Family & Snow

There are days when the hardest decision is also the most beautiful one: whether to stay inside a warm home with a cup of tea and socks that never seem to find their pair, or to open the door and let the cold air remind you that winter is, in fact, an invitation. In Serbia, snow is not just a weather condition – it is the scenery for family stories: first clumsy ski steps, snowballs that somehow always “accidentally” hit dad, and laughter you can hear through both hat and scarf.

If you are a foreign guest, think of this as a short course in happiness: the mountains are close, the experiences are big, and breaks with mulled wine or hot tea come exactly when they are needed. If you are local, even better – you know that you don’t go to the snow “when there’s time,” but when winter looks you straight in the eye and says: “Come on, step outside.”

Kopaonik is like a generous host who has room for everyone: for those who already “carve” the slopes as if filming a commercial, and for beginners still negotiating with their skis over who leads whom. As the largest ski resort in Serbia, Kopaonik offers a serious choice of slopes, including the illuminated night-skiing run “Malo Jezero,” when the mountain seems to turn on the lights just for you.

Families especially love the part where children become the editors-in-chief of the day: sledding, skating, and playing in snow parks, while adults practice an old winter skill – enjoying themselves without rushing. And when it’s time for a break, on Kopaonik it is always well deserved: a bit of warmth, a bit of a view, and then back to the white adventure.

Zlatibor in winter has one special quality: it feels as if nature itself decided to be in a good mood. And Tornik, as its “ski stage,” offers exactly what a family needs for a snowy weekend – enough adrenaline, enough comfort, and enough reasons to retell in the evening who fell first and who figured it out first.

Tornik is an excellent choice for those who want a mountain that doesn’t require too much preparation but delivers plenty of experiences. When conditions are good, a day on the slopes easily turns into “just one more run,” and then another – until you realize that night has already fallen and you’re still smiling. That is usually a sign you are in the right place.

If you are looking for a winter that feels more like a movie scene than a postcard, Stara Planina can be a true discovery. Located in eastern Serbia, along the mountain range that forms a natural border with Bulgaria, its “distance from the noise” often makes it seem as if snow lasts longer here and crunches more beautifully under your boots.

This is a destination for families who like to combine an active day in the snow with a kind of peace that cannot be bought, only found: walks through winter landscapes, views that open up the horizon, and the feeling that you have escaped the calendar of obligations. Stara Planina also offers a glimpse into a different Serbia – one that doesn’t boast loudly, but stays with you for a long time.

And just when you think the festive season is over – Serbia smiles discreetly and says: “Wait, we have one more.” Serbian New Year, on January 14, arrives as an extension of the holiday magic: the perfect moment to extend your stay, catch another snowy weekend, and experience the local spirit of celebration.

On that date, Belgrade welcomes Serbian New Year where history meets modern life – with a grand fireworks display in front of the Temple of Saint Sava. Beneath domes that have witnessed centuries and prayers, the winter sky lights up in festive colors, and the city breathes as one, aware that the New Year is welcomed not only by the calendar, but by the heart as well.

The plan is simple: a day in the snow, an evening in a festive atmosphere, and the next day – a little more winter, because why leave just when it’s at its most beautiful?