bea_001

I´m planning a trip to Europe next spring and would like to hear your suggestions on which Balkan country to visit. I will be spending two weeks in Paris and wanted to visit the Balkans, but it has been hard to decide on which country , since I only have a week. I´ve already been to Dubrovnik. My interests are on architecture and nice sceneries.

Any suggestions?

sparkchaser

Croatia. That's the new hot place to go so says the NYT. Watch out for land mines though.

Cranachin

Don't let anyone from Croatia catch you saying their country is part of the Balkans. It's likely to get you a rebuke (ranging from good-natured to pretty stern).

oedipamaas

I've not traveled in the entire region, but can say that Sarajevo and Mostar in Bosnia-Hercegovina would match what you're looking for.

Of course there are a lot of options.

suzski

We were in Montenegro a year ago and the country is rich in beautiful scenery. It is also fairly new to the tourism scene due to civil unrest. Russians are fairly common in the country (not surprising as the country was once part of the Iron Curtain), but otherwise it has been little touched by tourism. We found it stunningly beautiful.

kja

For architecture and nice scenery and with one week, you might consider a combination of Split and Trogir, Plitvice Lakes, Mostar, and Sarajevo.

Another option for architecture and nice scenery that would be well suited to a one-week trip would be Slovenia, but it isn't really in the Balkans.

I haven't been to most parts of the Balkans, though, and am sure there are other wonderful options.

Enjoy!

bea_001

Thanks all for your replies. North Croatia would be a good idea, since I´ve only been in Dubrovnik. I´ve been thinking and searching about Slovenia, but would like to hear others´ opinions.

bea_001

I have been considering Split, since a year ago, while attempting a scary landing in Dubrovnik (closest I´ve ben to death in my entire life) we had to land in Split at midnight and at that deadly hour, the airline had to take us by bus to Dubrovnik. At 2.00 am we were able to see lights only, but the scenery was supposed to be gorgeous.

I´ve read there are restrictions on crossing certain borders in rental cars. If I´m not mistaken, Albania is one of them. Any other limitations in other countries?

kja

Yikes, bea_001! Glad you and others made it!

There may indeed be limits on taking rental cars across borders -- make sure you check them when you book, closer to the time of your trip, and when you pick up the car. Be sure you have all of the documents required in each country you plan to visit. Be aware that fees for dropping off in a country other than the one in which you claimed the car can be very hefty in that part of the world. Consider options for public transportation for border crossings, so you return one car in the country in which you picked it up, go on to your next country, and if necessary pick up another car there. Note that for many itineraries, a car is not necessary and might even be a hindrance because parking in many cities in the area is exceedingly limited. In other areas, having a car can enhance your ability to see things that it would be less convenient to see without a car. Also note that whoever is driving is likely to miss out on some extraordinary scenery. But it all depends on your ultimate itinerary, so check back as you refine your plans.

bea_001

Thanks Kja for your advise. You are so right about a car being a hindrance, but I do prefer a car to public transporation. I will check for leaving the car in the border and then taking public transportation to the next country. Most probably I will be the driver so I will take your recommedantions into account.

bea_001

Thanks Kja for your advise. You are so right about a car being a hindrance, but I do prefer a car to public transporation. I will check for leaving the car in the border and then taking public transportation to the next country. Most probably I will be the driver so I will take your recommedantions into account.

kja

Just to be clear: I doubt you can actually leave a car at any of the relevant borders. You would need to leave it at the nearest city with an office that serves the rental company you use, then use public transportation to get to a place in the next country where you can rent a car.

danon

"Russians are fairly common in the country (not surprising as the country was once part of the Iron Curtain),"

Former. Yugoslavia , although a Communist run country, was not part of the Iron Curtain or the member of the Warsaw
Pact .
Russian was not commonly learned in school although it was offered.
Visitors to a country might try to learn some facts about its history.

Kja has some good suggestions... Montenegro and Istria might be interesting.
I think you will find more beautiful scenery in the region than stunning architecture.

kja

And I agree with danon -- if stunning architecture is a priority, I wouldn't make a beeline to either Istria or Montenegro (although each of those areas has other worthy aspects).

Scotia

I recently returned from Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia and Slovenia. We took a tour bus from Sarajevo to Dubrovnik and I must say the scenery was stunning. It is very mountainous country and I was glad I was not driving myself as some of the turns are like hair-pins. Although you have been to Croatia the drive along the Adriatic Coast was beautiful as well. Slovenia is not in the Baltics, but I found the country very picturesque--especially Lake Bled, and the capital of Ljubljana has very interesting architecture.