Grand Balkan Tour from Athens to Zagreb

What's Included

Meeting and pickup

Itinerary

Day 1
Arrival in Athens, Greece
1 stop
1
Athens
Welcome to Athens, the cradle of Western civilization. Upon arrival, your driver will meet you at the airport for a private transfer to your centrally located 4★ hotel. In the evening, enjoy a welcome orientation walk through Plaka, the oldest district of Athens, where neoclassical houses and tavernas cling to the slopes of the Acropolis. Cap the day with an optional rooftop dinner, gazing at the Parthenon glowing under the night sky.
8 hours • Admission ticket free
Day 2
Athens: Ancient Wonders & Lively Streets
1 stop
2
A full day dedicated to discovering Athens’ timeless heritage. Explore the Acropolis with its masterpieces — the Parthenon, Erechtheion, and Temple of Athena Nike — guided by an expert. Continue to the world-class Acropolis Museum, home to the Parthenon Marbles. Later, stroll through Monastiraki’s bustling flea market and Anafiotika’s whitewashed alleys that echo a Greek island village. The evening is free to sample meze dishes in Psyrri, Athens’ vibrant dining quarter.
8 hours • Admission ticket included
Day 3
Athens → Meteora (Kalambaka)
1 stop
3
Journey north through Central Greece, stopping at Thermopylae, where King Leonidas and his 300 Spartans faced the Persians. Arrive in Meteora, a surreal landscape of vertical cliffs topped with Byzantine monasteries. Visit a selection of these still-active monasteries, marveling at frescoes and serene courtyards. End the day with a sunset viewpoint over the valley, when the rocks glow golden in the fading light. Overnight in Kalambaka.
8 hours • Admission ticket free
Day 4
Meteora → Thessaloniki
1 stop
4
Rise early for one more breathtaking perspective of Meteora before driving to Thessaloniki, Greece’s youthful cultural capital. On your walking tour, discover the White Tower, the city’s symbol, and UNESCO-listed monuments such as the Rotunda and Arch of Galerius. Wander through Ano Poli (Upper Town) with its Ottoman houses and panoramic views. Finish at the lively seafront promenade, where locals gather at sunset cafés and ouzo bars.
8 hours • Admission ticket free
Day 5
Thessaloniki → Sofia, Bulgaria
1 stop
5
Rila Monastery
Cross into Bulgaria, starting with a scenic drive into the Rila Mountains to visit Rila Monastery, Bulgaria’s most sacred site. Admire its vivid frescoes, striped arcades, and mountain backdrop. Afternoon arrive in Sofia, a city where Roman ruins, Ottoman mosques, Orthodox churches, and Soviet-era boulevards coexist. Explore Alexander Nevsky Cathedral with its golden domes, the Roman remains of Serdica, the Ottoman-era Banya Bashi Mosque, and the bustling Vitosha Boulevard. Evening free to try Bulgarian specialties such as banitsa or grilled kebapche with local wine.
8 hours • Admission ticket included
Day 6
Day tour to Plovdiv
1 stop
6
Plovdiv Old Town
One-day tour to Plovdiv, one of the oldest cities in Europe. Wander the cobbled Old Town with Bulgarian Revival houses, the Roman Theatre, and the creative Kapana district. Evening return to Sofia for overnight.
8 hours • Admission ticket included
Day 7
Sofia → Skopje, North Macedonia
1 stop
7
Skopje
Leave Bulgaria behind as you travel through the Balkan ranges into North Macedonia. Arrive in Skopje, a city of contrasts, where Ottoman bazaars meet modern monuments. Visit Macedonia Square, the Stone Bridge, the Old Bazaar with its caravanserais and hammams, and the Mother Teresa Memorial House. Evening free to enjoy a riverside café or traditional Macedonian dinner with live music.
8 hours • Admission ticket free
Day 8
Skopje → Ohrid
1 stop
8
Ohrid
Drive to Lake Ohrid, one of Europe’s oldest and deepest lakes. Explore the “Jerusalem of the Balkans” with its 365 churches. Highlights include the Church of St. John at Kaneo, perched dramatically above the water, and the medieval fortress with sweeping views. Visit the ancient Roman amphitheater and stroll the lakeside promenade. Optional boat excursion to St. Naum Monastery, famed for its frescoes and natural springs.
8 hours • Admission ticket free
Day 9
Ohrid → Tirana, Albania
1 stop
9
Tirana
