nous sommes un jeune couple qui partirons 2 semaines (eh oui....seulement....) en Turquie en juillet prochain (eh oui.....blindé de monde et très chaud......). ;)
J'aimerais connaître vos opinions sur l'itinéraire que nous préconisons (pour l'instant). Notre objectif: la variété! Ville, village, culture, site archéologique, paysages côtiers, plages et criques, excursion en bateau, randonnées, montagnes, nature etc. (rien de moins! ;))
Nous souhaitons faire 2 ou 3 jours à Istanbul... Ensuite, direction côtes égéenne et méditerranéenne. (par avion) On souhaite concentrer notre périple entre Izmir et Antalya environ... La cappadoce sera pour une prochaine fois! :)
Nous cherchons principalement 3 points de chutes pour ensuite pouvoir partir à la découverte des environs (nous utiliserons les bus et les dolmus), mais toujours dans l'optique de faire nos ballades en une journée pour ainsi revenir dormir à chaque soir à notre point de chute en question.
Par exemple:
point de chute: finike
à visiter:
Jour 1: olympos/chimère
Jour 2: l'île de kekova
Jour 3: Xanthos/Patara/Létôon/Pinara (lesquels devrions-nous faire en 1 journée?)
point de chute: Gocek
à visiter:
Jour 5: dalyan
Jour 6: gorges de saklikent
Jour 7: excursion en bateau "les 12 îles"
point de chute: ???? (m'aider svp)
à visiter:
Jour 9: Selcuk/Éphèse
Jour 10: Nous hésitons! (et j'avoue qu'ils sont tous assez éloignés les uns des autres...) Devrions-nous visiter Datça (pour sa vieille ville qui semble bien charmante), Le Parc national de Dilek (pour une ballade en nature sauvage....mais est-ce réellement possible en haute saison?), Alaçati/Cesme (trop touristique?) ou bien Pamukkale (très touristique, à peine possible de se baigner, très loin, mais une curiosité naturelle hors du commun...)?
Que me conseillez-vous entre ces 4 destinations?...
J'attends vos commentaires avec impatience et surtout, si jamais sur cette route vous avez un endroit à me conseiller que j'aurais oublié, qui n'est pas dans notre itinéraire et qui vaut vraiment le détour, faites m'en part! :)
Bonsoir,
Vous ne prévoyez pas de vous reposer? C'est un planning non-stop là, sans compter les temps de transport.
Déjà, n'allez pas à Datça après Selçuk, si vous étiez déjà dans le sud avant.
En venant d'Istanbul, soit longez la cote égéenne jusque à la méditerranée, soit descendez direct en méditerranée et remontez par la cote égéenne.
A mon avis ce sera : Xanthos-Létôon, ou Xanthos-Patara ou les 3 si vous allez au pas de course.
Pinara pour moi c'est à faire quasi à la journée avec petite rando sur place et pique nique.
Ce sont des sites très différents, Pinara plutôt nature et montagne, Xanthos-Patara, plutôt village et plage.
Pour le point de chute après Göcek, vous avez le choix entre la région de Marmaris (Bozburun et Datça), la région de Bodrum (pour rayonner vers des sites archéo et pammukale), ou plus au nord Kusadasi-Selçuk...
Les 3 sont très différents.
Un conseil gardez du temps libre pour l'aventure et les découvertes locales...
Nous reposer? Oh que non! ;) je sais que tout ça n'est pas de tout repos mais nous voulons en voir un maximum pendant ces courtes 2 semaines...
À faire un choix entre Pinara et Xanthos-Létôon, que nous conseilleriez-vous?
Et en parlant de randonnée en nature, je cherchais justement un coin pour faire une belle randonnée. En auriez-vous à me conseiller? Apparemment, la côte lycienne est réputée pour ça (mais je sais que ça prend plusieurs mois pour la faire au complet). Quel coin serait propice pour une randonnée d'une journée?
Est-ce que Bodrum et Datça, bien que très touristiques, sont des destinations intéressantes?
Pinara est un très beau site dans un cadre naturel incroyable. En une journée avec voiture nous avons fait Pinara-Tlos-Patara, le dernier site est très beau et surtout à coté d'une plage de sable ce qui permet de finir la journée. Nous avons été très déçus par Xanthos exception faite du théâtre.
