Ce n'est pas la Pologne mais on m'a rit au nez quand j'ai dit il y a quelques années que je partais au Kosovo.
A mon avis, hormis Prague, Budapest et Saint-Petersbourg/Moscou, rares sont les coins où les touristes vont de manière spontanée et en nombre.
Il n'est pas rare d'entendre "qu'il n'y a rien à voir dans les pays de l'Est" ce qui est inepte.
Alors à Varna, il y a deux trucs très sympa :
- Un musée des automobiles soviétiques, Retro museum, extraordinaire.
- Un monument assez urbex au bout de la colline, au nord, à l'amitié soviéto-bulgare.
Je n'ai jamais vu la plage.
-
un collègue est cette semaine en congé cette semaine à varna ...
avion lyon sofia + 1 voiture 1 semaine + 1 appart 1 semaine 1500 euros pour 2...
quant on aime bronzer sur la plage pkoi pas
Que ce pays est beau et ses habitants sympas et prêts à rendre service si vous avez besoin de quelque chose. Mon épouse et moi voyageons en moto et nous sommes déjà passés trois fois dans ce pays. La côte de la Baltique est magnifique et tellement différente des autres mers. Moi qui n'aime pas trop aller à la méditerranée, je ne ma lasse pas de cette mer. Que dire des paysages qu'on peut y rencontrer? Ils sont si variés et tous beaux !
C'est vrai que pour beaucoup de gens aller vers l'Est c'est encore synonyme de soviet et de police qui vous emprisonne pour un rien, de racket par les policiers. Que n'ai je entendu lorsque que j'ai dit autour de moi que nous allions en Bulgarie et puis en Albanie !
Dans tous les pays d'Europe centrale que nous avons visité, nous avons toujours été bien reçu et y avons fait de belles rencontres. Dans certains nous avons gardé des amis avec qui nous correspondons régulièrement.
bonjour une petite vidéo d'une formation de chanteuses polonaises, Tulia.
Leur chanson est la reprise d'un groupe de Heavy-metal bien connu et elles chantent en anglais n'empêche que la ré-interprétation est remarquable
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=09NqLjHJtGQ
en limitant de plus en plus les libertés individuelles deja acquises avec ce fichu président
et ces libertés individuelles qu'est-ce que c'est précisément ?
Le droit fondamental des femmes a l'IVG, le reconnaissance des couples LGBT comme des personnes, et la reconnaissance des homosexuels Entre autres parmi d'autres. Là ce président veut éradiquer tout cela.
C'est bien plus que cela encore, la fin de l'indépendance des juges, le controle de la Télé et des médias par le gouvernement, des entorses au règlement européen, des lois qui empêchent les historiens de travailler sur la collaboration durant WW2... des privations des libertés (de parole, d'opinion, de réunion)...
Mais c'est vrai qu'à part la situation politique assez désespérante, la Pologne est un pays fascinant d'un point de vue historique, architectural, touristique. Il y a des paysages très variés, des montagnes superbes, la mer baltique, des villes historiques, des régions avec des traditions très contrastées... beaucoup de choses à découvrir pour moi même après 20 ou 30 séjours là bas...
C'est bien plus que cela encore, la fin de l'indépendance des juges, le contrôle de la Télé et des médias par le gouvernement, des entorses au règlement européen, des lois qui empêchent les historiens de travailler sur la collaboration durant WW2... des privations des libertés (de parole, d'opinion, de réunion)...
"la fin de l'indépendance des juges" on a simplement mis à la porte (à la retraite) les juges qui œuvraient pour le pouvoir ex-communiste depuis des décennies.
"le contrôle de la TV et des médias" en France ou ailleurs dans le monde les médias sont aux mains de groupes privés, parfois au service des gouvernements, c'est connu.
"des entorses au règlement européen", moi j'appellerais cela dans certains cas le dictat de l'Union Européenne piloté depuis Bruxelles comme par exemple en matière d'immigration (quotas d'immigrants imposés par l'Union Européenne à la Pologne).
J'adore la Pologne, je m'y sens tellement bien, dommage que la politique divise autant les Polonais.
