East Balkans: Albania to Romania in 14 Days is our longest journey east. It starts at Tirana airport, crosses five countries (Albania, North Macedonia, Kosovo, Bulgaria and Romania) and ends in Bucharest after the castles of Transylvania. A full-time English-speaking guide travels with you, you sleep 12 nights in 4-star city-centre hotels, and the group is never bigger than eight. Below is the route day by day, what is included, and photos from a recent departure led by Philip, our guide from North Macedonia.
The tour at a glance
| Duration | 14 days |
|---|---|
| Countries | Albania, North Macedonia, Kosovo, Bulgaria, Romania |
| Starts | Tirana International Airport, Albania |
| Ends | Bucharest, Romania, with a transfer to the airport |
| Group size | 2 to 8 travellers |
| Pace | Leisure, with walking tours in every city |
| Hotels | 12 nights in 4-star hotels in city-centre locations |
| Meals | 13 breakfasts, a welcome dinner with folk music in Tirana and lunch with a local family in Berat |
| Guide | Full-time tour guide, fluent in English, plus a dedicated tour manager for online support |
Five countries, fourteen days and one guide who stays with you from the first airport to the last.
The route day by day
- Day 1, Tirana: arrival, city walking tour, welcome dinner with folk music.
- Day 2, Apollonia and Gjirokastra: the ancient city of Apollonia, then the stone town of Gjirokastra.
- Day 3, the south coast: the Blue Eye, Saranda, Ksamil and Butrint.
- Day 4, Berat: the "city of 1001 windows" and wine tasting.
- Day 5, Ohrid: into North Macedonia, St Naum Monastery and Ohrid's old town.
- Day 6, Skopje: Matka Canyon by boat, then the capital.
- Day 7, Kosovo: Prishtina and Prizren in a day.
- Day 8, Bulgaria: the Seven Rila Lakes, Rila Monastery and Sofia.
- Day 9, Veliko Tarnovo: Tsarevets Fortress and Arbanasi village.
- Day 10, Bucharest: into Romania and a city tour of the capital.
- Day 11, Transylvania: Curtea de Argeș, Cozia and Sibiu.
- Day 12, Biertan and Sighișoara, then Brașov.
- Day 13, Brașov, Bran and Sinaia: the Black Church, Bran Castle and Peleș Castle.
- Day 14, departure from Bucharest.
Albania: days 1 to 4
Day 1: Tirana
Your guide meets you at the exit of Tirana International Airport and takes you to your hotel in the centre. A 1.5-hour walking tour introduces the capital: Skanderbeg Square, the Et'hem Bey Mosque, the Clock Tower, Tirana Castle, the Blloku district, the former house of dictator Enver Hoxha and the House of Leaves. There is time for BunkArt 2, and the evening ends with a traditional welcome dinner with live folk music.
Day 2: Apollonia and Gjirokastra
Apollonia was a centre of education, philosophy and the arts in antiquity. You explore the archaeological park, its temple, amphitheatre, triumphal arch and museum. In Gjirokastra, a UNESCO-listed stone town, you start in the old bazaar, climb to the castle with its museum and old prison, and finish in the Zekate House, an Ottoman-era fortified family home.
Day 3: Blue Eye, Ksamil and Butrint
The day starts at the Blue Eye, a spring of startling blue water in the forest about 30 km from Gjirokastra. From Lëkurësi Castle above Saranda you see the coast, then Ksamil's three small islands offer time by the sea. Butrint, a Greek colony and Roman city protected by UNESCO, is the cultural highlight. On the way back you stop at Ali Pasha's Bridge, part of an early 19th-century aqueduct built to bring water to Gjirokastra Castle.
Day 4: Berat and wine tasting
Berat, the "city of 1001 windows", is explored from the inhabited castle on the hill down to the Mangalemi and Gorica quarters and the old bridge. The day includes lunch with a local family and ends with a wine tasting at a local winery.
North Macedonia and Kosovo: days 5 to 7
Day 5: St Naum and Ohrid
About three hours from Berat you reach Lake Ohrid. The road follows the shore to the 1,000-year-old Monastery of St Naum, then on to Ohrid for a walking tour: Tsar Samuel's Fortress, the Ancient Theatre, the frescoes of St Sophia, the Church of St John at Kaneo and the Handmade Paper Museum. A boat ride on the lake is included, and the night is spent in Ohrid. For more, read our guided walk through Ohrid's old town.
Day 6: Matka Canyon and Skopje
Just 16 km before Skopje, Matka Canyon is one of North Macedonia's best-known natural sights; a boat ride takes you through the canyon to its cave. In Skopje, the capital on the Vardar River, you walk through Macedonia Square, across the Art Bridge and into the Old Bazaar.
Day 7: Prishtina and Prizren
A full day in Kosovo from Skopje. In Prishtina you see the Skanderbeg statue, the NEWBORN and Heroes monuments, the Mother Teresa Cathedral and the main boulevard. In Prizren, Kosovo's cultural capital, the walk takes in the fortress, the League of Prizren House, the old bazaar, the Sinan Pasha Mosque and the Orthodox Cathedral of St George, with views over the city from the castle.
Bulgaria: days 8 and 9
Day 8: Rila and Sofia
On the way to Sofia you stop at the Seven Rila Lakes, with short trails to choose from, and Rila Monastery, the most important symbol of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church. In Sofia, the city tour takes in the Palace of Justice, Sveta Nedelya Church, the Banya Bashi Mosque, the St George Rotunda, the National Art Gallery and the Hagia Sophia church, with free time to explore on your own.
