Athens Trip Overview
Visit the ancient Greek ruins in Delphi, admire the beauty of Ohrid Lake, be amazed by the Stari Most bridge and walk through the streets of Berat on this tour of seven countries. This small group tour brings you to the most important sites in seven different West Balkan countries, so you can stripe them off your bucket list! You will be visiting ten UNESCO world heritage sites, with every place having its own charm and fascinating history.
Additional Info
Duration: 14 days
Starts: Athens, Greece
Trip Category: Cultural & Theme Tours >> Cultural Tours
Explore Athens Promoted Experiences
What to Expect When Visiting Athens, Greece, Greece
Visit the ancient Greek ruins in Delphi, admire the beauty of Ohrid Lake, be amazed by the Stari Most bridge and walk through the streets of Berat on this tour of seven countries. This small group tour brings you to the most important sites in seven different West Balkan countries, so you can stripe them off your bucket list! You will be visiting ten UNESCO world heritage sites, with every place having its own charm and fascinating history.
Itinerary
Day 1: Athens (Greece) – Delphi
Stop At: Athens, Athens, Attica
Our tour guide will come and pick you up at your hotel in Athens. We will begin this amazing journey with a city tour of Athens, the capital of Greece and also said to be the cultural capital of Europe. The city is modern, touristic, charming and full of fascinating history.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Parthenon, Acropolis Top of Dionyssiou Areopagitou, Athens 105 58 Greece
One place that can’t be missed here is, of course, the Parthenon temple on the Acropolis, which is part of UNESCO. It was built in the 5th century B.C. and has had a huge effect on the way people think about architecture, even to this day. The temple was dedicated to the goddess of Athena
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Agora, Athens 105 51, Greece
The Agora-Athens central market is probably not one of the first things you think about to visit in Athens, but it is a fascinating sight with delicious food all over the place and located between the two most interesting streets in the city.
Duration: 30 minutes
Stop At: Plaka, Athens 10556 Greece
We will also walk through the oldest neighborhood in Athens, the Plaka area, which feels like a village hidden in the large metropolitan city.
Duration: 1 hour
No meals included on this day.
Accommodation included: Overnight near Delphi.
Day 2: Day 2 Delphi – Thessaloniki
Stop At: Delphi, Delphi, Phocis Region, Central Greece
Our first destination for today is Delphi, UNESCO world heritage site. This ancient Greek archaeological site is considered to be one of the most beautiful in the world, including multiple monuments such as the Temple of Apollo, the Castallian Fountain and the Large Sphynx of Naxos.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Thessaloniki, Greece
Our tour will continue towards Thessaloniki, the second largest city of Greece and located at the coast. Thessaloniki is an open-air museum of Byzantine history as it has many monuments from that time.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: White Tower of Thessaloniki, Leoforos Nikis Leoforos Nikis, 54640, Thessaloniki 546 40 Greece
We will go to the old city, walk through the Ana Poli area and the traditional markets as well as visit the White Tower, symbol of Thessaloniki
Duration: 30 minutes
Stop At: Arch of Galerius, Thessaloniki Greece
Next to the White Tower is the Arch of Galerius and Rotunda, dating back to the Roman times.
Duration: 30 minutes
Stop At: Yahudi Hamam, Vasileos Irakleiou Frangini Streets, Thessaloniki 54624 Greece
We will also visit the most famous hamam in the city, Yahudi hamam, meaning ‘’Bath of the Jews’’, resembling all the different cultures that lived here through time.
Duration: 30 minutes
Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Overnight in Thessaloniki.
Day 3: Thessaloniki – Bitola (N. Macedonia) – Ohrid
Stop At: Bitola, Bitola, Pelagonia Region
Today we will leave Greece and cross the border to N. Macedonia. Our first destination is the city of Bitola, the second largest and oldest city of North Macedonia. Bitola combines the old with the new, Ottoman buildings next to modern office buildings.