Si vous pensez que l'aventure est dangereuse, essayez la routine..., elle est mortelle
Je suis venu, j'ai vu, au revoir.
Ah ben bravo le tourisme, quand on va quelque part je pense qu'il est important pour les voyageurs de s'informer un minimum sur le pays et cela inclus la politique qui peut faire parti de la culture. Que l'on soit pour ou contre ou sans avis c'est peu importe, mais quel dommage de faire juste le touriste lambda
"des entorses au règlement européen", moi j'appellerais cela dans certains cas le dictat de l'Union Européenne piloté depuis Bruxelles comme par exemple en matière d'immigration (quotas d'immigrants imposés par l'Union Européenne à la Pologne).
J'adore la Pologne, je m'y sens tellement bien, dommage que la politique divise autant les Polonais.
Et bien vous avez l'air d'etre hyper au courant ce qui s'y passe en pologne....
Et pour info la politique divise partout. Mais la on parle d'extremisme grave qui est en train de se mettre en place.
Et oui, la Commission européenne en est à sa 4e procédure d'infraction à l'état de droit contre la Pologne. Cela risque de finir devant la Cour de Justice européenne, comme les 3 précédentes, où l gouvernement PiS a du reculer.
Et oui c'est triste de voir un grand et beau pays bafouer les lois et valeurs européennes. Certes on pourrait dire que c'est une question de politique intérieure, mais cela nous concerne aussi tous, citoyens européens, et quand on va dans un pays, c'est aussi un paramètre à prendre en compte.
bonjour une petite vidéo d'une formation de chanteuses polonaises, Tulia.
Leur chanson est la reprise d'un groupe de Heavy-metal bien connu et elles chantent en anglais n'empêche que la ré-interprétation est remarquable
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=09NqLjHJtGQ
elles ont des voix magnifiques
mais dommage qu'elles chantent en anglais
Bravo .
Pas de chance j adore l histoire..
Je note juste que quelque soit l opinion qu on a sur un gouvernement cela ne change pas forcément la vision du pays... J ai peu côtoyé de polonais ...mais bon ne les ai pas trouvé monstrueux non plus... même si je ne vote pas pour eux. ..la France et la Pologne se sont croisées dans leur histoires qui sont très différentes
L'histoire et le situation actuelle n'est pas la meme chose :)
Sinon je suis mitigée sur la vision du pays.
Exemple: Dubai et 0 droits pour les etrangers et les femmes encore pire. Alors je me suis fait arreter 2 fois, pour xy raisons a la con. Résultat : c'est un bout de pays étonnant, mais jamais oh jamais je ne reviendrai, hors de question d'encourager de telles pratiques.
C'est comme marineland: si tu y vas tu va donner ton fric pour perpetuer la maltraitance /esclavagisme d'animaux. Est ce que ceux qui n'ont pas trop le choix et travaillent la bas doivent payez le prix comme une fermeture du parc ? Mais oui, il y aura toujours des dommages collatéraux. Bon c'est peut etre deux exemples extremes j'avoue.
Tu as un bon point qui merite la réflexion.
En 25 ans, j'ai vu le pays changer. mes villes préférées, Cracovie et Ggansk, la région des lacs au nord est, les Tatras et ses églises en bois ainsi que plein de petites villes super mignonnes...
Cracovie, Gdansk sont surement à voir mais je préfère les villes secondaires qui sont tout autant fascinante et avec un patrimoine historique de premier ordre.
Par ex: Lublin, Zamosc, Chelm, Wlodawa à la frontière de la Biélorussie, avec ses 3 synagogues polychromes restaurées.
Ou bien dans l'ancienne Galicie en partant de Cracovie: Nowy Sacz, Tarnow, Jaslo, Krosno, Jaroslaw, Przemysl, et au sud vers les montagnes Sanok, Lesko et les balades dans le parc national des Bieszczady, à la frontière de la Slovaquie et de l'Ukraine: magnifique.
Au nord en partant de Gdansk, toute la côte baltique jusqu'à Krynica Morska: des paysages incroyables, la mer Baltique, l'ambre à glaner surla plage, les forêts pleines de myrtilles...
