Amicalement
Itinéraire "Crimée - Carpates" en Ukraine
by Alain2540
This discussion is in French, the community’s main language.
Original post
En dehors de Kiev, nous consacrerons notre séjour en Ukraine à 2 règions principalement, la Crimée et la région des carpates (vers Kolommyya, Tchernivsti..) le détail des deux parties du séjour n'est pas encore arrêté.
Nous nous interrogeons sur la traverséed entre la Crimée et les Carpates? comment faire le trajet ? est-ce supportable d'un seul coup par le train ou le bus? faut il prévoir un arrêt de 1 ou 2 jours dans un endroit sympa, lequel? Le guide Lonely planet n'indique pas de bus ni de train direct entre Simferopol et Tchernivtsi, existe t-il une liaison en été?
Ne vous privez pas en outre de donner des indications et des conseils concernant ces deux parties du séjour, hébergements, sites à ne pas oublier etc? nous avons sacrifié Lvov pour mieux explorer ces deux régions (3 semaine au total de Kiev à Kiev)
Amicalement
Amicalement
alain Franche comté
Bonjour
il y a une étape qui vaut vraiment le coup entre les carpates et la crimée, c'est khamenets podolski (bien mieux que kolomya), ça necessite aucun détour et c'est vraiment une belle ville (deux jours en couplant avec la forteresse de kothyn à 20 km) ; en plus ça permet de couper le voyage crimée carpates en deux (vu l'état des routes, c'est vraiment long !)
Dans les carpates, vaut mieux la region de yaremache que kolomya. Kolomya merite une petite halte mais pas plus. Yaremche c'est au coeur des carpates avec pas mal de randonnées à faire autour, et les hébergements sont nombreux (hotel, chambre d'hotes). Entre kamenets podolski et kolommya, 2 ou 3 h de bus si ma memoire est bonne (idem kolomya yarmecha). Pour tcherniviti ét, je peux pas dire n'y étant pas allé ; par contre ce serait vraiment dommage de ne pas faire de détour par lviv, c'est une très belle ville, peut-etre la plus belle d'ukraine, et le retour vers kiev est très simple (beaucoup de laison en train, la nuit par exemple). En trois semaines, ce serait dommage de ne pas y consacrer deux jours.
Pour des infos sur l'hebergement dans les caraptes, hesites pas a demander si necessaire
Dans les carpates, vaut mieux la region de yaremache que kolomya. Kolomya merite une petite halte mais pas plus. Yaremche c'est au coeur des carpates avec pas mal de randonnées à faire autour, et les hébergements sont nombreux (hotel, chambre d'hotes). Entre kamenets podolski et kolommya, 2 ou 3 h de bus si ma memoire est bonne (idem kolomya yarmecha). Pour tcherniviti ét, je peux pas dire n'y étant pas allé ; par contre ce serait vraiment dommage de ne pas faire de détour par lviv, c'est une très belle ville, peut-etre la plus belle d'ukraine, et le retour vers kiev est très simple (beaucoup de laison en train, la nuit par exemple). En trois semaines, ce serait dommage de ne pas y consacrer deux jours.
Pour des infos sur l'hebergement dans les caraptes, hesites pas a demander si necessaire
Merci Fred
Je suppose que le moyen d'aller de simferopol à Kamenets (j'avais effectivement noté l'intérêt de cette ville grâce au forum) c'est de prendre le train de Simferopol vers Lviv, il doit arrêter à Khmelnytskyi ? d'où l'on prend un autre bus vers Kamenets? correct.
Merci pour le conseil des Carpates. Lonely Planet ne montre pas tant d' enthousiasme.
Oui, des conseils d'hébergement à yaremch, puisque tu y étais, sont bienvenus
amicalement
alain Franche comté
oui, la carte me faisait penser à cette possibilité. J'ai fait Chisinau-Odessa l'an dernier en minibus, j'ai un très bon souvenir de Chisinau. Je ne sais pas, c'est peut être mieux de prendre un autre chemin? Cela supprime aussi deux longues attentes à la frontière.
Mais la route de Chisinau à Tchernitsvi vaut peut être le coup, c'est comment ?
