J'envisage un circuit en Pologne, en amoureux et en voiture cet été. Je ne connais rien de ce pays, j'aimerais le découvrir assez largement, en prenant tout de même le temps de quelques balades pédestres autour des lacs... et quelques dessins/esquisses d'architecture si possible ... Est-ce que ce circuit est réalisable😮?
J1 J2 J3 Cracovie
J4 Cracovie/Zakopane
J5 J6 Région Zakopane
J7 Région Zakopane/Czestochowa
J8 Czestochowa/Kazimierz Dolny/Varsovie
J9 Varsovie
J10 Varsovie/Gizycko
J11 J12 Région lacs
J13J14 J15 Gdansk
J16 j17 Malbork/ Torun
J18 Poznan
J19 J20 Wroclaw
J20 Wroclaw/Cracovie/Lyon (avion)
Merci à ceux qui voudront bien répondre😏😏😏
Cordialement
Pythie
Pythie
Si tu veux que tes rêves se réalisent... ne dors pas!
Bonsoir,
Difficile à dire pour moi si c'est réalisables, mais je peux te dire deux ou trois bricoles.
Concernant les 3 jours à Cracovie, je ne sais pas ce que tu as programmé, mais il y a quelque chose que tu ne dois absolument pas rater, ce sont les mines de sel de Wieliczka, une pure merveille, sculptées par les mineurs eux-mêmes. La ville de Cracovie, la, place, la cathédrale et le château sont superbes, mais aussi la promenade dans les ex-remparts. Si l'histoire du XX°s t'intéresse, il y a aussi le camp de concentration d'Auschwitz (Osviecim, je crois, aujourd'hui, orthographe non garantie) à une dizaine de Km.
A Zakopane, je te conseille le fromage fumé, vendu partout et qui est très joli aussi à photographier. En revanche, nous, nous nous sommes faits arnaquer par la promenade en calèche en 2003: si tu veux la faire, bien te faire préciser la durée, l'itinéraire, le prix et ne pas accepter de changement de prix.
je ne peux pas te conseiller d'avantage, les lacs Mazures et la côte balte, je les ai faits en 1992, à l'époque dans cette région, beaucoup de routes étaient en terre et damées par des chasse-neige à chenilles, on aurait dit de la tôle ondulée, donc, on roulait hyper lentement , donc, ça avait prolongé les temps de route. Mais depuis cette époque, il a coulé beaucoup d'eau sous les ponts et j'espère que les routes sont maintenant carrossables.
Je ne peux que te conseiller pour d'autres voyages de calculer tes itinéraires et temps de route par Google Maps, cela te permettra de voir si c'est réalisable, et ce site est à jour pour les routes actuelles .
Bon voyage
Bonjour,
Je confirme pour les mines de sel, pour les camps d'Aushwitz et Birkenau c'est à toi de voir.
Zakopane, très jolie, la descente du Dunajek en radeau est sympa bien que hyper touristique.
Czestochowa, bof, la lourde polonnaise, plutot pour les croyants à mon sens.
Warsovie une seule journée ? un peu juste.
sur la route des lacs il y a aussi Torun qui est pas mal pour une pause.
région des lacs 2 jours, oui si tu ne fais pas d'activités aquatiques.
Gdansk, ne rate pas la vieille ville, les boutiques d'ambre, l'archicathédrale d'Oliva et son concert d'orgue.
Le chateau de Malbork biensur.
Ha, tu as mis Torun sur le retour, moi je le voyais plus en montant, à voir.
Torun-Wroclaw avec une pause à Poznan dans la meme journée me semble infaisable vu la distance.
A ta place je ferais ou la moitié nord ou la sud d'abord, et une autre fois l'autre partie.
Tu vas passer trop de temps sur la route et vous serez crevés.
Mais c'est toi qui décide.
à ta dispo pour d'autres infos.
routard080
Notre planète est si belle, combien de vies me faudra-t-il pour commencer à la connaitre ??
Je n'ai pas fait ce circuit en totalité donc juste pour préciser que Malbork est à 60 kms de Gdansk donc faisable en une 1/2 journée pour éviter de changer d'hôtel juste pour ça si vous l'incluez dans les 3 jours prévus ce qui me semble suffisants pour Gdansk.
L'état des routes en général impose une moyenne inférieure à ce qu'on peut connaître en France donc prévoir de la marge à ce niveau 😛
Merci pour ces conseils, il est possible que je supprime des étapes bien sur!
Pour Poznam, j'ai rajouté au dernier moment. Worclaw ou Poznam j'hésite!
merci encore de vos conseils à tous
pythie
Pythie
Si tu veux que tes rêves se réalisent... ne dors pas!
Bonsoir,
je confirme aussi: Marlbork, superbe, Torun aussi. Moi, entre Torun et la côte, j'étais passée dans la ville lacustre néolithique de Biskupin, très bien reconstituée: si tu cherches des architectures qui sortent de l'ordinaire, c'est unique! Idem, sur les routes autour de Zakopane, il y a de mignons villages en bois, que j'ai trouvé plus originaux et jolis que Zakopane "centre".
