19 Apr 2027
Twin share
£4,775pp
Single from £5,625
Escorted tour
Treasures of the Balkans: Bucharest to Belgrade – 16 Days
Eight countries from Transylvania to the Adriatic, with Bran Castle after hours, Dubrovnik, Mostar and Sarajevo, by coach with a tour director.
16 days
From £4,028
Tour overview
This 16-day escorted tour is a grand journey through eight countries of the Balkans, from the castles of Transylvania to the Adriatic coast and the capitals of the former Yugoslavia. You travel by comfortable coach with a tour director throughout and local experts in key cities. You stay fifteen nights in central hotels, from the Radisson Blu in Bucharest and Brașov to the Grand Millennium in Sofia, the Swissôtel in Sarajevo and the Radisson Collection Old Mill in Belgrade. Fifteen breakfasts and nine dinners are included, among them a private dinner at Queen Marie's Tea House followed by an after-hours visit to Bran Castle, a dine-around evening in Dubrovnik and a home-hosted dinner in Sarajevo.
In Bucharest a local expert shows you University Square and the vast Palace of the Parliament. Travelling into Transylvania, you base yourself in Brașov and visit Peleș Castle at the mountain resort of Sinaia, with its lavish rooms of art, armour and tapestries, and Bran Castle, linked to the legend of Dracula. Crossing the Danube into Bulgaria, you reach Veliko Tarnovo, the City of the Tsars, whose houses cling to the cliffs above the River Yantra, and climb to the ruined Tsarevets Fortress before travelling on to Sofia, with a free day perhaps to visit the Rila Monastery.
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In North Macedonia you explore Skopje, where an ultra-modern centre meets an old Ottoman bazaar, and stop for lunch beside beautiful Lake Ohrid before entering Albania and its lively capital, Tirana. On the Montenegrin coast you have a free day in Budva's walled old town, then visit Kotor on its fjord-like bay on the way to Dubrovnik, where a local expert leads you along the stone streets inside the 16th-century walls.
The final days take you inland to Mostar's famous Old Bridge, reconstructed after the war, and to Sarajevo, where you might visit the Tunnel of Hope with an expert on the Bosnian War. Following the Drina River into Serbia, you finish in Belgrade, where the Danube and Sava rivers meet below the Kalemegdan fortress.
The physical rating is low. This tour suits curious travellers who want to understand the history and cultures of the Balkans in comfort, with an expert guide at every turn.
Trip highlights
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An after-hours visit to Bran Castle (Day 2)
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Peleș Castle at Sinaia (Day 3)
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Veliko Tarnovo, the City of the Tsars (Days 4–5)
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Lake Ohrid (Day 8)
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Kotor and Dubrovnik (Days 10–11)
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Mostar's Old Bridge and Sarajevo (Days 12–13)
Your route
15 stops from Bucharest to Belgrade
- Bucharest Day 1
- Bran Castle Day 2
- Brașov Days 2–3
- Sinaia Day 3
- Veliko Tarnovo Day 4
- Sofia Days 5–6
- Skopje Day 7
- Lake Ohrid Day 8
- Tirana Day 8
- Budva Day 9
- Kotor Day 10
- Dubrovnik Days 10–11
- Mostar Day 12
- Sarajevo Days 12–13
- Belgrade Days 14–15
Why choose this tour
Eight Balkan countries in one journey, with central hotels throughout. Special experiences, from Bran Castle after hours to a home-hosted dinner in Sarajevo.
Best suited to
- Curious travellers interested in recent history
- Return visitors to Europe looking for somewhere new
- Couples and friends
- Travellers who prefer coach touring
Day-by-day itinerary
16 days from Bucharest, Romania to Belgrade, Serbia
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Day 1 · Bucharest Welcome to Bucharest
A welcome dinner at a local restaurant.
