What currency does Albania use? Can you drink tap water in Croatia? Should you buy an eSIM? Having an adventure in the Balkans booked is super exciting, but the inevitable pre-trip admin can kill your buzz if you don’t know what to do. Fear not! From visa requirements to eSIMs, safe drinking water to currency, we’ve got the answers to all of your Balkan travel FAQs so you can focus on being excited. As well as generic advice below, we’ve included tips that are more specific to our holidays, when you may need a bit of extra cover on your travel insurance due to all of the adventurous activities we offer or local cash because we’re visiting a mountaintop village. Not sure what to pack? We’ve got you covered with that too; read our guide to packing light for adventure travel in the Balkans. On this page: Are the Balkans in the EU? Do I need a visa? Travel insurance tips eSIMs and data roaming in the Balkans Currency and paying in the Balkans Is it safe to drink tap water in the Balkans? Are the Balkans in the EU? Some Balkan countries are EU members, others are applying and some aren’t in the EU but do use the Euro (confusing or what?). Croatia, Bulgaria, Romania, Slovenia and Greece are members of the EU, making things simpler for travellers. Serbia, Albania, Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina and North Macedonia are EU candidates hoping to be in the club by 2030. Kosovo is a potential candidate, meaning it has or can apply for membership, but the big chiefs are yet to make it an official candidate. For travellers, this means data roaming, currency (and how easy it is to get hold of), and passport requirements can vary depending on where you travel.
What currency does Albania use? Can you drink tap water in Croatia? Should you buy an eSIM? Having an adventure in the Balkans booked is super exciting, but the inevitable pre-trip admin can kill your buzz if you don’t know what to do. Fear not! From visa requirements to eSIMs, safe drinking water to currency,
Travelling as a vegan or vegetarian in the Balkans might seem like a challenge at first glance–especially if you’ve heard about the region’s big love for meat and dairy. But look beyond the grills and stews, and you’ll find a wealth of naturally vegan dishes, thanks to centuries-old fasting traditions and the region’s rich agricultural heritage. With Easter approaching and the end of a major fasting period for our Orthodox Christian and Catholic friends, it’s the perfect time to talk about plant-based eating in the Balkans (enter: posno). This handy guide will help you explore vegan, vegetarian, and dairy and gluten-free foods available in Croatia, Montenegro, Bosnia, Serbia and Albania–and learn how to ask for them. In this post: Understanding Posno and why it's good for vegans Vegan & vegetarian-friendly Balkan dishes Vegan & vegetarian travel tips for the Balkans Can you get gluten-free food in the Balkans? How to order vegan, vegetarian, dairy-free and gluten-free meals Our vegan guest's experience Are the Balkans Vegan-friendly? We won’t lie, the Balkan countries aren’t the easiest places to navigate dietary requirements and the answer lies in tradition. The Balkans are mountainous countries where people have historically lived off their livestock in harsh environments with a short growing season. Long winters meant that vegetables and fruits were pickled or preserved with sugar to last through the colder months. On the coast, seafood has always been a staple, while inland, people relied on what they could catch, grow, or harvest themselves. Hunting remains popular and the connection to a pastoral lifestyle is still strong, which is why plant-based eating is not as common as in other parts of Europe. But that’s not to say you can’t get along just fine on a plant-based diet. Related: In conversation with Irina Janakievska, author of The Balkan
Travelling as a vegan or vegetarian in the Balkans might seem like a challenge at first glance–especially if you’ve heard about the region’s big love for meat and dairy. But look beyond the grills and stews, and you’ll find a wealth of naturally vegan dishes, thanks to centuries-old fasting traditions and the region’s rich agricultural
