Could you anons share your experiences in the Balkans, please?

I'm planning a 13 night journey in this region, through Bosnia & Herzegovina, Croatia, Montenegro, and Serbia. It will be a solo backpacking trip in the summer. I'm interested in history, architecture, pretty nature, nightlife, and social hostels.

Pic-related is Kotor, Montenegro, somewhere I plan to visit on this trip.

Not sure if I can help you much as I mostly visited Albania before being stranded in Belgrade due to a problem, but I plan to come again to visit Bosnia and I will tell you what I know.

Locals told me that in Bosnia, Sarajevo is pretty cool, Mostar is a must to visit, Banja Luka is also nice and so is Trebinje.
Someone living in Sarajevo told me Serbs in Republika Srpska aren't very friendly, but Serbs in proper Serbia were absolute bros to me, so I don't know.

I didn't go to Croatia because the coast was a bit too expensive for me to stay a little while and I've heard Zabreg is boring. On top of that, a Croat girl locked me on a balcony when I was in Ljubljana searching for a hostel I could book on the spot, so I'm weary of Croats now. That said I might still visit Rovinj and Pula one day.

Regarding Montenegro, I was in Podgorica for a few hours before going to Serbia, there is nothing to see and do there, so don't waste your time there.
But I've heard very good things about the coast, Kotor of course, but also Petrovac, Budva and Ulcinj, which I need to visit one day.

Belgrade is awesome for nightlife, I love this city, it's a bit chaotic and overwhelming at times, but people are friendly, even if you see tall tough guys not smiling and frowning at you, that doesn't mean they dislike you, it's just the Slav grindset. There is an artificial lake where you can go swim, and buses are free, look it up.
Novi Sad and Subotica are also worth visiting, and for nature there is Bajina Basta.
Beware though, there are serious protests right now against Vučić, I almost got stuck in Novi Sad because the government shut down all the trains for two days to prevent protestors to come to Belgrade. After one big protest ended up violently at night, people were so pissed off they started blocking parts of the cities. Look at what's happening on N1 News.

Be aware that summer temperatures can be very high and heatwaves are common. So carry a bottle of water, a cap, etc. Enjoy!

>>2800538 (OP)
only been to Dubrovnik. It was a lot of fun and if you take the ferry out to the island bring a swimsuit because there's a beach and a bunch of cliffs to jump off. croatia had some of the clearest water I've ever seen.

>>2800947
Thank you for all this advice anon.
I'm very excited, I think I'll do Sarajevo -> Mostar -> Dubrovnik -> Kotor -> Budva -> Belgrade
I'll take a ferry from Dubrovnik to Kotor so I can see the bay.
>>2801007
I'll definitely be bringing a swimsuit on this trip. How do people make sure their phones aren't stolen while swimming though, do they just leave it on the beach and hope for the best?
I'll be traveling solo.

>>2800947
>Serbs in proper Serbia were absolute bros to me
How to make Serb friends?

Anyone have suggestions for Rovinj? I'm spending a week there this October. Balled out and got a pretty nice Airbnb for the week. Not looking for a much beyond walking around, eating some good food and reading a few books. Is swimming still an option earlier in the month?

Any good Bars that would give me a chance of meeting people?

>>2800947
Was it hard to get around Albania?
The internet makes it out to have very confusing public transport

Tirana - 1 night
North Macedonia:
Ohrid - 2 nights
Albania:
Gjirokastër - 2 nights
Berat - 2 nights
Bulgaria:
Sofia - 1 night
Burgas - 3 nights

How's this sound for an eastern Balkans trip? Burgas used as a base for day trips.

>>2800947
>Belgrade is awesome for nightlife, I love this city
What is the best area for night life and going to the gym during the day?

