Top Things to do in Mostar, Bosnia & Herzegovina

Mostar has been on my Europe bucket list a long time, and it did not disappoint! Since Bosnia & Herzegovina is a Muslim country, I traded my summer shorts and tank for a long sleeved dress for this adventure.

How to Get There

You can either fly into the capital of Sarajevo, drive, or another option is the bus! Buses are great around Europe; I got a ticket at the bus station in Dubrovnik, Croatia the day beforehand and made the trek. It was quite a journey, but it was an adventure nonetheless!

Where to Stay

I highly recommend staying at this guest house, Villa Floris! The family that owns it was beyond hospitable and it was incredibly clean. Contact them when you arrive and they can set up transport to the guesthouse. They were concerned because the taxi we took was technically an illegal driver, so the owner made sure we didn’t get ripped off when paying.

Must See

• Stari Most: The Old Bridge is the most iconic site in Mostar and cannot be missed! You can even see people diving off the bridge during the summer, and it’s quite a sight to see!

• Dervish House (Blagaj Tekija): This was my favorite day trip from Mostar and the water was the most insane shade of turquoise! I love learning about different religions, and the Dervish House had some great history.

• Old Bazaar: You have to try Bosnian coffee, it’s a unique experience! Another one of my favorite things is to wander the alleyways and try the cuisine!

Top Things to do in Kotor, Montenegro

Driving back up from Albania, I decided to make my final stop on my solo Balkans road trip in Kotor, Montenegro! Kotor is another fortified medieval village on the Adriatic Coast.

When to Visit

A lot of cruise ships will stop in Kotor during the summer months and can become quite crowded. I highly recommend going during one of the shoulder seasons while the weather is still fantastic but there’s less people! I went in early October, and it was the perfect time.

Explore the Old Town of Kotor

Wander the maze of tiny passageways of this medieval city. My favorite time to explore of course is early morning after sunrise, so you can snap photos without a lot of people around! Since I travel solo and take photos with my tripod and timer, it’s much easier when there’s no one around and I don’t have to worry about someone snatching my camera.

Hike the Kotor Fortress

This was my favorite view of the city! My top recommendation is to go at sunrise to avoid the crowds, and if you go before the guard gets there at around 7:30 AM you might even avoid having to pay an entry ticket :)

Our Lady of the Rocks

This is a great little boat tour you can do! Our Lady of the Rocks is a tiny islet just off the coast of Perast, but you can also drive about twenty minutes from Kotor to see it from the shore.

Top Things to do in Lake Ohrid, North Macedonia

My one bucket list item for North Macedonia was Lake Ohrid, a stunning lake that borders Albania. The Old Town is extremely tiny and is totally doable to walk around; if you have a car, make sure it’s not much bigger than a Smart Car, Fiat, or something of the like! Otherwise it’ll get stuck!

How to Get There

I was on a multi-country solo road trip from Croatia; I started from Dubrovnik, crossed into Montenegro, continued onto Albania, Kosovo, then finally North Macedonia. I’ve heard that certain rental car companies have restrictions on crossing borders in the Balkans so make sure you check before you rent if that’s your intention!

What to do in Lake Ohrid

The Old Town & Historic Core (The Walkable Highlights)

Wander the Old Town

My go-to for any European town is wandering the Old Town areas. You can check out the Old Bazaar and make your way over to the iconic Church of Saint John of Kaneo.

Church of Saint John of Kaneo

This was the one place that made me decide to visit Lake Ohrid! Photography tip: you can catch the most stunning sunset from this church!

St. Sophia Church

Check out the 11th-century Byzantine frescoes inside (which were covered and preserved during the Ottoman era).

The Ancient Theatre

The Hellenistic-era amphitheater tucked directly between modern residential houses.

Tsar Samuel’s Fortress

Walk the ancient ramparts for a 360-degree panoramic view of the lake; I recommend doing it early in the morning to beat the heat!

On and Around the Water

The Ohrid Boardwalk

The over-water wooden bridge that leads from the main port down to the beaches

Boat cruises to Sveti Naum

Cruise past Tito’s summer villa (Vila Biljana) and the sheer cliffs of the lake.