Travel into Albania’s lively capital. Tour Skanderbeg Square, framed by the National History Museum and Opera House. Visit the Ethem Bey Mosque with its delicate frescoes, and explore the newly revitalized New Bazaar. In the evening, discover Tirana’s trendy Blloku district, once restricted to communist elites, now buzzing with stylish restaurants and cocktail bars.
8 hours • Admission ticket free
Day 10
Tirana → Budva & Kotor, Montenegro
1 stop
10
Kotor
A scenic drive takes you to the Adriatic coast. In Budva, stroll through narrow lanes of the Venetian Old Town before continuing to the Bay of Kotor, a fjord-like inlet surrounded by mountains. Walk Kotor’s UNESCO-listed streets and squares, lined with palaces, churches, and cafés. The bay at sunset is unforgettable.
8 hours • Admission ticket free
Day 11
Kotor → Dubrovnik, Croatia
1 stop
11
Dubrovnik
Optional boat ride to Perast’s Our Lady of the Rocks islet. Then cross into Croatia and arrive in Dubrovnik, the “Pearl of the Adriatic.” Guided walking tour inside the walled Old Town: the Stradun promenade, Rector’s Palace, Franciscan Monastery, and the old harbor. Evening free to soak in the atmosphere of this iconic medieval city.
8 hours • Admission ticket free
Day 12
Dubrovnik (full day)
1 stop
12
Dubrovnik
Enjoy a leisurely day in Dubrovnik. Walk the magnificent city walls with Adriatic views, or take the cable car to Mt. Srđ for a bird’s-eye perspective. Optional activities include kayaking around Lokrum Island or a half-day boat trip to the Elaphiti Islands. Evening at leisure — perfect for dining by lantern-lit stone squares.
8 hours • Admission ticket free
Day 13
Dubrovnik → Split via Ston & Trogir
1 stop
13
Split
Depart Dubrovnik, stopping at Ston to admire its medieval stone walls and salt pans. Optional oyster tasting in Mali Ston. Continue to Split for a guided tour of Diocletian’s Palace, a living UNESCO-listed Roman complex filled with shops and homes. End the day with a stroll in Trogir, a perfectly preserved Venetian town of Romanesque churches and winding lanes.
8 hours • Admission ticket free
Day 14
Split → Šibenik → Zadar
1 stop
14
Sibenik
Morning drive to Šibenik, home to the UNESCO-listed Cathedral of St. James and charming stone alleys. Continue to Zadar, where Roman ruins and Venetian gates blend with modern art. Visit the Roman Forum and listen to the Sea Organ, an instrument played by the waves, before watching the spectacular solar “Greeting to the Sun” installation at dusk.
8 hours • Admission ticket free
Day 15
Zadar → Plitvice Lakes
1 stop
15
Plitvice Lakes National Park
Head inland to Croatia’s most celebrated natural wonder. Walk wooden paths through terraced turquoise lakes and cascading waterfalls in Plitvice Lakes National Park. Explore both the Lower and Upper Lakes before overnighting at a cozy 4★ eco-resort near the park.
8 hours • Admission ticket free
Day 16
Plitvice → Opatija → Rovinj
1 stop
16
Opatija
Drive to Opatija, the “Pearl of the Adriatic Riviera,” with its Belle Époque villas and Lungomare promenade. Continue to Rovinj, one of Croatia’s most picturesque towns. Discover the Old Town’s Venetian architecture, cobbled alleys, and fishing harbor. Climb to St. Euphemia’s Church for sweeping views over the Adriatic and nearby islands. Overnight Rovinj.
8 hours • Admission ticket free
Day 17
Rovinj (Relaxed Day in Istria)
1 stop
17
Rovinj
A full free day to enjoy Rovinj and Istria at your own pace. Options include a boat trip to the Rovinj archipelago, a wine-tasting excursion in the Istrian countryside, or simply relaxing in seaside cafés. Wander the Old Town at leisure, where art galleries, boutiques, and gelato shops line the narrow streets.
8 hours • Admission ticket free
Day 18
Rovinj → Zagreb
1 stop
18
Zagreb
Morning departure for Zagreb, Croatia’s lively capital. Guided city tour: Upper Town with St. Mark’s Church and Lotrščak Tower, Dolac Market, and Ban Jelačić Square. Evening farewell dinner with fine Croatian wines, a fitting conclusion to your journey.
8 hours • Admission ticket free
Day 19
Zagreb (Departure)
1 stop
19
Zagreb
Breakfast at the hotel. Private transfer to Zagreb Airport for your onward flight. End of services.
8 hours • Admission ticket free

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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