Itinerary
- Day 1
Budapest to Timisoara
Your guide picks you up after breakfast and you'll head into Romania, crossing the border at Arad. You'll walk through this culturally rich Transylvanian town and see the City Hall Palace, Palace of Culture, and Red Church. Grab lunch at a local restaurant if timing works out, then it's on to Timisoara for the night.
- Start point
- Budapest, Hungary (Budapest)
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Hotel Continental or similar)
Included Activities
- Walking tour of Arad including City Hall Palace, Palace of Culture, neo-Gothic Red Church, Roman Catholic Church, and State Theatre
Optional Activities
- Lunch at a local restaurant in Arad
Landmarks City Hall Palace Palace of Culture Red Church Roman Catholic Church State Theatre 
- Day 2
Timisoara to Belgrade
Start the morning walking around Old Town Timisoara, a vibrant city with Turkish and Austro-Hungarian architecture from when it was the European Capital of Culture in 2019. Later you'll head to Vrsac to check out the recently reconstructed fortress and get views from the hills. Then cross into Serbia and continue toward Belgrade for your overnight stay.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Hotel Queen Astoria or similar )
Included Activities
- Walking tour of Old Town Timisoara
- Visit to reconstructed fortress in Vršac with views of the Banat hills
Landmarks Vršac Fortress - Day 3
Belgrade to Sarajevo
After breakfast your guide picks you up for a city tour of Belgrade. You'll see views over the Danube and Sava rivers and visit the medieval Belgrade Fortress. Walk through the vibrant Knez Mihailova shopping street and explore Belgrade's landmarks. You'll have free time in the city centre, then continue to Sarajevo for the night.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Hotel Hollywood Sarajevo or similar)
Included Activities
- Walking tour of Belgrade including views over the Danube and Sava rivers, Belgrade Fortress, and Knez Mihailova street
Landmarks Belgrade Fortress Knez Mihailova 
- Day 4
Sarajevo to Mostar
Following breakfast, take a walking tour of Bascarsija where East and West meet with unique oriental character and food from different traditions. Later visit Vrelo Bosna to see the natural setting and water sources. Head to Mostar and explore the Old Town and the iconic Stari Most bridge, a UNESCO site. Have lunch with a view at a local place, walk around the old town, try traditional Turkish coffee, then settle in for the night.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Hotel Eden Mostar or similar)
Included Activities
- Walking tour of Bascarsija, Sarajevo
- Visit to Vrelo Bosna
- Walking tour of Old Town Mostar including Stari Most (Old Bridge)
Optional Activities
- Lunch at a local venue in Mostar with views
- Turkish coffee tasting
Landmarks Bascarsija Vrelo Bosna Stari Most Old Town Mostar 
- Day 5
Mostar to Dubrovnik
After breakfast you'll visit Kravica Waterfall, one of the most popular attractions in the Hercegnovi district with great views. Spend some free time there, then continue to Dubrovnik, called the Pearl of the Adriatic. Check out the Old Town with its well-preserved walls and terra-cotta roof tiles that look like King's Landing. The entire town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. You'll have free time in the Old Town before your overnight stay.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Ivka hotel or similar)
Included Activities
- Visit to Kravica Waterfall
- Walking tour of Dubrovnik Old Town
Landmarks Kravica Waterfall Dubrovnik Old Town 
- Day 6
Dubrovnik to Tirana
You'll get picked up from your hotel in Dubrovnik and drive scenically toward Tirana. Along the way stop to explore Kotor, the famous city in Montenegro. With a local guide you'll see Triphun Cathedral, the archive museum, and the Wall of Shame. Spend free time wandering Kotor on your own, then continue to Tirana where you'll check into your hotel for the evening.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Albanopolis Hotel (or similar))
Included Activities
- Kotor city tour with local guide including Triphun Cathedral, archive museum, and Wall of Shame
Landmarks Triphun Cathedral Wall of Shame 
- Day 7
Tirana to Ohrid
Start with breakfast, then take a panoramic tour of Tirana to see Skanderbeg Square, the Skanderbeg Statue, Et'hem Bey Mosque, and the historic Clock Tower. Leave Tirana and travel through areas that were part of Enver Hoxha's communist state to reach Ohrid, known as the pearl of the Balkans. After customs, visit the charming Old Town of Ohrid with its scenery and cultural heritage, including views of Ohrid Port, Quarantine Church, Hagia Sophia Church and Monastery, and Samoil's Fortress above Lake Ohrid.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel ( Hotel Sky Corner or similar)
Included Activities
- Panoramic city tour of Tirana including Skanderbeg Square, Skanderbeg Statue, Et'hem Bey Mosque, and Clock Tower
- Visit to Old Town Ohrid with views of Lake Ohrid, Quarantine Church, Ancient Via Egnatia, Hagia Sophia Church, Hagia Sophia Monastery, and Samoil's Fortress
Landmarks Skanderbeg Square Skanderbeg Statue Et'hem Bey Mosque Clock Tower Quarantine Church Ancient Via Egnatia Hagia Sophia Church Hagia Sophia Monastery Samoil's Fortress - Day 8
Ohrid
Have a Macedonian breakfast in Ohrid, the pearl of the Balkans, then spend a full day exploring this charming town at your own pace. If you're interested, there's an optional half-day tour to Sveti Naum Monastery, a quiet historical place on Lake Ohrid's shores where you'll see the source of the lake and get views of the area. This gives you a chance to discover the cultural roots and natural landscapes of the region.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel ( Hotel Sky Corner or similar)
