Bonjour,
Je me demande si c'est possible?
A priori je serais plutôt attirée par l'est de la Turquie car il me semble y avoir de hauts plateaux et de belles montagnes évoquant l'Asie Centrale.
Pour faire du ski de rando il faut ... de la neige et un relief assez doux, pas trop alpin.
L'idée (après survol superficiel en diagonale du LP) serait d'atterrir à Erzurum, de louer une voiture, de loger dans de petites pensions (ouvertes en avril?), et de tailler la route (déneigée en avril?) pour poser nos spatules quand le coin nous plait...
Enfin la question un peu idiote: quels sont les endroits les moins sûrs dans l'est de la Turquie?
Une autre possibilité (mais plus classique) serait de randonner en Cappadoce mais je crains qu'il n'y ait plus de neige...
Je pensais atterrir à Erzurum mais m'en éloigner assez vite pour aller vers l'est : comment peut-on se loger à 5 en avril dans ces régions (en changeant tous les jours ou tous les 2 jours)?
Le ski de rando permet justement de s'affranchir des stations et d'aller où on veut, pour autant qu'il y ait de la neige et un relief adéquat (pas trop accidenté)
Je ne vois pas où est le Dadasstan (autour d'Erzurum peut-être?) mais sais-tu si on peut aller vers le Mont Ararat sans trop de risque? Et vers le lac de Van?
Je suppose que le SE kurde est la région la moins sûre? Et vers la Géorgie?
"Attention aux loups" : j'adore cette phrase, elle me fait rêver... Les chiens de berger un peu moins!
Enfin, as-tu une idée de l'état des routes en avril?
'Je pensais atterrir à Erzurum mais m'en éloigner assez vite pour aller vers l'est : comment peut-on se loger à 5 en avril dans ces régions (en changeant tous les jours ou tous les 2 jours)?'
Vous pouvez loger dans les hotels dans les villes...
Ou dans quelques resorts de ski style Sarikamis.
'Je ne vois pas où est le Dadasstan (autour d'Erzurum peut-être?) mais sais-tu si on peut aller vers le Mont Ararat sans trop de risque? Et vers le lac de Van?'
Le Dadasstan est une blague... 😏
Les habitants d'Erzurum sont des Dadas, tres rudes, a la fois tres traditionnels, tres turcs, tres nationalistes.
Dogubeyazit ou Van ?
Ce ne sont pas des endroits pour vagabonder en ski de randonnee a mon avis.
'Je suppose que le SE kurde est la région la moins sûre? Et vers la Géorgie? '
Sure ? 🤪
Je n'arrive pas a comprendre de quoi vous avez peur au juste ?
Michel,
Je crois que vos réponses me seraient d'une plus grande aide si vous me parliez de votre propre expérience de la Turquie de l'est : quelles villes ou régions avez-vous visitées et à quel moment de l'année?
Merci de me faire partager votre expérience. Du concret.... quoi!
Marie
Au sujet de la securite, je pense qu'il y a des malentendus.
On se bat dans la region, avec des helicopteres, des lances-roquettes, des morts.
Tres souvent, quasiment tous les jours, surtout pres de la fontiere irakienne, mais aussi parfois bien plus au nord.
Une attaque de caserne a fait des dizaines de morts encore l'autre jour, mais dans une petite ville du departement d'Hakkari .
Mais ca ne concerne pas les voyageurs, qui seront tenus a l'ecart de ces coins-la par la Jandarma. En detail les departement difficiles sont Hakkari, Sirnak, Siirt, Tunceli et quelaues autres ; mais vous n'irez pas la ; tout simplement parce qu'on ne vous laissera pas y aller.
De ce point de vue il n'y a pas de reel danger, le conflit ne vous concerne pas et vous ne serez pas pris a partie.
Non, le vrai danger dans ce que vous voulez faire, c'est que dans ces zones rurales reculees, c'est que les paysans sont tous armes, qu'ils ont des chiens tres feroces, qu'il peut y avoir des loups, que ce sont des zones de contrebande, que la Jandarma ne vous laissera pas aller comme ca faire des randonnees, tout simplement.
Pour les 3 premières villes que vous citez : Hakkari, Sirnak, Siirt, je ne suis pas surprise mais Tunceli se situe bien plus à l'ouest? Il y aurait des troubles si loin à l'intérieur du pays?
Marie
Vous pouvez lire le Turkish Daily News ; mais il n'y a aucune raison qu'une situation qui dure depuis 15 ans evolue en quelques mois.
