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To make only one trip to the Balkans would be reductive. The region is very large and with really different territories. But because of that, it is interesting to be able to do different countries in the same trip.
From the placid Slovenian valleys where it feels like Switzerland, to the Turkish markets of Bosnia there is a world of difference. The same can be said if you go from the Mediterranean beaches to the dense forests of the interior. But also from the Roman remains if one goes to see the palaces erected during the communist regime, perhaps those punctured by snipers in Sarajevo.
In this link the video shot in the beautiful basilica in Porec, Croatia.
My favorite trip to the Balkans? Bosnia
The days I spent in Bosnia I have to say I enjoyed the most. I love situations where different cultures are mixed, and especially Sarajevo is a must-see city if you want to see something different and better understand our past that could become future.
In particular, the 4 hours spent in the company of the former Sarajevo siege veteran guide were among the most intense as a traveler. In this set of articles is the trip I made in August 2025 to Bosnia and Serbia; and the various trips I made to Croatia.
Other experiences in Croatia and Montenegro are on this page.
Regarding Slovenia, on the other hand, the page is this one. At the time of publishing this article I have not yet been to Albania, Kosovo and northern Macedonia, but I will remedy that shortly. I find the pages of this blog on the war in the former Yugoslavia very interesting.
Ferry to Croatia, both in pairs and solo
I took the ferry to Croatia twice, for two very different trips. In the maritime area of Istria I had been several times with my basketball teams for tournaments. With the boys we also try to see something cultural, and we happened to wander a bit through the beautiful alleys and squares in Porec, Umag, and also in Piran in Slovenia.
Much more in-depth was the long weekend with what in my life has been one of the most suitable travel companions. With Cecilia we took in the spring of 2009 the ferry from Ravenna to Porec and then moved from there by bus. At that time it was a novel situation for me to travel as a couple. That time therefore we took the ferry on foot.
I was already familiar with the big hotels with endless buffets in those areas, built in Tito’s time. Speaking of him, we had a nice trip to the small island of Brijuni, which was practically his possession and he used to vacation there.
Ferry to Croatia by car
In June 2024, I took an 8-day solo trip in my own car. I sailed from Ancona to arrive in Split in a comfortable overnight crossing. I had read terrible comments about the ships. Posting that some people should stay at home if they don’t have a minimum of adaptability, the situation probably becomes critical in July and August, when far too many people go to Croatia.
In the last week of June there are no big crowds. I found myself in the midst of a group of perpetuals who, like every year, were going to Medjugorje. But after the worrisome start, they were not too rowdy.
I slept quite well spreading out over four seats. The choice not to take the cabin was the first in a series to try to limit the damage for a trip that was going to be very expensive.
The impact with the Croats was quite traumatic. I had not yet touched land that I got into an argument with a motorist who gave me the idea of a classic Zagreb family man close to divorce. There was obviously a bit of a hitch to get out (however in ten minutes we were all out of the port area). This one seemed to demand that I go through or over the truck in front of me.
Confirmed, on a trip to the Balkans, Croatia became exorbitantly expensive
From Split I headed straight for Dubrovnik. With three hours on a comfortable highway I quickly became familiar with the spectacular landscapes, which I gorged on throughout the trip. In Dubrovnik , however, I found confirmation that Croatia (particularly the Dalmatian coastal towns) has become really expensive. The prices are not motivated by what you can see. I refused to give 35 euros for a tour of the walls, for example. While I paid 29 for a fish with a gravy of raw eggplant in a restaurant outside the center.
Could these prices perhaps be discounted for a country where they use the tax code of places, like Split; Trst; Krk; Krka; Monte Srg? Jokes aside, the Euro is obviously being blamed, however, in past days in the less touristy inland areas, I found honest prices and even smiling staff.
In fact, another unhappy aspect of my first Croatian impact, I must sadly admit, was a certain grumpiness of those working in public establishments and finally only in Zagreb then did I find a smiling waitress. One of the dogmas of those who work with the public is that the customer, especially if he is on vacation, deserves at the very least a smile, this far beyond the service you give him.
Next stage Travel to Croatia, both coast and inland
Trips taken, travel stories divided by continent
Countries visited in my travel stories
Anecdotes, divided by type in travel narratives
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