Practical Survival Tips

Food

Try local dishes like Tavce Gravce (baked beans) or Burek, but avoid ordering the native Ohrid Trout, as it is an endangered protected species. Try Belvica instead!

Currency

North Macedonia uses the Denar (MKD) and is an absolute paradise for budget travellers!

Top Things to do in Prizren, Kosovo

Unfortunately I didn’t have to to explore both Pristina and Prizren on this trip, but I was fortunate to be able to explore Prizren on a day trip!

NOTE: Because of the conflict between Kosovo and Serbia, you either need to enter from a Serbian - Kosovo border and leave that way, or enter and exit from a non-Serbian border. If you enter from the Albania - Kosovo border and leave through a Kosovo - Serbia border for example, you may have issues.

Entering Kosovo

Besides my passport, vaccination card, and car registration, the only other item needed to cross the border to Kosovo was special Kosovo car insurance. This car insurance is completely free, and you pick it up at a building directly after the passport booth.

The Stone Bridge

The bridge is an iconic piece of the city, and spans the Prizren Bistrica River.

Wander the Old Town

It’s an interesting vibe wandering the city; I grabbed a kebab from a local shop and explored the old town streets.

Sinan Pasha Mosque

Another iconic building of Prizren, the town seemingly revolves around this mosque.

Exiting Kosovo

Since I entered from Albania, I also left through the North Macedonian border; note that I didn’t leave through a Serbian border! I didn’t receive a stamp from either Kosovo side, but I did receive a stamp entering North Macedonia.

Albania on a Shoestring

Unfortunately I didn’t get to spend as much time as I had hoped in Albania due to time restrictions and there’s just so much to see! The first time I went through I drove from Budva, Montenegro through Shkoder, Albania and over to Kosovo. Then when I came back through I was driving from Lake Ohrid, North Macedonia to Tirana and back up to Montenegro.

NOTE: If driving from Montenegro to Albania, there are no customs on the Albanian side. I freaked out the first time because I thought I missed getting my passport stamped and I’d be in trouble once I got to the Kosovo border. But there weren’t any Albanian customs at the Kosovo border either. The only time I encountered Albanian customs was the North Macedonia - Albania border, and even then they didn’t stamp my passport.

Shkoder, Albania

The north is known for its mountains and natural beauty, so if you have time I definitely recommend spending some time hiking out there! If I had more time I would have explored the town of Theth.

Tirana, Albania

I was surprised how modern and beautiful Tirana was! If you get the chance and like museums, I recommend Bunk Art, which talks about the history of Albania in depth but does it in a fun, interactive way. If I had more time to explore Albania, I’d definitely go back and explore the beaches in the south. The coastline down there I hear is stunning!

Top Things to do in Budva, Montenegro

On my solo road trip around the Balkans, one of the towns I wanted to stop at along the Adriatic Coast was Budva in Montenegro, known for its nightlife and city walls. Here are a few of my favorite things to do in Budva!

Wander the Old Town

Nothing beats spending the early morning wandering the tiny nooks and crannies of medieval European towns, and Budva is no different! Grab a coffee and pastry from a local bakery and walk around and take photos before the crowds arrive. Wandering in the evenings are amazing as well! There’s little pizza windows where you can grab a bite as you explore.

Relax on the Budva Riviera

The shoreline is similar to the French Riviera, and is a great place to sit in the sand and enjoy the water and sun. Unfortunately it does get very crowded in the summer; when I visited in early October it was the perfect time; there weren’t too many people and you could still wear shorts and a tank top.

Sventi Stefan

A small islet that’s home to Montenegro’s most famous and exclusive hotel. You don’t have to stay there, but there’s a great view from above that’s picture-worthy!

Top Things to do in Dubrovnik, Croatia

CROATIA

After visiting Lake Bled, Slovenia, my goal was to get to Dubrovnik, Croatia. I took a bus from Lake Bled to the train station in Lesce Bled, a train to the capital city of Ljubljana, Slovenia, then a bus to Zagreb, Croatia. Buses are a great way to get around Europe, check out Flixbus! I was planning on taking buses all the way down to Dubrovnik, but it was about a 24-hour trip, whereas I could take 1-hour flight for $100. Long-story short, I made it to Dubrovnik before embarking on my Balkans Road Trip! Here are my top things to do in Dubrovnik Croatia!