Et évidemment Zakopane et les Tatras mais il faut maintenant éviter l'été, c'est surpeuplé. Et même l'hiver, malgré les jolis chalets en bois, c'est devenu trop touristique, quel dommage...
Lublin je ne la qualifie pas de ville secondaire, dans la mesure qu’elle est bien développée et se trouve à être la ville phare de ce coin de la Pologne . J’ai beaucoup aimé l’ambiance de cette ville .
J’ai visité non loin, le camp d’extermination Madjanek , bien conservé , moins fréquenté .
J’ai aimé Zamosc aussi , une ville fortifiée très belle , la place est magnifique , quel fut mon étonnement quand dans un pub , on a vu sur le mur des plaques d’immatriculation de l’Ontario , province canadienne à 15 minutes de chez moi . Le Canada a accueilli bcq de polonais dès la période avant la première guerre mondiale , dont la grand-mère maternelle à ma tante .Aussi loin nous sommes , géographiquement, même dans la politique , aussi près nous le sommes dans nos cœurs.
Je travaille avec un jeune polonais de 21 ans qui est arrivé au Canada à 14 ans parce que sa mère se trouvait soudainement sans mari et Lukas , orphelin 😕.
Ses grands-parents étant déjà immigrés au Canada , la maman est venu rejoindre ses parents , faute de soutien ... je ne connais pas toute l’histoire, mais si la femme n’est pas autant considérée , les ressources pour une mère monoparentale doivent être restreintes .
Bref, il est souriant , calme , posé , travaillant , une perle de jeune homme .
Voyager, c'est rendre hommage à l'être humain, et surtout, au berceau qui le préserve.
oui Gdansk est magnifique, et elle a un important passé allemand, c'est une ville de la Hanse et l'architecture et la richesse en découlent.
N'hésite pas à te promener le long de la côte jusqu'à la frontière russe... Ce sont des endroits magnifiques :)
oui Gdansk est magnifique, et elle a un important passé allemand, c'est une ville de la Hanse et l'architecture et la richesse en découlent.
N'hésite pas à te promener le long de la côte jusqu'à la frontière russe... Ce sont des endroits magnifiques :)
Je n'aurai pas de voiture...
J'ai été à Gdansk il y a 5 ans jolie ville oui par contre climat pas top.
Du coup je prévois plusieurs musées j'espère quand même qu'on aura un peu de beau temps pour la balade en bateau jusqu'à Westerplatte qu'on avait pas pu faire du coup et pour retourner à Sopot que j'avais juste vu en fin de journée après une journée de pluie.
On sera pas loin du musée national et j'aime bien l'art polonais et on compte voir aussi le musée de la marine et le nouveau musée de la Seconde Guerre mondiale.
Les musées modernes sont très bien fait en Pologne j'avais bien aimé celui sur Solidarnosc et à Varsovie sur celui de l'insurrection.
La Pologne me manque il est temps d'y retourner oui !
Je vais retrouver mes pierogi au four et les bons salons de thé 😛
C'est à Gdansk qu'on avait le mieux mangé (vu la météo on avait pas du temps à ça...)
nous n'avions pas de voiture non plus, pas besoin en Pologne.
de la gare des bus, tu as des bus pour toutes les localités du bord de la mer baltique jusqu'à la frontière russe. Les distances ne sont pas énormes et il y a des bus fréquents.
tu peux par ex.. aller à Jantar ou Szutowo, et jusqu'à Krynica morska. Tu trouveras sans difficultés des hébergements très bien sur booking. Sur place tu peux aller à la mer ou louer un vélo et te balader dans les forêts cotières...
A Sztutowo ne rate pas la visite de l'ancien camp de concentration de Stutthof, très impressionnant.
Une prochaine fois...
Là en une semaine on a déjà un bon "programme".
J'ai réservé un appartement près de la gare pour aller à Sopot et Malbork peut être Gdynia.
