The Balkans are one of the MOST UNDERRATED regions in Europe and should immediately be added to every travelers bucketlist!
Revel in the ability to explore Ottoman style architecture, enjoy the flavors of burek, ajvar, and shopska salad, hike through sprawling mountains, take a dip in the clearest blue seas, attempt to uncover a very complex regional history, and wander through plenty of UNESCO World Heritage Sites along the way.
These are 10 of the Best Places to Visit in The Balkans
1. Stari Most — Bosnia and Herzegovina
The Stari Most is one of the most picturesque sites I’ve ever visited. Located in Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina, this site was largely destroyed during the conflict in the 1990s. After its restoration, it was deemed an official UNESCO World Heritage Site and gains recognition for its multicultural influence.
As if the structure itself isn’t enough, crowds are drawn in every day to watch people jump the 24 meters down into the freezing Neretva River.
Tourists can actually jump themselves, however, it’s not something to be taken lightly! You CANNOT simply walk up and jump off and jump — you actually have to receive training from seasoned jumpers before you have a go. Like I said, this can be super dangerous and people have gotten seriously injured and a few have lost their lives. So, while a very cool bucket list item… make sure you’re prepared to take it seriously, or just enjoy watching the local professionals with an ice cream in hand as I did!
2. Hike From Valbona to Theth — Albania
All the way up North in the Albanian mountains (sometimes referred to as the “Albanian Alps”), you’ll find a day long hike from Valbona National Park to Theth National Park.
From trailhead to trailhead, this hike spans 17.6km, or nearly 11 miles, and is generally considered to be moderate in difficulty. The hike takes about 6-8 hours depending on fitness level and your preferred hiking speed. Though challenging, this hike is truly magical and it would be a real tragedy to visit Albania and not include this incredible journey on your itinerary!
The journey begins in the town of Shkoder and the first day takes you on a stunning 3.5 hour ferry journey where you’ll be able to catch the first glimpses of the sprawling mountains and clear blue waters of Valbona National Park. You’ll spend a relaxing night at a family run guest house enjoying the small town nearby and sprawling nature all around.
The next day is hiking day. Set out early to enjoy smaller crowds and more manageable weather as you make your way from Valbona to Theth. You’ll reach the tallest point: The Valbona Pass, spend a short time covered by trees as you walk through a forest, encounter fields of wild flowers, and continuously be in a state of awe watching the nature unfold all around you!
Spend the last night relaxing at another guesthouse surrounded by the scenes of Theth National Park and celebrate a long and exhausting day of hiking!
3. Seven Rila Lakes and Rila Monastary — Bulgaria
Located just over 100km from the capital city of Sofia, the Rila Monastery and Seven Rila Lakes is the BEST day trips from the city.
Spend a few hours wandering around the Monastery which is an official UNESCO site due to its spiritual significance in Medieval Bulgaria. The ornate architecture and vibrant colors set amidst a background of sprawling mountains and blue skies make this experience magical. (Make sure to bring clothing that covers your shoulders, chest and knees– otherwise you will not be allowed in).
After exploring the Monastery, you’ll venture about 1.5 hours to reach the Seven Rila Lakes. This group of glacial lakes are spread out throughout the mountains of Bulgaria. To reach the lakes, you’ll take a chairlift up the mountain and choose one of several hiking paths. Spend time wandering the rolling green hills set behind seven deep blue lakes and appreciate the still, quiet immersion into the nature of Bulgaria.
I recommend using a shuttle company to see these two sights. Getting there on your own, without a car, would be quite difficult and time consuming. I used Rila Shuttle and found it to be a pretty seamless and easy experience. They drove us to and from locations and provided a brief history with maps and pamphlets. I paid around 45 Euros for the day. The service excludes food and the cost of the chairlift ticket up to the lakes which is around 8 additional Euros. There are opportunities to get food along the way, but I would brings snacks to hold you over between stops (and in case things are closed as you will be venturing through small towns).
Getting out of the city and into nature is an incredible way to experience more of the immense beauty of Bulgaria.
