6 of the best · the Balkans
The Balkans: Our Regional Guide
From Ljubljana to Skopje and from the Danube to the Adriatic: the life the Balkan cities share, in an introduction to the region, a long read and four themed guides, each linked to our city guides.
Our 6 favourites, listed A–Z · Updated October 2026
What's onThis week in the Balkans
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Insiders' picks
Three stories from this region we would show a friend first.
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The Balkans, with love
The Balkans, with love
Cafés, markets, the table, the wild and the welcome: what the Balkans share, and why they feel like home.
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The back story
The Balkan Soul
Café culture, the green market and its characters, empires on the plate, fishermen at dawn, four seasons of wild nature, and rakija: the shared life of south-eastern Europe.
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In depth
Food & Drink in the Balkans
Ćevapi and burek, kajmak and ajvar, Bosnian coffee, Vranac and rakija: the shared Balkan table, and where each of our city guides takes you to taste it.
The full list: The Balkans, A–Z
The introduction & the long read 2
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The back story
The Balkan Soul
Café culture, the green market and its characters, empires on the plate, fishermen at dawn, four seasons of wild nature, and rakija: the shared life of south-eastern Europe.
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The Balkans, with love
The Balkans, with love
Cafés, markets, the table, the wild and the welcome: what the Balkans share, and why they feel like home.
The themes 4
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In depth
Food & Drink in the Balkans
Ćevapi and burek, kajmak and ajvar, Bosnian coffee, Vranac and rakija: the shared Balkan table, and where each of our city guides takes you to taste it.
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In depth
Markets & Shopping in the Balkans
Green markets and old bazaars from Ljubljana to Skopje: when to go, what to look for and what to take home, with every market in our Balkan guides.
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In depth
Seasons & Festivals in the Balkans
Christmas markets and snowy river towns, spring terraces, summer festivals by the lakes and the sea, and the golden autumn of the plum harvest: the Balkan year, season by season.
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In depth
Wildlife & Nature in the Balkans
Eagles in the middle of Belgrade, swans on the Danube, pelicans on Lake Skadar, bears in the forests of Tara, and the lakes and canyons of the region’s national parks.