Day 9: Veliko Tarnovo and Arbanasi
Veliko Tarnovo was the capital of the Second Bulgarian Empire. You visit Tsarevets Fortress, a medieval stronghold from the 12th century, walk the town and have a traditional Bulgarian lunch, then take a short detour to Arbanasi, a village of old houses on a plateau above the town.
Romania: days 10 to 14
Day 10: Into Romania and Bucharest
Before the border you stop either at the Holy Trinity Cathedral in Ruse's old town or at the Basarbovo Monastery, the only rock-cut monastery in Bulgaria. In Bucharest, the city tour covers Stavropoleos Monastery, Caru' cu Bere, Lipscani Street, Hanul lui Manuc, Calea Victoriei, the Palace of the Parliament, Cișmigiu Gardens and the Jewish Quarter with the Holocaust Memorial.
Day 11: Curtea de Argeș, Cozia and Sibiu
Transylvania begins with the Curtea de Argeș Monastery, built in 1514 by Prince Neagoe Basarab, and the small Cozia Monastery, a jewel of medieval Romanian art. After a traditional lunch the road crosses the mountains to Sibiu, documented as early as 1191 and one of Romania's most beautiful old towns, explored on a guided walk.
Day 12: Biertan, Sighișoara and Brașov
Biertan is one of the most important Saxon fortified villages, with the largest fortified church in the region, built between 1490 and 1524. Sighișoara, founded in 1280, is a medieval citadel that people still live in; you climb to its Clock Tower. The day ends in Brașov, the birthplace of Romania's national anthem, with its Gothic churches and the narrowest street in Romania.
Day 13: Black Church, Bran Castle and Peleș
The morning starts at Brașov's Black Church, built from 1383. Then comes Bran Castle, known as Dracula's Castle for its link with Bram Stoker's novel, set on the old border between Transylvania and Wallachia; the entry fee is included. In Sinaia you visit Peleș Castle, the Neo-Renaissance palace of Romania's first king, Carol I, and Sinaia Monastery, before returning to Bucharest.
Day 14: Departure
A transfer takes you to Bucharest airport for your flight home.
What is included
- Hotels: 12 nights in 4-star hotels in city-centre locations, with private facilities
- Meals: 13 breakfasts, a welcome dinner with folk music in Tirana, lunch with a local family in Berat
- Experiences: wine tasting in Berat, boat rides on Lake Ohrid and in Matka Canyon, Rila Monastery, the Bran Castle entry fee
- Transport: comfortable vehicle throughout, airport pick-up in Tirana and drop-off in Bucharest
- Guiding: a full-time tour guide, fluent in English, and a dedicated tour manager for online support
Meet Philip
Philip is one of our guides from North Macedonia, and he guided the departure in these photos. On a tour that crosses five borders, having one guide for the whole journey matters: the same person who welcomed you at Tirana airport is still there in Bucharest, knows the group and keeps the long days running smoothly. You can meet more of our team in our article about who Balkan Inbound is.
Who this tour is for
- Travellers who want the big picture. Five countries, the Ottoman Balkans and the castles of Transylvania in one trip.
- Small-group fans. With two to eight travellers, there is time for questions and room to change a plan.
- Couples, friends and families. The pace is leisurely, with time to rest and free evenings.
- First-time visitors to the region who would rather not plan borders, buses and hotels in five languages.
Tips for the journey
- Bring your passport and check the entry rules for each of the five countries before you travel.
- Expect several currencies: the lek in Albania, the denar in North Macedonia, the euro in Kosovo and Bulgaria and the leu in Romania. Cards work in cities; carry some cash for small places.
- Pack comfortable walking shoes. Almost every day has a walking tour on cobbles and castle paths.
- Bring layers. The Albanian coast can be warm while the Rila Lakes and Transylvania are cool, especially in spring and autumn.
- Leave room in your bag for wine from Berat and souvenirs from five bazaars.
See the full tour and book: East Balkans: Albania to Romania in 14 Days. Prefer your own dates or a private group? Send us a private group request. Planning a different route? Our two-week Balkans itinerary has more ideas.
Frequently asked questions
Which countries does the East Balkans tour visit?
Five: Albania, North Macedonia, Kosovo, Bulgaria and Romania. The tour starts in Tirana and ends in Bucharest.
Where does the 14-day East Balkans tour start and end?
It starts at Tirana International Airport in Albania, where your guide meets you at the exit, and ends with a transfer to the airport in Bucharest, Romania.
What is included in the price?
Twelve nights in 4-star city-centre hotels, 13 breakfasts, a welcome dinner with folk music, lunch with a local family in Berat, a wine tasting, boat rides on Lake Ohrid and at Matka Canyon, Rila Monastery, the Bran Castle fee, all transport, a full-time English-speaking guide and online support from a tour manager.
How big are the groups?
Between two and eight travellers, so the group stays small enough to travel comfortably and change plans when needed.
Do you visit Dracula's Castle?
Yes. On day 13 you visit Bran Castle, known as Dracula's Castle, and its museum. The entry fee is included. The same day includes Peleș Castle in Sinaia.
Is the tour suitable for older travellers and families?
Yes. The pace is leisurely and the tour welcomes a wide range of ages. There are walking tours most days, so comfortable shoes and moderate mobility help.
Do I need a passport?
Yes. You cross several borders, so bring a valid passport and check the visa rules for Albania, North Macedonia, Kosovo, Bulgaria and Romania for your nationality.
Can this tour be booked privately or on my own dates?
Yes. We can run the route privately for your group on dates that suit you. Send us your dates and group size through the private group request form.
