After breakfast departure to Rila Monastery, Bulgaria’s most famous tourist site ( UNESCO World Heritage Site ) and founded in the 10th century by Saint Ivan Rilsky (St John of Rila), a hermit canonized by the Orthodox Church. The monastery, one of the largest in the Balkans, was the center of Bulgarian culture and Orthodox belief for more than 1000 years. Our tour includes a visit to the Church, which is of particular artistic value, for it was adorned by the foremost 19-century masters of the Samokov, Bansko and Debar schools of painting and woodcarving. Continue drive south to the Bulgarian – Macedonian border. In the early evening we will arrive in Skopje, the capital of Macedonia. Overnight in Skopje. (NORTH MACEDONIA)

After breakfast enjoy a walking tour of Skopje (internationally famous for being the birthplace of Mother Teresa), with its most important landmarks: quay of the Macedonian river “Vardar”, the narrow streets in the Old Bazaar (is the biggest bazaar preserved in the Balkans today), the Memorial house of Mother Teresa, the 1500 years old fortress Kale, Macedonia Square with the statue of Alexander The Great on horse. Continue the tour and drive to Ohrid (UNESCO World Heritage Site) situated on the banks of the lake with the same name, perched on the border of Macedonia and Albania. Ohrid area has been the setting of thousands of years of human history and the old city center are testimony to its past. Lake Ohrid itself is Europe’s oldest lake having formed over three millions years ago. The walking tour of the old city center will include the narrow streets and squares, the Ancient Theater, discover the famous old churches, monasteries and basilicas (Sveti Sofia Church), Tsar Samuil’s (Samuel’s) Fortress and pedestrian shopping street. Overnight in Ohrid. (NORTH MACEDONIA)

After breakfast departure to the museum on water called also the Bay of Bones, an exceptional archaeological complex and a reconstruction of a part of the pile-dwelling settlement, dating back between 1200 and 700 BC. A Roman military fortification. Next will drive to the amazing monastery of St Naum, built on a rock that offers a great view of the Ohrid Lake and experience a small rowing boat ride to the springs of Black Drini river. Continue the tour and crossing the Macedonian – Albanian border driving to Tirana, capital of Albania. The walking tour of city center of Tirana will reveal the main tourist attractions: Tirana’s massive main square – Skanderbeg, National History Museum , Palace of Culture, National Bank, Et’hem Bey Mosque and Skanderbeg’s statue. The name and the importance of the city are attributed to the national hero of Albania, George Castriot Skanderbeg, who made Kruja a fortress of resistance against the Turkish Ottoman empire for more than 25 years in the 15th century. Overnight in Tirana. (ALBANIA)

After breakfast visit the Kruja Castle, the headquarter of “the Dragon of Albania”. Enjoy a visit of the Kruja Castle Museum for a short lesson of Albanian history than discover the local souvenir market of the local traditional Old Bazaar. Next, departure to Budva, Montenegro, crossing the Albanian, Montenegro border and stop to visit the Old Town and show you the most important spots: Ballerina and Mogren Beach, Land Gate, Ancient Necropolis, Square of Churches, Citadel, Njegoš’s street, marina, Mediternaska and Slovenska Plaza. In the evening we will arrive in Kotor and discover the fortified old town, Stari Grad ( Unesco World Heritage Site). Overnight in Kotor. (MONTENEGRO)

After breakfast on the way to Dubrovnik (Croatia) start with the Kotor Bay Tour: Perast (boat trip to Roman Catholic Church of Our Lady of the Rocks, Optional). Continue the tour and cross the border to Croatia and head to Dubrovnik. “The Pearl of the Adriatic:”, Explore the Old Town also part of UNESCO Heritage, via Onofrio’s Fountain and up Prijeko Street to the Old Port – the key to Dubrovnik’s trading and maritime success. Overnight in Dubrovnik. (CROATIA)

Free time for yourself in which you can choose through many possibilities, like: Boat Trip to the beautiful Elafiti Islands or discover the natural beauty of the Blue Cave. If you prefer to relax you can stroll on the promenade from Lapad or just lay down on the beach and enjoy the Adriatic sea. Overnight in Dubrovnik. (CROATIA)

After breakfast we will head to Bosnia & Herzegovina and after we will cross the border we will visit the beautiful city of Mostar with its Old Bridge Area and the old city, part of UNESCO Heritage. Next, we will cross the border back to Croatia and arrive in one of the most important cities at the Adriatic Seat: Split. Visit the 4th century Diocletian’s Palace and city’s historical center also listed on UNESCO’s heritage. Overnight in Split. (BOSNIA & HERZEGOVINA)

After breakfast, we will head to the Oldest National Park from Croatia that is also part of UNESCO heritage. We will enjoy a walking tour in the nature and discover the amazing colors of the Natural Park that are ranging from azure to green, grey or blue depending on the sunlight. Overnight in hotel, close to Plitvice National Park. (CROATIA)

After breakfast we will head to the border of Slovenia. Explore the largest show-cave in Europe, the Postojna Cave with an electrical train, a touristic attraction that you can’t miss it, thanks to its natural beauty. In the late evening we will arrive in the capital of Slovenia, Ljubljana. Overnight in Ljubljana. (SLOVENIA)

After breakfast, enjoy walking tour in which you will discover the main tourist attractions of  Ljubljana city center: Congress Square, the National University Library, the New Square and Cobbler’s Bridge, main square with the Prešeren monument, Franciscan Church, and Three Bridges, Old Square, the river promenade, the Municipality Square, St. Nicholas Cathedral, the Open Air Market, Butcher’s Bridge, and Dragon Bridge. Next, we will head to the capital of Croatia, Zagreb where we will discover this magical city. Explore Zagreb’s Upper Town and Lower Town districts on this walking tour—enjoy fine city views from the Strossmayer Promenade. Discover top attractions including the Lotrščak Tower, St Catherine’s Church, the Stone Gate and the seat of the Croatian Parliament. Then, descend via Tkalčićeva Street to the Lower Town and head through Dolac Market to medieval Kaptol. Admire traditional architecture in Ban Jelačić Square. Overnight in Zagreb. (CROATIA)

