Full Kopaonik Experience
All you need to know before going to Kopaonik
For a few years now, Kopaonik is one of the favorite destinations of the Romanian winter sports lovers. My curiosity grew little by little every time I’ve read something about it or when somebody was talking about Kopaonik.
Thus, this year, we decided to explore the Serbian skiing experience in a group of 7 — and it was just crazy: 5 nights and 6 days of fun, ski, snowboarding, friends, pool, and unforgettable memories.
We went to Kopaonik from the 23rd until the 29th of January and the weather was quite challenging, considering the fact that it was changing a lot. Therefore, this article will contain some helpful tips that will make your experience be a nice one, even if the weather might not be that nice.
Safety first
Skiing/snowboarding are not the safest sports to practice and you never know what the outcome of a day on the slope is going to be. Nobody is thinking or wishing for the worst scenario, but it’s good to take into consideration all the problems you might need to deal with. Thus, I strongly advise you to make international health insurance before going to practice winter sports in a foreign country.
Accommodation
Our accommodation was just perfect. A little wooden house, fully rented by our group, equipped with kitchen, living room and a special room with a pick-up, sound system, and pool was all we needed for a week with lots of fun and not so much sleep. The accommodation in Kopaonik is very affordable and the conditions are more than acceptable.
People
The people from Kopaonik are very friendly. The guy who provided the accommodation prepared for our arrival traditional food, freshly baked bread, and Dunja — their traditional drink made out of quince. We’ve noticed that people from the restaurants were very hospitable too, recommending us their food specialties and gladly telling us about the traditions of their region.
Distances & Shops
Even though our accommodation was around 25–30 km from the slope, I found this very comfortable because we had a shop nearby where we found everything we needed (from milk, bread, fruits, beer, wine, to shower gel and all the stuff you could think of). Also, in this shop, we were able to pay by cash or by card, as well as to exchange Euros into Serbian Dinars (their national currency).
Restaurants
Close to our accommodation, we had a few restaurants that were serving a great variety of food at very good prices. Something that we will definitely take into consideration next time we are going to visit Kopaonik is the fact that there are quite a few SPA options (so a swimming suit will hurt nobody). I totally recommend a very nice cafe, called Vučja Staza, up on the slope number 7, where you can enjoy a hot wine next to a big fireplace while watching the dance of the snowflakes outside the windows.
Tip: you can go up to this cafe even if you haven’t rented ski/snowboard by buying only one ticket. This is a great option in case the weather is too bad for skiing and you are looking for an unforgettable experience.
Driving conditions
The driving conditions were quite a challenge and there is no way to go to Kopaonik without chains for the tires — even for 4x4 cars. The police were checking so that every car is properly equipped for the road and there were people helping to fix the chains for those who didn’t know how to do it (the cost for this was €5).
The weather
5 out of the 6 days, the weather was harsh — snowy, foggy, cloudy, and windy. The blizzard has made the skiing quite a challenge. However, a few of us didn’t get intimidated and we managed to go up a few times. One day was sunny and it was just amazing. The view was breathtaking, the slope was a dream and the whole experience was just perfect — too bad it was only one day, but very grateful for it anyway.
The equipment
For skiing or snowboarding in such conditions, besides the special pants, jacket and gloves for skiing, the glasses and helmet are a must. The blizzard combined with the snow and, from time to time, the fog, require proper equipment not only for your own comfort but also for your safety. The good thing is that if you don’t manage to buy everything you need before you get there, there are shops around the slopes where you can buy the necessary items at affordable prices.
Ski renting & ski pass
I was pleasantly surprised by the ski renting place, where people were very professional, friendly, and willing to help you find the perfect equipment, making sure your skiing/snowboarding experience will be a nice one. You have the possibility to rent the ski/snowboard for one day or several days. When it comes to the ski pass, you can buy a few tickets, a half-day pass, or a full day pass. If you are a beginner, I would recommend you to buy only a few tickets because the slopes are quite long and you can keep the tickets for the following days too. You can pay both the equipment and the ski pass by card or with cash.
These are all the tips I can think off and I would have liked to know about before going to Kopaonik. I strongly recommend you to try out this destination if you are practicing winter sports, if you are curious to learn skiing or snowboarding, or if you just love winter in general. I hope you’ll find this article helpful and I wish you a wonderful skiing experience.
