Grand Balkan Tour 17D/16N

Belgrade, Szeged, Budapest

After breakfast, the morning will be reserved for an exciting guided walking tour through Belgrade’s city center. As part of the tour, we will explore the highlights of Belgrade. Learn about Serbia’s two royal dynasties at the Royal and White Palaces, and the City Assembly, the Old Palace of Serbia’s first king. Discover the Church of St. Sava – Serbia’s largest Orthodox church; walk along Prince Mihailo Street – Belgrade’s main shopping avenue, and stroll around the old Kosancicev Venac to see the Residence of Princess Ljubica and Church of St Michael and other sights.

In the afternoon, we depart for Budapest.

On our way to Budapest, we will have a break in the third-largest city of Hungary, the picturesque city of Szeged.

Honored with the Europe Nostra Award for its renovated downtown area, the town lies on the banks of the river Tisza and boasts the highest number of sunny days throughout the year, is also referred to as the “city of sunshine”.

Szeged offers a multitude of sights and tasty traditional dishes for all those pepper lovers out there. Architectural heritage, great gastronomy, street-side cafés, widely famous confectionaries, and strolls with a breath of Mediterranean atmosphere ensure your visit is sure to be a memorable one.

After the charming Szeged, we will continue our trip to the Hungarian Capital Budapest.

Check-in, free time, and overnight in Budapest.

Budapest City tour, boat cruise on the Danube River

After breakfast, we will make the Grand City tour. The tour starts from the Chain Bridge, we take the Margaret Bridge and drive over to Buda. We stop in the Castle District and during a short walk we will show you the main attractions of the area. We will walk to the Matthias Church and the Fishermen’s Bastion (from where you can enjoy the beautiful panorama). Next, we will drive to Gellért Hill (Citadel) and show you the most spectacular view of Budapest.

We will then take you across the Elisabeth Bridge to Pest and show you the famous Central Market Hall, followed by the largest Synagogue in Europe and the City Park. We will pass by Europe’s largest thermal spa and the Budapest Zoo, after which we will stop at the Heroes’ Square (with statues of the most famous Hungarian kings and dukes). Next, we are going to Andrássy Avenue to downtown Pest passing by the Opera House and St Stephen’s Basilica. We will then get off the bus again and take an interior visit of the impressive neo-gothic House of Parliament (guided tour incl.). During the tour, we offer a brief overview of the last 1000 years of Hungarian history.

The afternoon will be a great time for an unforgettable boat cruise on the Danube river.

A river cruise in Budapest will let you see the most fascinating sights of the historical city of Budapest, which is often called the Pearl of the Danube or the Paris of the East. Take a romantic cruise on the river Danube, and marvel at the genuine beauty, and century-old grace of Budapest, Hungary. The river cruise is one of the highlights of many Budapest holidays without a doubt.

Free time and overnight in Budapest.

Lake Balaton, Zagreb

After breakfast, we are going to Zagreb.

On our way to Zagreb, we will make a stop at the Hungarian “sea” – Lake Balaton.

After the boat cruise, we will enjoy a walk along the famous promenade in Balatonfüred at the banks of the largest lake in this part of Europe.After the lake adventure

After reaching Zagreb in the afternoon we will enjoy a walking tour through the Croatian Capital.

During the walking tour, we will discover the main attractions of Zagreb such as Ban Jelacic Square, Ilica Street, Zagreb Cathedral, Dolac open-air market, Tkalciceva Street, Kamenita Vrata, St. Mark’s Church, Lotrscak Tower, and fall in love with this amazing city.

Free time and overnight in Zagreb.

Plitvice Lakes National park, Brekovica hill, Kostela, Bihac

After breakfast, we are going to visit one of the oldest national parks in Southeast Europe and the largest NP in Croatia – Plitvice Lakes National Park (UNESCO World Heritage).

Our adventure continues by visiting the Brekovica hill and the mosque situated on the high cliffs from where we will admire the magnificent beauty of the Una river and the surrounding nature.

After we proceed to Kostela to enjoy lunch at the banks of the Una river during which we will have the chance to admire all the beauty of Kostela waterfalls.

We end our today adventure in Bihac – a charming little town centered on the banks of the Una River.