Merci bien cordialement
Merci bien cordialement
alain Franche comté
Salut
c'est vrai que le lonely planet est plus enthousiaste pour kolomya que pour yaremche, mais je comprends pas vraiment pourquoi ! kolomya est une jolie petite ville avec un ou deux musées interessants. J'y suis resté deux jours, mais franchement un suffisait largement. Yaremche n'a rien d'exceptionnel comme village mais c'est en plein coeur des montagnes alors que kolomya est à une bonne heure des carpates ; si tu veux faire des randonnées et découvrir le paysage des carpates, ya pas photo entre les deux.
pour les hebergements j'ai perdu le site sur lequel j'avais reservé mais je crois que lonely planet donne quelques adresses internet interessantes.
Pour aller de la crimée à kamenets podolski, pas besoin d'aller jusqu'a lviv, arrete toi a tchernivitsi, il te reste ensuite une grosse heure de bus pour rejoindre kamenets.je crois meme qu'il y a un train direct odessa kamenets mais ptetre pas tous les jours
Si je peux me permettre un conseil sur ton itineraire, reste 5 jours maxi à kiev ça suffira, pour les carpates et kamenets 5 ou 6 jours et vraiment jette un coup d'oeil a lviv. Si tu dois sacrifier quelque chose c'est kolomya pas lviv. Pour optimiser les temps de trajet, prend les trains de nuit, en classe 1 c'est très correct, plutot confortable, pas cher (une dizaine d'euros pour kiev-lviv je crois) et ça permet d'economiser du temps et quelques nuits d'hotel!
c'est vrai que le lonely planet est plus enthousiaste pour kolomya que pour yaremche, mais je comprends pas vraiment pourquoi ! kolomya est une jolie petite ville avec un ou deux musées interessants. J'y suis resté deux jours, mais franchement un suffisait largement. Yaremche n'a rien d'exceptionnel comme village mais c'est en plein coeur des montagnes alors que kolomya est à une bonne heure des carpates ; si tu veux faire des randonnées et découvrir le paysage des carpates, ya pas photo entre les deux.
pour les hebergements j'ai perdu le site sur lequel j'avais reservé mais je crois que lonely planet donne quelques adresses internet interessantes.
Pour aller de la crimée à kamenets podolski, pas besoin d'aller jusqu'a lviv, arrete toi a tchernivitsi, il te reste ensuite une grosse heure de bus pour rejoindre kamenets.je crois meme qu'il y a un train direct odessa kamenets mais ptetre pas tous les jours
Si je peux me permettre un conseil sur ton itineraire, reste 5 jours maxi à kiev ça suffira, pour les carpates et kamenets 5 ou 6 jours et vraiment jette un coup d'oeil a lviv. Si tu dois sacrifier quelque chose c'est kolomya pas lviv. Pour optimiser les temps de trajet, prend les trains de nuit, en classe 1 c'est très correct, plutot confortable, pas cher (une dizaine d'euros pour kiev-lviv je crois) et ça permet d'economiser du temps et quelques nuits d'hotel!
c'est sympa, tu me donnes envie de repasser à Chisinau. Le marché y est extraordinaire. Oui, je veux bien une ou des adresses chez l'habitant. L'an dernier j'étais dans un immense grand hôtel "Chisinau"
merci et amicalement
alain Franche comté
je te remercie. Tes conseils me sont bien utiles. je vais continuer à travailler sur l'itinéraire, mais pas trop, je laisse de la place pour l'improvisation.
J'ai l'impression qu'on arrive à trouver à se loger sans trop de problèmes au dernier moment? c'est ton avis?
Merci, bien amicalement
alain Franche comté
Je suis d'accord avec fred, Kolomyja ne mérite pas plus d'un jour, c'est une petite bourgade provinciale et il n' y pas grand chose à y voir à part un musée de l'oeuf de Paques peint !
Pour les carpates, je crois t'avoir donné les 2 itinéraires possibles en suivant les voies de train: soit tu arrives en effet par Yaremtcha, mais dans ce cas je te conseillerai d'aller plus profond, par exemple vers Vorokhta ou Yasinia, voire jusqu'à Rakhiv. soit tu arrives par la 2e voie d'accès en train, partant de Lviv tu arrives à Slavske, puis Volovets, puis tu traverses les sommets (tu peux t'arrêter aussi tout en haut) pour redescendre ensuite vers Mukatchevo, c'est déja la descente vers la plaine hongroise.
