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Europe Tours The Balkans

The Balkans in 7-10 days

There’s so many wonderful things to do and see in the Balkans that itineraries don’t have to just be based on time. Some are based on food, region or classical wonders. The Balkans has a beautiful combination of nature and cities which creates amazing and unique opportunities for travelers to experience both the wilderness with its outdoor activities and culture with its unforgettable people, food and art.

Tour of the Balkans in 1 Week

Day 1-3, Dubrovnik: Explore the seaside town, which is also a Game of Thrones filming location. Take a day trip to visit Kotor.

Day 4-5, Sarajevo: Take a walking tour and discover the history of the city and the diverse architecture. Visit the Tunnel Museum in Ilidža.

Day 6-7, Belgrade: Kalemegdan Fortress, Marshal Tito’s tomb, day trip to Novi Sad

See all Balkans 1 Week tours »

Balkan Food Tour Itinerary

The Balkans have a proud food culture. With influences from Turkey, Austria, Venice, and local traditions, a Balkan food tour is one of the best ways to see the development of this unique culture.

Day 1, Dubrovnik: Arrive in Dubrovnik and meet your fellow travelers before enjoying a traditional meal in the old town of charcuterie, a method of preparing different types of meats and sausages.

Beautiful charcuterie board.

Day 2, Putnikovic: Head out of Dubrovnik into the countryside to visit the local vineyards before taking in a lunch of traditional fares at a konoba (Croatian tavern).

Sunny day at a vineyard.

Day 3, Kotor: Walk around the spansive olive fields and learn about the production of this important Montenegro ingredient and try it at one of the Kotor wine bars.

Olive tree like the ones that travelers can find in field in Putnikovic.

Day 4, Prizren: Leave Kotor for Kosovo where you can enjoy an optional traditional lunch in the local bazaar of meats, cheese, cucumber salads, and stuffed peppers.

Delicious looking stuffed peppers.

Day 5, Pristina: Take in Kosovo’s capital and a traditional Kosovo-Serb barbecue of smoked sausages and pork.

Barbecue pork like the type of food travelers can find in Pristina.

Day 6, Leunovo: Enjoy your trip into Macedonia taking in a lunch of beans and pork and then a dinner of Macedonian cuisine of Middle Eastern and Mediterranean influences.

Stuffed pie is a staple dish in Macedonian cuisine.

Day 7, Macedonia Countryside: Take a day off from the heavy food and visit the historical sites on your way to the city of Ohrid.

Macedonia countryside.

Day 8, Ohrid: Enjoy the “Macedonia Jerusalem” and scenery as you chow down on fish stew and regional delicacies.

Fish stew like the kind that travelers can eat in Ohrid.

Day 9, Bitola: Get ready for a full day of eating as you enjoy traditional breakfast pies and local honey in this historic city.

Travelers can find delicious honey in Bitola.

Day 10, Skopje: Visit the historic wineries in Macedonia that date back to the early Middle Ages before having some free time to explore the quirky city of Skopje.

Travelers can visit historic wineries in Skopje.

Day 11, Skopje: Take in a breakfast in the market before collecting a boxed lunch to explore Matka Canyon full of medieval churches, fortresses, and enjoy a lazy boat ride down the Treska River.

Skopje market with fresh fruit and vegetables.

Day 12, Skopje: Your tour ends in Skopje where you can stay longer or catch a flight back home.

City in Skopje, Macedonia.

See all Culinary focused Balkans Tours »

Western Balkans Tour

Some Balkan tour itineraries focus on particular areas of the region. For example, a Western Balkan tour would include the countries of Croatia, Bosnia, and Montenegro which are all heavily influenced by the Mediterranean Sea.

Day 1, Zagreb: Begin your journey in Croatia’s capital with its medieval stone streets and vibrant Austrian-inspired architecture.

City Square in Zagreb, Croatia.

Day 2, Plitvice Lakes National Park: Head out of Zagreb to enjoy the natural waterfalls and pools of Croatia’s oldest national park.

Plitvice Lakes National Park in Croatia.

Day 3, Split: In the morning take a guided tour of Diocletian’s Palace, one of the most important Roman ruins in the Balkans.

Stunning view of Split, Croatia.

Day 4, Split: Take a full day to eat your way through the restaurants and gelatorias in the the old town or hike through the paths in Marjan Park.

Gelateria like the one travelers can find in Split, Croatia.

Day 5, Mostar: Head into Bosnia and visit the romantic medieval city of Mostar and take in the Stari Most (Old Bridge) and maybe even catch a glimpse of the famous bridge jumpers.

Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Day 6, Sarajevo: Learn about the Siege of Sarajevo from a local tour guide and visit Mount Trebevic, the home of the Winter Olympics of 1984. 

Old site of the Olympics in Sarajevo.

Day 7, Sarajevo: Head out into the old town of Sarajevo taking in the Ottoman architecture and shops and visit the site where World War I began.

Beautiful day in Sarajevo.

Day 8, Kotor: Travel to Kotor, a UNESCO World Heritage Site known for its Venetian old town and stunning mountain views.

Kotor, an old town in Montenegro.