Check-in, free time, and overnight in Bihac.

Una National Park, Pliva Lakes, Pliva Lakes, Royal City Jajce, Pliva waterfall, Travnik city (Blue water, colorful mosque, Fortress), Sarajevo

After breakfast, we are starting our adventure at Una National Park visiting Strbacki Buk waterfalls and the complex of the Una River waterfalls at Martin Brod. Once you see this beauty, you will forever remember and keep precious unforgettable memories.

After enjoying the fairytale area of Bihac, we depart for Sarajevo.

On our way, we will make an excursion to the Pliva lakes. A unique attraction is a complex of 20 small watermills that during the 16th century were constructed between the Great and Small Pliva lakes.

The adventure continues by visiting  Jajce City, the home of the last Bosnian Kings. Aside from its rich history, Jajce is also famous for its impressive real natural monument a 22-meter height Pliva Waterfall which is one of the twelve most beautiful waterfalls in the world.

In the afternoon we will arrive at the historical city of Travnik, a residence of early Ottoman rulers whose influence on the city’s culture and heritage is still evident today. We will visit the Colored (Sulejmania) mosque, Elci Ibrahim Pasha’s Madrassah, Ivo Andric Home-the Bosnian Nobel winner writer, the Bluewater area, Travnik medieval Fortress where you can enjoy the breathtaking view of the vizier town Travnik.

After exploring Travnik we will proceed to Sarajevo.

Check-in, free time, and overnight in Sarajevo.

The Sarajevo Tunnel of Hope (famous war tunnel) museum, Sarajevo city tour, Sarajevo cable car, Olympic mountain Trebevic, Sunnyland entertainment park

 After breakfast in the hotel, we will start our day with a visit to The Sarajevo Tunnel of Hope (Bosnian: Tunel spasa) museum. The tunnel was an underground tunnel constructed between March and June 1993 during the Siege of Sarajevo.

After the Tunnel, we are going to explore the Old Town and city center of Sarajevo. As part of the City tour, you will see the historical monuments of Sarajevo city. This walking tour will provide you with information about every aspect of living in Sarajevo nowadays and in the past. You will enjoy a delightful mixture of Ottoman, Austro-Hungarian, and modern heritage.

After the Old Town adventure, we are going to enjoy an unforgettable panoramic cable car ride to the Olympic Mountain Trebevic. During the 1984 Winter Olympic Games, Trebevic was the location of the competition in the bobsled sport discipline.

Today Trebevic is a favorite excursion place for the locals and tourists, where you can walk through the forest, take a bike, have exciting paintball fun in the Brus picnic area, or enjoy in the adrenaline park and have a crazy ride on an alpine coaster in Sunnyland entertainment park.

If you are looking just for a chill we suggest you enjoy the natural ambient and fresh air sitting in one of the many mountain cafes surrounded by the amazing forest.

Free time and overnight in Sarajevo.

Beautiful Herzegovina and Dubrovnik (CRO)

After breakfast, we are going to Herzegovina – a part of Bosnia and Herzegovina full of great natural wonders, beautiful rivers, and cities with mixed cultures.

Our first stop will be in Mostar – the largest city in Herzegovina. Mostar is most famous for the UNESCO-protected Old Bridge (Stari Most) that crosses the river Neretva and connects two parts of the city. You will enjoy magnificent architecture and a stunningly beautiful river and its surroundings. A large number of oriental Caffe bars will make you sit, enjoy and soak in the sounds, views, and impressions made by this marvelous town.

The next stop is in Blagaj Tekke and Buna river springs. Here you will enjoy the peace of Dervish House and the beautiful waters of river Buna. You will experience unique and unforgettable scenes that evoke the beauty and grandeur of this beautiful place.

After Blagaj, we continue to a pearl of the Adriatic coast – Dubrovnik City. Located in the region of Dalmatia it is one of the most prominent tourist destinations in the Mediterranean Sea. Old City is, by all means, the most interesting and the most attractive part of Dubrovnik which we will explore and have a walk through the romantic city lanes, where you will not only see the most interesting sights but also feel the specific, somewhat mystic atmosphere rising from the ancient stone walls. The walls of Dubrovnik have also been a popular filming site for the fictional city of King’s Landing in the HBO television series, Game of Thrones.

