je désire partir avec une amie à Istanbul. Au début, nous pensions prendre le train, mais la ligne a été coupée. Nous partirions alors de Genève en Suisse jusqu'à Istanbul en voiture, en s'arrêtant par Venise, puis Beograd en Serbie, puis Sofia en Bulgarie pour terminer à Istanbul. Cela fait 2500 km. Nous pensons nous arrêter 1 ou 2 jours dans les villes que j'ai cité pour les visiter.
Je me demandais si les routes et autoroutes étaient sûres dans les pays de l'Est ? Est-il facile de passer les frontières ? Est-ce qu'il y a des risques de vol plus élevés avec une voiture étrangère ?
Je me demandais si les routes et autoroutes étaient sûres dans les pays de l'Est ? Les autoroutes sont relativement sûres. (Les statistiques des accidents montrent qu'en Suisse on est plus prudent que dans ces pays là)
Est-il facile de passer les frontières ? Si vous avez les papiers en règle, oui...N'oubliez pas votre carte verte pour la voiture...
Est-ce qu'il y a des risques de vol plus élevés avec une voiture étrangère ? Oui (privilégier les aires de stationnements surveillées)
Bien sur Faby que la TR, c'est pas la porte à coté. Mais un voyage par la route et un voyage en avion, ça n'a rien à voir. Le voyage et ses pays traversés est aussi important que la destination. C'est un plaisir vraiment différent.
Perso, j'ai beaucoup apprécié la solution route et ferries.On peut y dormir une ou deux nuits, en cabine, en siège, sur le pont, dans sa voiture avec les camping cars. Embarquement à Venise (le plus beau), Ancona (le plus pratique au niveau port), ou à Brindisi (le moins cher), ce qui permet de visiter Venise ou Bologne la rouge (et son double périphérique), ou même Naples.
A l'arrivée, soit on descends à Igoumenitsa, on traverse les monts Pindos, et on fait une pause aux Météores pour filer ensuite sur Istambul, soit on descend à Patras (souvent arrivée au petit matin, très pratique pour reprendre la route), et on évite ainsi la montagne et on peut faire un stop à Athènes. Dans les deux cas, une halte à Kavala est toujours bien reposante.
Après, reste t il des ferries qui relient directement l'Italie à la cote ouest turque ? C'est aussi sympa comme trajet, avec surtout, le passage du détroit de Corynthe (ça passe juuuuste sur les cotés).
Mais Annabelle semble plus intéressée par la Bulgarie et les pays de l'ancienne Yougoslavie, ou là aussi, que de choses merveilleuses à voir.
En 2 semaines, c'est sur, c'est un peu court ;-))
Pour bien en profiter, 4 semaines, départ vendredi soir, retour dimanche soir (lundi boulot, la tête encore sur l'autoroute). J'ai testé plusieurs fois en fourgon aménagé, jamais en voiture. Mais les turcs qui rentrent voir la famille pour les vacances connaissent la route, suffit de les suivre.
bonne journée. Ph
j'ai la m^me philosophie , un voyage sans voir ce qu'il y a entre chez moi et la destination ne m'interesse pas
Bien sur Faby que la TR, c'est pas la porte à coté. Mais un voyage par la route et un voyage en avion, ça n'a rien à voir. Le voyage et ses pays traversés est aussi important que la destination. C'est un plaisir vraiment différent.
Perso, j'ai beaucoup apprécié la solution route et ferries.On peut y dormir une ou deux nuits, en cabine, en siège, sur le pont, dans sa voiture avec les camping cars. Embarquement à Venise (le plus beau), Ancona (le plus pratique au niveau port), ou à Brindisi (le moins cher), ce qui permet de visiter Venise ou Bologne la rouge (et son double périphérique), ou même Naples.
A l'arrivée, soit on descends à Igoumenitsa, on traverse les monts Pindos, et on fait une pause aux Météores pour filer ensuite sur Istambul, soit on descend à Patras (souvent arrivée au petit matin, très pratique pour reprendre la route), et on évite ainsi la montagne et on peut faire un stop à Athènes. Dans les deux cas, une halte à Kavala est toujours bien reposante.
Après, reste t il des ferries qui relient directement l'Italie à la cote ouest turque ? C'est aussi sympa comme trajet, avec surtout, le passage du détroit de Corynthe (ça passe juuuuste sur les cotés).
Mais Annabelle semble plus intéressée par la Bulgarie et les pays de l'ancienne Yougoslavie, ou là aussi, que de choses merveilleuses à voir.
