26 Days | Soak up the culture of Eastern Europe and the Balkans
Thriving capital cities and quaint seaside villages, hidden mountain hamlets and an Old Town set on the water – Eastern Europe flaunts a pretty impressive display of attractions. Discover the highlights of this diverse region, plus a whole lot of its lesser-known spots, as you make your way down from Hungary through the Balkans then over to Italy. Encounter the up-and-coming, once war-ravaged Sarajevo, fall in love with the walled city of medieval Dubrovnik, kick into adventure mode in Ljubljana and feast until your tastebuds are content in Venice, Cinque Terre, Florence and Rome. On this exciting 26-day adventure, you’ll get expert local guidance and a small group of like-minded travellers for companions – what more could you need for an epic adventure?
Trip overview
- Start
- Budapest, Hungary
- Finish
- Rome, Italy
- Theme
- Explorer
- Destinations
- Italy, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Slovenia, Hungary, Serbia, Montenegro
- Physical rating
- Indicates how physically exerting a trip is, and how fit you will need to be to enjoy it. More info on physical ratings
- Style
- Basix
- Ages
- Min 15
- Group size
- Min 1 - Max 16
- Trip code
- ZMRRC
- Admire the restored architecture of UNESCO World Heritage-listed Kotor in Montenegro on a climb along the ancient city fortifications. Then, discover the glittering Bay of Kotor in your free time.
- Stroll through Plitvice Lakes National Park – a stunning UNESCO World Heritage Site – marvelling at luminous lakes and azure waterfalls that look like they’ve been sketched by an artist.
- Hit the historic hotspot of Dubrovnik (otherwise known as King’s Landing of Game of Thrones fame) along Croatia’s Dalmatian coastline, then explore the white sands of the Elafiti Islands on a day trip with loads of free time to swim, relax or wander.
- Journey to romantic Venice – like no other city in the world. Fall in love with its labyrinth of alleyways, canals, lagoon islands, and endless historic attractions and maybe hop on a gondola if you want to explore the city from a different perspective.
- Explore Cinque Terre's rocky coastal pathways, calling into the sleepy pastel villages of Manarola, Riomaggiore or Vernazza. Enjoy a full day to explore this picturesque spot at your own pace.
- This trip is made for travellers who value their independence but also want the benefit of a local leader and a group of like-minded travellers. The itinerary has a mix of included activities and free time when your leader will offer suggestions. Please budget spending money for optional activities you want to partake in.
- As accommodation on this trip is twin-share, single travellers will share a room with other travellers of the same gender. This trip is an excellent opportunity to get to know other like-minded people, so embrace it! European hotels often don't have double beds but two single beds that can be pushed together/apart. Rooms can be small and in some cases, bathroom facilities will be shared.
- Summer temperatures can be very high in many regions visited (over 40°C), which can be uncomfortable. It’s essential to use sun protection, wear layers to combat the heat and drink plenty of water. Many European hotel rooms are not equipped with air-conditioning. Please carefully consider the time of the year you wish to travel and your suitability for that season.
- The trains on this trip are comfortable and have toilets. However, they can sometimes be busy. You'll have to carry your own luggage on and off the train, so make sure it doesn’t exceed our weight and size recommendations. Check the ‘Packing’ section in the ‘Essential Trip Information.’
Itinerary
View the itinerary for departures between 01 January 2024 - 31 December 2024
Inclusions
16 breakfasts, 1 lunch
Train, Public bus, Metro, Private vehicle, Taxi
Hotel (14 nights), Hostel (7 nights), Pension (4 nights)
- Novi Sad – Orientation Walk
- Sarajevo - Burek Snack in Bascarsija
- Mostar - Stari Most
- Konjic - Armijska Ratna Komanda ARK D-0 (Tito’s Bunker) tour
- Dubrovnik – Elafiti Island Day Trip
- Plitvice Lakes - National Park Visit
- Zagreb – Dolac Market Lunch
- Zagreb - Leader-led Orientation Walk
- Venice - Leader-led Orientation Walk
- Venice – San Marco Square
- Venice - Cicchetti Snack Stop
- Cinque Terre - Day Trip, including Cinque Terre Pass
- Florence - Leader-led Orientation Walk
- Rome – Leader-led Orientation Walk
- Rome – Trevi Fountain
- Budapest - House of Terror - HUF4000
- Budapest - Hungarian National Museum - HUF2900
- Budapest - Transport and Entry to Statue Park - HUF5000
- Budapest - Central Market - Free