Duration: 30 minutes
Stop At: Bitola Museum, Kliment Ohridski street, bb, Bitola Republic of North Macedonia
Our first visit is to the museum of Bitola that houses the region’s most valuable cultural and historical treasures. The building used to function as a high school before it became a military academy and eventually a museum.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Heraclea, 41. 011036, 21. 342487, Bitola 1000 Republic of North Macedonia
Our tour continues to the ruins of Heraclea Lyncestis. The site is the most authentic well-preserved city from the ancient Macedonian empire in the whole country. We will also walk through the pedestrian boulevard full of shops, cafes and restaurants.
Duration: 30 minutes
Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Overnight in Ohrid.
Day 4: Day Tour of Ohrid
Stop At: Ohrid, Ohrid, Southwestern Region
This city is one of the most seductive destinations in N. Macedonia, indicated also as one of the oldest human settlements in all of Europe. Ohrid city and Ohrid Lake are part of UNESCO World Heritage since 1980. Ohrid Lake and its surroundings were inhabited by the Illyrian Tribe of Enkeleys. The city became an important centre for the Orthodox believers during the Byzantine Empire and is famous for its 365 Orthodox churches, said to have one church for each day of the year. We will continue our visit of Ohrid. The houses were built with a very specific architecture that created narrowed streets, tunnels and tiny yards on the hilly terrain, making it possible for every house to have a good view of the lake.
Duration: 3 hours
Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Overnight in Ohrid.
Day 5: Ohrid – Berat (Albania) – Tirana
Stop At: Berat, Berat, Berat County
Our next destination after breakfast is Berat, known as the city of 1001 windows and part of UNESCO world heritage. Walking through the narrow stone streets offers a fantastic view of the medieval old houses with windows that seem to stand on top of each other
Duration: 30 minutes
Stop At: Berat Castle, Rruga Mihal Komnena, Berat 5001 Albania
Berat has it all; a beautiful medieval castle, ancient churches and mosques, a lively lower town consisting of grand old houses draped on steep hillsides, an old stone bridge, great museums and remains from the communism era in Albania.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: National Iconographic Museum Onufri, Located in the Inner Part of Saint Mary Church in Berat Castel, Berat Albania
Berat is also known as the birthplace of Onufri, the famous painter of churches all-over the Balkans, distinguished for creating a specific reddish colour still difficult to imitate.
Duration: 30 minutes
Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Overnight in Tirana.
Day 6: Day Tour of Tirana
Stop At: Tirana, Tirana, Tirana County
We will start our adventure by discovering Tirana, the capital of Albania. Colorful, lively, vibrant, dynamic, 24/7 and crazy nightlife – these are some of the words that better describe this city where the communist and capitalist-era buildings battle on a daily basis. Tirana offers a great combination of very interesting museums, historic sites, national parks, mountains and Ottoman, Italian and communist style architecture all clashing with each other, but offering a great pleasure to wander through. Not to be missed is Tirana’s delicious food varieties, from the tasty and cheap street food to the finest gourmet options.
Duration: 2 hours
Stop At: Bunk’Art 1, Rruga Fadil Deliu, Tirana 1001 Albania
BUNKART is one of the most interesting museums in Tirana. Initially designed as a nuclear bunker offering shelter to the Albanian communist supreme leader Enver Hoxha and his close party members during the cold war. The bunker was hidden to the general public until 2014, when the Albanian government decided to initiate an interesting project that converted the nuclear bunker into a museum. BUNKART is video museum exhibition dedicated to the history of the Albanian communist army and to the daily lives of Albanians during the regime.
Duration: 1 hour
Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Overnight in Tirana.
