Moi, je prends des euros, je paie cash les appartements/hôtels en euros et je change au fur et à mesure 100 euros pour avoir des kunas pour les repas, etc...
Oui c'est moins développé qu'en France, c'est sur. Ne vous attendez pas à utiliser votre CB chez le boulanger, ni évidemment dans le logement privé. Par contre la majorité des restaurants l'accepteront, ainsi que les supermarchés, les agences touristiques (excursions), les boutiques de souvenirs.
Perso, je prends une quantité de liquide avec moi pour les 3-4 premiers jours, et puis j'utilise les DAB qui sont assez nombreux un peu partout, et surtout dans les endroits touristiques.
Attention, souvent les retraits sont limités à 1500 ou 2000 kn (soit environ 200 à 270€). Après, suivant la limite de ta carte, tu peux enchainer deux ou trois retraits de suite si tu as besoin de plus.
Oui c'est de la monnaie locale, mais s'il t'en reste à la fin du séjour tu peux reconvertir en euros sans problème à l'aéroport de départ.
Les frais dépendent de la banque, mais en général de l'ordre de 3€ par retrait pour un compte français.
Les frais dépendent de la banque, mais en général de l'ordre de 3€ par retrait pour un compte français.
il suffit de bien choisir sa banque
les frais ne sont pas systématiques : j'ai une franchise de 50 opérations / ans hors zone € c'est à dire 0 frais
ainsi que la gratuité pour les virements de France vers un pays hors zone €
sinon comme bien souvent ; on dit à peu prés la même chose
et il y a tout de même des DAB partout .... et je ne trouve pas moins qu'en France
il n'y en a pas plus dans les campagnes ici que là bas .
qu'à Paris surement ....
mais à Narbonne non plus on ne paie pas le pain avec la CB 😉
oui
mais on s'aperçoit vite que quel que soit l'endroit ; banque ou commerce il ne varie pas tant que ça .
à moins d'acheter une maison .....
de toutes façons au premier achat en € on te rend la monnaie en kunas au même taux que si tu payais en carte .
Eric, Je suis entièrement d'accord avec Mathilde , du cash et encore du cash ! Tu reçois un bien meilleur taux de change si tu vas dans les bureaux de change (sauf à la frontière , à éviter)
en 40 ans de voyages intensif , je n'ai jamais eu de problèmes , même dans des pays dit à risques.
! Il ne faut pas rêver , les cartes SANS ou avec peu de frais ça n'existe pas , "ils" se sucrent au passage avec un taux bien plus bas . A ce jour dans un bureau de change choisi, j'obtiens 7,62 kunas par euro ! Je n'aime pas engraisser les banques sorry …..
bonnes vacances
Jack
les cartes SANS ou avec peu de frais ça n'existe pas
bref je suis un menteur ou un idiot ?
ma carte visa premier est GRATUITE
j'ai une FRANCHISE de 50 achats hors zone € SANS FRAIS et je vire régulièrement en Croatie et en Bosnie SANS FRAIS
et je n'ai aucun frais " déguisé " ni ponction
en 40 ans de voyages intensif, je n'ai jamais eu de problèmes, même dans des pays dit à risques.
heu ; moi aussi j'ai un peu vécu .....
Tu reçois un bien meilleur taux de change si tu vas dans les bureaux de change
j'ai eu un meilleurs taux à l'épicerie de Krvavica et à la marina qu'à la splitska banka ou dans un bureau de change
Je n'aime pas engraisser les banques sorry …..