D'origine polonaise, cela fait plus de 12 ans que je n'ai plus été en Pologne. J'envisage cette année de faire découvrir deux villes à ma compagne ainsi qu'a…
Je suis nouvelle sur ce forum et peut-être que ce sujet a déjà été traité et je m'excuse de revenir dessus. Voici ma situation: mon ami est originaire de la…
Bonjour,
Je cherche un transfert privatif pour relier l’aéroport d’Istanbul au centre historique Serkeci, quelqu’un connaît t’il une compagnie, j’en ai trouvé plusieurs :
Getyourguide,
Istanbultour24.fr (plus interessant car ils proposent des transferts A/R moins chers
Si vous avez utilisé un de ces services, j’aimerais avoir votre avis
Merci d’avance
Hi,
I'm looking for info on the Pristina–Skopje bus route.
Can you leave from the main bus station in Pristina?
I’ve also heard about a bus station near the theater...
If anyone has details, I’d love to hear them—thanks!!!!
We want to book our tickets to visit the Acropolis site and the associated museum. For these reservations, we need to specify entry time slots.
For the Acropolis alone: the first slot is at 8:30 AM.
For the museum: 10 AM? 11 AM?
We like to wander around, so here’s our question: if we haven’t finished exploring the site after 1.5 hours, is it possible to go back in after leaving the museum?
We’ll be buying tickets from the official websites—audio guides are mentioned. Any feedback on those? On sites like Get Your Guide, the prices are much higher with the audio guide included, but does that mean better quality?
I'm currently planning a trip to Cyprus for late October. I have a few questions:
- I plan to visit Nicosia, Paphos, and Ayia Napa. What do you recommend in Ayia Napa?
- Is it easy to get around by bus from one city to another? Or do you have any private drivers to recommend?
- Do you have any hotels to recommend?
Any tips or advice is welcome!
Thanks in advance
Hello,
We're heading to Istanbul from October 7th to 12th. I’d love to do a dinner cruise on the Bosphorus on a more intimate boat (no show) with a private table and alcohol (wine, since it’s a birthday dinner). Could anyone recommend a reliable company (I’m not looking for a private yacht either) that organizes this kind of evening?
Thanks in advance,
Hi, I’d like to buy a ticket to go to Terezín from Prague using the Pid Litacka app, but I don’t know which zone to get the ticket for. Thanks for your help! 😊
Hi there,
After booking an Airbnb last January for this summer’s vacation in Sarajevo... My "host" canceled our reservation without any reason—this has never happened to me before.
Of course, now it’s impossible to find a place to stay at a "normal" price in Sarajevo with parking...
So we’re falling back on the capital of the Republika Srpska, Banja Luka, which had already crossed my mind before I booked Sarajevo.
I already have quite a few ideas in mind, without having dug too deep into the region yet.
But if anyone has already been there and has suggestions? Even for restaurants—I’m all ears!
And even if it’s not right next door, I’m planning to spend a day in Sarajevo!
Hi, I’m going to Turkey for 3 weeks. I’ve heard that you can’t book through Booking.com once you’re there and that everything has to be reserved in advance. Is it true that Booking.com doesn’t work in Turkey? Thanks to anyone who’s already been or is there—if it’s true, how do you handle bookings?
I’d love to get your opinions and advice on a destination.
It’s actually for my 19-year-old son who wants to go to Greece with his cousin, who’s the same age.
They’re looking at leaving on October 24th for 7 to 10 days.
For their trip, they want gorgeous beaches where they can swim, beautiful typical villages and historic cities, stunning landscapes, but also lively spots for their nights out. In short, they’re not just going there to laze around—they want to make the most of it...
But here’s the thing: will the weather be too iffy at that time, especially for swimming?
Also, would Crete be the best choice for what they’re looking for?
Then, a travel agent suggested Tenerife instead because of the weather at that time of year—he said the climate there is the same all year round. But will they find landscapes and beaches as beautiful as in Crete?
Hello!
I’m planning a trip to Greece in May or June 2027. We’re independent travelers.
We’ll rent a car after our stay in Athens and book accommodations through Booking or similar sites.
What do you think of this itinerary? We’re taking our time (beach and swimming if the weather allows in May—is the water too cold?)
