Si vous avez quelques minutes, j'aurai aimé avoir votre avis (et suggestions) sur le programme que j'ai commencé à préparer pour les quelques jours que je vais passer à Budapest au mois de Mars.
Jour 1:
Le Mont Gellert (statue de la liberté, la citadelle, le belvédère)
Les thermes Rudas Apparemment mixtes les week-ends
Soirée à l'opéra (y être à 18h30)
Jour 2
Le quartier juif
Visite de la grande synagogue
Thermes Széchenyi
Le bois de ville, le château Vaidahunyad
La Place des héros
Jour 3
Pont des Chaines
Palais Gresham
Basilique Saint Etienne
Visite du Parlement (en Français en fin de matinée)
Avenue Andrassy (opéra, place Vorosmorty ter, rue Vaci Uta)
Musée de la Terreur
Arrêt au Café Gerbeaud
Jour 4
L'île Marguerite
Le quartier du château
Le palais royal, l'église St Mathias, le bastion des pêcheurs, la visite des catacombes
Jour 5
Passage au Marché couvert avant de reprendre l'avion (être à l'aéroport en début d'après-midi?)
Beau programme, et qui vous permettra de voir le principal à Budapest si vous arrivez à le suivre : il ne faudra pas traîner en cours de route !
Si la peinture vous intéresse, je vous conseille de visiter le musée des Beaux Arts, place des Héros.
L'Île Marguerite n'est pas à voir à tout prix, à mon avis. Et surtout pas s'il fait gris ou pluvieux.
Budapest est une ville très belle et très intéressante - le Danube est large et les ponts sont majestueux.
On peut se déplacer partout et facilement en bus, tram et métro.
S'il vous reste du temps allez à l'île Marguerite mais seulement s'il fait beau !
Les Ponts sont superbe et le Danube est une magnifique "avenue" Le soir ne pas rater la balade de nuit avec tous les monuments éclairés . Quand à la Pâtisserie Gerbeaud ... et bien j'ai bien aimé mais attention au ...tarif !!
De retour de mon séjour à Budapest, je viens vous remercier de vos réponses et de tous les conseils que j’ai pu trouver sur le site en vous donnant à mon tour mon retour.
Nous avions réservé au Boomerang Hostel, à la base une auberge de jeunesse qui possède également des appartements.
A notre arrivée, une employée nous a accompagné jusqu’à l’appartement qui était situé à 5 minutes à pied de l’hôtel.
Agréable surprise….Appartement grand, propre, confortable, avec une cuisine assez bien équipée qui nous a permis de prendre quelques repas sur place et surtout idéalement situé en plein centre de Pest.
Je vous le conseille sans hésiter….Niveau tarif, 168 euros les 5 nuits.
Au niveau du programme :
Jour 1 : - Passage par l’Avenue Andrassy et Visite du Musée de la Terreur.
Les explications écrites sont soit en hongrois, soit en Anglais.
Possibilité d’un audio guide en Français en payant un supplément.
Nous sommes restés près de 2h dans le musée, il est très bien exploité et rend très bien compte de ce qu’a traversé la Hongrie.
- Pause midi au Café Vian. Boissons + 2 salades bien garnies pour 18 euros.
Cadre très agréable. Nous avons mangé sur la terrasse avec un poêle et des plaids pour ne pas avoir froid. Personnel serviable et comprenant le Français.
- Après-midi au Thermes Rudas.
Attention aux jours où vous y allez, car en semaine, ils ne sont pas mixtes.
Nous y sommes allés un dimanche et avons passé une après-midi superbe.
Bains peu fréquentés par les touristes, entourés d’Hongrois.
Les bassins vont de 11 à 42 degrés. Il y a également sauna, hammam et salle de repos.
Tarif : 3300 Ft par personne avec cabine (uniquement pour les thermes, nous n’avions pas prix l’accès à la piscine qu’il faut payer en supplément)
- Montée au Mont Gellert de nuit après la sortie des bains.
La statue de la liberté, la citadelle et surtout une magnifique vue sur Budapest.
Rien que pour ça, cela vaut le coup de monter !!
Jour 2 : - Basilique Saint Etienne (malheureusement en hiver, l’accès au dôme est fermé) mais autant l’intérieur que l’extérieur vaut le détour.
-Passage par l’Opéra pour réserver des places. 18 euros pour 2 pour un ballet à l’opéra, il ne faut pas s’en priver.