After breakfast we will head to Serbia and in the afternoon we will arrive to Belgrade, capital of Serbia. Visit the Republic Square, the National theater and the National museum, Bohemian Quarter (Skadarlija), the oldest part of Belgrade with Ottoman heritage, the only mosque in the city, Kalemegdan park, Belgrade fortress, “Victor” the most famous symbol of Belgrade and the confluence of the Sava and the Danube rivers. Overnight in Belgrade. (SERBIA)

After breakfast we will visit the Petrovaradin Fortress and then we will drive Budapest. In the evening we will arrive to Budapest, The Queen of Danube, capital of Hungary. After the check-in you will have a 1h scenic cruise on Danube’s river to see the most important attractions of the city. Overnight in Budapest. (HUNGARY)

Free time in Budapest in which you can discover by yourself this magical city and see the iconic statues of Heroes’ Square, the Andrássy Avenue, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Discover also St. Stephen’s Basilica, Dohány Street Synagogue. Overnight in Budapest. (HUNGARY)

After breakfast we will drive to Arad, which will be visited by walking after reaching Romania and where we will see the impressive Neo-Gothic Palace of Culture, the City Hall Palace and the Red Church built in secessionist style, the great Catholic Cathedral and the State Theater, neoclassical. Later, we will arrive in Timisoara, a very charming city for its architectural features for many Turkish, Serbian, Austrian and German elements, which will become the European Capital of Culture in 2021. We will spend the night in Timisoara. (ROMANIA)

After breakfast we will visit the most fascinating castle in Eastern Europe and one of the most beautiful and greatest of our continent, the famous Corvin Castle. Later, we will drive to Alba Iulia, an important city from a historical point of view, because the Great United Romania was made here on December 1st, 1918, so immediately after the First World War. In the evening we will arrive in Sibiu, the European Capital of Culture in 2007, dominated by the Tower of the Clock or Council Tower dating to the medieval era and by the extensive 18th – 19th century Brukenthal museum, the former residence of the governor of Transylvania. The big square, the small square and Huet Square, with the Evangelical Cathedral, show off in all their beauty. Overnight in Sibiu. (ROMANIA)

After breakfast and depart to Sighisoara, “fortress city” also a UNESCO monument, which retains its medieval center on the hill of the fortification. Here and also born Vlad Tepes, more known as Count Dracula. You will enjoy also the city of Brasov and visit the Black Church and the old town with its typical Saxons houses. Brasov is called also Kronstadt “the city of the crown”, and we will take a walking tour of the historical center, enriched by particular civil and religious buildings, such as the Black Church, the largest Gothic church in Romania, the Council House from the fifteenth century, the Gates Schei and Ecaterina. Overnight in Brasov. (ROMANIA)

After breakfast and depart to visit the famous Bran Castle (Dracula’s Castle) built between 1377 and 1382 on a large rock. But the castle owes especially its fame to the legend associated with the figure of Vlad Tepes. After the visit of Dracula’s Castle we will departure to Sinaia, where will be visiting the Peles Castle, considered among the most beautiful in Europe. Peles Castle may be considered the castle of Records: was the first building of its kind to have since the construction of central heating and elevator in the hall of the theater commissioned by Queen was presented for the first time in Romania a film. In the afternoon we will arrive in Bucharest. Overnight in Bucharest. (ROMANIA)

After breakfast we will visit the Village Museum, founded by a Romanian sociologist and built in 1936 with the collaboration of construction experts, anthropologists, ethnographers and sociologists from all over Romania. This wonderful open-air museum offers the opportunity to learn about the lifestyle of the Romanian farmers of the 19th century, their houses, their water mills and their churches entirely made of wood. Here everything is authentic. We will also admire a wooden Maramures church, which was dismantled and then taken to the museum. In this regard, remember that many wooden churches of Maramures are UNESCO heritage. We will then have the pleasure of seeing the Parliament Building, a majestic monument, second only in size to the Pentagon, built at the behest of the dictator in the 80s of the 900 and for whose creation an entire neighborhood was razed. This will be followed by a tour of the historical Center of Bucharest, a completely pedestrian area, with the remains of the princely fortress of Vlad the Impaler, the 16th century palatine church in Byzantine style, and the Stavropoleos church, an architectural jewel of the 18th century, in typical Wallachian style, with important oriental influences in external decoration. Overnight in Bucharest. (ROMANIA)

After breakfast we will leave Bucharest and head to Bulgaria. After crossing the bridge over the Danube River we will enter in Bulgaria and our first visit will be at the picturesque Arbanasi village. You will discover houses that preserves an unique medieval Bulgarian architecture and a hidden 16th century Church of Nativity with beautiful and richly inside painted fresco. Next, arrival in Veliko Tarnovo , “City of Tsars”, the former capital of the Second Bulgarian Kingdom.  Tsarevets Fortress, Monument of the Asenevtsi kings, Samovodska charshia are the main attractions of the city. In the evening we will arrive in Sofia. The walking tour of city center will include the gold-domed Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, Saint (Sveta) Sofia Church, Banya Bashi Mosque, the Sofia Synagogue and the main shopping street  Vitosha. Overnight in Sofia. (BULGARIA)

After breakfast transfer to Airport. End of our service.

Tour Itinerary: Balkans from Sofia through Transylvania