Hit the road and discover the glory and quirkiness of the Balkans! Trek or bike up the hills and through rampant villages with wildflowers blooming in the ditches. Raft wild rivers fed by even wilder mountains. Jump from island to island, dotted with hidden bays with crystal-clear turquoise water. Enjoy some live music at buzzing renaissance squares, have a caffeine kick at a cozy café and buy your own crisp grocery at an outdoor market surrounded by questionable high-rises and brutal communist era architecture. Balkans is the destination when you’re looking for adventures and good times!
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The Balkans is part of Europe, but the region comes with a twist. It has a touch of the unknown, a sense of past and a feel of new beginnings – and though not that far from home the Balkan seems truly wild and unfamiliar to most. It’s one of those ‘can’t-believe-such-landscapes-and-wonderfully-weird-cultures-can-be-found-this-close’ -things. Travelling through the Balkans is a journey for those with a curious mind and a love for contrasts.
What and where?
The Western Balkans is a good place to start your exploration of the region. Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia and Slovenia were the six constituent republics that made up the former Yugoslavia, all of them now independent countries with a dramatic history.
Neighboring Albania has also been ruled by changing empires and regimes and was the most isolated country in Europe right after World War II – the European equivalent to North Korea. Now the Western Balkan countries are making up for lost time and are ready to move forward. And what an amazing playground that is for intrepid explorers like yourself!
Make the most of the Balkans
The cost of living, transportation and eating is lower than in many other parts of Europe which means there’s more room for activities in your budget. And in these landscapes, you definitely want to make use of that extended opportunity no matter what your preference is on the list of things to do.
The Western Balkans is a compact area which can only mean one thing: roundtrip! Of course, you can also take your pick and traverse the countries one by one, there’s no shame in that. Get onboard a bus or train or rent your own campervan. It’s fairly easy to get around and though the public transportation network isn’t the most extensive, there are some routes, especially through mountains and gorges, that are to die for. And if you go about moving around by car just bear in mind that locals have a slightly looser interpretation of the traffic rules than you may find in some other parts of Europe. But that’s just a part of the charm!
In the region people vouch for in local produced vegetables, herbs and berries from the wild, but the Balkans also has a profound love for grilled meat – a lot of meat! The roadside restaurants especially in Serbia, Montenegro and Bosnia and Herzegovina are the perfect places to indulge in the local treats and, not least, for having a chat with the locals.
Go on a road trip in the Balkans
A great way to discover the Balkans is by doing a classic road trip. Rent a campervan and cruise through the beautiful landscapes in your own pace. It's freedom at it's best, and it's entirely up to you what you want to see. We can of course help you with suggestions to activities along the way, but if you want to roam freely in the Balkan countries, this is a great way to do it!
Check out these road trip suggestions in Balkan if you need inspiration!
Wait no more, start packing and go explore the exotic nearby!