Athens, 3 days
Nafplio, 3 days (Mycenae, Epidaurus, Archaia)
Mystras, 2 days or Monemvasia, 2 days (Laconia peninsula)?? Dilemma between the two
Return trip from the Peloponnese via the Rio-Antirrio bridge
Nafpaktos, 1 night
Arachova, 2 days (Delphi, Osios Loukas Monastery)
Return to Athens and departure
Is it crowded in May or June for visits to archaeological sites?
Thanks for your suggestions or corrections!
Hi there,
Our first trip to Greece as a couple. We're planning to spend 7 days in Greece from August 30th to September 5th. We'll reserve 2 days for Athens at the end of the trip. For the remaining 5 days, we want to visit an island—any recommendations? Thanks for your tips and details, we really appreciate it.
Hi,
What tips can you give me for dealing with a car rental scam attempt in Lithuania?
In our case, it’s the Avis-Budget agency in Vilnius trying to scam us.
We rented a car at Vilnius Airport for 2 weeks on July 28, 2019, to return it in Tallinn on August 11.
We brought it back on August 11 at the airport, in perfect condition, and with a full tank at the gas station right by Tallinn Airport.
On the parking lot, the receptionist’s booth was closed. So we had to leave the car in the lot and go to the counter inside the airport. The person at the counter told us their colleague had gone for lunch!
But they refused to come out and do the inspection with us because they were alone at the counter.
They told us we could leave and that everything was fine!!!!
Two days later, we got an email from Avis-Budget with two invoices saying the car was damaged—scratched on both sides—and charging us for a full tank of gas. That’s two bills totaling 800 €!!!! Coincidentally, the deposit was 900 €!
It’s clear this isn’t over!!
Have any of you been through the same nightmare? How did you handle it?
Thanks in advance!
I’m spending 2 weeks in Crete in September and will need a rental car.
I usually go with Europcar, but comparing their offer to what Aegean Rentals has, I see Europcar is charging no less than 400 € more for the same car and similar insurance!
I’d love to hear if others have experience with Aegean Rentals, and if so, whether it was a good one?
Hi,
We’re heading to Greece in early October and will be staying in Kineta, north of the Saronic Gulf, and renting a car.
Is it feasible to visit Acrocorinth, Mycenae, Nafplio, and Epidaurus in a single day?
Thanks for your recommendations!
Hi there!
I’m sharing our itinerary for May/June 2027—23 days. This is our first time in Greece, so we’re starting with the must-see spots. We’re planning another trip later to explore the north, Thessaloniki, Macedonia, and some islands.
- Athens, 4 nights
- Corinth area, 2 nights (Heraion of Perachora, Canal, Acrocorinth)
- Nafplio, 3 nights (Mycenae, Epidaurus, Methana peninsula)
- Gefira, 2 nights (Monemvasia)
- Areopoli, 2 nights (Mani). Maybe add an extra night and stay on the peninsula??? Based on my calculations, the Mani loop is about 100 km—doable in a day, but it’d be a quick trip.
- Sparta or Pikoulianika, 2 nights (Mystras)
- Dimitsana, 2 nights (Lousios Gorge, monasteries)
- Olympia, 2 nights (via Lagkadia?)
- Delphi or Arachova, 3 nights (via the west coast, Galaxidi bridge) (Delphi, Hosios Loukas Monastery)
- And back to Athens.
This is just a rough draft for now. We’re planning to stay in hotels or book through Booking.com. What do you think? Thanks for your feedback and suggestions!
Over the past twenty-five years, I’ve traveled the roads between France and Moldova a good ten times, sometimes via Central Europe, other times via the Balkans.
It was while traveling like this—what I call "hitting the road the slow way"—that I realized something simple: our neighbors' neighbors are very clearly our neighbors too. And that’s not insignificant.
After a break of a few years, I’m planning to hit the road again in September, this time heading to Kosovo, crossing through Bosnia-Herzegovina and Montenegro.
Having gotten a bit older, I’ve no intention of rushing—no need to speed ahead of the music! 😄
I’d rather take my time.
I’m not looking to see everything, but to soak in the atmosphere of the places, always leaving room for the unexpected and for encounters.
