Se déplacer en Croatie
by Anjofabe
This discussion is in French, the community’s main language.
Original post
Je recherche un moyen de me déplacer en croatie : j'ai réservé un séjour d'une semaine près de Biograd (face aux iles Kornati). Je souhaiterai aller à Split, Dubrovnik, Plitvice, Krka. Nous sommes 4 (2 adultes + 11ans +15ans). J'ai pensé louer une voiture. Est-ce la meilleur solution ? Combien ça coute ? Est-ce que ces visites sont envisageables ?
la croatie est un pays civilisé et pas la brousse ni la jungle, donc louer une voiture ne pose aucun problème.
soit tu le fait de France en passant par les loueurs bien connus (si tu ne trouves pas Biograd, tu le faits à Zadar qui n'est pas loin et que tu peux te joindre en bus) soit par des loueurs locaux que là où tu logeras on t'indiquera; les prix sont les mêmes qu'en France! Pour aller à PLIVICE sur la journée aucun problème à condition de partir tôt, y a environ 2h à 2h1/2 de route (en partie autoroute payante) puis de l'ordre de 2h de marche à pied au moins si tu veux aller au plus loin de la partie la plus touristique (autour du lac en particulier y a des ventes de sandwich croate, c'est à dire bien bourratif)
soit tu le fait de France en passant par les loueurs bien connus (si tu ne trouves pas Biograd, tu le faits à Zadar qui n'est pas loin et que tu peux te joindre en bus) soit par des loueurs locaux que là où tu logeras on t'indiquera; les prix sont les mêmes qu'en France! Pour aller à PLIVICE sur la journée aucun problème à condition de partir tôt, y a environ 2h à 2h1/2 de route (en partie autoroute payante) puis de l'ordre de 2h de marche à pied au moins si tu veux aller au plus loin de la partie la plus touristique (autour du lac en particulier y a des ventes de sandwich croate, c'est à dire bien bourratif)
JP
ouh lala c'est loin Dubrovnik de Biograd! En 2004 nous fumes à Pakostane, pas loin de là! Ben nous avions longé la cote jusqu'à Dubrovnik (nous y étions allé avec notre voiture pendant 4 semaines) et nous avons mis presque la journée et en fin MAI!! Donc en juillet/aout faut pas y compter, et le bus c'est encore plus lent.
Nous y retournons l'an prochain en mai/juin et lourons quelque chose via cela: http://rasin.free.fr
et y allons avec notre voiture en nous arrettant à quelque part en cours de route (de Lyon) peut être vers Padoue ou alors en prenant le ferry la nuit entre Ancone et Zadar ou Split!!
Mais une semaine à Biograd sera vite passée: Zadar une journée Plivice une autre Trogir et Split une troisième les Kornati une 4ème
et la 5ème (et 6ème si vous avez) je vous laisse libre court!!
Bon séjour!
Nous y retournons l'an prochain en mai/juin et lourons quelque chose via cela: http://rasin.free.fr
et y allons avec notre voiture en nous arrettant à quelque part en cours de route (de Lyon) peut être vers Padoue ou alors en prenant le ferry la nuit entre Ancone et Zadar ou Split!!
Mais une semaine à Biograd sera vite passée: Zadar une journée Plivice une autre Trogir et Split une troisième les Kornati une 4ème
et la 5ème (et 6ème si vous avez) je vous laisse libre court!!
Bon séjour!
JP
bonjour,
un ajout à ce qui a été dit. Nous sommes aussi aller il y a un an en croatie par les biais du site rasinfree aussi (excellent!) donc ce doit etre vers biograd et nous avons loué une voiture en France mais attention, seule l'agence sixt nous permettait d'aller en croatie avec la voiture car c'est hors de l'Union européenne (300euros pour 10 jours). Sinon il y a toujours la possibilité de louer sur place une voiture. Nous avons mis trois jours pour descendre mais ca peut se faire en deux. Nous sommes descendus par Allemagne, Autriche, Slovenie et croatie - c'est la route la moins chere, les autoroutes etant gratuites en Allemagne mais beaucoup de travaux. Retour par l'Italie parfait mais il faut un budget autoroute. cela dit pour 4 personnes, cela reste la solution la moins chère !
Enfin, concernant Krka, beaucoup plus petit que Plitvice mais j'ai trouvé que ca valait vraiment le détour. Nous avons fait cette visite avant Plitvice mais le nord du parc m'a vraiment séduite et je crois que c'est ce que j'ai vu de plus beau en Croatie.