- Visite du Parlement en Français. La visite dure environ 45 minutes et vous permet d’entrer et de voir les principales salles de ce magnifique bâtiment. Nous l’avions réservé sur Internet avant de partir pour environ 12 euros pour 2.
Attention, sur d’anciens guides, vous lirez que cette visite est gratuite pour les européens, mais ce n’est plus le cas aujourd’hui !!
Pour midi, direction le Marché Couvert.
Très beau bâtiment à l’extérieur et à l’intérieur, le délice des sens…les odeurs se mélangent…fruits, patisseries, paprika, salami...Au 1er étage, des souvenirs et surtout des stands de LANGOS…sorte de gigantesque beignet recouverte d’une crème aigre sur lequel vous demandez la garniture que vous désirez…pour moi ça a été Chicken and Cheese. Goûtez- y sans hésiter si vous n’êtes pas contre le fait de prendre quelques kilos en une bouchée !! Pour quelques euros, vous êtes rassasiés !
- Après-midi consacrée à la découverte du Quartier Juif et à la visite de La Grande Synagogue.
- Petite pause à la pâtisserie August. Moins tape à l’œil que la célèbre Gerbeaud, elle est douillette et accueillante et les gâteaux sont délicieux…Pour une limonade, un chocolat chaud et deux pâtisseries dont le célèbre Dobos torta, nous en avons eu pour environ 12 euros (contre 25 euros à Gerbeaud où les prix sont annoncés dès l’entrée). Nous avons tellement appréciés que nous y sommes retournés quelques heures avant notre départ pour goûter à d’autres pâtisseries !!
Après une promenade le long du Danube, nous avons testé le soir un restaurant dont nous avions beaucoup entendu parler et dans les guides, et sur Internet, le Trofea Grill Restaurant.
Pour 20 euros par personne, tout est à volonté…le buffet, bien sûr, entrées , plats, desserts, mais aussi les boissons dont bières, vins, champagne…Vous vous servez vous-même pour le buffet, pour les boissons, vous commandez au serveur.
Le restaurant est décoré avec beaucoup de goût, le personnel aimable et le buffet très copieux et pour tous les goûts.
Je le conseille en sachant par contre qu’il s’agit d’un restaurant pour les touristes, car à ce prix-là, avec un salaire moyen de 400 euros, les Hongrois ne rentrent pas !
Jour 3 : Journée au Bois de la Ville…Place des Héros, le château Vajdahunyad, le Zoo et Jardin Botanique et surtout les Bains Széchenyi…Nous sommes restés dans les bains de 15 heures à 19 heures et après dodo !!!
Beaucoup plus touristiques que Rudas, ces thermes sont néanmoins, à mon avis, à tester, surtout pour l’extérieur. Quel délice de voir la nuit tomber, le froid envahir l’espace tout autour de vous et être plongé dans une eau à 40 entourée des volutes de fumée et des célèbres joueurs d’échecs. 4100 FT par personne avec cabine.
Jour 4 : Ile Marguerite le matin. Nous avions longuement hésités, mais comme nous avons eu un temps magnifique, nous avons décidé d’y aller. C’est une belle promenade loin du bruit des voitures, un endroit où l’on se sent bien et dont où ne voudrait jamais partir…Voilà pour les sensations…après bien sûr, cela reste un immense parc, dédié aux activités sportives (pistes d’athlétisme, piscine…) donc pour ceux qui vont quelque part dans le but de forcément visiter quelque chose, passez votre chemin…
L’après-midi, quartier du Château à Buda.
Le château, l’église Sainte Mathias (l’intérieur vaut le coup d’œil même si il vous en coûtera 400 Ft), le Bastion des Pêcheurs, mon petit péché mignon, j’ai trouvé cet endroit magnifique, digne des contes de Disney !!
A noter : dans ce quartier, les restos sont souvent plus chers qu’ailleurs. Nous avons mangé dans une cantine destinée à la base aux employés hongrois du quartier. Assez difficile à trouver sans explication, mais si vous êtes intéressés, dites le moi, je vous ferai passer les infos. Vous mangez entouré d’Hongrois, typiquement hongrois, et pour quelques euros…Boisson, plat et dessert.
Visite des catacombes du Château…Très controversée, j’ai voulu me faire mon propre avis.
C’est intéressant de pouvoir traverser ces grottes d’un autre temps, pour autant je les ai trouvé très mal exploitées , pas du tout mises en valeurs et ne valant pas le prix demandé à l’entrée (environ 7 euros).