I’m especially drawn to culturally immersive, authentic, and welcoming regions: lively villages, backroads, preserved landscapes, markets, local festivals, traditions that are still very much alive... and, why not, a few offbeat, forgotten, or slightly secret spots.
If any of you know Bosnia-Herzegovina, Montenegro, or Kosovo a little, I’d love to hear your suggestions for itineraries, stops, backroads, homestays, village festivals, or local contacts, for example.
Planning to return to Belarus in mid-August, I just realized that since last September, Poland has reopened several border crossing points, and for buses, this means connections like Białystok-Grodno.
Several bus company routes, like on infobus.eu, take between 3 and 4 hours.
Trains from Warsaw to Białystok take about 1.5 to 2 hours.
This has the advantage of allowing comfortable train journeys with minimal time spent on a bus.
Also, the Terespol-Brest border might have shorter queues if you still prefer a Warsaw-Brest bus.
Note that another route to Minsk, if you have a paper Russian or Belarusian visa, is the Kaliningrad-Minsk train. It’s long—around ten or eleven hours—but you can lie down and sleep. An option if you fly into Gdańsk and then take a short bus to Kaliningrad.
There are also Belavia flights from Minsk to Kaliningrad, but they’re expensive. The route is scenic:
In any case, this adds a few more options compared to what’s been available over the last four years.
Hi there.
I’d like to know what the daily budget is for Greece in December. I’ll be landing in Athens and staying there for a week, then heading to some other islands—I don’t have a set itinerary yet. Also, I’ve heard that in December, or early January, the temperature is around 11–16°C. Is that accurate?
Finally, does anyone have a good recommendation for a cheap but clean hotel near the tourist sites? I don’t need a TV or any other extras. Also, is Greece gay-friendly?
I’d like to know the opening hours of physical stores between Germany and Austria, and between Austria and Slovenia, that sell the PAPER STICKER toll vignettes that still exist for 2026—non-digital ones. I don’t think they’re open 24/7, and I can’t find the info anywhere.
Thanks
Hi there,
We’re planning a 3-week trip in late September with our camper van to explore Bulgaria and Romania.
What routes would you recommend, starting from the South?
Is there an option to take a ferry in Italy, and is it worth it?
Thanks for all your tips!😊
Hi there, we’re a young couple and we’d love to go to the Blue Eye (Syri i Kalter) between today (26/06/26) and tomorrow (27/06/26).
Is anyone heading there and could give us a ride? We’re super friendly!
Thanks so much!
We're back. It's still a bit tough to get precise info, so here's a quick trip report!
A good starting point is Shkoder, a really pleasant city. You can easily explore Shkoder itself in a day or two.
Two accessible spots: Valbona and Theth.
In both cases, local travel agencies in Shkoder or online offer round-trip or one-way access packages. Super handy, especially for Valbona.
Valbona and Theth are both very steep! There aren’t many easy hikes for less sporty folks (like me!).
Valbona: The highlight is the amazing 2.5-hour boat ride across Lake Koman. There are day trips from Shkoder, but you’ll only get a short tour of the lake. The best option is to do the full crossing—so spend a night in Valbona (or two if you want to hike in the valley) and return.
Theth is deeply nestled in the mountains. The village at the end of the valley, which is a dead end, has lots of hotels, but they’re pricey. Other hostels are scattered along the mountainside road, but it’s a steep climb down to the village or to the start of the two easy hikes (waterfalls and the Blue Eye). For us, it was a one-hour descent (and ascent!). It’s fine if you have a car; otherwise, keep an eye out for a taxi (cheap) or try hitchhiking—it works really well.
Access from Shkoder to Theth is through an agency. The road is in great condition, and you can also rent a car for 2-3 days in Shkoder. If we did it again, that’s the option we’d choose.
We didn’t do the trek and returned to Shkoder each time. I can’t speak to its difficulty, but we were there in late May, and even experienced hikers had given up because of heavy rain and snow.
Hope this helps! It’s a stunning region you shouldn’t miss.
We’re a Canadian couple, both 77, and we’re already planning our vacation for fall 2027.
Timeframe: mid-September to mid-October... dates are flexible, and we might stay even longer.
