Itinerary
- Day 1
Athens
You'll get transferred to your hotel and have the rest of the day to settle in at your own pace. Stop by the information board at hotel reception in the afternoon to pick up details about when the tour officially begins tomorrow.
- Day 2
Athens
A local guide takes you through the city hitting the Presidential Mansion, Panathenaic Stadium, National Library, and various squares. You'll see the newer districts that went up after the 2004 Olympics before heading to the Acropolis (bring your own ticket). Later that afternoon, you'll head to Plaka, the historic neighborhood where you can wander through charming tavernas and get a feel for local culture and traditions.
Included Activities
- Guided city tour of Athens with local guide
- Visit Presidential Mansion
- Visit Panathenaic Stadium
- Visit National Library
- Explore city center squares
- Explore post-2004 Olympic neighborhoods
- Transfer to Plaka neighborhood
Optional Activities
- Acropolis admission (not included)
Landmarks/POIs Presidential Mansion Panathenaic Stadium National Library Acropolis Plaka - Day 3
Athens to Meteora to Kalambaka
Starting early, you'll head north through Greece with a stop at Kamena Vourla, a seaside resort with nice views. From there, you continue to Thermopylae Mountain Pass, the site of a famous ancient battle. After walking around Kastraki village and grabbing lunch, you reach Meteora, a UNESCO World Heritage Site known for its rock formations and monasteries perched up high. One monastery admission is included. You'll wrap up the day with dinner in Kalambaka.
- Meals
- Dinner (Dinner in Kalambaka)
Included Activities
- Visit Kamena Vourla
- Visit Thermopylae Mountain Pass
- Visit Kastraki village
- Explore Meteora
- Admission to Meteora Monastery (one)
Optional Activities
- Lunch in Kastraki (free time)
Landmarks/POIs Kamena Vourla Thermopylae Kastraki Meteora - Day 4
Kalambaka to Thessaloniki to Sandanski
You'll drive through northern Greece with mountain scenery giving way to views of the Aegean Sea. In Thessaloniki, Greece's second city, you have time to explore and eat lunch. Then it's across the border into Bulgarian Macedonia. Melnik comes next, a museum town famous for its wine production situated in striking landscapes. The day ends in Sandanski, a spa town with historical significance as the birthplace of Spartacus.
- Meals
- Dinner (Dinner in Sandanski)
Included Activities
- Visit Thessaloniki
- Visit Melnik
Optional Activities
- Lunch in Thessaloniki (free time)
Landmarks/POIs Thessaloniki Melnik Sandanski - Day 5
Sandanski to Sofia
The morning takes you to Rila Monastery, a UNESCO World Heritage Site with a fortress-like structure set in beautiful forests. You'll reach Sofia by late morning. After lunch, a guide shows you the capital including St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, the Russian Church, the Mosque, city squares, and streets with Stalinist architecture. The rest of the afternoon is yours to explore Sofia however you'd like.
Included Activities
- Visit Rila Monastery
- Guided tour of Sofia
- Visit St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral
Optional Activities
- Lunch in Sofia (free time)
Landmarks/POIs Rila Monastery St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral Russian Church Mosque - Day 6
Sofia to Plovdiv
This morning you visit Bachkovo Monastery, Bulgaria's second most significant monastery from the eleventh century, with its three churches in a quiet setting. Later you head to Plovdiv where lunch is waiting for you. A tour includes admission to the Roman Amphitheatre, the Old Pharmacy, and the Armenian House in this ancient European city.
- Meals
- Lunch (Lunch in Plovdiv)
Included Activities
- Visit Bachkovo Monastery
- Guided tour of Plovdiv
- Admission to Roman Amphitheatre
- Admission to Old Pharmacy
- Admission to Armenian House
Landmarks/POIs Bachkovo Monastery Roman Amphitheatre Old Pharmacy Armenian House - Day 7
Plovdiv to Kazanlak to Etar to Veliko Tarnovo
You travel through the Balkan Mountains into the Rose Valley, stopping in Kazanlak to see a replica of the Thracian Tomb (UNESCO World Heritage Site) and learn about the local rose industry. Shipka Memorial Church comes next as a stop honoring the Russo-Turkish War. Etar, a charming ethnographic museum village, follows with included lunch. After that, Arbanasi, an ancient trading city with fortress-like houses and the Nativity Church (admission included), before heading to Veliko Tarnovo, Bulgaria's former capital with a medieval center overlooking a canyon.
- Meals
- Lunch (Lunch in Etar)
Included Activities
- Admission to Thracian Tomb Replica in Kazanlak
- Learn about rose-based products
- Visit Shipka Memorial Church
- Explore Etar ethnographic museum
- Visit Nativity Church in Arbanasi (admission included)
Landmarks/POIs Kazanlak Thracian Tomb of Kazanlak Shipka Memorial Church Etar Arbanasi Nativity Church Veliko Tarnovo - Day 8
Veliko Tarnovo to Bucharest
You're heading to Romania with a stop at Basarbovski Monastery, a pilgrimage site carved into rock along the way. After crossing the border and the Danube, you'll arrive in Bucharest around 1:00 p.m. The afternoon includes a panoramic tour through the historic center and the Palace of Parliament. From there, you have free time to explore Bucharest on your own.
