those who prefer skiing disciplines (except for jumping), we recommend organized tracks in the central part of Zlatibor, as they are among the most beautiful in Europe.
The ski center “Zlatibor” is located at an altitude of 1100 m. The highest point for skiing is 1495 m. The total length of the tracks is almost 8 km. Three lifts are capable of lifting up to 32,000 skiers per hour. The resort has three blue, three red and one black tracks. The maximum height difference is 373 m, the maximum length is 2.5 km. Frequent guests of the resort are professional athletes who come here for training sessions. This indicates the high quality of the tracks.
Treatment
The main advantage of Zlatibor is its air. The rare combination of mountain and sea air currents creates a specific microclimate with healing properties. Local boarding houses treat chronic respiratory diseases, thyroid diseases, metabolic disorders, physical and mental exhaustion, and get rid of excess weight. The most popular boarding house in the resort is Chigota, where various types of therapy, anthropometric measurements, biochemical diagnostics and low-calorie nutrition are the main factors of treatment. There are also mineral springs rising from a depth of 200 meters in Zlatibor. The most famous of them are located near the villages of Rozhanstva and Zdravnytsia Vapa.
Sights and entertainment
Tourist routes that allow you to fully appreciate the natural beauty of these places are very popular among guests coming to Zlatibor. At an altitude of more than 600 meters above sea level, such coniferous trees as white and black pine, fir and spruce grow here. In low areas, deciduous species such as beech, oak, birch, linden and ash prevail. At the same time, it should be taken into account that deforestation in the region is strictly prohibited and even foreigners are punished for violating it. During the journey through the mountain massif, a lot of respectable luxurious villas and mansions with stunning views of the surrounding area are visible. Most of them belong to rich Serbs, as well as movie, sports and show business stars, who bought real estate in a remote place, surrounded by nature. Among the most interesting sights of Zlotybor are the Syrohoyno Ethnopark, Stopich is a cave more than 2,000 meters long and “Hayudka mountain”, where local residents love to have picnics. In the surrounding areas, the ethnic village of Kyustendorf, created by the famous director Emir Kusturitsa on Mokra Gora, deserves special attention. For fans of active leisure activities, the resort areas are equipped with numerous sports fields, swimming pools, tennis courts and golf courses.
Kitchen
The restaurants, cafes and culinary establishments of Zlatibor offer guests a wide variety of dishes for every taste, from meat and vegetables to all kinds of fish and the most exquisite delicacies, such as fried quails that live in the local forests. Delicious gastronomic products and sweets are an indispensable attribute of the local cuisine.
Shopping
As souvenirs, original sweaters, sweaters and shawls of local production, which can be purchased in Sirohoino, are popular.
Zlatibor is a great place for the whole family to relax. Excellent conditions have been created here for sports, treatment and exciting walks along the most picturesque paths of the mountain massif. Staying here allows you to get a lot of positive impressions and get a complete picture of the fabulous natural wealth of Serbia.