Day 7: Tirana – Kruja – Tirana
Stop At: Kruje, Kruje, Durres County
Today we will head towards Kruja, a historical city symbol of the Albanian resistance against the expansion of the Ottoman Empire during the XV century. Kruja is situated in central Albania on a rocky mountainous terrain about 560 meters above sea level, on the slopes of Sarisalltik Mountain.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Old Bazaar, Skopje, Skopje Republic of North Macedonia
Walking through Kruja’s Medieval Old Bazaar (one of the biggest and oldest in Balkans) gives you a sense of a passage through the history.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Kruja Castle, Near Tirana, Kruje 1501 Albania
The castle of Kruja (built during the 5th century A.D.) is strategically placed on the top of a rocky hill, making it difficult for the enemies to attack. Our local guide will take you through some hidden paths, used by the locals to leave the castle without being noticed during periods when the enemies surrounded the castle.
Duration: 1 hour
Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Overnight in Tirana.
Day 8: Tirana – Prizren (Kosovo)
Stop At: Prizren, Prizren
Our destination for today will be Prizren, which is considered as the cultural capital of Kosovo, mixing its rich history, incredible nature, religious tolerance and gastronomic delights. Prizren has played an important role in the region as an Illyrian settlement and a crossroad for the Byzantine and Ottoman empires, contributing to the unique architecture of the city. The river flows through the heart of the old town and under the many bridges that crisscross the city. If you are looking to experience a lively international experience you should visit Prizren during August when the medieval city becomes home to one of the most famous short film festivals in the world named Dokufest.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Prizren, Prizren
The best way to explore the town is by wandering through the streets passing by elegant medieval houses that fight for your attention. Filigree artisanal techniques for precious metals are Prizren’s joy and pride. Don’t miss the unique experience of shopping in one of the many filigree shops of the town, where you are welcomed to also see the metalsmithing magic happen.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Our Lady of Ljevis, Sahat Kulla, Prizren Kosovo
Did you know that The Church of Our Lady of Ljevis is a UNESCO World Heritage site? If you have to choose just one mosque to visit then visit the Sinan Pasha Mosque, rich in arabesque colour and pattern. The view from the fortress on the hill above the town offers a great panorama of this astonishing town.
Duration: 30 minutes
Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Overnight in Prizren.
Day 9: Prizren – Decan – Peja
Stop At: Decan, Decan
Our first destination will be the Monastery of Decan. This one stands out for its white colour, but even more remarkable is the fact that Orthodox monks still inhabit the monastery and make fresh organic food there, such as cheeses. The monastery became part of UNESCO in 2004 because of its frescoes, which portray the lives of people during the 14th century as well as the Palaeologan renaissance that changed the way of Byzantine painting.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Old Bazaar of Peja, Carshia e Gjate, Pec Kosovo
Our second destination for today is Peja. The city has one cultural UNESCO heritage site, the Patriarchate of Peja, located near the entrance of the Rugova Valley. This medieval Orthodox Monastery was built in the 13th century, having four churches in a beautiful red colour. After visiting the monastery, we will wander through the characteristic Old Bazaar of the city.
Duration: 1 hour
Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Overnight in Peja.
Day 10: Prizren – Budva (Montenegro) – Kotor
Stop At: Sveti Stefan, Sveti Stefan, Budva Municipality
Our first stop will be Sveti Stefan, historically a fishing town on a small island near the coast. However, nowadays it is not possible to visit the island anymore as it has turned into a five-star resort. Even while standing on the coast, Sveti Stefan is a sight for sore eyes – worthy of a picture
Duration: 30 minutes
Stop At: Budva, Budva, Budva Municipality
Our next destination is Budva, a popular tourist destination, famous for its beaches, gorgeous nature and old characteristic buildings. The city is separated between an old and new part.
Duration: 30 minutes
Stop At: Old Town, Budva, Montenegro
On the other hand, in the Old Budva, there is the historical center and many sights to visit, such as the St. Ivan church, the small church of St. Mary and the Citadel, which we will visit on this tour.
Duration: 30 minutes
Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Overnight in Kotor.
