The best of Balkan grand tour 2024

After breakfast, your journey takes you to the most famous natural wonder of Croatia and this part of Europe – Plitvice Lakes national park. On the way we’ll stop in Rastoke miller village, a unique example of traditional 17th century village architecture which once had more than 50 water mills built on breathtaking waterfalls. Just 25 min further south we are entering Plitvice lakes national park (UNESCO site) and we’ll start a comfortable hike along the sixteen beautiful and crystal-clear lakes with numerous cascades and waterfalls. We are ending the day in Split, where you can enjoy a stroll along the heart of the city – the famous Split waterfront or Riva where you will feel the friendly and cozy atmosphere of this vibrant city. Overnight in Split – 4-star Hotel.

This morning, your guide will take you for a walk through the “most beautiful city in the world”, how Split if often called by its citizens. You’ll visit the Diocletian Palace in the heart of Split, built as a residential palace in the 3rd century AD by the Roman Emperor Diocletian and a priceless monument included in the UNESCO list of World Heritage. Around noon time we are leaving Split and after an hour drive we enter our neighboring country Bosnia and Herzegovina. We are driving through Herzegovina region passing Mostar on the way to our final destination today – Sarajevo, the capital of Bosnia, often called “little Istanbul” as it was the place where worlds collided for centuries. Upon our arrival and check in we will take a walk in the city center visiting (UNESCO): Baščaršija, Gazi-Husrev Beg Mosque, Latin bridge and many more. You will learn about Ottoman days when the city was founded, turbulent period under Habsburgs and difficult days at the end of 20th century. Once upon a time, Winter Olympics host from 1984. Sarajevo still enchants its guests with known outgiving atmosphere and true charm. In the evening, join us for dinner in a typical Bosnian restaurant. Overnight in Sarajevo – 4-star Hotel.

Today we are leaving Sarajevo and after two-hour drive we arrive to Mostar, the 3rd biggest city in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the UNESCO World Heritage Site. We take this opportunity to walk in the city center in order to visit its famous Old bridge which connects western (Croatian) and eastern (Muslim) side of Neretva river. In the afternoon our tour takes us back to Croatia where we pay the visit the bay of Ston, and it’s famous city fortifications dating from 14th century. Ston is also known for growing famous Oysters and mussels, which are known as a local aphrodisiac. In the evening, we check in our hotel in one of the oldest towns on the Mediterranean, Dubrovnik. Overnight in Dubrovnik – 4-star Hotel.

After breakfast, we reserve time for exploring and enjoying in our Pearl of Adriatic – the old town, Dubrovnik. The great George Bernard Shaw wrote: “Those who seek paradise on Earth must come to Dubrovnik” and he was as many others overjoyed by the beauty and rich history of this old town under the UNESCO protection. Its glorious walls, with their fortresses and bastions, offer a unique walk with a view of the magical Elafiti islands. From the Onofrio fountain to the City bell tower, along its main street, Stradun and in many other small cobblestone streets, every step in this town will be an experience par excellence. After noon, we continue the tour crossing to our southern neighbor, Montenegro, driving through the scenic and dramatic Bay of Kotor. We’ll pay the visit to Perast islet and learn about its legend before stoping in the town of Kotor. Kotor is one more UNESCO World Heritage Site and a true open air museum with its rich history. Later in the afternoon we reach Budva, exploring practically the whole coast of Montenegro. On our way we pass next to most famous Montenegran island/resort Sveti Stefan. Dinner tonight is in a local tavern in Budva. Overnight in Budva – 4-star Hotel.

Today we are leaving Montenegro and as soon as we enter Albania we stop to pay a visit to Skadar lake, the largest lake in Southern Europe and one of the most beautiful national parks this region has to offer. We pay special attention to Rosafa fortress in Skadar, one of the sites with the most captivating legends in the region related to its history and making, before continuing towards the country’s capital, Tirana. Upon arrival and check in to your hotel we take you to discover Tirana with some of the most famous monuments like: historical city centre, Skenderbeg statue, Et’Hem bey mosque, clock tower, Italian building. For the end of the walk we saved the little gem dating to crazy communist days and the rule of the notorious president Enver Hoxha. After a city center walk, we invite you for a well-deserved dinner in Albanian restaurant. Overnight in Tirana – 4-star Hotel.

This morning we leave Tirana, and we pay a visit to Durres, an Albanian port known as home of one of the oldest roman amphitheaters in Europe. Long time forgotten, it was discovered again in 1966 and become an instant magnet for visitors. Later we continue our drive to Ohrid in Macedonia and on the way we’ll stop at the St. John of Kaneo church. It’s position on a rocky overhang provides excellent views over Lake Ohrid and Ohrid itself, listed by UNESCO as natural and cultural world heritage sites. We’ll also visit Samuel’s fortress, in the old town of Ohrid. It was known as the capital of the first Bulgarian kingdom during car Samuel reign. Overnight in Ohrid – 4-star Hotel.

