Je rentres d'un voyage dans les Balkans et je reviens très déçu par le Monténégro. Le pays est magnifique aussi bien au niveau de la mer et de la montagne. Par contre le touriste est vraiment considéré comme une proie, surtout de la part des restaurateurs. Les prix multipliés part deux, des taxes de services qui sortent de ne je sais où, on vous refile les produit les plus chers si vous avez le malheur de commander sans le menu sous les yeux, bref une mentalité détestable. j'ai lu sur d'autre forum que le Monténégro était en train de payer cette politique car il y à deux fois moins de touriste cette année que l'année passé. Une taxe écologique de 10 euros est instauré à l'entrée du pays, les coffres sont ouvert afin de rechercher si vous avez des boissons ou nourriture en rentrant dans le pays. D'après ce que l'"on m'a dit, afin de pousser les touristes à consommer sur une seule bouteille est autoriser pas voiture. Le prix des chambres chez l'habitant sont passé subitemment de 50 à 100 euros
Avez vous ressentis la même chose cet été? Ou je suis le seul?
Attention sur le port de Bar, vous avez un chauffeur de taxi qui parle le français car il à vécu 10 ans à Paris et travaillé comme garçon de café, c’est un escroc, ne faites rien avec lui, n’allez pas dans les resto qu’il vous conseille, ne lui demandez aucun conseil pour la route, il vous expliquera que c’est difficile (complément faux) et vous proposera de vous guider moyennant une poignée d’euros, bref passez votre chemin si vous le croisez.
Non c'est assez commun et ça ne date pas de cette année... Il est habituel que des prix d'appels soient annoncés, à prix dérisoires, mais que les prix en question indiquant notamment des menus pour moins de 5 ou 6€ se trouvent convertis en plats à la carte dont le prix est doublé ou triplé voire plus!😕 Personnellement, j'indique toujours ce risque. ce n'est pas une pratique agréable pour le touriste qui se sent exploité comme un pigeon, dont seul l'argent intéresse! Malgré tout, ça ne concerne que les restaurants de la côte très touristique... et pas l'ensemble du Montenegro!
Avez-vous vraiment fait "tout" le Montenegro? N'est-ce pas présomptueux? Il faut être mesuré même si les critiques sont justifiées quand elles s'appuient sur eds exemples précis : une expérience touristique sur une période estivale, dans un temps réduit, permet-elle de vraiment évaluer les pratiques de "tout un pays"? J'ai quelques doutes sur le fait que les pratiques soient les mêmes dans une zone comme celle de Rozaje, Bijelo Polje ou dans celle de Bar, de la Skadar, du Kotor ou de Budva... Maintenant, le Montenegro est un pays "jeune", qui n'a pas encore imposé vraiment ses lois, d'ailleurs, les ambassades n'existent pas encore dans le monde, de même qu'une politique touristique mature comme celle de la Croatie, qui commence à développer des pans spécifiques de son tourisme pour conserver la manne touristique... Sinon, peut-on juger la politique douanière d'un pays? Je ne pense pas. La limite pour le transport d'alcools est assez répandue en dehors de Schengen...
Je parcours depuis pas mal d'année l'ensemble des balkans et de façon régulière, je ne pense pas être un débutant dans ma façon de voyager et d'apréhender les gens, il est anormal de retrouver certaine façon de faire dans le même pays, certaine manière de saler des additions ou dans la location de chambre, vouloir défendre à tout pris des attitudes de voyou et trouver des excuses à tout ne mène à rien. Le monténégro faisait partie de la Yougoslavie et à toujours été une destination prisée des touristes, elle est jeune dans l'esprit des touristes occidentaux qui la découvrent subitement; je vous conseille de lire ce que j'ai découvert sur le forum des balkans et qui va dans mon sens et qui prouve que je ne suis pas le seul à avoir été mal reçu:
Waouh! Je suis assez choqué de voir toutes ces nouvelles sur un si beau pays. L'anné dernière j'ai traversé tous les balkans et je n'ai jamais eu un seul problème une seule antourloupe de qui que se soit!
Au kosovo on a meme refusé que je paye l'addition dans un petit snack car on avait passé du temps à parler avec le patron.
