THE COAST, ANCIENT CITIES, NATURE – THE BALKANS REGION

Many know the Balkans region from the former Yugoslavia, but the turbulent times of the sad war caused it to be divided into individual countries. Many today split their trips to visit the Balkans or simply take one longer tour. Choose the green Slovenia or Croatia with its islands and crystal-clear sea and there is also Montenegro with the Bay of Kotor. Albania with Tirana and a transformation of extraordinary proportions and North Macedonia which some say is a mixture of at least 3 Balkan countries. Not missing Serbia with its capital that never sleeps – Belgrade and Bosnia and Herzegovina where the highlights are – the capital Sarajevo, the beautiful Mostar, and the holy place Medjugorje.

Below you can get some general information about each place. Probably at least one place will get your attention for your next holiday in this direction.

SLOVENIA

Known in the Balkans region as an earthly paradise of snow-capped peaks, turquoise-green rivers, and Venetian-style coastlines. Slovenia enriches its natural treasures with harmonious architecture, charming rustic culture, and sophisticated cuisine. Among all the above, it is also the last mentioned that makes people from all over the world come and taste the specialties of this region. Not only has Slovenia already been included in the Michelin Guide, but has also been chosen as the Region of Gastronomy in 2021.

Ljubljana

The capital, pronounced the Green Capital of Europe in 2016, has much to offer. The city center is small and closed for traffic, which makes one feel more comfortable. Everything can be done on foot, without additional transport costs. Join one of our tours with a local guide and discover the Triple Bridge and the area by the Ljubljanica River, the Castle, pass by museums and galleries, and get to know the works of Jože Plečnik in Ljubljana, recognized by UNESCO. And we didn’t forget the food 😊. Apart from having Michelin-guide restaurants, Ljubljana has plenty of restaurants where well-known chefs prepare their diverse dishes with local ingredients.

Piran

The picturesque Balkan town of Piran is one of the most beautiful towns on the Adriatic coast and lies at the tip of a narrow peninsula. Its old town, one of the best-preserved historic towns in the Mediterranean, is a jewel of Venetian Gothic architecture. It’s hard not to fall instantly in love with the narrow streets of this fishing village, its sunsets, and its seafood restaurants. Contact us if Slovenia catches your eye in the Balkans.

And what not to miss…

Postojna Cave – This karst cave system near Postojna is the second longest in Slovenia and the largest tourist cave in the Dinaric Karst. Signatures preserved on the cave walls testify that the Postojna cave was visited in ancient times. The oldest date back to the 13th century.

Lake Bled – The small island in the middle of the lake is the only natural lake island in Slovenia. Apart from its beauty, the lake is surrounded by nature (with hiking trails) and in the area, you can find the Vintgar Gorge, carved into the glorious vertical walls of two hills, and is highlighted by the Radovna River and its waterfalls, pools, and rapids. All this is watched over by Bled Castle, which rises 139 meters above the surface of Lake Bled, one of Slovenia’s greatest cultural and tourist attractions.

Ptuj and the wine region – the oldest town in Slovenia, where the area was already inhabited in the late Stone Age, has developed from a military camp in the 1st century. Ptuj not only invites in winter, with the most famous carnival where the local carnival mask Kurent is a world-famous specialty, but also invites with its Drava River in the old town, the castle which houses museum collections of national importance, numerous galleries, and the 120-year-old cinema, which is the oldest open cinema in Slovenia.

The history of the oldest Slovenian winery speaks of Ptuj’s long winemaking tradition. Its beginnings date back to 1239, when the Friars Minor built a cellar under their monastery. But before the red drop enters your glass, we recommend a visit to the Jeruzalem vineyards. Hundreds of hills of vineyards, a church here and there, and the old manor houses of the ancient lords, which, with their grand old cellars, testify to the glorious winemaking tradition of the places surrounding Jeruzalem.

Contact us if you want to taste the gastronomy and wine from here or other places in the Balkans region.