Je precise qu'a mon avis en avril toutes les stations de ski en Turquie sont deja fermees. Je doute vraiment que vous puissiez skier, ou c'est tres aleatoire.
je pense que dans le principe votre projet est possible. Quand nous avons été à Malatya, les montagnes étaient enneigées et il y avait des stations de ski, donc, autour j'imagine qu'il n'y aura pas trop de problème. Nous avons rencontré un jeune qui avait été jusqu'à la frontière Arménienne (Ani, Lac de Van)sans problème de sécurité mais je pense aussi qu'il était resté le long des principaux axes routiers (plutôt déserts malgré tout). En ce qui nous concerne, lorsque nous avons débarqué du bus à Malatya, il était clair qu'en Avril il n'y avait pas d'autres étrangers que nous.
Thien An
L'avenir il ne faut pas le prévoir, mais le permettre
Malatya par exemple n'est pas une ville de tres bonne reputation, bien pire par exemple que la frontiere armenienne ou georgienne....
Ani est absolument sans probleme autres que les chiens et les aleas du climat et de la ruralite. J'ai du y aller 4 ou 5 fois, pour etre plus precis car il semble qu'il le faille 🙂...
Oui, c'était un point de passage obligé pour se rendre au Nemrut Dagi.
Il est vrai que la semaine suivante il y a eu un dérapage entre des catholiques et des extrêmistes, mais nous n'avons rien vu de tout cela et nous ne nous sommes jamais sentis menacés. On a quand même mangé dans un resto mémorable conseillé par une personne du coin. Quant à la route pour aller au Nemrut Dagi, elle était déserte et reste mémorable, par les paysages, l'ambiance et le spectacle au bout de la route.
Thien An
L'avenir il ne faut pas le prévoir, mais le permettre
Super!
Merci Thienan pour tous ces détails qui me permettent de me faire une idée plus précise de notre futur voyage (rien n'est encore décidé mais...)
A propos des routes: y avait-il encore de la neige? Uniquement en altitude? Que sur les routes secondaires?
Et pour l'hébergement? Pas trop difficile hors-saison?
Peux-tu succinctement m'indiquer le parcours que vous avez fait?
Merci!
Marie
Je me suis peut-etre fait mal comprendre mais vous m'amusez... Ou me laissez songeur....
Vous vous souciez de la securite, c'est louable.... Mais si vous vous privez de Kars ou Erzurum pour aller dans les montagnes autour de Malatya fait du ski de randonnee, la, je ne comprends plus... 🙂
il n'y a pas de en et hors saison pour les hotels dans ces coins-la ; ce sont des hotels urbains, ouverts tout le temps. Ou alors des hotels de ski ouverts seulement l'hiver, en general jusqu'a fin mars.
Laissons à Thienan le temps de nous dire où elle est allée.
Je n'ai jamais dit que je voulais rester tout le temps au même endroit mais au contraire que je voulais changer tous les jours ou tous les 2 jours.
Donc Erzurum ou Kars ne contrindiquent pas forcément le Nemrut Dag.
Pour l'instant j'essaie de m'informer et n'ai pas encore de projet précis...
Marie
Pour ce qui est de notre trajet: On est parti d'Istanbul en bus de nuit pour Göreme, on est resté 3 jours en Cappadoce (climat continental, on eu un peu de neige), on a pris le bus pour Malatya (climat continental), sur place, un minibus privé pour aller au Nemrut Dagi, on a eu de la neige que sur ce trajet. Un jeune qui était dans le bus de Malatya a continué vers l'Est et a rejoint le lac de Van et Ani: il n'y avait pas de neige sur les grands axes de circulation, seulement pour aller au Nemrut Dagi qui était vraiment une petite route. Après Malatya, nous sommes allés sur Bodrum (climat chaud)ou nous avons loué un voilier 4 jours, puis on a loué une voiture pour remonter vers Istanbul via Ephèse et Pergame et traversée de la mer de Marmara.
Thien An
L'avenir il ne faut pas le prévoir, mais le permettre
"...Pour faire du ski de rando il faut ... de la neige et un relief assez doux, pas trop alpin..."
Zut ! Je ne savais pas cela. Du coup, cela fait une quinzaine d'années que je pratique le ski de randonnée un peu partout dans les Alpes (et de préférence dans les endroits où il y a le moins de plat possible) 😛
Thierry
On dit souvent "Fermez la porte, il fait froid dehors !" Mais une fois la porte fermée, il fait toujours aussi froid dehors.
