Balkans

Eco-friendly travel guide to Balkans advises how to be a responsible tourist. Learn how to travel in a sustainable way and how to respect the local people and culture. Make your trip green by supporting locally owned hotels, organic restaurants and other businesses. Read more on how to protect the environment by making conscientious choices and how to travel green in Balkans, Europe.

Comet over the Split skyline in Croatia

Air quality: 3 / 5

Bus connections: 3 / 5

Train connections: 3 / 5

Hitchhiking: 2 / 5

National parks: 3 / 5

Outdoor activities: 2 / 5

Locals' English level: 2 / 5

Safety: 3 / 5

Accommodation: US$10 - $30

Budget per day: US$20 - $90

Responsible Travel

It is a peninsula region which is located in the Southeast part of Europe. People kept this region's name due to the Balkan Mountains, which are spread across Bulgaria. A peninsula is a region covered with water on three sides, so one side of the Balkan region is the Adriatic sea. The second side is the Ionian Sea, and the third is the Aegean Sea, the Southside of this region. The total area of this region is 466,877 Km2, with the highest elevation of 2925 meters. The total population of this region is 55 million people. There are fewer resources available, especially those used to get energy, but there is an adequate supply in Kosovo. Coal, Lead, Zinc, Chromium, and Silver can be located there. This region has a Mediterranean type of cuisine, a mixture of European and Western Asia. However, different countries have different versions and types of cuisines that are famous in their own country. There are many mountains present in this country that covers a lot of part of this region.

Air Quality and Pollution

Air pollution originates typically from a combination of sources, like everywhere globally. Still, pollution stemming from coal use, car emissions, and household heating are historically the most common in the Balkans. According to an expert, the Western Balkans has become a pollution hotspot in Europe due to outdated coal plants, smoke-emitting cars, and faulty industries. Touching on the possible worst-case scenario for the Western Balkans, if the problem continues, the burden of pollution-related diseases and costs caused by air pollution are already too high.

Respect the Culture

The unique thing about Balkans is it's diverse yet equal simultaneously: in essence, they are very much the same. The Balkan culture is all about the deep, vivid, and passionate feelings it gives you once you are involved in it. Showing that even from a challenging part of history, they have collected every little bit to make the Balkan culture what it is today. Starting from the food and excellent traditional cuisine Balkan beholds, the production has always remained and stuck to the native recipes that have been cooked for centuries only by the Balkan women. The food may serve in ceramic containers, pots, plates, and ceramic glasses – all handmade!

Top 10 Places to Visit

Rozafa fortress Albania: The building was built in the 3rd century. BC. and was intended for the defense of the city. It was under the control of Byzantium, and the Slavs captured the Middle Ages. The name of the fortress is associated with a girl from the legend about imprisonment. The legend says that three brothers built walls during the Illyrian domination, which fell apart the next morning. Then they decided to sacrifice the wife of the third brother, whose name was Rozafa. The girl was walled up in the foundation and left free with her right hand to swing and feed the child.

Uvats Serbia: One of Serbian nature's wonderful wonders, Uvac, is a river of unusual shape, like a giant wriggling snake. However, the bottled waters of Uvets do not carry any danger but only flow, photogenically meandering between the rocks. Giant white-headed vultures slowly hover over them, which in the 90s decided to die out, but changed their minds after Serbian enthusiasts promised to feed them regularly. They kept their promise; therefore, having arrived at the reserve at a good time, you can watch this process from afar, albeit not very delicious, but indeed an exciting process.

Peles Castle Romania: Because Romania is a country of medieval castles, then among its famous monuments, of course, the castle. Peles is one of the most famous buildings of centuries-old history that has survived to this day. Moreover, other castles will envy his condition. It ranks among the most beautiful medieval sights in Romania. The castle's architectural appearance is eclectic - many styles are collected here: Rococo, Baroque, Renaissance, and others. Peles' facade is crowned with several towers, and columns with fountains are located on the terraces. Inside there is rich decoration: furniture, dishes, decorations, paintings of bygone eras. You can also contemplate knightly armor, which is awe-inspiring just at the thought that this is the weapon of a knight that once existed in reality.

Kosovo bazaar Kosovo: Kosovo's ancient Carpathian town's exciting attraction is the famous Kosovar Bazaar, which has become famous throughout the country and abroad. This phenomenon, unique for Ukraine, attracts many tourists and has not lost its popularity for many years.

