I'm doing a study abroad in Athens starting mid February, and I'm planning to travel around the Balkans a bit beforehand. I've made a sample itinerary and would love some advice on where to go and what to change. I did base where I'm going on flight prices from Athens as well, for example I'm not going to Albania because it's only $75 round trip from Athens which means I can do it for a weekend, where Bosnia and Herzegovina are over $250. Leave Jan 31st
Arrive Feb 1st
Feb 2nd-4th
Bosnia and Herzegovina - Sarajevo and Mostar
Train - 2hrs
Feb 5th/6th
Croatia - Dubrovnik
Bus - 2hrs
Feb 7th/8th
Montenegro - Kotor
Feb 9th/10th
Kosovo - Prizren
3 hour bus on Feb 11th, 9am- 12am
North Macedonia - Skopje
Add in day somewhere else - can’t enter Greece before 2/14 due to visa
Leave Feb 14th
Greece

What do you recommend?

I was in Croatia last month, and a few years ago I spent some time in Bosnia Herzegovina and Montenegro. Are you arriving into Sarajevo? There is so much interesting history in that city, much of it in recent decades. Mostar is a beautiful city and I enjoyed visiting mosques there.

Kotor is also very beautiful, and if possible, Budva is worth a stop.

Dubrovnik is a fave of mine. Your itinerary is very busy, and between the city and some terrific day trips, I think you could cut something else and spend more time in Dubrovnik. If you plan to walk the city walls, you really should buy the Dubrovnik Card. The cost of the card is exactly the same as the cost of doing the wall, and you'll get into a few other places for free. If you don't do the wall, it's probably not worth buying the Dubrovnik Card.

I am concerned that the weather will be bad while you are there. On my first trip to the Balkans (back in March 2010) the weather was so bad that I missed a few places because being outdoors was so unpleasant. I would imagine that February will be worse than March. I hope you will find plenty of indoor things to do, and always have a plan B if the weather goes sideways.

It really depends on your interests (maybe you could tell us a bit about them?), but FWIW, I think this plan would mean spending a LOT (too much) time in transit and all too little time in the places you will see. And you are skipping an incredible number of fabulous places in your “mad dash.” Maybe your plan will work for you. I would find it frustrating.

As P_M notes, Sarajevo and Mostar are both wonderful. I felt rushed with 4 nights for the two of them. Will you have jet lag when there? It can substantially cut into the time you have to see / experience things. Dubrovnik can be delightful (sit on the right side of the bus from Mostar – the views along the cost are stunning!); two days is not unreasonable for Dubrovnik, IMO, but it’s not leisurely, either.

I think you would do well to make sure you've given sufficient attention to logistics. You need time to check in / out of lodgings, pack / unpack, get to / from train or bus stations (and to get to the stations early), time to get lost / oriented, time for the places you want to visit (and to get to / from them), time to eat, etc.

For excellent climate statistics, see weatherspark.com

I hope that helps!

Dubrovnik, Sarajevo, and Mostar have quite a bit to do if you experience bad weather. Kotor (or even Budva) - not so much. Kotor is really rather quite small, so I'd really take a good look at what you plan on aeeing there, especially if you hit bad weather. Cannot comment on Skopje.

I agree that you are spending a lot of time in transit for the amount of time you are actually planning for each destination. Fortunately, you won't have crowds like you would later into Spring.

Kotor has Karnival. So there will be events (parades etc) in the days before Lent. Before or after, it’s gonna be pretty dead. The bus ride from Kotor to Prizhen is long. Do you really want to spend eight hours on a bus?

You could add Belgrade to the mix, there is a lot to do there. Tivat (close to Kotor) has daily non stop flights. A couple of days in Belgrade, then non stop to Athens. Or start in Belgrade, bus to Sarajevo.

I second kja: all dependes on your interests.
If you are interested in orthodox churches and monasteries, you can spend a lot of time in Montenegro and Southern Serbia as well as in Kosovo.
There are a lot of stunning landscapes too.
In February, there will probably be snow in the mountains of Montenegro and Southern Serbia.
If you are interested in Ohrid and Bitola/Heraklea Lincestis, you will most probably enter Greece via Florina.

Forget the weekend in Albania, unless you want to visit only 1 or 2 places, like
Tirana, Kruja and Durres if you fly to Tirana,
Gjirokasta, Saranda and Butrint if you fly to Ioannina or Corfu

It looks solid to me, but just 1 day for Croatia, won't be enough try adjusting some other venue with this one, Croatia is a beautiful place, and should be experienced not rushed.