The Balkans – The Most Stunning Off the Beaten Track Places in Europe

Off the Beaten Track Places in Europe

There are few places left in the world that still lie off the beaten tourist track. However, the Balkans are home to some of the best off the beaten track places in Europe. A recent history of war, Communism and Government secrecy has kept many Balkan countries off the tourist radar. But, the 21st century has been a more stable time for the area and has allowed more access for outsiders.

The Balkans

The Balkan region consists of 12 countries that belong to the south eastern portion of geographical Europe. Whilst some countries have been popular tourist destinations for many years, others have been shrouded in mystery.

Slovenia, Croatia, Romania and Bulgaria are members of the European Union and are relatively well travelled. However, now is a great time to explore the lesser known countries in the region.

Albania

Albania is perhaps one of the most off the beaten track places in Europe. It has been kept behind closed doors until relatively recently as the paranoid Communist Dictator, Enver Hoxha, ensured his people were not connected with the outside world. He spent millions building bunkers for his citizens in the event of an invasion. This never came and, after the death of Hoxha in 1985, Albania began to wake up and look outside.

Things to do in Tirana

Albania’s capital, Tirana, is now accessible via direct flight for many in Western Europe. And that’s how we arrived! This is a city steeped in history and is relatively untouched by outside visitors. The locals are welcoming and keen to tell you about their city which continues to change rapidly. Foodies will be in their element with a wide variety of traditional and fusion foods with very few international fast food chains around. There are, however, a surprising number of vegan options – we loved Ejona. Perfect for the budget traveler, there are also luxury hotels and shops available throughout the city. With so many quirky spots to explore, check out 7 of the Best Things to do in Tirana.

A day trip to Durres

A day trip to the port town of Durres is simple from Tirana. With a curious mix of modern and ancient this town has a vibrant, if slightly kitsch, waterfront and a huge Roman amphitheater. There are also many ice cream parlors and pizza restaurants to be sampled, both of which Albanians seem to do very well. The bus leaves from the centre of Tirana, cost about 1 euro each way and takes around 40 minutes.

If the bustling city is not for you, then the Albanian countryside is a must. Travel North from Tirana towards Montenegro and visit one of Albania’s many lakes, Lake Skadar. This is the largest lake in southern Europe and is spread over the Albanian/Montenegrin border. Untouched by development and commercialism the scenery and wildlife are remarkable.

Montenegro

Podgorica, Montenegro, is our next stop. Unlike the tourist towns of Kotor and Budva, Podgorica is not visited by the tourists arriving on cruise ships from Croatia and Italy. Instead, it is a quiet capital that has been rather unfairly dubbed, “the most boring city in Europe”. Yes, it is small and architecturally challenged, but it has its own charm. Surrounded by mountains there is no short supply of outdoor activities, beautiful views and many peaceful lakes are within easy reach making it one of the most breath-taking, off the beaten track places in Europe.

If you travel alone, or with a friend, we would highly recommend staying at this Air BnB apartment in the Masline area. It is in a quiet and mostly residential but an easy walk to the centre. This is an excellent space with fantastic hospitality, incredible views and a breakfast worth getting up for! The hosts even provide bikes for exploring the local area. If you haven’t used Air BnB before, use this LINK to get £35 off you first trip!

The old town of Podgorica still shows scars from previous wars with quiet streets and marked buildings. Whereas other parts of the city have a definite air of communist architecture along with more modern designs. Again the locals are very friendly, hospitable and were curious about our visit. Despite using the Euro (illegally) the prices are very cheap compared with Western Europe and we didn’t see a single tourist for the whole 24 hour stay. They are missing out!

The beautiful Lake Skadar is a short trip from Podgorica. We took the train to the lake and spent an afternoon exploring old castles and soaking up the scenery. Find out how easy it is to take the train from Podgorica to Virpazar.

Croatia

Dubrovnik, Croatia, is our next stop. This is a popular tourist destination with thousands of people arriving by plane, boat and car every day to visit the famous old town used in the filming of Game of Thrones. It is worth a visit, but be prepared to fight the crowds and pay tourist prices. Flying into Dubrovnik and travelling south to Albania is also a good way of seeing what the Balkans has to offer.

Bosnia and Herzegovina

From Dubrovnik, we took a day trip to discover the Bosnian town of Mostar. A small tour bus was the easiest way to access the town as there is little in the way of public transport and only the brave will hire a car in the Balkans. On arrival, we had the day to explore the town in our own time and spent hours wandering the Ottoman streets and sampling the exotic food and drink. Despite being quite busy with tourists from Dubrovnik, Mostar is a beautiful old town that will make you want to explore more of Bosnia Herzegovina.

Not far from Mostar is Kravica Waterfalls. These falls are known as one of the most beautiful natural sights in Bosnia, and there is certainly tough competition. It is also one of Europe’s best kept secrets and is an amazing example of the stunning off the beaten track places in Europe. The falls are 25m high and 120m wide, which is why they are known as the “mini Niagara Falls”. They are at their fullest during the springtime and this is an ideal time to visit.

The falls are only 140km from Dubrovnik which will take about 2.5 hours by car. There isn’t much in the way of public transport so it’s best to hire a car or take a tour. Some tours offer Mostar and Kravica in the same day from Dubrovnik, which is what we did. We used GETYOURGUIDE and thoroughly enjoyed it.

Off the beaten track places in Europe

We returned to the UK from Dubrovnik with a short, direct and very cheap flight. The Balkans are much more accessible than you might think and are absolutely worth a visit. Travel between countries is easy and very cheap, however, public transport is not exactly efficient. But that’s all part of the fun! You don’t need to travel for weeks on end to see a good chunk of this beautiful part of the world. Check out our blog that shows you How to Make the Most of 8 Days in the Balkans.

Final note: Things change in the Balkans all the time and there is not much information online in English. We would definitely advise checking with a local where possible. We found people to be really friendly and super helpful.

Have you visited any Balkan countries? Are you planning a trip and need more information? Drop a comment in the box, we’d love to hear from you!