15-Day Private Balkan Tour from Istanbul: 9 Countries

What's Included

Meeting and pickup

Itinerary

Day 1
Arrival in Istanbul, Turkey
1 stop
1
Istanbul
Arrive in Istanbul and meet your driver for the transfer from the airport to your hotel. Check in and take some time to rest after your journey. In the evening, join a welcome dinner and briefing to go over the route and what to expect during the days ahead.
8 hours • Admission ticket free
Day 2
Istanbul City Tour
1 stop
2
Istanbul
Spend the day exploring some of Istanbul’s best-known landmarks, including Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque, the Hippodrome, and Topkapi Palace. In the afternoon, enjoy a Bosphorus cruise before having free time to explore the Grand Bazaar at your own pace.
8 hours • Admission ticket free
Day 3
Istanbul – Plovdiv, Bulgaria
1 stop
3
Plovdiv Old Town
Leave Istanbul and travel to Plovdiv, a drive of approximately five hours. Explore Plovdiv’s Old Town on foot, including the Roman Theatre and the lively Kapana District. In the evening, you can choose to join an optional Bulgarian folklore dinner.
8 hours • Admission ticket not included
Day 4
Plovdiv – Sofia
1 stop
4
Bachkovo Monastery
Begin the day with a visit to Bachkovo Monastery before continuing to Sofia. After arriving in the Bulgarian capital, see landmarks including Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, the National Theater, and Roman ruins. Finish with free time around Vitosha Boulevard.
8 hours • Admission ticket not included
Day 5
Sofia – Rila Monastery – Veliko Tarnovo
1 stop
5
Rila Monastery
Travel from Sofia to UNESCO-listed Rila Monastery, one of Bulgaria’s most important historic and religious sites. After the visit, continue to Veliko Tarnovo, the country’s medieval capital.
8 hours • Admission ticket not included
Day 6
Veliko Tarnovo – Bucharest, Romania
1 stop
6
Tsarevets
Start with a short tour of Veliko Tarnovo and a visit to Tsarevets Fortress. Then cross the border into Romania and continue to Bucharest. On arrival, take a panoramic city tour before settling in for the night.
8 hours • Admission ticket not included
Day 7
Bucharest – Sibiu – Hunedoara – Timisoara
1 stop
7
Transylvania
Travel through the landscapes of Transylvania, stopping in Sibiu along the way. Continue to Hunedoara Castle before heading west to Timisoara, where you will spend the evening.
8 hours • Admission ticket free
Day 8
Timisoara – Novi Sad – Belgrade, Serbia
1 stop
8
Petrovaradin Fortress
Cross into Serbia and stop in Novi Sad to visit Petrovaradin Fortress, overlooking the Danube River. Continue to Belgrade, arriving in the evening for a city tour of the Serbian capital.
8 hours • Admission ticket not included
Day 9
Belgrade – Sarajevo, Bosnia & Herzegovina
1 stop
9
Sarajevo
Leave Belgrade and travel through the scenic Drina River valley toward Sarajevo. On arrival, explore Sarajevo’s historic Old Town, Baščaršija, along with the Latin Bridge and Gazi Husrev-beg Mosque.
8 hours • Admission ticket free
Day 10
Sarajevo – Mostar – Dubrovnik, Croatia
1 stop
10
Dubrovnik
Travel from Sarajevo toward the Adriatic coast, stopping in Mostar to see its famous Old Bridge and historic Ottoman quarter. Continue to Dubrovnik, where the evening is free for you to explore or relax at your own pace.
8 hours • Admission ticket free
Day 11
Dubrovnik – Kotor – Budva, Montenegro
1 stop
11
Kotor Old Town
Begin with a walking tour around Dubrovnik’s historic city walls before continuing south into Montenegro. Visit UNESCO-listed Kotor Old Town, with its narrow streets, historic buildings, and setting beneath the surrounding mountains.
8 hours • Admission ticket not included
Day 12
Budva – Shkodra – Tirana, Albania
1 stop
12
Rozafa Castle
Leave Budva and continue toward Albania. Stop in Shkodra to explore Rozafa Fortress before traveling on to Tirana. In the capital, visit Skanderbeg Square and the Blloku District.
8 hours • Admission ticket not included
Day 13
Tirana – Ohrid, North Macedonia
1 stop
13
Tirana
Leave Tirana and cross into North Macedonia. Continue to the Lake Ohrid area, where you will visit the Church of St. John at Kaneo and explore the Old Bazaar.
8 hours • Admission ticket free
Day 14
Ohrid – Skopje
1 stop
14
Lake Bled
Travel from Ohrid toward Skopje. On arrival, explore some of the city’s main landmarks, including the Old Bazaar, Stone Bridge, and Mother Teresa Memorial House. End the journey with a farewell dinner in a traditional restaurant.
8 hours • Admission ticket not included
Day 15
Departure from Skopje or Return to Istanbul
1 stop
Istanbul (Pass by)
After breakfast, transfer to Skopje Airport for your departure. Depending on your travel arrangements, an optional return journey to Istanbul can also be made by road or flight.

Additional info

• Wheelchair accessible
• Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
• Service animals allowed
• Public transportation options are available nearby
• Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
• Specialized infant seats are available

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