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Map of Dubrovnik to Athens including Albania, Croatia, Greece, Macedonia, Republic Of and Montenegro

Experience the seaside charm and Balkan countryside, from Dubrovnik to Athens.

This European adventure combines the must-sees of the Balkan region and the lesser-known glories of North Macedonia and Albania – creating the perfect balance between old and new. Hang out in Dubrovnik's Old Town, cruise around Lake Ohrid, hike the foot hills of Mt Olympus and in Pelister National Park, and sample some regional specialties in Greece's capital. You’ll experience the Adriatic coastline and the Balkans interior on a 15-day regional wrap from Dubrovnik to Athens. With a curated selection of inclusions and plenty of free time, this slice of Europe is all yours to explore.

Start
Dubrovnik, Croatia
Finish
Athens, Greece
Destinations
Albania, Croatia, Greece, Macedonia, Montenegro
Style
Original
Theme
Explorer
Code
ZMSM
Physical rating
Ages
Min 15
Group size
Min 1, Max 12

Why you'll love this trip

  • Admire the World Heritage-listed architecture of Dubrovnik and Montenegro’s Kotor, climbing along their ancient city walls.

  • Loose yourself in Tirana, Albania's colourful capital, and partake in the local's favourite pastime: drinking coffee and people-watching.

  • Sail across the blue waters of Lake Ohrid – one of Europe's oldest lakes. No wonder North Macedonia and Albania share this beautiful attraction; nobody would want to let it go!

  • Explore the endemic flora and fauna on an easy hike of Pelister: North Macedonia’s oldest national park.

  • Hike the slopes of Mt Olympus, the ancient seat of the 12 Greek gods. According to mythology Zeus unleashed his thunderbolts from one of Olympus' peaks.

Is this trip right for you?

  • The Balkan peninsula is very hilly and mountainous, so many steps are a feature of the landscape. You will have to be able to easily lift your luggage and carry it up and down stairs and inclines, so packing light is recommended. Also, stone streets become very slippery when wet. Some people may find the Balkan's topography very demanding.

  • Summer temperatures can be extreme in many of the regions visited (over 40°C), which can be uncomfortable, especially as many of the transport options and accommodations we use will not have air-conditioning. It’s important to use sun protection, wear layers to combat the heat and drink plenty of water. Please carefully consider the time of the year you wish to travel and your suitability to that season.

  • Hotels in Europe often don't have double beds, but rather two single beds that can be pushed together. Please also note that in some cases bathroom facilities will be shared rather than en-suite, and many accommodations in this part of the world do not have air-conditioning.

  • If you have more time to explore the region you may want to check out our trip ‘Dubrovnik to Santorini’ (trip code ZMSEC). This trip continues on to explore the beautiful Cycladic Islands, ending on stunning Santorini. Most departure dates are designed to create this perfect combination trip.

Itinerary
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Dobro Dosli! Welcome to Croatia – a place of sunshine, azure waters and charming cobblestone towns. The undisputed jewel of the Dalmatian Coast, Dubrovnik old town is a beautiful white stone town surrounded entirely by city walls, easily covered on foot. Although it experienced devastation during the war in the early 1990s, the restored old town remains as charming as ever. Your adventure begins with a welcome meeting at 6 pm. As there is not much time in Dubrovnik on this trip, you may want to consider arriving one or two days earlier. If you do have time beforehand, why not head out to one of the Elafiti Islands? There's Lopud, a quiet island with lovely hikes, clean beaches and a ruined castle. Kolocep is a sleepy enclave that boasts walks for every fitness level, while Sipan is the most populated of the isles and has the most hospitable locals. There are also many monuments to explore in the city proper, including the 15th century Rector's Palace, monasteries with cloistered gardens, and fine baroque churches with copper domes.
Accommodation
  • Hostel (1 night)
Optional Activities
  • Dubrovnik - Church of St. Blaise - Free
  • Dubrovnik - Hike up Mt Srd - Free
  • Dubrovnik - Mt Srd Cable Car - EUR27
  • Dubrovnik - Discover Game of Thrones Filming Locations Urban Adventure - EUR69
  • Dubrovnik - War Photography Museum - EUR10
  • Dubrovnik - Rector's Palace - EUR13
  • Dubrovnik - Lokrum Island Boat Trip - EUR27
  • Dubrovnik - Mt Srd Museum of Croatian War of Independence - EUR4
  • Dubrovnik - Franciscan Monastery - EUR4
Meals Included
There are no meals included on this day.
Special Information
It’s very important that you attend the welcome meeting as we will be collecting insurance details and next of kin information at this time. If you are going to be late please let your travel agent or hotel reception know. Ask reception or look for a note in the lobby for more information on where the meeting will take place. If you can't arrange a flight that will have you arrive on time, you may wish to arrive a day early. We’ll be happy to organise accommodation for you (subject to availability).

