From Greece to Hungary Balkan Tour
13 Days/ 12 Nights
Arrival in Athens airport / Budapest airport – Return flight
Athens (Greece), Meteora – Kalambaka,Ioanina, Gjirokastra (Albania), Berat, Tirana, Shkodra – Podgorica (Montenegro), Prijepolje – Zlatibo (Serbia), Belgrade, Novi Sad, Budapest
13 Days
All year
Athens (Greece) 40 min
Arrival in Athens airport. Meet with the tour leader and local guide. And transfer to the city. Free afternoon in Athens to relax after your flight. Overnight in Athens.
Full day Athens
After breakfast, Half day guided tour of Athens; We enter to visit Acropolis and also pass by Parthenon, Olympic Stadium, Olympian Zeus Temple, Lycabettus Hill, Greek Ancient Market. After visits, lunch in a local restaurant in the city. In the afternoon free time for shopping. Dinner and overnight in Athens.
Athens – Meteora 4.5 hrs – Kalambaka 20 min
After breakfast at the hotel transfer towards Meteora, where we stop for lunch in a local restaurant upon arrival. After lunch visit Meteora rocks and enter to one of the monasteries. Dinner and Overnight in Kalambaka.
Kalambaka – Ioanina 3 hrs – Gjirokastra (Albania) 3 hrs
Breakfast and transfer towards Albania. Along the way, we stop for a sightseeing of Ioanina, before passing the border. Organized lunch in Gjirokastra old town. Afternoon tour of Gjirokastra (Unesco) where we visit the Fortress overlooking the city from the top of the hill. Next we visit the stony town and the old bazaar, where you can find typical handmade souvenirs. Traditional dinner and overnight in Gjirokastra.
Gjirokastra – Berat (3 hrs) – Tirana (2 hrs)
Transfer to another UNESCO town, Berat.Berat forms a wonderful combination of eastern and western cultures, costumes and traditions. The architecture of the old houses, with large windows that overlook the town, is the first think that impresses the visitors. First stop: the Citadel. It overlooks the river and the modern city as well as the old Christian quarter across the river. The citadel can be reached by a steep road and is still inhabited. Inside the walls, you can visit ruined mosques and several medieval Orthodox churches, all intact and with restored frescoes and icons. Onufri National Museum is located in the inner part of “Saint Mary Church” in Castle of Berat. This Museum offers a collection of 173 belonging to the found of Albanian Churches and Monasteries
In the afternoon transfer towards Tirana, where we spend the evening and overnight
Full Day Tirana
Today we explore the colorful capital of Albania, Tirana.
Tirana has a never-ending movement and energy. This metropolis city is worth to discover by day and night. Founded in the 1614, Tirana is now a developed city which combines culture, history, contemporary architecture and lots of hospitality shown towards tourists. As you take a walk in Tirana you will enjoy the look of the colorful buildings, fancy coffees and green parks. Special visit in the Bunk Art 2, an old anatomic museum from the communism area, now converted into a museum, which represents the history of the communism victims.
Shopping time in the city during the afternoon. Dinner and overnight in Tirana.
Tirana – Shkodra (2 hrs) – Podgorica (1 hrs) (Montenegro)
After breakfast we proceed to the northern city of Albania – Shkodra; with the most important town of north Albania and the Illyrian capital, in the 3rd century BC. Enjoy a walking tour in the pedestrian area, visiting the old town and learning about the traditional architecture of the houses. After lunch time enjoy the view of the city from the Castle of Rozafa a mysterious structure, surrounded in legends and mysticism. Further transfer to Montenegro for tour of the capital city Podgorica. Dinner and overnight in Podgorica.
Podgorica – Prijepolje (4hrs) – Zlatibor (1 hrs) (Serbia)
Today we drive towards Serbia, After a few hours of panoramic drive reach the rural area of Prilepoje, where we enjoy a traditional lunch in the nature, with an authentic and rustic rural atmosphere.After lunch time visit the Mileseva monastery, a Serbian Orthodox monastery, founded by King Vladislav, in the years between 1234 and 1236.
Evening and overnight in Zlatibor, another rural town, which becomes a famous ski area during the winter time.
Zlatibor – Belgrade (5 hrs)
Transfer to the capital city of Serbia, Belgrade. It lies on the confluence of two great rivers, the Danube and Sava and is one of the oldest cities in Europe. It was founded by Celtic tribes in the 4th century and is a very friendly and energetic city re-discovering its tourism potential.
Stop for lunch in a local restaurant before starting a walking tour of the city. Visit the Vračar Plateau, where you will see one of the most important sights of Belgrade. The square is dominated by the Saint Sava Temple, one of the biggest orthodox temples on the Balkans, besides the temple is also a so-called small Saint Sava Church. On the plateau in front of it is the bronzed monument dedicated to Saint Sava, the first Serbian archbishop, the monument was made by the Russian sculptor Klikov. In the park in front of the Temple there is a monument dedicated to Karađorđe Petrović, the leader of the First Serbian Uprising. In the vicinity is also the National Serbian Library.The tour continues to the center of the city and Slavija Square, called after the Hotel with the same name, built in 1888. In the second half of the 19th century this location was a swamp, nowadays – it’s one of the biggest squares of Belgrade where 7 streets are crossing. Dinner and overnight in Belgrade.
Belgrade – Novi Sad (1.5 hrs)
After breakfast we transfer towards Novi Sad where we visit the major attractions such as the Catholic and Orthodox Cathedrals. We will take a walking tour of the old city and enjoy lunch in a local restaurant. In the afternoon visit the Petrovaridan fortress located on the right bank of the river Danube. It is known as “the Gibraltar of the Danube” due to its strategic location. This is a truly impressive fortress and despite its may attractions there are very few tourists. Dinner & Overnight in Novi Sad.
Novi Sad – Budapest (5 hrs)
After breakfast transfer to Budapest. After 4 to 5 hours of driving, we reach the hotel for check in and then enjoy lunch in a local restaurant in the city. This evening we will enjoy a river cruise dinner,Enjoy your meal and let the breathtaking scenery of Budapest in the evening . A la carte candlelit dinner with the finest food, live music and entertainment
Overnight in Budapest.
Budapest full day for city tour
After breakfast we take a city tour to admire some of the many attractions of Budapest. Often described as the “Little Paris of Middle Europe”, Budapest is famous not only for the monuments reflecting its own 1,000 year old history, but also for the relics of others who settled here. The city has two sides, Buda and Pest, divided by the mighty Danube River. Pest boasts the largest parliament building in Europe which will remind you of a grander version of London’s Houses of Parliament. Buda has its historic castle and medieval streets and houses. The afternoon is free for you to explore Budapest and enjoy its riverside promenade, flea markets, bookstores, antique shops and excellent restaurants and café houses. Reach the castle at the top of the hill and enjoy the amazing view of the city, the river and the parliament building from above.
Dinner and overnight in Budapest.
Budapest airport
Breakfast at the hotel and free time to explore the city before the return transfer. Transfer to the airport where you take the flight.