I was always interested in the Balkan region in Southeast Europe. My previous visit was to Slovenia and Croatia with family (details here). Last year, I visited Greece, Bulgaria and Romania. This year, I covered five more Balkan countries – North Macedonia, Albania, Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Serbia.
In this post, I will talk about some of the practical aspects of planning a trip to these countries, especially for Indian travellers. I will cover visas, the best time to visit, transport between countries, accommodation, food, safety and other useful tips based on my experience.
Visas
Indian passport holders generally need visas to visit these five countries. Some countries offer e-visa options, while others require a regular visa. However, the good part is that a valid multiple-entry Schengen visa can help you enter these countries.
The Indian passport may not be the strongest when it comes to visa-free travel, but a Schengen visa certainly gives it a boost!
In my case, I had a valid Schengen visa and used it to enter all five countries. Immigration was super smooth everywhere. I entered North Macedonia and Serbia by air and travelled to the other countries by land. The only question the immigration officer asked was, “Visa?” I replied, “Schengen visa,” and they stamped my passport.
Compared to the land borders I have crossed in Central Asia, South America and the Caucasus, immigration in the Balkans felt more organised.
A Schengen visa is not the only option in every case. Depending on the country, certain valid US, UK or other visas and residence permits may also qualify for visa-free entry. However, the conditions differ. It is always better to check the official immigration or embassy website before travelling, as visa rules can change.
Why visit these countries?
Many of these countries have suffered with decades of communist rule, political upheaval and, in some cases, devastating wars. Today, they offer a fascinating mix of history, culture, natural beauty and developing tourism infrastructure.
The region is gradually gaining popularity among international tourists, but it still feels less explored than many Western European destinations.
My interests were history and nature, and all five countries provided plenty of opportunities to explore both. From historic old towns and fortresses to mountains, lakes and spectacular coastal landscapes, there was something interesting in every country.
Interestingly, these destinations are still not on the radar of many Indian tourists. I did not come across a single Indian tourist travelling from India during my entire trip. I did meet a few people of Indian origin who were settled in the US or Europe.
When is the best time to visit the Balkans?
The peak tourist season is June to August. I would suggest avoiding this period if you have the flexibility to travel at other times. The weather can be hot, crowds are larger in popular destinations, and accommodation prices tend to be higher.
The shoulder months of April–May and September–October offer a good balance of weather, prices and crowds. I travelled in the second half of September, and the weather was sunny on almost all days.
Winter is not ideal for a conventional sightseeing trip. Cold weather and reduced seasonal services can make travel less convenient. However, winter can be a good time if you are interested in skiing or other snow-related activities.
Language
Each country has its own language, and the scripts used include both Latin and Cyrillic.
However, language was not a major issue for me. Most people I interacted with in tourist areas could communicate in English. Hotels, tour operators and tourist-facing businesses were generally easy to deal with.
Hotels and accommodation
I booked all my hotels using Booking.com. I generally prefer hostels, guesthouses or hotels located close to the city centre so that I can explore the city on foot and avoid unnecessary travel.
While booking, I try to ensure that the property has a rating of 8 or above, along with good recent reviews. I also check the location and read reviews carefully rather than relying only on the overall rating.
Overall, I had no major issues with accommodation during this trip.
I had to pay cash at most of the properties. As I was informed about it beforehand, I carried some euros for this purpose.
Currency and payments
Montenegro uses the euro, while the other four countries have their own currencies.
Euros can be useful to carry when travelling across the region, but do not assume that every business will accept them. Local currency is important for smaller purchases, public transport and places that do not accept cards.
I carried some euros for hotel payments and used my credit card for most other expenses. My credit card has zero foreign currency markup fees, and I also earn reward points on transactions. That made payments very convenient.
How I travelled between countries
I covered all five countries using a combination of flights and buses.
My route was:
- Skopje, North Macedonia: I landed by air and started my trip.
- Skopje to Tirana, Albania: Travelled by bus.
- Tirana to Kotor, Montenegro: Travelled by bus.
- Kotor to Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina: Travelled by bus.
- Sarajevo to Belgrade, Serbia: Travelled by flight.
The Balkan region has a network of international buses, but train connections between many of these countries are limited or impractical for a multi-country itinerary. It is better to check the specific route rather than assume that a train will be available.
Many routes are operated by local bus companies, but they do not offers online booking through its own website. I booked my bus tickets using FlixBus and BusTicket4.me.
Here are a few things to keep in mind when booking buses in the Balkans:
- Bus station fees: Some bus stations charge a separate station fee. You may have to pay this before entering the boarding platform, even if you already have an online ticket.
- Luggage charges: Luggage placed in the bus’s cargo compartment may attract an additional fee. In my experience, this was generally around €2, paid directly to the driver.
- Seat allocation: There is no seat allocation. It is first come first serve.
- Overbooking: This can happen. During my journey from Tirana to Kotor, one passenger had to sit on the floor for part of the journey. It was not a pleasant situation and is a reminder that booking a ticket does not always guarantee a comfortable experience.
The city infrastructure and major roads I experienced were generally good, although they were not quite at the level of Western Europe. India is generations behind with respect to Infrastructure.
Local transport and tours
Public transport was generally useful for getting around within cities. However, reaching tourist attractions outside the city was not always practical using public transport alone.
I chose one city as a base in each country and took day trips to explore the surrounding areas. This saved me the trouble of changing hotels frequently and carrying luggage from one place to another.
I booked my tours through GetYourGuide, and the experience worked well for me.
Food and vegetarian options
Food in these countries generally includes a lot of meat, but finding vegetarian food was not difficult.
I also tried vegetarian versions of local dishes wherever possible. This was a good way to experience the local cuisine without compromising on my food preferences. Indian restaurants were not available in every city, so I did not rely on them for my meals.
Overall, food was not a major concern during the trip.
Mobile network and connectivity
I used Airtel International Roaming throughout the trip, and it worked very well.
Is it safe to travel in the Balkans?
Many Indians may not even have heard of some of these countries. Those who have heard of them may associate the region with the wars that took place during the breakup of Yugoslavia.
However, that image does not reflect my experience of travelling there today.
The five countries I visited felt peaceful and welcoming. I did not face a single unpleasant incident during my trip. Of course, no destination is completely free of risk, and it is always sensible to take the usual precautions against theft, scams and other travel-related problems.
Note: Protests can now happen at any time and any place and some of the them turn violent. At the time of this writing (October 2026), demonstrations in Albania have turned violent.
People and local experiences
People seemed very nice in all five countries. India is not as familiar to everyone in this part of Europe as it is in some other tourist destinations, so people were sometimes curious when they learnt where I was from.
One thing that stood out was the kindness I experienced. On a couple of occasions, I forgot things at places I had visited, and people took the trouble to come and hand them over to me. These small gestures made a lasting impression on me.
Final thoughts
My trip across North Macedonia, Albania, Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Serbia was a rewarding experience. I got to explore historic towns, learn more about the region’s complicated past, enjoy its natural beauty and interact with some genuinely nice people.
For Indian travellers, the Balkans offer an interesting alternative to the more familiar European destinations.
The key things to plan are visas, cross-border transport and accommodation. Once these are sorted out, travelling around the region becomes much easier.
If you enjoy history, nature and exploring places that are still relatively unfamiliar to Indian tourists, I would definitely recommend considering the Balkans for your next European trip.
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