Leave Dubrovnik behind and take a private transfer to Kotor on the coast of Montenegro (approximately 3 hours). This 5th-century World Heritage-listed city is set on a secluded bay, with towering peaks surrounding a rocky coastline dotted with pretty waterside towns. In its crooked alleyways, get lost and mingle with the locals. When you arrive, why not check out the 12th-century Cathedral, the South Gates, and the Armoury Square? Later, perhaps take a cruise on the Kotor Fjord – the longest fjord south of Scandinavia – and visit an island with a church that's almost as big as the island itself! In the evening the city walls are prettily lit up to provide a unique night-time perspective.
Accommodation
  • Hotel (1 night)
Optional Activities
  • Kotor - Cruise on Kotor Fjord - EUR40
  • Kotor - Fortress - EUR3
  • Kotor - St. Tryphon’s Cathedral - EUR4
  • Kotor - Maritime Museum - EUR5
Meals Included
  • Breakfast

After breakfast, drive across the border into Albania. A unique mixture of cultures and customs, Tirana is filled with craziness, from its traffic to its nightlife, but on its doorstep are mosques, citadels, Ottoman architecture, and a stunning dose of the medieval Balkans. The real surprise of Albania is the people. Their warmth to strangers is infectious and you’re bound to find yourself swapping stories over a glass of raki or three. Our first stop is the city of Shkoder (approximately 3 hours’ drive from Kotor). Here you will have time to explore Rozafa Castle. The site was occupied by a fortress since Illyrian times, however most of what can be seen today is of Venetian origin. Depending on road conditions and volume of traffic it will be another 2 hours to Tirana. On arrival, take an orientation walk to get your bearings. Tirana is the capital of Albania and its biggest city, but it's still small and compact, with architectural influences from Italy and Turkey. Recently many buildings have been painted to alleviate the Soviet bloc feeling that pervaded. Many upgrades have been made all over town, such as new parks and wide pavements.
Accommodation
  • Hotel (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Shkoder - Rozafa Castle
Meals Included
  • Breakfast

Today, take a half-day trip to the mountain village and former Albanian capital of Kruja. Kruja was the last stronghold of Skanderbeg's (the national hero of Albania) army until the Ottomans took over the entire country. There is plenty of time to explore the citadel and the famous bazaar area. Perhaps pay a visit to the excellent ethnographical museum housed inside the fortress. You’ll then return to Tirana after lunch. Tirana is dotted with many museums. You can't miss the National History Museum – just look for the gargantuan mosaic on the facade that represents the development of Albania's history. The main sight in Tirana is the Et'hem Bey Mosque, which sits right on the city's main square. Closed under communist rule, the mosque resumed as a place of worship in 1991. Ten thousand people attended the reopening and the event was considered a milestone in the rebirth of religious freedom in Albania. The mosque is currently undertaking extensive renovation works, but you can still take a look at the frescoes outside and in the portico that depict trees, waterfalls and bridges – motifs rarely seen in Islamic art.
Accommodation
  • Hotel (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Kruja - Day Trip
  • Kruja - Skanderbeg Museum
  • Kruja - Fortress Visit
Optional Activities
  • Tirana - Sky Tower - ALL400
  • Tirana - National Art Gallery - ALL200
  • Tirana - National History Museum - ALL700
  • Tirana - Bunk'Art Gallery - ALL500
  • Tirana - Dajti Mountain Cable Car - ALL1000
Meals Included
  • Breakfast

