You ever get that urge to get the hell out of town and into a change of scenery? After weeks of record-breaking high temperatures in Belgrade – You know, the kind that makes you hide in your air-conditioned apartment until about 8pm, I thought it was time to get out of town into cooler temperatures and into fresh air and nature. Zlatibor is located about 3 hours south of Belgrade and, in my opinion, was just what my tired soul needed.
Getting there
The drive to Zlatibor is both easy and beautiful. I hopped onto the recently built highway, Milos the Great (A2), and started to make my way to the destination. At the halfway point, I stopped in a small city to refuel both my car and my body. I hesitantly picked a pizza restaurant and mustered the courage to use what little Serbian I knew, to which the waitress replied “anything else?” Her reply made me smile. For the remainder of the drive, I was reminded of how naturally beautiful Serbia is. The country is very green with winding rivers and mountains with their stone faces. This country really is a hidden gem.
Accommodation
Zlatibor definitely is in the process of new development, as there are many new construction hotels and apartments that some would argue don’t fit in with the environment. I selected a 5-star hotel (what? I like to be fancy) called Queen of Zlatibor, 1km away from the town center. Here’s what I liked about the hotel:
- The hotel and its rooms are CLEAN. My room was laid out like a 1 bedroom apartment, complete with a small living room, dining room and full kitchen.
- Parking and breakfast are included with your stay. Breakfast is served buffet-style with an assortment of traditional Serbian fare. Both outdoor and covered parking are available.
- Friendly staff and good wifi.
- Spa and Wellness Center is maintained.
Highlights
Because this first trip was all about rest and relaxation, I decided not to venture out too much. However, I think checking out Zlatibor’s tourist site is a good start if you’re hoping to satisfy any nature cravings. However, I did spend a few hours exploring the town center. I found everything you’d likely expect to be there…and some things I didn’t expect like bubble tea shops. Here are the highlights:
- Outdoor market – There you can find meats, dairy products such as cheese and kaymak, canned and bottled goods like jam, honey and rakija, and last but not least traditional Serbian clothing and carpets. I picked up some rakija slijva (plum brandy) from a local producer there. Though I was likely given “the foreigner’s price,” I didn’t mind. Why not support a local when I can.
- Uhuru Caffe – A cool coffeeshop with a great vibe. By the way, a cappuccino will set you back about $1.50. It definitely beats the $5-something at your typical US-based coffeeshop.
- Kafana Ljubis – I basically died and went to heaven here. The food was the absolute best I’ve had in Serbia so far (aside from the times I’ve been given home cooked meals. That’s an entire different level of joy I experience.) I love that this restaurant only offers 2 main dishes: veal or trout. Then, prepares those dishes really, really well.
Summary
My visit to Zlatibor accomplished exactly what I wanted and needed. It’s a perfect place to rest and recharge and also a perfect getaway for families and couples to spend quality time together no matter the time of year. Be sure to leave a comment on where in Serbia I should visit next!