Day 9, Kotor: Enjoy a day of relaxing, of kayaking in the bay, visiting the local beaches, or relaxing at a nearby mud spa.

Travelers can go kayaking in Kotor.

Day 10, Dubrovnik: Take a few hour bus ride to the “Pearl of the Adriatic” and climb the famous Walls of Dubrovnik.

Walls of Dubrovnik, in Dubrovnik, Croatia.

Day 11, Dubrovnik: Enjoy a free day to walk around the old town, kayak in the bay, or take a ferry to one of the local islands.

Travelers can go on a ferry boat ride in Dubrovnik.

Day 12, Departure: Say goodbye to your fellow travelers before returning home.

See all Croatia, Bosnia, Montenegro Balkans tours »

The Best of the Balkans Tour

Many of the Balkan tours that cover the entire region are at least two weeks in length to travel to every corner of this beautiful and interesting part of Europe.

Day 1, Sofia: Sofia offers everything you could want, open-air cafes, parks, classic architecture, and hiking.

City view of Sofia, Bulgaria.

Day 2, Skopje: Enjoy a city with 2,000 years of history with influences from Oriental and Western cultures and cozy cafes on the river.

Distant view of the mountains in Skopje, Macedonia.

Day 3-4, Lake Ohrid: On your way to Ohrid, enjoy a lazy river cruise down Matka Lake before strolling through the small streets of Ohrid.

Lake Ohrid in Ohrid, Macedonia.

Day 5, Tirana: Walk the streets of this former Communist city and take in the trendy bars and Ottoman architecture of Tirana.

Beautiful architecture in Tirana, Albania.

Day 6-7, Kotor: Take two days to hike the fortress walls up the mountains, enjoy a gelato in the old town, or walk around the shops of this former Venetian city.

Luscious green mountain in Kotor, Montenegro.

Day 8-9, Dubrovnik: You’ll need two days to fully enjoy the historic walls, streets, and scenery of this romantic and quaint city. However, don’t forget to head out into the bay or the beaches!

Old city walls in Dubrovnik, Croatia.

Day 10-11, Sarajevo: On your way to Sarajevo visit the medieval city of Mostar before learning about the interesting cultural and social history of Bosnia’s capital, Sarajevo.

Night view of Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Day 12-13, Belgrade: Take in the city that sits at the convergence of two Balkan rivers where you can visit the ruins of the ancient Kalemegdan Cathedral or relax in the many parks of the city.

Belgrade park in Belgrade, Serbia.

Day 14, Sofia: Return to Sofia to collect any last-minute souvenirs of pictures.

Day 15, Departure: Depart Sofia.

See all 2 Week Balkans tours »

Balkan States Cruise

Follow the winding Danube through the beautiful Balkans, taking in the incredible natural attractions and history of the area.

Day 1-2, Romania: Explore Bucharest and Transylvania. See the “Dracula” castle, and learn the historical context for the famous resident.

Day 3-5, Bulgaria: Take a walking tour of Vidin, and visit the town’s historical fortress. Visit the Ethnographical Museum in Arbanassi.

Day 6-7, Serbia: Sail through the Iron Gates, visit famous Kalemegdan Fortress, and Marshal Tito’s tomb

Day 8-10, Hungary: Take an excursion to Pecs, a Roman outpost in the 2nd century. Explore underground tombs and Turkish influenced architecture and cuisine. Continue on to Budapest where you can take in the views from Gellert Hill, enjoy a day trip to Statue Park, and visit the Terror Museum.

See all Cruises in the Balkans »

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The Balkans Tours Reviews & Ratings

Excellent
582
Great
149
Average
18
Disappointing
2
Terrible
5
Dick
·
2023-10-24
Written on
Balkans Rail Adventure
The holiday ticked many boxes. Interesting part of the world, well planned itinerary, excellent local guides, small group size (and nice fellow travellers), efficient arrangements for food and travel and perfect weather!
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Sally
·
2023-10-08
Written on
Balkans Rail Adventure
Inconsistent quality of hotels and local guides - while most met our expectations, a few were not up to standard. Our Explore leader was excellent and took great care of us throughout the trip.
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Trusted Customer
·
2023-09-29
Written on
Balkans Rail Adventure
The trip was so varied and eventful -experiencing all seven countries of the former Yugoslavia was an eye -opener as each country had its own unique character customs and stories. We travelled by train going through some amazing scenery that we may not have seen by road-the mountains and lakes were just spectacular We had a brilliant tour leader as well as excellent local guides who gave us a very real insight into their past and more recent history -the food and wine are fantastic and plentiful - particularly the ice cream and Turkish delight.
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Pamela
·
2023-09-26
Written on
Balkans Rail Adventure
Trusted Customer
·
2023-09-20
Written on
Balkans Rail Adventure
Sarajevo Zagreb, Nova Sad and Belgrade. They are very interesting places. The mix of the Catholic, mosley and orthodox buildings. The guides in all the places were very good.
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Heather
·
2023-09-08
Written on
Balkans Rail Adventure
Great people, great guide, great tour. Our tour guide, Jane was excellent, very organised, considerate and very adaptable when circumstances created challenges. He was also a lot of fun with a very clever sense of humour.
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