Balkan Travel Blog
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Ultimate Balkans Travel Guide
I have had a chance to visit several Balkan countries a couple of times, and I personally absolutely love what this area has to offer, travel, culture, and food-wise.
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Bay of Kotor, Montenegro 🇲🇪 - The crown jewel of the region. Medieval towns, dramatic mountains, boat trips, and incredible viewpoints.
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Theth National Park, Albania 🇦🇱 - The most spectacular mountain destination in the Balkans. Hike to the Blue Eye, Grunas Waterfall, and traditional stone villages.
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Old Bridge of Mostar, Bosnia & Herzegovina 🇧🇦 - The iconic Ottoman bridge, charming old town, and excellent food make this a must-see.
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Lake Ohrid, North Macedonia 🇲🇰 - A beautiful lakeside town with ancient churches, beaches, and one of Europe's oldest lakes.
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Durmitor National Park, Montenegro 🇲🇪 - Black Lake, Tara Canyon, mountain scenery, rafting, and some of the best hiking in the Balkans.
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Valbona Valley National Park, Albania 🇦🇱 - Often combined with Theth via the famous Theth–Valbona hike.
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The Albanian Riviera, Albania 🇦🇱 - Crystal-clear water, beautiful beaches, and access to Butrint National Park.
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Blagaj Tekke, Bosnia & Herzegovina 🇧🇦 - A stunning monastery built beside a turquoise river spring beneath towering cliffs.
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Matka Canyon, North Macedonia 🇲🇰 - A beautiful canyon near Skopje with kayaking, caves, and dramatic scenery.
💶 Carry some cash; there are still places, especially outside tourist areas, that will only accept cash. Each country has its own currency except Montenegro and Kosovo, which use the euro. The Balkans are generally more affordable than Western Europe.
🚗 Roads can be slow and winding, especially in mountain regions. And not always a good quality. Roads can go from really good to really bad quick. Distances look short on a map, but travel times are often longer than expected. Also, the driving culture is quite aggressive. People cut in at the last minute, park in the middle of the road, etc. I was very stressed sometimes driving in the Balkans 😅
🛂 Border crossings can take time, particularly in summer. Unless you have purchased Balkan car insurance in advance, you will be able to purchase car insurance at the border for each country. The periods are usually for 15/10 days and then 30/45 days. I inquired with some companies about the overall Balkan insurance, but buying at the border for each worked out cheaper.
📱 You will have to buy a local SIM in every country. As the European ones do not work, and I wasn't able to find a 'Balkan' one. I personally use eSIMs from Airalo, and that in the Balkans worked for me perfectly.
🗣️ English is widely spoken in tourist areas, less so in rural regions. At no point I had issues communicating in kind of broken English with everyone. People at first seem reserved, but once you start a conversation, you learn how warm and hospitable they are.
🚬 Smoking is more common than in many Western European countries. Smoking is still a big part of the culture.
☀️ Summers can be extremely hot, especially inland. For me, the best time to travel the Balkans is May & June, and then September.
The best of Albania
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I also drove through Kosovo, which offers a few beautiful places to visit ➡️ Best Hidden Destinations in Kosovo 🇽🇰
And spent a winter season on a ski resort in Bulgaria ➡️ Life on Bansko Ski Resort in Bulgaria 🇧🇬