- Meals
- Dinner (Dinner in Bucharest)
Included Activities
- Visit Basarbovski Monastery
- Panoramic tour of Bucharest
- Visit Palace of Parliament
Landmarks/POIs Basarbovski Monastery Palace of Parliament - Day 9
Bucharest to Transylvania to Sighisoara
Traveling to Transylvania means crossing the Carpathian Mountains through lush forests with great scenery. In Sinaia, you take a walk through the gardens of Peles and Pelisor Castles. The 14th-century Bran Fortress, commonly called Dracula's Castle, comes next with admission included. You'll have time for lunch, then continue to Sighisoara, a walled medieval city and UNESCO World Heritage Site. Dinner happens at Count Dracula's restaurant in the house where Vlad the Impaler was born.
- Meals
- Dinner (Special dinner at Count Dracula's restaurant in Sighisoara)
Included Activities
- Stroll through Peles and Pelisor Castles gardens
- Visit Bran Fortress (Dracula's Castle) - admission included
- Special dinner at Count Dracula's restaurant
Optional Activities
- Lunch in Sighisoara area (free time)
Landmarks/POIs Peles Castle Pelisor Castle Bran Fortress Sighisoara - Day 10
Sighisoara to Timisoara
You'll explore Transylvania's fortified churches from historically German areas, visiting one UNESCO World Heritage Site in Biertan (tickets included). Moving on to Sibiu, an important economic and cultural center that was once Transylvania's capital, you'll stroll through narrow streets and squares with time for lunch. Afterward, Hunedoara Castle awaits (admission included), considered Romania's most beautiful castle. The day ends with time to explore Timisoara's elegant central squares.
Included Activities
- Visit Biertan Fortified Church - admission included
- Explore Sibiu
- Visit Hunedoara Castle - admission included
Optional Activities
- Lunch in Sibiu (free time)
Landmarks/POIs Biertan Fortified Church Sibiu Hunedoara Castle Timisoara - Day 11
Timisoara to Belgrade
You're off to Serbia, crossing the border and driving about 3 hours before reaching Belgrade. A panoramic city tour covers this lively capital where the Danube and Sava rivers meet. You'll see the bustling city center, the parliament building, and walk through Kalemegdan Fortress. The Museum of Yugoslavia, where Tito's Mausoleum is located, is also on the itinerary. The afternoon is free to explore Belgrade at your own pace.
Included Activities
- Panoramic tour of Belgrade
- Explore city center
- Visit parliament
- Stroll through Kalemegdan Fortress
- Visit Museum of Yugoslavia
Landmarks/POIs Kalemegdan Fortress Museum of Yugoslavia - Day 12
Belgrade to Sarajevo
You begin heading toward Vojvodina with a stop in Sremska Mitrovica, a charming city on the Sava River that was once one of the Roman Empire's most important cities and capital of Pannonia. Admission to the Imperial Palace of Sirmium is included. Continuing toward Bosnia with lunch along the way, you travel through Republic of Srpska's beautiful landscapes to Sarajevo, arriving in the late afternoon. The historic center awaits with its old Ottoman bazaar full of traditional architecture, oriental atmosphere, and local shops.
- Meals
- Dinner (Dinner in Sarajevo)
Included Activities
- Visit Sremska Mitrovica
- Admission to Imperial Palace of Sirmium
- Explore Sarajevo historic center and bazaar
Optional Activities
- Lunch en route (free time)
Landmarks/POIs Sremska Mitrovica Imperial Palace of Sirmium Sarajevo Bazaar - Day 13
Sarajevo to Mostar to Dubrovnik
A guided tour shows you Sarajevo, known as the 'Jerusalem of Europe' for how different religions coexist here with mosques, churches, and synagogues reflecting this diversity. The old town carries strong Ottoman influence with its 500-plus-year-old mosque and fountain. After that, you head through natural beauty to Mostar with its historic center and iconic stone bridge connecting different religious communities. You have lunch and free time to explore before crossing into Croatia (border procedures can take time). You'll arrive in Dubrovnik as evening approaches.
- Meals
- Dinner (Dinner in Dubrovnik)
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Sarajevo
- Visit Mostar
Optional Activities
- Lunch in Mostar (free time)
Landmarks/POIs Sarajevo Mosque Mostar Stari Most - Day 14
Dubrovnik
A local guide takes you on a panoramic tour of Dubrovnik in the morning. This city perched on a cliff and surrounded by walls draws directly from the Adriatic Sea with its intact historic center considered world architectural heritage. You'll get a scenic viewpoint along the road for great photo opportunities. The Franciscan Monastery with Europe's oldest pharmacy and the Assumption Cathedral are on the tour (admission included). A boat trip to Lokrum, a small island 15 minutes away with eleventh-century Benedictine monastery ruins and Game of Thrones filming spots, follows. The afternoon gives you free time to explore before returning to your hotel.
- Meals
- Dinner (Dinner in Dubrovnik)
Included Activities
- Panoramic tour of Dubrovnik with local guide
- Visit scenic viewpoint
- Admission to Franciscan Monastery
- Admission to Assumption Cathedral
- Boat trip to Lokrum island
Landmarks/POIs Dubrovnik Old Town Franciscan Monastery Assumption Cathedral Lokrum - Day 15
Dubrovnik
After breakfast, your tour ends here, leaving you with wonderful memories of your time traveling through the Balkans.
- Meals
- Breakfast