In the late afternoon will enjoy a ride on the Dubrovnik cable car which will take us to enjoy the most beautiful panoramic views of the Adriatic Sea. We will have a drink or a meal in the restaurant at the top overlooking the Old Town.

Free time, and overnight in Dubrovnik.

Kotor & Budva Old Towns (UNESCO), Shkoder

After breakfast, we leave Croatia behind and travel through Montenegro to Albania.

Our first stop will be in the picturesque and UNESCO World Heritage-listed town of Kotor, known for its well-preserved medieval walled town. The old port of Kotor is surrounded by fortifications built during the Venetian period and is a picturesque Mediterranean landscape.

Next, we will make a comfortable stop at the picturesque and most famous city of the Montenegrian Riviera – Budva to explore the UNESCO World Heritage–listed Old Town of Budva.

Our adventure continues in Shkoder, with an excursion at Shkoder Lake. There we will have a breathtaking experience during the boat ride at the largest lake in the Balkans. You will enjoy the beautiful natural surroundings, and the view of the numerous little islands with medieval monasteries and rare bird species, this area is a unique bond between history and nature.

After the check-in and short rest in Shkoder, we will have a walking tour and explore one of the oldest cities in Europe and Albania’s fifth-largest city Shkoder.

You will discover the most important sites in and around a city such as Rozafa Castle, Mesi Bridge, Communist Jail, Shkoder Downtown, and Venice Art Mask Factory.

Free time and overnight in Shkoder.

Shkoder, Kruja Old Town, Tirana City, Ohrid City

After breakfast, we leave Shkodër and we are going to the Capital of Albania – Tirana.

On our way to the Capital, we will visit the city of Kruja, the center of Albanian resistance against the Ottomans under our national hero Scanderbeg who defeated them in 22 battles including one of the most warriors like sultans Mehmet the Conqueror and resisted the Ottoman occupation for 25 years. We visit the Old Ottoman-style bazaar.

After we reach Tirana,  we will have a walking tour through Tirana.

During the tour, you will learn about interesting history, art, and everyday life in Tirana and meet the main attractions such as Clock Tower, Et’hem Bey Mosque, Saint Paul Catholic Cathedral, National Historic Museum, Piramida, The Block, Bush Street, National Art Gallery, Mother Teresa Square,  Resurrection of Christ Orthodox Cathedral.

After the Tirana tour, we continue our trip to the pearl of Macedonia Ohrid.

We will visit the lakeside resort of Ohrid, classified as a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site. During the tour, we will have an inspiring walk by the lake, through the little narrow cobbled streets of Ohrid hill, among the beautiful Byzantine churches, up to Samoil’s fortress, and on the most picturesque cliff of St. Jovan Kaneo, where you can grab the chance for a magnificent photo shoots. The sightseeing continues with the visit of Gorna Porta and the Antic Theatre. After that, we will visit the Old Bazaar area where we will have lunch at a traditional restaurant.

Free time and overnight in Ohrid.

Ohrid, Kalampaka/Meteora

After breakfast, we will have an inspiring walk by the Ohrid Lake, and through the little narrow cobbled streets of Ohrid Hill, among the beautiful Byzantine churches, up to Samoil’s fortress.

After Ohrid, we are going to magnificent Greece. After check-in and short rest in Kalambaka, we are going to discover the astonishing Meteora natural phenomenon of rocks resembling stone columns reaching 400 meters that seem to be suspended in mid-air, stand ageless Monasteries, where you can see exquisite specimens of Byzantine art.

Free time and overnight in Kalampaka.

Kalampaka, Delphi, Athens

Today we will head south through the Greek mainland to one of the most popular ancient sites and destinations in Greece, Delphi.

The antiquity Delphi was considered the “omphalos” (navel/center) of the earth, and the place where people from around the world would visit to receive an “oracle” from “Pythia”. We will admire the Sanctuary of Apollo, and the Treasury of the Athenians and we will also visit the Archaeological Museum of Delphi.

In the afternoon we will arrive in Athens.

After check-in and a short rest, we will visit Lycabettus Hill and enjoy a beautiful view of the Greek capital from the highest point of this historical city.

Free time and overnight in Athens.