Travel by public bus to Berat, the town of a thousand windows, and one of the few towns of Albania that escaped being razed to the ground to make way for apartment blocks. The old Mangalemi district has recently been inscribed on UNESCO's world heritage list. Enjoy an afternoon guided tour of the town and the looming fortress, the kala, built during the 13th century and still inhabited. The walk to the castle is steep and slippery so better bring some proper footwear with you. The views from the top across Berat and the Osum river valley are well worth the effort though.
Accommodation
  • Hotel (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Berat - Walking Tour with Local Guide
  • Berat - Castle Visit
Meals Included
  • Breakfast

Travel by private bus to Ohrid in North Macedonia, a drive of about 3 hours, situated on a lake with the same name. Europe’s oldest lake, and one of the oldest human settlements in the world, Ohrid has a wealth of historic sites and religious monuments to discover. Ohrid is an eternal town, a magical hill whose primordial pulsation links ancient and modern times forever. The town is said to have once been home to 365 churches, one for each day of the year, earning it the nickname “the Macedonian Jerusalem”, while historical excavations date back to Neolithic times. Despite being a World Heritage site for over 30 years, the town remains off the radar for visitors. Get your bearings on an orientation walk around Ohrid, maybe picking up a bargain or two in the vibrant Old Bazaar. Then embark on a scenic cruise on the turquoise waters of Lake Ohrid, ringed by mountains, attractive villages and beaches, and take in the views of the town and the surrounding scenery while afloat.
Accommodation
  • Hotel (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Ohrid - Lake Ohrid Boat Cruise
Meals Included
  • Breakfast

At 34 kilometres long, 14 kilometres wide, and over 300 meters deep, all shared between Albania and North Macedonia, there’s plenty of vast Lake Ohrid to explore. Today is free for you to discover the area. There are many churches and monasteries to visit, but one of the most popular is the Macedonian Orthodox Church of Sveti Jovana Kaneo, situated on a rocky outcrop above the town, overlooking the lake. Past the church you can wander around to the back of town, exploring the old walls and fortress, and admiring the views of the lake. The Sveti Naum Monastery is also a great option, lying on the shores of the lake south of town, with well-kept grounds that are home to peacocks. The ancient Tsar Samoil’s Fortress stands on the top of Ohrid Hill and looks across the town, while a 2,000-year-old Roman theatre was uncovered near the Upper Gate – in summer it’s again being used for concerts and performances.
Accommodation
  • Hotel (1 night)
Optional Activities
  • Ohrid - Robev Family House National Museum - MKD150
  • Ohrid - St Jovan Church - MKD150
Meals Included
  • Breakfast

This morning hop onto public bus to Skopje, North Macedonia's capital city (approximately 3 hours). In Macedonia’s political and cultural centre, walk past Byzantine domes, Turkish baths, and also newly built neo-classical buildings and grand monuments (aimed to bolster national pride), sampling gozleme and tasty baklava along the way. The 30 mosques, innumerable caravanserais and hamams that fill its winding streets are a testament to Skopje’s Ottoman past. Take a step back to those times with a visit to the Daut Pasha Hamam, or journey through the humbling Holocaust Museum to learn how Macedonia suffered during this tragic chapter of history. Get lost in the narrow lanes of Carsija: Skopje's most atmospheric neighbourhood, or take in the stone bridge over the river Vardar – an iconic sight that acts as a handy connection between Macedonia Square and the Old Bazaar. Perhaps visit the Museum of the City of Skopje, housed in the old Railway Station, which is itself a unique piece of history. Its unusual, part-ruined exterior is a result of the 1963 earthquake. The large clock on the outside of the building is frozen at 5.17 – the moment the earthquake shook the city.
Accommodation
  • Hotel (1 night)
Meals Included
  • Breakfast