Initially, I had planned this itinerary:
Athens (3), Naxos (4), Paros (4), Santorini (4), then a flight to Istanbul (7–10 days!!). This would let us maximize our flights and experience another culture.
That’s a lot of ferries, though... I’ve already cut out Milos.
Our second option would be to stay 2 x 15 days on two different islands, but I’d still keep Istanbul as our next destination... or maybe 30 days on one island that offers the chance to take day trips to other islands where the ferry ride is no more than 2 to 2.5 hours. For example, Naxos to Paros only takes 30 minutes. We could return the same evening or stay overnight.
Naxos seems like the best option!!!
For Istanbul, of course we want to do a day cruise on the Bosphorus and see Hagia Sophia. If we stay 6–7 days, what would be the other main attractions? Are there any points of interest we can reach by local bus?
Hi there!
We bought our tickets to Greece at the end of November 2025, and let’s just say the geopolitical climate has really taken a turn since then with the war started by the United States against Iran. Not to mention all the other conflicts happening around the world 😕... Anyway!
Our flight from Montreal is on May 1st, and I was wondering how things are currently being experienced in Greece.
We were planning to rent a car and had already booked accommodations on three Cyclades islands!!
The oil shortage is also worrying us...
If you could share some insights on this, that would be great!
A little trip report from an 11-day journey to Albania at the end of April 2026, with two friends in their early sixties and beyond...
Our route: Berat, Gjirokastër, Himarë, Tirana
Here are some opinions, tips, and great deals to share:
Flight Round-trip Beauvais-Tirana: Ryanair, 260 € with checked baggage (20 kg) and seat selection. Flight was fine and on time. 2h 30min flight.
Exchange: 1 € was worth 95 lek in April 2026. We were advised to exchange in the airport hall at the Illiria counter (98 lek outside the security zone), saying we wouldn’t find a better rate. However, the exchange rate was 93 lek for 1 euro, while in the city it was 95...
Car rental at Tirana airport for 9 days via Booking.com: 144 € (56 € for the car rental and 88 € for optional full insurance deductible waiver).
Wheego agency: the car was fine, but be careful when signing the contract—they tried to convince us that the insurance taken through Booking didn’t cover everything and insisted we take their own insurance for 250 €... We refused.
After reading about driving in Tirana, instead of starting our trip by visiting the capital, we decided to head straight to Berat upon arrival and return the car at the end of the trip to explore the city on foot. This turned out to be a great choice!
Accommodations: All our stays were booked via Booking.com. Everyone prefers to be paid in euros and in cash—they mention this when booking.
Berat: 2-hour drive from the airport.
Accommodation: Vila Arben Elezi: 135 € for 3 nights with breakfast and private parking. The room was decent and clean but a bit dark, located slightly below ground level near the parking. However, the breakfast on the rooftop was excellent, especially with the stunning view of the "city of a thousand windows." Great location.
Berat was our favorite—there are lovely walks through the different neighborhoods on both sides of the river, each with a very different vibe. The citadel visit is also fascinating, as it’s like a small town within the fortress.
The walk along the river is pleasant, with plenty of restaurant choices. Other restaurants in the old town are also very nice. The White House Restaurant, on the first floor along the road, is good and offers a great view of the Gorica district.
Gjirokastër:
Accommodation: Te Ajdini Guest House: 120 € for 3 nights with breakfast. A private home stay. There’s free parking just before entering the city, a 5-minute walk from the accommodation, which is very convenient since the cobblestone streets are narrow and parking is tricky. Yes, it’s a climb to get to the place, but everything in this city is uphill... The room was bright and clean. Breakfast was very good, hearty, and served in the courtyard with a view of the castle. The guesthouse is a 5-minute walk from the city center (the bazaar) but in a quiet area.
Restaurants: Rrapi and Kujtimi—good and affordable with their little pergolas.
The old town of Gjirokastër is charming but very touristy, with streets packed with souvenir shops and restaurant tables and chairs. Lots of people.
-The bunker visit (near the tourist office) is very interesting: Cold War Tunnel.
The castle offers a beautiful view of the city.