Varna Bulgaria: Varna is one of the oldest cities in Europe, leading its chronicle from the 6th century. BC, today it is an important industrial and cultural center of Bulgaria. Despite the dynamic development of the economy and modern administrative buildings, Varna is fraught with an ancient history, which still surprises specialists. During the Varna necropolis excavations, a golden treasure belonged to unknown older adults who lived here long before the Thracians.

Nish Serbia: In Nish, in general, in all the Balkans, various peoples have been running around with weapons back and forth for centuries. Most of all, the Romans inherited it - from them, the city inherited the magnificent Nis Fortress, in which in our time every year a summer jazz festival is held - Nashville, and also Mediana is the perfectly preserved residence of the emperor. The Turks of Nisu made a terrible gift - Chele-Kulu, "the tower of skulls." After one of the victories during the first uprising against the Ottoman Empire, they built a tower of stones mixed with the slain Serbs' skulls to intimidate the rebels. I don't even want to write about what the conquerors did to the skin of the unfortunate. Now Chele Kula is open to the public, and anyone can come and see what price the Serbs paid for freedom.

Sarajevo Bosnia and Herzegovina: The capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina has more ancient monuments, including Catholic and Orthodox monasteries. Pay attention to the magnificent Romano-Gothic cathedral, various monasteries, mosques, and synagogues. Among the monuments of Muslim heritage, the mosques "Tsareva Jamiya" and "Begova Jamia" (15th century) are impressive. Walking along the streets of Sarajevo, visit the markets "Charshia" and "Koziy Most" - a single-span structure thrown across the Milyachka river, out of almost five dozen crooked and very narrow streets. A few kilometers from Sarajevo, there is a balneological and climatic resort Ilidzhe with very good mud and thermal waters with a specific chemical composition.

Pula Arena Croatia: The most famous and influential monument of the city of Pula and a landmark of Croatia is the Pula Amphitheater. Any city tour starts and ends near the theater, popularly called the Pula Arena or the Pula Amphitheater, which was once the site of gladiatorial battles. The Pula amphitheater had a capacity of 20,000 spectators and was built using local limestone. In the Middle Ages, the theater was the site of knightly tournaments and fairs. Today, the Pula amphitheater hosts film festivals, an opera season, an equestrian festival, and concerts.

Budva Montenegro: It is precisely the case when a whole city becomes a landmark of the country. It is how you can describe the seaside resort of Budva in Montenegro. Photos of the region are striking in their beauty and atmosphere. An earthquake destroyed Budva (at the end of the 20th century); today, the resort has been completely restored. Several museums, ancient churches, castles, fortresses, and high ramparts attract the attention of tourists. And just a walk around Budva is an opportunity to enjoy the picturesque beaches, high mountains, and dense green forest. By the way, this attraction of Montenegro is especially recommended for visiting in the middle of summer. It is at this time of the year that colorful open-air festivals take place here.

Ljubljana Slovenia: Of course, Slovenia's capital should be noted - the stunningly beautiful, diverse, and tidy city of Ljubljana. The picturesque river Ljubljanica passes through the entire settlement territory, over which the famous "three-fingered" bridges are laid. Above the center of the capital rises the majestic Ljubljana Castle, from which an excellent view of the Alpine peaks opens. But even on the ancient streets of this city, you can always find many beautiful monuments of history and architecture.

The ramparts of the Rozafa Fortress near Shkodra, Albania, overlook the Buni River. In 1478 a small force of 1,600 Albanians and Venetians repulsed five assaults by 350,000 Ottoman troops.

Explore

You will be amazed to see many exciting places here, and you will love exploring them all.

City Parks

Katerini Municipal Park, Greece: Katerini is a small town so good for an everyday, peaceful life. The summer afternoon has a lot of tourists. Only a few kilometers are "paralies" beaches. Katerini and around have a lot of good restaurants. Huge, with two parks and wonderful nature. Little zoo area with deer and ducks. Close to restaurants and cafes. Friendly and fantastic place to hang out.

Kalemegdan Park, Serbia: You can comfortably explore the sights of Kalemegadan Park, the city's most extensive and possibly most beautiful park, for a day or more. With its green spaces, forests, monuments, and cultural attractions, it is a valuable place that many Belgians choose to come here all year round. You can hear any time of the day to relax. The park provides you the best atmosphere with so much greenery.

