Balkans Travel Guides: Skopje, Matka Canyon, Prizren, Sarandë and Sofia

The Balkans gave us some of the cheapest and most surprising trips we have taken in Europe: a canyon 30 minutes from a capital city, an Ottoman old town where the call to prayer mixes with Orthodox bells, a riviera with Greek islands on the horizon and a capital with a 5-day itinerary that still costs less than a weekend in Munich. This page gathers our five guides to North Macedonia, Kosovo, Albania and Bulgaria and shows how they fit together into one trip.

Buses are the way to travel here: there is almost no useful train service between these countries, but comfortable coaches connect Sofia, Skopje, Prizren, Tirana and Sarandë several times a day for a few euros an hour of travel. Allow for border checks, carry your passport and some cash in each currency (denar in North Macedonia, lek in Albania, euro in Kosovo and, since 1 January 2026, also in Bulgaria), and travel between May and October for the best weather on the coast and in the mountains.

North Macedonia

• 72 hours in Skopje: the Stone Bridge, the Old Bazaar, the fortress and where to stay on Macedonia Square.

• Tips for visiting Matka Canyon: the best day trip from Skopje: boat to the cave, kayaking and the monastery.

Kosovo

• 12 best things to do in Prizren: the Ottoman old town under the fortress, two hours by bus from Skopje.

Albania

• Sarandë travel guide: 5 days on the Albanian Riviera: Ksamil beaches, Butrint and the Blue Eye, with Corfu across the water.

Bulgaria

• The perfect 5-day itinerary for Sofia: Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, Vitosha mountain and the hidden gems of the Bulgarian capital.

A 10-day Balkans route using these guides

• Days 1 to 3: Sofia. Fly in, see the centre and Vitosha mountain and follow the first days of our 5-day itinerary.

• Day 4: bus to Skopje. About 5 hours; arrive in time for an evening in the Old Bazaar.

• Days 5 and 6: Skopje and Matka Canyon. City on day 5, canyon on day 6 with the bus from the Main Bus Station.

• Day 7: Prizren. Two hours by bus from Skopje; sleep in the old town and climb to the fortress at sunset.

• Days 8 to 10: Sarandë. Bus via Tirana to the coast (a full day); beaches, Butrint and the ferry to Corfu for the flight home.

Balkans travel: frequently asked questions

Is the Balkans cheap to travel?

Yes, it is the cheapest corner of Europe we know. In Skopje and Prizren a good meal costs a few euros, a 4-star hotel on the main square costs a fraction of Western prices and intercity buses cost about 10 to 20 euros per leg. Sofia and Sarandë are a little pricier in summer but still far below Germany or Croatia.

How do you travel between Sofia, Skopje, Prizren and Sarandë?

By bus. Sofia to Skopje takes about 5 hours, Skopje to Prizren about 2 hours, and Prizren or Skopje to Sarandë is a full day via Tirana (6 to 8 hours to Tirana, then 4 to 5 hours to the coast). Buy tickets at the bus stations a day ahead in summer and keep your passport ready at each border.

What is the best time to visit the Balkans?

May to June and September to October for warm days, open mountain trails and manageable prices; July and August are hot inland and busy on the Albanian Riviera. Sofia and Skopje work in winter too, with cheap hotels and cosy cafés, but the Matka Canyon boats and the coast are best in the warm months.

Which currency do I need?

Four of them: the Macedonian denar in Skopje and Matka, the euro in Kosovo and, since 1 January 2026, in Bulgaria, and the Albanian lek in Sarandë, where euros are often accepted at a worse rate. Cards work in hotels and most restaurants in the cities; carry cash for buses, markets and small towns.

Do I need a visa for the Balkans?

EU, UK, US and many other passport holders enter all four countries visa-free for 90 days. Holders of a valid multiple-entry Schengen visa or residence permit can generally enter North Macedonia, Albania and Kosovo with it, and Bulgaria is a Schengen member. Check the current rules for your passport before booking, because they change.