Millions of people do trip to popular destinations in Europe and road trips in places like Wales every year.
However, there is a part of Europe that often gets forgotten by travelers. Particularly, the places in the Balkan Peninsula are like hidden gems that are waiting to be discovered. This list covers an itinerary that’s supposed to help you cover the most important places in the Balkan Peninsula (apart from Greece, since Greece is already pretty touristy) in 10 days. Whats more? These are perfect places to visit in the month of May with kids – when there is summer vacation in many other countries. Let’s dig in:
Day 1: Ljubljana – best amongst the places in the Balkan Peninsula
Ljubljana is one of the most beautiful, cleanest, and well-organized capitals I’ve seen in my life. The city looks like a fairytale. It feels like a mix of Amsterdam, Florence, and Venice. Even though geographically belongs to the Balkan Peninsula. Yet, Ljubljana, and the whole of Slovenia for that matter, is more similar to Western Europe. The streets of Ljubljana are centralized along Ljubljanica River. With Venetian and Roman architecture surrounding the city. Ljubljana has only 278,000 residents. Thus, making it one of the smallest capitals in Europe. So the city is never too crowded. And it’s a great amongst places in the Balkan Peninsula to visit even if you’re traveling with children.
If you have a little extra time at hand, do visit the rest of Slovenia, as it is a gorgeous country. Here’s a beautiful list of things to do in Slovenia for you. And not just places, while in Slovenia, you must try out traditional Slovenian food as well.
Day 2: Zagreb – top most amongst places in the Balkan Peninsula
After a couple of hours driving from Ljubljana, you will reach Zagreb. Its the capital of Croatia. Despite being the capital, Zagreb often gets forgotten by visitors that head directly to the heavenly beaches and islands of Croatia. However, the city has remained the center of the country since the medieval times. And you will always find interesting things in Zagreb. If there was a competition for in which city would it be hardest to get lost, Zagreb would be one of the favorites. It’s nearly impossible to get lost here, as there are signs on practically every corner. Zagreb is a city with a rich history and here you will find some of the most important museums and buildings in the whole of Croatia. This is a must visit amongst the places in the Balkan Peninsula
Day 3: Mostar – a hidden gem amongst places in the Balkan Peninsula
Mostar is a 6-hour drive away from Zagreb and is the first non-capital city on this list. Mostar is one of the most charming cities in the Balkan and is home to the iconic Old Bridge (Stari Most). The bridge that saw the rise of Yugoslavia, after the partisans defeated the fascists at the legendary Battle of Neretva and was also there to witness Yugoslavia’s downfall in the 1991 war. Mostar is a small and compact town that can be covered in a day but it has a lot to offer and is one of the most important historic cities in the Balkan. The city is still wearing a scar from the 1991 secession war but that just adds to its charm. A day in Mostar is something you will certainly never forget.
Day 4: Dubrovnik – The game of throne location
Dubrovnik is one of the most beautiful cities in the region and its nickname ‘The pearl of the Adriatic’ is a good description. The city has been listed as a UNESCO heritage site since 1979. And recently has been used for the shoots of the popular TV series Game of Thrones. in fact you can take this Dubrovnik Game of Thrones tour of the locations involved when planning a trip there. However, nowadays Dubrovnik can be a bit too touristy at times. Because of its touristy reputation, Dubrovnik is the most expensive city on this list.
Nevertheless, a trip around the Balkan can’t be complete without Dubrovnik. The architecture of the city will amaze you. Exploring the streets of the Old town will make you go back through time. The walls that are comfortably surrounding the city are also a must visit. Dubrovnik is probably the most charming city in the region. But come here with some extra money. Like I said Dubrovnik is one of the most expensive cities at the Peninsula. Thus add it to your list of places in the Balkan Peninsula.
Day 5: Kotor – The beauty amongst places in the Balkan Peninsula
Kotor is a small town just like every other town in Montenegro. However, Kotor is different because it has the power to send you back in time. The Old Town is simply amazing and I get wowed every time I visit, no matter how many times I go there. Because of its location next to the sea, Kotor was under Venetian influence throughout history. That’s how there’s so many Venetian-influenced building in what’s supposed to be the ‘Orthodox Cristian part of the Balkan’. Kotor has something in store for everyone, from breathtaking museums to parties at the old castles. It’s also the biggest port in the country and the main jumping off point towards all of the islands. Thus, you can add Kotor to the places in the Balkan Peninsula that you want to visit.
Day 6: Lovcen National Park
I could have put a lot of other places here but I chose this one because it’s really close to Kotor and it’s one of the most peaceful places off the beaten track in the whole region. I don’t know why that’s the case because Lovren National Park is simply stunning. It would be good for you to take a day to relax in the nature and enjoy the amazing view.
