Planning a Trip the Balkans

[Scash]

We are planning a trip for May 2025 and have booked reward flights with EK in J to Lisbon. We will sped time in Portugal then head to Sicily, followed by Greece. We are then looking to head to other Balkan countries (except maybe Croatia as we were there last year) and spend 3 weeks or so travelling around. I have been researching countries and itineraries and getting around doesn't seem to be all that easy. Trains don't seem to exist between a lot of places and buses appear to be unreliable. I know you could hire a car but I'm not interested in driving. Preference is land transport over flying.

Has anyone had any recent (or even not so recent) experiences travelling the Balkans. I would appreciate any suggestions of how to get around and places to visit and possible itineraries. I would like to get to as many places as possible without rushing everywhere. We don't have any absolute must do's but there are so many wonderful looking places to visit and would like to get to the main ones. Was thinking heading to say Albania after Greece and then doing a bit of a loop going north to say Montenegro and Bosnia then to Serbia, Romania, Bulgaria and North Macedonia.

Any suggestions, recommendations or tips would be greatly appreciated. I have looked at organised tours but they are quite expensive but that may be the way to go.

Thanks in advance.

 

[RooFlyer]

Here is a trip report on Bulgaria, Kosovo and Nth Macedonia that might give you some ideas

Bulgaria, Kosovo and Macedonia

I couldn't think of snazzy title for this TR and the whole thing I might try to take back to the style which i did some years ago - to focus on the travel experience,possibly of benefit to others that may do similar, later. Commentary on airlines, other transport, the tour etc ... but of course...

www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au

 

[RB]

We have visited the places that you have mentioned but done as parts of multiple trips. We are public transport users and it is certainly possible to do but takes a bit more planning. Rome to Rio is not a bad starting point Rome2Rio: discover how to get anywhere

We visited many of them before I started writing trip reports but this one from a while ago might give some clues Italy, Montenegro, Serbia and Austria | Australian Frequent Flyer

 

[Scash]

Thank you @RooFlyer and @RB