Skopje City Park, Macedonia: Although the green parts of the capital disappear at the same time, Skopje City Park remains intact. It is the largest nature center and the most beautiful garden in the ever-growing cityscape of Skopje in Macedonia. The city park, also known locally as Gradski Park, was built by the Ottoman Turks in the early 20th century. You can visit this park to hangout also with your friends.

Bundek City Park, Croatia: Bundek City Park (Gradski Park Bundek) is located south of central Zagreb and is a destination for urbanites on a sunny summer afternoon - a peaceful companion from the lush gardens around the beautiful Bundek Lake. The 35-hectare park is the perfect meal for a family picnic or barbecue, while hikers and cyclists will find a network of beautiful trails to explore. Try to explore the park during your visit to Croatia. Such a unique and beautiful park with so many facilities.

Kalemegdan Park

National Parks

Mount Olympos National Park, Greece: Established in 1938 on the Greek gods' legendary dwellings, 'Mount Olympus National Park' is an important place, whether natural, archaeological, or historical. In light of its social significance and private surroundings, the government declared this 193 square mile area a national park. From this point on, it was announced both a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve and one of the "Most Important Bird Areas of the European Community." This national park in Greece makes nature lovers happy as it is the natural setting for a massive range of products. More than 50 peaks of deep gorges, thick forests, and funts of flora and fauna species. Visitors can appreciate more than 1,700 different plant species, from deciduous trees to rare Bosnian pine trees. Park,

Hotova National Park, Albania: Kotova National Park, located within the Petran city of Albania, Benje Thermal Baths, Lengarica River Canton, is among the country's favorite tourism centers built during the Ottoman Empire period. The park is located in the middle of nature like a lush green crown that immediately catches the visitors' attention. While the climatic conditions provide an environment for the richness of flora and fauna, the forest area starts at an altitude of 900 meters above sea level. It consists mainly of oak, pine, and juniper trees.

Rila National Park, Bulgaria: It covers 810.46 square kilometers, and the park is the largest national park in Bulgaria. It was established in February 1992 and has a height varying between 800 m and 2925 m. The highest peak of the Balkan Peninsula is within this national park's borders. The Maritsa River and Iskar River, the two major rivers of the region, are part of this national park. There are 120 glacial lakes in the park. 66% of the national park is covered with forest lands. Forty-eight mammal species, 20 reptile and amphibian species, five fish species, and many invertebrate species live in Rila National Park. The 282 species living in the national park are indigenous to the region.

Apuseni National Park, Romania: Apuseni Nature Park is located in the Apuseni Mountains in western Romania and includes parts of the Bihor and Vladeasa Mountains. The park was created to preserve the unique Romanian cave fauna and is famous for its caves that show traces of prehistoric human and ice age animals and rare bat populations. The park is covered with rich forests, spruce and beech are lowered down at high altitudes, and many of the exciting landforms found in the park originate from the underlying limestone rocks. There are beautiful caves with enchanting sculptural ridges, underground rivers, and disappearing natural decorations. The park is a paradise for hikers and cavers, but be prepared for some serious work; no nice tracks or signage.

View of the magical night sky from Rila National Park in Bulgaria

Beaches

Saranda, Albania: Saranda, the most active place on the coastline, has many hotels, pensions, and dining places. It is also an ideal accommodation point for sightseeing. You can go to Corfu for half an hour by ferries from Saranda, just across the Greek Corfu Island. You will be surprised when you see the clear and deep blue sea of Saranda.

Sveti Stefan, Montenegro: The most famous beach in Montenegro, Sveti Stefan, is a small (and incredibly photographic) island that runs along the coast of Budva, connected to the island coast. The built-up village on the island initially housed about 400 people and four churches and is reminiscent of the fortified cities on the high Croatian coast, such as Korcula. It was first converted into a hotel by the Yugoslav communist authorities in the 1950s. The island is currently owned by the luxury hotel group Aman - you pay a lot of money to stay here. One (north) side of the beach that joins the island belongs to Aman, but the south side is open to the public - the sunbeds are still incredibly expensive.

Stiniva Cove, Croatia: Little Stiniva Bay on the island of fish is one of Europe's most charming hidden beaches. The saying about the street is that it is the cave when the sea level is much higher, which explains its unique shape. Stiniva is no longer a secret - it is becoming increasingly popular among day travelers bringing boats (small children, please note that the narrow entrance to the beach from the cliff gate is only 4 km from the width).

