Voulant partir cet été pendant 2 semaines(aout quelle période ignoble pour les petits porte monnaies...)et aprés avoir feuilleté plusieurs catalogues de voyages, une destination nous est apparu plausible à moi et mes finances:la Bulgarie.Le hic c est de convaincre les copains...🤪Eux qui rêvaient plages et soleil(moi aussi j avoue😎)ça les a calmé...🏴☠️
Quelqu un aurait il des infos sur le pays?L été la bas est ?? Et la mer? L année dernière, avions trouvé un super endroit en Crète ou nous pouvions combiner playa et visites... et c est à peu prés la même formule que nous recherchons.Toutes vos infos sont les bienvenues.MERCI beaucoup!!🙂
Je suis allée en Bulgarie il y a environ 30 ans§ Eh oui, un de mes premiers voyages et je n'ai franchement pas été enthousiasmée. Les bords de mer plutôt bof bof et bourrés de monde. et à part la vallée des roses dans le centre de la Bulgarie et la cathédrâle de Sofia je ne me souviens pas qu'il y ait grand chose à visiter.ça a peut_être changé, mais je doute que ce soit en bien. Si je peux te suggérer quelque chose puisque tu as aimé la Crète il y a les Cyclades. C'est vraiment beau, ça vaut le voyage et il est facile de se loger dans des endroits un peu reculés chez l'habitant une fois qu'on a visité les endroits touristiques. Si tu pouvais partir dans la deuxième quinzaine d'aout ce serait encore mieux car de toutes façons du 14 juillet au 15 aout c'est un peu la galère partout. Si tu veux plus de détails remaile moi.Ce sera avec plaisir. Ciao.Michèle
Merci Michele!😊On ne peut po dire que c est la réponse que j esperais mais bon...mieux vaut une laide vérité qu un joli mensonge!!J avais reperé les canaries aussi...Fuenteventura...Je ne sais plus.Faut que je continue mes recherches alors.Je ne mangerai po de yaourt bulgare cet été alors!!snif snif!!Encore merci quand même...🤪
Nous on a adoré la Bulgarie (voyage l'été dernier), on avait un programme hyper ambitieux au début (la Bulgarie de l'ouest à l'est, en passant par le sud.... que nous avons réduit à l'ouest : montagnes et rando au sud puis visites en remontant progressivement vers le centre. Je te conseille les monastères qui sont souvent différents et aussi intéressants pour leurs bâtiments que par l'atmosphère qu'ils dégagent.
C'est un pays très paisible et accueillant. Même si les bus (moyen de transport national) sont aléatoires quant à leurs horaires mais avec un réseau dense et d'assez bonne qualité.
Pays peu cher, possibilité de loger facilement entre 10 et 15 euro la nuit.
Les paysages sont magnifiques (Melnik, Rila, koprivchtitsa...) et les gens que nous avons recontrés ont trouvés la mer noire très belle à l'exception de Nessebar.
Essaye de chercher des posts parus l'été dernier, il y a eu des échanges sur cette destination.
A EVITER ABSOLUMENT : le petit futé (horaires pas à jour, carte nulles, hébérgement partiel.... pas bien quoi) et changer l'argent dans la boutique à l'intérieure de l'aéroport.
Bref, la Bulgarie est une destination que je te conseille.
A l'époque on était très moto... Melnik, Goce Delchev, Trigrad, et d'autres endroits dont j'ai oublié les noms, mais partout un pays intéressant et des hébergements chez l'habitant....
concernant l'hebergement, il n'y a pas de soucis à se faire, généralement des gens t'attendent à l'arrivée de ton bus ou de ton train pour te proposer des logements, mais bien sur, attention l'arnaque, il faut comparer entre plusieurs. Pour ma part, je logeais soit en auberge de jeunesse soit chez l'habitant. Il y a une auberge sympa à Sofia, tenue par 3 copains qui sont super acceuillants, et qui s'appelle kervan hostel, ils ont un site internet je pense.
