About us

The problem we set out to solve

Planning a Balkans trip is complicated. The region spans nine or more countries depending on how you define it, each with its own currency, visa rules, transport quirks, and cultural context. Most travel resources either cover a single country in isolation or gloss over the whole region in a listicle. We wanted something in between — a guide that treats the Balkans as a connected travel region while respecting the differences between each country.

That's what The Balkan Guide is. We cover Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, and Slovenia with the kind of cross-border practical detail that's hard to find elsewhere.

What makes this guide different

We focus on the logistics that trip-planning forums struggle with: which border crossings are straightforward, which bus routes actually run on schedule, where you'll need cash versus card, and how to connect countries efficiently without backtracking.

Every recommendation is grounded in first-hand experience. We write in a collective "we" voice because this site reflects genuine time spent across the region — not a single weekend city break.

Revenue and independence

Some links on The Balkan Guide are affiliate links. If you use them to book a tour or activity, we receive a commission at no additional cost to you. This keeps the site free and independent. We link only to services we've vetted and would book ourselves. Our affiliate disclosure page has the full details.

Contact

Found an error? Have a tip we should know about? We're always updating our content. Get in touch.