In 60 seconds
Nestled in the lush Tara and Morača river valleys at 954 metres elevation, Kolašin is Montenegro's premier mountain resort town. Just north lies Biogradska Gora National Park, preserving one of Europe's last three remaining virgin primeval rainforests, where 500-year-old beech and silver fir trees tower above the emerald waters of Biogradsko Lake. In summer, hikers ascend into the gentle rolling pastures of the Bjelasica range, visiting traditional wooden shepherd settlements (katuns) to feast on rich mountain kačamak and cicvara.
Best for
Known for
Skip if
You need coastal warmth or nightlife; Kolašin is a mountain forest town with cool alpine evenings.
Your match
Choose a few travel interests and we will show how well Kolašin & Biogradska Gora fits them. Choose interests
See
The things that would make the trip incomplete without them.
One of Europe's last remaining virgin forests with 500-year-old trees rising up to 60 metres tall
Walk the 3.4-kilometre wooden interpretive path circling Lake Biograd beneath towering virgin firs.
Traditional seasonal wooden shepherd settlements perched in high rolling meadows at 1,800 metres
Visit a traditional summer katun to taste fresh mountain kajmak and warm bread straight from the woodstove.
Eat
A short list, kept short on purpose. Each entry answers one question: when is this the right choice?
Too few picks yet for their own heading, so they share this list.
Iconic conical thatched mountain hut restaurant famous across Montenegro for the finest traditional kačamak
Order a hot portion of Kolašinski kačamak, vigorously beaten with aged cheese, washed down with homemade sour milk.
Warm wooden café on the pedestrian square serving espresso, wild bilberry juice, and warm walnut pie
Sit on the wooden veranda sipping fresh blueberry juice while gazing at the green peaks of Bjelasica.
Beyond the obvious
Less obvious, rarely queued for, and usually the part people remember.
Private mountain botanical haven created by Daniel Vincek, preserving over 400 species of wild mountain herbs and alpine flora
Explore the peaceful shaded garden to learn how mountain villagers harvest endemic plants for medicinal teas.
After dark
Alpine timber bar with open stone hearth pouring regional craft ales, hot rakia with honey, and mulled wine
Warm up with kuvanu rakiju (hot spiced plum brandy with caramelized sugar) beside the hearth.
Orientation
How the city is actually divided, and what each part is for.
Charming town centre paved in cobblestones and lined with traditional wooden-framed houses and bakeries
Browse the morning market on the square to sample artisan Kolashin layered sheet cheese (lisnati sir).
Stay
Areas rather than hotels — pick the right one and the rest follows.
Cozy pine chalets with stone fireplaces and mountain views situated along the Tara River valley
Stay in a timber chalet on the edge of the forest to enjoy the sound of the Tara River and crisp pine scent.
Practical
Plan this trip — useful links
Context
Enough to make what you are looking at legible.
Prince Nikola declares the area of Lake Biograd a protected royal forest reserve, making it one of the world's oldest protected areas.
Biogradska Gora is formally designated as one of Montenegro's first official National Parks.
Kolašin emerges as a leading year-round hub combining premier winter skiing with pristine summer forest trekking.
Further out
Worth a day if you have one to spare.
Thirteenth-century Serbian Orthodox stone monastery set in the Morača River canyon, famed for 13th-century frescoes
View the legendary 13th-century fresco 'Raven feeds the Prophet Elijah', acclaimed as a Balkan medieval masterpiece.
