When to visit Valjevo?
The answer to this question depends on what you want to visit and what type of vacation you are interested in. The rich tourist offer of Valjevo and its surroundings make this city an interesting tourist destination during both the summer and winter seasons.
- Valjevo during summer
It's best to organize a visit to the city center and a tour of cultural monuments, museums and pedestrian zones during the warmer months, when the weather is suitable for walking. The surroundings of Valjevo also offer significant touristic potentials, such as spas (Banja Vrujci), religious objects (monasteries Lelic, Celija, Pustinja and Jovanja), ethno tourism (villages Brankovina, Lelic, Struganik), as well as recreational tourism (mountain Divcibare). Within the sports and recreational complex Petnica there are four swimming pools and a swimming pool on the river Gradac, which can offer you refreshment during the hot summer days.
- Valjevo during winter
In the vicinity of the town of Valjevo, lies the ski center Divčibare, suitable for winter sports. The center contains two ski slopes: Crni vrh and Centar.
How to get to Valjevo?
Valjevo occupies a great geographical position. since it's located at the crossroads of highways. The distance from Valjevo to large city centers is as follows: 94km from Belgrade, 136km from Novi Sad, and 262km from Nis.
- Valjevo by car
If you travel by car, you can reach Valjevo by highway from the direction of Sabac. The journey from Belgrade to Valjevo takes about an hour and 20 minutes.
From the south, excellent roads lead from Požega and Bajina Bašta (from Tara and Zlatibor, through Maljen and Povlen).
From the south, excellent roads lead from Požega and Bajina Bašta (from Tara and Zlatibor, through Maljen and Povlen).
- Valjevo by bus
Valjevo is well connected with almost all major cities in Serbia. Belgrade, Novi Sad, Sabac, Cacak and Uzice are just some of the cities to which regular lines run from the main bus station Valjevo. Around 20 buses depart from Belgrade to Valjevo every day, organized by Lasta and Europa bus. The first departure from the Belgrade station is at 5 am, while the last departure is at 10:15 pm. The ticket price for the route Belgrade - Valjevo is 790 dinars.
- Valjevo by train
The Belgrade-Bar railway also passes through Valjevo. Trains run daily to Belgrade (9 times a day), Bar (4 times a day), Novi Sad, Subotica and Uzice. The price of a one-way ticket from Belgrade to Valjevo is 434 dinars for the second class and 626 dinars for the first class. A return ticket costs 694 dinars if you pick for the first class, and 1002 dinars if you choose for the second.
Activities from tourist in Valjevo
The Tourist Organization of Valjevo offers a large number of various activities that you can enjoy during your visit. We present some of the most popular, both in the city and in its immediate surroundings.
- Tour of city center
You should definitely start exploring the city with a pleasant walk through the center, located on the left bank of Kolubara. Buildings built in a lovely European style, spacious squares and streets decorated with flower beds make this part of Valjevo an ideal place for a walk. Do not miss the squares with monuments: Desankin venac and Trg Zivojina Misica, the building of Valjevo High School, the National Museum, the gallery and Muselimov konak, the oldest building in Valjevo. It is also worth visiting Knez Miloseva Street, the main shopping center of the city, where you can take a break in one of the many cafes, patisseries or shops. Karadjordjeva Street is also worth mentioning, with the City Administration building, the library and the park with a beautiful fountain.
- Tešnjar sightseeing
On the other side of Kolubara, lies the old part of thetown, Tesnjar, which is an unavoidable destination when you're visiting Valjevo. This unique city complex has preserved the original appearance and autochthonous spirit of Valjevo in the 19th century. Tesnjar is a perfect place for those who want to get acquainted with the architecture and crafts of ancient times.
- Relaxation in Vidrak Park
On the hill Vidrak above Valjevo, next to the road which leads to the monasteries Celija and Lelic, there is a memorial park dedicated to the fighters of the revolution of 1941-1945, which is one of the favorite picnic spots of the people of Valjevo. The beautifully landscaped park makes a great place for relaxation.