Planning to visit the Balkans this year but not sure when to go? We’ve got you. Whether you’re looking for the best month to visit Albania for sun, when to hike the Peaks of the Balkans trail or the best time to book a holiday in Croatia to avoid the crowds (hint: you’ll always dodge the crowds with us), keep reading. Balkans climate Croatia, Montenegro, Albania, southern Bosnia and southern Bulgaria generally have a Mediterranean climate, meaning hot, dry summers and mild winters. Like anywhere, the weather is generally cooler and less predictable in the mountains in these destinations, where there can be snow during winter and early spring. The more northerly locations such as Serbia, northern Bosnia around Sarajevo, and parts of Montenegro have a milder, more continental climate. Balkans weather by month See the average daytime high temperatures by month in Croatia, Albania, Montenegro and other popular holiday destinations in the Balkans below. But bear in mind it depends on where you go. Mostar in Bosnia is more like 25-40℃ in August due to humidity. Best time to visit the Balkans for sun A Balkan summer is like no other — long sunny days and a culture that celebrates leaping into refreshing pools of water, whether it's the Adriatic Sea or a brilliant blue river. Balkan summers see temperatures generally hovering between 27℃ and 31℃, occasionally climbing to the high 30s, depending how far south you go. During these months, you will see little rainfall and lots of clear, sunny skies – perfect for water activities like kayaking, rafting and wild swimming. If that’s a little too hot for you, consider visiting in April or May for daytime temperatures in the low to mid 20s. Bear in mind that the weather is less predictable in shoulder season and
Planning to visit the Balkans this year but not sure when to go? We’ve got you. Whether you’re looking for the best month to visit Albania for sun, when to hike the Peaks of the Balkans trail or the best time to book a holiday in Croatia to avoid the crowds (hint: you’ll always dodge
"Adventures needn’t stop because you’ve had children," says Emma Heywood, co-founder of Undiscovered Balkans and mother of three. If you’re keen to make your family travel more adventurous and leave the hotel resorts behind, Emma has revealed her top tips for smooth sailing. From the types of activity holidays to choose for your family to ways to motivate kids on a hike (rule #1 - never call it a hike), Emma’s advice comes tried and tested on her own family's travels in the Balkans, and years hosting families at her villa in the wilds of Montenegro. And so, over to Emma for her key to making family activity holidays a roaring success. 1. Look for water activities "Kids of all ages love water. Find a holiday with plenty of opportunities for water-based fun whether it’s jumping into waterfalls, river hiking or whitewater rafting (make sure the rapids are mostly grade 2)." Check out some of our wet and wild adventures 2. Get them excited about the trip "Some of our guests involve their kids in choosing the holiday. We’re less democratic with our three, but we talk about the trip ahead and show them visually exciting content like photos and videos of things they’ll be doing. The social media accounts of your holiday company should have a ready supply of motivational materials. Exhibit A: our Instagram page. "While adventures are all about trying something new, make sure it’s within the realms of your children’s interests and abilities by choosing activities you know they’ll like, that are fun. Ours, for example, love being in the water so we’ll always make sure there's a chance to get wet when booking a holiday." 3. Book a guided group holiday aimed at active families "Guided trips are best if your budget can stretch to
“Adventures needn’t stop because you’ve had children,” says Emma Heywood, co-founder of Undiscovered Balkans and mother of three. If you’re keen to make your family travel more adventurous and leave the hotel resorts behind, Emma has revealed her top tips for smooth sailing. From the types of activity holidays to choose for your family to
Packing for an adventure holiday can be daunting, especially if it’s your first time. With so many activities to prepare for, it’s easy to overdo it. But actually, you need far less than you think. We’re on a mission to liberate travellers from their overstuffed suitcases by helping them to pack lighter and smarter. And so, we’ve rounded up some of our best tried and tested packing tips from our seasoned adventurers and included sample packing lists below. Packing light is liberating and it also means you’re doing your bit for the environment (the lighter the load, the less fuel is burned by the plane to carry it). Plus, with many of our trips being multicentre, it makes all the difference when you haven’t got to lug around a huge suitcase. The beauty of adventure holidays like ours (despite the jaw-dropping scenery and adrenaline fuelled activities) is that you don’t need to pack 10 of your finest frocks. Lightweight activewear and outfits which are multi combinational is the way forward, as we explain below. Our top tips for packing light 1. Max out your carry on allowance For a week’s multi active holiday in the Balkans with us, you can more than get by with a cabin-sized suitcase and backpack (30L or smaller). In fact, one of our regular guests travels with just a small backpack (see image below). Choose a lightweight, streamlined case which reaches the maximum dimensions allowed by your airline. Most operators allow 10kg for a carry-on suitcase and up to 10kg for your additional backpack. That’s an ample 20kg allowance without having to check a suitcase. Save space by wearing your heaviest clothes and shoes on the flight (you can always strip off some layers once you board), use the backpack you will be hiking with