- Hotel
- Radisson Blu Bucharest or similar
- Meals
- Dinner
-
Day 2 · Palace of the Parliament, Bran Castle, Brașov Bucharest to Transylvania
See Bucharest, then dine at Queen Marie's Tea House and visit Bran Castle after hours.
- Hotel
- Radisson Blu Aurum or similar
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
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Day 3 · Sinaia, Peleș Castle, Brașov Sinaia and Brașov
Visit Peleș Castle and explore Brașov.
- Hotel
- Radisson Blu Aurum or similar
- Meals
- Breakfast
-
Day 4 · Veliko Tarnovo Veliko Tarnovo
Cross the Danube into Bulgaria.
- Hotel
- Yantra Grand or similar
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
-
Day 5 · Tsarevets Fortress, Sofia To Sofia
Climb to Tsarevets Fortress, then travel to Sofia.
- Hotel
- Grand Millennium Sofia or similar
- Meals
- Breakfast
-
Day 6 · Sofia, Rila Monastery Sofia at your pace
A free day, perhaps visiting the Rila Monastery.
- Hotel
- Grand Millennium Sofia or similar
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
-
Day 7 · Skopje Skopje
Explore North Macedonia's capital and its old bazaar.
- Hotel
- Skopje Marriott or similar
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
-
Day 8 · Lake Ohrid, Tirana Lake Ohrid to Tirana
Lunch by Lake Ohrid, then cross into Albania.
- Hotel
- Hilton Garden Inn Tirana or similar
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
-
Day 9 · Budva Budva
Travel to Montenegro for a free day in Budva.
- Hotel
- TQ Plaza or similar
- Meals
- Breakfast
-
Day 10 · Kotor, Dubrovnik Kotor to Dubrovnik
Visit Kotor, then continue to Dubrovnik.
- Hotel
- Kompas Dubrovnik or similar
- Meals
- Breakfast
-
Day 11 · Dubrovnik Dubrovnik
A guided walk inside the walls and a dine-around evening.
- Hotel
- Kompas Dubrovnik or similar
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
-
Day 12 · Mostar, Sarajevo Mostar to Sarajevo
See Mostar's Old Bridge, then a home-hosted dinner in Sarajevo.
- Hotel
- Swissôtel Sarajevo or similar
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
-
Day 13 · Sarajevo, Tunnel of Hope Sarajevo
Explore Sarajevo, perhaps visiting the Tunnel of Hope.
- Hotel
- Swissôtel Sarajevo or similar
- Meals
- Breakfast
-
Day 14 · Drina River, Belgrade To Belgrade
Follow the Drina River into Serbia.
- Hotel
- Radisson Collection Old Mill or similar
- Meals
- Breakfast
-
Day 15 · Belgrade, Kalemegdan Belgrade
A guided tour and a farewell dinner.
- Hotel
- Radisson Collection Old Mill or similar
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
-
Day 16 · Belgrade Farewell Belgrade
The tour ends after breakfast.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Where you stay
- Bucharest (1 night) Radisson Blu Bucharest or similar
- Brașov (2 nights) Radisson Blu Aurum or similar
- Veliko Tarnovo (1 night) Yantra Grand or similar
- Sofia (2 nights) Grand Millennium Sofia or similar
- Skopje (1 night) Skopje Marriott or similar
- Tirana (1 night) Hilton Garden Inn Tirana or similar
- Budva (1 night) TQ Plaza or similar
- Dubrovnik (2 nights) Kompas Dubrovnik or similar
- Sarajevo (2 nights) Swissôtel Sarajevo or similar
- Belgrade (2 nights) Radisson Collection Old Mill or similar
Hotel names are indicative and may be replaced with a property of similar standard and location.
