Posts Tagged ‘Balkan tourism’
Stunning frescoes in Bulgaria’s Boyana Church
On a recent trip to Bulgaria’s capital of Sofia, I set aside some time to visit the area of Boyana, on the outskirts of the city, to visit the not-to-be-missed Boyana church. Last week I wrote about the spectacular Orthodox monasteries of Kosovo, but Bulgaria’s Boyana church is another impressive example of Balkan Byzantine art that is…
Read MoreVisiting the monasteries of Pejë/ Peć in Kosovo
My family and I were on holiday in beautiful Montenegro, when we decided to take a daytrip into Kosovo – to the town of Pejë (in Albanian) / Peć (in Serbian). Of special interest to us were two spectacular Serbian Orthodox monasteries: the 14th century Dečani Monastery and the 13th century Patriarchate Monastery. Travelling in…
Read MoreThe ruins of Stari Bar, Montenegro
If you arrive by ferry to Montenegro, you’ll most likely be arriving in the port city of Bar. Although Bar itself is not worthy of exploration, the old town – Stari Bar – is just 5 kilometers from the port and it is a wonderful place to visit. The picturesque ruins are located on a…
Read MoreLake Skadar – the Balkans’ largest lake
The Montenegrin Skadarsko jezero goes by many names: Skadar (from the Montenegrin), Shkodër (from the Albanian) and Scutari (from the time when it was an Italian protectorate). It’s the largest lake in the Balkans – part of the lake is in Montenegro and part in neighboring Albania. The lake itself is well known for its…
Read MoreA layover in Belgrade, Serbia
Returning from a trip this past spring to beautiful Sarajevo, Bosnia, I had a ten-hour layover in Serbia’s capital. Having seen it on a short stop-over on the way over, I quickly realized that the Serbian airport really did not merit ten hours of my time on the return, so I was more happy to…
Read MoreVisiting Mostar, Bosnia-Herzegovina
During a recent trip to Sarajevo , I decided to take a day trip to Mostar, the regional capital of Herzegovina. It’s 2-3 hours by bus or train from Sarajevo. The buses run more frequently, but the train tracks run higher than the road and it’s especially scenic. I took both modes of transport on…
Read MoreMore Sarajevo Highlights
Last week, I wrote a post about many of the highlights of a visit to the capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina. But there are so many must-see sites in this fascinating city that straddles East and West, that I continue my highlights this week. Revolution Museum/Historical Museum – open weekdays until 14:00. This museum is just…
Read MoreMontenegro’s Durmitor National Park
I’ve already written about Perast, my favorite Montenegrin seaside town. But the tiny Balkan country of Montenegro has much to offer to visitors willing to stray from its more developed Mediterranean coastline. For Montenegro’s rugged, wild interior attracts fewer visitors, but it’s well worth the effort. The Montenegrins tell a story about the creation of…
Read MoreWhere time stands still in Perast, Montenegro
I think that tiny Montenegro is a wonderful holiday destination. Once part of Yugoslavia, then Serbia-Montenegro, this Balkan country gained independence with a referendum in 2006. Although the entire country is less than 14,000 square kilometers, with a population of just over 600,000 people, its borders contain incredibly diverse landscapes: stunning coastline and an unspoiled,…
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