A Plovdiv, ça été bizarrement la galère, on était chez une grand mère la première nuit qui n'vait pas du faire le ménage depuis très longtemps, aors du coup on a changé d'endroit pour aller chez Svetla raiskikat - rue slaveikov, une dame charmante qui parle anglais et qui a plein de bons tuyaux à donner
Pour Veliko Tarnovo, on s'est adressé au syndicat d'initiative, on avait un petit appartement qu'un étudiant devait loué pendant l'été, mais c'était bien car on avait la possibilité de cuisiner.
Rila, là où on a fait de la rando et ça vaut vraiment, le coup, hebergement dans le monastère, ça vaut la peine même si pas de douche et eau du lavabo froide, c'est une expérience sympa. Sinon, à Rila, il y a un camping, on y est allés aussi, mais c'est plutôt sale au niveau des sanitaires. Alors quitte à choisir le monastère est peut être aussi sympa!
Pour la rando du côté de rila qui va jusqu'aux lacs (consulte un guide, tu ne la louperas pas), on a dormi dans un refuge, je ne me souviens pas de son nom, mais sans reservation de chambre au préalable, il faut EVITER car, nous avons dormi sur des paillasses très sales dans une sorte de grange probablemenent habitée par des insectes à longues pattes, et les sanitaires étaient tellement sales aussi que nous avons préféré la petite riviere pour la toilette!
Sinon, Nous sommes allés à Melnik, là pas de problème de logement, les gens te "ceuillent à l'arrivée', il ne faut pas hésiter à aller voir plusieurs endroits avant de se decider, ça ne les vexe pas. Nous étions dans une famille adorable, le nom???? PAr contre à Melnik, faire attention aux bus, qui sont rares et qui sont très prisés par les locaux et les touristes, donc parfois tout le monde ne peut pas monter!
Dernière ville : Koprivtchitsa : une adresse qui est aussi dans les guides : Boby, c'est la dame de Plovdiv qui nous l'avit conseillé, c'est vraiment clean et agréable.
Donc voilà pour les logements! Je ne suis malheureusement pas allée sur la Mer noire, manque de temps, mais si toi tu y vas, je serais ravie d'avoir tes impressions pour un éventuel deuxieme voyage en bulgarie!
Alors bons préparatifs si les choses se précisent!
🙂🙂🙂🙂🙂🙂🙂Sympa de se retrouver un an aprés nos premiers meals autour de la Bulgarie.
C'est vrai que votre voyage a du être trés enrichissant .🙂🙂🙂🙂🙂🙂🙂🙂🙂🙂
Par contre, tu dis qu'à Plovdiv, ç'a été la galere: est-ce que c'était par manque de disponibilité en chambre ou par le manque de chance de tomber sur une grand-mere pas trés maniaque?
Je voulais aussi savoir si vous aviez (ce que je pense) fait ce voyage en été?
En 92, je n'étais pas allé à Koprivtchitsa mais ça semble trés mignon.
Ton ptit hôtel de Sofia a effectivement un site internet, bien fait.
Je te tiens au courant si nous partons en Bulgarie et si nous allons sur la Mer Noire
Bonsoir,
oui effectivement c'est marrant de se mailer de nouvau un an plus tard!!!
Pour Plovdiv, c'était en aout, on est arrivé en fin d'après midi, on a tenté de trouver les adresses figurant dans notre guide, mais tout était complet... Avec nos sacs sur le dos, il fallait traverser la ville de l'autre côté de la colline pour d'autres pistes (plovdiv est tout en montées et descentes) et comme la pluie s'est montrée très menaçante, je dois avouer que finalement, on a pris ce qui se présentait à nous! Un conseil, de mémoire et si bons souvenirs : allez de l'autre côté de la vieille ville par rapport à l'avenue Batenberg, je pense que les logements les plus interessants se situent de ce côté là.
Sinon, as tu de bonnes destinations petit budget à nous conseiller?
