©Lonely Planet Publications Pty Ltd
Western Balkans
Slovenia p373 Croatia p133
Bosnia & Serbia Hercegovina p322 p89
Montenegro Kosovo p233 p218
North Macedonia p284
Albania p50
Peter Dragicevich, Mark Baker, Stuart Butler, Vesna Maric, Brana Vladisavljevic, Anthony Ham, Jessica Lee, Kevin Raub PLAN YOUR TRIP ON THE ROAD
Welcome to ALBANIA...... 50 Banja Luka...... 122 the Western Balkans. . . . . 6 Tirana...... 53 Una River Valley. . . . . 125 Western Balkans Map. . . . 8 Central Albania...... 61 Understand BiH . . . . . 127 Western Balkans’ Kruja...... 61 Survival Guide ...... 131 Top 15...... 10 Berat...... 62 Need to Know...... 18 Korça ...... 66 CROATIA ...... 133 What’s New...... 20 Gjirokastra...... 67 Zagreb ...... 135 If You Like…...... 21 The Albanian Riviera Istria...... 146 & the East...... 70 Pula...... 147 Month by Month. . . . . 24 Saranda...... 71 Brijuni Islands...... 150 Itineraries ...... 27 Ksamil ...... 74 Rovinj...... 152 Activities...... 36 Himara...... 75 Poreč ...... 154 Eat & Drink Shkodra...... 76 Motovun...... 155 Like a Local...... 41 The Accursed Mountains Hum...... 157 Countries at a Glance. . . 46 & the North...... 78 Labin & Rabac ...... 158 Valbona ...... 79 Kvarner...... 159 CESARZ/SHUTTERSTOCK © COLORMAKER/SHUTTERSTOCK © Theth...... 81 Rijeka...... 159 Understand Albania. . . . 82 Krk Island ...... 163 Survival Guide ...... 86 Lika...... 165 Plitvice Lakes BOSNIA & National Park ...... 165 HERCEGOVINA. . . . 89 Paklenica Sarajevo...... 92 National Park ...... 166 Eastern Bosnia. . . . . 105 Dalmatia ...... 167 Bjelašnica ...... 105 Zadar ...... 167 BUREK/BYREK Visoko...... 105 Krka National Park. . . . . 172 Višegrad...... 107 Šibenik...... 173 Sutjeska Trogir ...... 175
O.JAYPHOTOGRAPHY/SHUTTERSTOCK © National Park ...... 108 Split ...... 177 Hercegovina ...... 109 Makarska Riviera. . . . . 186 Mostar...... 109 Brač Island ...... 187 Blagaj...... 116 Hvar Island ...... 189 Međugorje...... 117 Korčula Island...... 193 Počitelj...... 118 Elafiti Islands ...... 195 Trebinje ...... 118 Dubrovnik ...... 197 Western Bosnia. . . . . 120 Cavtat...... 207 Travnik...... 120 Understand Croatia. . . . 208 PEJA (PEĆ; P225), KOSOVO Jajce...... 121 Survival Guide ...... 211 Contents
KOSOVO...... 218 Perast...... 238 Northern Montenegro...... 272 Pristina...... 220 Kotor...... 240 Biogradska Gora Around Pristina . . . . . 224 Tivat...... 246 National Park ...... 272 Western Kosovo . . . . . 225 Adriatic Coast...... 249 Durmitor Peja (Peć) ...... 225 Budva...... 249 National Park ...... 272 Rugova Valley...... 226 Sveti Stefan...... 254 Understand Southern Kosovo. . . . 227 Ulcinj ...... 257 Montenegro...... 278 Prizren...... 227 Velika Plaža & Survival Guide ...... 281 Understand Kosovo. . . 229 rAda Bojana ...... 260 Survival Guide ...... 231 Central Montenegro. . .. 260 NORTH Lovćen National Park . . . 261 MACEDONIA. . . . . 284 MONTENEGRO. . . . 233 Cetinje...... 262 Skopje ...... 286 Around Skopje . . . . . 295 Bay of Kotor ...... 235 Lake Skadar National Park ...... 265 Mt Vodno...... 295 Herceg Novi ...... 235 Podgorica ...... 267 Canyon Matka...... 296
LAKE OHRID (P300), NORTH MACEDONIA ON THE ROAD SPECTRAL-DESIGN/SHUTTERSTOCK ©
THETH (P81), THE ACCURSED MOUNTAINS, ALBANIA
Western SERBIA...... 322 Eastern & North Macedonia. . . . 297 Southern Serbia. . . . . 360 Belgrade...... 325 Mavrovo Đerdap National Park Vojvodina...... 345 National Park ...... 297 & Around...... 360 Novi Sad...... 345 Lake Ohrid...... 300 Niš...... 363 Fruška Gora Ohrid ...... 303 Stara Planina ...... 367 National Park Galičica & Sremski Karlovci . . . . 350 Understand Serbia. . . . 368 National Park ...... 309 Subotica...... 352 Survival Guide ...... 371 Central North Macedonia. . . . 310 Western & Central Serbia...... 353 Pelister SLOVENIA...... 373 Tara National Park National Park ...... 310 Ljubljana ...... 375 & Around...... 354 Bitola ...... 312 The Julian Alps...... 389 Kragujevac...... 356 Understand Lake Bled...... 389 Novi Pazar...... 358 North Macedonia. . . . 316 Radovljica ...... 394 Survival Guide ...... 319 Lake Bohinj...... 396 Contents
UNDERSTAND
The Western Balkans
OSCARPORRAS/SHUTTERSTOCK © Today ...... 428 History...... 430 People & Religion. . . . 437 Arts & Architecture. . . 440 Environment...... 444