After breakfast, we leave Ohrid and drive across Macedonia to its capital – Skopje. This is a place where you can feel two thousand years of history of Oriental and Western cultures. Skopje has many historical monuments, including the Kale Fortress dating back to the 6th century and the Daud Paša Amam, a 15th century bathhouse now converted into the city art gallery. You will also see the Mustafa-pasha’s mosque, the 16th century Clock Tower and Stone Bridge over the Vardar River. In the evening, join us for a must when in Skopje, Macedonian dinner. Overnight in Skopje – 4-star Hotel.

This morning we are leaving Skopje and driving along the countryside of Macedonia and Bulgaria. Crossing to Bulgaria, our first stop will be Rila monastery, the most famous UNESCO site in Bulgaria. Rila was founded in the 10th century by St John of Rila, a hermit canonized by the Orthodox Church. Our next stop is the capital of Bulgaria – Sofia. After we arrive to Sofia, you’ll have a chance to relax in the city center area. Overnight in Sofia – 4-star Hotel.

Today we are exploring Sofia. This city offers a wealth of cultural entertainment, including Byzantine churches, museums full of ancient archaeological treasures, towering monuments and numerous mineral baths adjacent to the magnificent Mount Vitosha. Laid back and cosmopolitan, Sofia offers a thriving and diverse street life, including open-air cafés, busy markets such as the famous Ladies’ Market, rattling trams all adding to the ambience. At the foothills of Mount Vitosha about 8 kilometers from the city center you can visit the 900-year-old Boyana Church (UNESCO), considered among the masterpieces of medieval European painting, which features murals and frescoes dating back to 1259 AD, medieval architecture and monumental art. As the locals would say: Sofia is a place always growing but never aging… In the evening, join us for Bulgarian dinner. Overnight in Sofia – 4-star Hotel.

We are leaving Sofia after breakfast and driving towards the border with Serbia. Soon after crossing to Serbia, we stop in Niš, the third-biggest city in the country, and pay a visit to one of the most unusual sites this country has to offer. Skull Tower is a stone structure embedded with human skulls located in Niš, Serbia. It was constructed by the Ottoman Empire following the Battle of Čegar of May 1809, during the First Serbian Uprising. We are continuing our way to Belgrade, once the biggest city in Ex-Yugoslavia, and it’s capital for 73 years, today a real center of Balkan culture. Located on the intersection of the Danube and the Sava river, with almost 2 mil. people Belgrade (White city) found itself at the crossroads of Western and Oriental Europe. Upon your check in, we invite you for a short stroll in the city center before dinner time. Overnight in Belgrade – 4-star Hotel.

After breakfast, we’ll go for a scenic drive through Belgrade boulevards before we go for a city walking tour which includes some of the main city attractions: Belgrade fortress, Kalemegdan park, Sv. Sava church, Knez Mihailova street, Nikola Tesla Museum, there are all some of city attractions not to be missed. People in Belgrade live 24/7, and they love their famous „Splavs“ – bars and restaurants on permanently moored boats along the banks of the Danube and Sava river. Music is to be found everywhere, and food is something Serbs are truly proud of. Do not hesitate, try it. In the evening, join your guide for the traditional Serbian dinner in a local restaurant. Overnight in Belgrade – 4-star Hotel.

This morning we are leaving Belgrade and heading up north towards Hungary. We will first pay a visit to Novi Sad, the third-biggest Serbian city, known after its elegant architecture and rich history dating from Austro-Hungarian times. We’ll pay a visit to Petrovaradin fortress, nicknamed “Gibraltar on/of the Danube”. The cornerstone of the present-day southern part of the fortress was laid on 18 October 1692 by Charles Eugène de Croÿ. Petrovaradin Fortress has many tunnels as well as 16 km of uncollapsed underground countermine system. Afterwords we are leaving for Hungarian capital where we arrive in late afternoon. Budapest was once the biggest rival of Vienna in great Austro-Hungarian monarchy and it one of most beautiful European cities. Upon arrival and check in, your guide will take you for the orientation walk through Budapest center before dinner time. Overnight in Budapest – 4-star Hotel.

After breakfast, we are taking you on an eye-opening city tour of Budapest (UNESCO). Buda castle, Hero’s square, Fisherman’s bastion, Jewish quarter, Chain bridge and many more sights attract people from all over the world, witnessing about rich history of Budapest which was one of the wealthiest European cities rivaling with Vienna and Prag. In the evening, join us for a farewell dinner in a typical Hungarian restaurant known after local dishes and Baranja wines. Overnight in Budapest – 4-star Hotel.

Today is the last day of our tour. Your guide will drive you to Budapest airport, where you are expecting your flight back home. We wish you a safe journey, and we hope that you will always gladly remember Balkans and have great memories of these days spent with us. Goodbye!