J'ai Le souvenir de Plovdiv comme le plus belle ville de Bulgarie😮, donc nous tenterons d'y arriver tôt.
Tu déconseilles le ptit futé. eSt-ce que le routard est plus fiable? Je trouve qu'au niveau hébergement le ptit futé est assez riche....mais si c'est des plans galeres....As-tu aimé Koprichstiva?
Sinon ces dernieres années, je voyage de plus en plus "luxueusement" et donc mon budget vacances s'envole...
Par contre, je suis allé souvent en Espagne (le derniere fois en2001), et je connais des hostals -hôtels familiaux- trés sympas qui étaient d'un trés bons rapport qualité prix à Valence, Marbella (dans le vieux centre), Madrid.......il y eu l'effet euro mais je pense que c'est toujours interessant. Si ça t'interesse....
Question guide, regarde plutôt du côté du Lonely, peut être y a t il une edition en français maintenant?
Sinon, Koprivtchitsa... Ah, il pleuvait ces jours là mais c'était vraiment sympa, c'est un petit village, plutôt touristique ce qui est le point plutot negatif, mais sinon, toutes les maisons sont en bois et peintes dans des couleurs très vive, surtout en bleu. Elle est classée par l'UNESCO. C'est là qu'on a ressenti le plus grand décallage entre la vie moderne et les techniques rurales (voitures à cheval contre belles voitures dernier cri). Je pense que ça vaudrait la peine d'y rester quelques jours car les environs ont l'air très chouettes au niveau des paysages et des petits villages typiques, peut être moins visités.
Sinon, tes bons plans pour le Sud de l'Espagne, je prends!
J'ai laissé la plupart des adresses à quelqu'un à qui j'ai passé mes notes.
Néanmoins, je me souviens des nom et tu p trouver les adresses dans le retard ou le lonely
Marbella: hostal la luna: en 2001, en été c'etait 240 FF la chambre; dans le vieux centre, remplie de fleurs, tv, sdb complete et ventilateur
Valencia: hostal antigua morellana, tenu par trois soeurs adorables; dans le vieux centre, dans un quarter animé.deco de bon gôut, chambres completes c'etait en été ds les 275FF
je suis partis en turquie l'été dernier, en voiture via la bulgarie et je peux pas dire que j'ai super apprécier.
On ressent bien la différence entre les pauvres et les riches.
la plupart des plages sont privées, c'est comme un grand parc d'attraction, barrage et sécurité a 3km avant la cotes.
Touristes parker comme des betes!!! mais si tu aimes les vacances style ambiance 'GO' tu trouveras dans ses parcs des restaurants, hotels, bowling...ect mais autant partir a st jean de monts, de plus prévoir pour ses endroits une bonne bourse.
Anectote : on a pas voulu dormir dans ces camps et donc a l'extérieur avec le peuple, dans la voiture et au beau milieu de la nuit on cest fait ramasser par les flics qui nous laisser dormir a l'interieur de ses propres camps sur le parking de la police touristique.
Enfin nous on était en transit....... sinon la turquie super!
Tu parles des grands complexes de la côte..mais il y a l'interieur du pays, c'est ce qui m'interesse et sur la côte, il y a des villes comme nessebar ou Sozopol qui sont de villes anciennes: y es-tu aller?
Sinon, j suis allé 3 fois en Turquie et j'ai vu beaucoup de pauvreté à Istambul...peut-être est-ce pire en Bulgarie?
Eh bien oui ça m'interesse! Même si les prix ont certianement subi l'effet euro, on se renseignera mais au moins au aura des bons plans sans surprises!
A bientôt et bonne journée
merci pour toutes ces infos, je projette de me rendre en Bulgarie avec mon amie, en juillet, 3 semaines. on va tanter une traversée sac au dos du pays. J'aimerais savoir si quelqu'un possède toutefois pas quelques renseignements sur des coins à voir concernant des réserves naturelles ou simplement des sites naturels à ne pas manquer. enfin étant adeptes d'escalade, existe-t-il des sites intéressants?
