BALKANS TRAVEL

MINI GUIDE
Your essential guide to travelling in Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Kosovo,
Macedonia, Montenegro, and Serbia
from www.theworldwasherefirst.com

THE REGION
AT A GLANCE
WHY TRAVEL TO THE BALKANS?

The Balkans are one of the best places to travel in

A good route through the
Balkans would begin and ending
in Belgrade, Serbia. This route
goes through Bulgaria,
Macedonia, Kosovo, Albania,
Montenegro, Bosnia &
Herzegovina, and Croatia.
Typically an itinerary like this
should take about six weeks.
the whole of Europe. Strategically located, each
country in the Balkans possesses a rich history
spanning centuries — from ancient time to present
day. The Balkan Peninsula lies in Southeastern
Europe and is home to the countries comprising
former Yugoslavia, Albania, Greece, and Bulgaria.
Culturally, ethnically, and geographically diverse,
Balkan travel can be an incredibly fun, fulfilling, and
challenging experience.
However, when it comes to Balkan travel, it can be
hard to know where to begin. Each country in this
fascinating region is unique and deserves to be
explored in its own right. Travelling in the Balkans is
an amazing way to experience a side of Europe away
from the typical tourist or budget backpacker trail
The Balkans:
Know Before You Go

Albania

Albania is one of the least developed countries

in the Balkans but is quickly gaining popularity
with tourists with the beautiful Adriatic Coast
and a number of interesting historical UNESCO
towns to be found when you visit Albania.

Currency: Albanian Lek

Language: Albanian (uses the Latin alphabet)

Religion: Predominately Islamic with Roman

Catholic and Eastern Orthodox minorities

Top Destinations in Albania:

Tirana – Albania’s cosmopolitan capital might

lack many conventional tourist sites, however,
it makes up for this with its bustling cafe
culture and friendly locals.

Berat – A beautifully well-preserved Ottoman

town known as the ‘the town of a thousand
windows.’

Gjirokaster – Another Ottoman-influenced

town and one of the best places to visit in
Albania if you’re interested in history.

Saranda – The main city in Southern Albania, it

is a great base to explore nearby beaches and
the surrounding area.
The Balkans:
Know Before You Go

Bosnia & Herzegovina

Bosnia & Herzegovina is a fascinating country

to visit. With a complex history, beautiful cities
and natural beauty, there is plenty to keep any
backpacker occupied here!

Currency: Bosnian Mark

Language: Bosnian (a variation of Serbo-

Croatian, uses the Latin alphabet)

Religion: Predominantly Islamic with significant

Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox
minorities 

Top Destinations in Bosnia & Herzegovina:

Sarajevo – Stroll through the beautiful

Ottoman-influenced Old Town with a rich and
immensely complex history.

Mostar – View the iconic Stari Most in one of

Bosnia’s most segregated cities.
The Balkans:
Know Before You Go

Bulgaria

Bulgaria is a severely underrated country that

quickly became one of our favourites in Eastern
Europe. The country is filled with interesting
cities to visit, beautiful Black Sea coastal towns
and a culture that has been influenced by many
of its surrounding neighbours.

Currency: Bulgarian Lev

Language: Bulgarian (A Slavic language, similar

to Russian, uses Cyrillic alphabet)

Religion: Predominantly Eastern Orthodox

Top Destinations in Bulgaria:

Sofia – Bulgaria’s historic capital, this city

deserves a few days to be spent exploring.

Plovdiv – Europe’s oldest continuously

inhabited city, Plovdiv is a bustling metropolis
filled with well-preserved Thracian ruins.

Sozopol – A sleepy fishing village on the

southern coast, it has two white sand beaches
and fewer crowds than elsewhere.

Veliko Tarnovo – A mountain city in the north

of the country, this university town has a
thriving nightlife and rich history.
The Balkans:
Know Before You Go

Croatia

Croatia is no secret when it comes to Balkan

travel, with many travellers flocking towards its
beautiful coastline. The hostel scene is thriving
in Croatia with many affordable and social
places to stay.

Currency: Croatian Kuna

Language: Serbo-Croatian (Uses Latin alphabet)

Religion: Predominantly Roman Catholic with

an Eastern Orthodox minority

Top Destinations in Croatia:

Zagreb – Croatia’s capital is often overlooked,

but Zagreb is a dynamic city that should be
explored.

Split – Croatia’s second largest city, a great

place to base yourself when exploring Dalmatia.
The Balkans:
Know Before You Go

Kosovo

Kosovo is one of the newest countries in the

world and following the horrific wars in the
1990s, tourism has started to pick up,
particularly amongst backpackers keen to get
off the beaten path in the Balkans.

Currency: Euro

Language: Albanian is most common, though

Serbo-Croatian is also an official language

Religion: Predominately Islamic

Top Destinations in Kosovo:

Pristina – Slovak capital with a number of

castles and churches to explore in the Old
Town

Prizren – lovely, historic city in the east of the

country, it briefly served as the capital of
Czechoslovakia following WWII
The Balkans:
Know Before You Go

Macedonia (FYROM)

Macedonia is a country often overlooked on a

typical Balkan backpacking route, however,
with a number of great natural attractions and
an interesting history, it’s well worth a visit!

Currency: Macedonian Denar

Language: Macedonian (uses Cyrillic alphabet)

Religion: Predominately Eastern Orthodox with

a significant Islamic minority

Top Destinations in Macedonia:

Skopje –Macedonia’s capital with several

neoclassical style buildings and statues
controversially built in the last decade. Also, a
good base to explore Vodno Mountain and
Matka Canyon.

Ohrid – A stunning lakeside town with a

number of interesting churches and beautiful
scenery to explore.
The Balkans:
Know Before You Go

Montenegro

Over the last few years, Montenegro has gained

increasing popularity amongst travellers as they
search for cheaper destinations on the Adriatic
Coast.

Currency: Euro

Language: Montenegrin (Latin and Cyrillic

alphabets both used, though Latin is more
common)

Religion: Predominately Eastern Orthodox with

Roman Catholic and Islamic minorities

Top Destinations in Montenegro:

Kotor – UNESCO heritage town with a number

of fantastic hiking opportunities, medieval
history and picturesque old town.
The Balkans:
Know Before You Go

Serbia

Serbia might be missing the coastline of some

of its neighbours, but the incredible history,
culture and warmth of locals make this country
one of the best destinations in the Balkans.  

Currency: Serbian Dinar

Language: Serbo-Croatian (Uses Cyrillic

alphabet officially, though many signs and
menus will be in Latin)

Religion: Predominantly Eastern Orthodox

Top Destinations in Serbia:

Belgrade – Serbia’s capital may not be pretty on

the surface, but it is one of our favourite cities
in the world and worth spending a significant
amount of time in.

Niš – A city in southeastern Serbia, Niš is an

excellent stop when heading to Bulgaria.

Novi Sad – Serbia’s second largest city, home to

the famous EXIT music festival and a
picturesque Old Town.