Soirée à l’Opéra…Faites le sans hésiter !!!! C’est magnifique !
Et changement d’ambiance pour la fin de soirée au Szimpla dans le quartier Juif, un bar à ruines. Une ambiance hors du commun qui vaut le détour sans hésiter.
Pour finir, nous avons visité intégralement Budapest à pied. C’est ce que nous préférons afin de découvrir la ville d’une manière plus profonde.
Cela est tout à fait possible si vous êtes en forme, car nous avons calculé qu’en moyenne, nous faisions environ 20 km par jour.
Pour les transports aéroport, je vous conseille d’utiliser les transports en commun.
Très bon marché et très simple.
Le bus 200 E à la sortie de l’aéroport jusqu’au terminus.
Puis le métro pour vous rendre jusqu’au centre.
Attention 1 ticket par moyen de transport et attention à la fraude, les contrôleurs sont vraiment partout !!
Pour le change, changer le strict minimum à l’aéroport pour prendre vos tickets de bus et métro et attendez d’être en ville pour changer de plus grosses sommes.
Vous avez eu le temps de bien approfondir les divers lieux de cette ville où j'aimerai bien retourner pour approfondir ma visite d'escale de croisière.
Merci beaucoup pour ce retour. Il va m'aider pour ma propre visite avec 3 amies en mai. S'il faut choisir pour les bains/thermes, lesquels garderiez-vous?
Difficile de choisir, ils sont très différents.
Rudas est plus petit, moins cher mais plus typique.
Széchenyi plus grand, avec un extérieur très plaisant surtout quand la nuit tombe mais beaucoup plus touristique et donc plus cher.
si vous n'avez pas aimé les catacombes (je n'y suis pas allée), il y a à voir l’hôpital souterrain .... impressionnant et visite très "folklorique" (on est tous habillés de grandes capes bleu marine, à cause du froid et le groupe des visiteurs fait "défilé de l'orphelinat" ).
oui Budapest est une belle ville !
Onkiszolgato Etterem (surnommé cantine du château)
Adresse: Hess Andras ter 4
Située à un pas de l'église Matyas, vous rentrez (sur votre gauche il me semble en venant de l'Eglise) dans une impasse pavée qui donne accès à une petite cour.
Il faut prendre la 1ère porte sur votre gauche et monter les escaliers: sur votre gauche, la salle qui sert de cantine.
Si la porte est fermée, n'hésitez pas à l'ouvrir, au départ, on hésite parce que cela fait penser à un accès privé, mais non, c'est bien là!!
C'est ouvert uniquement du temps de midi (11h30-14h30)
Après même fonctionnement que dans une cantine, on fait la queue parmi les étudiants et travailleurs budapestois, on prend une entrée, un plat, un dessert, une boisson (c'est soit l'entrée, soit le dessert, il me semble). Par contre, pas de choix, et plat typique, donc à voir si cela vous convient.
On paye en bout de chaine et à la fin du repas on repose son plateau.
Le tout pour 3 fois rien.
J'ai particulièrement apprécié mon repas là-bas, copieux et gouteux, même si je n'ai jamais su de quoi il s'agissait vraiment, sauf pour le dessert, c'était la traditionnelle patisserie, Dobos torta.
Nous avons réservé à l'opéra directement.
Quand vous êtes face à l'opéra, prenez la rue sur votre gauche, vous trouverez une petite porte qui donne accès à un bureau pour les tickets (il est ouvert le matin à partir de 10h).
Nous y étions allés dès l'ouverture pour être sur d'avoir des places.
Nous avons eu la chance d'y rencontrer un Français qui vit à Budapest et qui nous a donc aidé à choisir la représentation et à l'expliquer à la guichetière, mais si vous parlez anglais, ça devrait aller.
Cela nous est revenu moins cher que le prix de la visite de l'Opéra et nous avons vu un magnifique ballet.
Vous allez vous régaler.
Bon voyage!
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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?
Hi there,
After booking an Airbnb last January for this summer’s vacation in Sarajevo... My "host" canceled our reservation without any reason—this has never happened to me before.
Of course, now it’s impossible to find a place to stay at a "normal" price in Sarajevo with parking...
So we’re falling back on the capital of the Republika Srpska, Banja Luka, which had already crossed my mind before I booked Sarajevo.
I already have quite a few ideas in mind, without having dug too deep into the region yet.
But if anyone has already been there and has suggestions? Even for restaurants—I’m all ears!
And even if it’s not right next door, I’m planning to spend a day in Sarajevo!