Et effectivement de biograd il faut compter une journée intense à plitvice, une pour les Kornati. Etant sur place une semaine nous n'avons pas eu le temps de faire Split et encore moins Dubrovnik qui doit être tout de même loin !
Bon voyage !
un ajout à ce qui a été dit. Nous sommes aussi aller il y a un an en croatie par les biais du site rasinfree aussi (excellent!) donc ce doit etre vers biograd et nous avons loué une voiture en France mais attention, seule l'agence sixt nous permettait d'aller en croatie avec la voiture car c'est hors de l'Union européenne (300euros pour 10 jours). Sinon il y a toujours la possibilité de louer sur place une voiture. Nous avons mis trois jours pour descendre mais ca peut se faire en deux. Nous sommes descendus par Allemagne, Autriche, Slovenie et croatie - c'est la route la moins chere, les autoroutes etant gratuites en Allemagne mais beaucoup de travaux. Retour par l'Italie parfait mais il faut un budget autoroute. cela dit pour 4 personnes, cela reste la solution la moins chère !
Enfin, concernant Krka, beaucoup plus petit que Plitvice mais j'ai trouvé que ca valait vraiment le détour. Nous avons fait cette visite avant Plitvice mais le nord du parc m'a vraiment séduite et je crois que c'est ce que j'ai vu de plus beau en Croatie.
Et effectivement de biograd il faut compter une journée intense à plitvice, une pour les Kornati. Etant sur place une semaine nous n'avons pas eu le temps de faire Split et encore moins Dubrovnik qui doit être tout de même loin !
Bon voyage !
Nama
Bonjour,
nous avons sejourné en Croatie en aout dernier 2 semaines complétes, je pense qu'il te sera difficile de réaliser le programme que tu as prévu, la distance entre biograd et dubrovnik n'est pas énorme mais la circulation est dense et pas d'autoroute idem pour Plitvice (une partie d'autoroute vers cette destination) par contre le site de Plitvice est grandiose. intéressant également de faire une journée de bateau dans l'archipel des Kornati .
Nous avions notre propre véhicule nous avons fait le 1er jour : la Bretagne - Grenoble, 2ème jour Grenoble - Venise - 3ème jour Venise - l'ile de Krk ensuite nous avons circulé en alternant camping et chambre chez l'habitant
Bonne vacance
Nous allons en Croatie en avion et nous avons peur d'être un peu coincé sur place. C'est pouquoi j'essaye de voir avant de partir (15 jours) les possibilités de ce déplacer entre la location d'une voiture sur place ou l'utilisation des transports en commun comme le bus pour prévoir les coûts supplémentaires....
Pourquoi ne pas y aller avec son propre véhicule.Je l'ai fait l'année passé sans problèmes.
Quelques images sur :
http://fugueensolmineur.blogs-de-voyage.fr/
Quelques images sur :
http://fugueensolmineur.blogs-de-voyage.fr/
Carpe Diem
qui connait l'hotel l'hotel club Adria près de Biograd ?
🙂 j'en reviens juste de l'hotel adria, franchement c'était très sympa, malgré beaucoup de gens qui critiques ( ce sont principalement des personnes agées ) !!! qui comparent avec d'autre pays !!!
l'hotel est très bien, les chambres sont climatisées, et nettoyer tous les jours, les serviettes de bains changées tous les 2 jours, le buffet très bien, ne t'attends pas non plus à manger de grand plats c'est assez simple, la gastronomie n'est pas leur point fort...les animateurs sont géniaux !!! 😉 le bar et la piscine très bien exposés...des activités te seront proposées tous les jours...la réception est super aussi...
au niveau des excursions je te conseilles de ne pas les prendre a l'hotel mais de te débrouiller seule... voila si tu as d'autres questions n'hésites pas...
