Mention you're heading to Bosnia, Albania, Serbia, or Kosovo and someone will inevitably ask "is that... safe?" The answer, with enormous confidence, is yes. Overwhelmingly, statistically, experience-backed yes. We travel to Albania and the rest of the Balkans as a family, with kids and as a solo female traveller on the Undiscovered Balkans team too. While there were conflicts in the region 30 years ago, those days are firmly behind us. What remains is extraordinary food, boundless hospitality, a family-friendly society and locals who will invite you in for coffee before you've even asked for directions. A word about recent protests... Questions we're seeing being asked by tourists on social media: Is Albania safe to visit in 2026? Albania protests — should I cancel my trip? Is Tirana safe for tourists during protests? Are the Albania protests affecting tourists? Is the Albanian coast safe to visit? Here's our response: The recent wave of protests, in Albania and also Serbia, have been peaceful, youth and civil society-led protests aimed at infrastructure issues, and halting billionaire-backed projects from destroying nature. In Albania, there are no riots — the point of these protests is they are peaceful. Most days, you will just see crowds of people walking through the city together, holding placards, their kids, or even an inflatable pink flamingo. Families bring their children and set up street crèches. It's colourful, environment-focused and many people bring cardboard flamingos or blow-up ones as the protest symbol. The Flamingo protest is actually something you might find inspiring to see on our Albania holidays, although we hope for a swift resolution preserving Albania's rich natural heritage (please sign and share the petition). In Serbia, the peaceful protest routes are clearly marked and shared on social media — so you can avoid the city centre at busy
Mention you’re heading to Bosnia, Albania, Serbia, or Kosovo and someone will inevitably ask “is that… safe?” The answer, with enormous confidence, is yes. Overwhelmingly, statistically, experience-backed yes. We travel to Albania and the rest of the Balkans as a family, with kids and as a solo female traveller on the Undiscovered Balkans team too.
While people travel thousands of miles paying top dollar for indigenous tourism experiences, the Balkans is home to some of the richest and oldest traditions, making it the best place for authentic travel in Europe. When we say ‘indigenous’, the word often conjures an idea of traditions practiced far away in Asia, South America, or Africa – but remember that mountain communities in the Balkans have preserved age-old traditions. Ancient culture really is alive and well here, from the elaborate 'Gelina' bridal makeup in Bulgaria and Kosovo, to the delicate crafting traditions of Sarajevo's Baščaršija. These traditions often mesh old pagan practices with Christian or Islamic rituals and local necessity. Some are recognised by UNESCO as protected intangible heritage. In this blog, we want to answer the question: as travellers, how can we encounter these local traditions in an authentic way? We've been looking to solve that question on our small group holidays in the Balkans, and tailor-made trips, designed around exactly these kinds of experiences. Authentic Balkan travel is possible! Here are 10 authentic cultural experiences in the Balkans that you don’t want to miss, from Serbia's kafanas to Macedonia's honey farms — all of them things we do with our guests on the ground. And remember, the Balkans reward return visits, slow travel, and the willingness to follow an invitation wherever it leads — into a family home, a vineyard, or a festival that has been happening in the same village for five hundred years. 1. Kafana music in Serbia and other Balkan folk traditions Accordions, trumpets, double bass and violins, soulful singing— this is the folk music you find in 'Kafanas', Serbia's pub-restaurant-music taverns. The experience of going to a kafana combines eating (usually large meat platters), drinking (rakia) and singing (with as much soul as possible). It's
While people travel thousands of miles paying top dollar for indigenous tourism experiences, the Balkans is home to some of the richest and oldest traditions, making it the best place for authentic travel in Europe. When we say ‘indigenous’, the word often conjures an idea of traditions practiced far away in Asia, South America, or
