Kolašin

Kolašin today: a mountain town in the north of Montenegro

Kolašin is a municipality in northern Montenegro with 6,700 inhabitants, according to the 2023 census, and an area of 906 km². Its town stands at about 950 metres, carries air spa status, and the municipality's highest point reaches 2,139 metres. Bjelasica is the massif that holds both ski centres and Biogradska gora National Park.

The settlement was founded as a Turkish fortified settlement in the mid 17th century and was first mentioned in 1565. Manastir Morača, built in 1252 and endowed by Stefan Vukanović Nemanjić, lies 25 kilometres from Kolašin. Danilov most was built in 1858 and was declared a cultural property in 1957.

What to see and do in Kolašin: Bjelasica and Biogradska Gora

Declared in 1952, Biogradska gora National Park covers 5,650 hectares, including a 1,600-hectare virgin forest reserve, across elevations from 832 to 2,139 metres. Biogradsko jezero is the largest of Bjelasica's glacial lakes and the only one reached by road. The park has six marked hiking trails, while the marked route through Kanjon Mrtvice extends for 6.6 kilometres and takes about two hours on foot. Boat and kayak hire is available on Biogradsko jezero, and the park's offer includes fly fishing on the Tara river.

Kolašin 1450 and Kolašin 1600 offer around 45 kilometres of pistes in combination. Kolašin 1600 opened on 16 February 2019, with a base station at 1,600 metres, an upper station at 2,035 metres and a vertical drop of 435 metres; the two centres have been linked by the K7 gondola lift since February 2022. Spring to autumn brings a marked mountain-bike trail, a cross-country trail and the recommended "Dvije glave i pet jezera" route of 63 kilometres, estimated at 8 to 9 hours. Active katuni include Vranjak, Ječmen Do, Goleš, Martinovića, Slađevac, Rupe ravanjske, Durutovac, Potoci, Bijeli potok and Melaja. Summer visits include tastings of local dairy products.

Where to eat in Kolašin: the katun table

Kolašinski lisnati sir has been a protected product since May 2019. It is made by more than 100 holdings across 17 local communities in the municipalities of Kolašin and Mojkovac, with an annual placement of around 2,000 tonnes. Summer production at the katuni also includes skorup, kajmak and various cheeses.

Getting to Kolašin

Kolašin lies on the main road linking Podgorica with northern Montenegro and Serbia, forming part of the E65 and E80 European routes. Podgorica Airport is around 70 to 80 kilometres away, or about 1 hour 15 minutes by road; Tivat Airport is around 150 kilometres away, or about 2 hours 45 minutes; Dubrovnik is around 209 kilometres away, or about 4 hours. By rail, Kolašin lies on the Belgrade to Bar railway at its highest point, 1,032 metres above sea level. The municipality is inland, without a coastline or a marina.

When to visit Kolašin

The winter season runs from December to March or April, depending on snow, for skiing, Nordic skiing, ski touring, snowshoeing and snowmobile riding. Summer, from June to September, is the period for hiking, the lake and katuni, while rafting and canyoning on the Tara river depend on water levels during the spring to autumn season. August, when Bjelasica Trail brings races starting from Trg boraca in Kolašin, is among the busier periods, alongside winter holidays and February. November and April to May offer the quieter interseasonal months.