How many balkan countries are there

On the entire Balkan country list, there are only two that use the euro. Those are Slovenia and Montenegro. Those places, however, tend to be major rip-offs, taking advantage of unwary tourists. You should try to exchange currencies at local exchange offices away from the border if you can. Better even is to budget your visit to each specific country. Not all do, though, so make sure you always have some local cash on you.

The allowed length of your stay does differ between those countries, though. This is particularly important for long-term travelers as the days spent in those three Balkan nations are not included in the day Schengen Zone limit. This is complicated stuff, not relevant to the majority of people visiting the Balkans. For most travelers, it is enough to know that you do not need a particular visa to spend time in Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, and Montenegro as a tourist.

Just be sure to check with your local embassy before your trip — these things change all of the time. With soothing scenes of beauty, beautiful beaches, snow-capped mountains, links to ancient history, pristine lakes, buildings of medieval architecture, well-known and small unspoiled islands , as well as idyllic villages, the Balkans is one of the most wonderful places in the world I love to visit.

The rivers Danube, Sava, and Kupa are usually referred to as its northern boundary. It is endowed with natural beauty and has umpteen numbers of pristine beaches , mountains, and historic settlements. Did you know: One of the most famous personalities to have come out of the Balkans is Mother Teresa, now referred to as Saint Teresa of Calcutta. She was born in Skopje, the capital of the Republic of Macedonia , before she moved to India.

The following list of where to travel in the Balkans describes all Balkan countries and some of their top destinations and attractions. This is a place dotted with onion-domed churches, where geraniums adorn wood-beamed houses and are characterized by a disciplined mindset. A medieval Bled Castle overlooking a serene lake in the backdrop of snow-capped mountains offers you a magnificent panoramic view of the Julian Alps and the entire surrounding area.

Bled is one of those places that offer you scenic beauty coupled with historic architecture and tranquility. And, while you are looking, check out the great skiing options in Slovenia too! The Dalmatian coast, especially, attracts thousands of tourists each year with its stunning beaches, clear water, scenic islands, and historic towns.

Croatia also features exceptional natural attractions, from gorges and mountains to thick forests, rivers, and lakes. Croatia is a varied country. There are numerous attractions all over this amazing country. The oldest arboretum in the world, Arboretum Trsteno, is situated here and dates back to before It has many Renaissance buildings that are considered architectural heritage. In case summer finds you here, you will surely fall in love with some of the enchanting beaches head to Orebic in the world as you savor sunrise and sunset in the most ethereal manner.

Bosnia-Herzegovina is the most culturally and religiously diverse country in the Balkans. Home to several ethnic minorities, such as the Bosniaks, Croats, and Serbs, this is a true crossroads country. This is a close as you can get to the Middle East and Muslim culture without leaving Europe. In Bosnia-Herzegovina, cityscapes are dotted with both church spires and minarets.

Combining a rich cultural heritage with beautiful nature, Bosnia-Herzegovina has a variety of attractions. Additionally, Montenegro also has vibrant coastal towns. The most well-known one is Budva , one of the Adriatic epicenters of luxury and beach travel, with loads of excellent hotels.

If you are one of those who like just to put up your feet and look out on vast expanses of water, then Sveti Stefan is just the place for you. A beautiful island resort on the Adriatic, Sveti Stefan boasts of pink soft sandy beaches, historic villages, and crystal clear water.

Ever wondered why this region is one of the most advertised tourist destinations in the world? It is because of the serene environment and the majestic landscapes as those found here. If you love to walk along beautiful, long stoney or sandy beaches, then consider heading to Bar, a picturesque, historic town situated on the Adriatic coast.

And there is no better way to get there than hopping on to train The Balkan Express and then taking the ride from Belgrade to Bar. A relatively unknown and unexplored country in the heart of the Balkans , Albania oozes culture and history. This is one of the oldest regions in Europe—if not in the world—sharing basically the same history as Greece and Italy. However, although it gets only a fraction of the crowds that visit Croatia, Greece, or Italy, those who go there often find themselves surprised by its wealth of ancient sites , beautiful architecture, and vibrant culture.

This is as off-the-beaten-path as you can get in southern Europe, making it great for budget travel especially when it comes to accommodation.

Albania is a country boasting striking landscapes and incredible national parks, glorious beaches, and handfuls of historic towns and villages. Dhermi is a relatively small, nondescript village with an amazing turquoise coastline and is built on a slope of the Ceraunian Mountains. You could stroll through the magnificent beaches or look upon one of the churches. Apart from the tranquility, this village now also offers some exciting nightclubs to keep you entertained.

Bulgaria is more or less the very region where our ancient ancestors arrived in Europe. It is, therefore, one of the oldest inhabited regions on the continent, featuring several significant archaeological sites from the Neolithic period. The consortium of WBC. Numerous research institutions and agencies also participated. The project got underway in January and was successfully concluded in April Eighty-three percent of people living in Romania are ethnic Romanians.

There are several spoken languages in Romania but the official language is Romanian. Serbia is a parliamentary democracy and its capital city is Belgrade. The official language is Serbian, a standardized variety of Serbo-Croatian. About 2. The official language is Slovene, known as Slovenian in English. Slovenia's capital city is Ljubljana. Geographers and politicians divide the Balkan peninsula in a variety of ways due to a complicated history.

The root cause of this is that a number of Balkan countries were once part of the former country of Yugoslavia , which formed at the end of World War II and separated into distinct countries in Some Balkan states are also considered "Slavic states" as they are typically defined as Slavic-speaking communities. Maps of the Balkans often define the countries listed above as Balkan using a combination of geographic, political, social, and cultural factors.

Other maps that use a strictly geographical approach include the entire Balkan Peninsula as Balkan. These maps add the mainland of Greece as well as a small portion of Turkey that lies northwest of the Sea of Marmara as Balkan states.

The Balkan Peninsula is rich in both water and mountains, making it a biodiverse and vibrant European destination. If you were to travel north of the Balkans, you would pass through Austria, Hungary, and Ukraine. Italy shares a small border with Slovenia, a Balkan country, on the region's western edge. But perhaps even more so than water and location, mountains define the Balkans and make this land unique.

The word Balkan is Turkish for "mountains", so it's probably not surprising that the aptly-named peninsula is covered in mountain ranges. These include:. These mountains play a big role in the region's climate. In the north, the weather is similar to that of central Europe, with warm summers and cold winters. In the south and along coastlines, the climate is more Mediterranean with hot, dry summers and rainy winters.

In the case of religion, the Balkan Peninsula is overwhelmingly Christian, with the exception of the Bosniaks, Kosovars, and Albanians, who are mostly Muslim. The Christians of the Balkans follow different denominations. Ethnic and religious tensions have been the cause of numerous armed conflicts in the Balkans.

In ancient times, the Balkan Peninsula was largely dominated by the Greeks and Illyrians, the latter of whom were the precursors of the modern-day Albanians. The Roman Empire was the last ancient empire to dominate the region, before it split apart, and the Eastern Roman Empire became the Byzantine Empire. About two hundred years later, the Bulgarian Empire controlled vast swathes of the Balkans. In the 10 th century, the first Serbian kingdom was established.

By the mid th century, the Ottoman Turks began their expansion into the Balkans. By the end of the 15 th century, nearly the entire Balkan Peninsula was controlled by the Ottoman Empire. Ottoman control of most of the Balkans would remain until the 19 th century, when the peoples of the Balkans began to rebel against their Turkish rulers.

By the end of the 19 th century, the Greeks, Serbs, Romanians, and Montenegrins had all regained their independence. Bulgaria regained its independence in