🙂 j'en reviens juste de l'hotel adria, franchement c'était très sympa, malgré beaucoup de gens qui critiques ( ce sont principalement des personnes agées ) !!! qui comparent avec d'autre pays !!!
l'hotel est très bien, les chambres sont climatisées, et nettoyer tous les jours, les serviettes de bains changées tous les 2 jours, le buffet très bien, ne t'attends pas non plus à manger de grand plats c'est assez simple, la gastronomie n'est pas leur point fort...les animateurs sont géniaux !!! 😉 le bar et la piscine très bien exposés...des activités te seront proposées tous les jours...la réception est super aussi...
au niveau des excursions je te conseilles de ne pas les prendre a l'hotel mais de te débrouiller seule... voila si tu as d'autres questions n'hésites pas...
virginie
As-tu fait des excursions ? Lesquelles ? Où-t-es-tu adressée ? Pour quel budget ? Merci de m'aider dans ces choix car c'est bientôt le départ et j'ai beaucoup de difficultés pour me renseigner et prévoir mes déplacements...
oui alors nous avons fait 3 excursions : - les îles kornati (nous sommes partis avec l'hotel ) nous avons bien aimé cependant elle n'est pas non plus indispensable à faire : 30 euros par personnes environ le repas est compri c'est un ptit resto plus que simple sur une ile (tu manges pas grand chose je n'ai pas trop aimé personnellement...) - les chutes de krka nous sommes aussi parti avec l'hotel c'était génial vraiment à faire absolument a peu près le meme prix que les iles kornati mais c'est juste une demi journée ;-)
- les lacs de Plitvice a faire absolument c'était grandiose...c'est la plus chere excursion et la nous ne sommes pas partis avec l'hotel mais avec nos propres moyens nous avons loué une voiture a la journée ( nous sommes partis avec d'autre couple de l'hotel) la location 50 € la journée...et l'entrée des lacs 110 kuna voila
sinon pour le shoppind il y a zadar très jolie ville tu vas jusqu'a biograd et tu prends un bus qui te dépose directement à zadar..les ruelles sont sympa...
voili voilou... bon voyage c'est vraiment jolie la croatie
oui alors nous avons fait 3 excursions : - les îles kornati (nous sommes partis avec l'hotel ) nous avons bien aimé cependant elle n'est pas non plus indispensable à faire : 30 euros par personnes environ le repas est compri c'est un ptit resto plus que simple sur une ile (tu manges pas grand chose je n'ai pas trop aimé personnellement...) - les chutes de krka nous sommes aussi parti avec l'hotel c'était génial vraiment à faire absolument a peu près le meme prix que les iles kornati mais c'est juste une demi journée ;-)
- les lacs de Plitvice a faire absolument c'était grandiose...c'est la plus chere excursion et la nous ne sommes pas partis avec l'hotel mais avec nos propres moyens nous avons loué une voiture a la journée ( nous sommes partis avec d'autre couple de l'hotel) la location 50 € la journée...et l'entrée des lacs 110 kuna voila
sinon pour le shoppind il y a zadar très jolie ville tu vas jusqu'a biograd et tu prends un bus qui te dépose directement à zadar..les ruelles sont sympa...
voili voilou... bon voyage c'est vraiment jolie la croatie
virginie
Un grand merci virginie0503 pour tous ces tuyaux. Où as-tu louer la voiture ? A l'hôtel ? Es-tu allée jusqu'à Dubrovnik? Y-a-t-il des activités nautiques à faire pour les ados ? lesquelles ? Que peut-on rapporter de croatie comme souvenirs ?
à notre hotel il y avait à disposition des voitures de locations...tous les matins le loueur venait, il faut réserver la veille pour le lendemain. nous ne sommes pas allées jusqu'a Dubrovnik malheureusement, car de Biograd nous en avions pour 5 heures et demi de route !!! pour les activités nautiques je pense que tu peux te renseigner en bord de mer...et pour les souvenirs il n'y a rien que tu puisses rammener de spécial...sinon des t-shirt marquer croatie ( tout se genre de ptits trucs) mais rien de bien particulier, notre animatrice nous avait prévenu dans e car lors du trajet de l'aéroport à l'hôtel...
voila
à notre hotel il y avait à disposition des voitures de locations...tous les matins le loueur venait, il faut réserver la veille pour le lendemain. nous ne sommes pas allées jusqu'a Dubrovnik malheureusement, car de Biograd nous en avions pour 5 heures et demi de route !!! pour les activités nautiques je pense que tu peux te renseigner en bord de mer...et pour les souvenirs il n'y a rien que tu puisses rammener de spécial...sinon des t-shirt marquer croatie ( tout se genre de ptits trucs) mais rien de bien particulier, notre animatrice nous avait prévenu dans e car lors du trajet de l'aéroport à l'hôtel...
voila
virginie
Merci beaucoup pour tous ces bons renseignements. Faut-il emmener palmes tuba raquettes de tennis ?