En 15 jours oubliez Olympos très décevant et peu accessible préférez Phaselis (petite plage de galets fin aménagée à l'entrée du site) ou Mira incroyable site.
Pour Ephèse installez vous à Selçuk la ville est bien sympa notamment le soir, oubliez Aphrodisias ou Pamukale trop de route, préférez Didymes-Milet-Priène 3 sites magnifiques faisables en une journée en partant très tôt.
C'est un programme très chargé, prévoyez des moments de repos.
merci pour votre réponse. Et merci pour votre conseil concernant Olympos... j'hésitais justement... je crois que nous pourrons ainsi arrêter notre trajet à Kas... ou Finike? Pour quelle ville devrions-nous opter?
J'avais en effet envisagé Didymes-Milet-Pirène mais jai pensé qu'après avoir vu Ephèse, on aurait pu être déçu... mais si ça vaut la peine... Par exemple, quand vous dites que Pinara est un beau site dans un cadre naturel incroyable, ça me donne vraiment envie!! :)
J'aime les cadres naturels et les points de vue à couper le souffle.... :) C'est pour ça qu'on avait pensé d'aller à Pamukkale même si c'est loin... il s'agit d'une curiosité naturelle tout de même incroyable et unique... je ne sais pas encore... je suis d'accord avec vous, c'est un gros détour...
bonsoir,
près d'olympos enfin un peu avant la plage d'adrasan est très belle aussi et ce qui est sympa ce sont les petits restaurants installés dans le bras de la rivière - restaurants sur pilotis très originaux
plage de sable et peu fréquentée même l'été
entre kas et finikke sans hésitation finikke
kas est très touristique joli par contre pour y flâner un peu mais c'est tout
si vous voulez des paysages superbes allez passer une journée à kekova - entre kas et finikke là c'est vraiment super
louez un bateau avec capitaine, le mieux c'est de le privatiser cela évite d être coincés à 30 ou 40 sur le même bateau
pammukkale si vraiment cela vous fait un gros détour ne mérite pas le voyage
lorsque cela fait partie de la route oui à voir une fois ou sinon y aller pour les sources chaudes à quelques kms mais uniquement dans ce but précis ou pour aphrodisias
par contre la côte lycienne et les alentours de finikke sont superbes
pas mal de sites archéologiques peu visités exemple arykanda vue imprenable à flanc de montagne et quasi désert
bonne prépa de voyage
plus ça va, plus je commence à douter de la pertinence de Pamukkale dans mon itinéraire...le site semble incroyable mais il est vrai que pour la visite de ces bassins... d'une heure ou deux seulement... de toute façon remplis de monde, ce qui fait qu'on perd le charme naturel du site... il y a peut-être beaucoup de route à faire.... hummm..... choix difficile.
Mais pour rendre cette destination plus envisageable, n'auriez-vous pas des villages entre la côte et Denizli à me recommander? N'y a-t-il pas des endroits hors circuits tourstiques (mais tout de même accessibles en bus) où nous pourrions découvrir la turquie un peu plus rurale et typique?
Bonjour,
entre les deux une escale que je trouve agréable et calme le lac d'egirdir
vous avez de charmantes pensions au bord du lac - ma préférée gol pension - à prix très doux
petite bourgade typique où les gens sont charmants
si cela vous tente
n'hésitez pas à me demander d'autres rens dans la mesure où je peux bien sûr
nous faisons de l itinérant en voiture donc ce n'est pas la même chose
si vous allez à pammukkale le venus hotel est très bien
bonne journée
maryline
oui t'as raison... egirdir m'a l'air tout à fait charmant... mais j'ai peur que ce soit un peu trop loin de notre itinéraire encore une fois..... car nous prévoyons prendre l'avion pour le retour (antalya-istanbul). Donc pas trop sur notre chemin.... dommage....
je t'avoue que ça se précise dans ma tête du côté de la côte lycienne. Finalement on prévoit s'arrêter à Fethiye, d'où nous irons faire une excursion à Dalyan, le lendemain une petite randonnée du côté de Faralya. Puis ensuite on souhaite faire la blue cruise de 4 jours-3nuits en gulet entre Fethiye et Olympos (Demre en réalité). Cela nous permettra de voir (d'une façon différente et plus relaxante...) différents endroits qu'on voulait voir mais sans nécessairement y passer une journée complète. C'est donc l'idéal... on passe en bateau à plusieurs endroits comme: Samanlik Bay, Oludeniz, butterfly valley, St. Nicholas Island, kalkan bay, kas, île de kekova, Gokkaya Bay and Pirates Cave. On termine ainsi à Demre + un transfert en autobus vers Olympos.