En fait nous faisons du ski de randonnée nordique, détail qui a son importance et que je ne te ferai pas l'affront de t'expliquer, expérimenté comme tu sembles l'être.
Merci pour ton intervention qui fait bien avancer le schmilblick!
Marie
C'était une boutade. Désolé si elle vous a blessée. Ce n'était pas mon intention
Mais du coup, vous avez apporté une précision non négligeable. J'avoue que je n'utilise pas personnellement le terme de "ski de randonnée" pour parler de "ski nordique"
Thierry
On dit souvent "Fermez la porte, il fait froid dehors !" Mais une fois la porte fermée, il fait toujours aussi froid dehors.
Pour autant que je sache, les Turcs ne pratiquent pas beaucoup le ski de randonnee, et il me semble que c'est surtout dans les Taurus, peut-etre en Cappadoce mais pas pour les turcs.
Essayer de le faire quelque part autour de Malatya ou d'Erzurum me laisse sceptique, et je vous donne 10 minutes avant l'arrivee de l'armee.
Mais il ne s'agit pas non plus de ski nordique mais de ski de randonnée nordique ou back country skiing.
Voir ici : http://www.skirandonnenordique.com/
Le matériel est presque aussi léger que pour du ski de fond mais un peu plus passe-partout puisque les skis sont équipés de carres.
Vous savez, la Jandarma est tres presente dans les zones rurales, surtout dans l'Est, et meme si vous avez l'impression qu'il n'y a personne, ils vous auront peut-etre bien apercus.
A mon avis, mais la ce n'est que mon avis, ils vont avoir beaucoup de mal a comprendre que vous vous lanciez avec des skis de randonnees dans les campagnes ou les villages autour de Malatya ou d'Erzurum...
ils vous laisseront peut-etre faire, mais en tous cas attendez-vous a les voir arriver tres vite.
Les zones rurales en Turquie sont très contrôlées. Lors de ma dernière rencontre avec la jandarma (et n'oubliez pas la police en civile aussi) je crois que je n'étais pas arrêté au bord de la route depuis plus de 7 minutes.
Si presque toutes les villes et grands axes sont fréquentables de jour ce n'est pas le cas des zones rurales, surtout dans les zones montagneuses.
Il est à mon avis assez peu probable que la jandarma vous laisse vous promener tous seuls dans la montagne. Mais c'est peut-être négociable avec un accompagnateur.
En Cappadoce vous ne trouverez pas forcément de neige. Sinon il y a aussi un massif montagneux souvent enneigé du coté de Bursa.
Bof, bof, bof, je ne suis plus si emballée....
S'il faut se limiter aux villes et aux grands axes, ça n'a plus le même charme. Ce sont précisément les endroits que j'essaie d'éviter en général.
Et en restant à L'ouest d'Erzurum et Malatya, peut-on espérer un peu plus de liberté?
Mais comment font tous ces gens (pas très nombreux il est vrai) qui visitent la Turquie de l'est en camping car et dorment dans les montagnes?
'Et en restant à L'ouest d'Erzurum et Malatya, peut-on espérer un peu plus de liberté?'
A mon avis pas vraiment.
Surtout que beaucoup de zones sont militaires, tres surveillees, et que ce n'est pas annonce clairement.
Comme dit Remi, Uludag pres de Bursa, ou les Taurus, amis je ne crois pas trop a la neige en avril. En tous cas pas durablement.
J'ai discute l'autre jour avec deux francais qui dormaient dans leur camion, entre izmir et istanbul, et qui ont aussi ete plusieurs fois reveilles par la Jandarma.
'Mais comment font tous ces gens (pas très nombreux il est vrai) qui visitent la Turquie de l'est en camping car et dorment dans les montagnes? '
En plein ete c'est plus facile, ou alors ils prennent une prestation avec un guide, ou, souvent, ils passent la nuit... a la Jandarma - c'est gratuit !
Je vais à istanbul la première semaine de janvier et j'ai l'intention d'aller faire du ski à Bursa ou à Bolu en Turquie. Pouvez vous m'indiquer des noms…
Je souhaite faire l'ascension du mont ararat en ski je suis à la recherche d'infos, en particulier les suivantes: est-on obligé de passer par une agence…
Bonjour,
Je cherche des renseignements sur le trajet Pristina - Skopje en bus.
Peut on partir de la gare routière de Pristina?
J'ai également entendu parler d'une gare routière près du théatre....
Si quelqu'un a des informations, je suis preneur, merci !!!!
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.
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?