ce qu'il faut absolument que tu emmenes se sont des chaussures de plages ( sandalette pour l'eau ou des vieilles baskets ) car il n'y a pas de sable sur les plage croates mais se sont des cailloux autant dans l'eau que sur les plages...pour le reste tu vois...
bon voyage à toi et ta famille 🙂
ce qu'il faut absolument que tu emmenes se sont des chaussures de plages ( sandalette pour l'eau ou des vieilles baskets ) car il n'y a pas de sable sur les plage croates mais se sont des cailloux autant dans l'eau que sur les plages...pour le reste tu vois...
bon voyage à toi et ta famille 🙂
virginie
Zadar Dubrovnik, ça prend 6 à 8 h selon la circulation et comme il y a foule en été, cela peut être plus long. A noter que la route est en partie une route côtière... Mais il y a aujourd'hui une partie d'autoroute qui permet de réduire le temps au moins jusqu'à Split...
Pour discuter de tout : www.forumdesforums.com
Me voici de retour. C'était super. La canicule. Nous avons fait les lacs de Plitvice, les îles Kornati et les cascades de Krka en louant une voiture à la journée à l'hotel pour 50€ par jour. Nous avons visité Sibenik, Trogir, Split et Zadar. un seul regret ne pas avoir vu Dubrovnik car effectivement ça ne roule pas en Croatie !... L'hotel Adria à Biograd est bien surtout il y a une superbe équipe d'animation. Seul problème, l'invasion d'un groupe de danseurs (100 vieux) dans l'hotel.
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Proof: https://etreounepasetrebretillien.com/2018/03/19/moldova-mea/ 🤓
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I’d rather take my time.
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Several bus company routes, like on infobus.eu, take between 3 and 4 hours. Trains from Warsaw to Białystok take about 1.5 to 2 hours. This has the advantage of allowing comfortable train journeys with minimal time spent on a bus. Also, the Terespol-Brest border might have shorter queues if you still prefer a Warsaw-Brest bus.
Note that another route to Minsk, if you have a paper Russian or Belarusian visa, is the Kaliningrad-Minsk train. It’s long—around ten or eleven hours—but you can lie down and sleep. An option if you fly into Gdańsk and then take a short bus to Kaliningrad.
There are also Belavia flights from Minsk to Kaliningrad, but they’re expensive. The route is scenic:

In any case, this adds a few more options compared to what’s been available over the last four years.
The official Polish page: https://granica.gov.pl/index_wait.php?p=b&c=t&v=pl&k=w

Several bus company routes, like on infobus.eu, take between 3 and 4 hours. Trains from Warsaw to Białystok take about 1.5 to 2 hours. This has the advantage of allowing comfortable train journeys with minimal time spent on a bus. Also, the Terespol-Brest border might have shorter queues if you still prefer a Warsaw-Brest bus.
Note that another route to Minsk, if you have a paper Russian or Belarusian visa, is the Kaliningrad-Minsk train. It’s long—around ten or eleven hours—but you can lie down and sleep. An option if you fly into Gdańsk and then take a short bus to Kaliningrad.
There are also Belavia flights from Minsk to Kaliningrad, but they’re expensive. The route is scenic:

In any case, this adds a few more options compared to what’s been available over the last four years.
Hi there.
I’d like to know what the daily budget is for Greece in December. I’ll be landing in Athens and staying there for a week, then heading to some other islands—I don’t have a set itinerary yet. Also, I’ve heard that in December, or early January, the temperature is around 11–16°C. Is that accurate?
Finally, does anyone have a good recommendation for a cheap but clean hotel near the tourist sites? I don’t need a TV or any other extras. Also, is Greece gay-friendly?
Thanks in advance for your replies. Best regards
Finally, does anyone have a good recommendation for a cheap but clean hotel near the tourist sites? I don’t need a TV or any other extras. Also, is Greece gay-friendly?
Thanks in advance for your replies. Best regards
hi
I’d like to know the opening hours of physical stores between Germany and Austria, and between Austria and Slovenia, that sell the PAPER STICKER toll vignettes that still exist for 2026—non-digital ones. I don’t think they’re open 24/7, and I can’t find the info anywhere. Thanks
I’d like to know the opening hours of physical stores between Germany and Austria, and between Austria and Slovenia, that sell the PAPER STICKER toll vignettes that still exist for 2026—non-digital ones. I don’t think they’re open 24/7, and I can’t find the info anywhere. Thanks
Hi there,
We’re planning a 3-week trip in late September with our camper van to explore Bulgaria and Romania.