I’d like to know the opening hours of physical stores between Germany and Austria, and between Austria and Slovenia, that sell the PAPER STICKER toll vignettes that still exist for 2026—non-digital ones. I don’t think they’re open 24/7, and I can’t find the info anywhere.
Thanks
Hi there,
We’re planning a 3-week trip in late September with our camper van to explore Bulgaria and Romania.
What routes would you recommend, starting from the South?
Is there an option to take a ferry in Italy, and is it worth it?
Thanks for all your tips!😊
Hi there, we’re a young couple and we’d love to go to the Blue Eye (Syri i Kalter) between today (26/06/26) and tomorrow (27/06/26).
Is anyone heading there and could give us a ride? We’re super friendly!
Thanks so much!
We're back. It's still a bit tough to get precise info, so here's a quick trip report!
A good starting point is Shkoder, a really pleasant city. You can easily explore Shkoder itself in a day or two.
Two accessible spots: Valbona and Theth.
In both cases, local travel agencies in Shkoder or online offer round-trip or one-way access packages. Super handy, especially for Valbona.
Valbona and Theth are both very steep! There aren’t many easy hikes for less sporty folks (like me!).
Valbona: The highlight is the amazing 2.5-hour boat ride across Lake Koman. There are day trips from Shkoder, but you’ll only get a short tour of the lake. The best option is to do the full crossing—so spend a night in Valbona (or two if you want to hike in the valley) and return.
Theth is deeply nestled in the mountains. The village at the end of the valley, which is a dead end, has lots of hotels, but they’re pricey. Other hostels are scattered along the mountainside road, but it’s a steep climb down to the village or to the start of the two easy hikes (waterfalls and the Blue Eye). For us, it was a one-hour descent (and ascent!). It’s fine if you have a car; otherwise, keep an eye out for a taxi (cheap) or try hitchhiking—it works really well.
Access from Shkoder to Theth is through an agency. The road is in great condition, and you can also rent a car for 2-3 days in Shkoder. If we did it again, that’s the option we’d choose.
We didn’t do the trek and returned to Shkoder each time. I can’t speak to its difficulty, but we were there in late May, and even experienced hikers had given up because of heavy rain and snow.
Hope this helps! It’s a stunning region you shouldn’t miss.
We’re a Canadian couple, both 77, and we’re already planning our vacation for fall 2027.
Timeframe: mid-September to mid-October... dates are flexible, and we might stay even longer.
Initially, I had planned this itinerary:
Athens (3), Naxos (4), Paros (4), Santorini (4), then a flight to Istanbul (7–10 days!!). This would let us maximize our flights and experience another culture.
That’s a lot of ferries, though... I’ve already cut out Milos.
Our second option would be to stay 2 x 15 days on two different islands, but I’d still keep Istanbul as our next destination... or maybe 30 days on one island that offers the chance to take day trips to other islands where the ferry ride is no more than 2 to 2.5 hours. For example, Naxos to Paros only takes 30 minutes. We could return the same evening or stay overnight.
Naxos seems like the best option!!!
For Istanbul, of course we want to do a day cruise on the Bosphorus and see Hagia Sophia. If we stay 6–7 days, what would be the other main attractions? Are there any points of interest we can reach by local bus?
Hi there!
We bought our tickets to Greece at the end of November 2025, and let’s just say the geopolitical climate has really taken a turn since then with the war started by the United States against Iran. Not to mention all the other conflicts happening around the world 😕... Anyway!
Our flight from Montreal is on May 1st, and I was wondering how things are currently being experienced in Greece.
We were planning to rent a car and had already booked accommodations on three Cyclades islands!!
The oil shortage is also worrying us...
If you could share some insights on this, that would be great!
A little trip report from an 11-day journey to Albania at the end of April 2026, with two friends in their early sixties and beyond...
Our route: Berat, Gjirokastër, Himarë, Tirana
Here are some opinions, tips, and great deals to share:
Flight Round-trip Beauvais-Tirana: Ryanair, 260 € with checked baggage (20 kg) and seat selection. Flight was fine and on time. 2h 30min flight.
Exchange: 1 € was worth 95 lek in April 2026. We were advised to exchange in the airport hall at the Illiria counter (98 lek outside the security zone), saying we wouldn’t find a better rate. However, the exchange rate was 93 lek for 1 euro, while in the city it was 95...
Car rental at Tirana airport for 9 days via Booking.com: 144 € (56 € for the car rental and 88 € for optional full insurance deductible waiver).