Si tu optes pour le 1er trajet, je te conseillerai en effet d'aller d'Odessa à Kamenets Podolski et Tshernivtsi (ces deux villes sont assez proches, trajet possible en bus). Puis de là tu peux aller facilement à Kolomyja et attaquer de là la montée dans les carpates. ou bien d'Ivano-Frankivsk, autrefois Stanislawow, qui est bien plus jolie que Kolomyja.
pour connaitre les trains tu peux essayer pour les grandes lignes ici : http://www.uz.gov.ua/?m=services.transppl.ScheduleOra6&lng=uk il faut insérer le nom des villes en ukrainien (fais un coupé collé à partir d'une page ukrainienne, ou du nom ukrainien sur la page wikipédia sur la ville en question 😉
sinon ici tu as les horaires vers et de Odessa (ne pas réserver par ce site, c'est cher et tu peux réserver sur place) http://ukraine-tours.com/transportation/train-schedule.php?id=10&name=Odessa
Amicalement
Deborah PS je crois qu'on a déjà eu une partie de cette conversation sur un autre fil sur l'Ukraine 🙂
Pour les carpates, je crois t'avoir donné les 2 itinéraires possibles en suivant les voies de train: soit tu arrives en effet par Yaremtcha, mais dans ce cas je te conseillerai d'aller plus profond, par exemple vers Vorokhta ou Yasinia, voire jusqu'à Rakhiv. soit tu arrives par la 2e voie d'accès en train, partant de Lviv tu arrives à Slavske, puis Volovets, puis tu traverses les sommets (tu peux t'arrêter aussi tout en haut) pour redescendre ensuite vers Mukatchevo, c'est déja la descente vers la plaine hongroise.
Si tu optes pour le 1er trajet, je te conseillerai en effet d'aller d'Odessa à Kamenets Podolski et Tshernivtsi (ces deux villes sont assez proches, trajet possible en bus). Puis de là tu peux aller facilement à Kolomyja et attaquer de là la montée dans les carpates. ou bien d'Ivano-Frankivsk, autrefois Stanislawow, qui est bien plus jolie que Kolomyja.
pour connaitre les trains tu peux essayer pour les grandes lignes ici : http://www.uz.gov.ua/?m=services.transppl.ScheduleOra6&lng=uk il faut insérer le nom des villes en ukrainien (fais un coupé collé à partir d'une page ukrainienne, ou du nom ukrainien sur la page wikipédia sur la ville en question 😉
sinon ici tu as les horaires vers et de Odessa (ne pas réserver par ce site, c'est cher et tu peux réserver sur place) http://ukraine-tours.com/transportation/train-schedule.php?id=10&name=Odessa
Amicalement
Deborah PS je crois qu'on a déjà eu une partie de cette conversation sur un autre fil sur l'Ukraine 🙂
bonjour j'ai voyager en slovaquie puis je suis passer par lviv j'ai pas trouver ça génial et pourtant j'ai écouter et question architecture il y a des maison mais là ou je vie ici à bruxelles c'est pareils meme pourquoi pas mieux dans certain cartier de la ville j'ai pas trouver les gens de lviv sympas par rapport à d'autres région de l'ukraine esque il y a une raison surement
et lue des forum défois les gens raconte n'importe quoi je crois que pour l'ukarien c'est la crimé et aussi kiev mais en été je conseils jamais d'aller dans de grande ville , car il fait chaud et question écologie vous savez la suite , par contre tu as une région pas loin de l'ukraine si tu regarde des carte avec toutes chaine de montagne
la slovaquie et la pologne sont les deux frontière qui partage de très belle montagne région à conseiller , les slovaque sont des gens très sympas calme c'est un peu vide dans certain endroit mais il faut faire un choix , j'aime l'ukraine pour certaine chose , mais c'est comme naple et florence q'elle seras la différence à vous de voir , mais je voyage aussi au brésil comme rio par exemple et puis dans le sud du brésil te voilà à florence c'est comme ça aller bon voyage
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Proof: https://etreounepasetrebretillien.com/2018/03/19/moldova-mea/ 🤓
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Proof: https://etreounepasetrebretillien.com/2018/03/19/moldova-mea/ 🤓
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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.
Thanks in advance for your tips!
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.
The official Polish page: https://granica.gov.pl/index_wait.php?p=b&c=t&v=pl&k=w

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.
The official Polish page: https://granica.gov.pl/index_wait.php?p=b&c=t&v=pl&k=w

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?
Thanks in advance for your replies. Best regards
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?
Thanks in advance for your replies. Best regards
hi
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
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!
Maya and Sullivan
Maya and Sullivan
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.
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?
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!
Thanks!!
Thanks!!
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!
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!
What are the main sights to visit on Rhodes itself or the surrounding islands, and what’s the weather like? We’re leaving on May 18th.
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!