Divčibare

Divčibare sits at around 980 metres on a broad shoulder of Maljen, an unusually flat and open mountain area of meadow and pine that has been a climatic resort since the interwar period, valued for air quality and used for recovery from respiratory illness. It is gentle country: the walking is easy, the meadows are wide, and there are viewpoints over the Kolubara valley at the edges of the plateau. In winter a small ski area operates on modest slopes suited to beginners and families. Development has been substantial and largely uncontrolled, with holiday houses spreading across the meadows, which is the main criticism levelled at it. Proximity to Belgrade makes it busy at weekends year round.

What you actually see

• Open plateau meadows - flat grassland and pine at nearly a thousand metres.
• Edge viewpoints - overlooks toward the Kolubara valley.
• The small ski area - beginner and family slopes in winter.
• Holiday development - the spread of houses across the plateau.

When to go

May to September for walking and meadows, December to February for skiing when snow allows. Weekends bring heavy traffic from Belgrade. Snow reliability has become poor in warm winters.

Honest expectations

Building on the plateau is dense and unattractive in places, and the resort feels suburban rather than wild. The skiing is very limited. Weekend crowds are heavy. The walking is pleasant but undemanding, with no real mountain terrain.

Nearby

Valjevo lies north; Tara and the Drina are southwest.