Insight Vacations · June–July 2019
Treasures of the Balkans: Our Insight Vacations Tour
We travelled with Insight Vacations on Treasures of the Balkans in June–July 2019, starting in Bucharest and finishing in Budapest. Our nine-country route combined city sightseeing, historic towns and an Adriatic stop in Dubrovnik. Below are seven films from our trip, our overnight stops and the hotels we stayed in.
- Travel period
- June–July 2019
- Route
- Bucharest to Budapest · Nine countries
- Tour operator
- Insight Vacations
- Our films
- Seven country videos · About 34 minutes
Nine countries. One route.
This is our 2019 route. We’ve added context from Insight Vacations’ current itinerary, which largely follows the same journey. Today’s tour covers eight countries in 16 days, ending in Belgrade; ours continued to Budapest. Current inclusions may differ from our departure.
Romania → Bulgaria → North Macedonia → Albania → Montenegro → Croatia → Bosnia & Herzegovina → Serbia → Hungary.
Lines connect our stops in travel order; they do not trace the roads travelled. Day numbers begin with the tour’s start in Bucharest.
Country 1 · Days 1–3 · Bucharest and Brașov
Romania
Our journey began in Bucharest before continuing to Brașov. Our Romania film includes the Old Town, Palace of the Parliament, Council Square, the Black Church, a cable-car ride, Bran Castle and Peleș Castle.
Where we stayed: Athenee Palace Hilton Bucharest · Aro Palace Brasov.
The itinerary connects Bucharest’s University Square and former communist headquarters with Transylvania, including Sinaia’s Peleș Castle and Brașov’s medieval centre.
Country 2 · Days 4–6 · Veliko Tarnovo and Sofia
Bulgaria
We continued through Veliko Tarnovo and Sofia. Our video brings together Tsarevets Fortress, traditional Bulgarian dancing, Saint Nicholas Church, Alexander Nevsky Cathedral and Rila Monastery.
Where we stayed: Yantra Grand Hotel Veliko Tarnovo · Hilton Sofia.
The route crosses the Danube, then links Veliko Tarnovo with Arbanasi’s merchant houses and churches before continuing across the Balkan Mountains to Sofia.
Country 3 · Day 7 · Skopje; onward via Ohrid
North Macedonia
We stayed in Skopje, walking through the main square and across the Stone Bridge to the Old Bazaar. Our video also covers Mustafa Pasha Mosque, the Church of the Ascension of Jesus and our onward visit to Ohrid, with lake views and lunch.
Where we stayed: Bushi Resort and Spa Skopje.
Skopje and Ohrid offered two different parts of our visit: an overnight in the capital, then a drive south for the lake, Old Town and a Macedonian lunch with a view.
The current route uses Lake Mavrovo before Albania; our 2019 journey instead included Ohrid, as shown in our film.
Country 4 · Day 8 · Tirana
Albania
Tirana was our overnight stop after North Macedonia and before the journey through Montenegro to Croatia.
Where we stayed: The Plaza Tirana.
The published itinerary includes guided sightseeing around Skanderbeg Square, a useful focal point for exploring Tirana.
Country 5 · On the way to Dubrovnik · Kotor
Montenegro
We stopped in Kotor for a couple of hours over lunch on the way to Dubrovnik. Our short film explores the Old Town, its restaurants and souvenir shops, the Cathedral of Saint Tryphon and the port.
Kotor was a short stop rather than an overnight stay: we had a couple of hours for lunch and a look around the Old Town before continuing to Croatia.
Today’s itinerary also includes Budva’s walled Old Town before Kotor. Our video records our Kotor stop en route to Dubrovnik.
Country 6 · Days 9–11 · Dubrovnik
Croatia
We stayed in Dubrovnik for three nights. Our Croatia film includes the Old Town, a Game of Thrones tour, a Karaka dinner cruise at sunset, Panorama restaurant and a walk along the city walls.
Where we stayed: Hotel Kompas Dubrovnik.
Dubrovnik was a highlight of our trip. Three nights gave us time for a Game of Thrones tour, a sunset dinner cruise and a meal at Panorama restaurant, as well as exploring the Old Town and city walls.
The published Dubrovnik walk includes Onofrio’s Fountain, the Rector’s Palace and the Franciscan and Dominican monasteries.
Country 7 · Days 12–13 · Mostar and Sarajevo
Bosnia & Herzegovina
Our journey continued through Mostar and Sarajevo. The video includes Stari Most, views from Avaz Twist Tower, the Miljacka River, Sarajevo’s Old Town and an Under Siege war tour.
Where we stayed: Swissotel Sarajevo.
The current programme pairs Mostar’s old streets with Sarajevo, offering a Tunnel of Hope visit or a guided nature walk.
Country 8 · Days 14–15 · Belgrade
Serbia
We spent two days in Belgrade before heading towards Budapest. Our Serbia film covers the city centre, Tašmajdan Park, St. Mark’s Church, Belgrade Fortress, the Temple of Saint Sava, Oplenac and Palić.
Where we stayed: Metropol Palace Belgrade.
Belgrade sightseeing centres on Republic Square, St. Sava Church and Kalemegdan Fortress, overlooking the meeting of the Sava and Danube.
Country 9 · From Day 16 · Budapest
Hungary
Budapest was the final country on our route. Our hotel sheet records our arrival at the Corinthia Hotel Budapest on Day 16.
Where we stayed: Corinthia Hotel Budapest.
Where we stayed.
Our hotels on the June–July 2019 departure. Names are as listed on our original hotel sheet; these are our trip’s stays, rather than a current tour hotel list.
| Tour day | City | Hotel |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Bucharest | Athenee Palace Hilton Bucharest |
| Days 2–3 | Brașov | Aro Palace Brasov |
| Day 4 | Veliko Tarnovo | Yantra Grand Hotel Veliko Tarnovo |
| Days 5–6 | Sofia | Hilton Sofia |
| Day 7 | Skopje | Bushi Resort and Spa Skopje |
| Day 8 | Tirana | The Plaza Tirana |
| Days 9–11 | Dubrovnik | Hotel Kompas Dubrovnik |
| Days 12–13 | Sarajevo | Swissotel Sarajevo |
| Days 14–15 | Belgrade | Metropol Palace Belgrade |
| From Day 16 | Budapest | Corinthia Hotel Budapest |
More from our European tours
Best of Eastern Europe with Globus · Our winter European Whirl with Trafalgar