Vos messages me motivent "vachement"...premières réelles vacances depuis...presque 2 ans, ca me donne d'autant plus envie de les préparer🙂
je suis allé en BULGARIE 3 jours en 2003 pour un voyage découverte avec THOMAS COOK.
j'ai été emballé de la destination. Mon séjour sur la mer noire à Albena m'a convaincu d'y retourner l'an prochain. Cette année je fait exploser le porte monnaie( croisière caraibes 8 jours, Guadeloupe 8 jours et Martinique 8 jours ) pour mes 50 ans!!!
En 2006 je pense y aller 15 jours au mois d'aout, avant qu'il ne passe à l'europe.
Le coté naturel de la Bulgarie est très sympatique à découvrir et de plus au mois d'aout les plages de Varna non rien à envier aux plages de la cote d'azur et il fait aussi chaud. Les hotels que j'ai visités sont très bien et francophones.
Envisageons de nous rendre en cc en bulgarie cet ètè.nous sommes a la recherche d'une carte en francais concernant ce pays.si certains d'entre vous pouvais…
Sites personnels des membres › Bulgarie · 2 replies
Je vous propose en toute simplicité ce modeste blog qui fait suite à mon voyage en septembre 2008 en BULGARIE, en particulier sur le complexe touristique…
Je cherche à partir en juin en Bulgarie pour randonner en traversant les Balkans, j'ai trouvé sur internet des infos concernant un trekking qui traverse le…
J'envisage de partir en bulgarie fin aout, début septembre. Je voudrais savoir quels sont les modes de transports les plus économiques au départ de paris, les…
Bonsoir a tous !!
Voila je voudrais vos avis et votre aide concernant une destination.
En fait c'est pour mon fils de 19 ans qui souhaite partir avec son cousin du meme age en grece.
Sa date de départ serait le 24 octobre pour une durée de 7 a 10 jours.
Pour son voyage il souhaite de tres belles plages ou il puisse se baigner , des beaux villages typiques et villes historiques , de beaux paysages , mais aussi des endroits festifs pour leur soirée. Bref , ils ne vont pas la bas que pour lézarder ..ils veulent en profiter...
Mais voila , est-ce que a cette période , la metéo ne sera pas trop juste , surtout pour se baigner ?
De plus , est-ce que pour eux , la crete ne serait pas la plus appropriée par rapport a leurs attentes ?
Du coup , un agent de voyage par rapport a la météo de cette période m'a plus conseillé de partir a Ténérife car la bas il m'a dit que c'est un climat identique toute l'année , mais trouvera t'il des paysages aussi beaux et des plages aussi belle qu'en crete ?
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?
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!
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?
Hi there,
we’re heading to Crete from May 8th to 15th, staying at a hotel in Agia Pelagia, 20 km from Heraklion, on half-board, so we’ll be back every evening. What daily itinerary would you recommend? We love hiking and discovering local cultures...
Thanks in advance!!
Hello,
We’re heading to Prague with so much excitement from June 10th to 20th. I’ve got three main questions for those who live there or have visited:
- What are your thoughts on what to pack clothing-wise? What’s the weather usually like at this time of year? We’re a bit sensitive to the cold—we live way down in southern Andalusia and are used to the *calor* 😎... Should we pack rain gear? Are we likely to get a lot of rain (which we’re dreading a little, but we couldn’t choose other dates)?
- I’ve seen there are "passes" for various attractions, museums, and sites, including one that’s valid for 10 days but costs a whopping 160 € per person—that’s an average of 16 € per day. Do you think it’s really worth it? We won’t be spending our days rushing between every indoor site; we also love wandering the streets and discovering things a bit "at random." If we do two paid visits a day, that’ll probably be the max... Can we make it worth the cost with that? Of course, we want to visit the castle and take a boat trip as a minimum. Are the sites included in these passes iconic, or are they more "minor" attractions? Does having the pass help us skip long lines?