Ben ouais ; quand on a le temps, c'est quand même pas mal. En plus, au niveau culturel au sens large (bouffe, habitudes religieuses, architecture...), ce genre de trajet est assez sympa. Tu passes de la Suisse, avec ses cantons latins (ou de Marseille), à l'Italie. En Grèce, tu retrouves une cuisine avec des aliments assez semblables, tu bascules dans un christianisme oriental, décorées à l'orthodoxe. Les suisses ne sont pas italiens qui eux, sont différents des grecs qui, à leur tour se définissent comme l'antithèse des turcs, mais en fait, tout le monde a des points en commun.
Après, on peut continuer vers l'Est : Les iraniens sont des asiatiques, comme les turcs et tu passes après chez leurs cousins afghans.
Mais bon, ce genre de voyage a certaines limites, administratives, par exemple. Au bout d'un moment, il faut un carnet de passage en douanes pour le véhicule.
Malgré tout, certains arrivent jusqu'ici, en Asie du Sud-Est, en Camping car. Sacré voyage !!!! pour ma part, je dois avouer que j'ai pris l'avion, mais la mer ou la route m'aurait bien tenté.
L'idéal : un bon vieux tapis persan ou turc, volant ;-)
ben, parce que Genosse (camarade) Anept connait le film "Midnight Express" par coeur !!! c'est pour ça qu'il lance sa petite phrase, sans raison, sans but, sans explications, histoire de faire un peu de provoque à bas prix (c'est les soldes).
Faut y aller et surtout en revenir ! Tout les hôtels à 5 étoiles ne valent même pas un hôtel sans étoile en France, dès que tu en sort, y a juste du sable c'est pareil au maroc et en egypte.
Du sable en Turquie dès qu'on sort de l'hôtel ?? tes interventions ne volent pas haut, mais au moins, c'en est drôle de stupidité. Faut arrêter de fumer de l'amiante mélangée à de la choucroute !
Bon, ce n'est pas très étonnant d'une personne qui dit avoir vécu 5 ans en RFA et ne pas parler l'allemand ...
Apnet a écrit sur le forum Allemagne : "Ca fait depuis 1980 que je prend mes vacances plusieurs fois par an en Allemagne et en Autriche (+ de 60 séjours), j'ai habité 5 ans en Allemagne. J'ai JAMAIS eu le moindre problème pour me faire comprendre ??? Et je parle toujours pas allemand !"
... c'est pour ça qu'il lance sa petite phrase, sans raison, sans but, sans explications, histoire de faire un peu de provoque à bas prix (c'est les soldes).
Je trouvais justement la remarque peu constructive...
l'homme qui vole haut....ahah, de quoi tu te mêles toi dans ton "pays" de bouseux ? Toi tu parles Cambodgien ? J'parie que tu n'y a jamais mis les pieds !
Ta remarque m'étonne fortement car (bien que n'ayant personellement jamais mis les pieds en Turquie) mes parents - qui sont âgés, pénibles et pinailleurs question confort et propreté - sont déjà allés à plusieurs reprises en Turquie (au moins 5x, dans diverses régions) et ils sont toujours revenus enchantés de leur voyages, autant en ce qui concernait les hébergements que les lieux visités.
Chacun ses goûts, mais si tu as les chaines satelittes, chaque semaines, il y a des émissions sur les destinations de vacances. La turquie est réputée pour ses hôtels sales et dégoutants. Ils font des contrôles de propreté, des contrôles sur la nourriture. C'est dommage de ne pas voir ça, plus personne n'irait.
Chacun ses goûts, mais si tu as les chaines satelittes, chaque semaines, il y a des émissions sur les destinations de vacances. La turquie est réputée pour ses hôtels sales et dégoutants. Ils font des contrôles de propreté, des contrôles sur la nourriture. C'est dommage de ne pas voir ça, plus personne n'irait.
Dîtes, c'est pas parce que vous avez vu une émission sur une chaine pourrie qu'il faut faire une généralité! 😠
Devinez ce que je fais comme métier? Je vous le donne dans le mille! Je joue au "touriste", je visite les hôtels, j'y prélève discrètement des échantillons de denrées alimentaires, je note la propreté des chambres et le service en général.
Et je travaille souvent en Turquie!
Avec votre affirmation, vous prétendez que je fais mal mon boulot? Que tout ce qui est marqué sur nos catalogues c'est de la foutaise et qu'en règle générale c'est la saleté et les microbes dans la bouffe qui prévalent?
Je ne vous félicite pas pour votre argumentation et vos propos diffamatoires, Monsieur!
Et si vous voulez un conseil, regardez plutôt ARTE au lieu de vous instruire sur des chaînes à deux balles...
Ah mais, Fex, t'as pas compris à qui t'avais a faire ? On a la un super spécialiste du voyage, qui, grâce à son ouverture d'esprit, la clarté de ses propos, et ses sources d'information vécues, va nous éclairer sur les destinations du monde entier.
