10-Day Balkans Tour Packages
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Insider tips: Recommended 10-day Balkans tour itineraries
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NadineBalkans travel expert at TourRadar
10 Day Greece & Balkans Itinerary, incl. Athens and Sofia
A grand circuit of 5 Balkan countries unfolds over 10 days, from Sofia's Alexander Nevsky Cathedral to Ohrid's ancient churches. Rest at select hotels including Best Western Terminus Sofia and Albanopolis Tirana. Additional trips available to Matka Canyon ($25) and local wineries ($55).
- Days 1-2
Athens
Land at Athens International Airport and spend your first evening in the Plaka neighborhood. The streets quiet down after 6 PM when most tour groups leave. On day two, start early at the Acropolis. A recent visitor advised: "Get there by 8:30 AM before the intense heat and crowds arrive." Spend the afternoon touring the Panathenaic Stadium and Parliament with a guide who'll walk you through the history.
- Day 3
Athens to Meteora via Delphi
This is your longest travel day at 430km. Drive 3 hours to Delphi to see the Temple of Apollo and ancient ruins with a guide. Pack sturdy shoes since the paths can be slippery. Stop for lunch in Arachova to try local mountain dishes before the 4-hour drive to Kalabaka.
- Day 4
Meteora to Thessaloniki
Visit the Meteora monasteries in the morning. Remember the dress code: women need long skirts and covered shoulders, men should wear long pants. Take a 3-hour drive to Thessaloniki and spend your evening walking around Aristotelous Square and the waterfront.
- Day 5
Thessaloniki to Sofia via Rila Monastery
Cross into Bulgaria and visit Rila Monastery. A visitor noted: "The frescoes are incredible, but bring a light jacket - the mountain monastery stays cool even in summer." You'll reach Sofia by evening.
- Day 6
Sofia to Skopje
Take a morning tour of Sofia's highlights, including Alexander Nevsky Cathedral. Drive 4 hours to Skopje, North Macedonia. Walk around the Stone Bridge and Old Bazaar in the evening when they're lit up.
- Day 7
Skopje to Tirana via Prizren
You can visit Matka Canyon in the morning for $25. Drive to Prizren, Kosovo for lunch and sightseeing, then continue to Tirana. The city's colorful buildings look great in photos during late afternoon.
- Days 8-9
Tirana to Ohrid
Tour Tirana's main square and mosques in the morning. Drive 2.5 hours to Lake Ohrid. You'll have almost two days to explore the UNESCO Old Town and take a boat trip to St. Naum Monastery if you want ($45).
- Day 10
Return to Athens
Your final day includes a scenic drive through Kastoria and past Meteora to Athens. Plan for 8+ hours with stops, so book late flights if you're leaving that day.
Explore the Balkans
The 10-day Balkan tour winds through 6 historic cities from Belgrade's Kalemegdan Fortress to Dubrovnik's medieval walls. Local expert guides illuminate Sarajevo's war history, Mostar's iconic bridge jumpers, and Montenegro's Bay of Kotor.
10 Day Athens to Amalfi Coast Itinerary, incl. Meteora and Rome
4-day Balkans segment covers Thessaloniki's White Tower, Sofia's Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, and Skopje's Stone Bridge. Optional 25 EUR Matka Canyon visit available. Stay at comfortable hotels like Best Western Terminus Sofia and explore Prizren's Ottoman architecture.
- Day 1
Athens Arrival
Your private transfer from Athens International Airport takes you to your hotel. Looking for dinner plans? Walk to the Plaka neighborhood for better dining options than touristy Monastiraki Square. A previous guest noted: "Get to the rooftop bars early evening for stunning Acropolis views without the midday heat."
- Day 2
Athens Exploration
Start with a guided Acropolis tour, followed by the Acropolis Museum before the crowds arrive. Later, take a relaxing walk through the National Gardens. The morning tour schedule works best since temperatures are cooler and archaeological sites are less busy.
- Day 3
Athens - Delphi - Meteora
Leave Athens at 7AM for a full day (430km total). You'll reach Delphi around 10:30AM. After your tour, it's a 4-hour drive to Meteora. The roads wind quite a bit, so bring motion sickness medication if needed. You'll arrive in Kalabaka (Meteora) by evening. Remember to pack long pants or skirts for tomorrow's monastery visits.
- Day 4
Meteora - Thessaloniki
See the Meteora monasteries early for the best photo lighting. Women need shoulder coverings, but you can borrow scarves on site. After lunch, drive 228km to Thessaloniki. Spend your evening walking the waterfront. Want a local treat? Try the famous bougatsa pastry at Bantis, open until midnight.
- Day 5
Thessaloniki - Rila - Sofia
Today you'll enter Bulgaria and visit Rila Monastery. Pack good walking shoes for the cobblestone paths. Total driving is 350km including border crossing. Get Bulgarian currency at Thessaloniki airport for better exchange rates.
- Day 6
Sofia - Skopje
Tour Sofia's highlights including Alexander Nevsky Cathedral in the morning. Drive to Skopje (244km) in the afternoon. Border crossing usually takes 30-60 minutes. Take an evening walk in Skopje's renewed center. Keep some euros with you as many local places prefer them.
