Things to Know before you traveling to Balkans

Lying along the Balkan Peninsula in the southeastern part of Europe, the Balkan area stays a relatively-unknown destination. Nonetheless, the location is home to an abundance of breath-taking shorelines, dazzling landscapes, unique architecture, and great deals of history as it is a territory with a communist and socialist past. The area nowadays includes the following countries: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Kosovo, Macedonia, Montenegro, Romania, and Serbia. Here are the top 10 things you should understand before exploring this exciting area:

Top destinations - where to go?

Let's start with where to enter the Balkans. Croatia has long beautiful shorelines but stays the top touristic and pricey nation in the region. On the other hand, Montenegro uses the same quality beaches and seasides surrounding lovely old towns such as Budva and Kotor at a more affordable travel cost level. Romania is famous for mystical castles and their associated legends (for example Dracula Castle and Peles Castle). Bosnia and Herzegovina offers pure natural landscapes with spectacular waterfalls (Kravica and Jajce), rivers (Bosna and Neretva), and lakes (Prokoško and Boračko). I discovered this cheapest and most diverse country to travel in the Balkans.

Transportation - how to get around?

Getting around the Balkans is not as basic and digitalised as in other parts of Europe where you can monitor frequent public transport schedules through online sources. Trains are only frequently used in Romania, Serbia and Macedonia. In other places, bus is the most typical methods of transportation if you want to go from one country to another. The infrastructure here is not yet as developed as in the northern and western parts of Europe.

It is really typical that you would need to buy tickets face to face at the station and call the details desk to request the transport schedule and prices rather of inspecting them online. You might even get stuck in traffic for hours due to road maintenance. I was fortunate to find the website Busticket4 in Montenegro for examining bus schedules and costs online for the entire region. Not all information about the bus connections are offered though. Centrotrans is another typical site in Bosnia and Herzegovina for finding bus connections. Eurolines' buses are readily available in these countries, however for much greater costs.

Accommodation - ways to discover cheap hostels and get discounts

As Airbnb and Couchsurfing are not the most popular ways to find low-budget accommodation or meet residents in the Balkans, I recommend remaining in hostels. You will discover lots of travelers coming here with the exact same state of mind of checking out the surprise courses. The Balkan Backpacker Hostel Network, with hostels throughout 28 cities in 10 nations within the region, offers 10% discount rate for those traveling with their flyer. Gather stamps at each hostel and receive an included bonus (e.g. totally free night, beer, a glass of the local brandy called rakija, etc.) when you reach the 5th stamp. I found most hostels in their network to be budget friendly and unique locations to stay, specifically in Montenegro (for example Freedom Hostel in Budva and Old Town Hostel in Kotor). In addition, the Balkan countries are a few of the rare places where you can discover hotel deals for as low a cost as 20 EUR/ 22.50 USD per night.

Cash suggestions for countries not using the euro

Nearly every nation in the area utilizes its own currency, other than for Montenegro, however you can use euros in lots of locations. Always bring cash with you because the Balkans are all 'cash countries'. Remember not to bring a great deal of money with you for safety reason, as you will not spend so much in any country other than for Croatia, the most pricey place in the region. Do not exchange money at the airport if you do not desire to get swindled as a tourist. Supermarkets, mini-markets and many dining establishments accept Visa cards. I prefer utilizing cards for my deals as my bank has a great currency exchange rate and no commission. Some exchange offices choose just taking EUR rather than money from other neighboring countries, so you might not desire to keep lots of BAM when traveling to Croatia, for instance. Facilities might not be prepared to exchange currency for you.

Packing pointers for checking out the Balkans

Many travelers you will find in the area are backpackers, and there's a factor for that. Backpacking is easier here, in regards to commuting, hitchhiking, remaining in hostels, and solo taking a trip in general. I do not recommend traveling with numerous bags or trolley baggage as the roads remain in bad conditions in numerous places outside the capitals. Traveling light likewise makes hiking, cycling, and participating in other sporting activities much easier. A few of the must-bring products are an umbrella, warm clothing, a swimwear and an extra set of shoes. The weather can be good however unpredictable around the region. For instance, in April 2016 there was snow in Bosnia and Herzegovina and lots of rain in Croatia. So bear in mind that the weather condition might not be ideal, though warm and bright days are rather typical outside of the winter season (November - February).

Travel safety as a solo woman and conference people- is hitchhiking safe?

Lots of people assume that it's not safe to travel in the Balkans due to the fact that of the region's economic poverty and current war. However, I did not experience any substantial security difficulties while traveling here. As long as you adhere to the primary traveler destinations and avoid going out alone in the evening, it's definitely safe to get around by yourself including for solo female travelers. Though Couchsurfing and Airbnb are not, as already mentioned, popular sites utilized for meeting locals, you can still give it a shot. I was hosted by great people in Romania and Bulgaria, where it's more common and probably much safer to satisfy strangers. Though it's a known stereotype that traveling around the area is not safe, lots of tourists handle to hitchhike. Before offering this a try, make sure you understand the highway directions and carry only one backpack.

Discovering the culture and history

For those concerning the region with a massive interest in the history of communism, socialism or war, do not miss out on out Bulgaria and Bosnia and Herzegovina. Sofia, with its strong communist-style architecture, is one of the uncommon capital cities where you can be taken back in time to the days of communist guideline. The regional travel experts and agencies provide numerous communism tours in fantastic information. Sarajevo, where individuals suffered significantly from the Bosnian War between 1992 and 1995, is also a city of fantastic history to be discovered.

What to eat?

The Balkans have plenty of meat-eating nations. Vegetarians and vegans may take pleasure in meals much better in Bulgaria, as there is an increasing number of organic dining establishments in Sofia. You would also be surprised to discover a free food trip running every day in Sofia at 2 PM. Some of the must-try meals I enjoyed are burek and cevapi (Bosnia and Herzegovina), regional yoghurt and various types of pastry (Bulgaria), and versatile type of seafood (Montenegro).

Why now is the very best time to take a trip to the Balkans

Despite having a lot to use, the Balkans remains an off-the-beaten-path location, as many people presume it's bad and harmful to obtain around. In the suburban areas or lesser-known places, immigrants can rarely be found. Locals have the tendency to wonder and friendly towards tourists. Get away from the tourist crowds to visit the Balkans on a low budget and be enticed by great sights, delicious local delicacies, touching history, and regional hospitality!

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