White stone alleys, vineyards and hills, medieval monasteries, sandy beaches, archaeological sites, Ottoman bazaars, a handful of islands: the Balkans are an invitation to adventure.
The panorama on the island of Hvar, Croatia ©xbrchx/Shutterstock
Hvar Island, Croatia
Hvar Island is the Croatian resort with the most superlatives: it is the most lush, the sunniest and, along with Dubrovnik, the country's most popular tourist destination. Appreciated for its lush vegetation, lavender fields and aromatic plants such as rosemary, it has a hinterland with old abandoned villages waiting to be discovered. Dominated from above by a Venetian fortress built to protect the island from the Turks, at night Hvar has some of the liveliest nightlife on the Adriatic coast.
Vojvodina, Serbia
The autonomous province of Vojvodina is inhabited by different ethnic groups and, in addition to Serbian, has four other official languages: Hungarian, Romanian, Slovak and Ruthenian. Amidst the rolling hills lies the Fruška Gora National Park, i.e. forests, vineyards and villages with stone roofs and many monasteries, symbols of Serbia's cultural renaissance: as many as 35 were built in this area to protect the Serbian Orthodox religion from the Turks. Today, about half of them have survived; those at Novo Hopovo and Krušedol preserve splendid frescoes with a recognisable Byzantine slant in the design of the figures.
The spectacular inlet of the Mouths of Kotor, Montenegro ©xbrchx/Shutterstock
Mouths of Kotor, Montenegro
A sense of mystery hovers around the Mouths of Kotor. Grey sheer cliffs rise from the metallic blue waters of the sea, growing taller and taller as one proceeds through their slopes and reaches the hidden recesses of the inner bay. Here, stone settlements of Venetian origin hug the coastline, with the alleys of Kotor tucked away in its most secluded corners, protected by massive rock walls. A spectacle! But you can expect nothing else in the Balkans, where life is overwhelmingly Mediterranean, lived with passion.
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Old City Walls, Dubrovnik, Croatia
Take a walk along Dubrovnik's spectacular city walls. No visit would be complete without a walk along these ramparts, the most extraordinary in the world and Dubrovnik's main claim to fame. Built between the 13th and 16th centuries, the walls are still exceptionally intact today and the views over the rooftops of the houses and the Adriatic Sea are magnificent, especially at sunset, when the city is tinged with spectacular hues and the panorama is unforgettable.
Through the alleys of Dubrovnik's Old Town ©SchnepfDesign/Shutterstock
Priština, Kosovo
Kosovo has not yet found a permanent place on the classic travel itineraries of Europe. Until not so long ago, it was a country bathed in dark shadows, when the memory of the conflict was still vivid and burnt buildings loomed almost as if to renew guilt. Today, Priština is a city in transformation, with uncontrolled building development and many foreigners from international organisations among its inhabitants, while in the heart of the city, the 'New Born' monument still stands tall, symbolising the country's momentum towards the future.
Mostar's famous bridge ©Lassi Kurkijarvi/Getty Images
Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina
While the 1993 bombing of Mostar 's ancient stone bridge underlined the tragedy of Yugoslavia's brutal civil war, its painstaking reconstruction has become a symbol of the peaceful post-war era. The charming Ottoman quarter, convincingly recreated, has once again become a delightful patchwork of stone mosques, souvenir hawkers and inviting cafes stormed by tourists. Even the signs of bombing in the buildings seem to have become an almost structural part of the cityscape.
From island to island in the Adriatic, Croatia
Whether you choose short trips to the islands or long multi-day journeys along the coast, travelling by boat is a fantastic and inexpensive way to visit the Croatian side of the Adriatic. Enjoy the scenery of this extraordinary coastline as you sail between some of Croatia's 1244 islands. It may be expensive, but there is nothing better than chartering a sailboat and visiting the islands in style, driven by the wind and sea currents.
Berat, Albania
The main centre of this wine-producing region is an Ottoman-style marvel. From the riverbank, look up at the black and white houses with a thousand windows listed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites, then walk up the cobbled alleys for a closer look. Wander aimlessly around the castle area, where a church houses a museum dedicated to Onufri art. Stay overnight in the Ottoman hostel or in one of the traditional houses converted into a hotel, and be sure to take an evening stroll to experience the bustling city life.
Lake Ohrid, Macedonia ©DanKe/Shutterstock
Ohrid, Macedonia
Descending from Ohrid's impassive medieval castle, ascending through the stone alleyways of the Old Town, gazing at the restored Plaošnik, every visitor lingers on the Church of Sveti Jovan in Kaneo, situated on a cliff overlooking the lake. From this vantage point, one of Ohrid's most impressive views can be admired, with its sublime architecture, the endless expanse of the lake, lazy sunbathers lying in the sun and fishing boats in the distance, all framed by the green Mount Galicica to the southeast.
Dragacevo Brass Festival, Guca, Serbia
A typical Serbian village, every August the small town of Guca is transformed into a cacophonous orgy at the Dragacevo Brass Festival, where musicians armed with any brass instrument play frantically. Hundreds of orchestras take part to demonstrate their prowess, while the enthralled crowd appreciates by dancing in the streets and gluing dinars to the musicians' sweaty foreheads. This is where you meet the real Serbia: uninhibited, festive, outgoing... and very, very rowdy.
Article updated in August 2019.