Je pensais arrêter à Finike au lieu de faire le transfert jusqu'à Olympos pour notre dernière nuit. Le lendemain, bus vers Antalya et avion retour istanbul.
Mon point d'interrogation se situe donc surtout entre Izmir et Dalyan.
Et compte tenu de notre itinéraire, il nous resterait plus que 3 jours... et on aimerait inclure
Est-ce qu'Ephèse peut se faire en une demi-journée? Ou il faut vraiment une journée complète? Car notre plan serait d'arriver à Izmir tôt le matin (avion depuis Istanbul), prendre le bus jusqu'à Selçuk (puisque tu nous le conseilles....et je suis plutôt d'accord avec l'idée de dormir à Selçuk plutôt qu'à Izmir), pour ensuite check-in à notre hôtel puis nous rendre sur le site pour l'après-midi... c'est rock'roll mais on préfère passer plus de temps ailleurs. C'est un peu disons comme un passage obligé... donc si en 1/2 journée c'est faisable, ce serait génial! ;)
Après tous vos bons conseils, voici notre nouvel itinéraire! :) merci de me dire ce que vous en pensez.
1. Istanbul
2. Istanbul
3. Istanbul
4. avion Izmir + bus direct selçuk (tôt le matin), visite Éphèse en après-midi
5. Priène-Milet-Didim
6. bus vers Fethiye + ??? pm (pas envie de visiter fethiye...un truc sympa dans le coin? une petite rando de 2-3h?)
7. dalyan
8. départ excursion bateau 4jours (butterfly valley, kaklan, kas, kekova)
9. excursion bateau
10. excursion bateau
11. fin excursion bateau (matin), vers Finike, Arycanda en pm
12. vers Antalya, visite vieille ville (ou autre chose dans le coin? termessos nous semble très difficile d'accès en transports publics :(
13. retour avion.
peut-être devrions-nous prévilégier Termessos au lieu d'Arycanda? je sais que certaines journées seront rock'n roll mais avec la petite croisière de 4 jours, on aura tout le temps de relaxer! ;)
J'en profite pour rebondir sur cette discussion. je pars fin avril début mai pour 2 semaines. Les grandes lignes sont tracées mais j'aimerai votre avis.
J1: Arrivé à Istanbul a 22h30
J2/J3/J4/J5 : Quatre jours complets à Istanbul, histoire de pouvoir bien profiter de la ville.
J6: Vol pour Kayseri à 8h30 arrivé à 10h puis transfert à Goreme. Rando dans l'après midi
J7/J8/J9 : Visite des principaux sites: villes troglodytes, rando, une journée location de voiture pour aller randonner dans le canyon d'Ilhara + une matinée monglofière, les villages typiques. Départ le soir en bus vers 19h direction Fethyie.
J10: Location voiture Repos à Oludeniz, viste des tombeaux dans le coin au cas ou en fonction de la fatigue après la nuit dans le bus.
J11: Direction la baie de kekova, rando en bord de mer ou ballade bateau nuit à Kas.
J12: Deuxième journée dans les environs de Kas. Parapente? rando en bord de mer? VTT ? plongé avec tuba à ce qui parait c'est un bon spot. Je pense que l'eau sera par contre encore très fraiche vers le 5 Mai
J13: Départ direction antalya par le bord de mer. Arret en route pour profiter des criques ( on verrait aussi en fonction de la température de l'eau) , stop vers Phaselis ou Termessos mais cela ralonge considérablement surtout que l'on souhaite arriver à Antalya pas trop tard histoire de visiter la vielle ville (1/2 journée pour flaner). Nuit dans la vielle ville
J14: Avion a 11h d'Antalya.
En ce qui concerne les dates, les vols sont réservés, je suis flexible sur la partie Cappadocce et cote turquoise. Cependant, je pense que 3 jours et demi en Cappadoce seront nécéssaire vu que l'on aime bien les activités en pleine nature. Je me pose plus de question sur les endroit à voir entre Fethyie et Antalya sachant que la dernière nuit se fera à Antalya.