Jala, Albania: Albanian beaches' sparkling turquoise waters continue in the bay of Jala, not far from the Himara resort (which also has a beautiful beach). Crowds began to explore Jala, and although it is still relatively underestimated, the development started to emerge for the time being. How long will it be like this? Albania is rightly becoming a more common tourist destination. Come here unchanged for ignorance.

The picture perfect Sveti Stefan beach

Landmarks

Belgrade, Serbia: In Belgrade, one of the most important addresses for visa-free visits, the Serbian dinar is used as the currency. In the country where Serbian is the official language, Bosnian, Romanian, Hungarian, Slovak, and Croatian are also used. Serbia's capital, which means "White City" and located at the Sava and Danube rivers' confluence, manages to impress tourists with its energy and liveliness. Old buildings, churches, cathedrals, monuments, fountains, natural beauties, and much more with their rich cultural and historical heritage. The Prince Obrenovic Statue in its center and the National Theater, the National Museum, and the Bosko Buha Theater are just a few of the Republic Square points. The most famous street in the city, Knez Mihailova Street, a kind of Belgrade's Istiklal Street, is a place to be seen with its boutiques, shops, cafes, and restaurants. Afterward, Belgrade Castle, the time-defying Sava District (Savamala), Nova Grad, Zemun, Ada Ciganlija, Skadarlija, and many more are among the places you should see before completing your Belgrade tour.

Dubrovnik, Croatia: UNESCO referenced Dubrovnik as a Balkan city that welcomes many tourists every year with its historical artifacts reflecting the Middle Ages' history. This city, seen as a historical structure covered with walls, hosts Lokrum Island, famous for its botanical gardens and beach. You will start your Dubrovnik tour with the Old Town, Stradun Street, Orlando Column, Historical Clock Tower, St. You should continue with the Blaise Church, Dominican Monastery, Rector (Sponza) Palace, and Lokrum Island. Don't forget to take pictures of Jesuit Stairs! Since there is no direct flight, you can transfer via Zagreb. Let us remind you that you need a visa to enter Croatia. The official language of the country is Croatian, and kuna is used as the currency.

Meteora, Greece: Meteora, which deserves the meaning of its name, "hanging in the air," takes one's breath away with its giant cliffs just looking at its photographs. While entering the monasteries on the rocks, there are strict rules about dressing; for example, women must wear skirts as shorts and trousers are prohibited. A total of 20 monasteries were built since the 13th century, but only 6 of them are open to visitors today; These are Metamorphosis (Great Meteoron) Monastery, Varlaam, Roussanou Monastery, Anapausas Monastery, St. Stephen's Monastery, and the Trinity (Agia Triada) Monastery. Note that a visa is required to enter Greece. In a country whose official language is Greek, the euro is used as the currency. To go to Meteora, you have to take the buses from Thessaloniki to Trikala and transfer to Kalambaka.

Piran, Slovenia: Piran, which you will arrive after a 2-2.5 hour journey by bus departing from the capital [[Ljubljana[[, is at the 15th place in our list with its medieval architecture. On the way to Tirana, where you can start with Tartinijev Square, the Venetian House attracts its architectural attention. It is possible to reach all these points on foot, and if you have rented a car because it is a very small city, you may have a parking problem in Piran.

The Walls of Dubrovnik are a series of defensive stone walls surrounding the city of Dubrovnik in southern Croatia and the Fortress de Dubrovnik is an important landmark

Museums

National History Museum, Sofia: The museum is one of the largest history museums on the Balkan Peninsula and contains the largest relics from Bulgaria's past. Taking a walk in the National History Museum halls will help you give you the big picture of Bulgarian history and show you how a life lived here in the past. Be sure to spend a few hours visiting as the information is extensive, and the exhibits are fantastic. The museum is far from the city center on the outskirts of Sofia.

The National Museum of Slovenia, Slovenia: In Ljubljana's heart, not far from the furthest part of the capital Tivoli, is the country's central art gallery. The museum is divided into six thematic sections, including archaeological, graphic, history section and applied art, storage and restoration section, and an extensive library. Regularly the National Gallery professional guides organize fascinating lectures for adults and entertaining and educational excursions for children on its territory. A must-visit place with your family and friends.