Day 11: Day Tour of Kotor
Stop At: Kotor, Kotor, Kotor Municipality
Kotor is a UNESCO world heritage city. We will wander through the maze of narrow, cobblestone streets crisscrossing the old town. This street plan seems quite chaotic, but it was created this way on purpose. The intention was to confuse intruders who came to plunder the town, while nowadays it characterizes the city. Many of the old buildings and churches have small plaques on it with their dates of construction and original use.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: St. Tryphon Cathedral, Trg Sv. Tripuna 336, Kotor, Kotor Municipality 85330 Montenegro
We will stop at the Saint Tryphon cathedral, which is one of the only two Roman cathedrals in the city. The Saint Tryphon relics are kept inside the cathedral. Yet, these relics were destined to arrive in Dubrovnik but ended up in Kotor.
Duration: 30 minutes
Stop At: San Giovanni, Tvrđava Svetog Ivana, Put do Svetog Ivana, Špiljari, Montenegro
We will also walk to the San Giovanni fortress from which we will have an amazing view over the city. On our way to the top, we will pass by ruins of military buildings and a church from the 15th century.
Duration: 30 minutes
Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Overnight in Kotor.
Day 12: Kotor – Mostar (Bosnia & Herzegovina)
Stop At: Mostar, Mostar, Herzegovina-Neretva Canton, Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina
From Montenegro, we will cross the border to Bosnia & Herzegovina and head towards the city of Mostar.
Duration: 30 minutes
Stop At: Old Bridge (Stari Most), Mostar Bosnia and Herzegovina
We will, of course, visit the iconic Old Bridge also known as Stari Most, part of UNESCO world heritage and built in a typical Islamic architectural style in the 16th century.
Duration: 30 minutes
Stop At: Old Bridge Area of the Old City of Mostar, Stari Most, Mostar Bosnia and Herzegovina
We will also wander through the Old Bazaar with its colourful streets and lively atmosphere. The city has stones with “Don’t Forget” all around the city, commemorating the city’s history. Mostar combines the old with the new, which you will notice while wandering through the streets.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Blagaj tekija, Blagaj village Localita Blagaj, Blagaj 88201 Bosnia and Herzegovina
We will also visit the Blagaj monastery, a little bit outside of the city, on the foot of a cliff with beautiful blue waters in front of it.
Duration: 1 hour
Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Overnight in Mostar.
Day 13: Mostar – Medjugorje
Stop At: Medjugorje, Medjugorje, Herzegovina-Neretva Canton, Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina
From Mostar, we head towards the village of Medjugorje a holly destination visited by many pilgrims from different religions
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: St. James’ Parish Church, Pape Ivana Pavla II, Medjugorje Bosnia and Herzegovina
The church of St. James is the symbol of this village, with its two towers and at the entrance the Statue of Our Lady. The name of the place, Medjurgorje, means “between mountains” and is located in the Herzegovina region of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Duration: 30 minutes
Stop At: Medjugorje, Medjugorje, Herzegovina-Neretva Canton, Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina
We will also visit the Via Domini, meaning “The Way of the Lord”. The Via Domini is a pathway existing out of mosaics that represent the story of the Luminous Mysteries of the Rosary, illustrating the life of Jesus.
Duration: 30 minutes
Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Overnight in Mostar.
Day 14: Mostar – Dubrovnik (Croatia)
Stop At: Dubrovnik, Dubrovnik, Dubrovnik-Neretva County, Dalmatia
Our tour continues towards Dubrovnik in Croatia. Dubrovnik used to compete with Venice as a trading port, having huge strong city walls that were built between the 11th and 17th century. Nowadays the city is more famous for being the setting of Game of Thrones, more specifically the capital of the Seven Kingdoms, King’s Landing! This is said to be the world’s best-preserved medieval city, reason enough for it to be an UNESCO World Heritage site since 1979. The city is also full of markets, bazaars, cafes, bars and restaurants creating a pleasant atmosphere. The city tour of Dubrovnik remarks the end of this amazing tour through the highlights of these 7 amazing Balkan Countries.
Duration: 3 hours
Meals included:
• Breakfast
No accommodation included on this day.