- Budapest - Great Synagogue - HUF9000
- Budapest - Bike Ride - HUF6000
- Budapest - Parliament Tour - HUF10000
- Budapest - Szechenyi Thermal Baths (starting from) - HUF9400
- Budapest - Hungarian State Opera House Tour - HUF7000
- Belgrade - Danube River Cruise - RSD800
- Belgrade - Tito’s Mausoleum (House of Flowers) - RSD400
- Belgrade - Nikola Tesla Museum - RSD800
- Belgrade - City Tour with Local Guide - EUR60
- Belgrade - Sveti Sava Church - Free
- Belgrade - Ethnographic Museum - RSD300
- Belgrade - Military Museum - RSD350
- Belgrade - eBike Tour (from) - EUR35
- Belgrade - Bike Tour (from) - EUR30
- Sarajevo - City Hall & Old National Library - BAM10
- Sarajevo - Gazi Husrev-beg Mosque - BAM3
- Sarajevo - Svrzo's House - BAM3
- Sarajevo - Brusa Bezistan - BAM3
- Sarajevo - Despica House - BAM3
- Sarajevo - Sarajevo Museum - BAM10
- Sarajevo - City Tour with Local Guide - BAM90
- Sarajevo - Jewish Museum - BAM3
- Sarajevo - Ilidza Park and Springs - BAM15
- Sarajevo - War Tunnel - BAM10
- Sarajevo - National Museum of Bosnia and Herzegovina - BAM8
- Mostar - Koski Mehmed Pasa Mosque & Minaret - BAM15
- Mostar - Old Bridge Museum - BAM10
- Mostar - War Photo Exhibition - BAM6
- Kotor - Cruise on Kotor Fjord - EUR40
- Kotor - St. Tryphon’s Cathedral - EUR4
- Budva - Day Trip (by public bus) - EUR6
- Kotor - Fortress - EUR3
- Kotor - Maritime Museum - EUR5
- Dubrovnik - Hike up Mt Srd - Free
- Dubrovnik - Church of St. Blaise - Free
- Dubrovnik - Discover Game of Thrones Filming Locations Urban Adventure - EUR69
- Dubrovnik - Mt Srd Cable Car - EUR27
- Dubrovnik - Mt Srd Museum of Croatian War of Independence - EUR4
- Dubrovnik - Rector's Palace - EUR13
- Dubrovnik - War Photography Museum - EUR10
- Dubrovnik - Lokrum Island Boat Trip - EUR27
- Dubrovnik - Franciscan Monastery - EUR4
- Dubrovnik - Dubrovnik Card (1 day local transport & entry to sites) - EUR35
- Dubrovnik - Srd Hill Hike - Free
- Dubrovnik - City Walls Walk - EUR35
- Split - Fish Market - Free
- Split - Hiking in Mosor with traditional dinner - EUR64
- Split - Cooking Class including Lunch or Dinner - EUR80
- Split - Diocletian's Palace Cellars - EUR7
- Split - Ethnographic Museum - EUR3
- Split - City Museum - EUR4
- Split - Gallery of Fine Arts - EUR5
- Split - St Domnius Cathedral and Tower - EUR10
- Split – Highlights of Split Urban Adventure - EUR64
- Zagreb - Mirogoj Cemetery - Free
- Zagreb - Cathedral - Free
- Zagreb - Kula Lotrščak - EUR3
- Zagreb - The Croatian Museum of Naive Art - EUR5
- Ljubljana - Dragon Bridge - Free
- Ljubljana - Metelkova Neighbourhood - Free
- Ljubljana - Castle and Funicular - EUR16
- Ljubljana - Sights & Bites Urban Adventure - EUR130
- Bled - Day Trip by Public Bus - EUR15
- Bled - Castle - EUR15
- Bled - Pletna Boat Trip - EUR14
- Venice - Doge's Palace & Bridge of Sighs - EUR30
- Venice - Gondola Ride - EUR80
- Peggy Guggenheim Collection - EUR17
- Venice - St Mark's Campanile - EUR12
- Venice - Accademia Gallery - EUR16
- Ca’ D’Oro - Galería Franchetti - EUR15
- Venice - Ca' Rezzonico Museum of Eighteenth Century Art - EUR11
- Venice - Glass Museum Murano - EUR11
- Venice - Museum of St Mark's Basilica - EUR5
- Venice - Scuola Grande di San Rocco - EUR14
- Venice - Chicchetti & Wine Tour of Venice Urban Adventure - EUR99
- Venice - St Mark's Basilica Treasury - EUR5
- Cinque Terre - 'Il Laboratorio del Pesto' Making & Demonstration - EUR25
- Cinque Terre - Coastal Cruise - EUR41
- Florence - Foodies Walk Urban Adventure - EUR79
- Siena - Day Trip to Siena by Public Bus - EUR24
- Florence - Baptistry, Museo Opera del Duomo, Giotto Bell Tower and Brunelleschi Dome - EUR30
- Florence - Palazzo Vecchio - EUR12
- Florence - Accademia - EUR17
- Florence - Uffizi Gallery - EUR24
- Florence - Pitti Palace (Boboli Gardens, Museo Argenti, Costume Gallery, Porcellain Museum) - EUR15
- Florence - Bargello Museum - EUR14
- Florence - Medici Chapels - EUR17
- Rome - Castel Sant'Angelo - EUR14
- Rome - Christian Catacombs - EUR10
- Rome - Colosseum, Roman Forum & Palatine Hill - EUR19
- Rome - Keats-Shelley Memorial House - EUR6
- Vatican City - Vatican Museum - EUR22
- Rome - Pantheon - EUR5
- Vatican City - St Peter's Dome Climb & Elevator - EUR10
- Rome - Venezia Palace - EUR17
- Rome - Galleria Borghese - EUR16
Dates and availability
Important notes
SINGLE SUPPLEMENT
A single supplement is not available on this trip.
Want an in-depth insight into this trip? Essential Trip Information provides a detailed itinerary, visa info, how to get to your hotel, what's included - pretty much everything you need to know about this adventure and more.
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