National History Museum of Tirana, Albania: The National History Museum of Tirana, which can be considered the most important Museum of Albania, contains precisely 60 thousand years of artifacts within its borders. The museum, which is not open on Mondays, can be visited between 10.00-17.00 hours from Tuesday to Saturday. On Sundays, visiting hours are limited to 09.00-14.00. Due to its central location in the capital, you will not have trouble spending time here. Considering the large area covered by both the museum archive and the temporary exhibitions held within the museum, you should not hesitate to spare two or three hours. Depending on your interest in historical events, this period may increase.

Museum of Applied Art, Serbia: The Applied Arts Museum, founded in 1950, specializes in collecting, preserving, analyzing, exhibiting, and publishing applied works of art. The museum collections consist of more than 32,000 objects made by Serbian and international artists. Among the most valuable are jewelry, manuscripts, printed books, wood, horn, mother-of-pearl carved items, wood prints, and painted icons, among which 3,000 works by artist Ljuba Ivanović. Besides permanent exhibitions, the museum organizes temporary shows and hosts various cultural events such as the Salon of Architecture, Children's Salon of Applied Arts, Salon of Contemporary Applied Art, and Triennial of Ceramics.

Staircase inside the National Museum of Slovenia

Eat

Balkan cuisine is a Mediterranean cuisine that combines European characteristics with some of those from Western Asia. You will find it in the Balkan Peninsula of Southeast Europe. Its components typically come from Greece, Persia, the Arab countries, Serbia and Turkey. Balkan dishes aren't exactly built for aesthetics. You may come to love the dripping grease of a mighty pljeskavica, or the colorful clump of beans called the Macedonian tavče-gravče, but they are not aesthetically appealing. You can define food by how it tastes, not how it looks, and this is even more pertinent in the Balkans.

Drink

Balkans has a refreshing tradition of natural beverages, both alcoholic and non-alcoholic. Many Balkan's drinks are mixed to create curious cocktails, while others, like the classic rakia, are sipped pure. Ayran is a refreshing Yogurt Balkan drink. Made with 4 cups of Yogurt, 2 cups water, and a pinch of salt, Ayran is a cool cure for the worst kind of hangover. Turkish coffee is famous all over the world. You cannot miss it for any reason.

Tap-water

Albania's tap water might confuse you because the tap water can be consumed directly, and it is safe to do that. Still, you cannot depend on tap water for drinking; therefore, you must purchase bottled water or inquire from the locals about tap water quality. The tap water in Bosnia is safe to drink, and the quality is outstanding. Other than this, there are many water drinking fountains installed at public places where you can directly drink water. Bulgarian tap water is of good quality and is fit for drinking, but the taste, as well as appearance, might not be pleasant to you. The tap water of Croatia is suitable for drinking. Even the government has installed a lot of taps from where you can drink water. However, for more safety, you can boil the water before consuming it. Kosovo's tap water is fit for drinking, but if you live in apartments, you should know that the tap water is supplied to the kitchen taps. The tap water of Montenegro is fit for drinking, but for the ones who are sensitive and cannot adapt to the changes, they must avoid tap water. The tap water of North Macedonia is fit for drinking, and due to this, you can see a lot of public fountains from where you can drink the tap water, especially in Skopje. Rest all other remaining countries of Balkan Region have safe tap water. Having a good quality of tap water does not mean that the country is free from water pollution.

Activities

Activities are those tasks that you do out of your hobby or interest. Activities can help you to get a lot of experience in different categories. Different countries allow different types of activities. Water surfing, snorkeling, kayaking, and boat tours are the most common water activities permitted in many countries with beaches. Hiking, trekking, and rock climbing are the most favorite activities that you can perform on the hill. Paragliding, parachuting, hot air balloon are the most famous type of air-related activities. Besides this, exploring can be a good activity and a good exercise for your body, helping you understand the country in detail.

Accommodation

The Balkan region's largest country is Albania, with a total area of 28,749 Km2, and out of all the Balkan region, Albania has the most options and categories of accommodation. Various accommodation categories are not only because of this country's area but also because of the tourism; this country faces around 3.8 million visitors annually. Therefore, it is the 25th most visited country in Europe. It does not mean that there is no accommodation in other countries; every country of this region has its accommodation option depending upon its size and tourism rate. There are different categories such as hotels, green hotels, villas, resorts, cottages, inns, apartments, hostels, etc. Out of these hotels is the most common type of accommodation available in almost every country.

