Contents
Where are the Balkans?
If you’re confused about the Balkans and are having difficulty naming the countries included in the Balkan states, you’re not alone. Even scholars aren’t reaching a consensus in defining the Balkans.
But most agree that the Balkans include Albania, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Kosovo, North Macedonia, Moldova, Montenegro, Romania, Serbia, and Slovenia.
Located in the Balkan Peninsula, in the southeastern side of the European continent, the Balkans according to Britannica are bordered by Italy (in the northwest), Hungary (in the north), Moldova and Ukraine (in the north and northeast), and Greece and Turkey (in the south). It has, arguably the best coastlines in Europe – Adriatic Sea (in the west), Ionian Sea (in the southwest), and Black Sea (in the east).
Countries like Bosnia & Herzegovina, Croatia, North Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia (including Kosovo and Vojvodina), and Slovenia were the states of former Yugoslavia. These former states and now independent countries are referred to as the Slavic speaking or Slavic nations. Bulgaria is also one of the Slavic speaking countries.
When’s the best time to visit the Balkans?
It depends on which part of the Balkans you’re going to. The climate varies between the mountains and the coasts. Also, there’s a difference between the northern and the southern regions. Countries like Romania, Serbia, and Moldova in the north will be much colder than the southern states, Albania and North Macedonia.
For example, in December in Bucharest (the capital city of Romania), the temperature averages around 28 to 39 degrees Fahrenheit. While in Tirana, Albania, it averages approximately 36 to 55 degrees Fahrenheit.
From our experiences, late September to November and April to mid-June are the best times to visit. Known as the shoulder season, it will be cheaper to visit and has fewer tourists. And if you don’t like the heat, avoid the summer months.
One Week Balkans Itinerary
Picture this: Within minutes in Sarajevo’s old town, you can walk from the Turkish-style cobblestone streets with cafes serving coffee in copper coffee sets to the pastel-colored Austro-Hungarian buildings housing pubs, pastry shops and restaurants that resemble those in Vienna.
The Balkans offer variety – nature, culture, history, food, and possibly the best coffee. Your one week Balkans trip should include Sarajevo, Mostar, Dubrovnik, Herceg Novi, and Kotor. You’ll cover five destinations in three countries.
Start your tour in Sarajevo, the capital of Bosnia & Herzegovina and head south to Dubrovnik, Croatia, Herceg Novi and Kotor in Montenegro.
Your day by day one week Balkans itinerary would look like this:
Day 1: Fly into Sarajevo, Bosnia
It’s hard to believe that a little over 20 years ago, Sarajevo was a war-torn city. It was nothing like what it is today, a city filled with coffee shops, restaurants, bars, well-stocked shops. You might have heard of The Siege of Sarajevo from early April 1992 to 1996. Sarajevo was under siege for four years. Much has changed, but no one can erase the history and scars of the past.
Scars remain in Sarajevo.
Blood-like stains on sidewalks and streets, known as Sarajevo roses, are visible and left to be painted over to remind locals and tourists of the horrors of war.
On your arrival in Sarajevo, go to Baščaršija, the old town built by the Ottomans in the 15th century. Try traditional Bosnian coffee, enjoy the sweets that are sold in almost every corner of the ancient city, and eat cevapcici (finger-sized sausages without casings served with flatbread).
Also include a stop at the Gazi Husrev Bey’s Mosque or Bey’s Mosque. Then walk towards the Austro-Hungarian-influenced part of the old town to see the “Sarajevo Meeting of Cultures” inlaid marker, the spot that merges the east and west of Sarajevo.
Check out the Sacred Heart Cathedral and discover the Sarajevo roses on the sidewalks. To us, this is one of the most serene houses of worship in Eastern Europe. Inside, you can feel the presence of peace and harmony. It’s quite ironic, given the outside walls still have bullet holes.
Day 2: Sarajevo
You have a full day in Sarajevo. Since you’ve already seen the old town and tried Bosnian coffee there, here are 3 more must-dos in Sarajevo:
Visit Tunnel Museum and Tunnel of Hope – the locals secretly dug this tunnel to avoid sniper fire in the Serbian-controlled part of town. That was how they accessed their daily supplies like medicine and food.
