Month: January 2022

The Balkan Peninsula is as of a unique region as you may think. It is the best that Eastern Europe has to offer in terms of places to visit, friendly behaviour, and more. However, this region is often overlooked by people who are looking to visit the more popular tourist destinations across Europe and the world.

With that being said, we wanted to list a few reasons why you should put the Balkans on your checklist and visit the countries located in this region. We promise that you will have the most unique and entertaining experience, so without any further ado, let’s start diving into the details.

Friendly People and Tasty Dishes

First of all, all Balkan countries are known for their hospitality. Whichever country you decide to visit, you will be welcomed warmly and you will be pleased to hear that the people here are extremely friendly. They will treat you like you’re their family member and will answer all questions if you have any.

Not only that, but you will be pleased to know that the region has plenty of unique and tasty dishes. The Balkans is known for its unique cuisine, which is shared by many of the countries. Some culinary delights that you are ought to try are sarma, moussaka, ajvar, kebab, stuffed peppers, pleskavica, shopska salad, and most importantly – bread. Balkan people are obsessed with bread and their bakeries make the most delicious bread that you will ever taste.

Find the time to try all of them as we promise you that they are unlike anything you’ve ever tasted in your life and you will be surprised as to how good they are.

The Balkans is Cheap

Next up, when you visit many of the world’s most popular tourist destinations, especially those that are located in Europe, you will be surprised to know that they are pretty expensive. Take Paris and Barcelona as an example. Since they are among the most visited cities in the world, everyday expenses and accommodation can cost a fortune.

That is not the case with the Balkan. All of the countries are relatively cheap here. That includes food and beverage, public transportation and accommodation. Yes, it’s a given that Croatia and Slovenia might be a bit more expensive than the rest of the countries in the region, but compared to the rest of Europe, the Balkans is literally a financial haven for those who are looking to travel on a budget.

Plenty of Places to Visit

Apart from the fact that the cheap nature of the Balkans is of massive importance to your wallet, that also allows you to visit many of the region’s best destinations. And trust us when we say this – there are plenty of them that you should consider.

Let’s start with Slovenia. Lake Bled, Ljubljana Piran, Maribor, Kranjska Gora and Triglav National Park are just a few honourable mentions. Croatia is known for its lucrative shoreside that includes many great cities such as Porec and Dubrovnik. But you will also be pleased to know that there are many other fantastic places to visit here, including Plitvice National Park, the country’s capital, Zagreb, Split, Zadar and Rovinj.

Moving down to the south, we have Bosnia and Herzegovina. Some of the must-visit places here are Sarajevo, Mostar, the Battle of Sutjeska monument, Jajce and Una National Park. Montenegro includes various beauties such as Herceg Novi, Kotor, Podgorica and Budva, which is one of the most popular tourist destinations for young people.

Serbia includes tons of attractions including Kalemegdan and the St. Sava church, which are located in the capital, Belgrade. Then, we have House on the Drina, the Studenica monastery, Skull Tower, Devil’s Town Varos and Uvac Canyon.

The final country on the map is North Macedonia, a small nation, yet full of wonders. It hides massive attractions as Ohrid and Ohrid Lake, Matka Canyon, Krusevo, the ancient cities of Heraclea and Scupi, Prespa Lake, Mavrovo, Galicica, Sar Planina, as well as the capital of the country – Skopje.

Unique Culture

The culture in the Balkans is quite unique and unlike anything you’ve ever come across. People here are just looking for an excuse to celebrate for stuff and go out. They mostly do that in their so-called “kafani” where we must warn you that you shouldn’t get too confident with the most popular beverage in the region – rakija.

These restaurants are definitely places that you should visit as they are a true embodiment of the culture in the Balkan Peninsula.

