Kopaonik is famous for skiing, but its quieter side may be even better. The mountain stretches about 75 km from north to south, which makes it one of the longest in Serbia, and much of it is protected as Kopaonik National Park. In summer the snow gives way to meadows, forests and wide open views.
Green summer slopes and peaks near Pančićev vrh. Photo by Mazbln via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0).
A mountain made for walking
The most famous summit is Pančićev vrh, at 2,017 m the highest point of Kopaonik, and a trail leads to the top. Just below it, at about 1,800 m, lies a site called Nebeske Stolice — the “Celestial Chairs” — which has its own guided hiking tour in summer. If you prefer to save your legs, the Pančićev vrh chairlift runs daily in the summer season and brings you close to the top.
2,017 m
highest point, Pančićev vrh
1,600
plant species in the national park
~200
of them grow only on Kopaonik
200+
sunny days a year, hence “the Sunny Mountain”
Water, waterfalls and rare plants
Water is part of the landscape too. Kopaonik has two cold mineral springs, Krčmar and Marine vode, and the Jelovarnik waterfall, one of the highest in Serbia. Below the Suvo Rudište plateau, the Samokovska River runs through a steep valley of rapids, falls and gorges.
The national park is home to about 1,600 plant species, of which roughly 200 grow only on Kopaonik. Look for Kopaonik’s houseleek, Kopaonik’s violet and Pančić’s bittercress — plants found nowhere else in the world.
Join a guided tour
You don’t have to go alone. In the 2026 summer program the resort offered free guided hiking tours, including the Treska tour in July, a Celestial Chairs tour in August and a blueberry-picking tour that starts from Konaci. Dates change each year, so check the current program.
Hike smart
Mountain weather changes quickly, even in summer. Wear sturdy shoes, carry water, a rain jacket and a charged phone, tell someone your route, and check the forecast before you leave. In the national park, stay on marked paths.
Stay close to the trails
Our 22 m² studio is in Konaci, in the center of the resort, so you can start many walks from the door. With a kitchenette you can pack your own lunch, and shops, a pharmacy and restaurants are within about 100 m for supplies. Summer weekends are a great time to visit — the lifts, the guided tours and the events all run then.
Facts: Wikipedia, “Kopaonik” and “Pančić’s Peak”, and infoKOP (Summer season 2026). Trails, tours and lift schedules change — confirm them with the resort before you travel.