What routes would you recommend, starting from the South?
Is there an option to take a ferry in Italy, and is it worth it?
Thanks for all your tips!😊
Hi there, we’re a young couple and we’d love to go to the Blue Eye (Syri i Kalter) between today (26/06/26) and tomorrow (27/06/26).
Is anyone heading there and could give us a ride? We’re super friendly!
Thanks so much!
Maya and Sullivan
Maya and Sullivan
We're back. It's still a bit tough to get precise info, so here's a quick trip report!
A good starting point is Shkoder, a really pleasant city. You can easily explore Shkoder itself in a day or two.
Two accessible spots: Valbona and Theth. In both cases, local travel agencies in Shkoder or online offer round-trip or one-way access packages. Super handy, especially for Valbona.
Valbona and Theth are both very steep! There aren’t many easy hikes for less sporty folks (like me!).
Valbona: The highlight is the amazing 2.5-hour boat ride across Lake Koman. There are day trips from Shkoder, but you’ll only get a short tour of the lake. The best option is to do the full crossing—so spend a night in Valbona (or two if you want to hike in the valley) and return.
Theth is deeply nestled in the mountains. The village at the end of the valley, which is a dead end, has lots of hotels, but they’re pricey. Other hostels are scattered along the mountainside road, but it’s a steep climb down to the village or to the start of the two easy hikes (waterfalls and the Blue Eye). For us, it was a one-hour descent (and ascent!). It’s fine if you have a car; otherwise, keep an eye out for a taxi (cheap) or try hitchhiking—it works really well. Access from Shkoder to Theth is through an agency. The road is in great condition, and you can also rent a car for 2-3 days in Shkoder. If we did it again, that’s the option we’d choose.
We didn’t do the trek and returned to Shkoder each time. I can’t speak to its difficulty, but we were there in late May, and even experienced hikers had given up because of heavy rain and snow.
Hope this helps! It’s a stunning region you shouldn’t miss.
A good starting point is Shkoder, a really pleasant city. You can easily explore Shkoder itself in a day or two.
Two accessible spots: Valbona and Theth. In both cases, local travel agencies in Shkoder or online offer round-trip or one-way access packages. Super handy, especially for Valbona.
Valbona and Theth are both very steep! There aren’t many easy hikes for less sporty folks (like me!).
Valbona: The highlight is the amazing 2.5-hour boat ride across Lake Koman. There are day trips from Shkoder, but you’ll only get a short tour of the lake. The best option is to do the full crossing—so spend a night in Valbona (or two if you want to hike in the valley) and return.
Theth is deeply nestled in the mountains. The village at the end of the valley, which is a dead end, has lots of hotels, but they’re pricey. Other hostels are scattered along the mountainside road, but it’s a steep climb down to the village or to the start of the two easy hikes (waterfalls and the Blue Eye). For us, it was a one-hour descent (and ascent!). It’s fine if you have a car; otherwise, keep an eye out for a taxi (cheap) or try hitchhiking—it works really well. Access from Shkoder to Theth is through an agency. The road is in great condition, and you can also rent a car for 2-3 days in Shkoder. If we did it again, that’s the option we’d choose.
We didn’t do the trek and returned to Shkoder each time. I can’t speak to its difficulty, but we were there in late May, and even experienced hikers had given up because of heavy rain and snow.
Hope this helps! It’s a stunning region you shouldn’t miss.
We’re a Canadian couple, both 77, and we’re already planning our vacation for fall 2027.
Timeframe: mid-September to mid-October... dates are flexible, and we might stay even longer.
Initially, I had planned this itinerary:
Athens (3), Naxos (4), Paros (4), Santorini (4), then a flight to Istanbul (7–10 days!!). This would let us maximize our flights and experience another culture.
That’s a lot of ferries, though... I’ve already cut out Milos.
Our second option would be to stay 2 x 15 days on two different islands, but I’d still keep Istanbul as our next destination... or maybe 30 days on one island that offers the chance to take day trips to other islands where the ferry ride is no more than 2 to 2.5 hours. For example, Naxos to Paros only takes 30 minutes. We could return the same evening or stay overnight.
Naxos seems like the best option!!!