- Exploring destinations around Valjevo
The Tourist Organization of Valjevo offers several interesting excursions. The most famous is certainly the mountain Divcibare, but there are also Brankovina, Taorska vrela and the recreational center in the village of Petnica . Visitors interested in religious tourism can choose a tour that will take them to the monasteries of Lelic, Celija, Pustinja and Jovanja.
Events and festivals in Valjevo
Valjevo is a city proud of its rich cultural and historical tradition, so it is not surprising that it hosts a large number of festivals and events aimed at preserving cultural heritage, but also creating activities that can be very attractive to tourists.
- Tešnjarski dani
Tešnjarski dani is the largest and most important manifestation of the city of Valjevo. During the ten summer days, from August 7 to 15, on the quay on the river Kolubara, various cultural and entertainment events are held for visitors of all ages. The city participates in the organization of numerous concerts, sports competitions and theater performances, most often performed by the youngest citizens.
- The day of the city
This date is taken as the beginning of the development of modern Valjevo, because that is when the city was liberated from the Turkish government. During this day, the people of Valjevo enjoy the festivities and exhibitions prepared for them by the youngest citizens, who made an effort to mark this symbolically very important date.
- Desankini majski razgovori
In honor of the famous poet Desanka Maksimović, a manifestation of Desanka's May Conversations is held in her hometown every May 16 on the anniversary of her birth. During this festival, prizes are awarded to the winners of the poetry competition for high school students.
- Valjevo Jazz Fest
Every year, in the period from May 23 to 27, an international music event is held in the Valjevo Cultural Center, which attracts a large number of domestic and foreign jazz and blues performers.
- Assembly of Folklore Societies of Serbia Zlatni opanak
"Zlatni opanak" is a traditional manifestation whose basic idea is to gather folklore ensembles from Serbia and the diaspora. It is traditionally held every year between April 28 and 30. Under the auspices of the same organization, there is a similar festival adapted to camels, which has been canceled since the 12th to 14 May.
Activities for children in Valjevo
- Research center Petnica
The research center in the village of Petnica offers numerous educational programs with the aim of bringing science closer to the youngest and introducing them to the basic principles of scientific research. Every September, the research station for primary schools organizes the Summer Science School. Then students have the opportunity to visit workshops and try their hand at activities in various fields from physics and chemistry, to astronomy and archeology.
- Parks and picnic areas
Great places for kids who want physical activities are some of the parks in Valjevo and its surroundings. Pećina Park stands out, which contains playgrounds and facilities for the youngest, but also fields for indoor soccer and basketball. The spacious picnic area on Vidrak Hill is also a suitable place where children can play and run freely.
- Divcibare
Forests and clean air, which is believed to have healing effects, make this plateau near Valjevo an ideal place for those who want to take their children on a healthy vacation outside the pollution of the city. In summer, children can enjoy walking and cycling on one of the groomed trails, while in winter they can play in the snow.
What to visit in Valjevo?
- Main streets
An indispensable part of visiting Valjevo should be a tour of some of its main streets, where you can get acquainted with the spirit and temperament of the city. The walk should start in Karadjordjeva Street, which represents only the heart of Valjevo, and then continue towards Knez Miloseva Street, the main shopping center. A visit to this city is not complete without going to Tešnjar, an old cobbled street, in which the architecture and spirit of the 19th century are completely preserved. The inhabitants of Tešnjar try to preserve traditional crafts, with which you can get better acquainted in various workshops and shops.
- Museums
The city of Valjevo can be proud of the settings of its museums. The most famous of them is the National Museum of Valjevo, which provides a permanent exhibition The third dimension of the past - a view from the future. A visit to this museum will take you on a journey through the past centuries and introduce you to the rich cultural and historical heritage of the Valjevo region. Working hours last from 10 am to 6 pm from Tuesday to Saturday, and from 10 am to 3 pm on weekends. The museum is closed on Mondays. More information can be found at www.museum.org.rs.