Cool Concrete: Yugoslavia's Extraordinary Abstract Monuments Scattered across the mountains and national parks of the former Yugoslavia — in countries such as Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia — are hundreds of striking brutalist monuments. These are Spomeniks: abstract brutalist monuments commissioned during Yugoslav times to honour WWII's fallen. Some look like gigantic fists, alien spacecrafts, or wings in flight. All are extraordinary. Spomeniks are most often found 'in the wild': buried in forests, rising out of national parks, and squatting on mountain peaks. This is one of rare instances where nature adventure lovers and architect enthusiasts combine: each masterpiece of brutalism can be reached on a Balkan hiking holiday or road trip. Their striking futuristic designs have several explanations: after the war and the establishment of Yugoslavia in 1963, Tito had to forge a united country from a federation that included multiple religions and ethnicities. Architects and sculptors were briefed to create something that would not offend the different sides. Instead of war heroes, neutral abstract designs were chosen, aligning with modernist trends of the 1960s to 1980s. Of the thousand-plus former Yugoslav spomeniks that once existed, only a few hundred remain. Some are well maintained, with museums and parks attached. Others were destroyed during the Yugoslav Wars of the 1990s; or were vandalised, forgotten, or reclaimed by nature. Some have been stripped to their concrete skeletons, like the Monument on Mount Makljen (Tito's Fist). A comprehensive Spomenik database was created in 2016 by Donald Niebyl which documents every monument of the region. Here, we narrow it down to the spomeniks you can experience along beautiful hiking routes or scenic drives – including several we visit on our small-group adventures in the Balkans – and how to incorporate these fascinating sculptures into an adventure into nature. Bosnia & Herzegovina: brutalist
Cool Concrete: Yugoslavia’s Extraordinary Abstract Monuments Scattered across the mountains and national parks of the former Yugoslavia — in countries such as Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia — are hundreds of striking brutalist monuments. These are Spomeniks: abstract brutalist monuments commissioned during Yugoslav times to honour WWII’s fallen. Some look like gigantic fists, alien spacecrafts,
Welcome to our handy shopping guide on what to buy in the Balkans (souvenirs, gifts, local products). It goes without saying that the best souvenir from the Balkans is time spent there. But if you want something tangible to take home, here are 12 artisan crafts that are made locally, used daily and have long histories. Souvenirs is a word often associated with tourist tat, but the Balkans is not a turbo-charged tourism industry, so things you can buy in markets still tend to be hand-crafted traditional gifts. Plus, supporting local craftspeople is all part of being a conscientious traveller and leaving a positive impact. These 12 souvenirs are traditional Balkan gifts we genuinely love, use and give to our friends. Some are practical, some beautiful, some edible, and all of them will have you hankering to go back long after you’ve unpacked your bag. What to buy in the Balkans: The best traditional gifts in the Balkans are locally made, small-batch products that reflect the region’s culture. Look for: Rakia (fruit brandy) from family-run distilleries Regional wines from lesser-known Balkan vineyards Handmade ceramics and traditional pottery Embroidered textiles and handwoven rugs Olive oil, preserves and other small-batch food products Herbal teas and natural, plant-based cosmetics Artisan jewellery inspired by local heritage Scroll down to find out where to find the best of each... Index: Best Souvenirs from the Balkans at a Glance Handwoven Kilims: Albanian and Serbian Rugs Priglavke: Hand-Knitted Wool Socks and Traditional Woollens Bosna Quilts: The Bosnian Cooperative Turning Craft into Collector's Art Carnival Masks from Albania and Montenegro Ajvar: The Balkan Pantry Essential Balkan Wines and Rakia Copper Coffee Pots from Sarajevo Personality Perfumes from Sarajevo Balkans Flea Markets: Antiques and Traditional Clothes Patterned Balkan Pottery Brutalist Design Books and Monuments (Serbia) Bulgarian Rose Products from
Welcome to our handy shopping guide on what to buy in the Balkans (souvenirs, gifts, local products). It goes without saying that the best souvenir from the Balkans is time spent there. But if you want something tangible to take home, here are 12 artisan crafts that are made locally, used daily and have long
