I’ve visited Dubrovnik three times: in May 2014, in April 2016, and most recently in September 2025. Between my first two trips, there was an enormous increase in tourism in the city. This had skyrocketed by my trip last year! Dubrovnik has been at the center of the debate on overtourism, responsible/sustainable travel, cruise ship… Read More Dubrovnik, Croatia: How to Avoid the Crowds (and Save Money)
My first trip to Zagreb back in 2016 was a very brief one. I was thrilled to return in 2025, on my third trip to Croatia! This is a fantastic destination for a city break, and it’s much more affordable than the hotspots on the Dalmatian Coast like Dubrovnik. Here’s my guide for the best… Read More How to Spend a City Break in Zagreb, Croatia
There’s no time like the present to try something new! I’ve got a lot more free time on my hands now that I’m not traveling. Since we can’t go anywhere, I’ve been experimenting a lot in the kitchen and trying new recipes! First up was adjaruli khachapuri from Georgia, next was pierogi from Poland, goulash… Read More Recipe: Bureks From The Balkans
The end of the year is always a good time for reflection. In 2019, I visited 14 countries, 4 of which were new to me. I took 15 flights, and gained quite a few new passport stamps in my (brand new) passport. I managed to travel a lot with a full-time job. I achieved a… Read More My Top Travel Experiences Of 2019
This summer, I went on a big trip to one of my favorite regions in the world: the Balkans. Located in southeastern Europe, this peninsula is full of amazing places to visit. On my trip, I visited North Macedonia, Kosovo, and Albania. I spent just about 2.5 weeks there, or 17 days total. I wanted… Read More How Much Does it Cost to Travel the Balkans For 2.5 Weeks?
So many people head to the north of Albania to visit the mountains. The Albanian Alps (or the Accursed Mountains) have amazing hiking trails. The most popular of these is the hike from Valbona to Theth (or vice versa), which is generally easiest to do with a few nights either end in Shkoder. While I… Read More A Daytrip From Shkoder to Blini Park and Lake Koman: The Craziest Day in Albania!
If you’re a long-time blog reader, you’ll know by now that I regularly stay in hostels when I travel. I also put together hostel reviews, to recommend some of the great places I’ve stayed in! During my recent trip to the Balkans, I stayed for several nights in Tirana, the capital of Albania. I loved… Read More Hostel Review: Tirana Backpacker Hostel, Tirana
Tirana is by far one of the weirdest European capitals I’ve ever visited. It’s funky, it’s quirky, and it’s a great place to spend a few days. There isn’t a huge, overwhelming list of attractions to visit. But that’s all part of Tirana’s charm! I loved getting to visit so many different places around the… Read More 13 Things You Must See in Tirana, Albania
Tirana is quirky city, and I absolutely loved my visit there! While there may not be loads of tourist attractions to tick off a list, one of the best ways to experience Tirana is by checking out the cool bars around the city! Café culture is huge in the Balkans, and Albania and Tirana is… Read More The Best Bars in Tirana, Albania
Ohrid is one of the most popular tourist destinations in North Macedonia. This city is located at the edge of Lake Ohrid, and makes a perfect base for exploring the lake! Lake Ohrid is 35km long and forms the border between North Macedonia and Albania. This is now definitely one of my favorite places in… Read More A Guide to Exploring Lake Ohrid in North Macedonia
On my recent trip to the Balkans, I finally got to visit Kosovo and based myself in Pristina. There’s a lot of controversy surrounding Kosovo: it declared independence from Serbia in 2008, meaning it’s one of the newest countries in the world! This was after a very horrible war in the late 1990s, which culminated… Read More What to See in Pristina, Kosovo: One of Europe’s Coolest Cities
Pristina is definitely one of the coolest cities in Europe. A huge reason for that is the incredible café culture and bar scene! Kosovo surprised me in the best ways and I loved hitting up so many cool bars in Pristina (there’s lots to see in Pristina!). If you’re looking for where to drink in… Read More The Best Cafes and Bars in Pristina, Kosovo
Skopje, the capital of North Macedonia, is one of the funkiest cities in Europe. Chances are if you’re traveling this area of the Balkans, you’ll be passing through Skopje. One of my favorite things that I did in Skopje was doing a daytrip to Matka Canyon! This is easy to do with public transportation, and… Read More Matka Canyon: A Perfect Daytrip From Skopje
The Balkans are by far one of my favorite regions of the world. This southeastern part of Europe is so unique and so interesting—so I was thrilled to be able to go back there this summer! My first stop was Skopje, the capital of North Macedonia. This place is weird and quirky and unlike anywhere… Read More What to Do in Skopje, North Macedonia’s Funky Capital
Of all the things I wanted to see on my trip to Bulgaria, I really had my heart set on just one: the Rila Monastery. I’d seen photos of it everywhere, this magnificent monastery complex nestled in the mountains. And it definitely didn’t disappoint. This is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the largest Eastern Orthodox… Read More Visiting The Rila Monastery, One Place You Can’t Miss In Bulgaria
Having fallen head over heels in love with the Balkans last year, I was determined to get to Bulgaria this year (and conveniently visit my friend living in Sofia). I was based in Sofia for my trip, but definitely didn’t have quite as much time to explore the city as I would have liked! I’d… Read More A Quick Guide To Sofia
2016 has been a huge year for me. Looking back on it, I think 2016 is always going to be the year that I prioritized travel, got married, and moved to England. Big life events! It was monumental and huge in the scheme of my life for so many reasons. Looking back on the year,… Read More My Top 20 Experiences Of 2016
On my most recent trip to the Balkans, I spent a lot of time getting from one place to the next. There were surprises, random detours, many “I wish I had known!” moments—and all of it required a lot of patience. While undoubtedly some of this advice will apply to the other southeastern European countries… Read More Planes, Trains (Coach Buses, Minibuses, Ferries), and Automobiles: Transportation in the Western Balkans
The Balkans is a region located in southeastern Europe that generally comprises the countries of Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Montenegro, Serbia, Kosovo, Albania, Macedonia, Bulgaria, Romania, and Greece. It is one of the most underrated yet stunning areas not just in Europe, but possibly the whole world! I recently traveled to the western half… Read More 15 Signs You’ve Traveled in the Balkans
On my most recent trip to Ljubljana, I gave myself a few days to explore more of Slovenia outside of the capital. Lake Bled is one of Slovenia’s most popular tourist destinations, and with good reason! The beautiful lake is complimented by its picturesque island, watched over by a castle on a hill, and surrounded… Read More A Lake Bled Daytrip from Ljubljana