The Ultimate Balkan Tour for Beginners

This Balkan Tour for Beginners is the perfect starting point to exploring the rest of the beautiful area that is the Balkans. The Balkans are an amazing place to visit and yet, so underrated!

What are the Balkans?

The Balkans are a collection of Southeastern European countries. They are named after the mountain range that stretches through Bulgaria and consist of 10 different countries: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Greece, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, and Slovenia.

Most of the countries in this region speak Serbian or a specific dialect of Serbian (Montenegrin, Croatian, Bosnian, etc.)

I’ve been to the Balkans many times and it’s one of my favorite regions to visit for many reasons. Most of the countries are off the beaten path, meaning they can be cheaper, less overrun with tourists, and you really feel like a true traveler when visiting. The Balkans are home to world class beaches and national parks (like Durmitor in Montenegro) that most people have never heard of!

Are Balkans cheap to visit?

Depends on where you go but in general, yes, the Balkans are relatively cheap to visit. Probably the one major exception would be Croatia, as it has become very touristic in certain regions and thus prices have risen.

How can you get around the Balkans?

Honestly, public transport can be really difficult when traveling the Balkans. There aren’t always trains or buses that go directly to your destination so it can be a bit difficult to navigate!

Also in many Balkan countries, there are buses called furgons. These commuter vans (similar to colectivos if you’ve been to Latin America!) don’t always have a set schedule, or even a set bus stop! They change quite frequently, so the best thing you can do is to take a taxi and ask him to drop you off at the furgon stop for your destination. Taxi drivers always know or can find someone who does even if hotels don’t!

Of course, the best way to travel the Balkans is definitely via car, as you won’t have to deal with crazy schedules and catching furgons. On the other hand, traveling is an adventure, and the Balkan public transport does not disappoint!

Destinations for a beginner Balkan tour

The Balkans are great, but may be easier for more experienced travelers. That’s why I’ve included some great destinations to provide you with an introduction to the amazing region known as the Balkans.

Split, Croatia

3 – 4 days

Start your journey in Split, Croatia before making your way down the coast! Split is a historic but cosmopolitan little beach city, with a nice mix of old vs new. It’s nice to explore the Split for a day or so, but the city is also connected to the island of Hvar (as well as other islands), and Krka National Park. These are definitely some must-sees!

For Hvar, you will need to take a ferry for the day. It’s best to stay at night if you can, but you’ll have to book your accommodation on the island!

Things to do in Split:

• Visit Diocletian’s Palace
• Go island hopping
• Visit the waterfalls at Krka National Park

Recommended hostel stay in Split: Beach Hostel

Dubrovnik, Croatia

1 – 2 days

Head south towards Dubrovnik. This medieval walled city became famous after it was featured as the city of King’s Landing in Game of Thrones. Today, you can walk through the streets and see all the filming locations.

In Dubrovnik you can:

• Walk around the city walls
• Take a cable car to see Dubrovnik from above

Recommended hostel stay in Dubrovnik: Dubrovnik Backpackers Club

Mostar, Bosnia and Hercegovina

1 – 2 days

Next, head over to Bosnia and visit the beautiful town of Mostar. Although parts of the city have been destroyed after the war, it’s definitely an interesting bit of history. Visit the Museum of War and Genocide to learn more about Bosnia’s bloody history, although I’ll warn you– this museum is not for the fainthearted!

This town is also famous for its iconic bridge, which is one of the deadliest (and yet still legal!) cliff diving jumps that you can do. Red Bull even frequently hosts its world competition of cliff diving here!

If you want to jump though, you’ll have to pay for lessons with a certified instructor. The drop is high, with a cold and strong current, so only those that clear the training are now allowed to attempt it.

Things to do in Mostar:

• Jump from the bridge! …if you dare
• Learn about some recent history at the Museum of War and Genocide

Recommended hostel stay in Mostar: Hostel Miran

Sarajevo, Bosnia and Hercegovina

1 – 2 days

Visit Bosnia’s capital city to learn a bit more about the war and the Bosnian people. Sarajevo holds a ton of history, and is now bustling with life and culture. Although the city has started to rebuild, you can still view remnants of its history, such as bullet holes in windows and shell-blast damage.

Things to do in Sarajevo:

• Explore the Sarajevo War Tunnel
• Eat in the Old World market/bazaar

Recommended hostel stay in Sarajevo: The Good Place Hostel

Kotor, Montenegro

1 – 2 days

Head down south and visit another country: Montenegro. Kotor is a small town located on a gorgeous bay. In the summer, it’s a cruise port, but after the boats leave for the day the town is peaceful and quiet.

In Kotor, you can take a boat on the bay to an island in the middle, called Our Lady of the Rocks. You can also explore the Old Town, as well as taking a hike up to the top of the castle fortress for an unreal view of Kotor and the rest of the landscape.

Things to do in Kotor:

• Take a boat to Our Lady of the Rocks
• Climb the castle fortress
• Dine and shop in the Old Town

Recommended hostel stay in Kotor: Montenegro Hostel 4U

Budva, Montenegro

1 – 2 days

Close to Kotor you will find one of Montenegro‘s coastal cities: Budva. Budva is a bit more commercialized and lively than Kotor, but definitely still beautiful! The Old Town is inside these beautiful city walls that you can spend hours getting lost in, while the rest of the city feels a bit more local.

Things to do in Budva:

• Party at Plôce Beach Club
• Visit Sveti Stefan
• Take a boat or paragliding tour from the historic downtown
• Discover other hidden beaches via bus or car

Recommended hostel stay in Budva: Montenegro Hostel B&B Budva – BEST HOSTEL EVER! So many great memories here

Shkodër, Albania

1 – 2 days, but depends if you go to the national park

This border city to Albania has such a nice downtown with beautiful landscapes. The city itself is worth it to visit, but there are also lots of landmarks nearby that are must-sees.

Things to do in Shkodër:

• Visit Rozafa Castle
• Wander the Old Town of Shkodër
• Visit Komani Lake and the Shala River
• Explore Theth National Park

Recommended hostel stay in Shkodër: Scodrinon Hostel

Please note: Albania has been gaining crazy popularity over the past few years! Lots of great places to visit in Albania though, are in the south and quite far from the rest of these Balkan tour destinations. Therefore, for the sake of this post, I’ll just put one Albanian destination here.

Lake Ohrid, Macedonia

1 – 2 days

*sigh*, I love this place. Ohrid is like the cheaper, Eastern European version of Lake Como and is located on the border of Albania and North Macedonia. There’s a cute little town on the lake, and plenty of boat rides, hiking, and other outdoorsy activities to do there.

Things to do in Ohrid:

• Take this iconic photo of the church overlooking the lake
• Discover some of the caves and swim in the lake
• Go for a boat ride
• Check out some nearby hikes

Recommended hostel stay in Ohrid: Sunset Lake Hostel – I stayed in this hostel and the vibes were awesome!!

The Balkans are really one of Europe’s hidden gems and I think everyone should do a Balkan tour before it becomes just as popular as Western Europe!