How to Get to Zlatibor from Belgrade

Most people reach Zlatibor from Belgrade, and the trip is easier now than it used to be. You have two realistic options: drive yourself or take the bus. Both work. The right choice depends on how many of you are traveling and whether you want a car once you arrive.

Driving from Belgrade

The drive is around 230 kilometers and takes roughly 2.5 to 3 hours in normal traffic. You leave Belgrade on the highway toward Cacak, and a good stretch of the road is now proper motorway, which cuts the old travel time down a lot. After Cacak you continue toward Uzice, then climb up to Zlatibor. The last part is a regular two-lane road through hills, so it is slower but not difficult.

A few things worth knowing before you go:

• Fill up before Uzice if your tank is low. Stations get sparser as you climb.
• Weekend afternoons in summer are the busiest. Leaving early morning or after 6 pm helps.
• In winter, keep winter tires on and check the forecast. Snow near Zlatibor is normal and the town sits at about 1000 meters.
• Have some cash for tolls, though card payment works at most gates now.

Taking the bus

Buses run daily from Belgrade to Zlatibor, and in summer there are several departures a day. The ride takes about 3.5 to 4 hours because buses stop in Uzice and sometimes in smaller towns. Book ahead in July and August, since seats sell out on Fridays and Sundays. The bus drops you near the center, and from there most apartments are a short taxi ride or walk.

If you bring a car, parking in the center can be a small headache in high season. Our apartment on Ulica Sportova has its own enclosed garage spot with 24/7 video surveillance, so you park once when you arrive and leave the car there. You walk to Dino Park across the street and to the center in about ten minutes, which means you rarely need to move it at all.