Dreaming of the Balkans

It wasn’t too long ago that the Balkans were known, above all, for their political unrest.  But in the past twenty years or so, the region has gone from a conflict-torn area to one of Europe’s greatest travel destinations. With a month to travel at the end of the school year, I’ve decided to spend that time exploring the beautiful Balkans, a brand new part of the world for me. Luckily, I’ve been able to find at least one friend who will join me on this journey, and it’s starting to come together as a truly epic adventure. Though the trip is still over four months away, I can’t help but dream of how fantastic it will be, so I’ve compiled some photos of the stunning locations I hope to visit.

Zagreb, Croatia (photo credit)

Lubljana, Slovenia (photo credit)

Bled, Slovenia (photo credit)

Plitvice, Croatia (photo credit)

Dubrovnik, Croatia (photo credit)

Kotor, Montenegro (photo credit)

Berat, Albania (photo credit

Athens, Greece (photo credit)

Mykonos, Greece (photo credit)

Santorini, Greece (photo credit)

Meteora, Greece (photo credit)

Ohrid, Macedonia (photo credit)

Sofia, Bulgaria. Wait, what?! (photo credit)

Bucharest, Romania (photo credit)

Have you been to the Balkans? Our travel plans aren’t fully laid out yet, so recommendations for cities (particularly in Albania, Macedonia, Bulgaria, and Romania), countries, and sights within those would be highly appreciated! What spots on the Balkans can I absolutely not miss?