The Balkans (Part 1)

Duration: 10 days (but you might need more)
Approximate distance abroad: 3400 km
Overnight stays abroad: 10 nights
Countries covered in the route: Hungary, Serbia, North Macedonia, Albania, Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia

Route

Travel through Hungary – Belgrade, Serbia – Belgrade Fortress – Saint Sava Temple – Skopje, North Macedonia – Matka Canyon – Prehistoric Settlement in Bay of Bones – Ohrid, North Macedonia – Transfer to Albania – Tirana, Albania – Shkoder, Albania – Lake Koman, Albania –

In the second part:
Budva, Montenegro – Kotor, Montenegro. Ferry Crossing – Dubrovnik, Croatia – Lokrum Island, Croatia – Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina – Abandoned Bobsleigh Track near Sarajevo – Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina – Split, Croatia – Krka, National Park with Waterfalls, Croatia – Zadar, Croatia – Plitvice Lakes

Language

No language issues in all countries; many people understand and speak English. Russian is well understood in Montenegro.

Currency

Euro is used as currency only in Montenegro. Local currency is used in all other countries. It's advisable to have a small amount of cash, as there are places where card payment is not possible. When leaving the country, you can refuel your car with the remaining currency to avoid currency exchange losses. Montenegro and Croatia offer more opportunities for card payments.

Border Crossing

Optimal border crossings on the Ukraine-Hungary border are through two checkpoints - "Tysa" (near Chop) and "Luzhanka" (near Berehove).

You can check the border crossing points on the map and their congestion on the website of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine:
https://dpsu.gov.ua/ua/map

Toll Roads

Hungary - Road payment is made by purchasing a vignette. A 10-day vignette will cost approximately 11 euros.
Read more about road payment, mandatory equipment in the car, and other details regarding travel in the article about Hungary

Serbia - Road payment is based on the traveled distance. The journey from the border with Hungary to the border with North Macedonia will cost about 18 euros (5.50 + 12.50).
More details about travel in the article about Serbia

North Macedonia - Road payment is based on the traveled distance. The journey from Skopje to the border with Albania will cost about 4 euros.
More about travel in the article about North Macedonia

Albania and Montenegro - There is no road payment in these countries.
About car requirements, speed limits, and other features of travel in the article about Albania and the article about Montenegro

Bosnia and Herzegovina - Road payment is based on the traveled distance. There are currently few toll sections in the country. The journey to Sarajevo will cost about 1.30 euros, and the same in the opposite direction.
Specifics of travel in the article about Bosnia and Herzegovina

Croatia - Road payment is based on the traveled distance at toll points. The journey from Dubrovnik to the border with Hungary will cost about 37 euros.
More about travel in the article about Croatia

The total payment for using toll roads during the trip will be approximately 72 euros

Fuel Prices in Hungary

Fuel Prices in Serbia

Fuel Prices in North Macedonia

Fuel Prices in Albania

Fuel Prices in Montenegro

Fuel Prices in Bosnia and Herzegovina

Fuel Prices in Croatia

Transit through Hungary

Although the route through Hungary is not the shortest, it is the fastest as most of the time is spent on highways with a speed limit of 130 km/h. Minor traffic jams may occur on the highway bypassing Budapest near the airport. As you move away from the capital, the traffic decreases. Roads in Hungary are toll roads, and a vignette must be purchased for passage. Read all the details about traveling through Hungary in a dedicated article.

Belgrade, Serbia

Belgrade may not be particularly impressive, with a lot of Soviet-era architecture. It's pleasant to stroll in the park and visit the fortress. Afterward, it's worth moving towards the Temple of Saint Sava and walking around the square nearby. Visiting the temple leaves an impression with its grandeur.

Belgrade Fortress - Beogradska tvrđava

Coordinates on Google Maps: https://goo.gl/maps/3LmXjhD5aNSfmNri8

A great place for a walk. Enter the fortress through the park. Cannons, ramparts, and everything typical for a fortress. Many families with children visit, making it an interesting place for kids.

Temple of Saint Sava

Coordinates on Google Maps: https://goo.gl/maps/tkquUo27UNExeKQY6

A huge temple that truly impresses with its scale. To capture it in photos, you'll need to move a sufficient distance away. There is a square near the temple that offers the best view.

