National park Kopaonik

National park Kopaonik, one of 5 national parks in Serbia,  is located in the central part of Serbia.

It’s situated on a relatively flat region, at an altitude of about 1,700 m (5,577 ft) and it stretches up to the peak of the Pančićev vrh at 2017 m. It was established in 1981 because of its autochthonous plants and a very large number of bird species such as rock partridge, scops owl, red-backed shrike, and the wood lark.

Kopaonik is also the biggest mountain range in Serbia, extending from northwest to southeast and it is home to forest-pasture zone of central Serbia.

The entire park is characterized by its extraordinary natural beauty: vast expanses of grassland, picturesque forests composed of a wide variety of tree species, beauty spots, and deep river gorges.

The following guide will give you all the necessary information for planning your trip to Kopaonik.

How to get to National park Kopaonik?

By car

If you plan to come to Kopaonik with your own car, you should first make sure you put on winter tires. If you don’t have them, you can rent them in Jošanjička Banja or Brzeć.

Although there are more roads that lead to Kopaonik, it is advisable to opt for the route over Jošanjička Banja (on the west), because on the east, the road can be inaccessible due to occasional bad weather and snowstorms.

By bus

There are currently three bus lines to Kopaonik: from Belgrade, Novi Sad and Niš (check here the schedule of departures).

During the season, in addition to regular bus lines, a large number of agencies arrange seasonal minibuses and van lines to Kopaonik.

What to do in National park Kopaonik

Skiing

As it is already mentioned, Kopaonik is the biggest mountain range in the region, so it is obvious that the main activity in this national park will be skiing.  

It has 24 ski lifts, with 70 km (43 mi) of ski slopes for all categories. The ski resort has a Snow Park for extreme skiers and snowboarders. The slopes are mostly easy to ski on (around 54% with a total of 30km).

There is also a possibility of night skiing. If you are a beginner, you can always sign up for a ski and snowboarding course.

Ski pass prices – Adults’ ticket costs around 3550 RSD while the children’s ticket price is reduced and it costs 2700 RSD (daily ski pass).

(NOTE: Serbia’s official currency is Serbian dinar or RSD so make sure to exchange money in advance). There is also the possibility of buying a ticket for a single run.

Other activities

If you want to take a break from snow and skiing, you can play tennis or relax at a spa.

When the sun goes down, switch to one of the cafe bars and nightclubs.

Where to stay

You can choose between staying in luxurious hotels, villas or numerous private apartments.

• Grey Hotel Kopaonik (5*) – set 150 m from 4 ski lifts and featuring ski-to-door access. Guests can enjoy the indoor pool, spa centre, fitness centre and sauna for free, as well as the free use of Wi-Fi
• Hotel Kraljevi Čardaci (3*) – provides transport to and from Kopaonik centre, which is 5,5 km away

Useful information

If you need more information on the accommodation prices, ski resort or transport, check these websites:

• http://www.eng.infokop.net/  – the most visited and most comprehensive website about Kopaonik
• http://www.kopaonik.travel/en – here you can get more info on ski passes, skiing school and equipment