Venture out to Matka Canyon, a deep ravine cut into the Suva mountains by the Treska River, 15 kilometres south-west of the city. This area is home to several medieval monasteries, caves, and over 70 species of butterflies. You could also take up the option to explore the canyon's sights by boat. One of the monasteries worth exploring is St Andrew's Monastery, which contains many superb frescoes of great artistic importance. There is also Vrelo cavern: a water-filled cave with incredible stalagmites and unchartered depths; it's speculated to be the deepest underwater cave in the world. Alternatively, you can take one of the many nature walks in the canyon, or up to tracks that hug the ridge high above the valley. Return back to Skopje, with the remaining part of the day free for you to continue exploring this exciting city. Perhaps take the Mount Vodno cable car to the giant 66-metre high Millennium Cross, mainly for the views back down across the city. For dinner this evening, why not head to the Old Bazaar, or the restaurants in the Debar Maalo area.
Accommodation
  • Hotel (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Skopje - Matka Canyon
Optional Activities
  • Skopje - Museum of the City of Skopje - Free
  • Skopje - Kale Fortress - Free
  • Skopje - Mount Vodno Cable Car to Millennium Cross - MKD100
  • Skopje - Daut Pasha Hammam - MKD60
  • Matka Canyon - Boat Ride - MKD400
Meals Included
  • Breakfast

Today, continue your adventure with a bus ride to the town of Bitola, located near Pelister National Park. Pelister is North Macedonia’s oldest national park covering 171 square kilometres of the Baba massif (type of mountainous geological formation). Eight peaks in this park are over 2000 metres, with Mt Pelister the highest at 2601 metres. Close to the top are two glacial lakes, known as ‘Pelister’s Eyes’. Today, you’ll get the chance to explore the stunning greenery in Pelister on an easy 2-hour hike of the park’s lower trails, passing through the lush forests and breathing in the crisp mountain air. Head to the information centre to learn more about the endemic flora and fauna. Return to Bitola for the night.
Accommodation
  • Hotel (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Pelister National Park - Hike in Pelister National Park
Meals Included
  • Breakfast

Travel with private transport to the border with Greece and then continue to Kastoria. This medieval town sits on the western shore of Lake Orestiada, in a valley surrounded by limestone mountains. Kastoria is full of interesting Byzantine churches and Ottoman-style architecture, including old distinctive villas from the skin and fur trade times. Once you arrive, take an orientation walk along the labyrinthine lanes, with time to walk along the lakeside, where boats bob, Dalmatian pelicans and ducks make ripples on the water, and coniferous trees and mountains surround in the distance. Later, consider visiting the unspoilt Spilia tou Drakou, or Dragon Cave, one of the most impressive caves in Greece, and see stalactites and underground lakes in this mysterious natural wonder once believed to be a gold mine guarded by a sleepless dragon.
Accommodation
  • Hotel (1 night)
Meals Included
  • Breakfast

Enjoy a free morning in Kastoria. Perhaps visit the Neolithic lakeside village and reconstruction at Dispilio, which gives you a real feel for life in a village in the middle of the 6th millennium BC. After lunch transfer by private vehicle to the town of Litochoro at the base of Mt Olympus. Upon arrival head out on a short orientation walk to familiarise yourself with the surroundings. Head down to the beach at Plaka for some well-deserved relaxation and a dip in the Aegean Sea before tomorrow's hike. Perhaps have dinner in one of the fish tavernas lining the sea shore, and indulge in some traditional dishes.
Accommodation
  • Guesthouse (1 night)
Meals Included
  • Breakfast