Day 7: St. Stefan
Sveti Stefan (that’s how it’s originally pronounced) is one of the most beautiful islands in the Balkan and my personal favorite. St. Stefan is where luxury and history meet. The island played a significant role for Montenegro in the medieval times as a defensive stronghold against the Turks. The island was only a fort until the 19th century but today St. Stefan is one of Montenegro’s tourist hotspots. A highlight of your visit would be to stay in the historic island village- a truly unique experience which I strongly recommend.
Day 8: Skopje
This is going to be the longest journey of the trip so I suggest you leave during the night so you could reach Skopje at early morning. If you followed the itinerary, you had three days of rest without too many activities, so it should be manageable. Skopje recently was nicknamed the most controversial capital in the Balkan because of the project Skopje 2014 and the new statues that started surrounding the city center. The city center is now filled with statues and buildings from different architecture and art styles and periods. Some of them aren’t related with Macedonian history at all!
But nevertheless, Skopje has a lot to offer and Macedonia is a country with a rich tradition. The canyon Matka is arguably the most beautiful place in the city and one of the most beautiful places in the region. It’s also home to arguably the deepest cave in the world. Its depth is still unknown. Macedonian food is also one of the best traditional cuisines I tried in my life.
Day 9: Sofia
The capital of Bulgaria is around 5-hour drive from Skopje. It’s a city that made a nice transition from a communist capital to a multicultural and fast growing city, with Chinese and Arab neighborhoods-something you can’t find anywhere else on the Balkan. It’s also one of the rare cities in the Balkan that has free walking tours. Sofia is the cultural and historic center of Bulgaria and the most important historic buildings and museums are located here. Sofia is a wonderful and budget-friendly destination that you really shouldn’t miss when touring the Balkan.
Day 10: Belgrade
Belgrade is the largest city in the region. Belgrade is the capital of Serbia, a country known as the ‘bad guy of the 90s’ and some people would say the country that is to blame for the downfall of Yugoslavia. The war in the 90s culminated with a NATO intervention and multiple bombings of Belgrade which left a big scar on the city. Belgrade is the city where the rivers Danube and Sava confluence. It’s one of the oldest cities in Europe with its beginnings dating 6,000 years ago.
Because of its strategic location, Belgrade was involved in 115 wars throughout history and the city was burnt down to the ground 44 times! That’s why there aren’t as many historic sights but there still are some must visit places like the Belgrade Fortress. You will also see some charming sights along the Sava and Danube, especially the confluence located around the city center, which has been the center of the city from its very beginnings. Bonus point: Belgrade is the undisputed party capital of the Balkan and one of the best partying cities in Europe. I chose Belgrade as the last stop because it’s home to the largest airport in the region and the flight fares for going back to your country would be relatively cheaper from here. While booking a flight, do consider these tricks to score a cheap flight to Belgrade.
So there you have it: the ultimate Balkan 10-day itinerary. The itinerary is possible as most of the distances between the cities are short and I have done this itinerary a couple of times. However, if you feel the schedule is a bit tight, you can always add a day or two. Have you been to some of these places in the Balkan Peninsula? Do you think we missed something in our list of places in the Balkan Peninsula? Feel free to share your opinion in the comments.
A few tips for the end
Most of these places in the Balkan Peninsula on the list have airports but it’s the best to start and end your trip either at Belgrade, Sofia, or Zagreb. These cities have the busiest airports in the region and therefore have lower flight fares compared to other cities. If you’re coming from Western or Eastern Europe you can also reach all of these cities by bus or train but this will take much more time. If you have a little more time at hand, you can try this beautiful Balkans road trip itinerary. It will take you through the wonderful peninsula through most spectacular views.
When it comes to food, most of these places in the Balkan Peninsula have similar food as they all used to be part of the same country in the 20th century: Yugoslavia. And the Yugoslavian cuisine is amazing and I’m sure you’ll love it. Especially if you’re a meat lover. But even if you’re not there are a lot of vegetarian local dishes. You can also easily find restaurants serving continental and Asian food.
Finally, the best time to visit these places in the Balkan Peninsula in the spring, between the months of April and June. The winters at the Balkan are too cold going down to minus 15, while the summers are really hot going up to 40+ degrees Celsius. That’s why the best time of the year to visit the Balkan is the spring. That’s the time when nature starts reviving and everything becomes more vibrant. The Balkan Peninsula is definitely at its best when wearing its spring outfit.
PS: This is a guest post by Daniel of passportsymphony.com
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I’m glad you put Ljubljana first because it’s definitely one of my top places to visit since the architecture and everything looks so romantic. It definitely has a mix of all of everyone’s favorite parts of Europe.
