Itinerary
- Day 1
Bucharest to Lovech
Head out from Bucharest early and cross into Bulgaria, making your way to Veliko Tarnovo where you'll walk through Tsarevets Fortress and check out the Asenevtsi Monument. The Samovodska market gives you a feel for traditional life in this historic city. After that, you'll drive to Devetashka Cave to see the unusual natural lighting and underground gardens, then stop at Krushyuna Falls before reaching Lovech for the night. The drive takes most of the day, so you're looking at roughly 6-7 hours of travel with several stops along the way.
Included Activities
- Visit Tsarevets Fortress
- Visit Monument of the Asenevtsi kings
- Visit Samovodska charshia (traditional market)
- Visit Devetashka Cave
- Visit Krushyuna Falls
Landmarks/POIs Tsarevets Fortress Monument of the Asenevtsi kings Samovodska charshia Devetashka Cave Krushyuna Falls - Day 2
Lovech to Sofia
This morning in Lovech, start with the Covered Bridge, a distinctive stone structure crossing the Osam River that connects the two parts of town. Around mid-morning, head out for the 2.5-hour drive to Sofia. Once you arrive, take a walking tour through the city center hitting several religious sites including Alexander Nevsky Cathedral with its golden domes, Saint Sofia Church, the Banya Bashi Mosque, and the Sofia Synagogue. You'll also walk down Vitosha, the main shopping street, giving you a sense of modern Sofia alongside its older landmarks.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit Covered Bridge over the Osam River
- Walking tour of Sofia city center including Alexander Nevsky Cathedral
- Visit Saint Sofia Church
- Visit Banya Bashi Mosque
- Visit Sofia Synagogue
- Visit Vitosha shopping street
Optional Activities
- Optional guided walking tour in Sofia (20€)
Landmarks/POIs Covered Bridge over the Osam River Alexander Nevsky Cathedral Saint Sofia Church Banya Bashi Mosque Sofia Synagogue Vitosha - Day 3
Sofia to Skopje
Travel south from Sofia toward Rila Monastery, Bulgaria's most famous site and a UNESCO location founded back in the 10th century by Saint Ivan Rilsky. Spend time in the Church looking at the religious artwork and woodcarving from different regional schools. After touring the monastery, you'll drive roughly 6 hours through scenic countryside toward the border, crossing into Macedonia and arriving in Skopje by evening. Get an orientation tour of the city and settle into your hotel before dark.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit Rila Monastery
- Visit Church at Rila Monastery
- Orientation tour of Skopje
Landmarks/POIs Rila Monastery - Day 4
Skopje to Ohrid
Start your day walking through Skopje, Mother Teresa's birthplace, heading down to the Macedonian Vardar River quay and wandering the Old Bazaar with its winding streets. Visit Mother Teresa's memorial house and the Kale Fortress, which dates back 1500 years, then see Macedonia Square with its Alexander the Great statue. In the afternoon, drive about 3 hours to Ohrid on Europe's oldest lake, a UNESCO site itself. Walk through the ancient streets, check out various churches and monasteries, explore Tsar Samuil's Fortress, and browse the pedestrian shopping areas.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Walking tour of Skopje
- Visit Macedonian Vardar River quay
- Visit Old Bazaar
- Visit Memorial house of Mother Teresa
- Visit Kale Fortress
- Visit Macedonia Square
- Walking tour of Ohrid old city center
- Visit Ancient Theater in Ohrid
- Visit Sveti Sofia Church in Ohrid
- Visit Tsar Samuil's Fortress
- Visit pedestrian shopping street in Ohrid
Optional Activities
- Optional guided walking tour in Skopje (20€)
- Optional exploration of churches and monasteries in Ohrid
Landmarks/POIs Macedonian Vardar River quay Old Bazaar Memorial house of Mother Teresa Kale Fortress Macedonia Square Ancient Theater in Ohrid Sveti Sofia Church Tsar Samuil's Fortress - Day 5
Ohrid to Shkoder
