2 Day Road Trip Through Western Serbia
We highly recommend you visit Western Serbia. It is very relaxing away from the hustle and bustle of Belgrade. The people are so friendly and it’s one of the cheapest places we’ve travelled to. The region was so quiet and sometimes we were the only tourists. This is how we recommend you spend your time in Western Serbia.
Sargan Eight Railroad Tour
Drina River House
Banjska Stena Viewpoint
Drvengrad
Stopića Cave
Old Village Sirogojno Open Air Museum
Gostilje Vodopad Waterfall
Zlatibor
Getting there
After a few days in Belgrade, we wanted to explore more of Serbia. We started the 4-hour drive South West from Belgrade very early. We drove through quaint villages and mountain ranges to reach the Serbian Bosnian border.
Sargan Eight Railroad Tour
We explored the little town of Mokra Gora before our train tour departed. Houses are built into mountain slope and the Serbian architecture was fascinating.
The best way to experience the landscape of Western Serbia is to hop on this old train ride. As we climbed onto the authentic carriage and sat down on the wooden seats, we felt as though we had gone back in time to 1925 when the railway was opened to connect Bosnia and Serbia.
The track is extremely narrow so be careful when you stick your arms out the window to take a photo.
It’s called the Sargan Eight due to figure 8 shaped railway track that cuts through the steep and rocky landscape. The track is 15km long, going through 22 tunnels and over 5 bridges.
There are several short stops along the way with amazing viewpoints.
Departure from Mokra Gora: (10.30am, 1.30pm, 4.10pm)
Duration: up to 2.5 hours to return back to Mokra Gora.
Price: 900 RSD / 8 €
Drina River House
From Mokra Gora it’s a 1 hour drive to the extraordinary Drina River House. It was built by swimmers that needed shelter. It would have been cool to spend the night here, on a rock in the middle of the river.
Banjska Stena Viewpoint
For sunset we were determined to reach the best viewpoint. We followed the Drina River that separates Serbia and Bosnia. We headed away from the river and started the incline into the mountains. The viewpoint was another 30 minutes further up the mountain. Therefore, we parked the car on the side of the treacherous road and captured the spectacular sunset.
There were wonderful views of Lake Perućac (artificial lake) and Drina Canyon (one of the deepest in the world). There are white water rafting tours along the Drina / Tara River. We were the only people here and captured some unique photos. Sometimes the best photo is from a less touristy spot.
For those wanting to reach the Banjska Stena Viewpoint. The road takes you close to the viewpoint and is marked with benches and safety fence.
If we go back to this region we would consider staying in the small mountain town of Mitrovac. It is located close to the viewpoint and they have bear watching tours, scenic hiking tracks and a ski resort in winter.
Drvengrad
Drvengrad is a traditional wooden village on a mountain above Mokra Gora. It was built by Serbian film director Emir Kusturica for his film ‘Life Is A Miracle’. The traditional architecture and old timer cars are fascinating. Click here for more information and to book this hotel.
Stopića Cave
From Drvengrad it’s a 1 hour drive to Stopića Cave. From the car park, there is a short walk down a rough steep track to the cave entrance (18m high and 35m wide). This limestone cave is one of the largest in Serbia. Artificial light and metal walkways led us through the damp cave. The dark cave allowed me to capture long exposure photos with my tripod.
We reached the back of the cave, stood on a bridge and watched the 10-metre high underground waterfall fall beneath us. The other highlight was the stacked pools. There are many different sizes of pools at different levels that fill with water and overflow.
The temperature outside is opposite to the temperature in the cave. So keep this in mind when deciding on what clothing to bring. A rain jacket is good to have as water drips from the ceiling.
When: 10am-7pm
Price: Parking 70 RSD. Entry 200 RSD
Old Village Sirogojno Open Air Museum
We continued 4km down the road to Sirogojno. An open-air museum for traditional architecture, lifestyle and housing. We saw how life would have been like in a mountain village in the 19th century.
When: 9am-7pm
Price: Parking 70 RSD. Entry 200 RSD
Gostilje Vodopad Waterfall
After a 30 minute drive, we reached the waterfall. From the carpark, we followed the noise of the waterfall down the path. The powerful waterfall falls from a height of 20 metres.
We followed the path further down the river and found more beautiful waterfalls. I took photos of the waterfalls with a polarising filter, at a long exposure and on a tripod.
When: 9am-7pm
Price: 100 RSD
Zlatibor
On the way back to Belgrade we decided to have a quick stop in Zlatibor. It is one of the most popular places in Serbia for adventure tourists (skiing and hiking). Therefore, prices here are more expensive than in other towns nearby.
The reason for our visit was much different. We wanted to have pancakes and visit the market. Located next to the large artificial lake, we had delicious pancakes at an award-winning restaurant called Feniks.
In the heart of Zlatibor there is a market with 89 typical houses selling traditional products. These include pottery, knitted clothes, handmade wood crafts, cured meats, kajmak (cream cheese), honey, jam, rakija (fruit brandy) and many other interesting things.
We hope this blog helped you with your planning. If you have any questions, don't be afraid to ask!