Many people from all over the world have traveled as their main passion. Just think about meeting all the people you can, learning about their culture, and visiting some of the most beautiful places you will ever see. Sure, you can always take a look at these places online.
However, there is absolutely no way that this can replace the first-hand experience. There are always regions and countries that are not as popular as some other ones are. For that reason, many travelers have made it their goal to explore places where not a lot of foreigners visit.
If we are talking about Europe, we would say that the Balkan region is the most underrated region by far. We are surprised since there are a lot of beautiful places and towns you can visit and see just how great they are. Because of that, we want to provide you with a couple of hidden gems in the Balkans you should visit in 2024.
1. Ohrid, North Macedonia
The first place we would like to talk about is located in the south of the peninsula, Ohrid lake in North Macedonia. Even though this is the best-known tourist place in this country, we can all agree with the fact that it doesn’t have the credit it deserves. You will be surprised just how much you can see here.
For those who don’t know, we are talking about one of the biggest lakes in the Balkans. Plus, it has a charming old town, which is a mix of a couple of cultures. Not to mention that this is a great place for those who are interested in religious tourism. There are 365 Orthodox churches, which is why it is often referred to as “Jerusalem of the Balkans”.
2. Plitvice Lakes National Park, Croatia
Croatia is a beautiful country, filled with one-of-a-kind places where you can see some of the best landscapes in the world. For that reason, it’s quite hard to pick the one that stands out. However, we’ve decided on talking about Plitvice Lakes National Park, one of the most beautiful ones in the world. We can see that the interest in this place has risen due to the images posted on Instagram by various tourists who have visited it in recent years.
You’ll be happy that this national park is located about a 2-hour drive away from the country’s capital, Zagreb. You can visit it on your own, or you can ways book a trip through the agency. If you want to check this possibility, check plitvice-lakes.tours, find here all the relevant information.
3. Trebinje, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bosnia and Herzegovina is probably the most underrated out of all Balkan countries when it comes to tourism. However, any person from this part of the world will tell you that this country is home to a wide array of breathtaking locations. Visiting one of them, Trebinje, is an absolute must.
We are talking about a town surrounded by mountains, but it still has that Mediterranean scent and atmosphere. When you take a look at the map, you will see that it is an hour and a half away from Dubrovnik, Croatia. The best time to visit it is during the summer months. You will see that the town is filled with parties, which are held in some of the most lavish clubs you will ever see.
4. Uvac River Meanders, Serbia
Next, we would like to talk about Uvac River meanders. They are located in the southern part of Serbia. According to many tourists who have visited this place, these are the most interesting meanders in the whole world. The main reason for that opinion is their unusual shape.
These are formed by a series of looping arches, that the river has created out the stone over the centuries. In some parts, the walls on both sides exceed one hundred meters. Imagine having that landscape above the turning and twisting rivers below that. The geographical landscape offers the visitors the chance to observe it from the best possible locations. It is what makes this place special.
5. Risan, Montenegro
Montenegro, as of the whole, is another Balkan gem. It is a small country that has numerous places tourists will be interested in visiting, without a doubt. There are a couple of coastal towns that have to establish themselves as powerhouses when it comes to tourism in this country. We are talking about places like Budva, Petrovac, Kotor, and Ulcinj.
However, if you are interested in visiting a place that’s not as busy as these are, we would recommend you to pay a visit to Risan. It is a small coastal town located in the Bay of Kotor, between bigger towns like Kotor, Tivat, and Herceg Novi. Here, you can experience the life of a small Mediterranean town first-hand. Still, that doesn’t mean that it doesn’t have some cool places you can visit.
6. Berat, Albania
For a wide array of different reasons, Albania was a country that forbade foreigners from entering it without a special invitation. However, times are changing now, and we can see that tourism has exploded. Since it has a long coast, a majority of the visitors will like to see this part of the country.
But if you’re looking for a hidden gem, we would advise you to visit Berat. It is an ancient city, rich with history, and a mix of numerous cultures that were present in this region. We are talking about the relatively small city, which is always a chance for tourists to have a better understanding of the locals, their stories, and their culture. Don’t miss out on this place while traveling through Albania.
In Conclusion
If you are planning to visit the Balkans, we are certain you will have a ton of fun. If you are interested in visiting places that are not so known among foreigners, be sure to take a look at this list of ours. We are certain you will find all of these places to be worth your time.