Serbia is one of the Balkans' best-kept hiking secrets, with great mountain trails that rival Montenegro, Bulgaria or Albania. From the Eagle Canyon to the Stara Planina - an ancient range stretching all the way to the Black Sea, and the Zlatibor range on the Serbian-Montenegrin border, hiking in Serbia has much to offer. Like most Balkan hiking destinations, tourism is still in its infancy here so most often you will have all that spectacular scenery to yourself. Village guesthouses dot the mountain routes and it's here you'll find the authentic taste of Balkan mountain culture and hospitality. Read on to discover the best hiking trails in Serbia, all featured in our guided Serbia holidays. And don't miss the video below showing some of the beautiful places we explore! Stara Planina, Serbia's 'Old Mountains' Eastern Serbia is largely uncharted territory by foreign tourists, including the Stara Planina range which stretches 550 kms from Serbia to Bulgaria. The name 'old mountains' suit it in more ways than one - people still live a traditional way of life in stone villages with small family farms. Expect to find homemade rakia and every kind of pickle stored in the house! The area is dotted with naturally occurring karst waterfalls and the ruins of Felix Romuliana: a UNESCO World Heritage Site and ancient Roman palace complex built by Emperor Galerius. Worth a detour on your way in or out. We explore Stara Planina on our 7-Day hiking holiday in Serbia, rambling around waterfalls and serious ridgelines, and, if we’re lucky, spotting some wild horses. This range has it all, from half-day strolls to full summit days. Midžor Peak — Serbia's Highest Summit (2,169m) Distance: 16km Difficulty: Moderate, 6–7 hours at a comfortable pace. No scrambling, no ropes, just good boots and stamina. We do
Serbia is one of the Balkans’ best-kept hiking secrets, with great mountain trails that rival Montenegro, Bulgaria or Albania. From the Eagle Canyon to the Stara Planina – an ancient range stretching all the way to the Black Sea, and the Zlatibor range on the Serbian-Montenegrin border, hiking in Serbia has much to offer. Like
If you’re looking for the best places to go canyoning in the Balkans, you’re in the right place. From Montenegro’s dramatic gorges to Bosnia & Herzegovina's hidden turquoise pools, this region is by default one of Europe’s top canyoning destinations. We've been sliding and scrambling through the Balkans' wild rivers for more than a decade, so it's time to share what we've learnt. Many canyons in the Balkans are still relatively unknown, meaning you can experience incredible canyoning adventures without the mass tourism found in the Alps or Pyrenees. Below we explain what canyoning actually involves and round up some of our favourite spots to do it, from Montenegro and Croatia, to Serbia and Bosnia & Herzegovina. Ready for an adrenalin adventure? Join us for guided canyoning in Montenegro or the Balkans on one of our multi-active holidays. Jump to: What is canyoning? The best canyoning spots in Montenegro The best canyoning spots in Serbia The best canyoning spots in Croatia The best canyoning spots in Bosnia & Herzegovina FAQs What is canyoning? Canyoning (sometimes called canyoneering) can mean different things. In parts of the Balkans you may see “canyoning” advertised, but it is simply walking or wading through a canyon or river gorge – fun, but on the softer end of adventure travel. In this guide, we're focusing on canyoning as a proper outdoor adventure sport that involves descending through a canyon using a mix of techniques, which include: Abseiling (rappelling) down waterfalls Sliding down natural rock chutes Jumping into deep pools Swimming through narrow gorges Scrambling over rocks It's exhilarating, fun and requires specialist equipment such as ropes, harnesses, helmets and wetsuits. On our trips, you will always be guided by licensed professionals who will manage the ropes as you navigate your way through the natural watercourse and
If you’re looking for the best places to go canyoning in the Balkans, you’re in the right place. From Montenegro’s dramatic gorges to Bosnia & Herzegovina’s hidden turquoise pools, this region is by default one of Europe’s top canyoning destinations. We’ve been sliding and scrambling through the Balkans’ wild rivers for more than a decade,