Sur le jour 10 est-il plus judicieux de filer directement vers Kalkan que Oludeniz ? J'ai volontairement éviter les gorges de Sakhlikent. ( WE dans les gorges du verdon et visite des gorges du Fier vers annecy au programme).
Bonsoir carreta ton attitude face au voyage me palit alors j'ose te demander et prend le temps de me dessiner un étinéraire parfait pour la Turquie, équilibre = moi et mon mari aimons tout plage archéologie , mosquée ou église, marché,
flâner architecture, histoire, et Rodes serait un +
Boujour, Je compte voyager pendant 2 à 3 semaines ce mois de juillet dans l'Est de la Turquie. Existe-t-il un guide de voyage décrivant cette région (je pense…
Je souhaite aller en Turquie début juillet pour 2 semaines, nous serons 2 adultes et 2 enfants. je souhaite visiter la Cappadoce, Istanbul et faire de la…
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Je vous soumet ici mon itinéraire de 8 jours entre Antalya et izmir avec une voiture de location: 19 juillet: prise de la voiture à Antalya et dircetion…
Hi,
I'm looking for info on the Pristina–Skopje bus route.
Can you leave from the main bus station in Pristina?
I’ve also heard about a bus station near the theater...
If anyone has details, I’d love to hear them—thanks!!!!
We want to book our tickets to visit the Acropolis site and the associated museum. For these reservations, we need to specify entry time slots.
For the Acropolis alone: the first slot is at 8:30 AM.
For the museum: 10 AM? 11 AM?
We like to wander around, so here’s our question: if we haven’t finished exploring the site after 1.5 hours, is it possible to go back in after leaving the museum?
We’ll be buying tickets from the official websites—audio guides are mentioned. Any feedback on those? On sites like Get Your Guide, the prices are much higher with the audio guide included, but does that mean better quality?
I'm currently planning a trip to Cyprus for late October. I have a few questions:
- I plan to visit Nicosia, Paphos, and Ayia Napa. What do you recommend in Ayia Napa?
- Is it easy to get around by bus from one city to another? Or do you have any private drivers to recommend?
- Do you have any hotels to recommend?
Any tips or advice is welcome!
Thanks in advance
Hello,
We're heading to Istanbul from October 7th to 12th. I’d love to do a dinner cruise on the Bosphorus on a more intimate boat (no show) with a private table and alcohol (wine, since it’s a birthday dinner). Could anyone recommend a reliable company (I’m not looking for a private yacht either) that organizes this kind of evening?
Thanks in advance,
Hi, I’d like to buy a ticket to go to Terezín from Prague using the Pid Litacka app, but I don’t know which zone to get the ticket for. Thanks for your help! 😊
Hi there,
After booking an Airbnb last January for this summer’s vacation in Sarajevo... My "host" canceled our reservation without any reason—this has never happened to me before.
Of course, now it’s impossible to find a place to stay at a "normal" price in Sarajevo with parking...
So we’re falling back on the capital of the Republika Srpska, Banja Luka, which had already crossed my mind before I booked Sarajevo.
I already have quite a few ideas in mind, without having dug too deep into the region yet.
But if anyone has already been there and has suggestions? Even for restaurants—I’m all ears!
And even if it’s not right next door, I’m planning to spend a day in Sarajevo!
Hi, I’m going to Turkey for 3 weeks. I’ve heard that you can’t book through Booking.com once you’re there and that everything has to be reserved in advance. Is it true that Booking.com doesn’t work in Turkey? Thanks to anyone who’s already been or is there—if it’s true, how do you handle bookings?
I’d love to get your opinions and advice on a destination.
It’s actually for my 19-year-old son who wants to go to Greece with his cousin, who’s the same age.
They’re looking at leaving on October 24th for 7 to 10 days.
For their trip, they want gorgeous beaches where they can swim, beautiful typical villages and historic cities, stunning landscapes, but also lively spots for their nights out. In short, they’re not just going there to laze around—they want to make the most of it...
But here’s the thing: will the weather be too iffy at that time, especially for swimming?
Also, would Crete be the best choice for what they’re looking for?
Then, a travel agent suggested Tenerife instead because of the weather at that time of year—he said the climate there is the same all year round. But will they find landscapes and beaches as beautiful as in Crete?
Hello!
I’m planning a trip to Greece in May or June 2027. We’re independent travelers.