In Muselimov konak, the oldest preserved building in Valjevo, you can see two museum exhibits dedicated to the First and Second Serbian Uprising, as well as the basement where the famous princes Aleksa Nenadović and Ilija Birčanin were imprisoned. It is also worth visiting the Nenadović Tower, one of the symbols of Valjevo, in which a permanent museum exhibition has also been organized.
In Muselimov konak, the oldest preserved building in Valjevo, you can see two museum exhibits dedicated to the First and Second Serbian Uprising, as well as the basement where the famous princes Aleksa Nenadović and Ilija Birčanin were imprisoned. It is also worth visiting the Nenadović Tower, one of the symbols of Valjevo, in which a permanent museum exhibition has also been organized.
- Galleries
Art lovers can also find something in Valjevo in accordance with their tastes. The Modern Gallery Valjevo, in the very center of the city, offers an interesting exhibition, among which there are about a hundred valuable works by the famous painter Ljubo Popović. There is also the International Art Studio "Radovan Trnavac Mića", which contains a collection of 237 works by domestic and foreign artists.
- Parks and picnic areas
Fans of nature trips in Valjevo can find several pleasant places to rest. The most famous picnic area is the large, beautifully landscaped Vidrak Park, above which is the lookout Pavilion, which offers a magnificent view of the city. The wooded Pećina Park, surrounded by sports fields and running tracks, is a perfect place for recreation, but also relaxation. Some other locations that should be visited are the Park on the Sail, decorated with sculptures dedicated to the national heroes of the Valjevo region, and the Memorial Park on Krušik.
- Monuments
It is no coincidence that Valjevo was nicknamed the "city of monuments". The streets of the city are adorned with sculptures that pay homage to famous fellow citizens, such as Prote Mateja Nenadović, poetess Desanka Maksimović, Milovan Glišić, Nikolaj Velimirović and Major Milenko Pavlović. Nearby is a monument on Brankovački Vis, dedicated to the 50th anniversary of the beginning of the First Serbian Uprising, and a monument to the Fighters of the Revolution, which monitors the city from the picnic area on Vidrak Hill.
Accommodation in Valjevo
Depending on the type of accommodation and the type of vacation you want, you can find several types of accommodation in Valjevo.
- Hotels
Valjevo has over 10 hotels of categories from 1 to 4 stars, which meet different requirements of tourists. The most famous are Hotel Grand, located in the city center, close to the most famous sights of Valjevo, and Hotel Omni.
- Hostels
You can find a slightly cheaper variant of vacation in one of the many hostels and private accommodation, located both in the city center and in its surroundings.
- Accommodation in the countryside
Tourists who want to prepare a vacation in nature, displaced from the city noise, can opt for one of the rural tourist households in the surrounding areas.
Important phone numbers and information in Valjevo
For all information and questions, you can always contact the tourist organization of Valjevo at 014 / 221-138 or e-mail address tovaljevo@mts.rs. The building of the Valjevo Tourist Organization is located at Prote Mateje 1.
In the next part of the text, we have singled out some more phone numbers that can be useful to you during your visit to Valjevo.
Institutions and services
Fire service: 193
Police: 192
Military ambulance: 1976
Valjevo Health Center: 014/295 -295
Notification Center: 1985
Exact time: 195
AMSS - Information: 1987
PU Valjevo: 014 / 294-300
Electricity distribution: 014 / 222-412
Valjevo Waterworks: 014 / 222-512
Pharmacy Center: 014 / 224-560
Valjevo City Administration: 014 / 294-900
Valjevo Health Center: 014 / 315-00-38
Post office Valjevo: 014 / 294-000
Telegrams: 196
Information: 1988
Bus station: 014 / 221-482
Railway station: 014 / 221-697
In the next part of the text, we have singled out some more phone numbers that can be useful to you during your visit to Valjevo.
Institutions and services
Fire service: 193
Police: 192
Military ambulance: 1976
Valjevo Health Center: 014/295 -295
Notification Center: 1985
Exact time: 195
AMSS - Information: 1987
PU Valjevo: 014 / 294-300
Electricity distribution: 014 / 222-412
Valjevo Waterworks: 014 / 222-512
Pharmacy Center: 014 / 224-560
Valjevo City Administration: 014 / 294-900
Valjevo Health Center: 014 / 315-00-38
Post office Valjevo: 014 / 294-000
Telegrams: 196
Information: 1988
Bus station: 014 / 221-482
Railway station: 014 / 221-697
Where to eat in Valjevo?