Mount Olympus, Greece's first national park, is the highest mountain in Greece and the second highest in the Balkans, with a height of 2918 metres. The mountain is famous in Greek mythology as it is the dwelling of the twelve Olympian gods, headed by Zeus. Mytikas peak was the gods’ meeting place, and Stefani peak was the Throne of Zeus from where he was said to have displayed his mighty power by throwing thunderbolts. Head out early today for a hike along a lush trail within the national park to a beautiful waterfall. If it's a hot day, why not brave the cold water? Just don't forget to bring your swimming costume! There is the option to visit the monastery of St Dionysios on the way back into town. The rest of the day is free for you to continue enjoying the surrounding countryside or simply take in the view of the mountain from the vantage point of the nearby beach.
Accommodation
  • Guesthouse (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Mt Olympus National Park - Orlias Waterfall Hike
Optional Activities
  • Litochoro - Agios Dionysios Monastery - Free
  • Litochoro - Plaka Beach - Free
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
Special Information
Please note that depending on weather conditions (such as rain or extreme heat), today's activities are subject to alterations or cancellations.

Board a public bus to Athens, the beating heart of Greece, and the centre of the ancient world (approximately 5.5 hours). After arriving and transferring to your central hotel, there's much to be seen in the capital of Greece, vibrant and refreshed following the 2004 Olympics, yet still retaining so much visible history. Named after the goddess of wisdom, Athens has a weighty history that spills out over the modern city, represented most dramatically by the ancient Acropolis, where you can enter the Pantheon and enjoy fabulous views over the city. The birthplace of Western civilisation, Athens has an amazing array of historic sites to explore, including the National Gardens, the Temple of Olympian Zeus and the original Olympic Stadium. Another highlight is the renowned changing of the guard at Syntagma (Parliament) Square. Afterwards, perhaps tuck into a delicious dinner of Greek cuisine and a shot (or two) of ouzo.
Accommodation
  • Hotel (1 night)
Optional Activities
  • Athens - Numismatic Museum - EUR15
  • Athens - National Archaeological Museum - EUR12
  • Athens - Lycabettus Hill - Free
  • Athens - Acropolis Pass for 5 Sites - EUR30
  • Athens - Dora Stratou - EUR20
Meals Included
  • Breakfast

There are no activities planned for today and you are able to depart the accommodation at any time. As there is so much to see and do in Greece's capital you may want to extend your stay here. We’ll happy to assist with additional accommodation (subject to availability).
Optional Activities
  • Athens - Taste of Athens Urban Adventure - EUR139
  • Athens - Markets, Ruins & Ancient Athens Urban Adventure - EUR139
  • Athens - Twilight Athens Urban Adventure - EUR99
  • Athens - Day Trip to Delphi - EUR60
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
Special Information
If you haven't had enough of Greece yet why not join our connecting Greek Islands trip, taking in the best of the islands in the Aegean Sea, such as Mykonos and Santorini. Most departure dates are designed to create this perfect combination trip. Or, if you have some extra time in Athens, you can take one of the day trips offered by Urban Adventures. Check out urbanadventures.com for more information.
Want to tailor this itinerary?

Meals

14 breakfasts

Transport

Public bus, Private vehicle, Taxi, Boat

Accommodation

Hotel (10 nights), Guesthouse (2 nights), Homestay (1 night), Hostel with ensuite facilities (1 night)

Included activities

  • Shkoder - Rozafa Castle
  • Kruja - Day Trip
  • Kruja - Skanderbeg Museum
  • Kruja - Fortress Visit
  • Berat - Walking Tour with Local Guide
  • Berat - Castle Visit
  • Ohrid - Lake Ohrid Boat Cruise
  • Skopje - Matka Canyon
  • Pelister National Park - Hike in Pelister National Park
  • Mt Olympus National Park - Orlias Waterfall Hike

Dates & availability

Trip departures are unavailable.

There are currently no scheduled departures on our Dubrovnik to Athens trip. If you are interested in other trips in the region visit one of the links below.

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Important notes

1. A single supplement is bookable for this trip. Availability is limited due to small property we use. Please speak to your booking agent for further information.
2. There is not much time in Dubrovnik on this trip, so you may want to consider arriving a few days earlier to make sure you are not missing out on everything that this beautiful city has to offer.

Essential trip information

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