Balkans Break Itinerary - 14 Days
Day 1: Arrival - Sofia
Pick up from Sofia airport and drive to the hotel. After check-in, free time.
ACCOMMODATION IN SOFIA
Day 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
ACCOMMODATION IN SOFIA
Day 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.
ACCOMMODATION IN SKOPJE
Day 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.
ACCOMMODATION IN OHRID
Day 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.
ACCOMMODATION IN TIRANA
Day 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.
ACCOMMODATION IN TIRANA
Day 7: Tirana - Shkoder - Ulqin - Budva
Drive to Shkodra.
Visit:
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.
ACCOMMODATION IN BUDVA
Day 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.
ACCOMMODATION IN BUDVA
Day 9: Budva - Novi Pazar
Drive across border to Novi Pazar. Free day at your leisure in Novi Pazar.
ACCOMMODATION IN NOVI PAZAR
Day 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.
ACCOMMODATION IN BELGRADE
Day 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.
ACCOMMODATION IN BELGRADE
Day 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.
ACCOMMODATION IN SARAJEVO
Day 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.
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Old Sarajevo Clock Tower,
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Serbian Orthodox Cathedral,
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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.
ACCOMMODATION IN SARAJEVO
Day 14: Airport transfer
Airport transfer. Transport to airport. END OF SERVICES.