The multitude of various restaurants that Valjevo offers will satisfy even the most picky visitors. Whether you are a fan of traditional Serbian food or international cuisine is what attracts you more, in Valjevo you will find a place in accordance with your taste. You can complete a good meal with the widely known Valjevo beer.
- Restaurants
Walking through the center of Valjevo, you will notice a huge number of various restaurants. Of the restaurants that offer national cuisine, we single out Restaurant Kuću Valjevo, Jefimija, Paviljon Spasojević, Usput, Lovački dom, Kod Bore, Kod tri lipe and Intermeco. Valjevo also offers a great offer of Italian restaurants, such as La Piazza restaurant, Corner cafe-pizzeria, Giardino restaurant and Hemingway.
- Fast food
If you do not have enough time or you want to dedicate more time to touring the city than looking for a place to eat, fast food restaurants are a great solution for you. You can buy a burger, kebabs or pizza in one of the following fast food restaurants: Kod sata, Ćevabdžinica Bucko, Fast food Garfield, Lane, Fast Food Mladenović, pizzeria Zam.
- Bakeries
If you are looking for a quick and easy solution for breakfast, you can find a diverse selection of pastries in one of the many bakeries in Valjevo. Some of them are Mirona, Max, Domino and Bravo.
- Pastry shops
Want to sweeten up after a hearty meal and reward yourself with a delicious cake or ice cream? Try some of the delicacies offered by Rome, Athens, Sweet Heart, Mefi, Pelivan or Opera.
Where to go out in Valjevo?
Valjevo is known for its long tradition of cafes and beer making, so it is the perfect place for you, if you are a fan of this type of going out and folk music. You will get a slightly different experience if you go to one of the Valjevo clubs or pubs.
- Taverns
It is an interesting fact that in the middle of the 19th century, after the final liberation from the Turkish government, there were as many as 55 cafes in Valjevo! One of the most famous and oldest of them is the Platani tavern, built at the beginning of the 19th century. You will find more good cafes that have managed to preserve the nostalgic atmosphere if you head to the old town, Tešnjar. Some of them are Gradska kafana Dzentlmeni, Tri kosa, kafana Skadarlija, Koktel kafana, Kod Branke and Konoba 32.
- Clubs and pubs
Tourists looking for a lively nightlife can choose some of the Valjevo clubs for their outing, such as President, Club Lasta, Saloon and ZIPA. If you are a beer lover and long to go to a pub, Pivnica Golos and Pub 23 are at your disposal.
Transport and taxi in Valjevo
- Public transport
If you arrived in Valjevo by bus, moving around the city and its surroundings will make public transportation easier. From the main bus station Valjevo Lasta, buses run daily to almost all places in the vicinity of the city, so it can be said that both city and intercity transport in Valjevo work well. The carriers Lasta and Europa bus cover a lot of lines in suburban and city traffic on the territory of the municipality of Valjevo.
The price of a ticket for public transport is 50 dinars, and for people older than 70, the ride is free.
The price of a ticket for public transport is 50 dinars, and for people older than 70, the ride is free.
- Taxi service
Visitors to Valjevo have a large number of taxi services at their disposal. The taxi stand is located in the city center, right next to the bus station. The arrival and start of the vehicle is charged 35 dinars, each kilometer traveled 52 dinars, and the waiting time costs 650 dinars per hour. For all questions and information, you can contact the association of taxi drivers "Patak" on 014 / 239-970.
The most famous taxi services in Valjevo are:
City Taxi Valjevo: 014 / 291-129
Pink Taxi Valjevo: 014 / 292-929
City Taxi Valjevo: 014 / 354-2222
Kula Taxi: 014 / 290-290
The most famous taxi services in Valjevo are:
City Taxi Valjevo: 014 / 291-129
Pink Taxi Valjevo: 014 / 292-929
City Taxi Valjevo: 014 / 354-2222
Kula Taxi: 014 / 290-290
Parking service and public garages in Valjevo
When visiting this city, keep in mind that parking is charged in the central zone of Valjevo.
