Everybody who enjoys skiing knows that it is not necessarily a cheap activity. It involves a number of factors that end of weighing on your travel budget. Apart from the accommodation and food that involves all types of travel, a ski holiday often involves gear rental, extra fees for transporting the equipment, and expensive transport to remote ski resorts.

The goal of this post is to extend the number of days you can enjoy your ski holiday, but selecting ski resorts that have overall cheaper costs for the traveler.

Choosing the Cheapest Ski Resorts in Europe

The most popular ski resorts in Europe are located in Switzerland, France, Austria and Norway, but they are also among the most expensive ones. Finding a cheaper ski resort will not only save you money, but allow you the opportunity to escape the most crowded places.

There are several reasons that may influence on the price of a ski resort, and the cheapest ones may benefit from a number of factors. Among these, we can mention currency devaluation, low tax regimes, inexpensive cost of living in the country, simpler resort infrastructure.

The choice of an inexpensive, unusual ski resort is also appealing, not only in financial ways. It is the opportunity to discover places off the beaten track, and experience amazing slopes located in interesting coutries which have much more to offer other than its ski resorts.

List of the Cheapest Ski Resorts in Europe

Vitosha, Bulgaria

Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria sits on the footsteps of the Mount Vitosha. This resort is not only one of the cheapest in Europe, but also one of the easiest to get too. You can easily fly to Sofia with a budget airline like Wizzair and from there it’s just a short trip to the Vitosha ski resort.

Website: //www.skivitosha.com/
Ski Pass Ticket Price from: 20 €

Mavrovo, Macedonia

Located at the Bistra Massif, in Western Macedonia, the region of the Mavrovo ski resort has also a national park and the beautiful Lake Mavrovo. The ski resort is called Zare Lazareski and its lifts an handle a traffic of up to 5000 people per hour.

Website: //www.skimavrovo.com/
Ski Pass Ticket Price from: 25 €

Kolasin, Montenegro

The town of Kolasin in Montenegro is home of the Kolasin 1450 Ski Resort. Its 6 lifts cover an area of 14 Km of Slopes. Montenegro has most of its territory situated on the Dinaric Alps and apart from this ski resorts, it also offers a range of mountain related activities.

Website: //kolasin1450.com/en/
Ski Pass Ticket Price from: 25 €

Zlatibor, Serbia

The town of Zlatibor was build thanks to the growing tourist activity in this mountainous homonym region.  The Tornik Ski Resort is a rather small one with just 3 lifts, but its breathtaking scenery and extremely budget ski passes make of it an attractive option for someone looking for an adventure without spending too much.

Website: //www.skijalistasrbije.rs/en
Ski Pass Ticket Price from: 20 €

Jahorina, Bosnia and Hezegovina

The Jahorina Ski Resort is one of the most prestigious ones as it was one of the locations for the 1984 Sarajevo Olympic Winter Games. It located relatively close to Sarajevo, which has an international airport and other ski resorts in its vicinity.

Website: //oc-jahorina.com/
Ski Pass Ticket Price from: 25 €

Paltinis, Romania

This Romanian a ski resort town not far from Sibiu, in the Transylvanian region of Romania. There are many ski resorts in Romania, being probably Poiana Brasov the most famous. The resort town of Paltinis is home to the Arena Platos Ski Resort. You can get pretty good deal such as 99 € for 5 days of ski pass with an instructor and accommodation included.

Website: //arenaplatos.ro/vara/
Ski Pass Ticket Price from: 22 €

Zakopane, Poland

The town of Zakopane is the most famous ski resort in Poland. In fact, it is also one of the most visited ones in Central Europe. It is situated on the High Tatras mountain chain and boasts a big infrastructure for winter sports without the prices you will find in France or Switzerland. The “Morskie Oko” – Eye of the Sea is also located next to the city urban area.

Website: //www.zakopane.pl/en/sports/ski-resorts
Ski Pass Ticket Price from: 18 €

If you know any other resort that you think deserves to be included in this list of the cheapest ski resorts in Europe, please leave a comment below and write us on our Facebook page.

Other Resources for Traveling in Europe

If you are traveling in Europe you might want to check some of our other guides to the region. Check where to stay in Bratislava and the best places to stay in Brasov, Romania.

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For many foreigners, Serbia is European country that is not well-known. However, it is a perfect place to adventure seekers thanks to its unique natural landmarks. Culture lovers would also enjoy its festivals and the old monasteries that still exists today. Unfortunately, visa policy for those who wish to live or work in the country have been difficult. But, this will change with the latest announcement of its visa application process.

Application Process

On Thursday, October 10, the Serbian government announced that they will be relaxing their visa policy for residency, long-term stay and work. This will be the first time the government is relaxing its immigration laws. It also opens the opportunity for foreign workers to work after they enter the country.

Currently, Serbia is having problems with its workforce because of brain drain and the aging workforce. With the improved migration rules, the country will be able to attract migrant workers to the country.

Starting December 20, 2020, foreign nationals who wish to work in the country will now be able to apply for both their residence and work visa together. They will only need to submit one application form while in their home country. Originally, foreigners will need to stay in the country without work and wait for 30 days for their permits to work. They also do not need to submit duplicate applications to two different departments.

Workers will also be able to apply for a work permit extension at least 60 days before their work permit expires. Previously, they can only apply 30 days before their permit’s expiry. The extension will also help employers to consider renewal options, especially if it is rejected. Workers also do not need to submit notarized documents for their applications.

With regards to long-term stay, foreigners will be able to apply for their long-term stay visa abroad starting January 1, 2020. The visa will allow them to start working within 30 days of their work visa being filed once they arrive in the country. Temporary residence permits can also be applied from overseas, which is not allowed currently.

