26 Days | Soak up the culture of Eastern Europe and the Balkans





Grand standing capitals and quaint seaside villages, hidden mountain hamlets and a city set on water – Eastern Europe flaunts a pretty impressive display of attractions. Discover the best of this entrancing region, plus a whole host of its lesser-known spots, making your way down from Hungary through the Balkans and east over to Italy. Encounter the up-and-coming vibes of once war-ravaged Sarajevo, fall in love with the popular Dubrovnik, kick into adventure mode in Ljubljana and feast until your tastebuds are content in Italy. Get expert local guidance and travel with a small group of likeminded travellers on this exciting 26-day adventure.
Trip overview

- Start
- Budapest, Hungary
- Finish
- Rome, Italy
- Theme
- Explorer
- Destinations
- Italy, Slovenia, Croatia, Montenegro, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Hungary
- 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
- Learn about the dark history and rebuilding of Bosnia and Herzegovina in Sarajevo, then visit Mostar’s famous Old Bridge and – if you’re lucky – witness a traditional bridge jumper hurl themselves into the icy waters below.
- Enjoy plenty of free time at your own pace to discover the communist past and progressive present of Budapest – the Pearl of the Danube.
- Explore the streets, medieval buildings and restored castle of Ljubljana’s charming Old Town on foot. Your local leader will know all of the hotspots, plus the best cafes for a coffee break.
- Explore rocky coastal pathways and pastel-coloured villages with a Cinque Terre day pass, which allows you to hike at your leisure and use the coast's public transport.
- Spend two days in Florence, a city known for its beauty and rustic Tuscan cuisine, and choose to discover the cities culinary traditions on optional food excursions.
- 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 this is a combination of three trips, your leader and the composition of your group may change in Dubrovnik and in Venice.
- As accommodation on this trip is twin-share, single travellers will share a room with another traveller of the same gender. This trip is a great opportunity to get to know other like-minded people, so embrace it while you can. Keep in mind that hotels in Europe often don't have double beds, but rather two single beds that can be pushed together/apart. Rooms can be rather small, especially compared to American or Australian standards, and in most cases bathroom facilities will be shared rather than ensuite. Please note that a single supplement is not available on this trip.
- Summer temperatures can be very high in many of the regions visited (over 40°C), which can be uncomfortable. It’s important to use sun protection, wear layers to combat the heat, and drink plenty of water. Please keep in mind that 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 to that season.
- The primary means of transportation on this trip is by train. Trains are a fast way to cross long distances, allowing you to avoid traffic jams and arrive right into the city centre. They are comfortable and all have toilets, however can sometimes be quite busy. Please note that 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. You can find this information in the 'What to Take' section of 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 (10 nights), Hostel (11 nights), Pension (4 nights)
- Sarajevo - Burek Snack in Bascarsija
- Mostar - Stari Most
- Plitvice Lakes - National Park Visit
- Plitvice Lakes - Picnic
- Venice - Orient Experience Snack Stop
- Venice - Leader-led Orientation Walk
- Venice – San Marco Square
- Cinque Terre - Day Trip, including Cinque Terre Pass
- Florence - Leader-led Orientation Walk
- Rome – Leader-led Orientation Walk
- Rome – Trevi Fountain
- Budapest - Parliament Tour - HUF10000
- Budapest - Szechenyi Thermal Baths (starting from) - HUF9400
- Budapest - Hungarian State Opera House Tour - HUF7000
- Budapest - Transport and Entry to Statue Park - HUF5000
- Budapest - House of Terror - HUF4000
- Budapest - Hungarian National Museum - HUF2900
- Budapest - Bike Ride - HUF6000
- Budapest - Great Synagogue - HUF9000
- Budapest - Central Market - Free
- Belgrade - Ethnographic Museum - RSD300
- Belgrade - Military Museum - RSD350
- Belgrade - City Tour with Local Guide - EUR60
- Belgrade - Sveti Sava Church - Free
- Belgrade - Tito’s Mausoleum (House of Flowers) - RSD400
- Belgrade - Nikola Tesla Museum - RSD800
- Belgrade - Danube River Cruise - RSD800
- Sarajevo - Jewish Museum - BAM3
- Sarajevo - City Tour with Local Guide - BAM90
- Sarajevo - Ilidza Park and Springs - BAM15
- Sarajevo - National Museum of Bosnia and Herzegovina - BAM8
- Sarajevo - Svrzo's House - BAM3
- Sarajevo - Gazi Husrev-beg Mosque - BAM3
- Sarajevo - City Hall & Old National Library - BAM10
- Sarajevo - Sarajevo Museum - BAM10
- Sarajevo - Despica House - BAM3
- Sarajevo - Brusa Bezistan - BAM3
- Sarajevo - War Tunnel - BAM10
- Mostar - War Photo Exhibition - BAM6
- Mostar - Koski Mehmed Pasa Mosque & Minaret - BAM15
- Mostar - Old Bridge Museum - BAM10
- 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 - EUR65
- 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 - St Mark's Basilica Treasury - EUR5
- 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
- Cinque Terre - 'Il Laboratorio del Pesto' Making & Demonstration - EUR15
- Cinque Terre - Coastal Cruise - EUR30
- Florence - Foodies Walk Urban Adventure - EUR79
- Florence - Aperitivo Time! Urban Adventure - EUR77
- 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) - EUR12
- Florence - Bargello Museum - EUR14
- Florence - Medici Chapels - EUR15
- 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 - EUR21
- Rome - Pantheon - EUR5
- Vatican City - St Peter's Dome Climb & Elevator - EUR10
- Rome - Venezia Palace - EUR16
- Rome - Galleria Borghese - EUR15
Dates and availability
Important notes
SINGLE SUPPLEMENT
A single supplement is not available on this trip.
COMBINATION TRIP
As this is a combination of three trips, your leader and the composition of your group may change in Dubrovnik and in Venice.
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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