4. Bobsled Track in Sarajevo — Bosnia and Herzegovina
The abandoned Sarajevo Bobsled Tracks were an important landmark for the city as were constructed for use in the 1984 Olympic Winter Games. The tracks were used for the next several years until the regional conflict surged in the early 1990s.
Now, over 30 years later, the tracks remain largely intact, however, they are no longer used for sporting. Instead, locals and tourists alike can reach the tracks that are located high above the city by way of cable car (or hike if you’re up for a bit of a challenge).
When you reach the top, you’ll begin to walk your way back down on the actual tracks. They are now covered in tons of colorful graffiti, giving the tracks a completely new meaning post war. There is a bit of an eery feeling as you make your way down and see what was once was a bustling, historic landmark shown off to the world in its post war, abandoned form.
Visiting the tracks is an amazing way to learn more about the history of the city while appreciating the colorful graffiti that brings light to a dark location.
Plus, the cable car ride up provides an incredible arial view of Sarajevo!
5. Visit the Second Youngest Country in the World — Kosovo
While backpacking the Balkans, Kosovo is a must visit location due to its status as the second youngest nation in the world. Declaring its independence from Serbia in 2008, Kosovo is only partially recognized within the United Nations.
The capital city of Pristina is the perfect location to dip your toes in the water and learn about some of this very recent history between the two nations and to get first hand takes on the Kosovars experience with the conflict between nations and their journey towards independence.
Take a free walking tour around Pristina with a local who will show you places including the Newborn Monument, the supposed “ugliest building in the world”, Bill Clinton Boulevard, and other historic landmarks around the city.
If I learned anything from traveling around the Balkan Region, it is that there are many different sides to the same story and not to necessarily take any at face value. My best recommendation: take a walking tour in EVERY city you visit. It was through hearing different accounts of local experiences that I began to piece together the bigger picture of the conflict and to attempt to understand the perspective of each nation and how the conflict carries continues to affect the region today.
6. Blue Eye — Albania
Located just outside the city of Sarandä in the South of Albania lies the iconic “Blue Eye”. This naturally occurring spring allows for visibility to a depth of more than 50 meters!
Though visitors are technically not allowed to swim in the springs, you will more than likely see plenty of people ignoring the signs and jumping in anyways. From what I gathered on my visit, as long as tourists are respectful towards the environment around them, the locals don’t really mind! But, be warned, the springs maintain a year-round temperature of 10 degrees celsius (50 degrees fahrenheit). Though freezing, you can’t miss out on the opportunity to plunge into the crystal clear springs from the deck above. Jump in and swim out as fast as you possibly can!
The Blue Eye is not easily accessible by public transportation (which is a common trend in Albania). Having a car or taking an organized tour is the best and easiest way to arrive. There is a bus that will take you from Sarandä, however, it is very difficult to find. My hostel owner walked us to the ticket office, helped us buy a bus ticket there and said resolutely, “you will hitchhike to return.”
Having never hitchhiked before, this sounded daunting to us, however, hitchhiking is actually pretty common all around Albania (likely due to the lack of and difficulty of public transportation). In true Albanian fashion, I rode sitting on the front console of the bus next to the driver, getting the gear shift jammed into my side over and over. Post Blue Eye, we had no choice but to stick our thumbs out and hope we’d be picked up by a kind stranger on the road. Luckily, we didn’t have any trouble and made it back to Sarandä without issue. But, beware that public transportation is not very reliable!
7. Sunset Boat Ride on Lake Ohrid — North Macedonia
The sunset boat tour with Old Town Hostel in Ohrid costs just 7 Euros for a night out on the lake. Lasting a couple of hours during sunset time, the boats take you out on the lake and allows plenty of time for swimming and enjoying the views from the boat. You’ll make your way out towards St. John Cathedral just as the light hits the church up on the hill, creating the most beautiful picture. As Saint John’s is a popular spot to watch the sunset, you’ll see people looking down from above as you cruise along the lake.
People climb the boats and jump into the water while others take their complimentary glass of wine right in with them and try their best to tread the water and enjoy their wine at the same time (not so easy). The tour is super relaxed and a great way to meet people and see the city from a different angle. Plus, the price tag comes at a whomping 7 Euros… making it the best ways to spend a night in Ohrid.