DUBROVNIK’S CITY WALLS

This is probably the most popular tourist attraction in Dubrovnik, but personally I couldn’t bring myself to pay 30 Euros to do it. If you do decide to go, check it out early in the morning right when it opens to avoid the crowds.

STARI GRAD

Check out the unique Old Town area for some historical context of Dubrovnik!

MOUNT SRD

You can either hike to the top or take a cable car ride up! Highly recommended for a gorgeous sunset view.

TAKE A DIP IN HIDDEN POOLS ALONG THE COAST

One of my favorite pools is located at Hotel Excelsior! It’s open to the public and free of charge.

Everything you need to know about Lake Bled, Slovenia

Lake Bled, Slovenia has been high on my bucket list as a photography destination for a long time now! After Bratislava, I took a series of trains (six, actually) through Austria and down to Slovenia. It was quite the logistical adventure, but totally worth it!

HOW TO GET TO LAKE BLED

If you’re coming via public transportation, you can take the train to Lesce Bled and there’s a bus right across from the train station that takes you straight to the lake every hour. Make sure you have Euros on you, they only accept cash.

WHERE TO STAY

Most hotels are located on the eastern side of Lake Bled, but the whole lake is easily walkable. It took me about thirty minutes to walk from one side to the other, and there are beautiful paths that make it so lovely to explore. The west side of the lake is closest to the famous island with the church.

RENTING A PLETNA BOAT

These pletna boats are the local rowboats you’ll see on the lake. A lot of shops have shut down due to covid, but I was able to rent one for an hour for 20 Euros from Lake Bled Boat Rental. This is also the only way to visit the church on the island; there’s a strange rule that says you can only visit using vehicles of natural elements, meaning you cannot go via SUP board.

BEST RESTAURANTS

I explored Europe for a total of forty days, and hands-down my favorite meal was here in Lake Bled at Restaurant Sova Bled. Everything was so unique, and it was great to try Slovenian food with a modern twist!

Must-See Things to do in Bratislava, Slovakia

I’m going to be honest, Bratislava wasn’t that exciting of a city for me but I definitely think it’s beautiful! If you’ve seen the movie EuroTrip, Bratislava is nothing like it. Here are the must-see things to do in Bratislava, Slovakia!

OLD TOWN

This was personally my favorite part of Bratislava; the alleyways are all so picturesque, fun to wander, and have that typical European city feel.

BRATISLAVA CASTLE

The castle is probably the #1 thing to do in Bratislava! There’s also a nice view of the city from here.

BLUE CHURCH

St. Elizabeth’s church was built in an art nouveau style and is very distinct! It’s a little difficult to get a photo of it since it sits in a random part of Bratislava, but still beautiful to check out.

The Best Viewpoints in Gdansk, Poland

After visiting Portugal, I wanted to check out some new countries in Europe that I haven’t been to yet! One of which was POLAND; Poland is a huge country, and I had plans to visit Krakow and Warsaw but my flight was cancelled. Luckily I found a $20 flight via Wizz Air to Gdansk and decided to go for it!

Gdansk is such a cute little city and is easily doable for a weekend trip. It’s known for its tall and narrow colorful Old Town, which has a similar style to what you’d see in Amsterdam. That’s because of its historical ties to the Netherlands and Belgium. Anyways, here’s a guide to the best viewpoints, photo spots, and things to do in Gdansk, Poland!

MAIN TOWN HALL

The second tallest building in Gdansk, if you climb up to the tower you can find a great view of the Royal Route and historic part of the city!

ST. MARY’S CHURCH TOWER

The lookout is right above the bell tower, another impressive view of the Royal Route, but also the Town Hall and the iconic houses!

ST. CATHERINE’S CHURCH BELL TOWER

Check out for a great panoramic view of both the Old Town and Main Town!