-Visit to the Ottoman house Skenduli: very well done. Don’t forget to climb the ladder facing a trapdoor in the ceiling to see the roof’s framework—it’s like a forest of beams: impressive!
-The bridge Ura e Ali Pasha: A steep 45-minute climb from the city to the site is worth it, but once you reach the viewpoint (which is stunning), you have to go back down a path to reach the bridge. You can drive to the viewpoint, but parking is very tricky.
Around Gjirokastër:
-Just outside the city: Lake Liqeni i Viroit: a nice, ordinary-looking lake, but at the end, there’s a natural spring making the water crystal clear and a brilliant blue—really spectacular, like photos of Blue Eye near Sarandë.
-Drive to Përmet along the gorges: beautiful viewpoints along the way and lovely countryside.
Himarë:
Accommodation: Vila Kosteli: 120 € for 2 nights with breakfast—slightly overpriced for this type of place but very close to a small beach and not far from the promenade with all the restaurants. Private parking, but very tight (4 cars on a tiny lot along the road). The "sea view" room is a bit obstructed by the building across the street. However, the rooftop breakfast view is beautiful. Friendly staff.
Himarë is a pleasant seaside resort, quite calm (but it was April...). There’s a cute promenade with restaurants along the beach. The castle on the heights of Himarë is worth a visit.
Around Himarë:
-Qeparo is worth a quick stop, but Qeparo village is really worth the detour: a village lost in the heights after a scenic drive up from the coastal road—narrow but well-maintained. Beautiful view from the top and a charming village.
-The Big Bunker and Llogora Panorama: take a right turn several kilometers after Dhermi—a road that climbs steeply from the start... A breathtaking winding road that reaches 900 meters in altitude. The view is stunning.
-Several small villages between Dhermi and Himarë are worth a quick stop.
-Porto Palermo Castle is somewhat disappointing.
Tirana:
Taxi from Tirana airport to the city center: 15 € with electric taxis (Green Taxi, Bee Taxi, Do Taxi).
Accommodation: Hotel Nevi Apartment: 63 € for 2 nights. A private apartment in an older building but very clean and well-equipped, with a kitchen and small enclosed balcony.
Great welcome and contact—the owner even booked a taxi for our departure. Very well located, close to the main square, shops, and restaurants. A small supermarket nearby is perfect for stocking up on breakfast supplies.
The city is lively and dynamic, with plenty of green spaces and promenades. Buildings are popping up everywhere, often with surprising architecture—like a building shaped like a face, a huge golden cube, and many others under construction.
-Sky Tower: at the top, a rotating bar offers a 360° view of the city and its buildings. Drinks are a bit pricier than usual, but it’s totally worth it (6 € for a beer or a glass of white wine, 3 € for coffee). We were there for sunset, and it was amazing! A must-do. Arrive early, as it fills up quickly.
-The House of Leaves: a house used for secret surveillance and interrogations during the dictatorship... A great way to learn about the surveillance systems of that era.
-Bunk’Art 2: a bunker in the heart of the city—very interesting, covering the dictatorship period and its system...
-The Pazari i Ri Bazaar: the new bazaar district. The large hall is worth a visit, but souvenir prices are often higher than elsewhere... The area is nice.
Restaurant: Kastrati Restaurant—a bit like a canteen with lots of traditional dishes. It’s on the first floor of a building. Excellent value for money, and the waitress explains the dishes in French.
That’s a little overview of our trip and my personal impressions!
Albania is a beautiful and pleasant country to visit.
If you have any questions, feel free to ask!
Hi everyone,
We’re thinking of spending 3 weeks in Crete between mid-August and early September, renting a car, quickly exploring a few spots in the east, and focusing on the west, southwest, and south.
I’m worried about the heavy tourist crowds. Is it really more noticeable than elsewhere in Greece? Is there a way to avoid the crowds without missing out on the iconic places, which I imagine are stunning in Crete? Thanks for your thoughts and experiences!
Hi,
I'm heading to Greece via Albania soon. Does anyone have info on transportation from Gjirokastër to Ioannina?
Which company, fares, and schedules—it's not very clear with Google.