Final Thoughts

As you can see, the Balkan is packed with wonders that are just waiting to be unravelled by you. Regardless of whether you are planning to visit this place during the summer or winter, you will not fall short as there are countless places to visit and things to do. The best part about it is that the whole trip will be extremely budget-friendly.

he Balkans is definitely a hidden jewel for tourists as there are tons of great places to visit, things to see, and dishes to try out. Yes, many people who are looking to travel the world opt-out for more “commercial tourist attractions” and that is the reason why the beauties of the Balkan Peninsula often slip under the radar.

With that being said, we are going to take a look at Balkan treasure that the residents in the region are well-aware of, but it still remains relatively unknown to the world – North Macedonia. There are plenty of wonders that this ancient country hides and we will be more than happy to list a few. Who knows, maybe they’ll spark your adventure and you will go and visit them. Let’s check them out.

Matka Canyon

The first of the many wonders of North Macedonia is Matka Canyon, located just outside of the country’s capital, Skopje. This place is home to a few medieval monasteries and its lake, Matka Lake, is the oldest artificial lake in North Macedonia.

Apart from the breathtaking views, great walking trail and the cosy restaurant, Matka Cave is also home to Vrelo Cave, a cave that many divers have explored throughout the years, but never managed to find its bottom. It was recently confirmed that Vrelo is the deepest cave in Europe, while some believe that it has the potential to be the deepest in the world.

Apart from exploring Vrelo Cave, kayaking in the canyon and enjoying the view from the restaurant, Matka is also a popular hiking destination, with the most popular trail being Matka-Vodno, which is around 13 kilometres.

The Ohrid Lake/ Ohrid

Our next listing is the biggest jewel and the most popular tourist destination – Ohrid Lake. Located in Ohrid, the lake is one of the deepest lakes in the world and the deepest in the Balkans. North Macedonia’s side of Lake Ohrid has been declared a national heritage site by UNESCO. NASA even named one of the lakes of Titan, Saturn, after it.

There are virtually countless things to do here aside from enjoying the fantastic views. Ohrid and the Ohrid Lake are the perfect summer destinations. Apart from enjoying a cruise on the lake, you can visit Varosh, the city’s old town, where you can sightsee many of its churches, including St. Sophia, St. John the Theologian and Church of Saints Clement and Panteleimon, as well as Samoil’s Fortress, the Ancient Theatre, and more.

The other side of the city is home to its fantastic beaches and other popular destinations like The Bay of the Bones, Ljubanista, St. Naum and the small village of Trpejca. If you happen to visit Trpejca, make sure to try the fish delicacies there.

Finally, if you are more of the adventurous type, you can always go to the Galicica National Park and take a guided hiking tour around the mountain or climb many of its peaks, including Magaro and Lako Signoj.

Peshna Cave

Have you ever watched Lord of the Rings? This is such a legendary movie franchise that we are just going to assume that you did. Well, Peshna Cave has been described as identical to Lord of the Rings’ imaginary caves by the NY Times.

It is located just a few kilometres away from Makedonski Brod and its opening is the largest in the Balkans. It is over 120 metres long and it is home to many several endemic species that are living in the cave’s underground lakes. Considering the fact that its opening is massive, sun rays beam light to the vary end of the cave, making it easy for you to explore it.

Other Honourable Mentions

There’s no denying the fact that North Macedonia is packed with hidden wonders that you must visit if you are planning a trip there. Apart from the aforementioned attractions, there are numerous other places that you can include on your trip. Some honourable mentions include Mavrovo, which is home to the country’s most popular ski resort and national park, as well as its capital, Skopje.

Although Skopje is the business centre of the country, you can explore quite a few places there, including Vodno, the city’s old bazaar and visit its numerous museums. Then, we have Krusevo, which is the home of the country’s most popular singer in history, Tose Proeski, as well as to one of the most endemic buildings that you will come across in your life – the Makedonium.

Heraclea, the ancient city in Bitola, Radozda and Galichnik should be on your list if you have the time. The best part about travelling to Macedonia is the fact that the expenses are pretty low, making it the perfect budget-friendly destination that you can go to with your friends and/or loved ones.