- Day 7
Skopje - Prizren - Tirana
Visit Kosovo's Ottoman town Prizren on your way to Tirana. Nature enthusiasts should consider the optional Matka Canyon stop ($25). One traveler shared: "Don't skip Prizren – the fortress view and local food were unexpected highlights of the whole trip."
- Day 8
Tirana - Rome
Tour Tirana before your flight to Rome. A private transfer takes you to your hotel. Buy a 24-hour metro pass (€7) for tomorrow's sightseeing.
- Day 9
Rome
Take the special Colosseum tour through Gladiator's Gate to skip the regular lines. Visit the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill afterward. Bring water and sun protection since these sites offer little shade.
- Day 10
Rome - Pompeii - Amalfi
Consider the full-day excursion ($150) to Pompeii and the Amalfi Coast. Leave Rome at 7:30AM. Wear good shoes for Pompeii's rough stone paths. In Positano, take the town bus (€2) to avoid the steep walk to the beach.
Balkans 10 Day Tour Packages You'll Love
Full of Greece Experience & Balkans - Small Group Tour
Explore the Balkans
IT - Athens to Rome & Amalfi - Greece, the Balkans and Italy Tour with 1 included flight
Balkan Revealed - 4 countries in 10 days - SMALL GROUP
Western Balkan Explorer Tour “Blue Route”(Espanja)
Idyllic Adriatic Adventure With Cruise
Highlights of Eastern Europe (2026) (Budapest to Bucharest, 2026)
Semi-Private Hiking Tour; Peaks of the Balkans in 10 days
10 days 9 nights Balkan sightseeing experience | Memorable tour
Premium Albania and Montenegro
What people love about 10-day Balkans tours
- Explore the Balkans
Awsm experience. Learned so much about the former Yugoslavia. Great guide, great group of travelers.
- Balkan Revealed - 4 countries in 10 days - SMALL GROUP
Our recent private tour of the Balkans, covering Bulgaria, Romania, Serbia, and Bosnia and Herzegovina, was an unforgettable journey, thanks to the exceptional service and expertise of our tour guide, Uros. Uros’ deep knowledge of the region's history, culture, and hidden gems brought each destination to life in ways we could never have imagined. A special mention must go to Ivana from Victor Tours, who coordinated the entire itinerary flawlessly. Despite us being based in Australia, the communication was seamless, and her meticulous planning ensured that every aspect of our trip was perfect. Ivana’s responsiveness and attention to detail made the entire process stress-free and enjoyable. From the vibrant streets of Sofia and the rich history of Bucharest to the charming landscapes of Belgrade and the poignant beauty of Sarajevo, Uros ensured that every moment was filled with discovery and wonder. His politeness and professionalism were unparalleled, always attentive to our needs and ready to go above and beyond to make our trip seamless and enjoyable. Uros’ ability to connect with everyone on the tour made us feel like we were traveling with a friend rather than a guide. He was always willing to share fascinating stories, recommend the best local spots, and accommodate any special requests we had. This personal touch made our experience truly special and left us with lasting memories. If I had to criticise one aspect of the tour, it would be the hotels. A couple of the hotels, although rated up to four stars, did not fully meet the standards we are accustomed to. However, this is reflective of the regional differences in hotel ratings. To enhance your experience, I would recommend requesting accommodations in very central locations, close to all the shops, restaurants and the centre of town. In summary, our Balkans tour was extraordinary, thanks to Uros’ exceptional guidance and Ivana’s impeccable coordination. If you’re looking for a memorable and enriching travel experience, we highly recommend embarking on a journey with Victor Tours. They will undoubtedly make your trip as amazing as ours was. Louise and Denis Melbourne, Australia.
- Semi-Private Hiking Tour; Peaks of the Balkans in 10 days
It is hard to express how close I feel to the people at Choose Balkans. I got in touch with them about this hike 3 years ago before the pandemic limited all my travel for an unfathomably long time. We finally got to go in sept 2022. Throughout those years I stayed in touch, often trying to plan again and never being able to. Every time they were kind, patient and honoured my initial deposits! We we finally got there (me and 9 other hikers) we had a meet up with the Choose Balkans team and they are all kind, funny, and well informed. My great thanks to Alban for his generousity and local knowledge on that night out especially. From then on it was hiking time! Our guide Erwin has global hiking and mountain climbing experience but it was clear his heart is in the balkan alps. He is a tough, capable guide but also a caring, intelligent, funny teammate. I cannot reccomend him enough. The hike was hard but exceptionally beautiful and I plan to go back another time as the changing scenery, weather, flora and fauna mean you would need years to see and do all there is to see and do. We have hiked mountains around the world, and these ones, while lower, are just as tough and in many ways more beautiful and mysterious. With choose balkans, and Ervin as your guide, you are in good hands no matter what happens on tbe trail, or off it, unrelated to them i needed to make some itinerary changes and despite our remoteness, transport, accomodation, opportunities were magicked out of this air. A really flexible and versatile team In short, i cant reccomend them enough. They bring trust, calm and humour, you just need to bring a sense of adventure