8. Waterfalls in Gjirokaster — Albania
The city of Gjirokaster is located in the South of Albania and has been named a UNESCO World Heritage Site due to its preservation of Ottoman style architecture. While Gjirokaster is known as a charming “stone city” where you can visit preserved Ottoman style houses, shop in local markets, and sample Balkan food, venturing a bit outside of the city offers a unique look into a part of Gjirokaster that not many tourists venture to explore.
On the outskirts of the city, you will find yourself only among locals. Think swimming in vibrant blue waterfalls, wandering tiny local churches, eating family style meals, hiking under old Ottoman bridges and watching wildlife go by: all without the presence of a single other tourist.
With Stone City Hostel, you’re able to experience the more local side of the city. Stone City is run by a the kindest young couple, a Dutch man and an American woman. They offer a small group, day long tour into surrounding Gjirokaster. The tour costs around 40 Euros and lasted over 8 hours. The owners are extremely knowledgeable about the area and its history and seem to have a very close relationships with the locals. They’ll introduce you to new foods, give context to the cultural sites, and most importantly, make the day fun and exciting! We stopped on the tiniest bit of land and went on a hunt to find the one village key to the local church. The most exciting part: we did not encounter one other tourist the entire day!
9. Sunset on Abandoned Fortress in Kotor — Montonegro
What sounds better than a night spent watching a sunset on top of an old Austro-Hungarian Fort while eating a BBQ dinner with new friends in Montenegro?
Old Town Kotor Hostel offers a tour where you can do just that. Everyone at the hostel will load up into vans and make the short drive to the bunker. You’ll climb to the top where some guy is serving as a DJ and everyone pulls out a couple drinks (BYOB) to enjoy as the sun goes down. The hostel guide will take everyone for a little tour of the Fort while dinner is being prepared. Then it is served buffet style, everyone climbs back to the roof, and enjoys the view over the Bay of Kotor with good music and new hostel friends.
The tour costs around 30 Euros and includes food and transportation to and from the hostel. This was one of the most fun nights I had while in the Balkans!
10. Kayak in Himarä — Albania
Himarä is a place where travelers originally plan to stay a few days and then never want to leave. Located on the Albanian Riviera between Vlorä and Sarandä: Himarä offers tiny hidden beaches accessible by boat or foot, an abandoned castle with a sunset view and colorful frescoes, and a relaxed local feel.
One of the best ways to access the plethora of small, hidden, and pristine beaches is by kayak. Renting one from Himarä Hostel cost just $8 for the entire day. Choose from private, paradise-like beaches entirely enclosed by cliffs, more touristy beaches that offer amenities like restaurants and lounge chairs, or take the entire day to explore the best of both worlds!
For larger beaches with amenities check out: Dhermi, Livadhi, or Potami.
For smaller, more secluded beaches check out: Gjipe or Filikuri
My best advice is to set out a your own beach hopping tour. I suggest starting right in town on the main beach by all the restaurants and hotels. Then, head up the coast towards Livadi Beach and stop at any beaches you spot along the way that interest you! Just make sure you allot a good amount of time to get back to the town center before nighttime… you definitely don’t want to get stranded on a beach (or even worse, in the ocean) with a kayak and no tour guide.
Kayaking in Himarä was one of the highlights of my time in Albania and granted access to some of the most beautiful beaches I’ve ever seen!
Why Visit The Balkans?
The Balkans surprised me in more ways than I can count. While there is certainly a backpacking community, it is small compared to those in places like Western and Eastern Europe. This won’t always be the case as more people discover the beauty, affordability, and allure of the Balkan Region. That’s why I recommend that you go, and you go NOW.
There’s something special about backpacking a place that still has small tourist crowds and limited infrastructure that make traveling a bit of a challenge. There are so many incredible things to do in this region of the world, these 10 serving as a good starting point.
The Balkans brings an overwhelming amount of complex history, rich foods, beautifully kind people, captivating nature, and preserved architecture. It is a region that sound be at the top of every adventurous travelers bucket list!!!