The Brzeće – Kopaonik gondola takes you from Brzeće up to the Kopaonik ski area in 12.5 minutes. On the Ski Resorts of Serbia list of lifts it is called “Brzeće – Mali Karaman”: it starts in Brzeće, at about 1,100 m above sea level, and arrives on the Mali Karaman plateau, at about 1,900 m. Each cabin holds 10 people, and the gondola carries up to 1,600 skiers an hour.
Route and stations
The route is about 3.8 km long, with a vertical rise of about 840 m. Between the lower station in Brzeće and the top station on Mali Karaman there are two intermediate stations, Struga and FIS poligon, next to the Bela reka 1 and Bela reka 2 slopes. You can get on and off there in both directions. Whether the gondola stops at them on a given day depends on whether the Bela reka slopes are open.
Ski pass
The Ski Resorts of Serbia ski pass is valid for the gondola and the lifts on Kopaonik. It is also sold in Brzeće, at the lower gondola station, so you do not have to go up the mountain first.
The Hotel Junior ski slope, across the road from our building, is not covered by that ski pass. It is private, and its own ski pass is sold at the hotel itself.
Is the gondola running today?
The gondola’s opening hours change from season to season, and it does not run in strong wind. Ski Resorts of Serbia publish every day which lifts are running, and the gondola appears on that list as “Brzeće – Mali Karaman”. Before you set off, check the status of the lifts and slopes on Kopaonik (in Serbian). Also check when the last gondola goes down, so that you are not left without a ride back to Brzeće.
From the gondola to the centre of Kopaonik
At the top of the gondola you come out onto the easy Mali Karaman slope. From there a shortcut leads to the Karaman greben slope, which Ski Resorts of Serbia describe as extremely easy and suitable for beginners. It runs down to the central plateau in front of the hotels, in the very centre of Kopaonik. To get back, take the Karaman greben six-seater chairlift (lift no. 7) from the centre, and then the Mali Karaman chairlift to the top, where the gondola is. The whole layout is on the official ski area map.
The runs down to the centre are ski slopes, so they are not for walking. If you do not ski, there is also a bus from Brzeće to the centre of Kopaonik (see below).
The gondola in summer
The gondola also runs in summer, for scenic rides, and together with the Karaman greben chairlift it links Brzeće with the centre of Kopaonik. Ski Resorts of Serbia announce before each summer when the season starts and on which days the gondola runs, and the prices are in the summer price list (in Serbian).
Getting to the gondola: on foot, by car, by bus
From STAR Apartman to the lower gondola station it is about 500 m, an easy walk.
If you come by car, there is a car park with about 180 spaces at the gondola, paid by the day or by the week. There is free public parking in front of our building.
In previous winters a ski bus ran between Hotel Junior and the gondola. It did not run last winter, and there is no information yet for this season, so ask us before you arrive – we will let you know.
To the centre of Kopaonik itself, without the gondola, there is a bus on the Brus – Brzeće – Kopaonik line. The stop in Brzeće is in front of Hotel Junior, and tickets are bought on the bus. In winter there are two departures a day, and one of them runs all year round. Check the timetable for the current season.
STAR Apartman is in the centre of Brzeće, about 500 m from the gondola and across the road from the Hotel Junior ski slope. See the apartment and send us an enquiry, and read more about the ski slopes and summer on Kopaonik.