Leave Ohrid and drive roughly 4 hours to Tirana, crossing the Macedonian-Albanian border along the way. In Tirana, tour the city center including Skanderbeg Square, the National History Museum, the Et'hem Bey Mosque, and Skanderbeg's statue. Later in the evening, head to Shkoder, one of Albania's most authentic cities, for your overnight stay. The drive from Tirana to Shkoder takes about 2-2.5 hours through varied landscape.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Walking tour of Tirana city center
- Visit Skanderbeg Square
- Visit National History Museum
- Visit Et'hem Bey Mosque
- View Skanderbeg's statue
Optional Activities
- Optional guided walking tour in Tirana (20€)
Landmarks/POIs Skanderbeg Square National History Museum Et'hem Bey Mosque - Day 6
Shkoder to Trebinje
Depart Shkoder early and cross into Montenegro. Your destination is Kotor, where you'll explore Stari Grad, the fortified old town that's a UNESCO site with well-preserved medieval streets and buildings. From there, continue roughly 4 hours through scenic mountain and coastal landscapes until you reach Trebinje in Bosnia and Herzegovina for an overnight stay.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit Stari Grad (Old Town) in Kotor
Optional Activities
- Optional guided walking tour in Kotor (20€)
Landmarks/POIs Stari Grad (Old Town) - Day 7
Trebinje to Sarajevo
Drive to Mostar and walk through the historic old town to see the iconic Old Bridge, originally built in 1566. You'll hear about its destruction during the 1993 siege and the diving tradition connected to it. Travel via Jablanica Lake and the Neretva River canyon to reach Sarajevo. Take a 2.5-hour walking tour through the old city exploring medieval Bosnian architecture, Ottoman and Austro-Hungarian buildings, traditional markets and bazaars, mosques, churches, and synagogues. Visit the Latin Bridge and learn its connection to World War I, plus stories about the 1984 Winter Olympics and the Siege of Sarajevo.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Walking tour of Mostar old town
- Visit Old Bridge of Mostar
- Walking tour of Sarajevo old part and city center
- Visit Latin Bridge
- Explore Ottoman section of Sarajevo
- Explore Austro-Hungarian section of Sarajevo
- Visit markets and bazaars in Sarajevo
Optional Activities
- Optional guided walking tour in Sarajevo (20€)
- Bridge diving experience in Mostar
Landmarks/POIs Old Bridge of Mostar Latin Bridge Jablanica Lake Neretva River canyon - Day 8
Sarajevo to Belgrade
Travel about 6 hours to Belgrade, Serbia's capital. Once there, tour the main attractions including Republic Square, the National Theater, and the National Museum. Walk through Skadarlija, the Bohemian Quarter with Ottoman heritage, and see the city's only mosque. Check out Kalemegdan Park and Belgrade Fortress, ending at 'Victor', the famous symbol overlooking where the Sava and Danube rivers meet.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit Republic Square
- Visit National Theater
- Visit National Museum
- Visit Bohemian Quarter (Skadarlija)
- Visit Kalemegdan Park
- Visit Belgrade Fortress
- Visit 'Victor' monument
- View confluence of Sava and Danube rivers
Optional Activities
- Optional guided walking tour in Belgrade (20€)
Landmarks/POIs Republic Square National Theater National Museum Bohemian Quarter (Skadarlija) Kalemegdan Park Belgrade Fortress Victor monument - Day 9
Belgrade to Budapest
After breakfast, leave Belgrade with a stop in Novi Sad, which was European Capital of Culture in 2021. Walk down Zmaj Jovina Street and along the Danube embankment promenade. See the ornamental Palace of the Orthodox Bishop and the 19th-century houses on Dunavska Street, plus catch views of the Petrovaradin Fortress across the Danube. Continue to Budapest, the 'Queen of the Danube' and Hungary's capital, arriving in the evening. Note that no overnight accommodation is included for this leg.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit Zmaj Jovina Street
- Visit Danube embankment and promenade
- Visit Palace of the Orthodox Bishop
- Visit Dunavska Street
- View Petrovaradin Fortress
Landmarks/POIs Zmaj Jovina Street Palace of the Orthodox Bishop Dunavska Street Petrovaradin Fortress