Green Hotels

Green hotels are those hotels that are certified because of their responsibility towards nature. These hotels have adopted every possible method to create a less negative impact on nature as much as possible. Other than this, this hotel has a large and well-maintained garden where you can see or visit a lot of people roaming there. These hotels do not use plastic in any form as it creates a lot of Waste; this policy helps them reduce a lot of Waste from their side. The cutlery which this hotel uses is made up of fiber, and they reuse it after washing it thoroughly.

Hostels and Guest Houses

The hostel is generally shared rooms; there are backpackers hostel present in many of the countries. The hostel is a short-term accommodation option because it is specially made for backpackers who do not stay at a place for a longer time. More to this, hostel rooms can help you save a lot of money, the rent of these hostels is low because they only provide necessary facilities. While staying in a hostel, you must be alerted about your belongings because some people can steal your things. The hostel can give you an excellent company to not worry about even if you are traveling alone.

Apartments

Apartments are these flats that are available for rent or sale. The most common apartment type is two bedrooms, one hall, and one kitchen as most of the tourists who accommodate in an apartment choose this one. Apartments are best in providing security and privacy, so you do not have to worry about your belongings or family. Other than this, different types of apartments offer different types of additional facilities. Every apartment has a kitchen where you can cook your food by bringing the essential items from the nearby supermarket or grocery store. It can help you save a lot of money and the dishes you will cook will be hygienic.

Couchsurfing

Couchsurfing is a free type of accommodation in which you stay with the local family. Couchsurfing can make you dependable on a person who will be a stranger to you. You must always check the crime rate before going for Couchsurfing because if the crime rates are high, there are chances of getting a host with a bad intention. Couchsurfing is the best way to experience how the people of that country treats tourist. While Couchsurfing, you must always have a backup option of accommodation with yourself.

Camping

Camping is sleeping in a tent or campervan on the open ground, hill, or mountain. If you are camping in the summer season, you must be aware that bugs or insects can harm you. If you are camping in the winter season, you must have an electric heater with you as a heat source because the bonfire will create a lot of pollution. Camping on a hill or mountain can help you get a good workout as you have to hike or trek on the mountain. Instead of camping in the campground, you can camp on beaches if allowed because it will be very relaxing for your body and provide you with fresh refreshments.

Regions

Albania
A beautiful and diverse country with impressive castles, long coastlines and a unique culture and history.

Bosnia and Herzegovina
A political hotbed, but also an impressive mix of cultures with beautiful historic cities.

Bulgaria
A melting pot of East and West, with beautiful beaches.

Croatia
Croatia has renowned natural beauty, long coastlines, party islands, lots of sun hours and its Venetian history make it one of the Mediterranean's top travel destinations.

Kosovo
One of the more adventurous places in the region; the traveller looking for something different won't be disappointed.

North Macedonia
Known for its traditional villages and churches, North Macedonia also has some of the best wildlife.

Moldova
A pastoral and multi-ethnic country, only considered Balkan due to its cultural ties with Romania.

Montenegro
The Bay of Kotor, the Budva Riviera, winter sports and natural scenery, Montenegro is one of the most traveller-friendly countries in the region.

Romania
While it's not entirely Balkan (the region of Transylvania lies in Central Europe), Romania offers a wonderful combination of old and new, mixing dance halls with Dracula.

Serbia
Historic cities, monasteries, national parks and a good nightlife, Serbia has a lot to offer the traveller.

Transnistria
This unrecognized, de facto republic claims eastern Moldova; visiting it comes closest to what life in a communist state in the Cold War must have been like.

Some strictly geographical definitions define the Balkan peninsula as the lands south of the rivers Sava and Danube from the city of Belgrade. This however is not an expedient division when considering countries. Slovenia is sometimes considered to be part of the Balkans, but it is increasingly considered part of Central Europe. Greece occupies the tip of the Balkan Peninsula; however, most of Greece's major travel destinations (apart from Athens) lie upon its islands, which – along with its general culture – make it more aptly aloof from the Balkans.

The very southeast of the Balkan Peninsula is Eastern Thrace; the European part of Turkey.