We’ll rent a car after our stay in Athens and book accommodations through Booking or similar sites.
What do you think of this itinerary? We’re taking our time (beach and swimming if the weather allows in May—is the water too cold?)
Athens, 3 days
Nafplio, 3 days (Mycenae, Epidaurus, Archaia)
Mystras, 2 days or Monemvasia, 2 days (Laconia peninsula)?? Dilemma between the two
Return trip from the Peloponnese via the Rio-Antirrio bridge
Nafpaktos, 1 night
Arachova, 2 days (Delphi, Osios Loukas Monastery)
Return to Athens and departure
Is it crowded in May or June for visits to archaeological sites?
Thanks for your suggestions or corrections!
Hi there,
Our first trip to Greece as a couple. We're planning to spend 7 days in Greece from August 30th to September 5th. We'll reserve 2 days for Athens at the end of the trip. For the remaining 5 days, we want to visit an island—any recommendations? Thanks for your tips and details, we really appreciate it.
Hi,
What tips can you give me for dealing with a car rental scam attempt in Lithuania?
In our case, it’s the Avis-Budget agency in Vilnius trying to scam us.
We rented a car at Vilnius Airport for 2 weeks on July 28, 2019, to return it in Tallinn on August 11.
We brought it back on August 11 at the airport, in perfect condition, and with a full tank at the gas station right by Tallinn Airport.
On the parking lot, the receptionist’s booth was closed. So we had to leave the car in the lot and go to the counter inside the airport. The person at the counter told us their colleague had gone for lunch!
But they refused to come out and do the inspection with us because they were alone at the counter.
They told us we could leave and that everything was fine!!!!
Two days later, we got an email from Avis-Budget with two invoices saying the car was damaged—scratched on both sides—and charging us for a full tank of gas. That’s two bills totaling 800 €!!!! Coincidentally, the deposit was 900 €!
It’s clear this isn’t over!!
Have any of you been through the same nightmare? How did you handle it?
Thanks in advance!
I’m spending 2 weeks in Crete in September and will need a rental car.
I usually go with Europcar, but comparing their offer to what Aegean Rentals has, I see Europcar is charging no less than 400 € more for the same car and similar insurance!
I’d love to hear if others have experience with Aegean Rentals, and if so, whether it was a good one?
Hi,
We’re heading to Greece in early October and will be staying in Kineta, north of the Saronic Gulf, and renting a car.
Is it feasible to visit Acrocorinth, Mycenae, Nafplio, and Epidaurus in a single day?
Thanks for your recommendations!
Hi there!
I’m sharing our itinerary for May/June 2027—23 days. This is our first time in Greece, so we’re starting with the must-see spots. We’re planning another trip later to explore the north, Thessaloniki, Macedonia, and some islands.
- Athens, 4 nights
- Corinth area, 2 nights (Heraion of Perachora, Canal, Acrocorinth)
- Nafplio, 3 nights (Mycenae, Epidaurus, Methana peninsula)
- Gefira, 2 nights (Monemvasia)
- Areopoli, 2 nights (Mani). Maybe add an extra night and stay on the peninsula??? Based on my calculations, the Mani loop is about 100 km—doable in a day, but it’d be a quick trip.
- Sparta or Pikoulianika, 2 nights (Mystras)
- Dimitsana, 2 nights (Lousios Gorge, monasteries)
- Olympia, 2 nights (via Lagkadia?)
- Delphi or Arachova, 3 nights (via the west coast, Galaxidi bridge) (Delphi, Hosios Loukas Monastery)
- And back to Athens.
This is just a rough draft for now. We’re planning to stay in hotels or book through Booking.com. What do you think? Thanks for your feedback and suggestions!
Over the past twenty-five years, I’ve traveled the roads between France and Moldova a good ten times, sometimes via Central Europe, other times via the Balkans.
It was while traveling like this—what I call "hitting the road the slow way"—that I realized something simple: our neighbors' neighbors are very clearly our neighbors too. And that’s not insignificant.
After a break of a few years, I’m planning to hit the road again in September, this time heading to Kosovo, crossing through Bosnia-Herzegovina and Montenegro.
Having gotten a bit older, I’ve no intention of rushing—no need to speed ahead of the music! 😄
I’d rather take my time.
I’m not looking to see everything, but to soak in the atmosphere of the places, always leaving room for the unexpected and for encounters.