Franchement, un voyageur qui m'explique, qu'en TR, tout ce que tu vois en sortant de l'hôtel, c'est du sable...un internaute comme ça, je demande qu'on lui décerne de suite, et en colissimo ou par Fedex, le clavier d'or.
Tous les matins, je scrute mon écran, en espérant lire sa prochaine fiche technique de voyage. Normalement, on devrait pas tarder à lire que les turcs sont des arabes, qu'avant de s'appeler Istambul, (qui est la capitale de la TR) s'appelait Persepolis, que Stasi est une marque de lessive, que les habitants de Slovenie étaient avant yougoslave, que Zurich est la capitale de la Suisse, qui elle-même est un "nouveau land" de la RFA.
Allez, Apnet, reviens, raconte-nous encore un truc, que je puisse lire ça le matin, en buvant mon café.
Au fait, ARTE, c'est pas la télévision officielle du Parti Communiste chinois ? me semble bien que je la capte avec mon satellite.
ps : de plus, la TR, c'est super dangereux, ils conduisent à gauche, et de plus, en cas de tempête de sable, t'es mal barré.😏 En plus, avant, ça s'appelait le Turkménistan, et ça faisait parti de l'Union soviétique ...Arrête, Apnée, reviens à la surface, j'ai mal au ventre à force de rire. Pitié !!!
Effectivement Faby,
Mais au moins avec roulemonde mes zygomatiques fonctionnent parfois, tandis qu'ici c'est la soupe à la grimace!
L'initiatrice du post nous parle de "venise" de "Belgrade" de "Sofia" ou d'"Istanbul"...
Il nous dit "Tout les hôtels à 5 étoiles ne valent même pas un hôtel sans étoile en France, dès que tu en sort, y a juste du sable c'est pareil au maroc et en egypte"
C'est clair que Venise, Belgrade, Sofia et dans ce cas là Istanbul, sont très prisées pour des vacances balnéaires! 🤪
(je te l'accorde...celle-ci mérite le clavier d'or)
T'inquiète pas, à la suite de sa réponse sur mon post de voyage au Monténégro, je pense qu'il a dû être traumatisé par le paiement à effectuer dans les WC proches des mosquées turques... 😉
J'ai le projet de partir début juin 2018 pour 2 à 3 semaines (je dois encore définir le temps) pour un objectif d'arriver à Istanbul et si possible Ankara…
Je suis une nouvelles membre de voyage forum et je ne suis pas encore très au point avec le fonctionnement de ce site.. En faite je vais partir avec deux amis…
Je pars à vélo cet été jusqu'à Istanbul, puis je continue mon voyage en bus et en train à travers la Turquie et ensuite retour par l'Europe de l'est! Ma…
Bonjour.
J’aimerais savoir quel est le budget par jour au mois de décembre Pour la Grèce, à savoir que je vais atterrir à Athènes et y rester une semaine. Puis après encore d’autres îles, je n’ai pas encore d’itinéraire prévu. De plus j’ai cru comprendre qu’au mois de décembre enfin début janvier. La température était autour des 11 16° est-ce que cela est vrai Au final, je voudrais savoir si quelqu’un a une bonne adresse d’hôtel peu cher, mais propre proche des sites touristiques, je n’ai pas besoin de télévision ou autre superflu. Aussi est-ce que la la Grèce est gay friendly. Je vous remercie d’avance pour vos réponses. Cordialement
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,
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 looking for a car rental company in Tirana for September. Does anyone have a rental company to recommend? I saw that it's possible to rent from private individuals through a platform that groups them (rentfromlocals/al). Has anyone used this method, and if so, is it cost-effective, reliable, and what guarantees are there?
Also, I plan to drive through the Albanian mountains (Valbonë, Kukës, Përmet, Pogradec...). Can anyone tell me about the general condition of these roads? Is a 4x4 vehicle necessary, or would a car with a slightly raised undercarriage (like a Dacia Sandero Stepway) be enough?
Bruno
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, I’m looking for a local guide in Burgas, Bulgaria, who speaks French and can suggest some great excursions for us? For 3 people from July 8 to 14, 2026.
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?
I’m just passing through the city very quickly (one afternoon, one night, one morning) and I’d love to see as many must-see spots as possible.
I’ve put together a little itinerary—let me know what you think!
Visit to Varosliget Park
Heroes’ Square
Quick stop in the southern part of Margitsziget (for the photo with the Budapest sign!!!)
Gül Baba Mausoleum and Rose Garden
Fisherman’s Bastion
Church of the Assumption of Our Lady of Budavár
Tóth Árpád stny promenade
Budavar Palace
Freedom Square
Parliament
This is just a first draft.
I still have a few months to tweak it.
hello
I’m looking for advice for a last-minute trip—about 3 weeks (half Montenegro, half Croatia).