Transition to North Macedonia. From Belgrade, you need to take the A1 highway towards North Macedonia. Crossing the border occurs very quickly, within 15 minutes, at the Preševo Border Crossing Station. The route does not pass through Kosovo due to specific entry/exit requirements in that country.

Skopje, North Macedonia

Surprisingly interesting city. There is a lot of construction and development happening. The city center looks renovated and very grand. Away from the center, the streets are more ordinary with less interest. It's fascinating to climb the fortress walls and get a slightly elevated view of the city. Accommodation here is affordable, and the conditions are good.

Matka Canyon

Coordinates on Google Maps: https://goo.gl/maps/VkuJb8uQRRKRKBsKA
One of the most picturesque places on the route. When planning the route, it was unknown how much time would be needed, so we allocated only a few hours, but you can easily spend an entire day here. The trail runs along the shore, sometimes carved into the rocks with railings made of metal cables. There are boat excursions to various parts of the canyon. On the hills, there are sacred places and caves. Overall, the canyon was formed due to the construction of a hydroelectric power station, and access to the canyon is through the dam.

Prehistoric Settlement in Bay of Bones

Coordinates on Google Maps: https://goo.gl/maps/zgkxwgzeFTWDMMrz9
Website: http://muzejohrid.mk/en/bay-of-bones-ohrid

An ancient settlement standing on stilts in the water. The houses are coated with clay and straw. Nothing particularly special, but the settlement looks more interesting from the shore in good weather. There is not much of interest inside the settlement. However, the road from Ohrid to the settlement runs along the lake shore, with very picturesque spots. Sometimes, you just stop and take in the views. It's especially beautiful during sunset.

Ohrid, North Macedonia

A quiet and peaceful town on the lake shore. Among the main attractions are the fortress, amphitheater, the Church of St. Clement and Panteleimon, and the Church of St. John at Kaneo. It's worth entering the churches; they are unusual and beautiful. A walk through the town leaves pleasant feelings. Overall, you can stay in the city for a few days to relax by the lake, as the places there are very picturesque, comparable to the lakes in northern Italy, such as Lake Garda and others.

Travel to Albania

No issues with crossing the border; it takes 5-15 minutes. Albania has many roads with serpentine turns, so choose your speed and smoothness of movement according to the preferences of you or your passengers. Watch for speed limits, as in Albania, the police still like to stand on the road (in the bushes) with a radar. Speed limit outside settlements is 80 km/h, within settlements is 40 km/h. For more information about traveling through Albania, read a separate article.

Tirana, Albania

It's worth taking a stroll through the city center. If you find yourself in the city in the evening or at night, be sure to walk around. The traffic lights with full-height illumination and the unusual street lighting are interesting. You can enjoy very cheap and delicious ice cream; three scoops cost around 1 euro. During the day, you can climb the pyramid, which offers a panoramic view of almost the entire city. However, climbing is at your own risk, and it's advisable to wear sneakers with non-slip soles. To the north-east of the city, there is Mount Dajti, which you can reach by cable car. Unfortunately, there wasn't enough time during the trip to ascend the mountain. Hotels in the city center might be located in quirky alleys, but the friendliness of the people gives an understanding that these alleys are not as bad as they may seem.

Shkodër, Albania

A small and very cozy town. The city features Rozafa Castle, offering a view of Lake Skadar. Small streets, people sitting in restaurants in the evening, create a leisurely resort atmosphere. In principle, you can stay in the city for the night and travel to the sea. It was surprising that the sidewalk in front of the store was being cleaned by the store employees in the evening.

Lake Koman, Albania

Seemingly not a touristy place, Lake Koman was formed in a mountain gorge due to the construction of a hydroelectric power station. The entrance to the lake is through a tunnel. The road to the lake runs along the gorge, where nature remains untouched, with a river flowing at the bottom, prompting stops at almost every turn to admire it all. The road back encountered two cars with Ukrainian license plates, so this place is somewhat known. The road is of poor quality, partly unpaved, and after the trip, the entire car will be covered in dust.
Ferries on the lake: https://komanilakeferry.com/en/. The website provides the ferry schedule, prices, and various lake tours.