As crowded as it can get, a visit to Chichén Itzá quickly reveals why the ancient Mayan site is so popular. As the most dominant city in the Yucatán throughout the Early Postclassic period
Located right in between Mérida and Cancún, Valladolid is the closest city to Chichén Itzá, one of the world’s most famous archaeological sites. But Valladolid, officially recognized as a Pueblo Mágico (Magic Town),
While Tulum may be one of Mexico’s most-visited archaeological sites, it’s hardly the largest or most spectacular. But what makes visiting the Tulum ruins truly special is their stunning seaside setting. Out of all the
Situated 42 km northwest of Tulum, Cobá, known for its towering pyramids, was once the prominent city-state of the eastern Yucatán Peninsula. And today, visiting the Cobá ruins is a must for those basing themselves in
When looking at lists of the top Mayan sites in Mexico, the San Gervasio ruins will seldom get mentioned. And perhaps justifiably so, as the site lacks the magnificent pyramids or relief carvings
Not many people realize that one can find ancient Mayan pyramids right in the heart of Cancún’s Hotel Zone. As far as Mayan ruins go, San Miguelito isn’t much to write home about, but
Just 8 km from central Novi Sad, Sremski Karlovci has a population of fewer than 10,000 people. But the small town is rich in beautiful architecture and historical monuments, not to mention a
Like many parts of Serbia’s Vojvodina region, Sremska Mitrovica is a charming town full of classical architecture. But beneath its surface lie the ancient remains of the Roman city of Sirmium, which even
Right along the border with Hungary is one of Serbia’s most endearing towns. Subotica has long had more Hungarians than Serbs, and their influence over the area’s architecture remains clear. Many of the remarkable
Novi Sad, Serbia’s second-largest city, is touted by many as the country’s most charming. Despite being just 70 km from the capital, it was part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire until the 20th century,
Hidden in a canyon about 30 km south of Novi Pazar is one of the world’s most unique cave churches. Crna Reka Monastery was established as early as the 1200s and its current
In the following Novi Pazar guide, we’ll be covering one of Serbia’s least-visited but most unique destinations. A rare majority Muslim town in a mostly Christian country, Novi Pazar more closely resembles Bosnia
Felix Romuliana is one of the most overlooked yet significant Roman archaeological sites in the Balkans. Archaeologist Felix Philipp Kanitz, who studied the site in the 19th century, even called it one of
Niš may be Serbia’s third-largest city, but it’s a place where few tourists venture. Historically, it’s best known as the birthplace of Constantine the Great (280-337 AD). And today, many of the city’s monuments are
For whatever reason, visiting Topola, a town situated about 75 km south of Belgrade, doesn’t appear on many travelers’ itineraries. But the town is intrinsically linked with the legendary rebel Karađorđe and his descendants, several
Nobody visits Belgrade without a walk through Belgrade Fortress. Not only is it the city’s most iconic landmark, but it’s also free to enter. Given the fact that Belgrade Fortress, also known as
Belgrade, a bustling city with nearly 2 million people, is both the capital of the Republic of Serbia and the largest city in the Balkans. While the city has something for everyone, the
Out of all of Bosnia & Herzegovina’s historic small towns, Jajce is probably the most essential. Not only does it have a well-preserved Old Town and fortress, but it uniquely features a large
Located 90 km northeast of Sarajevo, Travnik is one of Bosnia’s most charming small towns. But while its main attractions can be seen in just a couple of hours, Travnik is much more historically important
The so-called Bosnian Pyramid, located in the town of Visoko, is one of Bosnia & Herzegovina’s most enigmatic yet controversial destinations. But regardless of your thoughts on the subject, there’s no denying that
Sarajevo, with its eclectic mix of classical architecture and scenic mountain surroundings, is easily the most interesting big city of the Balkans. But as heavy as the experiences can be, some of the
In 1984, Sarajevo, then part of Yugoslavia, hosted the Winter Olympic Games – widely considered to be a resounding success. Plenty of new infrastructure was built for the event, and Sarajevo seemed to
As cliché as it may sound, Sarajevo is truly a city where East meets West. Walking around Bosnia & Herzegovina’s bustling capital, you’ll find medieval mosques standing side by side with Central European
Stolac is one of Herzegovina’s most historically important yet overlooked destinations. An easy drive from Mostar, the charming town is home to a hilltop fortress and well-preserved Ottoman bridges. But visiting Stolac is
Visiting Blagaj, Počitelj and the Kravice Waterfalls from Mostar is arguably Herzegovina’s most popular day trip – and for good reason. The excursion provides visitors with the perfect blend of history, culture and natural
Mostar is arguably Bosnia & Herzegovina’s most scenic destination, and its rapidly increasing tourism numbers reflect that. The picturesque Old Town was largely developed in the Ottoman era before suffering heavy damage during
Situated within the region of Eastern Herzegovina and the political entity of Republika Srpska, Trebinje gets considerably less attention than its neighbors. It feels like a world away from the nearby tourism hotspots
For nature lovers and adventurers visiting Montenegro, hiking to Bobotov Kuk, the country’s highest peak, is one of the most unforgettable experiences you can have. But the hike to the peak, located in
Filled with dramatic landscapes and interesting hiking trails, Durmitor National Park is one of Montenegro’s top highlights. Many visit to conquer Bobotov Kuk, the park’s highest peak. But for those looking to take
The Bay of Kotor is as historically rich as it is visually stunning. And just a short distance away from the hustle and bustle of central Kotor are two small towns where history,