J'ai vu que j'ai oublié un mot dans ma réponse précédente concernant google maps: je voulais dire que "COMME" pour tout autre voyage, tu peux préparer ton itinéraire avec google maps, c'est très pratique, ça te donne une très bonne idée du temps que tu vas passer sur les routes. cela te permet d'ajuster l'itinéraire en fonction de tes désirs.
Ah oui, un conseil, que des amis polonais m'avaient donné et que j'ai suivi en 2003: gare ta voiture dans des parkings gardés. Attention, parfois, ils sont payants mais pas gardés. On m'avait mise en garde contre les vols, mais je n'ai eu aucun problème. Toutefois, dans les lieux très touristiques, je n'ai pas tenté le diable en me garant n'importe où.
Et si tu veux faire des expériences gatronomiques, je te signale les beignets farcis à la confiture de rose.
Si tu veux d'autres détails, contacte-moi en privé, je te répondrai de même.
Bonjour,
En fait de Gdansk à Poznan il faut compter au moins 5 heures de route. Donc pour visiter la ville et repartir sur Wroclaw dans la meme journée ça fait court.
Pour les parkings, effectivement, préférer les gardés qui ne coutent pas très cher.
De meme à l'hotel, mais avec une voiture de location immatriculée en pologne, je pense qu'il y a un peu moins de risque. Ne laisse surtout rien dans la voiture à la vue des passants.
La Pologne est un joli pays et les polonnais super sympa. Moi j'y ai de la famille et j'y retourne bientot.
Au fait, à Cracovie il faut absolument visiter le Wawel.
à +
routard080
Notre planète est si belle, combien de vies me faudra-t-il pour commencer à la connaitre ??
je pense qu'avec bp de discipline ce plan est a realiser... mais c'est vrai qu'il faut faire attention sur les routes. p.ex. le passage entre Gizycko et Gdansk et realisable, mais la route plus longue- c'est epuisante...
Krakow- si vous voulez voir les choses les plus importantes (donc: la vieille ville, le chateau et le quartier juif), un jour et demi peut suffir. Wieliczka bien sur.
Les environs de Krakow et Czestochowa, on les nomme Jura Krakowsko-Czestochowska
http://www.jura.info.pl/en/www/index.php?rid=3
les polonais en visitant cette region qui est en faite tres jolie, viennent voir le chateau sur Pieskowa Skala
http://images.google.com/images?q=pieskowa%20ska%C5%82a&rls=com.microsoft:pl:IE-SearchBox&oe=UTF-8&sourceid=ie7&rlz=1I7RNWN_en&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&hl=pl&tab=wihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pieskowa_Ska%C5%82a
Quelqu'un a dit que Czestochowa est importante seulement pour les croyants (et pour la plupart des polonais a cause de l'histoire et de la litterature- la defense de Jasna Gora au XVII-eme siecle). Il a raison, peut-etre...
la route Krakow-Zakopane ("zakopianka") est souvant tres embouteillee
J8 - si vous vous decidez d'allez vers Sandomierz et puis a Kazimierz Dolny, a ne pas rater, selon moi, les ruines du chateau "Krzyztopor" situe a Ujazd (situe a 25 km de Staszow- plus facile a trouver sur les mapes ;p)
http://www.krzyztopor.org.pl/en/ pas tres frequenté, helas.
des chateaux a visiter sur la route Gizycko-Gdansk: Ryn, Kwidzyn et Lidzbark Warminski http://www.zamekryn.pl/en/castle-ryn/galleryhttp://images.google.com/images?q=Kwidzyn%20zamek&rls=com.microsoft:pl:IE-SearchBox&oe=UTF-8&sourceid=ie7&rlz=1I7RNWN_en&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&hl=pl&tab=wihttp://images.google.com/images?q=Lidzbark+Warmi%C5%84ski+zamek&um=1&hl=pl&rls=com.microsoft%3Apl%3AIE-SearchBox&rlz=1I7RNWN_en&tbs=isch%3A1&sa=2&start=0
vous pouvez peut-etre changer un peu l'ittineraire et apres les lacs aller a Malbork (c'est un de lieu que vous vraiement devez visister) et puis a Gdansk (sur la route Gdansk il y a aussi le chateau Gniew qui ressemble celui de Lidzbark). a-propos de la region des lacs: il y a la possibilite de voyager en bateau entre Ostroda et Elblag (d'ou vous n'etes pas tres loin de Gdansk). c'est tres interessant grace aux paysages qu'on y voit (lacs, riviers, forets) et au systeme des canals (je ne suis pas capable de l'expliquer mais regardez des photos:
http://images.google.com/images?um=1&hl=pl&rls=com.microsoft%3Apl%3AIE-SearchBox&rlz=1I7RNWN_en&tbs=isch%3A1&sa=1&q=kana%C5%82+ostr%C3%B3dzko-elbl%C4%85ski&aq=f&aqi=&aql=&oq=&start=0 et wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elbl%C4%85g_Canal ) le voyage entiere prend 11 heures mais on peut faire seulement la partie de ce voyage et puis rentrer en autobus (vous pouvez aussi monter votre compagnon sur le bateau et l'attendre quelque part;) )
Bon, je ne facilite pas en nommant ces lieux... :) mais a Gdansk (meme que j'adore ma ville natale) vous pouvez aussi bien passer seulement un jour et demi - cela suffira pour s'orienter sur l'architecture (et pour entendre des organes a Oliwa ;) et peut-etre se promener sur le parc qui se trouve autour de l'eglise). si vous etes en forme, montez la tour de la Cathedrale Mariacka- belle vue sur Gdansk mais bp d'escalier ;)
deux jours si vous voulez aussi aller a Sopot (les touristes l'aime, moi, je suis accoutumee donc je ne suis pas sure s'il faut le voir ou l'on peut s'en passer ;) )- station balneaire, voisine de Gdansk. dans ce cas-la je vous conseille de passer une journee sur la vieille ville de Gdansk, et la seconde- a Oliwa d'ou aller a Sopot. Il ne faut pas changer le lieu d'hebergement, bien sur.