For Istanbul, of course we want to do a day cruise on the Bosphorus and see Hagia Sophia. If we stay 6–7 days, what would be the other main attractions? Are there any points of interest we can reach by local bus?
Our second option would be to stay 2 x 15 days on two different islands, but I’d still keep Istanbul as our next destination... or maybe 30 days on one island that offers the chance to take day trips to other islands where the ferry ride is no more than 2 to 2.5 hours. For example, Naxos to Paros only takes 30 minutes. We could return the same evening or stay overnight.
Naxos seems like the best option!!!
For Istanbul, of course we want to do a day cruise on the Bosphorus and see Hagia Sophia. If we stay 6–7 days, what would be the other main attractions? Are there any points of interest we can reach by local bus?
Hi there!
We bought our tickets to Greece at the end of November 2025, and let’s just say the geopolitical climate has really taken a turn since then with the war started by the United States against Iran. Not to mention all the other conflicts happening around the world 😕... Anyway!
Our flight from Montreal is on May 1st, and I was wondering how things are currently being experienced in Greece.
We were planning to rent a car and had already booked accommodations on three Cyclades islands!!
The oil shortage is also worrying us...
If you could share some insights on this, that would be great!
Thanks!!
Thanks!!
A little trip report from an 11-day journey to Albania at the end of April 2026, with two friends in their early sixties and beyond...
Our route: Berat, Gjirokastër, Himarë, Tirana
Here are some opinions, tips, and great deals to share:
Flight Round-trip Beauvais-Tirana: Ryanair, 260 € with checked baggage (20 kg) and seat selection. Flight was fine and on time. 2h 30min flight.
Exchange: 1 € was worth 95 lek in April 2026. We were advised to exchange in the airport hall at the Illiria counter (98 lek outside the security zone), saying we wouldn’t find a better rate. However, the exchange rate was 93 lek for 1 euro, while in the city it was 95...
Car rental at Tirana airport for 9 days via Booking.com: 144 € (56 € for the car rental and 88 € for optional full insurance deductible waiver).
Wheego agency: the car was fine, but be careful when signing the contract—they tried to convince us that the insurance taken through Booking didn’t cover everything and insisted we take their own insurance for 250 €... We refused.
After reading about driving in Tirana, instead of starting our trip by visiting the capital, we decided to head straight to Berat upon arrival and return the car at the end of the trip to explore the city on foot. This turned out to be a great choice!
Accommodations: All our stays were booked via Booking.com. Everyone prefers to be paid in euros and in cash—they mention this when booking.
Berat: 2-hour drive from the airport.
Accommodation: Vila Arben Elezi: 135 € for 3 nights with breakfast and private parking. The room was decent and clean but a bit dark, located slightly below ground level near the parking. However, the breakfast on the rooftop was excellent, especially with the stunning view of the "city of a thousand windows." Great location.
Berat was our favorite—there are lovely walks through the different neighborhoods on both sides of the river, each with a very different vibe. The citadel visit is also fascinating, as it’s like a small town within the fortress.
The walk along the river is pleasant, with plenty of restaurant choices. Other restaurants in the old town are also very nice. The White House Restaurant, on the first floor along the road, is good and offers a great view of the Gorica district.
Gjirokastër:
Accommodation: Te Ajdini Guest House: 120 € for 3 nights with breakfast. A private home stay. There’s free parking just before entering the city, a 5-minute walk from the accommodation, which is very convenient since the cobblestone streets are narrow and parking is tricky. Yes, it’s a climb to get to the place, but everything in this city is uphill... The room was bright and clean. Breakfast was very good, hearty, and served in the courtyard with a view of the castle. The guesthouse is a 5-minute walk from the city center (the bazaar) but in a quiet area.
Restaurants: Rrapi and Kujtimi—good and affordable with their little pergolas.
The old town of Gjirokastër is charming but very touristy, with streets packed with souvenir shops and restaurant tables and chairs. Lots of people.
-The bunker visit (near the tourist office) is very interesting: Cold War Tunnel.
The castle offers a beautiful view of the city.
-Visit to the Ottoman house Skenduli: very well done. Don’t forget to climb the ladder facing a trapdoor in the ceiling to see the roof’s framework—it’s like a forest of beams: impressive!
-The bridge Ura e Ali Pasha: A steep 45-minute climb from the city to the site is worth it, but once you reach the viewpoint (which is stunning), you have to go back down a path to reach the bridge. You can drive to the viewpoint, but parking is very tricky.