I’m traveling solo, backpacker style (low budget, hostels). I’m 40 and love exploring cool spots—cities, beaches, mountains, sports activities, you name it.
I’m torn between renting a car or just going with the flow using buses once I’m there. A car would definitely be more convenient, but it might be pricier—plus, parking (is it paid?) and having to return it to the same place. My plan is to start in Montenegro (flying into Podgorica or Albania) and finish in Croatia, so I’d either need to do short-term rentals per country or one-way.
In Montenegro, here are the spots I’ve noted:
- Ulcinj and Velika Plaža beach
- A side trip to Lake Skadar and Virpazar
- Budva, Sveti Stefan, and Petrovac
- Cetinje and Lovćen National Park
- Kotor / Perast
- Žabljak and Durmitor National Park + rafting in the Tara Canyon
Is 8–10 days enough?
And in Croatia, I’ve got:
- Dubrovnik
- Korčula
- Hvar
- Split + Trogir and Krka National Park
- Zadar
- Plitvice Lakes National Park
- Croatian Istria / Rovinj / Pula
- Zagreb
Around 10–12 days.
Any tips on the stops (adding or cutting some from my list) or transportation options?
I’m heading to Pelion with my partner and then to Chalkidiki around mid-September (from September 12th to 26th). I arrive in Thessaloniki on Saturday evening and plan to spend a day there to check out the market (though it’s marked as temporarily closed on Google??) and, most importantly, enjoy the local food scene.
After that, I’ll head toward Meteora (Sunday evening/Monday), spend a week in Pelion, and then head up to Nikiti to finish the trip (5 days in Vourvourou) and explore the beaches of Sithonia. We’ll also make a trip to Afytos since I think it’s worth the detour.
About Pelion, I’m really not sure where to stay because the distances between Volos and Afissos aren’t straightforward.
I’m looking for a quiet spot but with a little evening activity—like strolling through a village or by the sea. I’ve seen a few suggestions via ChatGPT, but I’m not convinced about the vibe (Milies, Makrinitsa).
Volos is big… but kind of ugly.
We love hiking, spending time in picturesque/typical villages, and, like everyone else, tasting local specialties. As for balancing the trip, I’m open to changes or adjustments if you’ve got any tips—I’d love to hear them, along with any other ideas.
Hi! We’d like to go away for 10 days around May 15th, either to Menorca or Crete—we don’t know either place. We love hiking, unspoiled nature, good food, swimming, and, if possible, avoiding crowds. We enjoy getting off the beaten track. Menorca seems ideal because it’s not far by plane from Lyon, but if Crete is really wilder and more beautiful in terms of landscapes, we can add an extra hour of flight time. Can you help us out? Thanks!
I'm on my way to Slovakia, where I'll be spending about ten days on vacation in the High Tatras. I've decided to stop in Prague for 24 hours with my two teens (arriving around noon, leaving the next day). We don’t know the city at all.
I know a single day is way too short to discover everything, so I’d like to plan a small circuit to see the must-see spots.
Here’s what I’ve planned:
Walk through Nový Svět street
Visit the castle, St. Vitus Cathedral, and Golden Lane
Quick stop at Vojanovy Sady gardens
Malá Strana Square
Maltese Square
Kampa Island
Then the iconic Charles Bridge and a short tour of the Jewish Quarter
We’ll head back down to visit Old Town Square (Malé Náměstí, St. Nicholas Church, and the Church of Our Lady before Týn)
Head to Wenceslas Square and the Church of Our Lady of the Snows
Then to the Church of Saints Cyril and Methodius and the Dancing House
And finally, back to the starting point.
Estimated distance: 10 km
I was thinking of a little evening stroll up Petřín Hill... what do you think?
Are there things that aren’t really worth it, or other spots that are must-sees?
It’s decided—next summer, it’s Cyprus! A region we don’t know yet, with nature, culture, beach time, and diving the Zenobia 😎
We’re thinking of a 2-week trip.
After flipping through the LP guide, I’m still unsure about the best bases—I can’t quite picture the distances...
Option 1: Stay near Larnaca for 1 week and Paphos for the other.
But from Larnaca, Cape Greco is doable. Wouldn’t it be better to stay near Cape Greco (Protaras?) instead? What about getting to Lefkara?
Same from Paphos—easy to explore as far as Kourion.
Option 2: A single, more central base somewhere between Limassol and Larnaca.
I’d like to book tickets for a visit to the Acropolis at the end of April. The official site is down. What do you think of agencies like Get Your Guide? Are they reliable? It’s a lot more expensive. The audio guide option is tempting, but is that reliable too? We’re a bit older and like to take our time...
Do the other museums (National Archaeological Museum and Museum of Cycladic Art) also require reservations? We visited Athens 50 years ago, and it seems like things have changed a lot.