What's included
Included
- Accommodation 15 nights in central hotels
- Meals 15 breakfasts and 9 dinners
- Coach travel throughout
- Private dinner at Queen Marie's Tea House and Bran Castle after hours
- Peleș Castle, Tsarevets Fortress and Dubrovnik with local experts
- Mostar's Old Bridge, Sarajevo and Belgrade with local experts
- Tour director throughout
Not included
- Flights to Bucharest and from Belgrade
- Optional excursions, such as the Rila Monastery
- Meals not included 14 lunches and 6 dinners
- Tips, travel insurance and personal spending
This trip might not be for you if…
Honest disclaimer — please read
- You want a small group — coach groups can be large
- You dislike long drives — some travel days are long
- You want a beach holiday — this is a touring trip
- You want flights included — they are not
Good to know
Meals by day
Breakfast: Days 2–16 · Lunch: none included · Dinner: Days 1–2, 4, 6–8, 11–12 and 15
FCDO advice
UK FCDO travel advice for Albania · UK FCDO travel advice for Bosnia and Herzegovina · UK FCDO travel advice for Bulgaria · UK FCDO travel advice for Croatia · UK FCDO travel advice for Montenegro · UK FCDO travel advice for North Macedonia · UK FCDO travel advice for Romania · UK FCDO travel advice for Serbia
In pictures
Departures & prices
From £4,028 per person, twin share, tour only. 12 upcoming departures. Single travellers from £5,428 (single supplement from £850).
03 May 2027
Twin share
£4,725pp
Single from £6,055
10 May 2027
Twin share
£4,253pp
Single from £5,583
17 May 2027
Twin share
£4,725pp
Single from £6,055
31 May 2027
Twin share
£4,725pp
Single from £6,065
07 Jun 2027
Twin share
£4,253pp
Single from £5,593
28 Jun 2027
Twin share
£4,525pp
Single from £5,925
12 Jul 2027
Twin share
£4,118pp
Single from £5,528
09 Aug 2027
Twin share
£4,475pp
Single from £5,875
16 Aug 2027
Twin share
£4,028pp
Single from £5,428
30 Aug 2027
Twin share
£4,695pp
Single from £5,705
06 Sept 2027
Twin share
£5,050pp
Single from £6,360
Frequently asked questions
How do I book this tour?
Tap any "Enquire" button on the page and one of our travel specialists will be in touch within 24 hours (often same day). We'll confirm availability on your preferred date, run through anything you need to know, and only ask for the deposit once you've decided.
What financial protection do I get?
Every Travelisto booking is 100% financially protected. Your money is held in a ring-fenced Trust account until you return from your trip, and we are members of the Protected Trust Services scheme (PTS 6035). Most tours also include ATOL protection where flights are part of the package.
Which countries do we visit?
Romania, Bulgaria, North Macedonia, Albania, Montenegro, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Serbia.
Is Bran Castle included?
Yes, with a private dinner at Queen Marie's Tea House and an after-hours visit.
Do I need visas?
UK visitors do not need a visa for these countries for a short holiday stay.
How long are the drives?
Some days involve several hours on the road, broken up with stops.
How much walking is there?
Moderate walking in old towns, with a climb at Tsarevets Fortress.
Which meals are included?
Fifteen breakfasts and nine dinners.
Can you tailor the trip?
Yes — every escorted tour can be modified into a private tailor-made version with your own dates, adjusted pace, upgraded hotels and add-on extensions. Tell us what you'd like changed when you enquire and we'll quote it both ways so you can compare.
What if my flight is delayed or cancelled?
If your international flight is part of your booking through us, we re-book at no cost. If you've booked flights separately, the tour's local team holds your transfer slot until you arrive. We strongly recommend a comprehensive travel insurance policy that includes delay and cancellation cover.
ATOL protected
100% financially protected in a Trust bank account
PTS 6035
4.7 on Trustpilot
Tailor-made option
Not quite the right fit? Make it tailor-made.
If this group tour doesn't match your ideal trip, our specialists will turn it into a private tailor-made journey — your own dates, your own pace, upgraded hotels where you want them, and the parts you don't love swapped out. Same destinations, just rebuilt around you.
Contact us for a tailor-made version of this itinerary