Around Gjirokastër:
-Just outside the city: Lake Liqeni i Viroit: a nice, ordinary-looking lake, but at the end, there’s a natural spring making the water crystal clear and a brilliant blue—really spectacular, like photos of Blue Eye near Sarandë.
-Drive to Përmet along the gorges: beautiful viewpoints along the way and lovely countryside.
Himarë:
Accommodation: Vila Kosteli: 120 € for 2 nights with breakfast—slightly overpriced for this type of place but very close to a small beach and not far from the promenade with all the restaurants. Private parking, but very tight (4 cars on a tiny lot along the road). The "sea view" room is a bit obstructed by the building across the street. However, the rooftop breakfast view is beautiful. Friendly staff.
Himarë is a pleasant seaside resort, quite calm (but it was April...). There’s a cute promenade with restaurants along the beach. The castle on the heights of Himarë is worth a visit.
Around Himarë:
-Qeparo is worth a quick stop, but Qeparo village is really worth the detour: a village lost in the heights after a scenic drive up from the coastal road—narrow but well-maintained. Beautiful view from the top and a charming village.
-The Big Bunker and Llogora Panorama: take a right turn several kilometers after Dhermi—a road that climbs steeply from the start... A breathtaking winding road that reaches 900 meters in altitude. The view is stunning.
-Several small villages between Dhermi and Himarë are worth a quick stop.
-Porto Palermo Castle is somewhat disappointing.
Tirana:
Taxi from Tirana airport to the city center: 15 € with electric taxis (Green Taxi, Bee Taxi, Do Taxi).
Accommodation: Hotel Nevi Apartment: 63 € for 2 nights. A private apartment in an older building but very clean and well-equipped, with a kitchen and small enclosed balcony.
Great welcome and contact—the owner even booked a taxi for our departure. Very well located, close to the main square, shops, and restaurants. A small supermarket nearby is perfect for stocking up on breakfast supplies.
The city is lively and dynamic, with plenty of green spaces and promenades. Buildings are popping up everywhere, often with surprising architecture—like a building shaped like a face, a huge golden cube, and many others under construction.
-Sky Tower: at the top, a rotating bar offers a 360° view of the city and its buildings. Drinks are a bit pricier than usual, but it’s totally worth it (6 € for a beer or a glass of white wine, 3 € for coffee). We were there for sunset, and it was amazing! A must-do. Arrive early, as it fills up quickly.
-The House of Leaves: a house used for secret surveillance and interrogations during the dictatorship... A great way to learn about the surveillance systems of that era.
-Bunk’Art 2: a bunker in the heart of the city—very interesting, covering the dictatorship period and its system...
-The Pazari i Ri Bazaar: the new bazaar district. The large hall is worth a visit, but souvenir prices are often higher than elsewhere... The area is nice.
Restaurant: Kastrati Restaurant—a bit like a canteen with lots of traditional dishes. It’s on the first floor of a building. Excellent value for money, and the waitress explains the dishes in French.
That’s a little overview of our trip and my personal impressions! Albania is a beautiful and pleasant country to visit. If you have any questions, feel free to ask!
That’s a little overview of our trip and my personal impressions! Albania is a beautiful and pleasant country to visit. If you have any questions, feel free to ask!
What are the main sights to visit on Rhodes itself or the surrounding islands, and what’s the weather like? We’re leaving on May 18th.
Hi everyone,
We’re thinking of spending 3 weeks in Crete between mid-August and early September, renting a car, quickly exploring a few spots in the east, and focusing on the west, southwest, and south.
I’m worried about the heavy tourist crowds. Is it really more noticeable than elsewhere in Greece? Is there a way to avoid the crowds without missing out on the iconic places, which I imagine are stunning in Crete? Thanks for your thoughts and experiences!
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.
Thanks!
Patrice
Thanks!
Patrice
Hi everyone,
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?
Thanks, Stéphane.
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?
Thanks, Stéphane.
Hi,
I’m renting a car in Greece (Heraklion).
Should I get extra insurance?
What’s driving like with the Greeks?
Thanks for any tips!
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,
I'm looking to rent a small car, not too expensive, for Crete in April. Do you have any great tips? Thanks in advance! Best regards
I'm looking to rent a small car, not too expensive, for Crete in April. Do you have any great tips? Thanks in advance! Best regards
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!