- Finally, a question about communication: I speak French, obviously, plus Spanish and English fluently, but very little German (haven’t practiced in ages), and no Russian or Czech at all. My husband knows a few words of Russian, but it’s "Cuban" Russian—about the same level as my current German 🙂 !! Can we still get by without too much trouble? We don’t want to spend 10 days not saying a word to anyone and communicating only with gestures!!
Thanks for your valuable tips and opinions.
Hi there!
We’re heading to Crete (Heraklion) as a couple and I’d like to rent a car.
1) Do we need an international driver’s permit?
2) Are rentals super expensive?
Thanks everyone!
I’d like to know how much a meal costs on average in zloty in Poland (Warsaw, Kraków, Częstochowa, Wadowice), and also the price of souvenirs like postcards and magnets—so I don’t end up with too many zlotys left after my 5-day trip to Poland?
I’m just passing through the city very quickly (one afternoon, one night, one morning) and I’d love to see as many must-see spots as possible.
I’ve put together a little itinerary—let me know what you think!
Visit to Varosliget Park
Heroes’ Square
Quick stop in the southern part of Margitsziget (for the photo with the Budapest sign!!!)
Gül Baba Mausoleum and Rose Garden
Fisherman’s Bastion
Church of the Assumption of Our Lady of Budavár
Tóth Árpád stny promenade
Budavar Palace
Freedom Square
Parliament
This is just a first draft.
I still have a few months to tweak it.
hello
I’m looking for advice for a last-minute trip—about 3 weeks (half Montenegro, half Croatia).
I’m traveling solo, backpacker style (low budget, hostels). I’m 40 and love exploring cool spots—cities, beaches, mountains, sports activities, you name it.
I’m torn between renting a car or just going with the flow using buses once I’m there. A car would definitely be more convenient, but it might be pricier—plus, parking (is it paid?) and having to return it to the same place. My plan is to start in Montenegro (flying into Podgorica or Albania) and finish in Croatia, so I’d either need to do short-term rentals per country or one-way.
In Montenegro, here are the spots I’ve noted:
- Ulcinj and Velika Plaža beach
- A side trip to Lake Skadar and Virpazar
- Budva, Sveti Stefan, and Petrovac
- Cetinje and Lovćen National Park
- Kotor / Perast
- Žabljak and Durmitor National Park + rafting in the Tara Canyon
Is 8–10 days enough?
And in Croatia, I’ve got:
- Dubrovnik
- Korčula
- Hvar
- Split + Trogir and Krka National Park
- Zadar
- Plitvice Lakes National Park
- Croatian Istria / Rovinj / Pula
- Zagreb
Around 10–12 days.
Any tips on the stops (adding or cutting some from my list) or transportation options?
I’m heading to Pelion with my partner and then to Chalkidiki around mid-September (from September 12th to 26th). I arrive in Thessaloniki on Saturday evening and plan to spend a day there to check out the market (though it’s marked as temporarily closed on Google??) and, most importantly, enjoy the local food scene.
After that, I’ll head toward Meteora (Sunday evening/Monday), spend a week in Pelion, and then head up to Nikiti to finish the trip (5 days in Vourvourou) and explore the beaches of Sithonia. We’ll also make a trip to Afytos since I think it’s worth the detour.
About Pelion, I’m really not sure where to stay because the distances between Volos and Afissos aren’t straightforward.
I’m looking for a quiet spot but with a little evening activity—like strolling through a village or by the sea. I’ve seen a few suggestions via ChatGPT, but I’m not convinced about the vibe (Milies, Makrinitsa).
Volos is big… but kind of ugly.
We love hiking, spending time in picturesque/typical villages, and, like everyone else, tasting local specialties. As for balancing the trip, I’m open to changes or adjustments if you’ve got any tips—I’d love to hear them, along with any other ideas.