Packing for an adventure holiday can be daunting, especially if it’s your first time. With so many activities to prepare for, it’s easy to overdo it. But actually, you need far less than you think. We’re on a mission to liberate travellers from their overstuffed suitcases by helping them to pack lighter and smarter. And
When Carly joined us in Serbia this month, she was a complete newbie to adventure travel having only ever taken beach holidays and city breaks. For those considering their first adventure holiday or joining an organised tour as a solo traveller, we asked her to guest blog for us this week and share her experience. Over to Carly… My typical holiday involves relaxing on the beach and feeding myself with lots of nice things. I work hard and my annual leave is precious, so when I go away it’s to switch off and unwind. Never had I imagined taking a week off to work even harder, climbing mountains, abseiling down waterfalls and wild swimming. But do you know what? It’s the best trip I’ve had in a long time and just days after getting home, I’m raring to go again. As I approach 40, I made a promise to myself this year to step outside my comfort zone. So when my friend, Dawn, asked if I wanted to join her on this small group adventure in Serbia, I jumped at the chance. But then I started to think about it. As the departure date neared, I began seriously doubting my abilities and questioning whether I had made a huge mistake. My stomach sank as I studied the itinerary and I stared at my empty suitcase. ‘What am I doing?’ I asked myself. Imposter syndrome There were so many uncertainties. First, the packing. This wasn’t a case of tossing a few bikinis and dresses in my bag. Walking boots, active wear and water shoes were among the required items on the packing list provided. That in itself made me question what I had let myself in for. Another foreign concept to me was a holiday without guaranteed sunshine. Usually, I board
When Carly joined us in Serbia this month, she was a complete newbie to adventure travel having only ever taken beach holidays and city breaks. For those considering their first adventure holiday or joining an organised tour as a solo traveller, we asked her to guest blog for us this week and share her experience.
The Balkans, a region rich in history, cultural diversity and natural beauty, is an increasingly popular destination for adventure travel seekers. With hundreds of mountains to hike, rivers to raft on and ancient cities to explore, who can blame them? As a relative newcomer to the adventure travel space, there are some things to bear in mind when planning a trip to this part of the world. Having been on the ground here since 2008, we’ve gotten to know and love all of this region’s quirks and some of the most common mistakes made by people planning a trip. Read on to avoid making them yourself and have the best possible experience. 1. Not preparing for the weather The Balkan Peninsula is known for having unpredictable weather. Generally, the region gets gloriously hot summers with temperatures climbing to the high 20s and low 30s in July and August. But even in the height of summer, you can get caught out by torrential rainstorms and it’s not unheard of to still see snow on the mountains in June. We advise packing lightweight, breathable layers of various lengths, closed shoes for rainy weather, and a decent waterproof jacket in case the heavens open. If it has some windproof properties, that's a bonus. There’s nothing more uncomfortable than trying to carry on with a hike when you’re cold and wet. On the other hand, heat stroke can be a risk in summer, especially in cities like Mostar in Bosnia and Herzegovina, or when out kayaking for the day. Pace yourself with your plans and make sure you pack a reusable water bottle* to keep hydrated. It goes without saying, but we'll say it anyway: keep slathering on that high SPF sunscreen and wear a hat and sunglasses. *Tap water is generally safe to
The Balkans, a region rich in history, cultural diversity and natural beauty, is an increasingly popular destination for adventure travel seekers. With hundreds of mountains to hike, rivers to raft on and ancient cities to explore, who can blame them? As a relative newcomer to the adventure travel space, there are some things to bear
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