If you could only choose one destination to visit in Montenegro, make it Kotor. Nestled between Lovcen Mountain and the fjord-like Bay of Kotor, it’s undoubtedly the country’s most scenic town – and
Situated 900 m above the Zeta Valley is the most sacred Orthodox site in Montenegro and among the most significant in the Serbian Orthodox world. Ostrog Monastery houses the remains of a 17th-century saint named
Budva is easily one of Montenegro’s most popular destinations, largely due to its abundance of beaches. But as the number of tourists increases each year, so does the amount of high-rises, making it easy
Cetinje, Montenegro’s old royal capital, might not exactly take your breath away. But on the contrary, it’s one of the best places in Montenegro to take a breather, especially for those coming from
As you’ll discover throughout your travels along Montenegro’s Adriatic coast, just about every city has a walled Old Town. Usually, as is the case with Budva or Kotor, they’re bustling with museums, souvenir
Shkodër may not have the energy of Tirana, the charm of Korçë, or the seaside views of Vlorë. Nonetheless, as Albania’s second-largest city, there’s plenty to do to warrant a stay of at
Theth is arguably the most beautiful village in Albania – and possibly in the entire Balkans. While the long hike from Valbonë to Theth is undoubtedly the top hike in the region, hiking to
The Accursed Mountains, a mountain group shared by Albania, Kosovo and Montenegro, is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful parts of the Balkans. And one of the best ways to experience them is
Prizren, the cultural capital of Ottoman Kosovo during the centuries-long occupation, remains the country’s most atmospheric city. And despite being Kosovo’s second-largest, Prizren is among the best-preserved Ottoman towns in the Balkans. If
The Rugova Valley, part of the Western Balkans’ Accursed Mountains group, is one of the most scenic parts of Kosovo. But few travelers make it out to this remote part of the country,
Kosovo as a whole is about as obscure as it gets when it comes to travel in Europe. And those that do visit typically stick to Pristina and Prizren. The off-the-beaten-path northwest portion
Kosovo’s capital of Pristina is seen by many travelers as a place to pass through quickly. As atmospheric as the city center is, it has relatively little to offer tourists. But what often
Kosovo’s capital of Pristina isn’t going to win any beauty contests, while the city only has a handful of significant tourist attractions. But Europe’s newest capital is buzzing with energy and brimming with
The Kokino Observatory, one of North Macedonia’s most impressive and enigmatic sites, is also one of its most overlooked. Recognized by NASA as one of the oldest astronomical observatories in the world, the
The small and unassuming city of Tetovo, less than an hour from North Macedonia’s capital of Skopje, is home to two hidden gems that largely get overlooked by tourists. It doesn’t matter if
Picturesque Matka Canyon, home to numerous caves and monasteries, and Vodno Mountain, known for its towering Millennium Cross, are two of Skopje’s most popular destinations. But few visitors are aware that they’re linked
North Macedonia’s capital of Skopje is a historical, busy and often-times confusing place. Inhabited for thousands of years, the city center is home to remnants of the Byzantine and Ottoman eras. Most of
Krushevo is one of the Balkans’ highest settlements at an altitude of 1,350 m. But Krushevo has a few other distinctions that make it one of North Macedonia’s must-visit small towns. Not only
The ancient city of Stobi is an obscure archaeological site in an already overlooked country, North Macedonia. But while few have heard of it, it’s larger and arguably more impressive than the better-known Heraclea
The imposing granite hill on which Marko’s Towers were built can be seen from all over the city of Prilep, North Macedonia’s fourth-largest. But while the towers date back to the Middle Ages,
Created in 1948, Pelister is North Macedonia’s oldest national park. Home to Baba Mountain and its eight peaks, the park was named after the very highest one, Pelister, which reaches up to about
Heraclea Lyncestis, founded over 2,000 years ago, is North Macedonia’s most well-known archaeological site, largely due it well-preserved mosaics and ancient theater. At just 20 minutes on foot from central Bitola, visiting couldn’t
Nestled between the tourism hotspot of Lake Ohrid and the tranquil Lake Prespa, scenic Galičica is one of North Macedonia’s three national parks. The park’s main highlight is Magoro Peak, which offers views
The historical town of Ohrid is North Macedonia’s most popular tourism hotspot. Situated along a hill at the edge of Lake Ohrid, few other cities in the region can rival its picturesque setting.
No trip to North Macedonia’s lakeside city of Ohrid would be complete without visiting Sveti Naum Monastery. Also known as St. Naum, the scenic monastery is situated about 29 km south of town,
The southeastern Albanian city of Korçë doesn’t appear on a lot of people’s itineraries. And to be fair, other than the Museum of Medieval Art, the city has few must-see attractions. But what a visit to Korçë,
Few foreign visitors have heard of the southern Albanian town of Përmet, nicknamed the ‘City of Roses.’ But as small and remote as it may be, Përmet is home to some unique attractions
Gjirokastër is undoubtedly one of Albania’s most endearing historical towns. But not many visitors realize that there were once large cities on the valley floor that thrived throughout the Hellenistic and Roman eras.
Gjirokastër is arguably Albania’s most magical town. While Greco-Roman cities had long flourished at the valley floor, the hillside city we see today was largely established during the Ottoman era. Thanks to its
The small coastal city of Sarandë is arguably Albania’s most popular tourism hub. But aside from making a great base for the ruins of Butrint, does Sarandë live up to the hype? Perhaps