The Medieval capital of Bulgaria

Veliko Tarnovo - Our first day will start from the modern capital of Bulgaria, Sofia, and will end in the medieval one –Veliko Tarnovo. The city is situated on the northern slopes of Stara Planina, amidst the meanders of Yantra River.
Veliko Tarnovo is one of the oldest in Bulgaria and has been continuously inhabited since the 5th millennium BC, therefore many different cultures like the ancient Thracian, Roman, and Byzantine contributed to the historical and cultural heritage of the city. Without a doubt, however, the most noticeable marks have been left by the Medieval Bulgarians, as the city is former capital of the Second Bulgarian Empire (1185-1396). From this period are most of the highlights of the city which you will have the chance to explore. We will visit the remains of the main medieval fortress of this magnificent city. Admiration is provoked as well by the typical for the city architecture from the National Revival period (XVIII-XIX) – houses from stone and wood, scattered along the slopes and narrow, cobblestone streets. We will visit the main commercial area, built during the Ottoman period, but still alive, keeping the traditions of different crafts.
We will overnight in the city. During the evening you can enjoy the beautifully illuminated fortress of Tsarevets.

The Peal of the Danube river

Ruse - After breakfast, we will head north to the Danube River. We will stop at one of the most beautiful cities in Bulgaria – Ruse. We will walk through its center and will admire the architecture, which gave the name of the city during the 19th century – The small Vienna.

Bucharest - After this relaxing walk, we will cross the river and will enter Romania. After an hour’s drive, we will reach its capital Bucharest. We will overnight in the city center. During the evening you will have the chance to enjoy its intense nightlife.

Exploring Bucharest

Bucharest - This day will be dedicated to exploring Bucharest’s highlights. We will visit one of the biggest buildings in the world – Romanian parliament, a very ambitious project of Ceaușescu, their last communistic leader, related to the horrible events of 1989. Our next stop will be at a museum, called “Village museum”. There you will see copies of all architectural styles of Romania, including the famous wooden churches. Our next stop will be in the historical part of Bucharest, where you will see the remains of the structures from the time of Vlad the Impaler. We will walk through the main pedestrian street, full of shops, restaurants, beautiful buildings.

We will overnight in the city.

Craiova

Craiova - After breakfast, we will head west. Our final destination for the day is the city Craiova. It is a great example of the Austrian-Hungarian heritage in Romania. Craiova was also the capital of the Wallachia region. We will spend the afternoon enjoying the architecture and the beautiful center.

Overnight in Craiova.

Reaching Serbia

Belgrade - After we see the remains of the bridge we will cross the river by a modern bridge and will enter Serbia. After an hour and a half drive, we will reach Belgrade. We will check in our hotel and have a relaxing evening.

Exploring Belgrade

Belgrade - This day will be dedicated to exploring Belgrade. We will visit the fortress, which was guarding the two Rivers – Danube and Sava. In the fortress, we can visit the National Military museum where you will learn about many dramatic moments of the Balkan history, from the Serbian point of view, of course. Then our walking tour will continue through Belgrade main boulevards and shopping streets. In the evening we can go to the street, famous for its traditional Serbian restaurants. In some of them, there is life Balkan music.

Overnight in Belgrade.

The birthplace of Constantin the Great

Nis - In the morning we will drive toward the 3rd biggest city of Serbia-Nis. You will have a guided tour of the historical part. You will see the Roman villa where Constantin the Great was born. After that, we will stop by a very sad for our history site – The Skull tower, built by the Ottomans after an uprising in 1809 with the idea just to send a message. Another point of interest is a Nazi concentration camp. Perfectly preserved with the amazingly rich museums. Our next stop will be the fortress of Nis and the main pedestrian street, where we will have our lunch.

Skopje - After that, we will continue our journey toward the next capital – Skopje, Northern Macedonia.

Overnight in Skopje

Exploring Skopje

Skopje - This day will be dedicated to one of the most controversial cities on the Balkans. Skopje is an amazing mixture between orient and modern, and also one of the few examples in nowadays how historical propaganda reflects on the appearance of a city. The two worlds are separated by a river. In the old there typical orient market place – Suk, surrounded by beautiful Ottoman buildings-mosques, hammams (Turkish bathhouse), and many more. The atmosphere is wonderful. On the other bank of the river is the modern center, full of statues and neoclassical buildings. Also, we will visit the house of Mother Teresa.
In the afternoon we will enjoy one of the most spectacular gorges on the Balkans – Matka canyon. If you want to we can hire a boat and have a boat trip.

Getting back to Sofia

Monastery of St Joakim Osogovski - After breakfast, we will start our journey back to Bulgaria. On the way, we will visit the biggest monastery in Macedonia. It is part of the UNESCO World Heritage list. Built-in the Middle Ages it is still an active one and keeps the atmosphere of those times.

Sofia - In the afternoon we will reach Sofia. Our guide can show you the center of the city if you haven’t got the chance to do so and will drop you off at your hotel.

Overnight in Sofia. If you depart the next day, also airport transfer is included.

• Professional local guides in Bucharest, Belgrade and Skopje
• Entrance fees included for scheduled sights
• Daily breakfast provided

• Lucnhes and dinners
• Personal expenses
• Gratuities

For those passionate about exploring the Balkans, this journey stands as an optimal choice. It’s not just about touring the capital cities of Bulgaria, Romania, Serbia, and North Macedonia, but also delving into other historical metropolises, ancient capitals, and breathtaking nature. Our guide, with his extensive understanding of the area, will strive hard to put everything in the right perspective for you.

If you cancel at least 6 full day(s) before the scheduled departure time, you will receive a full refund.
If you cancel between 2 and 6 day(s) before the scheduled departure time, you will receive a 50% refund.
If you cancel within 2 day(s) of the scheduled departure, you will receive a 0% refund.