I’m especially drawn to culturally immersive, authentic, and welcoming regions: lively villages, backroads, preserved landscapes, markets, local festivals, traditions that are still very much alive... and, why not, a few offbeat, forgotten, or slightly secret spots.
If any of you know Bosnia-Herzegovina, Montenegro, or Kosovo a little, I’d love to hear your suggestions for itineraries, stops, backroads, homestays, village festivals, or local contacts, for example.
Planning to return to Belarus in mid-August, I just realized that since last September, Poland has reopened several border crossing points, and for buses, this means connections like Białystok-Grodno.
Several bus company routes, like on infobus.eu, take between 3 and 4 hours.
Trains from Warsaw to Białystok take about 1.5 to 2 hours.
This has the advantage of allowing comfortable train journeys with minimal time spent on a bus.
Also, the Terespol-Brest border might have shorter queues if you still prefer a Warsaw-Brest bus.
Note that another route to Minsk, if you have a paper Russian or Belarusian visa, is the Kaliningrad-Minsk train. It’s long—around ten or eleven hours—but you can lie down and sleep. An option if you fly into Gdańsk and then take a short bus to Kaliningrad.
There are also Belavia flights from Minsk to Kaliningrad, but they’re expensive. The route is scenic:
In any case, this adds a few more options compared to what’s been available over the last four years.
Hi there.
I’d like to know what the daily budget is for Greece in December. I’ll be landing in Athens and staying there for a week, then heading to some other islands—I don’t have a set itinerary yet. Also, I’ve heard that in December, or early January, the temperature is around 11–16°C. Is that accurate?
Finally, does anyone have a good recommendation for a cheap but clean hotel near the tourist sites? I don’t need a TV or any other extras. Also, is Greece gay-friendly?
I’d like to know the opening hours of physical stores between Germany and Austria, and between Austria and Slovenia, that sell the PAPER STICKER toll vignettes that still exist for 2026—non-digital ones. I don’t think they’re open 24/7, and I can’t find the info anywhere.
Thanks
Hi there,
We’re planning a 3-week trip in late September with our camper van to explore Bulgaria and Romania.
What routes would you recommend, starting from the South?
Is there an option to take a ferry in Italy, and is it worth it?
Thanks for all your tips!😊
Hi there, we’re a young couple and we’d love to go to the Blue Eye (Syri i Kalter) between today (26/06/26) and tomorrow (27/06/26).
Is anyone heading there and could give us a ride? We’re super friendly!
Thanks so much!
We're back. It's still a bit tough to get precise info, so here's a quick trip report!
A good starting point is Shkoder, a really pleasant city. You can easily explore Shkoder itself in a day or two.
Two accessible spots: Valbona and Theth.
In both cases, local travel agencies in Shkoder or online offer round-trip or one-way access packages. Super handy, especially for Valbona.
Valbona and Theth are both very steep! There aren’t many easy hikes for less sporty folks (like me!).
Valbona: The highlight is the amazing 2.5-hour boat ride across Lake Koman. There are day trips from Shkoder, but you’ll only get a short tour of the lake. The best option is to do the full crossing—so spend a night in Valbona (or two if you want to hike in the valley) and return.
Theth is deeply nestled in the mountains. The village at the end of the valley, which is a dead end, has lots of hotels, but they’re pricey. Other hostels are scattered along the mountainside road, but it’s a steep climb down to the village or to the start of the two easy hikes (waterfalls and the Blue Eye). For us, it was a one-hour descent (and ascent!). It’s fine if you have a car; otherwise, keep an eye out for a taxi (cheap) or try hitchhiking—it works really well.
Access from Shkoder to Theth is through an agency. The road is in great condition, and you can also rent a car for 2-3 days in Shkoder. If we did it again, that’s the option we’d choose.
We didn’t do the trek and returned to Shkoder each time. I can’t speak to its difficulty, but we were there in late May, and even experienced hikers had given up because of heavy rain and snow.
Hope this helps! It’s a stunning region you shouldn’t miss.
We’re a Canadian couple, both 77, and we’re already planning our vacation for fall 2027.
Timeframe: mid-September to mid-October... dates are flexible, and we might stay even longer.
Initially, I had planned this itinerary:
Athens (3), Naxos (4), Paros (4), Santorini (4), then a flight to Istanbul (7–10 days!!). This would let us maximize our flights and experience another culture.