bon, la region de Wroclaw est aussi interessante grace a ses chateaux (qui se different de ceux du nord) mais je ne vais pas vous encore compliquer la decision ;)
excusez-moi mes fautes du francais mais je n'ai pas le temps pour verifier les choses en dictionnaire... si vous avez des questions, vous pouvez me contacter par message prive.
Merci pour ces précieux renseignements. Nous allons passer une vingtaine de jours en Pologne au mois d'août avec nos 3 enfants (5 , 7 ans 1/2 et 10 ans).
Pourriez-vous me dire combien coûte la journée sur la péniche (canal) ?
l'anne derniere toute la journee (11 heures) c'est 90 zlotys pour un adulte et 70 zlotys pour enfant, faut le diviser en 4 pour avoir le prix en euros. on ne paye pas pour les enfants jusqu'a l'age de 4 ans. Pour rentrer il faut environs 16 zlotys pour chacun pour l'autobus.
Mais c'est un parcours un peut trop long pour un enfant. vous pouvez aller p.ex. de Elblag a Buczyniec (5 heures) ou d'autres...
le lus interessant c'est de voir une ecluse et un saut (et bien sur- le paysage autour) donc vous pouvez regarder les noms des saut:
http://www.zegluga.com.pl/fr/page/43
et le comparer avec "timetable"
http://www.zegluga.com.pl/en/page/16
(j'espere que le site fonctionera bien chez vous, si non-ecrivez parce que la version polonaise est la plus complete, et la francaise- le moins, je crois...) et decider quelle partie de la peniche vous voulez voir...
c'est bien de reserver le voyage et le retour en bus (si vous en avez besoin) par le site.
Nous serons à Cracovie dans moins de 3 semaines, je prépare notre itinéraire, pouvez vous me dire s'il est possible de se rendre à Kazimierz depuis le château…
Après maintes interrogations, nous abandons (provisoirement) l'idée de monter vers Tallinn pour nous consacrer à l'Allemagne et à la Pologne. Grosso modo nous…
Je pars 10 jours en Pologne, au mois d'Août, avec mon fils de 18 ans. 3 jours Cracovie et ses alentours et la première idée était un circuit: la région de…
Tous, J'ai bientôt 22 ans, étudiant, et j'ai comme projet de faire un roadtrip en Europe Centrale et en Europe de l'Est pour 40 jours avec mon meilleur ami…
Nous sommes actuellement en république Tchèque a vélo et poursuivions notre route vers la Pologne et l'Ukraine. Nous prévoyons de rouler principalement au sud…
nous voulons réserver nos billets pour visiter le site de l'Acropole et du musée lié.
pour ces réservations, il faut indiquer des créneaux d'entrées.
pour l'Acropole simple : 8h30 le premier créneau
pour le musée 10h ? 11h ?
nous aimons bien flâner, du coup la question : si au bout d'1h30 nous n'avons pas fini le site, au sortir du musée il est possible d'y retourner ?
nous allons prendre les billets sur les sites officiels : les audioguides sont indiqués. des retours d'expérience ? sur les sites type Get your Guide les tarifs sont tellement plus chers avec mention d'audio guide, mais celà signifie t'il une meilleure qualité ?
Je prépare actuellement un voyage à Chypre pour fin Octobre. J’aurais quelques questions :
- Je compte visiter Nicosie, Paphos et Ay Napa. Que me conseillez-vous à Aya Napa ?
- Est-il possible de se déplacer facilement en bus d’une ville à l’autre ? ou avez-vous des chauffeur privé à me recommander ?
- Avez-vous des hôtels à me recommander ?
Tous renseignements ou conseils sont les bienvenus
Par avance merci
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?
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.