Je suis vraiment très étonné de voir comment la situation à pu changer.
En tout cas, nous avons pas été fouillé, les chambres à Kotor pour 20€ la nuit ne se sont jamais transformés en 40€.
Si tout ce qui est dit est vrai, c'est triste pour ce si beau pays.
j'étais au montenegro en 2007 et j'ai été aussi tres déçu par les habitants, mais pas pour les mêmes raisons j'ai bien payé 10 euro par personne la location chez l'hab, mais c'était à Ulcinj, c'est peut etre moins cher je n'avais pas été fouillé à la frontière
Par contreà stari bar on a essayé de me voler de 5 euros sur l'addition, j'y suis retourné et on m'a remboursé au bout de 20 minles montenegrins sont les pires conducteurs des balkans et peut etre d'europeils dégueulassent leur pays soit-disant écologiqueles filles s'habillent presque toutes comme des...sur la cote, c'est le culte du corps et de la grosse bagnole de mafiosiles montenegrins sont tres malpolis
Et pourtant ce pays est magnifique. Si seulement il n'était pas peuplé de monténégrins. Je suis allé en bosnie, en albanie, en slo, en cro, en serbie, en hongrie, en allemagne, en autriche, au cours du même voyage. Les monténégrins étaient pires que tous réunis. En bosnie ou en albanie je n'ai eu aucun problème, je n'y ai meme ramenés que des bons souvenirs.
Je suis revenu des Balkans, il y a 15 jours (j'y suis allé en C3 depuis l'Oise) et hormis les prix et la taxe ecolo je ne suis en rien d'accord avec toi. Le pays est magnifique, les gens ne sont pas désagréable et même à Svéti j'ai mangé local sans me faire arnaquer. La conduite n'est pas catastrophique même dans les bouches de Kotor où la route est peu large. Si veux connaitre des gens dangereux en voiture, il faut aller jusqu'en Albanie.
Concernant la proprété, je n'ai rien vu de choquant dans ce pays (contrairement à l'albanie ... encore une fois).
Pour moi l'hébergement c'était camping ... et là c'est plus roots (douche collective extérieure sans eau chaude, mais cadre magnifique).
Pour moi c'est un pays à approfondir !!!
Pour bien aimer un pays il faut le manger, le boire et l’entendre chanter
Je crois qu'il faut dissocier la beauté des atouts culturels, religieux, historiques, naturels du pays de la mentalité des Montenegrins... Il est évident que ce n'est pas le pays le plus adéquat à mon avis pour apprécier les Balkans. Ceci dit, il faut aussi peut-être se garder de toute idéalisation. Ceux qui y vivent peuvent en témoigner. Evidemment, la déconnexion touristique est agréable et donne l'impression que tout est formidable, surtout quand on n'a pas rencontré de problème, de la même manière qu'une personne ayant été arnaquée grossira le trait, ou aura tendance à ne considérer que l'arnaque, en oubliant les bons points. C'est toujours très délicat de discuter sur ce plan là!
Tu n'es pas d'accord avec moi? Mais tu ne sais absolument pas ce que je pense?! C'est curieux quand même... Ca fait seulement 15 ans que je vais dans les Balkans, pour ainsi dire chaque année ... Je ne crois vraiment pas que mon avis sur le Montenegro tienne dans les deux lignes que tu as commentées... Ceci dit, je le répète : un passage dans les Balkans est toujours une vue détournée et souvent idéalisée, surtout quand on vient des pays d'Europe occidentale. Ce que je pense du Montenegro tient dans une 30 aine d'articles au minimum... 😊
Désolé que le prenne comme çà, mais ma réponse était plus destinée à Thierry qu'à toi (erreur de manip du forum). Car en effet je en sais pas ce que tu en penses ...
