Last year I visited Kolašin for the first time and stayed for five days, from January 8th to January 13th. I went there expecting full winter snow everywhere, ski mood, that classic mountain feeling. But on the first day… there was no snow.
At first, I honestly thought: Did I pick the wrong week? The town still looked nice, but without snow it felt more like a quiet mountain break than a real winter trip.
Then the night came.
Sometime overnight it started snowing, and when I opened the window in the morning, the whole place looked completely different. The streets, the roofs, the trees everything turned white. It wasn’t just “a bit of snow.” It was one of those mornings where you feel like you woke up in another country. Same town, same buildings just a totally different world.
Waiting for the Slopes (and how the mood changed)
Because the snow came suddenly, we had to wait one full day while they prepared the ski slopes. And honestly, that day didn’t feel like wasted time. It actually made the trip better.
Kolašin in the middle of winter has this calm atmosphere that’s hard to explain if you haven’t been. People move slower. Cafés feel warmer. Even a simple walk feels like part of the experience because everything is covered in fresh snow and the air is clean and cold.
The food was traditional… and expensive
One thing I didn’t expect was how expensive some of the traditional food would be especially because it was peak season.
I remember paying €30 for one kilogram of kačamak. Yes, €30.
And a coffee was around €2.20.
In another month that might sound crazy, but at that time it made sense: it was winter season, Kolašin was active, and demand was high. Also this is important the food was good. It wasn’t one of those overpriced places where you leave disappointed. It felt like mountain food done properly: heavy, warm, traditional, the kind of meal that fits the weather.
Ski day at 1450m: the view I won’t forget
The next day we finally went skiing on the 1450m slope, and that’s the moment Kolašin became unforgettable for me.
The view was unreal. One of those panoramic, “stop for a second” views that makes you forget your phone and just look around. Snow everywhere, mountains in the distance, that clean winter light honestly, it’s hard to describe properly, but it’s the kind of scene that stays in your head long after you leave.
The Winter Bazaar: the most “local” part of the trip
While we were there, Kolašin also had a Winter Bazaar, and that was one of my favorite parts of the whole stay.
It wasn’t just tourist souvenirs. We had the chance to buy things made by locals from the area, and that gave the trip a more personal feeling. It’s one thing to ski and eat in restaurants, but it’s another thing to meet local people and see what they create and sell themselves. That’s the part that makes a place feel real.
Would I go again?
Yes, without hesitation.
Even with the prices being higher because of the season, the whole experience was worth it: the surprise snowfall, the anticipation while the slopes were being prepared, the ski day with a view I’ll never forget, and the little details like the winter bazaar that made it feel authentic.
If you’ve never been to Kolašin in winter, I’d genuinely recommend it especially if you want a mountain trip that feels like a true reset.