That’s a lot of ferries, though... I’ve already cut out Milos.
Our second option would be to stay 2 x 15 days on two different islands, but I’d still keep Istanbul as our next destination... or maybe 30 days on one island that offers the chance to take day trips to other islands where the ferry ride is no more than 2 to 2.5 hours. For example, Naxos to Paros only takes 30 minutes. We could return the same evening or stay overnight.
Naxos seems like the best option!!!
For Istanbul, of course we want to do a day cruise on the Bosphorus and see Hagia Sophia. If we stay 6–7 days, what would be the other main attractions? Are there any points of interest we can reach by local bus?
Hi there!
We bought our tickets to Greece at the end of November 2025, and let’s just say the geopolitical climate has really taken a turn since then with the war started by the United States against Iran. Not to mention all the other conflicts happening around the world 😕... Anyway!
Our flight from Montreal is on May 1st, and I was wondering how things are currently being experienced in Greece.
We were planning to rent a car and had already booked accommodations on three Cyclades islands!!
The oil shortage is also worrying us...
If you could share some insights on this, that would be great!
A little trip report from an 11-day journey to Albania at the end of April 2026, with two friends in their early sixties and beyond...
Our route: Berat, Gjirokastër, Himarë, Tirana
Here are some opinions, tips, and great deals to share:
Flight Round-trip Beauvais-Tirana: Ryanair, 260 € with checked baggage (20 kg) and seat selection. Flight was fine and on time. 2h 30min flight.
Exchange: 1 € was worth 95 lek in April 2026. We were advised to exchange in the airport hall at the Illiria counter (98 lek outside the security zone), saying we wouldn’t find a better rate. However, the exchange rate was 93 lek for 1 euro, while in the city it was 95...
Car rental at Tirana airport for 9 days via Booking.com: 144 € (56 € for the car rental and 88 € for optional full insurance deductible waiver).
Wheego agency: the car was fine, but be careful when signing the contract—they tried to convince us that the insurance taken through Booking didn’t cover everything and insisted we take their own insurance for 250 €... We refused.
After reading about driving in Tirana, instead of starting our trip by visiting the capital, we decided to head straight to Berat upon arrival and return the car at the end of the trip to explore the city on foot. This turned out to be a great choice!
Accommodations: All our stays were booked via Booking.com. Everyone prefers to be paid in euros and in cash—they mention this when booking.
Berat: 2-hour drive from the airport.
Accommodation: Vila Arben Elezi: 135 € for 3 nights with breakfast and private parking. The room was decent and clean but a bit dark, located slightly below ground level near the parking. However, the breakfast on the rooftop was excellent, especially with the stunning view of the "city of a thousand windows." Great location.
Berat was our favorite—there are lovely walks through the different neighborhoods on both sides of the river, each with a very different vibe. The citadel visit is also fascinating, as it’s like a small town within the fortress.
The walk along the river is pleasant, with plenty of restaurant choices. Other restaurants in the old town are also very nice. The White House Restaurant, on the first floor along the road, is good and offers a great view of the Gorica district.
Gjirokastër:
Accommodation: Te Ajdini Guest House: 120 € for 3 nights with breakfast. A private home stay. There’s free parking just before entering the city, a 5-minute walk from the accommodation, which is very convenient since the cobblestone streets are narrow and parking is tricky. Yes, it’s a climb to get to the place, but everything in this city is uphill... The room was bright and clean. Breakfast was very good, hearty, and served in the courtyard with a view of the castle. The guesthouse is a 5-minute walk from the city center (the bazaar) but in a quiet area.
Restaurants: Rrapi and Kujtimi—good and affordable with their little pergolas.
The old town of Gjirokastër is charming but very touristy, with streets packed with souvenir shops and restaurant tables and chairs. Lots of people.
-The bunker visit (near the tourist office) is very interesting: Cold War Tunnel.
The castle offers a beautiful view of the city.
-Visit to the Ottoman house Skenduli: very well done. Don’t forget to climb the ladder facing a trapdoor in the ceiling to see the roof’s framework—it’s like a forest of beams: impressive!
-The bridge Ura e Ali Pasha: A steep 45-minute climb from the city to the site is worth it, but once you reach the viewpoint (which is stunning), you have to go back down a path to reach the bridge. You can drive to the viewpoint, but parking is very tricky.
