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Mountain valleys of Stara planina under clouds

Stara planina travel guide

Wild mountains on the Bulgarian border, with Serbia’s highest peak and tallest waterfall.

Ideal stay: 2–3 daysMidžor 2,169 mKaluđerski Skok waterfallFor hikers

Photo: Unsplash

Why visit Stara planina

Stara planina, in eastern Serbia, is the wildest mountain in the country. Its highest peak, Midžor (2,169 m), sits on the border with Bulgaria, and its waterfalls are the main reason hikers come: Kaluđerski Skok, at about 232 m, is the tallest in Serbia. Some falls need long, steep or off-trail hikes, so a local guide is a good idea.

Highest peakMidžor, 2,169 m
Tallest waterfallKaluđerski Skok, about 232 m
BaseBabin Zub mountain lodge
From BelgradeAbout 4 hours by car
Best timeLate spring to autumn for hiking
GuidesPirot Tourist Organisation

Stara planina at a glance

The basics, the weather this week and where it is.

Key facts

Type
Mountain range
Region
Southeastern Serbia, on the Bulgarian border
Highest point
Midžor, 2,169 m
From Belgrade
about 235 km in a straight line

Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA).

5-day forecast

For Babin Zub

Loading forecast…

Weather data: MET Norway (CC BY 4.0), summarised by day.

On the map

Map of the area around Stara planina

Map: © OpenStreetMap contributors, SRTM; style © OpenTopoMap (CC BY-SA). The zoomable map loads from OpenTopoMap, which receives your IP address. Open in Google Maps

Top-rated tours in Stara planina

Hand-picked. Free cancellation on most. Affiliate links.

Hiking tourKaluđerski Skok waterfall hikeBook online · free cancellation on most toursCheck availability
Hiking tourMidžor summit from Babin ZubBook online · free cancellation on most toursCheck availability
Day tripStara planina waterfalls with a local guideBook online · free cancellation on most toursCheck availability

Where to stay in Stara planina

The areas compared, with hotels for your dates.

Babin Zub
Babin ZubBest for: hiking baseMountain hotels and lodges near the trails.Hotels in Babin Zub
Village guesthousesBest for: quiet and localFamily guesthouses in Topli Do and nearby villages.Hotels in Village guesthouses

Food and nightlife

Stara planina belongs to the Pirot region, famous for Pirot kačkavalj (a hard sheep’s and cow’s milk cheese) and peglana kobasica, a flat, dried sausage. Eat at your lodge or in village guesthouses, and carry food for long hikes.

  • Must try: Pirot kačkavalj, peglana kobasica, lamb
  • Bring: Food and water for long hikes
  • Tip: Lodges fill up on summer weekends
Stara planina old town

Getting there and around

From Belgrade

About 4 hours by car via Niš, Svrljig and Kalna.

Car

Essential; public transport is very limited.

Hiking

Some routes are steep or unmarked: hire a guide.

Weather

Changes fast; bring layers.

Tip: Fill up with fuel and download an offline map in Pirot or Knjaževac before you head up. Signal and signposting are both patchy on the mountain.

Go for a hike

A route with a map, elevation chart and GPX download.

All hikes →
The rocky Babin Zub on Stara planina
6.8 km · 610 m up · 2h 30mMidžor

More Stara planina guides

Stara planina FAQ

How tall is Kaluđerski Skok?

About 232 m, the tallest waterfall in Serbia.

Do I need a guide on Stara planina?

For the remote waterfalls, yes. Ask the Pirot Tourist Organisation.

How do I get to Babin Zub?

By car, about 4 hours from Belgrade.

Sources

Checked 27 October 2026.

Going to Stara planina? Take the cheat sheet

Prices, apps, transport and scams to avoid, on one printable page.

Photo credits

Photos without a credit below are from Unsplash, used under the Unsplash License. Wikimedia Commons: Mixapirgossi (CC BY-SA 4.0), Sonebp (CC BY-SA 4.0), Aca94bg (CC BY-SA 4.0), Geograf208 (CC BY-SA 4.0), Mixapirgossi (CC BY-SA 4.0), Joxy 1993 (CC BY-SA 4.0).