You are right. We also have similar opinion
Balkan has always been on the top of my bucket list due to my support to Croatian national football team, as well as their history with Yugoslavia and all. It’s always exciting for me to read a post about it, that I can’t imagine how I would feel if I got a chance to get there someday. Thank you for sharing! 🙂
I came to know of the Balkans only recently. But already I feel like pushing them up my bucket list.
Balkan Peninsula is a mix of Florence, Amsterdam and Venice! In that case, this will be included in my places so go list! Splendid shots, would love to capture for my album.
Thanks Ann! Yes, as you said, The balkans has the mix of natural landscape that will give you partial feeling of other cities. But then it has so many unique features of its own that you won’t find anywhere else
All of those places looks amazing, there’s a few places such as St Stefan that I had never heard of before but they totally made it on my bucket list now! It’s a shame this part of Europe get overlooked but hey at least there’s less tourists there ahah
Right..less crowded destinations are always welcome!
Wow, I’ve actually been considering going to the Balkans this summer (I’ve only ever been to Greece) and I think you’ve just convinced me! Kotor and Mostar in particular look fabulous! And I’ve always wanted to visit Dubrovnik. Thanks for some great ideas 🙂
Thank you! Great to know about your trip. Hope you will have a fabulous one and we will wait to hear about your experience
Awesome tips! Croatia is at the top of my international list so I’m going to pin this for later.
Thanks Emily
Great list! I’ve only been to Dubrovnik out of these places, but I’d love to explore the others:) I’ve been hearing great things about Slovenia from my friends lately. The region is great for traveling because you get awesome value for money, and it’s usually not too overcrowded with tourists:) thanks for your recommendations and detailed descriptions!
Right. The balkans are not that famous as the other parts of Europe, and the downside of being too famous is being too crowded. So that way, the Balkans definitely are a smart choice
Amazing article, I once went to Dubrovnik and I loved it! Definitely belongs in this list. Also had Zagreb on my list for ages, but still have to go. Great content!
Thank you so much! Hope your trip to Zagreb materializes soon
Wow, the peninsula’s diverse culture and geography make every country worth a visit ! Exploring the Balkan Peninsula is definitely moving its way up my bucket list.To me I would love to explore all of the historic and environmental beauty in Serbia and Croatia for sure. Such a wild history that has affected much of human kind.
So rightly said Celine. That is one reason that even attracts us to Balkans a lot
I truly adore the architecture there! It reminds me of storybooks I’ve read since childhood of hills and lakes and small towns. I’d love to take a stroll there in a warm afternoon and just take it all in. I hope I get to see this with my own eyes!
True. These places are right out of the story books
Oh my gosh, I had no idea the Balkans were this gorgeous. I do hope to get to some of these places in the future!
Same pinch
I know the Balkans offer some amazing places, and I am starting to see that more and more people are discovering South-Eastern Europe. It’s like a diamond in disguise. Also if you come to the area, check out also Romania 😉 You’ll love our landscapes!
South Eastern Europe is like a hidden gem. Most of the average tourists don’t even know about these places. So, let’s discover and explore these gems of places before they get too crowded.
What a great adventure. I love that these places are all so close together so you can see so much in a short amount of time.
True. Commute is one big strength of Europe. Due to the immensely strong public transport, you can cover so much grounds in so less time
Wow.. seems very interesting. Earlier while planning for Europe I used to prefer one country at a time and explore it in detail. But Inwould like to explore the Balkan in this fashion for the thrill of changing city and country and hence subtle cultural nuances.
Makes sense. Give it a try
I’m going to Croatia in June and I love your advice about Dubrovnik. I also want to go to Mostar one day. Thanks for sharing all your experiences here!
Great to know that. Wish you a happy journey. Croatia is so beautiful. You will make wonderful memories there
The Balkans certainly is not an area to be overlooked by travellers. The region is rich in history and boasts many places worth checking out. Someday, I would like to explore this little corner of Europe with stunning sceneries.
Totally agree. But it has been overlooked by most of the tourists so far. Thats the reason it is not so very populated with tourists. But then that makes it one of the perfect places to explore.
Truly, Balkan Peninsula has so much offer with so much interesting places to see and enjoy. Though, this place has been forgotten by many travelers, but soon this will be visited by many because of all its innate beauty to offer. The skopje looks like really an interesting place to visit, since it is surrounded with beautiful architectures and arts. I love the fact that you gather all these stunning places in one post, I hope I can have the chance to amble around. Thank you so much for sharing this with us.
Thank you. Have got to agree. These are some places that are very high on our bucket list as well