ça tombe bien moi non plus
et c'est sur ; vu le taux de change ; c'est trés pratique de se balader avec une valise de billets et de pièces quand on reste plus de 15 jours .....
alors oui Mathilde a raison ; il faut prendre des € et changer à la demande mais il ne faut pas tomber dans la psychose avec les cartes bancaires .
quand on va par exemple dans un restau , au moment de payer le serveur ne présente qu'une seule note ; pas une si on paye en cash ou une si on paye en carte !!!!
enfin Mathilde
tu ne vas pas t'y mettre aussi😕
je ne suis pas complètement débile au point de changer dans un endroit qui m'arnaque
tu crois que depuis toutes ces années je n'ai pas tout essayé ?
en plus ; les petits bureaux qu'on trouve sur la route entre Kozina et Rupa sont trés pratiques et pas prohibitifs du tout .
le taux de change qui apparaît sur le relevé correspond à celui annoncé au moment de payer :
si je ne dépasse pas les 50 opérations/ an JE N'AI PAS DE FRAIS .
en quoi faut il le dire
là la discussion est comme d'habitude en train de glisser tout doucement sur un comparatif des banques
si certains se sentent rassurés et heureux de se faire ponctionner sans certains établissements ; grands bien leur fasse et libre à eux
mais il existe d'autres solutions . Et on n'est pas dans le grand complot mondial .
bon WE
Thierry ,
Je suis navré si je remet le couvert …. mais le taux change entre Kozina et Rupa est parmi les plus mauvais que tu puisses trouver en Croatie ! Je m'explique : tu changes tes euros à 7,2 7,3 kuna/euro et à Rijeka dans un change c'est gentiment 7,62 la semaine passée ! Donc tu n'as pas tout essayé . J'habite tout près et je connais très bien la combine ! Avec ta carte "gratuite" en aucun cas tu auras ce taux de change (actuel) ils se sucrent au passage avec un taux "bancaire" …
Rien n'est gratuit chez les banquiers …
Je m'excuse de te faire la leçon mais je parle en connaissance de cause !
Sans rancune , c'est ton argent , pas le mien …
Jack
Le problème, c'est que ce que tu dis n'est pas clair pour moi...
J'ai bien compris que tu as une carte X qui te permet de faire quelques retraits sans frais, OK, moi pas avec ma carte suisse.
Mais, si je fais un achat avec ma carte en Croatie de quelque chose dont le montant est exprimé en kuna, je ne peux pas savoir avant mon retour et consultation de mon décompte papier le taux de change appliqué par Mastercard pour cet achat... Et, au vu d'autres achats dans d'autres pays, je peux te dire qu'ils se sucrent par rapport à du change fait sur place dans un bureau de change bien choisi... 😛
Le problème, c'est que ce que tu dis n'est pas clair pour moi...
oui ; des fois on a une idée en tête et elle parait simple et compréhensible alors je vais te donner un exemple que j'ai déjà donné plus haut :
tu vas au restaurant
au moment de l'addition il te dit ça fait tant ...
tu lui dis je voudrais vous payer en €
il te donne un chiffre avec application de son taux de change
et là que tu payes en cash ou en carte c'est le même prix 😛
maintenant que ta banque te prenne des frais ou applique un taux de change prohibitif ......
je ne vais quand même pas poster mon relevé de compte 😮
je répète que je n'ai de débité que la somme que j'ai payé avec mentionné la valeur payée dans la monnaie et la contre valeur en € .
c'est pour ça aussi que je dis que les bureaux de change du bord de la route ne sont pas plus chers que les autres . Et pourtant ils sont comme les banques ; ce ne sont pas des philanthropes .
je te donnerai le nom de ma banque en mp si tu veut
je ne doute pas qu'on trouve toujours moins cher .
maintenant tu prends ton cas personnel et tu dois ; je suppose ; devoir trés souvent changer de € en kunas
là on parle de gens qui vont en vacances 8 ou 15 jours ...
toi tu vis sur place et donc tu es pratiquement obligé d'avoir des kunas en permanence
J'habite tout près et je connais très bien la combine
moi aussi mais pas toute l'année ; juste de 3 à 4 mois / an.....
Avec ta carte "gratuite" en aucun cas tu auras ce taux de change (actuel) ils se sucrent au passage avec un taux "bancaire"
je viens de donner un exemple concret à Mathilde ; j'aurai le taux que j'ai choisi en acceptant de payer à l'endroit où je me rends ; point .