Cities

Belgrade – known as the White City, the capital of Serbia
Bucharest – nicknamed the Little Paris, the 10th largest city in the EU
Chişinău – a modern city with over half a million inhabitants
Podgorica – the locals ski in winter, and head for the beaches in summer
Sarajevo – the heart of the Balkans and the trigger for World War One
Skopje – near the Matka Canyon in North Macedonia
Sofia – Bulgaria's lively capital in the mountains
Tirana – Albania's economic hub and a former Ottoman city, renowned for the beauty outside the city's limits
Zagreb – the capital of Croatia gets plenty of visitors each year

Getting There and Moving Around

There are a lot of ways to move around in any of the countries of Balkan. Different countries have different ways of moving around. There are trains, calmer taxis, and flights to help you travel intercity in some countries. Almost every country has its international airports through which you can reach there.

Air

In Albania, there is a total of three international airports, and five domestic airports are present. The main International Airport in this country is Tirana International Airport, which faces most tourists who visit this country. Bosnia has four international airports, with one International Airport under construction known as Bihac Golubic airport. Out of these four international airports, the mean airport is Sarajevo International Airport. There is a total of five international airports in Bulgaria. Out of these five international airports, the leading International Airport is present in Sofia, known as Sofia airport. There are 31 airports present in Croatia, out of which there is one large, seven medium, and 23 small airports. There is no airport present in Kosovo. There is a total of two airports present in Montenegro, out of which Tivat is the main airport. There are two international airports present in North Macedonia and five sports airports with grassy runways. Out of these two International Airport, Skopje International Airport is the main airport in North Macedonia. There are 12 international airports in Romania, out of which butchers Henry International Airport is the main and the busiest airport in Romania. There is a total of 5 international airports present in Serbia. There is a total of three civil airports in Slovenia and one military airbase. Flights are the most convenient ways to travel to a country. The seats and the facilities are very much comfortable. Also, you can meet a lot of other people on flights. However, you might find that the flights' charges are very high, but they are worth it. Other than this, all other ways to reach a particular country will take a lot of time if compared with flights.

Outside the Tirana International Airport

Bus

Buses are the most common mode of public transport other than taxis. These buses are affordable for everyone. In Albania, there are two types of buses: the minibusses and the ordinary buses. The minibusses are known as Forgone in this country. However, minibusses do not have any fixed schedule, so when the driver feels that the bus is full, he starts and departs the bus, there is no fixed time of minibusses, but there are fixed places where you will find them. It is because there is no central bus station even in the capital. There are international bus terminals also. Bosnia has well established The Road connections with other countries of Europe. Sarajevo has the primary and central bus stations in this country. Eurolines is the main bus provides which provides international buses from this country to another. There are many countries through which the roads are connected, such as Denmark, Croatia, Austria, France, etc. In Bulgaria, the locals mainly use the buses to travel long distances; therefore, more buses can help you travel from one city to another instead of helping you move around. There are public buses with charter created by private companies as well as by the government. Go buses in which private companies operate; you have to purchase the ticket from their offices. However, there are some companies which offer online booking of buses. There are different types of buses that operate in Romania. Romania is a densely populated country; therefore, many locals use public transport to move around in the city to avoid traffic.

Bus in Sarajevo

Train

There are trains present in Albania. With a total length of 424 kilometers. According to the statistics of Albania in 2017, there were 650000 passengers present. However, some part of the railway was closed in 2012, but the government opened it later. Other than this, you can even travel internationally from the trains to the nearby countries of Montenegro. There are trains present in Bosnia, which was developed after the independence in 1992. The first trains in Bulgaria started in 1888. There are different types of trains in Bulgaria, including express trains, fast trains, and slow passenger trains, that can stop the Bulgarian train network from being spread over around 4000 kilometers. You can also book the tickets in advance. In Croatia, trains are the popular means of transport; however, the length of these trains or not that much Lindy but still most locals and tourists prefer to move around or travel intercity from these trains. There are 2974 kilometers of rail tracks, out of which 248 kilometers are double tracks, and 1228 kilometers of tracks are electrified. The total length of trains in Kosovo is 333.9 kilometers. The government of this country first started the trains of this country in 1874. The trains of this country have international Connections with different states of different countries: Serbia and North Macedonia. There are not many trains present in Montenegro. There are a total of 7 stations and 41 stops. The track length of these trains is 250 kilometers, and an electrified is 225 kilometers. In North Macedonia, a well-established railroad system operated by the Republic of the northern Macedonian railway and Skopje's central station. The first railways in Romania were opened in 1869, and now it is the 4th largest railway track length in Europe. The length of Serbian railways is 3739 kilometers, out of which 295 are double-tracked, and 1279 kilometers of tracks are electrified.

