Incredibly Useful Answers to Balkan FAQs for 2023

Some Balkan countries, such as Croatia and Romania, are frequently visited by western tourists. However, other countries in the region remain relatively off the beaten track. The most common question we get asked is, “are the Balkans safe?” More on that later. We have done out best to provide the answers to some of your most common Balkan FAQs.

Your most common Balkan FAQs

Let’s start at the beginning…

What countries are in the Balkans?

• Albania, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, and Slovenia are all or partly located within the peninsula.
• Parts of Greece and Turkey are also geographically in the region and many descriptions of the Balkans include these countries. 
• Moldova is also included in the Balkans, under some definitions, due to its close connection with Romania.

Are the Balkans Safe? Balkan FAQs

• Yes, the Balkans is a very safe area to travel! The area is often associated with war, however, it has been peaceful for over 20 years.
• In busier tourist areas, such as Dubrovnik, beware of the usual pickpockets and be sensible as you would in any other tourist location.
• Driving in the Balkans can be a bit wild so we would always advise full insurance when renting a car. It’s also a good idea to check over the local highway codes and plan your route out in advance because some roads may still be little more than dirt tracks. This was our biggest safety concern when travelling the Balkans, both as drivers and pedestrians!
• There are many stray dogs in some cities but most are friendly and will approach you for attention or food. Just be aware that they are not always treated for rabies or fleas.

Balkan FAQs – What does “Balkan” mean?

• This is another of the most commonly asked Balkan FAQs.
• The word Balkan actually comes from the Turkish language and means ‘mountain’ and is therefore a highly appropriate name for the region.
• The Balkan Mountains run east-west across Bulgaria, the Rhodope Mountains extend along the Greek-Bulgarian border, with the Dinaric range extending down the Adriatic coast to Albania making the region incredibly beautiful.
• The Balkans, or the Balkan Peninsula, is a region in the south-east of geographical Europe. However, only a few Balkan countries are currently members of the EU.

What religions are practiced in the Balkans?

• The most common religions in the Balkans are Eastern Orthodox and Catholic Christianity and Islam (mostly Sunni or non-denominational) but this varies by region.

What is the weather like in the Balkans?

• The north and central areas have a central European climate with cold winters but warm summers and well-distributed rainfall.
• However, the south and coastal areas have a Mediterranean type of climate, with hot, dry summers and mild, sometimes wet winters.

When is the best time to visit the Balkans?

• April to June and September to November are the best times to visit because the summers are very hot and the winters are cold or wet, so the weather is better in Spring and Autumn.
• Some more touristy destinations, such as Croatia, will be busy during peak seasons, such as Easter and summer.
• Albania’s beautiful beaches can get very busy in August.

Balkan FAQs – Are the Balkans worth visiting?

• Absolutely, there are so many amazing things about the Balkans! The countryside is spectacular, full of mountain ranges and dotted with quaint little villages with the cities showing a diverse and fascinating mix of architecture and people. And don’t miss the legendary castles!
• There is a lot of great food available with many regional variations throughout the area so there is plenty of choice for foodies.
• People in the Balkans are friendly and welcoming and we found they were always willing to help a lost tourist, but, there is sometimes a language barrier in the smaller towns and villages.
• There is a lot of history in this area dating from pre-Roman times to the recent Balkan wars. However, the Ottoman influence remains strong in many Balkan countries and can be found in beautiful architecture, food and religion.

Are the Balkans cheap?

• Generally, most of the Balkan countries are cheaper than other European destinations. However, Dubrovnik is extremely popular with tourists and prices have increased greatly in the last 10 years.

What is the largest city in the Balkans?

• Sarajevo, the capital of Bosnia & Herzegovina, is the largest city in the Balkans with a population of 696,731, which is relatively small for a European city.

Where is the smallest city in the Balkans?

• Cetinje in Montenegro is the smallest with a population of 15,137 people.

What is the largest country in the Balkans?

• Romania. 238,391 km² with 23 million people.