Wheego agency: the car was fine, but be careful when signing the contract—they tried to convince us that the insurance taken through Booking didn’t cover everything and insisted we take their own insurance for 250 €... We refused.
After reading about driving in Tirana, instead of starting our trip by visiting the capital, we decided to head straight to Berat upon arrival and return the car at the end of the trip to explore the city on foot. This turned out to be a great choice!
Accommodations: All our stays were booked via Booking.com. Everyone prefers to be paid in euros and in cash—they mention this when booking.
Berat: 2-hour drive from the airport.
Accommodation: Vila Arben Elezi: 135 € for 3 nights with breakfast and private parking. The room was decent and clean but a bit dark, located slightly below ground level near the parking. However, the breakfast on the rooftop was excellent, especially with the stunning view of the "city of a thousand windows." Great location.
Berat was our favorite—there are lovely walks through the different neighborhoods on both sides of the river, each with a very different vibe. The citadel visit is also fascinating, as it’s like a small town within the fortress.
The walk along the river is pleasant, with plenty of restaurant choices. Other restaurants in the old town are also very nice. The White House Restaurant, on the first floor along the road, is good and offers a great view of the Gorica district.
Gjirokastër:
Accommodation: Te Ajdini Guest House: 120 € for 3 nights with breakfast. A private home stay. There’s free parking just before entering the city, a 5-minute walk from the accommodation, which is very convenient since the cobblestone streets are narrow and parking is tricky. Yes, it’s a climb to get to the place, but everything in this city is uphill... The room was bright and clean. Breakfast was very good, hearty, and served in the courtyard with a view of the castle. The guesthouse is a 5-minute walk from the city center (the bazaar) but in a quiet area.
Restaurants: Rrapi and Kujtimi—good and affordable with their little pergolas.
The old town of Gjirokastër is charming but very touristy, with streets packed with souvenir shops and restaurant tables and chairs. Lots of people.
-The bunker visit (near the tourist office) is very interesting: Cold War Tunnel.
The castle offers a beautiful view of the city.
-Visit to the Ottoman house Skenduli: very well done. Don’t forget to climb the ladder facing a trapdoor in the ceiling to see the roof’s framework—it’s like a forest of beams: impressive!
-The bridge Ura e Ali Pasha: A steep 45-minute climb from the city to the site is worth it, but once you reach the viewpoint (which is stunning), you have to go back down a path to reach the bridge. You can drive to the viewpoint, but parking is very tricky.
Around Gjirokastër:
-Just outside the city: Lake Liqeni i Viroit: a nice, ordinary-looking lake, but at the end, there’s a natural spring making the water crystal clear and a brilliant blue—really spectacular, like photos of Blue Eye near Sarandë.
-Drive to Përmet along the gorges: beautiful viewpoints along the way and lovely countryside.
Himarë:
Accommodation: Vila Kosteli: 120 € for 2 nights with breakfast—slightly overpriced for this type of place but very close to a small beach and not far from the promenade with all the restaurants. Private parking, but very tight (4 cars on a tiny lot along the road). The "sea view" room is a bit obstructed by the building across the street. However, the rooftop breakfast view is beautiful. Friendly staff.
Himarë is a pleasant seaside resort, quite calm (but it was April...). There’s a cute promenade with restaurants along the beach. The castle on the heights of Himarë is worth a visit.
Around Himarë:
-Qeparo is worth a quick stop, but Qeparo village is really worth the detour: a village lost in the heights after a scenic drive up from the coastal road—narrow but well-maintained. Beautiful view from the top and a charming village.
-The Big Bunker and Llogora Panorama: take a right turn several kilometers after Dhermi—a road that climbs steeply from the start... A breathtaking winding road that reaches 900 meters in altitude. The view is stunning.
-Several small villages between Dhermi and Himarë are worth a quick stop.
-Porto Palermo Castle is somewhat disappointing.
Tirana:
Taxi from Tirana airport to the city center: 15 € with electric taxis (Green Taxi, Bee Taxi, Do Taxi).
Accommodation: Hotel Nevi Apartment: 63 € for 2 nights. A private apartment in an older building but very clean and well-equipped, with a kitchen and small enclosed balcony.
Great welcome and contact—the owner even booked a taxi for our departure. Very well located, close to the main square, shops, and restaurants. A small supermarket nearby is perfect for stocking up on breakfast supplies.