Ever stood inside a Cold War nuclear bunker built to survive an atomic blast? Across the Balkans, these strange concrete domes have become a unique part of the landscape. Built by Tito's communist regime in Yugoslavia and Enver Hoxha in Albania, Balkan bunkers are some of the most fascinating Cold War relics you can explore on our adventure holidays in Europe. From Albania’s mushroom-shaped bunkers dotted across beaches and mountains to Tito’s secret nuclear shelter hidden in the Bosnian hills, Balkan bunkers show us what it was like to live under paranoid surveillance states. With military tensions once again creeping into the news, these subterranean worlds feel newly relevant. Eerie though they are, local people have been turning old communist bunkers into everything from museums and tattoo studios to wine cellars. Being adventure travellers, we love exploring these hidden - and scenic - places. Scroll down to find out how we seek out the best Balkan bunkers on our Albania, Bosnia and Serbia hiking holidays : Albania: the capital of Balkan bunkers If there is a global capital of communist bunkers, Albania claims it hands down. Under the paranoid dictatorship of Enver Hoxha, the country was sealed off from the world and obsessively fortified against imagined invasion. Between the 1960s and 1980s, an estimated 173,000 to 750,000 were constructed, giving Albania he highest concentration of Cold War bunkers anywhere in the Balkans – and arguably the world. These surreal mushroom-shaped domes were designed so that every citizen could, in theory, help defend the country. You don’t need to hunt for bunkers in Albania – they appear everywhere, like giant stealth tortoises. In city parks, perched above beaches, sunk into vineyards and looming over mountain passes. Some have been painted with bright yellow emojis, others turned into tattoo parlours. In Tirana,
Ever stood inside a Cold War nuclear bunker built to survive an atomic blast? Across the Balkans, these strange concrete domes have become a unique part of the landscape. Built by Tito’s communist regime in Yugoslavia and Enver Hoxha in Albania, Balkan bunkers are some of the most fascinating Cold War relics you can explore
Wine, like rakia, is woven into any Balkan adventure. It is poured generously at guesthouse tables, shared after long hikes, and produced in vineyards that cling to steep hillsides, river valleys and sunbaked plains. This week, we sat down with Dušan Jelić of @winesofserbia to talk Balkan wine regions and wines. Dušan has worked in the wine world for decades, and has seen the Balkan viticulture move from post-communist recovery to producing world class award-winning pours, all within 20 years. Sadly, many of these bottles are hard to find in the UK or USA, which is all the more reason to travel to the country of origin and combine wine discovery with an Undiscovered Balkans adventure. For Dušan, the vineyards of South-East Europe offer something unique: "Winemakers are warm, deeply hospitable and welcome you with an authenticity we have lost elsewhere. You will experience indigenous grapes you have never tasted before." (For example, Prokupac, Tamjanika, Plavac Mali and Žilavka - names that sound more like incantations than grapes). Best of all, says Dušan, "Wine is always paired with the Balkans' exotic cuisine that fuses Mediterranean, Ottoman and local influences. Don't forget that enjoying Balkan food and wine is budget-friendly! " Dušan has kindly given us his tips on native grapes, top Balkan wine labels and local festivals, which we've paired with our adventures to nearby mountains, lakes and historic towns to create a practical guide to the main wine regions in the Balkans. Related: A guide to Albanian food and wine 10 traditional Balkan foods you have to try How to drink Bosnian coffee the right way Balkan Wine Regions: a Country-by-Country Guide Croatian wine Events: Biklijada When: September 2026 Where: Vrgorac Croatia does niche, local and authentic festivals like no other. Did you know that there is even a
Wine, like rakia, is woven into any Balkan adventure. It is poured generously at guesthouse tables, shared after long hikes, and produced in vineyards that cling to steep hillsides, river valleys and sunbaked plains. This week, we sat down with Dušan Jelić of @winesofserbia to talk Balkan wine regions and wines. Dušan has worked in