>>2801231
Weird trip

>>2801199
>Podgorica
Do you mean long distance?
Found buses easy enough to use between different countries.
I didn't really bother with public transport in Tirana, it's small enough. Even walked back from the nuclear bunker thing and cable car up the mountain.
It's not a huge city

>>2801980
No, I mean in Albania, between different small towns such as Berat

>>2800538 (OP)
I've been to every Balkan country multiple times on roadtrips. I love the region and know a fair bit about it. Other anons already gave good advice. If you have any specific question feel free to ask. As for public transport, it's rather unreliable - renting a car is a much better choice

>>2802021
I hate driving. I have to use public transport when traveling. This is my planned route >>2801040
I'm on the fence on whether I should fly or take a long bus ride from Montenegro to Serbia.
Can you elaborate on how it's unreliable?

I'm a dumb american
why are the balkans considered a shithole? they seem great on paper: beautiful nature, cheap, laid-back way of life

>>2802190
Who says they are a shithole? Idiots on 4chan?

>>2801040
>How do people make sure their phones aren't stolen while swimming though, do they just leave it on the beach and hope for the best?
Basically yeah
>>2802190
Because of low wages. Also some people still have the mental image of the region being completely devastated by the 90s wars

>>2802240
>Who says they are a shithole?
balkanites and all their neighbours with bosnia and kosovo being defacto failed states that everyone tries to escape. no jobs, no industry, widespread poverty, ethnic tensions galore, government corrupt and inept.

>>2802633
the balkan is basically the mexico/colombia of europe

>>2802633
Okay maybe it's a shitty place to live, but this is a travel board. For tourism, these countries are far from shitholes

Skip budva. It was absolutely packed with the worst kind of rude trashy Russian tourists. The beach was disgusting. Sights were trashy, shit was overpriced That was in 2012 can’t imagine how bad it is now.

>>2802698
I think I may stay there for five whole nights actually lol
Several tours around Montenegro and Albania operate out of Budva, it'd be an excellent base of operations for me because I can come back to party with my hostel friends after each long day of sightseeing.
I'll go in June, it won't be quite as packed as July.

Do I need to be worried about stray dogs in Bosnia, Montenegro, or Serbia? Or are they harmless?

>>2802633
Slovenia is one of the best European countries to live in and Croatia is decent, the emigration has slowed down recently

>>2802021
Sorry, this post was meant for you >>2802732

>>2802633
>ethnic tensions galore,
Only in Bosnia and Kosovo

>>2802190
A lot of people on here hate on Dubrovnik. But outside of this board, it's pretty rare to hear anything bad about Croatia. I fucking loved Croatia. The food was good. The coastline is beautiful. The towns are gorgeous and super laid back. It's relatively cheap. It's also a lot friendlier than a lot of places in Europe I've been. I'd go back to Croatia anytime.

>>2802746
immigration hasn't though
>>2802732
why would you be worried about stray dogs?

>>2802815
In the Balkans rabies is still a thing.

>>2802816
weird, there's no rabies in croatia

>>2802781
>A lot of people on here hate on Dubrovnik
Dubrovnik is one of the most fascinating cities in Europe history-wise, it's so kino. But yes it's been turned into touristslop

You need to go to Guça Festival its a balkan trumpet music festival, its just fucking crazy and awesome.
I'll dump some photos later of a roadtrip in the balkans i made years ago

>>2802190
>why are the balkans considered a shithole?
no trains, no architecture, no jobs, no money, no whores