Rien n'est gratuit chez les banquiers …
pas tout mais les banques sont des commerces et certaines offrent de meilleurs produits que d'autres .
Je m'excuse de te faire la leçon mais je parle en connaissance de cause
aucun souci ; j'accepte les leçons et chaque critique est enrichissante quand elle est objective ; et là tu as visiblement des lacunes .
tapes " comparatif de frais bancaires " sur google ....
je ne vais pas non plus calculer le monstrueux manque à gagner pendant un séjour de 15 jours .....
complètement dérisoire
demande à un touriste qui a bien planifié au plus juste son séjour d'aller se paumer dans Rijeka pour gagner quelques € ......
sans compter ; mais j'ai sans doute tort ; que je déconseille fortement de changer de grosses sommes d'un coup ; ou alors il faut une valise supplémentaire ....
mais bon , quand on manque de cash à Dubrovnik ; un petit saut à Rijeka qu'est ce que c'est ...
alors pour toi qui habite à coté ; ça te fait une sortie mais sinon ....
bon maintenant ; tu sais de quoi tu parles et effectivement chacun se gère comme il veut ; je suis loin d'avoir ton expérience 😛
ça par contre c'est du 2eme degré
sans rancune et toujours amicalement et courtoisement
c'est souvent le cas avec certains sujets " polémiques "
chacun ayant son expérience .
je t'avais dit de voir quels frais appliquait ta banque ; si tu n'as pas de franchise pour les paiement s hors zone € ; utilise ta carte le moins possible ; voire pas du tout .
car même pour un paiement ridicule ( parking .... ) tu auras un minimum de frais de débités en plus pouvant aller jusqu'à 2 € forfaitaires .
prends toi un porte monnaie à poches et partage bien les devises ; surtout si tu vas en Bosnie je ne me rappelle plus si tu en parles .
en résumé prends plutôt des € et tout dépend si tu fais un circuit ou si tu restes au même endroit .
chez l'habitant : pas de carte ; que du cash et € TRES bien venus ( francs suisses aussi 😛 Mathilde 😄)
restau : au choix
carburant : tu ne vas pas faire 50 pleins ?
les souvenirs et petits achats : de préférence en kunas ; car là il y a de " l'arnaque " au change
Mais maintenant suis paumé
mais non ça va aller 😎
combien de temps ; où et comment tu y vas ?
ensuite je finirai par un petit moment de poésie : les avis sont comme les anus : tout le monde en a un ....
Eric ,
Tu m'inquiètes …être paumé à ton âge … les voyages demandent un peu de bon sens , de l'intuition , donc ne te focalise pas sur cette carte de crédit ! La Croatie est un pays civilisé , sûr , et il ne faut pas paniquer dès que tu sors de France , la débrouille tu connais ?
Relax et take it easy Man , la vie est courte .
Bonnes Vacances .
Le vieux Jack
Tu te ballades avec des euros, tu essaies de payer un maximum de choses avec. Parallèlement, tu changes 100 euros en kuna pour les endroits où l'euro ne passera pas (tu renouvelles au fur et à mesure ce change de 100 euros). Tu gardes ta carte de crédit pour les cas d'extrême urgence... en principe, tu ne l'utilises pas...
Devant partir prochainement en Croatie, j'aurais besoin de quelques infos pratiques: - apparemment, l'euro est pris partout; cependant je me demandais s'il ne…
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Voila nous partons sur le Séréna le 25 avril semaine 17 et sur nos escales il y a la Turquie et la Croatie.Pour l'argent, il y a des possibilités de faire des…
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Partons sur le Msc Armonia le 2 aout et malheureusement je m'y suis prise trop tard pour échanger des Euros en Kunas pour la croatie, savez vous s'il est…
Bonjour je voudrais acheter un billet pour aller à Teresín depuis Prague avec l’application pid litacka mais je ne sais pas jusqu’à quelle zone prendre le billet. Merci pour votre aide 😉
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.
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!