Zlatibor is located in the southwest of Serbia and is a picturesque mountain range that has long become a popular tourist center, annually receiving more than a million tourists. There is a unique microclimate here, which allows you to treat many diseases, and magnificent 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 – Čajetina. 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 recover from illnesses and have an exciting time, doing sports or traveling through the most beautiful areas of the region, exploring 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, as the lifts and a number of good ski slopes 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, Zlatibor has many sanatoriums equipped with everything necessary for effective treatment. As for the name of the mountain range, which means “golden pine”, it got it from a unique type of pine that grows only in these places.

Zlatibor, Serbia

A brief excursion into history

These places were popular even during the Ottoman era, when prominent representatives of the Ottoman Empire came here to relax. King Alexander Obrenović, who ruled here in the 19th century, also had a special love for Zlatibor. Largely thanks to him, the resort gained even greater 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. This area is distinguished by a large number of sunny days a year, about 200, unique atmospheric pressure and an almost complete absence of fog. Winters are mild here, and summers are warm but not hot, which allows you to visit the mountain range throughout the year.

Getting there

The most convenient way to get to the tourist center is by plane to Belgrade, and from there by train or bus. In the case of a train trip, 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 traveling.

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 hotel’s interiors are distinguished by their modern design. The walls are so richly decorated with paintings that it seems as if you are in a gallery of modern art. You feel the same feeling in the cozy rooms. In the hotel you can not only relax, but also work – there is a new congress center for 500 seats.

The hotel is famous for its SPA-center “Wellness Mona & Bar”. This is a real territory of beauty and health, where on an area of a thousand square meters there are massage rooms, a Turkish bath, a sauna, a jacuzzi, a pool with a geyser and a waterfall. Guests are offered facial and body care services, therapeutic mud, classes in the fitness room. There are also classes for children. The hotel has a playroom “Playroom Monica”. A maze, 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 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 a bar “Lada”. By the way, Zlatibor is famous for smoked ham, homemade cheese and kaymak – all these products are traditionally present in the restaurant menu.

Hotel Palisad 4-star hotel

Hotel Palisad offers a ski rental, massage services and a Relax and Beauty spa with a hot tub. bath, Finnish sauna and gym is located in Zlatibor. A ski school is available during the winter months.

The functional rooms at Hotel Palisad are decorated in a modern 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 unique atmosphere. Special diet menus must be ordered in advance. Pastry Café serves pies and homemade pastries made according to traditional recipes.

Guests of Hotel Palisad can relax on the shore of Lake Zlatibor, play tennis and football, or take long horseback rides through the picturesque Dinaric Alps. A team of professional entertainers organizes entertainment activities for guests. Free Wi-Fi is available in public areas.

Villa Natural Wood 4 stars

Villa Natural Wood enjoys an idyllic location amidst lush green meadows, 1.5 km from the centre of Zlatibor. It offers beautiful wooden cottages with free Wi-Fi, free bikes and free private parking.
Villa Natural Wood consists of a main wooden cottage with unique apartments. The apartments are decorated with stone and wood elements. There are also 2 separate single cottages.
All apartments and cottages have a private furnished balcony or terrace. The living room features a modern flat-screen cable TV and comfortable sofas. The modern, fully equipped kitchenettes with a dining area are complete with kitchenware, a microwave and a refrigerator.
Natural Wood Villa features a garden with a children’s playground and barbecue facilities. Snowmobiles can be rented in winter and a small mountain quad bike in summer.
Guests can enjoy the spa area with a sauna and a hot tub. Hot drinks are served at the café-bar.

Apartman Oka 4 stars

Set in Zlatibor, Oka Apartments offers air-conditioned accommodation with a balcony and free WiFi. The apartment features mountain views.
The apartment features 1 bedroom, 1 bathroom, a flat-screen TV with satellite channels, a dining area, a fully equipped kitchen, and a patio with garden views.
Skiing and cycling can be enjoyed nearby. A ski equipment rental service and ski-to-door access are available at the apartment.
Mokra Gora is 28 km from the apartments, while Kaludjerske Bari is 37 km away.

Ski Resort

When the snow covers the meadows and valleys and the branches bend under the white blanket, Zlatibor becomes beautiful in a new way. It is a large ski center and the largest winter recreation center in Serbia, with places for both beginners and experts in skiing and alpine skiing.

The gentle slopes of Obudowitsa are recommended for inexperienced skiers. To make the climb easier for you, there are ski lifts for holidaymakers. Experienced skiers will most likely head to the high peak of Tornike, where the ski center of the same name is located with four ski runs, very advantageous for alpine skiing disciplines. Three ski lifts relieve skiers of that boring and time-consuming duty that no one likes – climbing to the peak at an altitude of 1490 m. For those who prefer skiing disciplines (except for jumping), we recommend the well-maintained slopes in the central part of Zlatibor, as they are among the most beautiful in Europe.

The Zlatibor ski center is located at an altitude of 1,100 m. The highest point for skiing is 1,495 m. The total length of the slopes 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 slopes. The maximum elevation difference is 373 m, the maximum length is 2.5 km. Professional athletes who come here for training camps are frequent guests of the resort. This indicates the high quality of the slopes.

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 Čigota, where various types of therapy, anthropometric measurements, biochemical diagnostics and low-calorie nutrition are the main factors in treatment. There are also mineral springs in Zlatibor that rise from a depth of 200 meters. The most famous of them are located near the villages of Rožanstva and Zdravnitsa Vapa.

Sights and entertainment

Among Tourist routes are very popular among guests coming to Zlatibor, which allow you to fully appreciate the natural beauty of these places. At an altitude of more than 600 meters above sea level, coniferous trees such as white and black pine, fir and spruce grow here. In the lower areas, deciduous species such as beech, oak, birch, linden and ash prevail. It should be noted that deforestation in the region is strictly prohibited and even foreigners are punished for violating it. During a trip through the mountain range, you will see many respectable luxury villas and mansions with stunning views of the surroundings. Most of them belong to wealthy Serbs, as well as film, sports and show business stars who have bought real estate in a remote place, in the bosom of nature. Among the most interesting sights of Zlotybor are the ethno-park Syrogojno, the Stopich Cave, which is over 2000 meters long, and the “Haydutska Gora”, where locals love to have picnics. In the surrounding areas, the ethno-village of Küstendorf, created by the famous director Emir Kusturica on Mokra Gora, deserves special attention. For fans of active leisure, the resort areas are equipped with numerous sports grounds, swimming pools, tennis courts and golf courses.

Cuisine

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 local cuisine.

Shopping

Original sweaters, jackets and shawls of local production are popular as souvenirs, which can be purchased in Sirohoyno.

Zlatibor is a great place to relax with the whole family. There are excellent conditions for sports, treatment and exciting walks along the most picturesque trails of the mountain range. Staying here allows you to gain a lot of positive impressions and get a complete idea of the fabulous natural resources of Serbia.