SURVIVAL GUIDE
Directory A–Z...... 448 Transport...... 454 Language...... 458 Index...... 467 Map Legend...... 478 KOTOR (P240), MONTENEGRO
Kranjska Gora...... 398 Slovenian Coast. . . . . 410 Soča Valley ...... 401 Koper...... 411 Bovec...... 401 Piran...... 412 Kobarid ...... 403 Eastern Slovenia. . . . . 416 Slovenian Karst . . . . . 405 Maribor ...... 416 Postojna...... 405 Ptuj...... 419 SPECIAL Cerknica...... 407 Southeastern FEATURES Škocjan Caves ...... 408 Slovenia...... 421 Region-wide itineraries...... 27 Western Dolenjske Toplice. . . . . 421 Wine Regions ...... 409 Understand Slovenia. . .. 422 Scenic Showstoppers...... 215 Goriška Brda...... 409 Survival Guide ...... 424 Religious Architecture...... 217 Language...... 458 ©Lonely Planet Publications Pty Ltd 27
Itineraries
AUSTRIA HUNGARY
SLOVENIA #_ É ZAGREB #_•# ROMANIA LJUBLJANA CROATIA É BELGRADE #_
BOSNIA & É SERBIA HERCEGOVINA É É Black #_SARAJEVO Sea Mostar •# BULGARIA É MONTENEGRO É KOSOVO •# Prizren ADRIATIC TURKEY Dubrovnik •# •# SEA Kotor NORTH
MACEDONIA TIRANA #_ É •# Ohrid ITALY ALBANIA AEGEAN GREECE SEA Ionian Sea
2 WEEKS Breezing through the Balkans
Consider this a ‘greatest hits’ of the Western Balkans, taking in a slice of each of the eight countries featured. It can easily be tackled on public transport, although a car will give you more flexibility for exploring the extraordinary countryside along the way. Start by city-hopping through four of the capitals: Ljubljana in Slovenia, Zagreb in Croatia, Belgrade in Serbia and Sarajevo in Bosnia. While the first two are cute, mid-sized, Central European cities, Sarajevo’s fascinating cultural fusion lets you know that you’re on the east side, while Belgrade is a hub of history, culture and late-night hedonism. Stop to take a look at the famous bridge in Mostar on your way to the ancient walled city of Dubrovnik, then hop across the Croatia–Montenegro border to its ‘mini me’ Ko- tor. From here you can take an extraordinary drive via Budva, Podgorica, the breathtak- ing Morača Canyon and through the mountains to historic Prizren in Kosovo. Continue on to North Macedonia, and spend a night amid the old-world architecture of Ohrid on the shores of the eponymous lake. Cross into Albania to experience the wild colours of the vibrant capital, Tirana. 28
SLOVENIA LJUBLJANA #_ ROMANIA #_ZAGREB CROATIA Piran •# Rijeka BELGRADE PLAN YOUR TRIP TRIP YOUR PLAN •# É Poreč •# #_ •# •#Rabac Plitvice Lakes Rovinj •# ÷#National Park Pula É BOSNIA & SAN HERCEGOVINA SERBIA MARINO Zadar•# #_ É SARAJEVO Split •#É PRISTINA BULGARIA Hvar Island •# MONTENEGRO •# #_ Korčula Town É PODGORICA It •# Dubrovnik •#•# #_ KOSOVO i nerar •# Perast •# #_ SKOPJE
Kotor •# É NORTH Budva Ulcinj MACEDONIA ITALY Sveti #_ i es Stefan TIRANA ALBANIA
Albanian•# Riviera É GREECE Butrint•#
3 WEEKS Cruising the Coast
This itinerary traces a leisurely path along arguably the Mediterranean’s most spectacu- lar coastline, from the Adriatic Sea all the way to the Ionian. An extensive network of ferries and buses makes car-free travel a breeze. Spend your first week exploring the Istrian peninsula, starting in pretty Piran, the main attraction of Slovenia’s tiny slice of coast. Cross the border into Croatia and head to Poreč, where an extraordinary Byzantine basilica awaits. Continue on to the gorgeous old town of Rovinj and the ancient city of Pula, replete with Roman ruins. Be sure to take day trips into the interior to visit Istria’s historic hill towns and to experience its exemplary cuisine. The best beach is in Rabac, on Istria’s east coast; stop for a swim before heading up to the shabby but interesting city of Rijeka. Set aside your second week for exploring Dalmatia but, before you do, detour to Plit- vice Lakes National Park to witness its famed waterfalls. Plunge down to Zadar and wander through the slippery marble streets of the old town. Keep cruising the coast to the sun-kissed city of Split, home to Diocletian’s Palace and gateway to the Dalmatian islands. After a couple of days on party- and beach-loving Hvar Island, hop over to Korčula Town on the island of the same name. This picturesque little fortified town