The city is lively and dynamic, with plenty of green spaces and promenades. Buildings are popping up everywhere, often with surprising architecture—like a building shaped like a face, a huge golden cube, and many others under construction.
-Sky Tower: at the top, a rotating bar offers a 360° view of the city and its buildings. Drinks are a bit pricier than usual, but it’s totally worth it (6 € for a beer or a glass of white wine, 3 € for coffee). We were there for sunset, and it was amazing! A must-do. Arrive early, as it fills up quickly.
-The House of Leaves: a house used for secret surveillance and interrogations during the dictatorship... A great way to learn about the surveillance systems of that era.
-Bunk’Art 2: a bunker in the heart of the city—very interesting, covering the dictatorship period and its system...
-The Pazari i Ri Bazaar: the new bazaar district. The large hall is worth a visit, but souvenir prices are often higher than elsewhere... The area is nice.
Restaurant: Kastrati Restaurant—a bit like a canteen with lots of traditional dishes. It’s on the first floor of a building. Excellent value for money, and the waitress explains the dishes in French.
That’s a little overview of our trip and my personal impressions!
Albania is a beautiful and pleasant country to visit.
If you have any questions, feel free to ask!
Hi everyone,
We’re thinking of spending 3 weeks in Crete between mid-August and early September, renting a car, quickly exploring a few spots in the east, and focusing on the west, southwest, and south.
I’m worried about the heavy tourist crowds. Is it really more noticeable than elsewhere in Greece? Is there a way to avoid the crowds without missing out on the iconic places, which I imagine are stunning in Crete? Thanks for your thoughts and experiences!
Hi,
I'm heading to Greece via Albania soon. Does anyone have info on transportation from Gjirokastër to Ioannina?
Which company, fares, and schedules—it's not very clear with Google.
I’m just passing through Bratislava quickly (one afternoon, one night, one morning) and I’d love to see the highlights of the city.
I’ve put together a little itinerary—feel free to let me know what you think!
Start at the castle and its beautiful viewpoint
Visit the Baroque gardens
St. Martin’s Cathedral, quick visit
National Theatre
Discover the Cumil statues
Primatial Palace via Hlavné Namestie
Michael’s Gate
Grassalkovich Palace via Obchodna
Walk across Namesti Slobody to head back to the upside-down pyramid
Head down to the Blue Church
Cross the Danube to see Sad Janka Krala, then return via the UFO Bridge
There you go—10 km and a packed day!
What do you think?
Hi there,
we’re heading to Crete from May 8th to 15th, staying at a hotel in Agia Pelagia, 20 km from Heraklion, on half-board, so we’ll be back every evening. What daily itinerary would you recommend? We love hiking and discovering local cultures...
Thanks in advance!!
Hello,
We’re heading to Prague with so much excitement from June 10th to 20th. I’ve got three main questions for those who live there or have visited:
- What are your thoughts on what to pack clothing-wise? What’s the weather usually like at this time of year? We’re a bit sensitive to the cold—we live way down in southern Andalusia and are used to the *calor* 😎... Should we pack rain gear? Are we likely to get a lot of rain (which we’re dreading a little, but we couldn’t choose other dates)?
- I’ve seen there are "passes" for various attractions, museums, and sites, including one that’s valid for 10 days but costs a whopping 160 € per person—that’s an average of 16 € per day. Do you think it’s really worth it? We won’t be spending our days rushing between every indoor site; we also love wandering the streets and discovering things a bit "at random." If we do two paid visits a day, that’ll probably be the max... Can we make it worth the cost with that? Of course, we want to visit the castle and take a boat trip as a minimum. Are the sites included in these passes iconic, or are they more "minor" attractions? Does having the pass help us skip long lines?
- Finally, a question about communication: I speak French, obviously, plus Spanish and English fluently, but very little German (haven’t practiced in ages), and no Russian or Czech at all. My husband knows a few words of Russian, but it’s "Cuban" Russian—about the same level as my current German 🙂 !! Can we still get by without too much trouble? We don’t want to spend 10 days not saying a word to anyone and communicating only with gestures!!
Thanks for your valuable tips and opinions.
Hi there!
We’re heading to Crete (Heraklion) as a couple and I’d like to rent a car.
1) Do we need an international driver’s permit?
2) Are rentals super expensive?
Thanks everyone!
I’d like to know how much a meal costs on average in zloty in Poland (Warsaw, Kraków, Częstochowa, Wadowice), and also the price of souvenirs like postcards and magnets—so I don’t end up with too many zlotys left after my 5-day trip to Poland?