>Albania - 6 nights
I heard various rumors about the Albanian public transport before I arrived all of which said it was shit and unreliable. It surprised me when I got there (I wasn't traveling on a schedule) I arrived in Tirana and made my way down the coastline stopping in various beach towns. You just show up at the central bus station (no bookings) there is like 500 busses all with different locations on the front window, the drivers wait until it fills up with the appropriate amount of people to make the money they want and they leave. Another bus comes to replace it and so on. Was extremely chill if you aren't on an intense schedule I visited Vlore, Serande, Gjirokaster, Blue Lagoon, they were all good fun with good energy wish I was able to do some hiking and see some other beach towns. Great food cash is definitely needed.
>Montenegro - 6 nights
Bus situation is a little similar although Montenegro's public transport was put together a little better, stayed in Podgorica for one night (that's literally all you need I see it as a transport hub lol) had an absolute blast in Kotor at the hostels, it was definitely a party vibe. Budva was fun and has some very nice scenery and cheap beach vibes. Be careful where you book accommodation because most of them are up a fucking steep hill and there aren't any local bus routes. Go to the little island and do some swimming and jump off the rocks etc. Tivat was definitely a rich person's docking station, I haven't been to Monaco but I imagine it would be similar vibes, cool to see some of the boats and its a pretty photogenic little town. Kotor was definitely the most fun in my visit though.
>Kosovo - 2 nights
Only went Kosovo as the cheapest flight leaving the Balkans was here, I spent two days walking around Pristina and there wasn't a whole lot to do. Food & accommodation were extremely cheap and everyone was friendly but the place kind of gave weird vibes, fair enough considering their history.
>picrel Kotor

>>2802847
This sounds amazing and just what I'm looking for, I'm so excited, thanks anon.

>>2802021
Hi anon, is it true that the roads to many inland sights in Montenegero have sheer drop-offs with no guard rails? Isn't that super dangerous?

Okay so after much research I have settled on an itinerary. >>2802847 this post was very helpful, I found a good hostel in Kotor that would be a really fun base of operations for daytrips around Montenegro, and one to Albania.
>>2802698
You actually are right. The pandemic devastated the town and they got rid of most of the beach raves so it's a lot chiller I think like that other anon says, so for me it's been downgraded to just a day trip from Kotor.
I recognize that my time in Croatia, Bosnia, and Serbia won't be enough to see everything, but I have to keep this trip to 2 weeks.

>>2803797
>Mostar one night
>Kotor 6 nights
You're missing out on rafting the Neretva Valley, as well as Tito's bunker.

Also, why are you not taking the Bar-Belgrade train?!?!!?! It's known as one of the most beautiful journeys in the world. Virpazar is a nice stop on the way on that train route for lunch on a lake boat, too.

>>2803797
Also, would unrionically place Ulcinj over Budva if you wanted kino day trips. Pirate Hostel there is kino as fuck, and organises decent trips. Kotor is a chill spot for a villa rental - a one trick pony. Ulcinj allows:
>Ada Boyana nudist beach + raves
>Proximity to Shkoder = potential Theth-Valbone hike or Lake Komani ferry trip
>Virpazar for Lake Shkoder trips
Not to mention it is the unofficial Kosovan seaside resort, relatively cheap, has soul, and isn't rammed with westernfags.

>>2803801
I did not know of the Bar- Belgrade train, but I'll consider it. Maybe I can see both Ulcinj and Budva on the same day.
That sucks that I'll miss Tito’s bunker but I really want to see a lot of nature in Montenegro, especially Durmitor, so that's why this itinerary is structured this way. I found a party hostel in Kotor, so I'll just party there.
Your arguments are convincing, but I think what I want out of this trip is in Kotor, and Ulcinj can just be a day trip for me.

>>2803806
>>2803817
Actually Ulcinj is too far for a combined day trip from Budva.
Still, I appreciate your input anon. I think maybe you and I just have different priorities when traveling through this region.

>>2800538 (OP)
if u want to experience croatia, actual croatia, without the overwhelming masses of tourists, go to
sinj
imotski
drnis
knin
benkovac
north croatia is extremely boring so skip that.coast is beautiful but so swarmed and just feels like a giant tourist trap.
novi sad is a nice, cool town in serbia. belgrade is interesting too.

>>2801171
rovinj is tiny you dont even need recommendations you can just walk around and see the whole place. that said its still worth spending a week in. its that beautiful
>>2802190
90s war media burned into peoples memories.

I agree with others that Montenegro along the coast is really nice. Also the area that borders Albania (with the big lake) has beautiful nature. Keep in mind though that if you go in summer, traffic is horrible. Expect to take 2x longer than you think to get anywhere. And the roads near that lake are dodgy af.