Kolašin & Biogradska Gora: the back story

About Kolašin & Biogradska Gora: the back story

By the ULTIMATE Podgorica Editorial Team

Editor-in-Chief: Jai Michael

Kolašin stands at 954 metres on the right bank of the Tara, in the mountains north of Podgorica, and the new motorway section to Mateševo has cut the journey from the capital. For generations it was a summer refuge; now it is also Montenegro’s ski capital.

A summer refuge

Kolašin is a quiet mountain town between the Tara and Morača rivers, on the Belgrade–Bar railway and the main roads between the coast and the north. Its family-run restaurants serve the food of the mountains: kačamak, cicvara, lamb under the sač and Kolašin’s own puff cheese.

The primeval forest

Biogradska Gora, Montenegro’s smallest national park, protects one of Europe’s last primeval forests, with trees over 40 metres tall and up to 500 years old. It has been protected since 1878, when King Nikola banned commercial use of the forest, and became a national park in 1952.

At Biogradska Gora, trees up to 500 years old stand in one of Europe’s last primeval forests.

Lake Biograd

At the heart of the park lies Lake Biograd, Montenegro’s largest mountain lake, a glacial lake about 16 km from Kolašin. A path circles the shore through the old forest, and there are boats, kayaks, cottages and a visitor centre; five more glacial lakes and summits over 2,000 metres lie above.

A ski town

In February 2019 the Kolašin 1600 ski area opened on Bjelasica, and in 2022 a chairlift linked it with Kolašin 1450, together about 45 km of pistes, according to Ski Resorts of Montenegro. Our sister guide, the ULTIMATE Ski Resorts Guide, covers the ski area in full.

Our advice: in summer, walk the shore of Lake Biograd in the morning and eat kačamak in town; in winter, ski Bjelasica and stay in Kolašin for its restaurants. Pack a warm layer even in August.

Opening hours, prices and seasonal openings change, so please check with Kolašin & Biogradska Gora: the back story before you go.