Pour bien aimer un pays il faut le manger, le boire et l’entendre chanter
Concrètement, les pratiques de corruption sont loin de baisser avec l'indépendance du pays et on est encore très loin d'une stabilisation ou d'une lutte. L'ignorer, c'est considérer le pays du strict point de vue de touriste, qui ne fait que passer, qui n'a donc pas une vision réaliste du pays, mais idéalisée. Les habitants le savent et le regrettent, bien que la lutte soit complexe dans les Balkans, tant elle est généralisée. Bien sûr, quand on va découvrir Kotor, Budva, la Skadar, le Lovcen ou Ostrog, on est éloigné de ces problématiques qui n'en sont pas moins saillantes et qui à terme pourraient mettre en péril le développement touristique du pays, s'il n'y a pas d'assainnissement et d'efforts massifs dans le sens d'un plus grand respect de la part des élites, des décideurs politiques et des friqués qui veulent installer leur main mise sur ce qui rapporte dans le pays.
entierement d'accord avec toi sur le monténégro j'y ai vécu 6 mois l'an passée et le pays est splendide et les gens généreux malgré que certain commercant te saute dessus des l'entrée du magasin mais il me semble que l'on a les meme en france!
Assez surprise de voir ce genre de commentaire notament sur la façon de s'habiller des femmes ... Juste présiser qu'ayant passé une semaine aussi dans le sud de la france avec une semaine de beau temps, soleil, les femmes étaient habillées en tenue courte ce ki me parrait totalement normal vu la chaleur ! ce n'est pas pour autant que c des ...
Je trouve ce genre de remarque totalement hors sujet et rien à voir avec le tourisme, partout en bord de mer les gens sont habillés pour et sortent les belles voitures c partout dans le monde !!!!
Enfin ayant aussi passée trois semaines au montenegro notament Suto more, budva, kotor et j en passe, la ZONE TOURISTIQUE, j'ai été acceuilli correctement sans problème pour ma part ! les prix ont augmenté ce ki parait normal vu l augmentation des touristes et le seul revenu du pays forcément il joue sur l environnement et les touristes malheuresements pour nous. Ceci dit un paysage magnifique, des plages superbes, les auto mobilistes respectent les limitations c plus comme avant vu le nombre fréquent de controle police !
La "taxe écologique" de 10 euros par voiture s'apparente un peu à du racket, c'est vrai, mais malheureusement, d'autres pays ont précédé, et pas forcément des ex-pays de l'Est. En Suisse, même si vous êtes en transit sur 5 km d'autoroute suisse, vous devez acheter la vignette autoroutière à 20 ou 30 euros (valable 6 mois ou un an). Idem en Slovaquie, en République Tchèque, etc.
Sur le prix des chambres chez l'habitant, il ne faut pas exagérer : ça se situe plus entre 30 et 60 qu'entre 50 et 100. En revanche, dans les hôtels, attention, à quelques "mauvais coups".
1/ on vous annonce un prix alléchant (du genre 28 euros) qui s'avère, le lendemain matin, être le prix "par personne" (il faut donc bien demander si le tarif s'entend "par chambre" ou "par personne")
2/ autre astuce, vous entrez dans un hôtel pour demander s'ils ont des chambres et à quel prix ; on vous répond "oui, nous avons des chambres dispo à 70 euros". Si vous commencer à repartir parce que ce n'est pas dans vos prix, on vous propose miraculeusement des "family rooms" deux fois moins chères (36 euros) pour des prestations équivalentes.
Ces méthodes sont regrettables, d'autant plus que les pays voisins tout aussi touristiques (la Croatie par exemple) ne procèdent pas de la sorte...
vous pouvez essayer www.studiomontenegro.com pour l'hebergement (250eur par semaine, ADSL, A/C... la vue sur la mer)
ou, si vous avez besoin d'une guide personnel, pour les sites touristique et pour la nature,
www.123guide.me
Nous avons été au Montenegro l'été dernier en voiture via la Bosnie et nous avons été toujours bien reçus et jamais les prix n'ont été différents de ceux indiqués sur les cartes.
Il est vrai aussi que nous avons fait pas mal de courses dans les superettes et les marchés mais tout le monde a toujours été très gentil avec nous. Peut être que le fait de voyager avec un bébé a aidé à ne pas être juste considéré comme des touristes à plumer. Toujours est-il que nous n'avons clairement pas eu la même expérience que vous que ce soit à Budva, Kotor, Pluzine, Tsra... chez l'habitant ou dans les motels de routier.
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 ?
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.
