Rent a Car in Užice: Explore Western Serbia’s Best Mountain Roads
Užice does not get the attention it deserves. Most visitors to Serbia head straight for Belgrade or Novi Sad and never make it to the western mountains. That is a mistake. Užice sits in the valley of the Đetinja River, surrounded by hills that rise into the Dinaric Alps, and it is the best base for exploring everything from the Drina river canyon to Tara National Park and Zlatibor mountain resort. If you want dramatic scenery without the crowds, rent a car in Užice and head west.
Why Pick Up a Rental Car in Užice?
Užice is roughly 200 kilometres southwest of Belgrade — about two and a half hours on the E763 motorway. The drive itself is easy, but once you are here, having your own vehicle opens up parts of Serbia that buses simply do not reach. The city is compact, traffic is light compared to Belgrade, and parking is straightforward in the centre. More importantly, Užice is the gateway to three of Serbia’s most impressive natural areas: Tara National Park, Zlatibor, and the Mokra Gora region.
Belgrade Airport is still the main entry point for most international visitors, and a good number of people choose to pick up a rental car at Belgrade Airport and drive straight to Užice. That works well — the E763 is a modern motorway most of the way — but if you are already in western Serbia, collecting a car locally saves you the return leg.
Where to Collect Your Car in Užice
The city centre has a small but functional rental market. Most suppliers offer delivery to hotels or the main bus station, which sits right in the middle of town on Dimitrija Tucovića Street. A few operators have offices near the old town, close to the Stari Grad fortress ruins. If you are arriving by bus from Belgrade, the station is walkable to most hotels, and arranging a handover there is usually the simplest option.
Standard economy cars are fine for Užice itself and the main roads to Zlatibor, but if you plan to head into Tara’s back roads or visit remote viewpoints like Banjska Stena, an SUV or crossover with a bit of clearance makes the drive more comfortable. Mountain roads can be narrow and potholed in places, especially after winter.
Tara National Park — The Main Attraction
Tara sits about forty minutes northwest of Užice by car. The park covers dense forest, high plateaus, and the famous Drina river canyon — one of the deepest in Europe. The drive from Užice follows the E761 towards Bajina Bašta, then turns onto local road 170 towards Mitrovac, the park’s main hub. In summer the road is busy with hikers and cyclists; in autumn it is quieter and the foliage is spectacular.
The most photographed spot is probably the Drina river house, a tiny wooden cabin perched on a rock in the middle of the river near Bajina Bašta. It is exactly as you have seen on Instagram, and yes, it is worth the detour. From there, head up to the Đurđevića Tara Bridge — a concrete arch bridge spanning the canyon that locals still tell stories about from its construction in 1940. The viewpoint on the western side has a small parking area and a short walking trail.
If you want a longer walk, Banjska Stena is the classic Tara viewpoint. It is about a thirty-minute forest trail from the road near Mitrovac, and the reward is a straight-down look at the Drina cutting through the canyon. It is not a difficult walk, but sturdy shoes help. For a detailed breakdown of routes and stops, see our guide to driving to Tara Mountain and National Park.
Zlatibor — Serbia’s Best-Known Mountain Resort
Zlatibor is only thirty minutes south of Užice on the main road, and while it draws bigger crowds than Tara, it is still a pleasant stop. The town itself is fairly spread out, with a mix of hotels, wooden chalets, and open meadows. The Tornik ski area is the main winter draw, but in summer the bike trails and the stop at Sirogojno open-air museum are the highlights.
From Zlatibor, the road continues to Mokra Gora, where the Šargan Eight heritage railway departs on a narrow-gauge loop through the mountains. It is a slow, scenic ride — more for the experience than for getting anywhere — and the timetable changes seasonally. If you have a rental car, driving the same valley yourself is quicker, though you miss the vintage carriages.
We have a full car hire guide for Zlatibor if you are planning to base yourself there instead.
The Drina Canyon Road — Western Serbia’s Best Drive
Serbia is not short of good roads, but the stretch following the Drina from Perućac to Višegrad (technically crossing into Bosnia) is one of the best. The asphalt hugs the river, tunnels cut through limestone cliffs, and every few kilometres there is a pull-out where you can stop and look down at the green water. It is not a fast road — expect to average forty kilometres an hour — but that is the point.
The border crossing at Višegrad is usually quiet, and if you have the right cross-border paperwork with your rental, you can loop through Bosnia and back into Serbia at Zvornik or Šepak. Not every rental contract allows this, so confirm with your supplier before you leave. Our cross-border travel guide for Serbia car hire covers what to ask for and which borders are typically permitted.
Užice Itself — Worth a Morning
Most people treat Užice as a sleep-and-drive base, but the old town deserves at least a morning. The fortress ruins on the hill above the Đetinja River date back to the fourteenth century, and the view from the top covers the whole valley. The city centre has a few solid traditional restaurants — look for kiseli kupus (sour cabbage) and proja (cornbread) on the menu — and the open-air market on Saturdays is where locals buy cheese and smoked meats from surrounding villages.
Parking in the centre is generally free or very cheap on side streets. The main square, Partizanska, has metered bays that cost a few dinars an hour. If you are staying overnight, most hotels have small lots or can direct you to nearby street parking.
Practical Tips for Driving from Užice
- Fuel: Fill up before you head into Tara. Petrol stations are thin on the ground inside the park, and the ones in Užice are cheaper anyway. Expect around €1.40–1.55 per litre.
- Winter: From November to March, snow chains are advisable for Tara’s higher roads. Zlatibor is lower and usually cleared quickly, but the pass between Užice and Zlatibor can ice over.
- Speed limits: 50 km/h in towns, 80 km/h on open roads, 120 km/h on motorways. Police do patrol the E763.
- Tolls: The E763 has a small toll section near Požega. Cash or card accepted, usually under €3.
- Navigation: Google Maps works well for the main roads, but offline maps help in Tara’s remote areas where mobile signal drops.
Related Destinations
Looking for more to explore by car? Also see our guides to car hire in Belgrade for city collection, car hire in Novi Sad for the north, and the Tara Mountain driving guide for detailed route maps and seasonal tips.
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