balkans

Why you must visit Subotica, Serbia: an art nouveau dreamscape

May 4, 2018 by Karen Turner 3 Comments

When I was researching my trip to Serbia, I was intrigued when I read about a city in Northern Serbia with art nouveau architecture. One of my favorite pastimes when traveling is to find beautiful architecture, so when I decided that I’d visit Serbia, I knew that I had to find my way to Subotica. Keep reasons for reasons to visit Subotica, Serbia and a little miniature guide to Subotica with tips on things to do in Subotica, Serbia.

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Your Albania itinerary: The best things to do in Albania

April 18, 2018 by Karen Turner 4 Comments

One of my favorite trips of last year was visiting Albania. We only had a week in Albania, which is a bit on the low side, but enough to get you hooked on visiting this beautiful country in the Balkans, but I’ve expanded this itinerary to include the best things to do in Albania with the help of friends. I include a complete itinerary for our trip to Albania, which was done entirely by bus besides one organized trip to Valbona. I hope that this Albania itinerary inspires you to visit this beautiful country!

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Your Belgrade food guide: Where to eat in Belgrade and where to drink coffee in Belgrade, Serbia

May 7, 2018 by Karen Turner 3 Comments

While visiting Belgrade Serbia, I fell hard for Serbian food. I’m not pretending to be a tried-and-true expert on Belgrade, but with the help of Svetlana, one of my Instagram followers who lived in Belgrade, my fantastic hostel receptionist, and some new Serbian friends, I was able to expertly navigate Belgrade’s food scene. This is my little guide to where to eat in Belgrade, Serbia with some tips on where to drink coffee in Belgrade in between your meals. (Be prepared to leave Belgrade ready for a coffee IV.)

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Theth to Valbona: What to know about hiking on Albania’s most beautiful trail

April 23, 2018 by Karen Turner 9 Comments

If you’re considering hiking in Albania from Theth to Valbona, this post is for you. I’m an amateur hiker who decided that I’d do my first proper full-day hike while in Albania. Admittedly, the hike didn’t go as smoothly as I wanted as I ended up carrying my large backpacking…

Still, I’m so glad that I decided to hike in Albania. The views were beautiful. This post contains tips for hiking from Theth To Valbona, what to bring with you for Theth to Valbona, and what to expect from Albania’s most famous hiking trail.

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Solo Female Travel in Serbia: Is Serbia safe for women?

June 25, 2018 by Karen Turner 2 Comments

I haven’t taken a solo trip in years, so when I found a cheap flight to Belgrade from Eindhoven, I decided to go for it. It was February, not summer, but I heard and read how dynamic Belgrade is, I had to visit Belgrade. I have previously traveled in the Balkans, but this was my experience traveling in Serbia as a solo female traveler. I was a bit worried on whether Serbia would be safe as a solo female traveler, but luckily a friend of mine assuaged my doubts.

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Why you must visit Berat, one of Albania’s most beautiful cities

April 25, 2018 by Karen Turner 1 Comment

When I first started researching Albania, I wondered why I hadn’t heard of many of these places. Albania has been left off a lot of lists and I’d like to do my part in helping people discover the beauty of Albania. When I started researching my Albania trip, I ended up becoming obsessed with Berat after seeing photos of its stunning Ottoman-era houses. It’s easily one of the most beautiful cities in Albania and I’ll be covering three reasons why you must visit Berat, Albania….

Where to drink craft beer and cocktails in Belgrade, Serbia

May 14, 2018 by Karen Turner Leave a Comment

Serbia is certainly on the cutting edge of cuisine and beer. Although I heard that Serbian craft beer wasn’t popular for a long time, you’ll find numerous fantastic options on where to drink craft beer in Belgrade. As Belgrade is a big destination for going out, you’ll need to find somewhere to go before the splats open, so keep reading on where to drink cocktails in Belgrade [bottom] and the best craft beer in Belgrade. (Even if you’re not a big partier, I have some recommendations for some quieter bars in Belgrade!)…

46 beautiful photos of Kosovo that will inspire you to visit Kosovo

October 15, 2017 by Karen Turner 12 Comments

Kosovo was one of those countries that made me wish that I had all the time in the world to experience every country. With on time buses, ridiculously friendly locals who spoke great English who occasionally gave us free dessert, beautiful mountains, amazing architecture, a fascinating history, small distances between its major cities, and low prices, Kosovo is the perfect country for travelers interested in diving into Balkan culture and history. Ready to see 40+ beautiful Kosovo photos?

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50 beautiful photos of Albania that will inspire you to visit Albania

December 27, 2017 by Karen Turner 6 Comments

After visiting Kosovo last year, I was told that I needed to visit Albania. I started looking up photos–and I was sold instantly. I visited Albania this summer and it was my favorite trip of 2017 hands down. Why? The beautiful nature, incredible hiking, historic cities, warm weather, delicious byrek, and decent prices… What else could one ask for in a vacation? Keep scrolling for beautiful photos of Albania, including photos of the most beautiful places in Albania that we visited. I truly hope this post inspires you to visit Albania.

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Visit Kosovo: Complete Itinerary of the Best Things to do in Kosovo

August 26, 2017 by Karen Turner 23 Comments

If you’re doing a Balkan trip, you might be passing through Kosovo. Often, Pristina, Kosovo is a transfer point for Balkan buses, but Kosovo is much more than Pristina.

If you only visit Pristina, you’ll miss out on the many other things to do in Kosovo. Kosovo tourism is still developing, so expect friendly locals, cheap hotels, and a lot of beautiful places. Keep reading for a Kosovo itinerary with the best places to visit in Kosovo.…