is a taster for the main course, the famous walled city of Dubrovnik. Start your third week by crossing into Montenegro and driving around the extraordi- narily beautiful Bay of Kotor. Take a look at palazzo-packed Perast and then press on to the fortified old town of Kotor for a couple of days. As you continue down the coast, stop for a quick look at the still-charming walled town of otherwise-overdeveloped Budva and pause along the highway for the obligatory photo of the fortified island village of Sveti Stefan. Stop for the night in buzzy Ulcinj before crossing the border into Albania and following the coast as the sea switches from the Adriatic to the Ionian. Spend your last two nights on the Albanian Riviera, making sure to visit Gjipe Beach and the an- cient ruins of Butrint. 29 DREAMER4787/SHUTTERSTOCK © PLAN YOUR TRIP TRIP YOUR PLAN It i nerar i es ZVONIMIR ATLETIC/SHUTTERSTOCK© Top: Old Town city walls (p197), Dubrovnik, Croatia, Bottom: Mosaic, National History Muesum (p53), Tirana, Albania KIRILL_MAKAROV/SHUTTERSTOCK © ), 108 ), 325 Partisan Partisan Trg Republike, Top: (p Belgrade Serbia Bottom: sculptors (by Memorial Miodrag Živković and Ranko Radović; p Sutjeska Park, National Bosnia & Hercegovina
ALINA_STOCK/SHUTTERSTOCK ©
Itineraries
PLAN YOUR TRIP 32 33
a strIa serBIa H n ar La e KOsO O Bled s O enIa Ontene rO •#É É #_ PRISTINA
LJ BLJANA TRIP YOUR PLAN #_ et ar Škocjan #_ZAGREB PODGORICA National National Caves Park Park É •# #_ CrOatIa É ÷# Pri ren •#÷# •# É É _#
Piran É É •# BOsnIa S odra SKOPJE •# ÷# Rovinj Una HerCe O Ina avrovo nOrtH Plitvice Lakes ÷#National National ÷#
National Park Jajce aCe OnIa
Park É Park
É •# É SARAJEVO TIRANA
Zadar•# #_ It É #_ •# É D rr s •#O rid i nerar
S lit •# É •# •#Mostar Sveti Na Monaster É •# ADRIATIC i es SEA •# Berat Tre inje #_ a BanIa •# reeCe Ita
•# #_
2 2 WEEKS West Side Glory WEEKS An Eastern Circuit
Wend your way around the western edge of This itinerary traces a ring through Alba- the Balkans through Slovenia, Croatia and nia, Kosovo and North Macedonia and can Bosnia and Hercegovina. Along the way be commenced from any of the three capi- you’ll take in spectacular mountains, coast, tal cities and tackled in either direction. rivers and waterfalls, plus ancient Roman, Allocate a couple of days to Tirana, the Venetian, Austrian and Ottoman towns. kooky Albanian capital. Take the pictur- Start at glorious Lake Bled before esque journey north to remote Theth Na- delving into the art nouveau delights of tional Park. Double back to the historic Ljubljana. Visit the Škocjan Caves and city of Shkodra and then cut east to Ko- then hit the coast at picturesque Piran. sovo. Just across the border, Prizren has Journey across the Croatian border to the a historic core and is a good base for hikes glamorous seaside town of Rovinj. On the in the nearby Shar National Park. The next leg you’ll edge past interesting Pazin, capital, Pristina, is not as pretty but it has Opatija and Rijeka en route to the extraor- an enticing atmosphere all of its own. dinary . Plitvice Lakes National Park Continue south and cross into North From here, it’s a breeze to duck across the Macedonia. The capital Skopje contrasts Bosnian border to Bihać, gateway to the wonderful socialist modernist architecture waterfalls of . Una National Park with a recent, much-derided, neoclassi- Cross back into Croatia and continue cal makeover. From here, beat a path to on to Zadar, a walled coastal city with a mountainous Mavrovo National Park. profusion of Roman remains. There’s more Continue on to Ohrid, a highlight not just of ancient Rome to be spotted in Split. of North Macedonia, but of this eastern From here, venture back into the heart of edge of the region. Follow the eastern Bosnia to visit the charming Ottoman town shore of Lake Ohrid to the Albanian bor- of Jajce. More Ottoman architecture can der, pausing to visit the imposing Sveti be seen in Mostar, including its signature Naum Monastery along the way. Back in bridge. Press on to Trebinje, a pleasant Albania, head to the Ottoman-era town of little place with a walled riverside old town. Berat and the coastal resort of Durrës. 34
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