Balkans Break Itinerary

Route

Sofia → Skopje → Ohrid → Tirana → Budva → Novi Pazar → Belgrade → Sarajevo

Day-by-day itinerary

1. 1
   Arrival – Sofia

   Pick up from Sofia airport and drive to the hotel. After check-in, free time.

   Overnight in Sofia
2. 2
   Sofia

   Walking tour of the city

   Bus tour of the city

   After breakfast visit:

   • St. Alexander Nevski Cathedral.Golden-domed St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral (impressive both inside and outside)
   • St. Sofia Church
   • Boyana Church

   Overnight in Sofia
3. 3
   Sofia – Rila Monastery – Skopje

   Drive to Rila.

   • The Monastery of Saint Ivan of Rila, better known as the Rila Monastery is the largest and most famous Eastern Orthodox monastery in Bulgaria.

   Continue onwards to Skopje.

   In Skopje visit:

   • Macedonia Square Centar
   • Warrior on a Horse, Macedonia Square.
   • Skopje Fortress Kale, Old Town.
   • Old Bazaar.

   Overnight in Skopje
4. 4
   Skopje – Ohrid

   We will drive to Ohrid.

   • capture the multifaceted Ohrid Lake
   • visit the town Samoil Castle
   • Old Town,
   • Church of St. Clementius
   • Church of St Sophia
   • Kameni Church
   • the Promenade

   According to the wishes of the group members, we can organize a boat ride on Ohrid Lake around the walls of the Old Castle.

   Travel to the Museum of Bones,

   Head to the Monastery of St Naum, built in 905, originally built by St Naum in dedication of archangels Michael and Gabriel.

   Overnight in Ohrid
5. 5
   Ohrid – Pogradec – Tirana

   Drive to Pogradec for a coffee by the lake and stroll through Pogradec Bazaar.

   Drive to Tirana.

   Walking tour Tirana city centre:

   • National Museum of History (temporarily closed; view mosaic from outside)
   • Et’hem Bey Mosque
   • Scanderbeg Square
   • Bunk’Art 2 Museum
   • Pyramid of Tirana (ex-mausoleum of dictator Enver Hoxha)

   Dinner and drinks at the Blloku area.

   Overnight in Tirana
6. 6
   Tirana – Berat – Tirana

   Visit Berat:

   • Berat Fortress (Difficulty: 3 out of 5)
   • Onufri Iconography Museum (entrance fee)

   Suggested:

   • Learn about the churches and mosques, and history of religious coexistence in the city.
   • Church of Holy Trinity, Church of St. Michael are near the Berat Fortress at the top.
   • Lead Mosque.

   Drinking coffee experience.

   Overnight in Tirana
7. 7
   Tirana – Shkoder – Ulqin – Budva

   Drive to Shkodra.

   Visit:

   • Rozafa Castle

   Take a stroll through Kol Idromeno street.

   Free time for those who wish to visit Marubbi Photography Museum and Venice Art Mask Factory. The rest may enjoy a walking tour or coffee at their own leisure.

   Drive to Ulqin. Have a drink by the sea and take a stroll through town at your own leisure.

   Drive to Budva.

   Overnight in Budva
8. 8
   Budva – Kotor – Budva

   Visit Old Town. There are seven entrances taking you to winding narrow streets with plenty of shops and cafes.

   • The Citadel
   • St. Mary's Church
   • Church of the Holy Trinity
   • Saint Ivan Church

   Drive to Kotor.

   See: Old Town and panoramic view of the Bay of Kotor. St. Tryphon’s.

   Drive back to Budva.

   Overnight in Budva
9. 9
   Budva – Novi Pazar

   Drive across border to Novi Pazar. Free day at your leisure in Novi Pazar.

   Overnight in Novi Pazar
10. 10
    Novi Pazar – Sopocani Monastery – Durdevi Stupovi – Studenica Monastery – Belgrade

    After breakfast in Novi Pazar. head to Sopocani Monastery, located about 15 km west of the town of Novi Pazar, and built in 1260 by King Uros I Nemanjic as a church that would serve as his burial place. Close is Durdevi Stupovi.

    Drive on to Studenica Monastery, also founded by Stefan Nemanja in 1190.

    Drive to Belgrade for the evening.

    Overnight in Belgrade
11. 11
    Belgrade

    Bus tour of the city

    • stroll on Skadarlija. The day will be spent exploring different neighborhoods
    • then see Novi Belgrade. Novi Belgrade (New Belgrade) is a municipality of the city of Belgrade
    • continue on to Dedinje
    • In Dedinje, admire the Royal Palace from outside.
    • Continue onwards back towards the centre and view St. Sava Temple, Belgrade.
    • To finish the day of tours, in the area is also the National Assembly, Terazije Fountain, and Republic Square.

    Overnight in Belgrade
12. 12
    Belgrade – Tavna Monastery – Sarajevo

    After breakfast, drive on to Bosnia and start with Tavna Monastery, which was first mentioned in 1548. It is not known when it was built and many mysteries surround the structure. The church today is in ruins, when the Utashas (Croatian fascists) set fire to it. Drive to Sarajevo. Free time in Sarajevo.

    Overnight in Sarajevo
13. 13
    Sarajevo

    Walking tour of the city

    Bus tour of the city

    Visit:

    • the Sebilj, which is a Ottoman-style wooden fountain in the center of Baščaršija square in Sarajevo built by Mehmed Pasha Kukavica in 1753.
    • Gazi Husrev-beg Mosque, Sarajevo Gazi Husrev-beg Mosque is a mosque in the city of Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina.
    • Sarajevo City Hall, known as Vijećnica
    • Latin Bridge, named Princip's Bridge
    • Tašlihan is an old preserved ruins in the center of the city.
    • Old Sarajevo Clock Tower,
    • Serbian Orthodox Cathedral,
    • the Congregational Church of the Holy Mother is the largest Orthodox church in Sarajevo and one of the largest of its kind in the Balkans.
    • Katedrala Sarajevo, the Cathedral of Jesus’ Sacred Heart was built in 1889
    • Baščaršija is Sarajevo's old bazaar and the historical and cultural center of the city.

    Overnight in Sarajevo
14. 14
    Airport transfer

    Airport transfer. Transport to airport. End of services.

This programme is a proposal: hotels, activities, guides and the order of visits can be adjusted to your clients.