"Balkan" comes from a Turkish word meaning "a chain of wooded mountains".
The Balkan Peninsula which gives its name to these countries lies in the southeast region of Europe. Albania is located along the Adriatic Sea, and its capital city is Tirane. Bosnia and Herzegovina's capital is Sarajevo. That country is located south of Croatia and is mostly landlocked. Bulgaria is located along the Black Sea; its capital is Sofia. Croatia has an hourglass shape squeezed between Slovenia and Bosnia and Herzegovina; its capital is Zagreb. Greece is located on the southwest tip of the Balkan Peninsula; its capital is Athens. Montenegro is located on the Adriatic Sea north of Albania; its capital is Podgorica. Romania has the largest land mass and a western shore on the Black Sea, and its capital is Bucharest. Serbia is landlocked in the center of the peninsula; its capital is Belgrade. The smaller country of Macedonia is landlocked south of Serbia, and its capital is Skopje. A small section of Turkey lies within the Balkan Peninsula. Its largest city, Istanbul, is the only city to straddle Asia and Europe, with the European side laying on the southeastern point of the Balkan Peninsula.
Istanbul - Zagreb
Zagreb airport pick up. City sightseeing Zagreb, Croatia’s capital, is distinguished by its 18th- and 19th-century Austro-Hungarian architecture. At its center, Upper Town is the site of the Gothic, twin-spired Zagreb Cathedral and 13th-century St. Mark’s Church, with a colorfully tiled roof. Nearby is pedestrian-friendly Tkalčićeva Street, lined with outdoor cafes. Lower Town has the main square, Ban Jelačić, plus shops, museums and parks.
Zagreb - Plitvice - Split
Drive to Plitvice Lakes National Park. The beauty of the National Park lies in its sixteen lakes, inter-connected by a series of waterfalls, and set in deep woodland populated by deer, bears, wolves, boars and rare bird species. The National Park covers a total area of 300 square kilometres. Then drive to Split in the afternoon.
Split - Dubrovnik
Explore Split in the morning. Croatia’s second-largest city, Split is a great place to see Dalmatian life as it’s really lived. Always buzzing, this exuberant city has just the right balance of tradition and modernity. Here we will see Cathedral of St Domnius, Diocletian’s Palace, Temple of Jupiter, and Grgur Ninski Statue. Then we drive to Dubrovnik in the afternoon.
Dubrovnik
George Bernard Shaw was enchanted by this beautiful city, about which he said “those who seek paradise on Earth should come to Dubrovnik”, as well as, famously, describing it as “the pearl of the Adriatic”. It really is a stunning city with an amazing Old Town, which became a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1979. In dubrovnik we are going to visit City Walls & Forts, Pile Gate, Orlando Column, Franciscan Monastery & Museum and Onofrio’sFountains, etc.
Dubronvik - Kotor - Budva
Today we will visit the world heritage town Kotor. Wedged between brooding mountains and a moody corner of the bay, the achingly atmospheric Kotor is perfectly at one with its setting. The fortifcations of Kotor are an integrated historical fortifcation system that protected the medieval town of Kotor containing ramparts, towers, citadels, gates, bastions, forts, cisterns, a castle, and ancillary buildings and structures. Hemmed in by staunch walls snaking improbably up the surrounding slopes, the town is a Middle-Ages maze of museums, churches, cafe-strewn squares and Venetian palaces and pillories. Then we will visit the graceful medieval town of Budva. Here we can see Budva’s medieval walled old town, with its narrow alleys and Venetian-era stone buildings, as well as enjoy the beaches here.
Budva
Budva city sightseeing, free time in the afternoon.
Budva - Podgorica - Skopje
Today we wil take a city sightseeing in Podgorica. World War II destroyed much of the historical Ottoman and Montenegro-era Podgorica architecture. The city was then rebuilt and expanded in a manner typical of Eastern bloc countries, so it is mostly a modern planned city, owing to its interesting mix of old and new. Drive to Skopje in the afternoon.
Skopje - Istanbul
Today we will explore Skopje, the capital of the Republic of Macedonia; it is in the Povardarie region, and is the largest and most diverse city in the country. Here we will visit old city center, Alexander the GREAT, Kale Fortress, Stone Bridge and ancient st. Pantelejmon church.