Train in Romania

Hitchhiking

It is a type of travel option in which a person asks for a free ride from another person going in the same direction. There are a lot of benefits as well as disadvantages of hitchhiking. Some of the advantages are that you can save a lot of money with hitchhiking, which otherwise you would have to spend on adult travel options. Other than this, with the help of hitchhiking, you can make new friends, which can help you learn many things about that country. Some of the Disadvantages of hitchhiking are that it cannot be completely reliable because sometimes it happens that you might not get any of the ready Traveller to give you a free lift. Other than this, It can cause delays to your plans as you have to be dependent on another person. Therefore you must not use it if you want to reach any place in a short period. One of the primary essential points that you must keep in mind while hitchhiking is that you must be aware of that particular country or city's crime rate.

Others

Other than flights, some of the Balkan states' countries are interconnected with each other through roads. Therefore, you can reach from one country to another with the help of international buses or trains. Other than this, there are different options of moving around, such as taxis, electric vehicles, tram, walking, or bicycling. Hiring a private taxi will increase your carbon footprint during your trip to this country; therefore, you must avoid using it. Other than private taxis, there are electric trams in some countries that can also move around in that city. Next to this, there are cycling through which you can save a lot of money and remain healthy. There are city parks where you can explore a lot of things. More to this, there are a lot of cycling tracks present in parks where you can cycle. Also, you can use electric taxis to move around, these taxis are present in few countries, and the fare charges are lesser than the regular taxis. You can even use the feature of sharing a taxi where you will be traveling with one another person.

Sustainable Shopping

Sustainable shopping is the shopping of those products which are beneficial for health as well as nature. Other than this, these products do not have a harmful impact, not even in their production. Products such as fruits and vegetables grown naturally and without toxic chemicals or pesticides come under sustainable products. Next are second-hand stores where second-hand products are kept on sale at a lower price by the owner who has used them earlier. These products save a lot of Waste and create a source of income during emergencies. Next to this, there are eco fashion stores where you can shop for sustainable clothes made from natural fabrics and are dyed in natural colors.

Recycling

There are many benefits of recycling, which involves recycling reduces the use of raw material required to make a new product. Other than this, recycling also eliminates the Waste before it is sent to landfills. As it removes a lot of Waste, therefore it helps in the reduction of pollution. Every country has its recycling centers where a lot of different items are sent to recycle. Recycling also helps in saving the environment as wood can be recycled to make furniture. Recycling is a food activity that helps in protecting nature.

Waste

Anything that you cannot use is stored as waste, and waste must be dumped and decomposed. There are two methods of treatment of Waste, which involves landfill and incinerators. The landfill is a large land where all the Waste of a particular area is dumped collectively. Out of all the landfill waste, they're useful, such as organic list, making fertilizers separate. Next are the incinerators where Waste is decomposed using thermal energy. If Waste in a landfill is stepped untreated for a longer time, it can cause a lot of pollution.

Work and Study Abroad

Some countries are densely populated. Therefore there are fewer chances of getting work opportunities there. In some countries where the population is very much, there might be jobs that might not help you earn much of the earning, such as waiter, tourist guide, etc. A total of 11 countries in the Balkan states have their education pattern, which may differ. You can get further details of education on the internet.

Exchange Student

Not every college has this program. Only those colleges that have established relationships with foreign universities have these programs. If you want to be a part of this program, you have to clear the entrance exam taken by The University. It is a beneficial program for students ready to adapt to climate, lifestyle, and food changes. Going abroad to study further does not need to pay for his education and only has to pay to stay there. It can also help a student to have a new start.

Au Pair

An Au pair is a person who stays with the local family and has a responsible work of taking care of their child. In this type of work, you can get the free type of accommodation for a longer time. Other than this being a new pair can also help you learn many things about the local family, such as their traditions, cuisines, language, culture, and many things. Au pair is needed by the families of those countries where there is a culture of working parents Wal-Mart then an au pair or a babysitter is required to take care of their child. Many other people who have their own house go for an au pair instead of a babysitter to don't need to pay money.

Volunteering

Different organizations always want to expand their team to provide you a member of their organization. Various organizations of the other countries based on the issues of their own country. If a country is polluted, then the non-profit organization of that country will help the government clean various tourist spots. If a country has many poor people, the organization will help them by providing shelter and food.