As a teenager and in my early twenties I traveled a lot to the Balkans. In today's post I will share some hidden treasures from this region with you: places that not that many people know about, but that are still very much worth a visit. Enjoy!
Peleș Castle, Transsylvania, Romania
The first places that comes to my mind when I think of such hidden treasures is Peleș Castle in Romania. This may not be the most special castle, but its location on a hill within walking distance from the train station in Sinaia makes it worth a visit if you ever find yourself in Romania. I really enjoyed my short visit to this castle. In fact, I love this place so much that the following picture is on the wall of my living room:
Actually the entire region of Transsylvania is one big hidden treasure. The region is mostly famous for being the home of Dracula, but it has so much to offer. The region is scattered with lovely castles and beautiful (mountaineous) landscapes. The region's main city - Brașov - the region's capital - is a lovely city with a very calm atmosphere and on the countryside you can still find many people who use a horse and carriage as their main form of transportation. In short: this region has it all.
Mostar, Hercegovina, Bosnia & Hercegovina
Mostar is famous for the old bridge (Stari Most) right in the center of the old town. In fact the city was named after the bridge keepers (mostari) who guarded the bridge during medieval times. This bridge was one of the must-sees for me in Europe and I visited it in 2013. Even though the bridge was bombed during the war in 1995 and reconstructed afterwards you still get the feeling that this is a really special old bridge. Combined with the blue waters and the old stone buildings around it, this bridge really is a treasure. And even though not that many tourists will visit Bosnia & Hercegovina, the bridge can still be quite crowded in high season because it's such a small place.
Peleș Castle, Transsylvania, Romania
The first places that comes to my mind when I think of such hidden treasures is Peleș Castle in Romania. This may not be the most special castle, but its location on a hill within walking distance from the train station in Sinaia makes it worth a visit if you ever find yourself in Romania. I really enjoyed my short visit to this castle. In fact, I love this place so much that the following picture is on the wall of my living room:
Actually the entire region of Transsylvania is one big hidden treasure. The region is mostly famous for being the home of Dracula, but it has so much to offer. The region is scattered with lovely castles and beautiful (mountaineous) landscapes. The region's main city - Brașov - the region's capital - is a lovely city with a very calm atmosphere and on the countryside you can still find many people who use a horse and carriage as their main form of transportation. In short: this region has it all.
Mostar, Hercegovina, Bosnia & Hercegovina
Mostar is famous for the old bridge (Stari Most) right in the center of the old town. In fact the city was named after the bridge keepers (mostari) who guarded the bridge during medieval times. This bridge was one of the must-sees for me in Europe and I visited it in 2013. Even though the bridge was bombed during the war in 1995 and reconstructed afterwards you still get the feeling that this is a really special old bridge. Combined with the blue waters and the old stone buildings around it, this bridge really is a treasure. And even though not that many tourists will visit Bosnia & Hercegovina, the bridge can still be quite crowded in high season because it's such a small place.
Mostar itself may not be so much a hidden treasure, as it is quite well-known. Few people know however that the are around it (called Hercegovina) is also worth visiting. There is Međugorje, a Catholic pilgrimage after the Virgin Mary was spotted here in 1981, a medieval town called Pocitelj and some very nice waterfalls called Kravice Falls. If you hire a car or book a day trip via your hostel, all sights can be seen in just one (long) day.
Should you be inspired by my blog post and wanting to visit Hercegovina now, I recommend to stay at Hostel Majdas in Mostar. I have visited many hostels over the years, but this place really is one of the best places I stayed at and the owners are also very kind people.
Kotor, Montenegro
Montenegro is a relatively new country and therefore it's still relatively unknown as a tourist destination. This small country does have its beautiful places though. While capital city Podgorica may not really be worth a visit, the small town of Kotor does have the potential to become a major tourist attraction. Located on day-trip distance from Dubrovnik, Kotor has a lot to offer: a lovely old town, a beautiful bay and a mountain next to the old town that you can climb for a great view over the entire bay. A perfect place for a perfect picture.
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