Travel West Serbia: The Serbia you never knew!
It was a drizzly early morning in Belgrade when we planned to travel across West Serbia. We headed out to the nearby Hleb & Kifle (Хлеб & Кифле in Serbian) outlet for our breakfast. Were we lucky to find this bakery shop open at 7:00 AM on a Sunday!
We started our road trip from Belgrade to Western Serbia. The suburbs of Belgrade are perfect for a relaxed picnic, especially when the weather is as sunny as this.
1. Travel across Bajina Bašta, Serbia
The drive towards Bajina Bašta is full of serene scenes and winding roads. Travelling along the route towards West Serbia, we encountered breath-taking views of the Drina Valley. The Gate of Podrinje (Kapija Podrinja) viewpoint exhibits one of the best views of the valley. At 925 M above sea level, this point gives a marvellous panoramic view of the enchanting valley and the Tara National Park.
We came across some local vendors, who sold fresh hand-picked products of the Drina valley: raspberries, honey, fruit jams, fruit juices, and the famous Serbian alcohol, Rakija (pronounced Rakiya). Whenever you visit Serbia, better not miss out on the Rakija! Rakija is a celebratory alcoholic drink of Serbia, and is available in various flavours, based on the fruit it is made from, such as plums, apricots, pears, apples, etc. However, Rakija has an alcohol composition of 40%-65%, and hence is not advisable for alcohol newbies.
Absolute Travel Tip: The best Rakija is made at home and is available with the locals. If you come across people selling Rakija in plastic bottles, do not hesitate to buy it. It’s homemade, cheap and the best!
Absolute Travel Tip: The capital city of Belgrade hosts Rakija tasting festivals annually. Among some of the biggest festivals, The November Wine Festival that hosts the Balkan Rakija Fe1`st, occurs in November every year, whereas the Rakija Fest happens in December. You may find many more Rakija tasting festivals on a smaller and local level.
2. The Famous Drina River House
Just a few minutes from the Gate of Podrinje viewpoint, we reached the incredible house on the Drina river. The Drina river marks the geopolitical boundary of Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina. The Drina River House is a small wooden cabin bang in the middle of this boundary, quaintly resting on a rock that rises out of the river.
We stopped over at Restoran Studenac, which is a great place to stop by while travelling to western Serbia. You can have some refreshing beer and enjoy the charming view of the Drina River House.
When the water-level and flow of the Drina river increase, people start hoarding in for water sports activities and festivals. On other days, the Drina flows peacefully, hence becoming a favourite fishing spot for beginners and pros alike.
Absolute Travel Tip: Every July, the local municipality of Bajina Bašta organises the ‘Drina Regatta’ (Drinska Regata). The Drina Regatta is a recreational event that takes place on the Drina River. Tourists gather from all over the world to experience and take part in the thrilling three-day event. If you travel to Serbia in July, do not miss out on visiting the Drina!
3. Travelling Across the Tara National Park, Serbia
The road from Drina River House to our next stop, Drvengrad, passes through the dense Tara National Park. The Tara National Park is located at the border of Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina and is known as ‘The Lungs of Serbia’ owing to the fresh oxygen-rich air here. Additionally, the gorges, streams, forest, and the lakes make the Tara National Park a desirable travel destination for hiking and camping enthusiasts. A large diversity of birds and animals, such as bears, deer, wolves, eagles, vultures, and owls are native to the Tara National Park. The national park is a dominant source of honey, plums, and several berries of Serbia.
4. Drvengrad, Mećavnik
Drvengrad, also known as ‘The Wooden Village’, is famous for its architecture and should not be missed by anyone travelling to Serbia. Almost everything in Drvengrad, from the flooring to the roof, is made of wood! This rustic town has been created by Emir Kusturica, a Serbian Film-maker, for one of his movies. Drvengrad is situated on Mećavnik, in the village of Mokra Gora, very close to the boundary of Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina. One can reach Drvengrad within 3 to 4 hours by driving down from the capital city of Belgrade.
The wooden village is enabled with wooden houses (where you can stay), a wooden church, a library, cinema halls, tennis courts, and a large wooden helipad! Additionally, you can find some restaurants serving tantalising food of numerous cuisines. We tried some delicious Serbian and Italian food at the Viscounts Restaurant.
Drvengrad, also known as Küstendorf, hosts the Küstendorf International Film Festival annually: a festival that celebrates feature films, short films, and music.
5. Travel the Šargan Eight, Mokra Gora, Serbia
Near Drvengrad is the iconic narrow gauge railway of Šargan Eight, where the ‘Nostalgia’ train travels on the hills, over the bridges, and through the tunnels of the Zlatibor mountains of West Serbia. This old-school steam-powered engine has been converted to a diesel-powered engine to enable the train to charge up the inclines of the mountainous path. The experience of travelling on this train while the train chugs through the wilderness of Mokra Gora is incredible: the fresh air of the forests, the crisp breeze flowing in from the windows, the feel of the wooden carriages, and the gentle shuddering of the antique train!
Different train routes are available to travel during different seasons. We chose the train route of Mokra Gora – Šargan Vitasi – Mokra Gora. The ticket price for an adult for the Mokra Gora – Šargan Vitasi – Mokra Gora route is 900 Serbian Dinars, i.e. approx. $9. One should not miss out on the wondrous Šargan Eight train journey when visiting Western Serbia, especially when the ticket prices are so traveller-friendly!
The train halts at various stops along the route, where we can get off the train and enjoy the breath-taking sights from the viewpoints and stations. One of the stops is the famous ‘Crazy Rock’ stop, where a large rock is embedded in the overhanging viewpoint floor (you can see the valley below!). Many people believe that donating a coin or two at the ‘Crazy Rock’ brings good luck. Many people get their photos clicked at the ‘Crazy Rock’ viewpoint since brilliant landscapes are visible from here; also because many people believe in gaining good luck from the rock!
The Jatare station is one of the most photogenic halts and is the longest halt of the journey. One can fancy some time at the local restaurant and sip on some Serbian beer, or explore the hiking trail and get some photos clicked from the viewpoint above, on the mountain. The waterfall, the ice cream stall, and the surrounding forest add to the beauty of the Jatare station.
Absolute Travel Tip: You can check the updated ticket prices at the Serbia Voz website and book the tickets at one of their outlets. One can find the ticket outlets in many Serbian cities, or head straight to the Šargan Eight departure point to book the tickets.
With our minds full of wonder from the amazing experiences in sunny Western Serbia, we drove back to the capital of Serbia. To our surprise, we encountered a severe rainstorm on our way back: broken branches and rain splattering on the windscreen, almost rendering us blind to the road ahead of us. Even the harsh rainstorm could not diminish our delight, thanks to the marvellous day that we had spent in West Serbia.
Western Serbia is truly full of hidden and unadvertised surreal splendours.
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Tom
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Thank you for your kind words! We’ll keep posting more travel tips 🌟