What is the smallest country in the Balkans?

• The smallest state by population is Montenegro, however, good things come in small packages!

Where is the highest mountain in the Balkans?

• Musala means “near God” in Ottoman Turkish. Fitting, therefore, that Musala in Bulgaria is the Highest peak in the Balkans, standing at 2,925 metres (9,596 ft).  The Rila National Park surrounding the mountain can be reached in under 2 hours from Sofia, Bulgaria.

What currency is used in the Balkans?

• Each country has their own currency. However, the Euro in Montenegro and Kosovo is widely used but it is not authorized by the EU.

Country	Currency	$1 value	Currency code
Albania	Lek	110	ALL
Bosnia & Herzegovina	Convertible Marks	1.7	KM
Bulgaria	Lev	1.7	BGN
Croatia	Kuna	6.7	HRK
Kosovo	Euro	0.9	EUR
Montenegro	Euro	1.9	EUR
North Macedonia	Denar	55	MKD
Romania	Leu	4.3	ROM
Serbia	Dinar	105	RSD
Slovenia	Euro	1.9	EUR
Greece	Euro	1.9	EUR
Moldova	Leu	17.2	MDL
Turkey	Lira	6.9	TRY

Balkan FAQs – What is Balkan food?

• Balkan food might not be world famous, but it is certainly worth a try. Traditional meals involve a lot of meat but there are frequently more vegetarian options opening up. There are many similarities with Western Mediterranean dishes as well as a mixture of pastry based foods such as burek and baklava.

Do I need a visa for the Balkans?

• For those with Schengen area passports, no visas are required, however, it is worth double checking here if you’re unsure.

What is the richest Balkan country?

• Slovenia the richest country in the Balkans. This is thought to be because it may not have been affected by communism in the same way as the rest of the area. The poorest country in the Balkans is Kosovo, unless Moldova is considered a Balkan country, in which case it is the poorest.

What language is spoken in the Balkans?

• Each country has it’s own language but there are similarities running throughout. None of these languages are particularly easy for English speakers. However, any attempt is always greatly appreciated by locals.

Country	Language	Local Name	Alphabet
Albania	Albanian	shqip	Latin
Bosnia & Herzegovina	Bosnian	bosanski	Latin and Cyrillic
Bulgaria	Bulgarian	bălgarski	Cyrillic
Croatia	Croatian	hrvatski	Latin
Kosovo	Albanian and Serbian
Montenegro	Montenegrin	crnogorski	Cyrillic
North Macedonia	Macedonian	makedonski	Cyrillic
Romania	Romanian	românește	Latin and Cyrillic
Serbia	Serbian	srpski	Latin and Cyrillic
Slovenia	Slovene	slovenščina	Latin
Greece	Greek	Ελληνικά	Greek Alphabet
Moldova	Moldovan	moldovenească	Latin and Cyrillic
Turkey	Turkish	Türkçe	Latin

Are there any famous people from the Balkans?

• Mother Teresa was a Catholic nun and missionary who was born in modern day Skopje, North Macedonia but had Albanian parents.
• Nikola Tesla, an inventor born in Croatia to Serbian parents who went on to contribute to the design of the modern alternating current.
• Rita Ora is a popular singer born in Pristina, Kosovo but has lived in London for many years.
• Novak Djokovic is a Serbian tennis player and arguably one of the greatest ever players.
• Nadia Comaneci is a Romanian gymnast who is famous for receiving the first 10/10 in the history of gymnastics.
• Nina Dobrev is a Bulgarian-Canadian actress from “The vampire diaries” series.

Have we answered your Balkan FAQs?

Hopefully we have managed to answer a few of your Balkan FAQs. Inspired to travel to the Balkans? Albania’s capital, Tirana, is a great place to start. Read our blog “7 of the best Things to do in Tirana” for some tips and inspiration.

If you have any more questions or have already visited the area, let us know by dropping a comment in the box. We would love to hear from you!

Balkan FAQs 2023