CROATIA

Zagreb

The capital and the largest city of Croatia. In the Balkans, Zagreb was already known to tourists and passengers of the famous Orient Express train in 1925, when many of them started staying in the first hotel there, hotel Esplanade – one of the options for your accommodation on your next trip. The political, commercial, and cultural heart of Croatia, Zagreb’s Old Town is a feast for the senses, where you can sample some of the country’s most renowned restaurants and cafés amidst classical facades, lush gardens, and striking neo-Gothic buildings. Whatever the season, we also recommend a visit to Plitvice National Park as an interesting day trip.

Split

This lush city has just the right balance of tradition and modernity. Step inside the Diocletian’s Palace, a Unesco World Heritage Site and one of the most impressive Roman monuments in the world, and see these ruins which are some of the most valuable surviving Roman-era buildings on the Adriatic coast. Split is also known for its harbor from where daily cruises depart along the Dalmatian coast and from where many make daily excursions to the beautiful islands in the area.

Contact us at infro@arslongatravel.com if the Dalmatian coast, the Croatian islands, or the Balkans region is something you would like to visit

Dubrovnik

Limestone streets, baroque buildings, the endless glitter of the Adriatic, the city walls. Walking through the old town will be like an open-air museum, but without the entrance fee 😊. From Dubrovnik, you can also make an excursion to the neighboring country Montenegro and visit the Bay of Kotor (a recommendation if you stay more days). Dubrovnik attracts not only travelers who want to get to know this Unesco city or see where scenes from Game of Thrones were filmed, but also famous musicians, actors, and ”A-list” personalities who come with their private yachts. Come with us to Dubrovnik and your photos will be a hit on Instagram, sharing this walled city, perhaps with Beyonce and Jay Z, Rod Stewart, Salma Hayek, Harrison Ford…

MONTENEGRO

The Bay of Kotor

If your route takes you through the Balkans to Montenegro, you should not miss the Bay of Kotor. At the entrance of the bay Herceg Novi welcomes visitors with bouquets of bright flowers, a sparkling sea, and almost constant sunshine. Old town squares, elegant churches, and formidable fortresses share this place with cafés and bars. Further down, pebble beaches and concrete terraces offer access to the bay’s bathing spots.

Looking like a slice of Venice, Perast buzzes with memories of the days when it was rich and powerful. Despite its only one main street, this small town has 16 churches, with one on the small island in front of the town called Our Lady of the Rocks.

Lately, Dubrovnik has received competition. A few years ago, people started saying that Kotor can easily compete with the pearl of Croatia. Kotor is a medieval labyrinth of museums, churches, cafe-filled squares, and Venetian palaces. It is a dramatic and enchanting place where the past coexists with the present. And if you’re staying longer, we recommend also visiting the Lovčen National Park or for those who prefer beaches, the nearby town of Budva won’t disappoint.

ALBANIA

”The enigma’’, many say. But it’s right there, near Kotor, bordering Montenegro if you take a trip to the Balkans. The distinctive image of the “land of eagles”, shaped since Illyrian times by a mixture of languages, people, and religions, is today marked by a strong desire to improve living conditions and catch up with the developed countries of the rest of Europe. In addition to the genuine friendliness of the locals, excellent cuisine, and interesting historical monuments, Albania also captivates lovers of natural beauty, offering a wide variety of scenic features, from seashores and high mountains to lively rivers and large lakes.

Included on your trip to Albania 

Museums and galleries ✓
Archaeological and historical sites ✓
Unesco sites ✓
Gastronomy ✓
Beautiful beaches ✓

NORTH MACEDONIA

North Macedonia is arguably one of the oldest European and world civilizations within the Roman, Byzantine, and Ottoman Empires. It is a territory inhabited by almost two million people. Its capital is Skopje, with about half a million inhabitants. It is a multi-ethnic and multicultural society with different religions. Macedonia borders Albania and it can be a good option to combine the two on your holiday and see a part of the Balkans region.