Visitors can walk a tiny portion of the tunnel (Tunnel of Hope) and visit the museum.
Take a 7-minute ride on a cable car to the top of Mt. Trebevic to enjoy views of the city and to walk on the abandoned Sarajevo Olympics Bobsleighs and Luge Track. The concrete track is covered with over 4,000 feet (1,300 meters) of graffiti. Mt Trebevic was a famous venue for the 1984 Winter Olympics in Sarajevo. The cable system was closed for 26 years and reopened on April 8, 2018.
Shop for copper souvenirs like coffee and pepper grinders, copper coffee sets, pots, and pans at Kazandžiluk Street. You can get many handmade copperware souvenirs in Sarajevo, and according to our guide, this is the street where you’ll find the best copper products.
Day 3: Mostar
On the following morning, take a 2.5 hour bus from Sarajevo to Mostar. You can get your tickets through omio.com. The cheapest at the time of writing was $6 per way.
Mostar bus station is about a 15-minute walk from the iconic Stari Most (Old Bridge). Enjoy Mostar’s old bridge, the old bazaar and small-town feel. The most exciting thing to do when in Mostar is to see brave men jumping off the arch bridge into Neretva River.
Day 4: Dubrovnik, Croatia
There’s only one bus that leaves daily from Mostar to Dubrovnik. The bus leaves at 12:30 pm and arrives in Dubrovnik at 3:50 pm. At the time of writing, a one-way ticket was $18 per person.
The 3 hour 20 minutes bus ride provides views of the coast, islands, and Dubrovnik old town. Remember to get a seat at the left for the scenery. If you’re pressed for time, you won’t have to get on the cable car in Dubrovnik to enjoy the magnificent views since you already saw Dubrovnik from the hills as your bus drove into town.
Day 5: Dubrovnik
Known as “Pearl of the Adriatic,” Dubrovnik, a coastal town in Croatia, has beautiful beaches, Game of Thrones filming locations, and the most well-preserved medieval city walls and forts in the world.
Here are five must-dos in Dubrovnik:
- Walk the city walls and forts.
- Explore stone monasteries, churches, palaces, homes, marble-paved squares, and steep and narrow cobbled alleys inside the old town.
- Eat seafood.
- Visit Lokrum Island – an under 15 minutes ferry ride from Dubrovnik’s old town’s port. Lokrum has the largest park in Dubrovnik where you can see peacocks roaming on the island.
- Fans of Game of Thrones must join a guided Game of Thrones tour and discover all the behind the scene secrets, filming locations and more.
Day 6: Kotor, Montenegro
There are 4 bus services per day from Dubrovnik to Kotor, Montenegro. It’s a 2.5-hour ride. The cheapest and fastest is usually the 11 am departure from Dubrovnik. At the time of writing, the one-way bus ticket was $24 through Omio.
Kotor’s Stari Grad (old town) is similar to Dubrovnik. The only difference is the size. Stari Grad is slightly smaller in Kotor. Built between the 12th and 14th centuries, this triangular-shaped fortified town on the eastern coast of the Adriatic Sea served as an important port city during the Venetian era.
Kotor is cat-friendly, you’ll see many cats in the old town, and there’s even a cat museum.
When in Kotor, you must do these five things:
- Hike to the top of St. John Fortress and enjoy panoramic views of the Bay of Kotor and see the magnificent red-roofed medieval buildings. This is not an easy hike. You’ll need to wear comfortable shoes with excellent traction and be reasonably fit. There are 1,350 steps to the top.
- Check out the Venetian-inspired architecture
- Wander the narrow cobblestone streets and squares
- Join a half-day tour to Perast, the baroque town just outside Kotor. When in Perast, hire a small boat to take you to Our Lady of the Rocks church and St George Barrier Island.
- Visit Kotor’s open-air market – located by the Sea Gate, just outside the town walls. The market starts at 8 am and ends at 2 pm from Monday to Saturday. See fresh vegetables, fruits, olives, cheeses, bread, and more.
Day 7: Leave Kotor for Home
Have you been to the Balkans? Let us know, leave a comment below!
Leave a Reply