The Balkan region covers a vast area and a wide variety of cultures, civilisations, cuisines and landscapes. Named for the Balkan mountains and once regarded as a peninsula, it’s a region whose constituent countries seems to change depending on who you ask. For our purposes, and because we cover all the countries in even the most expansive definition, we’re including Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Greece, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Romania, Serbia and Slovenia. This page is dedicated to highlighting potential itineraries that cover at least two of these countries.
Popular Itineraries for Tours of The Balkans
Although every Balkans tour package we create is unique, there are some popular routes and itineraries that we are asked for frequently. Our sample Balkans itineraries provide some ideas for you to consider as a basis for your own private tour combining two or more of the Balkan countries, sometimes branching out into neighboring countries in Central and Eastern Europe. For each of these itineraries you can get a rough idea of the price using the Price Guide function. We cover many more destinations in these three countries than those listed here, and our expert trip planners will work with you to incorporate any places in the Balkans you want to go.
* Starting price is based on double occupancy in 3 star accommodation, in the most affordable month an itinerary is offered. Airfare to Europe is not included.
Click on your choice of itinerary, select number of travelers in your party, month of travel, and desired star level of accommodation to get an approximate price. Submit the enquiry form with any additional details and we can start planning your customized trip.
Balkans Vacation Reviews
Our Balkans vacations provide a hassle-free way to see these captivating countries. We take care of all the details, all you have to worry about is enjoying the one-of-a-kind experiences that will make this the vacation of a lifetime. Below you’ll find the most recent three reviews and testimonials from guests who have visited the Balkan region with our help recently.
JayWay takes care of everything and has very well planned out itineraries. The research done ahead of time really makes for a seamless onsite experience. They accommodate changing interests and can deviate from original plans without making a big deal about changes. For a busy business owner, this is how I like to travel! 🙂
Visited : Croatia, Slovenia
Itinerary : Split, Rovinj, Bovec, Bled, Plitvice, Split
Rating :
JayWay created a trip that was custom tailored to our interests. Every aspect of the trip seemed designed specifically for us and the In Country guide, Tea, was constantly in touch to ensure that our custom trip unfolded flawlessly with zero stress and maximum enjoyment. We can't recommend JayWay highly enough.
Visited : France, Italy, Slovenia, Croatia
Itinerary : Nice, Venice, Ljubljana, Bled, Bovec, Rovinj, Plitvice, Zadar, Split, Hvar, Korcula, Dubrovnik, Zagreb, Paris
Rating :
My kids favorites were truffle hunting, Glavani Adventure Park, all the inflatables on the water at Red Island, the House of Illusions in Slovenia, the Escape Room and the Prater amusement park in Vienna. My favorite was everything in Rovinj . . . the shopping, the food, the views. It was great. We also loved the movie at the castle in Slovenia and the concert in Vienna. It's hard to have a favorite because all of it was amazing. We enjoyed all of the tours, and it was nice to have some time without planned tours to walk around and explore and shop and relax with some wine.
Visited : Italy, Croatia, Slovenia, Austria
Itinerary : Como, Venice, Rovinj, Ljubljana, Vienna
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The Balkans – A World of Choice
With countries as diverse as Greece, Romania, Croatia and Slovenia, a tour of the Balkans can provide all kinds of experience. We advise against trying to cover too many countries in one trip – there’s more than enough for a lifetime of travels in the Balkans after all! A private tour of the Balkans offers the perfect opportunity to mix some city time with a relaxing island stay or a refreshing spell in unspoilt countryside.
Where to start?
If you’ve never visited the Balkans before, we suggest starting with a country like Croatia and combining that with one of the neighboring countries, such as Montenegro or Bosnia and Herzegovina to experience the variety and contrast that this region provides.
A meeting point of civilizations and cultures
With competing influences and a place in history that stretches back to the ancient Greeks and beyond, there’s no shortage of important archeological sites throughout the Balkans. Roman emperors palaces, imposing fortresses, ancient Greek or Roman theatres and amphitheatres are to be found in many Balkan countries.
Islands, inland and everything between
Between Greece and Croatia’s islands there’s something for every tastes, from ever-popular Santorini to under-the-radar former naval stronghold Vis, two hours from Croatia’s mainland. Head inland for buzzy capital cities like Belgrade, Tirana or Bucharest. Enjoy active pursuits in outstanding countryside in Montenegro’s Durmitor National Park or get to know one of history’s darker characters in bucolic Transylvania, Romania’s heartland.
You’re in the best hands
Our expert Balkans travel advisors and trip planners will work with you to create your dream vacation itinerary. You’ll stay at the very best hotels, apartments or villas. You choose how you want to spend your days, either enjoying day trips and city tours with our trusted partners or taking a day off to wander on your own. Before you arrive and during your trip our on-the-ground staff throughout the region are on hand by phone or email for any help you need. With our years of experience in arranging trips in the Balkans we’re perfectly placed to create the most memorable trip you’ve ever experienced.
Why Travel with JayWay?
You only travel somewhere for the first time once. By taking a custom tailored trip you get a seamless trip, to your choice of destinations and at your own pace, planned by professionals and supported by locals on the ground in Europe.
Save Precious Time
Planning an amazing trip takes time. Our friendly travel advisors and experienced trip planners will listen to your needs and craft your personal dream itinerary. We will maximize your vacation time and enjoyment – we know the best way to get around and how to spend your hard-earned time off.
Have Peace of Mind
You’re in safe hands from the very beginning. Even before you arrive your dedicated tour manager in Europe will be in touch to help you prepare. When you arrive they’ll meet you and be available by phone, email and IM for the rest of your journey with us, for anything you need.
Make Memories Forever
Travel can create memories that last a lifetime. You’ll return home with indelible recollections of beautiful sunsets, magical vistas, fascinating stories, and meals so delicious you’ll want to fly back every time you think of them. This is why we do what we do.
Frequently Asked Questions about Travel to the Balkans
Most of our guests travel to the Balkans from the US by air, unless they are already traveling in a neighboring country. Not all Balkan countries have direct flights to the US, so you may need to change planes in a major European hub like Frankfurt, Paris, Amsterdam or Munich.
Being located in Southeastern Europe the Balkan countries are usually quite hot in summer. Winters vary from mild in most coastal locations in Albania, Croatia and Greece to very cold in more inland vacations, with skiing a common wintertime activity.
With such huge region, you almost certainly couldn’t visit all the Balkan countries in a single trip. A ten day itinerary gives you a reasonable pace that isn’t too rushed, with three nights in each location you choose. If you want to see smaller towns and cities then you’ll need at least two weeks.
We often create trips that include Hungary alongside some of the Balkan countries.
Rail connections in the Balkans are not great and don’t exist to all corners of the region. Usually we arrange private drivers for overland journeys, with ferries used to reach island locations.
We try not to play favorites with our destinations, especially in the Balkans! Instead it depends what you’re looking for from a vacation…
The Euro is used in Greece and Slovenia, while each of the other countries have their own currency. If you are staying in a country for just a couple of days you can get by with Euros and paying by card. Although you usually won’t receive a great exchange rate, this outweighs the inconvenience of changing money or withdrawing cash from an ATM then being left with unused notes at the end of your time in the country.
Yes, all the countries that made up Yugoslavia: Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia and Slovenia are usually considered part of the Balkans.
All the countries in the Balkan region are considered safe for traveler. As with anywhere, you should take the usual precautions regarding keeping your personal belongings safe. If you have any concerns, our staff in the region will be happy to address them.
Although originally described as such, the Balkans doesn’t satisfy the key requirements to be called a peninsula.