As soon as you cross the border, Lake Ohrid (one of the oldest and deepest lakes in Europe) awaits you. Further on, there is the town of Bitola, famous for Heraclea – where the remains of several sacred buildings, decorated with mosaics made of opus sectile and opus tessellatum, were found, dating back to the 5th and 6th centuries.

Of course, before arriving in the capital Skopje and visiting the Mother Teresa Memorial House, one can make one more stop and visit one of its natural treasures, the Mavrovo National Park, or relax and taste the local wine, surrounded by the vineyards.

SERBIA

Belgrade

This is where socialist buildings are interspersed with Art Nouveau masterpieces, and remnants of the Habsburg legacy contrast with Ottoman relics. This is where the Sava and Danube rivers kiss. This is where an old-world culture from the former Yugoslavia meets the chic modern world. Yes, it’s Belgrade in the Balkans region. If you ask a local, he will tell you that everything is here and what you can’t find, you don’t need.

The city that never sleeps has possibly the most famous food among the Balkan countries, so you won’t go hungry. Only the central part of the city has so much to see that just passing through is not recommended. There you will find the second largest orthodox church in the world, the military museum – hidden in the Belgrade fortress, the Nikola Tesla Museum, the mausoleum of former president Josip Broz Tito, the National Parliament of Serbia, the biggest and most hidden secrets of this ancient city that lie beneath Belgrade… You see? One day would simply not be enough…

Novi Sad

In 2022 the city was awarded the title of European Capital of Culture. The permanent attractions, which form the core of Novi Sad’s tourism, such as the Petrovaradin Fortress, the Old Town, the numerous museums and galleries, the various offers of Fruška Gora, the traditional “salaš” farms or the “čarda” taverns, are just a few examples of the ideal tourist content for each of the 52 weekends of the year. Novi Sad is quite close to the capital Belgrade, a good choice for a daily excursion – even with a high-speed train that gets your there in 45 minutes. 

Zlatibor

If your way through the Balkans region takes you in the direction of Bosnia, this town can be your stop before crossing the border. Zlatibor, apart from the center, also has some very interesting sights that are hidden away from the tourist center in various villages. Among those, the most striking are the Stopića Cave with fantastic pools and waterfalls, the waterfall in Gostilje, the open-air museum “Staro selo” in Sirogojno, and the wooden town (Drvengrad) – a traditional village built by the famous Serbian film director Emir Kusturica. And before leaving this area, a ride on the old Sargan 8 train will make you feel the air of bygone times.

BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA

Sarajevo

Sarajevo is often described as a place where East meets West, or where two cultures or two traditions collide. As clichéd as it may sound, Sarajevo is known for being influenced in equal parts by two former world powers, the Ottoman Empire and the Austro-Hungarian Empire, and more importantly, for accepting and embracing the best of both worlds. The world remembers this city from the Balkan War and one of the things that tells the sad story is the interesting Tunnel of Hope that linked Sarajevo’s neighborhoods allowing food, war supplies, and humanitarian aid to enter the city.

Mostar

The Old Bridge, recognized by Unesco, is surely the highlight of the city. As well as being a place where locals do river jumping competitions, it is a 16th-century Ottoman bridge across the Neretva River that connects the two parts of the city and in a way divides the ethnic Bosnians and Croats that inhabit the city, although the difference between the two is not noticeable to visiting tourists.

Medjugorje

One of the best-known shrines in the world, this holy place owes its popularity to the apparition of the Virgin Mary, who began appearing to a local group of children in June 1981 on a hill in the town – known today as Brdo Ukazanja. Medjugorje is the place where you come to escape from your routine and where the peace and tranquility of this town make your mind and soul regenerate completely.

The Balkans region is interesting, in a small space it offers different cultures, different gastronomy, and very diverse terrain. As the countries are close to each other, many people decide to do a two-country tour in one week and thus kill two birds with one stone. For those who have more time, three and more countries can be joined in one lovely holiday for you.

and our friendly local agents will organize a tailor-made tour for you. Whether as individual travelers, in a group with your friends or family, or in large groups – it will be our pleasure to introduce you to the Balkans region as we know it.