Around Gjirokastër:
-Just outside the city: Lake Liqeni i Viroit: a nice, ordinary-looking lake, but at the end, there’s a natural spring making the water crystal clear and a brilliant blue—really spectacular, like photos of Blue Eye near Sarandë.
-Drive to Përmet along the gorges: beautiful viewpoints along the way and lovely countryside.
Himarë:
Accommodation: Vila Kosteli: 120 € for 2 nights with breakfast—slightly overpriced for this type of place but very close to a small beach and not far from the promenade with all the restaurants. Private parking, but very tight (4 cars on a tiny lot along the road). The "sea view" room is a bit obstructed by the building across the street. However, the rooftop breakfast view is beautiful. Friendly staff.
Himarë is a pleasant seaside resort, quite calm (but it was April...). There’s a cute promenade with restaurants along the beach. The castle on the heights of Himarë is worth a visit.
Around Himarë:
-Qeparo is worth a quick stop, but Qeparo village is really worth the detour: a village lost in the heights after a scenic drive up from the coastal road—narrow but well-maintained. Beautiful view from the top and a charming village.
-The Big Bunker and Llogora Panorama: take a right turn several kilometers after Dhermi—a road that climbs steeply from the start... A breathtaking winding road that reaches 900 meters in altitude. The view is stunning.
-Several small villages between Dhermi and Himarë are worth a quick stop.
-Porto Palermo Castle is somewhat disappointing.
Tirana:
Taxi from Tirana airport to the city center: 15 € with electric taxis (Green Taxi, Bee Taxi, Do Taxi).
Accommodation: Hotel Nevi Apartment: 63 € for 2 nights. A private apartment in an older building but very clean and well-equipped, with a kitchen and small enclosed balcony.
Great welcome and contact—the owner even booked a taxi for our departure. Very well located, close to the main square, shops, and restaurants. A small supermarket nearby is perfect for stocking up on breakfast supplies.
The city is lively and dynamic, with plenty of green spaces and promenades. Buildings are popping up everywhere, often with surprising architecture—like a building shaped like a face, a huge golden cube, and many others under construction.
-Sky Tower: at the top, a rotating bar offers a 360° view of the city and its buildings. Drinks are a bit pricier than usual, but it’s totally worth it (6 € for a beer or a glass of white wine, 3 € for coffee). We were there for sunset, and it was amazing! A must-do. Arrive early, as it fills up quickly.
-The House of Leaves: a house used for secret surveillance and interrogations during the dictatorship... A great way to learn about the surveillance systems of that era.
-Bunk’Art 2: a bunker in the heart of the city—very interesting, covering the dictatorship period and its system...
-The Pazari i Ri Bazaar: the new bazaar district. The large hall is worth a visit, but souvenir prices are often higher than elsewhere... The area is nice.
Restaurant: Kastrati Restaurant—a bit like a canteen with lots of traditional dishes. It’s on the first floor of a building. Excellent value for money, and the waitress explains the dishes in French.
That’s a little overview of our trip and my personal impressions!
Albania is a beautiful and pleasant country to visit.
If you have any questions, feel free to ask!
Hi everyone,
We’re thinking of spending 3 weeks in Crete between mid-August and early September, renting a car, quickly exploring a few spots in the east, and focusing on the west, southwest, and south.
I’m worried about the heavy tourist crowds. Is it really more noticeable than elsewhere in Greece? Is there a way to avoid the crowds without missing out on the iconic places, which I imagine are stunning in Crete? Thanks for your thoughts and experiences!
Hi,
I'm heading to Greece via Albania soon. Does anyone have info on transportation from Gjirokastër to Ioannina?
Which company, fares, and schedules—it's not very clear with Google.
I’m just passing through Bratislava quickly (one afternoon, one night, one morning) and I’d love to see the highlights of the city.
I’ve put together a little itinerary—feel free to let me know what you think!
Start at the castle and its beautiful viewpoint
Visit the Baroque gardens
St. Martin’s Cathedral, quick visit
National Theatre
Discover the Cumil statues
Primatial Palace via Hlavné Namestie
Michael’s Gate
Grassalkovich Palace via Obchodna
Walk across Namesti Slobody to head back to the upside-down pyramid
Head down to the Blue Church
Cross the Danube to see Sad Janka Krala, then return via the UFO Bridge
There you go—10 km and a packed day!
What do you think?