The Balkan Peninsula is home to 10-12 sovereign countries, including Romania, Montenegro, and even parts of Greece. Suffice to say, this region is a big, beautiful cauldron of culture and natural splendour. Not to mention that World Heritage Sites pepper the area, begging you to connect the dots with a European road trip.
Of course, the Balkans have plenty of fun for daredevils and nightlifers too– from Romania’s UFO-disco club Beat of Angels, to tandem parachuting in Podgorica– just not on this list. So, if you have your sights set on this wonderful part of the world, or you’ve already got your tickets, keep reading as we explore some of the top natural sights to see in the Balkans.
How to Choose Your Stops When Deciding Feels Impossible
With over forty UNESCO sites and endless cities to visit, where do you even start to pick which ones to add to your trip? Our formula for a successful trip is to combine research, an analysis of destinations and your preferences. From hikes up glittering waterfalls, to adventures among dense national parks, to a fishing trip on one of their great, jewelled lakes, start by creating a document of all the must-see sights, where they’re located and what they have to offer.
Today, AI-assisted documents can help you evaluate your options and create an itinerary. You can use features like Adobe Acrobat’s chat PDF to enter these destinations with their activities and sights, and then underneath, you can add a list of preferences and priorities for your adventures, like hiking, relaxation and scenery. Then, you can use chat PDF to generate a list of the best sites for you from the information you have entered, and it will deliver.
Natural Highlights of the Balkans
Plitvice Lakes National Park, Croatia
In snow or shine, the Plitvice Lakes are picturesque. Silver waterfalls fill the turquoise lakes, and if you take a panoramic flight over them, these jewels look like intricate necklaces on a bed of grass– it’s no wonder the location inspired Karl May’s famous Winnetou novels and was the filming location for the Treasure of Silver Lake.
Plitvice is an easy day trip from the cities of Zagreb and Split, but it’s the rustic villages that sell the experience. Rastoke, or Little Plitvice, is a collection of houses built on stilts and stones over a network of interlacing waterfalls. You’ll want to book a stay far in advance to secure a spot in the little gem, but if you don’t, there are the equally charming towns of Otočac, Ogulin and Senj nearby, too.
The Danube Delta, Romania
The Danube Delta is a city of wild wetlands home to Dalmatian pelicans, purple herons and even wild horses. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is best experienced by a day-trip boat tour. From Bucharest, you can take a bus to the delta, stop for brunch at the local cafe and then glide through blue waters and green reeds. There are few places like it in Europe. You’ll get to see salt marshes, dunes and lagoons and even thick towering forests.
If you want to explore the delta further, the town of Tulcea is a nearby wonder of its own. The inland port is awash with beautiful seafood and ancient monasteries and fortresses, not to mention a Danube Delta Museum where you can find charming dioramas of the wildlife along with a small aquarium of the delta’s aquatic life, like the sturgeon.
Triglav National Park, Slovenia
Slovenia’s only national park is mythic, folkloric and downright breathtaking. Cool blue mountains with snow-capped peaks paint the background as you wander through lush grass and dense pines to a crystal clear Lake Bled. It’s a fairytale, and you can enjoy it on foot or by bike.
Lake Bled is only an hour out of Ljubljana or Austria’s Klagenfurt by car. There are plenty of hotels around the lake if you want to stay, but if not, the lake takes only an hour and a half to walk around (not including stopping for photos). After taking a lap, you can make a pilgrimage to the island centre of the lake, where a small island with a steepled church sits.
Lake Ohrid, North Macedonia
Ohrid has the cafes and cobbles of Cannes without all the tourists, though to really dodge the rush, try for spring or fall instead of summer. For the spiritual, there is the Kaneo’s Church of St. John, and for the adventurous, there are hikes through the Galicica National Park. Either way, your view will be framed by the gorgeous Lake Ohrid and its calm elegance.
The best places to stay in Ohrid are the B&Bs. Guesthouses are often family-run, and you’ll be treated to specialties like fresh trout from Lake Ohrid itself.
Gjirokastër, Albania
Most of the “stone city” was built in the 17th and 18th centuries. Built into the hilltops, the city is packed with greenery, with the Castle of Gjirokastra being both the city’s historical highlight and the best place to see it all.
Finding your way to Gjirokastër is trickier than most sights. You’ll need to take a car from Saranda or Tirana and pack proper shoes, as cobblestone streets are no place for flip flops. While you’re there, order a bowl of the local delicacy, Qifqi, their spiced rice balls, which are only served in Gjirokastër.
Kotor, Montenegro
This spot could just as well go to Dubrovnik, but either way, it’s hard to find a view that isn’t worthy of a master painter here. Stone steps lead up limestone cliffs, red roofs speckle the green trees and the medieval churches give the whole place an air of reverence. When it comes to the romantic destination Kotor, the fortress is the place for the whole view, and the church on the island is the place for the trip (called Our Lady of the Rocks).
To get to Kotor, you’ll need to take a bus from Podgorica or take a cruise ship. But if you want to avoid the cruise ship crowds, stay overnight to enjoy the early mornings and evenings.
Packing Up
If this list of the Balkans’ best gives you even a hint of what your trip will offer, just wait until you’re amongst it. So many spots, cities and countries have been left out, and there’s barely a fraction of the UNESCO World Heritage sites mentioned here. The Balkans are easily one of the top adventure destinations in Europe and a place to visit and revisit, and with the accommodation so affordable, you certainly can.