Things to do in Rastiste

No. 1 of Best Things to Do in Central Serbia

Drvengrad

Drvengrad is located near Mokra Gora in the Zlatibor region of western Serbia and is a traditional wooden village built by director Emir Kusturica for the filming of "Life Is a Miracle." The village's buildings are almost entirely constructed of wood, and everything from the houses and churches to the street facilities reflects a rich Balkan folk style. The streets in the village are named after figures admired by Kusturica—names such as Nikola Tesla, Fellini, Bergman, and Maradona appear on street signs, while the main street is named after Nobel laureate Ivo Andrić. In the center of the village stands the Saint Sava Orthodox Church, surrounded by facilities such as a cinema named after Stanley Kubrick, the Ivo Andrić Library, an art gallery, a sports hall, restaurants, and a cake shop. The village is built into the mountainside and is surrounded by open fields and rolling mountains. The wooden architecture blends seamlessly with the natural environment, while the sculptures and flowers scattered throughout add a fairytale-like atmosphere.

No. 15 of Best Things to Do in Serbia

Tara National Park

Tara National Park is located in the Tara Mountains, where the Drina River cuts a deep, steep canyon at the foot of the mountains, forming the backdrop of the park along with the vast forests. Most of the park is covered by mixed forests of spruce, fir, and beech, with streams and meadows scattered throughout. It is home to brown bears, chamois, and numerous bird species, and a significant brown bear population in Serbia inhabits these forests. It also preserves the Serbian spruce, a relict from the Ice Age. This tree species, endemic to Serbia, is extremely rare elsewhere in the world and is a highly recognizable botanical symbol of the park. Hiking is the primary way to explore. Trails extend in all directions from tourist hubs like Mitrovac, offering a wide range of options in terms of length and difficulty. The route to the Banjska Stena viewpoint is particularly popular: a short walk along the forest path leads to the cliff top, where you can see the emerald-colored Lake Perućac and the winding course of the Drina River between the mountains below, which is the park's iconic view. Visitors seeking tranquility can head to the Lake Zaovine area, where the lake water is crystal blue. Water-based activities are concentrated on Lake Perućac, where you can take a boat cruise on the canyon waters. Viewing from the cliff top and boating on the water offer two different perspectives. Deep in the mountains, there are also sights such as the 13th-century Rača Monastery and the waterfall on the Beli Rzav River, which are suitable to include in longer hiking routes.

No. 5 of Best Things to Do in Serbia

Drina River Small House

Drina River Small House is a scenic view on theDrina in Serbia: a small red-roofed wooden cabin standing on a rock in the middle of the river, surrounded by emerald waters and green mountains on both banks. It is located on the Drina near Bajina Basta, at the foot of Tara, where this section of the river serves as the border between Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina. Initially, it was built by a few local young people who often rested on the rock in the river, using materials found on-site. Over the following decades, the cabin was swept away by rising floodwaters multiple times, only to be retrieved and rebuilt again and again. This persistence in being rebuilt after repeated destruction has become its most moving quality. In August 2012, a photo featuring the cabin was selected as a National Geographic Photo of the Month, and it has since become famous, becoming one of the most iconic sights in Serbia. When visiting, most tourists choose to view it from afar, capturing the view from viewpoints on the riverbank; some kayaking enthusiasts paddle closer for a better look. During the soft light of early morning or evening, the reflection on the calm water and the silhouette of the cabin are particularly photogenic.

No. 2 of Best Things to Do in Central Serbia

The Šargan Eight

The Šargan Eight is a narrow-gauge sightseeing railway in western Serbia, running between the stations of Mokra Gora and Šargan Vitasi, with the entire line being approx. 15.5 km long. The line was once a section of the narrow-gauge main line connecting Belgrade and Sarajevo, extending as far as the Adriatic coast. After being closed for many years, it was restored and reopened as the sightseeing railway it is today. To overcome an elevation difference of approx. 300 m over just over 10 km, the tracks wind through the mountains in a giant "8" shape. In some sections, the train even passes the same spot twice, which is how it got its name. Riding this nostalgic train, nicknamed "Ćira," half the fun is outside the window: the railway runs between Tara and Zlatibor mountains, passing through 22 tunnels and over several bridges in succession, with some tunnel walls still dripping with mountain water. The carriages retain the style of the 1930s, and the wooden details are full of old-world charm. To see the full "8" shape, you can look down from the viewing point near the Krst station, where the upper and lower tracks look like two railways stacked on top of each other. On the return journey, the train stops at a spot with a wide view for passengers to take photos. There is a longer stop at the final station, where you can get off and explore the old station building. The area around Mokra Gora station has been developed into a museum-style tourist complex, with a restaurant next to the station serving home-style Serbian dishes, andDrvengrad, created by director Kusturica, is not far away and is often visited in combination with the train ride.

No. 4 of Ski Resorts in Serbia

Smestaj"Iver" - Mećavnik - Mokra Gora

Smestaj "Iver" - Mećavnik - Mokra Gora is located in the Mokra Gora mountain area in the Zlatibor province of Serbia. In winter, it is close to the gentle ski slopes, equipped with ski storage and hot drink supply points, and multiple groomed snow ski slopes to meet the needs of different skiing stages. In summer, the venue is adjacent to the forest trail system, and wooden signs guide visitors to explore the ridge viewing platform and the valley ecological area. Some trails are equipped with shaded rest points for rest along the way. In addition to seasonal activities, the accommodation area is equipped with indoor leisure facilities, including a heated swimming pool and a variety of entertainment equipment. Handicraft workshops are regularly held in the public space to showcase traditional wood carving and textile techniques, and folk music performances in the evening present the characteristics of Serbian mountain culture. Smestaj "Iver" - Mećavnik - Mokra Gora uses colorful event design to achieve an organic combination of mountain travel experience and cultural heritage dissemination.

Banjska Stenа

Prirodni Rezervat Tara

Pontonska Plaža Na Jezeru Perućac

Zaovine Lake

Rača Monastery