Athens and Cape Sounion tour

After breakfast we will start our tour by visiting the Acropolis, the ancient citadel of Athens perched high above the city on a rocky outcrop. Head through the gates with your guide, and stroll around the top Acropolis attractions, including the Temple of Athena Nike, Propylea, Erechtheion, the spectacular Parthenon, and the Odeon of Herodes Atticus.

Having explored these classical masterpieces, on our way to the Panathenaic Stadium we can visit the Acropolis Museum, the ultra-modern museum that houses many of the classical statues, friezes, and artifacts recovered from the Acropolis. After the museum, we continue to the arena that hosted the first modern Olympic Games in 1896. the Panathenaic Stadium.

After snapping photos of the all-marble stadium, we walk to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at the Greek Parliament House in Syntagma Square. Admire the handsome government buildings around the square, and then head along Panepistimiou Street, one of Athens’ main avenues. See St Dionysius Cathedral with its arcaded portico, and pass the elegant buildings of the University of Athens, National Library, and Academy of Athens.

After viewing the highlights here, we will conclude our sightseeing tour, and enjoy around an hour of free time to relax or have lunch at a local tavern before our afternoon part of the tour.

In the afternoon we will leave Athens behind and continue our journey south to Cape Sounion. As you travel, admire the beautiful beaches of the Saronic Gulf and hear tales of the Cape and its showpiece: the glimmering white Temple of Poseidon. On arrival at Cape Sounion, we will walk up to the temple, built high on cliffs overlooking the Aegean Sea. At the end of the temple visit, we will enjoy the magnificent and one of the most breathtaking panoramic views in the world, the view across the Aegean, extending over the island of Kea and the Peloponnese on a clear day.

In the evening, travel back to Athens. Free time and overnight in Athens.

Athens, Thessaloniki

After breakfast, we are going to the north of Greece.

Arrived in the second-largest city in Greece and the northern port city of Thessaloniki in the afternoon.

After the Check-in and short rest, the afternoon will be reserved for a walking tour through the historic center of the City. During the tour, you will have the chance to enjoy all the city’s major landmarks such as the Galerius Arch, the Rotonda monument, the Old Town (Ano Poli), and the City Walls, where you will be able to admire the marvelous view of Thessaloniki! We will visit the Agios Demetrius Byzantine church and its crypt, and you can also visit the Archaeological Museum.

The tour will finish on the waterfront with a visit to the famous White Tower, where you will find plenty of restaurants and bars to enjoy the evening.

Free time and overnight in Thessaloniki.

Sofia city tour, Mt. Vitosha cable car, Boyana Church (Unesco), Pancharevo Lake

Today we are going to the Capital of Bulgaria.

On our arrival, we will enjoy a panoramic cable car ride to Mt. Vitosha. After enjoying the best view over the Capital, we will visit Pancharevo Lake.

Next, we will visit the UNESCO-listed Boyana Church and the National Historical Museum or the Sofia ZOO.

We end our adventure by exploring the Sofia city center, and the main landmarks such as the National Palace of Culture, St. George Rotunda, the Banya Bashi Mosque, St. Nedelya Cathedral, the National Theater, the former Royal Palace, Alexander Nevski Cathedral, and more…

Check-in, free time, and overnight in Sofia.

Transfer to Belgrade, Kalemegdan fortress, ZOO, Avala tower, Danube river cruise, shopping

Today we are going to Belgrade. Upon arrival, we will visit the Belgrade Fortress Kalemegdan. Belgrade Fortress is known for its kilometers-long tunnels, underground corridors, and catacombs, which are still largely unexplored. In the true sense, the fortress is today the green oasis in Belgrade’s urban area.

Next, we will visit the Belgrade ZOO or the best viewpoint in Belgrade – the Avala Tower.

In the evening we can finish our adventure by visiting the Yachting Club, where we will have a magical boat cruise on the Sava and Danube rivers or you can enjoy the end of the day shopping in the best malls.

Free time and overnight in Belgrade.

Belgrade/Departure

Breakfast in the hotel.  Free time for shopping or walking through the Town.

Departure to the airport.

Here your 17-day Tour concludes and unfortunately, it is time to say goodbyes… We hope you have enjoyed your tour with our agency!