This week, we invited journalist and travel writer Camilla Bell-Davies to be a guest blogger and tell us which Balkan countries are on her radar in 2026. Camilla lived in Serbia and often travelled to Bosnia and Kosovo for a change of scene. She wrote about Balkans travel for The Financial Times, The Guardian and Telegraph Travel. I first stumbled into the Western Balkans as a student backpacker in the 2010s and was instantly drawn to its rich culture and gorgeous landscapes. It wasn't long before I made the Balkans my permanent home, as a writer based in Belgrade. With free reign to wander, I came to know the many wonderful places on the Undiscovered Balkans radar. Every country has so much to recommend, but if I was to pick the top three rising stars for 2026, it would be these: Beyond Belgrade: Serbia's wild places I may be bias given I lived there, but 2026 really is the moment for Serbia to step into the spotlight. The country saw record visitor numbers in 2024 and 2025, travel magazines are calling it 'Europe's most under-the-radar destination', and it has affordable prices that make slow, immersive travel possible. I say visit now before Serbia becomes the next big thing! Belgrade, Tašmajdan park in the snow Serbian hospitality is soulful and spontaneous, guesthouses are rustic and full of charm, and cities feel refreshingly untouristy. Venture beyond Belgrade’s café-lined streets and legendary nightlife to the wild 'Eagle Canyon', or the mighty Iron Gates at Djerdap Gorge on the Danube river, where you can kayak for hours to peaceful birdsong. Going with a local guide is the best way to enjoy a Serbia adventure. Belgrade has seen peaceful student protests ongoing for a year, but these are confined to
This week, we invited journalist and travel writer Camilla Bell-Davies to be a guest blogger and tell us which Balkan countries are on her radar in 2026. Camilla lived in Serbia and often travelled to Bosnia and Kosovo for a change of scene. She wrote about Balkans travel for The Financial Times, The Guardian and
If taking on a marathon, triathlon or other sporting challenge is in your New Year’s resolutions, why not tag a holiday onto it? Apparently it’s a thing: the ‘race-cation’ (when you complete some sort of outdoor challenge either side of a holiday) is rising in popularity and we're here for it—what a great excuse to book a holiday! The Balkans is host to lots of marathons, triathlons, vertical kilometres and swim races in 2026, where you’ll compete against the backdrop of the Dinaric Alps, Dalmatian coast, ancient forests and crumbling old towns. Many pair up nicely with our adventure holidays. Read on to find out what's happening in Croatia, Albania, Montenegro, Serbia, Bosnia and more throughout 2026 and start planning your race-cation now. Marathons & sporting events in Croatia 2026 From running to wild swimming and high-altitude challenges, there’s lots for sporty folk in Croatia. After an adrenaline-fuelled event with hundreds of people, slow things down and rejuvenate with our Southern Dalmatia holiday, which blends sightseeing with adventure activities in the incredibly pretty and peaceful Ston. XTERRA Croatia When: 8–10th May 2026 Where: Mali Lošinj This three-day off-road triathlon takes place in the beautiful coastal town of Mali Lošinj and offers thrilling challenges for all abilities, from elite competitors to weekend warriors and kids. Over the course of three days, you’ll trail run, swim and mountain bike your way to victory. Youth Skyrunning World Championships When: 8–10th May 2026 Where: Makarska This year will be the 10th edition of the Youth Skyrunning World Championships in Croatia, where young athletes embark on a scenic high altitude running challenge in the picturesque port town of Makarska. UltraSwim 33.3 Croatia When: 15–18th May 2026 Where: Hvar Hvar isn’t just for beach parties—the UltraSwim 33.3 open-water swim challenge starts in the ancient town of
If taking on a marathon, triathlon or other sporting challenge is in your New Year’s resolutions, why not tag a holiday onto it? Apparently it’s a thing: the ‘race-cation’ (when you complete some sort of outdoor challenge either side of a holiday) is rising in popularity and we’re here for it—what a great excuse to
This website uses cookies to improve your experience. You may opt-out if you wish. Cookie settingsACCEPT
Privacy & Cookies Policy
Privacy Overview
We use cookies to improve your experience while navigating our website. Of these cookies, those that are categorized as necessary are stored in your browser as they are essential for the basic functionality of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. However, opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for this website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensure basic functionality and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for this website to function and are used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to using these cookies on this website.
