Mountain
Tara Mountain
A forested plateau overlooking the Drina River canyon, with Banjska Stena, a cliffside viewpoint roughly two hours' walk from Mitrovac, as the signature hike.
Founder, from Ruma, Serbia
Tara National Park covers a forested plateau in western Serbia, high above the Drina River canyon on the border with Bosnia and Herzegovina. Dense spruce, fir and beech forest covers most of it, and it's one of the last refuges of brown bears in Serbia and of the rare Serbian spruce, a tree that survived the last ice age here.
The signature hike leads from Mitrovac to Banjska Stena, a cliff-edge viewpoint about two hours' walk away, looking straight down into the canyon and across the Perućac reservoir. Other favourites include the Biljeska Stena and Crnjeskovo viewpoints and the shores of Zaovine lake, all reachable on marked, moderate trails.
Kaluđerske Bare and Mitrovac are the main bases, with hotels, guesthouses and mountain lodges, about three and a half hours from Belgrade. June to September is prime hiking season, while autumn turns the beech forest gold. Pair a day on the trails with the famous house on the rock in the Drina near Bajina Bašta. Zlatibor is close enough to combine on the same trip.
When to go
June through September, once forest trails have fully dried out from spring.
Getting there
Mitrovac, the trailhead village, is roughly 3.5 hours from Belgrade by car, with no direct train connection.
Plan your visit
What it costs, how long to allow, and where to base yourself.
Small park fee; tours from €115
Full day; 2 days to explore properly
Mitrovac or Bajina Bašta
Belgrade, 3.5 hrs
Trips you can book here
Guided tours run by local operators. Open a trip to see the price, what’s included and how the day runs.
Where to stay for Tara: Kaluđerske Bare on the plateau
Stay in Kaluđerske Bare, the main village on the Tara plateau, with a hotel, apartments and restaurants set among the forest. Hotel Tara suits hikers who want meals sorted, while self-caterers save with the village apartments and drive to Mitrovac for the Banjska Stena trail. Want rafting too? Bajina Bašta, below the plateau, is the base for the Drina.
Hotel Tara
Hotel
Price Range:
Mid-range
Mountain hotel on the Tara plateau with its own restaurant and bike rental. Meals sorted after a long day on the park's trails and viewpoints.
About 800 m from the village centre
Apartmani Nešović Tara
Apartment
Price Range:
Budget
Self-catering apartments with a garden and free parking. Cook your own meals and drive out to the trailheads.
In Kaluđerske Bare
Who it's for
Best for: First-time hikers, families with children who can walk a few hours, and photographers. The Banjska Stena viewpoint gives you a dramatic canyon panorama for a moderate forest walk.
Skip it if: You want an alpine summit or exposed ridges. Tara is a forested plateau, not a mountain range. Without a car it is also awkward to reach, and organised day tours from Belgrade run 12 hours.
Nearby places
Easy to combine on the same trip.
Tara Mountain questions
What is Banjska Stena?
A dramatic cliffside viewpoint over the Drina River canyon, roughly two hours' walk from Mitrovac, and the signature hike on Tara Mountain.
Is the trail suitable for beginners?
Yes, it's well-marked and manageable for most fitness levels, making it one of the more approachable canyon views in the region.
Can I stay overnight near the trail?
Yes, Mitrovac and Kaluđerske Bare have hotels, guesthouses and mountain lodges that make a good base for exploring the park.
How much does it cost to visit Tara National Park?
National park entry is inexpensive, typically a few euros for adults, and the hiking trails themselves are free. The guided day tour from Belgrade we link to costs from around €115 per person, with hotel pickup, a guide and lunch. It drives close to Banjska Stena for a short walk rather than doing the full hike from Mitrovac.
Is the Banjska Stena hike good for kids?
Yes. The Banjska Stena trail is well marked with only a few steeper sections, manageable for children with some stamina. A road also runs close to the viewpoint if you would rather drive most of the way.
Is Tara Mountain worth visiting?
Yes, for the Banjska Stena view over the Drina canyon and for some of the best-preserved forest in Serbia. It is also one of the easiest big-nature day trips from Belgrade.
Are there bears on Tara?
Yes, Tara is one of the last refuges of brown bears in Serbia, but they avoid people and sightings are rare. Stick to marked trails and follow the guidance at the Mitrovac visitor centre.
What else is nearby?
The house on the rock in the Drina near Bajina Bašta is the obvious pairing, along with the Perućac reservoir and Zaovine lake. Zlatibor and the Šargan Eight railway are around an hour and a half away.
Ready to hike Tara?
No car? Book a guided day tour from Belgrade to Banjska Stena and the house on the Drina, with pickup and lunch.