Find more about these changes here.

Serbia Tips

Want to check out what Serbia has to offer? Check out the official website of the National Tourism Organization of Serbia to find out more about the country.

If you will be working in Serbia, we have a guide on the cost of living and average salary in the country.

We also have a full guide on how you can retire in Serbia.

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If you are planning to travel by train from Belgrade to Podgorica, Bar, Kotor and Budva in Montenegro, this post will bring all the information you will need to have a comfortable journey. It includes information on how to buy tickets and directions from and to the railway stations in Belgrade, Serbia and Podgorica and Bar, Montenegro.

Traveling from Belgrade in Serbia to Montenegro by train is one of the most unique railway experiences in Europe. The Belgrade – Bar railway crosses the dinaric alps and has unique, scenic views, in a low, yet rewarding journey.

Jump to Section:

Belgrade to Podgorica, Bar, Kotor, Budva by Train: Overview
Train Stations in Belgrade
Train Stations in Podgorica, Bar,
Traveling time from Belgrade to Podgorica, Bar
Buy Tickets / Prices from Belgrade to Podgorica, Bar
Train Travel Resources

How to Travel by Train from Belgrade to Podgorica, Bar, Kotor, Budva in Montenegro: Overview

First of all, If you want to travel by train from Serbia to Montenegro, there is basically just one main route. This is the Belgrade to Bar railway, and it also serves several other cities in Montenegro, like the capital Podgorica.

From Bar, you will have to take a road if you want to visit Kotor, Budva, Sveti Stefan or Herceg Novi in Montenegro. The region is highly mountainous and there are many minibuses operating on this coastal route. Alternatively, I recommend you rent a car to visit these different towns at your own pace. In other words, I would recommend a trip to Montenegro mixing both railways and roads.

Mala Rijeka Viaduct by Chico BoombaThe Belgrade – Bar railway construction started in the former Yugoslavia, in one of most challenging infrastructure project in this socialist country. It features the highest railway viaduct in Europe, being currently surpassed by some projects in China.

As the train approaches the Dinaric alps, the route offers numerous bridges with unique views. There are also a number of tunnels, which make this railway travel one of the most interesting in the world.

Train Stations in Belgrade

The old, former main railway station in Belgrade is as of 2018, closed. The new station Belgrade Center Station (Beograd Centar), handles all passenger railway traffic between Serbia and Montenegro.

Its building and infrastructure is considerably better than the old main station. The Belgrade Centar Station became is located slightly to the South of Belgrade’s center, and is often referred as Beograd Prokop.

Train Stations in Podgorica, Bar – Bus Stations in Kotor, Budva

Podgorica and Bar each have one station, and are connect in the Belgrade – Bar railway. From Podgorica you can travel to other destinations, sucha s Shkoder in Albania.

The Bar station is mostly actively during summer, with a route from Moscow to Bar (passing through Belgrade). Moreover, there is also a route to Skopje, in Macedonia due to the high influx of tourists.

If you want to travel to Kotor and Budva however, you will have to continue from Podgorica or Bar by bus. There are many minibuses offering the service with a quite high frequency year round.Traveling Time by Train from Belgrade to Podgorica, Bar

If you take a direct train from Belgrade to Podgorica, in optimal conditions the ride will take 10 hours.

The train ride all the way from Belgrade to Bar takes approximately 11.20 minutes, longer than to Podgorica, yet acceptable.

How to Buy a Train Ticket from Belgrade to Podgorica, Bar

It is currently not possible to buy a train ticket from Belgrade to Podgorica or anywhere in Montenegro online. Through the Serbian railways website, you have to call their customer service to book a ticket.

In the Montenegrin Railways website, you can check prices, but you cannot purchase them online.

The cheapest price from Belgrade to Podgorica on a couchette car is currently of € 25,20 euros for one way.

The cheapest price from Belgrade to Bar on a couchette car is currently of € 27 euros for one way.

Furthermore, you can also click here for more information on Trains in Montenegro.

Hotels in Belgrade

Here is a list of our best selection of accommodation options in Belgrade. The train station is easily accessible from most parts of the center. In addition, public transport and taxis are quite affordable in the Serbian capital. I would however, recommend using the app Bolt to avoid taxi scams.

Budget Accommodation in Belgrade – €

Guest House Centar – an affordable quality guest house in the center of Belgrade. Guest House Centar is at a short walk to both Knez Mihailova and Skadarlija.

White Owl Hostel – Located in the Skadarska Street, this is probably one of the best hostels in the Balkans.

Reasonably Priced Accommodation in Belgrade – €€

Garni Hotel Aleksandar Palas – a great value for the money in the center of Belgrade. High quality rooms close to the Knez Mihaila street.

Luxurious Hotels in Belgrade – €€€

Square Nine Hotel Belgrade – one of the most luxurious hotels in Belgrade, located at the Studentski Trg, next to the Kneza Mihailova.

Hotel Metropol Palace – a sumptuous hotel in the center of Belgrade, with an impressive interior design.

For more information check our page on the best places to stay in Belgrade.

Traveling to Montenegro by train may not be simple, however it is definitely worth the trip. Above all, the country has a lot of attractions an sights worth visiting, regardless of the means of transportation used.

Train Travel Resources

Booking.com: the most complete website for finding hotels and accommodation anywhere.

World Nomads: if you are travelling abroad, you can get insurance from World Nomads. With a wide coverage in number of countries and activities, World Nomads is a great option for any kind of traveler.

Jetradar: The best place to compare flights for your next trip.

Train Travel Guide: in our railway travel guide, you will learn how to choose and ride the most scenic train routes around the world, always in the most comfortable way with optimal prices to enhance your travel experience.

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