- Parking zones
Electronic control and payment for parking is currently done within two toll zones, red and blue.
- The red zone is located in the narrowest part of the city and consists of 102 marked parking spaces, with vertical signs. In this zone, the duration of parking is limited to two hours, and in order for the user to be able to use the parking space in the red zone again after the specified limited parking time, he must leave the zone with the vehicle in the shortest thirty minutes.
- The blue zone extends to the public area of sidewalks and roads, to three group parking lots outside the sidewalks and road surfaces, as well as to three block parking lots within residential blocks. The blue zone consists of 1,400 marked parking spaces. There is no time limit for parking.
- Parking time and price list
Parking is charged within both toll zones from 7 am to 8 pm during working days, and from 7 am to 2 pm on Saturdays. Parking can be paid at the parking kiosk or by SMS (red zone: 9141, blue zone: 9142, blue zone - daily ticket / multi-hour ticket: 9140). A one-hour ticket costs 35 dinars in the red zone and 22 dinars in the blue zone. The price of a multi-hour ticket in the blue zone is 100 dinars.
For additional information, you can contact JKP Vidrak on 014 / 222-453, 014 / 221-556 and 014 / 222-769 or email info@vidrakvaljevo.com and office@vidrakvaljevo.com.
Surroundings of Valjevo
The combination of cultural treasures blended with untouched natural beauties, make the surroundings of Valjevo an extremely attractive tourist destination. We single out a few interesting places that are worth taking the time to organize and a special trip.
- Divcibare
About 40 kilometers from Valjevo, there is one of the favorite tourist centers in Serbia, Divcibare. This plateau, located in the central part of the Maljen mountain, has a long tourist tradition, so it offers opportunities for health, sports and recreation, excursions, as well as hunting and fishing tourism. Pleća, Crni vrh, Paljba, Golubac and Ljuti krš), but also by riding a bicycle on one of the three bicycle paths. During the winter, the ski center Divčibare offers two trails, equipped with a cable car and a ski lift.
- Brankovina
12 kilometers north of Valjevo, is Brankovina, a settlement nicknamed "a village full of history". This small place contains a disproportionately rich cultural and historical content, which makes it an interesting place for a trip. There is the Church of the Holy Archangels, the endowment of Proteus Mateja Nenadović, which includes an invaluable church treasury. Near the church there are five original sobrasica, old forms of folk architecture. The other part of the complex consists of several other authentic buildings: the sculpture where Ljubomir Nenadović was born, the old school where today there is a museum dedicated to the development of education and the school office. The grave of the poet Desanka Maksimović is also located in Brankovina.
- Petnica
The village of Petnica, only 5 kilometers from Valjevo, offers tourists excellent activities and attractions. If you decide to make this trip, be sure to visit Petnička Cave. It is not only a unique pearl of natural beauty, but also has an important archaeological significance. Namely, the oldest testimonies about the life of people in western Serbia were found in it. Sports enthusiasts can stop by the nearby Petnica sports and recreation center and try out its four swimming pools and sports fields for beach volleyball, five-a-side football, basketball and mini golf. Petnica is best known for the eponymous research center located in it. It offers a variety of programs for elementary, high school, and college students.
- Monasteries
The surroundings of Valjevo abound in monasteries, which makes this area an excellent example of a place suitable for religious tourism. The Pustinja Monastery, hidden in the woods 20 kilometers from the city, is a cultural monument of great importance. At 11 kilometers from Valjevo, there is the Lelic Monastery, which houses the relics of Bishop Nikolaj and beautifully painted iconography. It is also worth visiting the Jovanj Monastery, which was originally built in the 15th century. In it you can see preserved fragments of old biographies. Even older is the monastery of Celija, which dates from the 13th century, and is located only 11 kilometers from the city.