Optional Activities
- Half-day tour to Sveti Naum Monastery and the source of Lake Ohrid - 45 Euros
Landmarks Sveti Naum Monastery Lake Ohrid - Day 9
Ohrid to Meteora
Have breakfast and cross into Greece. After going through customs, head toward Kastoria, known for its Byzantine churches and Ottoman architecture with scenic lake views. Explore the city, then drive toward Meteora. You'll stay overnight in Meteora to rest and get ready for what comes next.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Alexiou Hotel (or similar))
Included Activities
- City tour of Kastoria including Byzantine churches and Lake Kastoria
Landmarks Kastoria Lake Kastoria 
- Day 10
Meteora to Thessaloniki
Start with breakfast before visiting the UNESCO-listed Meteora Monasteries. You'll get views and explore these cliff-top Byzantine structures. Meet your guide at Kalabaka and continue to Thessaloniki, a city with a rich history and vibrant culture. See landmarks like the White Tower and Arch of Galerius before settling in for the night.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Hotel Egnatia, Thessaloniki (or similar))
Included Activities
- Visit to Meteora Monasteries with monastery entrance ticket included
Landmarks Meteora Monasteries White Tower Arch of Galerius 
- Day 11
Thessaloniki to Sofia
Have breakfast at the hotel, then set out on a scenic drive to Sofia, Bulgaria's capital. Make a significant stop at Rila Monastery, an architectural and spiritual site in the Rila Mountains. This is Bulgaria's largest and most celebrated Eastern Orthodox monastery. You'll explore the intricate frescoes, architecture, and mountain setting to learn about the monastery's history and artistic treasures before continuing to Sofia.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Best Western Terminus Hotel (or similar))
Included Activities
- Visit to Rila Monastery with entrance ticket included
Landmarks Rila Monastery - Day 12
Sofia to Bucharest
After breakfast, take a comfortable transfer to Bucharest, Romania's lively capital. Along the way you'll have lunch in Veliko Tarnovo, a Balkan city that was the capital of the former Bulgarian Empire. Once you reach Bucharest, check into your hotel and then enjoy some free time to explore the city and soak in the vibrant atmosphere.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Hotel Lido by Phoenicia (or similar))
Optional Activities
- Lunch stop in Veliko Tarnovo
Landmarks Veliko Tarnovo - Day 13
Bucharest
Start with breakfast, then join a guided tour to see Bucharest's iconic sights including Revolution Square, the impressive Romanian Athenaeum, and the charming Villa Crosse Passage. Walk through the historic Old Town and see Manuc's Inn and the Old Princely Court. After sightseeing, enjoy free time to explore at your own pace.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Hotel Lido by Phoenicia (or similar))
Included Activities
- Guided city tour of Bucharest with licensed guide including Revolution Square, Romanian Athenaeum, Villa Crosse Passage, Old Town, Manuc's Inn, and Old Princely Court
Landmarks Revolution Square Romanian Athenaeum Villa Crosse Passage Old Town Bucharest Manuc's Inn Old Princely Court - Day 14
Bucharest to Sibiu
Get an early start with breakfast. Your first stop is Sinaia where you'll visit Peles Castle, a 19th century castle built by the Romanian royal family and kept as it was over a century ago. Continue to Bran Castle, also called Dracula's Castle, where you'll learn the real story of Vlad Dracula inside this 14th century fortress. In the afternoon, continue on to Sibiu for your overnight stay.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Hotel Golden Tulip or similar )
Included Activities
- Visit to Peles Castle
- Visit to Bran Castle
Landmarks Peles Castle Bran Castle 
- Day 15
Sibiu to Timisoara
After breakfast, start with a walking tour of the Old Town. Sibiu was the first European Capital of Culture from Eastern Europe in 2007. Your guide will help you learn more about its significance. Later visit Corvin Castle, the most dramatic Gothic-style castle in Romania and one of Europe's largest, full of history and legends. You'll have free time at the castle before heading to Timisoara for the night.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Hotel Continental or similar)
Included Activities
- Walking tour of Old Town Sibiu
- Visit to Corvin Castle
Landmarks Old Town Sibiu Corvin Castle - Day 16
Timisoara to Budapest
After breakfast, walk through Old Town Timisoara, the vibrant city known for its Turkish and Austro-Hungarian architecture, which was the European Capital of Culture in 2019. Continue to Arad and take a walking tour of this culturally rich Transylvanian town, seeing the City Hall Palace, Palace of Culture, neo-Gothic Red Church, Roman Catholic Church, and State Theatre. Stop for lunch at a local restaurant if time allows, then head back to Budapest and finish your tour at your hotel.
- End point
- Budapest, Hungary (Budapest)
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Walking tour of Old Town Timisoara
- Walking tour of Arad including City Hall Palace, Palace of Culture, neo-Gothic Red Church, Roman Catholic Church, and State Theatre
Optional Activities
- Lunch at a local restaurant in Arad
Landmarks Old Town Timisoara City Hall Palace Palace of Culture Red Church Roman Catholic Church State Theatre