- Gradac River
Gradac, the divine jewel of nature, is considered one of the cleanest rivers in Serbia. Only 5 kilometers away from the city, it has rightly become one of the favorite picnic spots for the people of Valjevo and tourists who want to feel the charms of untouched nature. There are over seventy caves on it that are reliably known, and one of the most impressive of them is the Degurić Cave, which you can visit. There is a dam nearby, which is also a swimming pool.
- Taor springs
Not far from the road to Makovište there is another pearl of nature: Taorska vrela. Here you can see numerous waterfalls and small waterfalls that flow into the river Skrapež. Several old mills have been preserved in the area, the most attractive of which is Pepina Mill, which has been transformed into a small restaurant serving local cuisine.
History of Valjevo
- Early history
Valjevo has always played a significant role in the history of the Serbian people. The oldest testimonies about the life of people in this part of Serbia were found in the caves around this city. Valjevo is mentioned for the first time in written records in two Cyrillic books from the Dubrovnik archives, which date from 1393, and were published under the title "Old Serbian charters and letters". During the Middle Ages, Valjevo was a developed trade center, which was in constant contact with Dubrovnik.
- Modern history
In 1804, the local Serbian population revolted against the Turkish masters and managed to liberate a large part of Serbia. Valjevo is a historically important city because it was one of the first urban-type settlements to be liberated, which the citizens are extremely proud of to this day. In the second half of the 19th century, conditions were finally created for the accelerated development of this city and the number of inhabitants increased rapidly. The oriental town has been transformed into a modern settlement, and you can still see the sharp contrast between Valjevo and these two epochs if you visit the center and Tešnjar. Faced with each other, on two opposite sides of Kolubara, they preserved the spirit of the time in which they were created. During the First World War, the Battle of Kolubara was fought in the immediate vicinity of Valjevo, and the city itself turned into a huge hospital where the wounded lay as well as those suffering from the great typhus epidemic. The city experienced enormous destruction in the Second World War, but also at the very end of the 20th century, when it was bombed several times during the NATO aggression on Serbia.
Geography and climate of Valjevo
- Geography
Valjevo has a very favorable geographical position, which is reflected in the vicinity of several important roads, such as the Ibar highway, the highway leading to the Adriatic Sea, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Macva and Vojvodina, as well as the Belgrade-Bar railway. In Valjevo, Jablanica and Obnica merge into the river Kolubara. In Kolubara, on the territory of Valjevo, the rivers Ljubostinja and Gradac also flow.
- Climate
The Valjevo region has a relatively stable, temperate-continental climate. the average annual air temperature in Valjevo is 11 ° C. The coldest month is January, with an average air temperature of 0 ° C, while the warmest is July, with an average temperature of 21 ° C. On average, Valjevo has a total of 198.9 hours of sunshine a year. The sunniest month is July, and the most cloudy is December. The average first day with a snow cover in Valjevo is December 1. The average last day with snow cover in Valjevo is March 16, and on the highest terrains after May 1.
Demography of Valjevo
- There are 49184 adults living in Valjevo, and the average age of the population is 38.7 years.
- According to the 2002 census, Valjevo is mostly inhabited by Serbs (96%), and in the last three censuses, an increase in population has been observed.
Tradition and culture of Valjevo
- It is not enough to say that the city that gave birth to so many celebrities, such as, among others, Prote Mateja Nenadović, Ilija Birčanin, Milovan Glišič, Živojin Mišić, Nikolaj Velimirović, Desanka Maksimović and Ljubo Popović, is one of the richest places in history, culture and tradition. Museum exhibits, as well as numerous monuments that pay tribute to important personalities and events, show that the people of Valjevo know how to appreciate their cultural heritage.
- In Valjevo and its surroundings, you can see the development of Serbian architecture, from traditional folk buildings in Brankovina and the canyon of the river Gradac, through the tower and lodgings from the 18th century, to the example of the oriental bazaar and modern town. In Valjevo, the memory from the old craft, which is threatened with oblivion, is also kept. Numerous cultural events and festivals, such as Tešnjarski večeri and City Days, contribute to the preservation of the culture and tradition of this area.