Itinerary: Baltic to Balkans in 34 Days

With over 22,030km in terms of flying distance covered, this itinerary covers 9 countries in 34 days:

• Germany
• Latvia
• Lithuania
• Moldova
• Romania
• Bulgaria
• Macedonia
• Albania
• Greece

Day 01: Singapore- Berlin [Germany]

0110H: Depart on Scoot TR734

0720H: Arrive Berlin, purchase Berlin Welcome Card at Tourist info booth at Tegel Airport, head to Hostels Berlin

Tour from Alexanderplatz to the Brandenburg Gate

1100H: Everyday either 11am or 3pm. 3 Hours tour; join the Alternative Berlin offers free walking tours with a strong focus on street art as well: https://alternativeberlin.com/tours/

*Meet at Alexanderplatz TV TOWER next to the tower entrance in front of Starbucks

1400H: Tour Ends

1500H:  Visit Berlin Wall / East Side Gallery Berlin

1630H: Back to rest for the night

Day 02: Berlin

0800H: Head to Brandenburg Gate

0930H: Visit Reichstag aka Parliament (Free entry to dome to view city skyline)

1200H: Charlottenburg Palace

1400H: Visit Museumsinsel area; Especially Neues Museum

1530H: Checkpoint Charlie & Checkpoint Charlie museum

1700H: Visit Potsdamer Platz (Sony building) during evening

Day 03: Berlin

0900H: Visit Berliner Dom

1000H: Explore Mauerpark (biggest and busiest Sunday flea markets in Berlin)

1130H: Olympic Stadium

1400H:  Take a short ride from there on the U7 metro, directly to AdenauerplatzKaiser (most famous shopping street ). Locate Wilhelm-Gedächtniskirche (Memorial Church) on Breitscheidplatz.

Day 04: Berlin- Riga (Latvia)

0810H: Check-in at Schonefeld Airport

1010H: Depart on Ryan Air FR2599 ; (1010H/ 1250H)  to Riga

1250H: Arrive Riga; Head to Hostel

1400H: Explore Riga Old Town: Riga Castle, St Peter’s Church and the Dome Cathedral.

Day 05: Riga

Explore Riga

Day 06: Riga- Vilnius (Lithuania)

0830H: Take bus from Riga –  Vilnius (Lithuania) on Lux Express.

1240H: Arrive Vilnius Coach Station ; check into Hostel [not booked yet]

1340H: Purchase “Go Vilnius” card at Pilies Street 2 or Didzioji St 31 [Vilnius Tourist Centre]

Day 07:Vilnius

Explore Vilnius

Day 08: Vilnius- Kiev  – Chisinau [Moldova]

1535H: Depart Vilnius on Ukraine Air PS178 

1655H: Arrive Kiev; transit

1940H: Depart Kiev to Chisinau on Ukraine Air PS897

2050H: Arrive Chisinau

Day 09: Chisinau

Day 10: Chisinau – Transnistria-  Chisinau

 Day trip to Transnistria, a country that never existed

Day 11: Chisinau-  Cricova Winery – Chisinau- Brasov [Romania]

0900H: Depart to winery

1400H: Back to Chisinau , buy bus ticket to Bucharest

2100H: Take bus from Chisinau- Brasov (overnight 10 hour bus ride)

Day 12: Brasov [Romania]

0900H: Explore Brasov Old Town

1500H: Free walking tour of Brasov with a local guide

Tour starts: from Piata Sfatului (Town Council Square), next to the fountain.
Tour ends: at Turnul Alb (the White Tower)
Duration: two hours and 30 minutes.
Cost: FREE.
No reservation is necessary.
More info: www.Brasov.WalkaboutFreeTours.com

Sightseeing in Brasov. Highlights include: the Council Square, the beautiful Saint Nicholas Church, Brasov Fortress, Franciscan Monastery.

Day 13: Brasov- Bran- Brasov

0830H: Bran is an easy day trip from Brasov. Buses marked “Bran-Moieciu” (7 Lei, 45 mins, half hourly) depart Brasov Bus Station 2 (Autogara 2) stopping in Rasnov. Take a 25 miles detour to the village of Bran to visit the 14th century Bran (Dracula’s) Castle then go back to Brasov.

1400H: Chill @ Brasov old town

Day 14: Brasov- Sibiu

Travel by train; Sibiu Train Station (Gara Sibiu) , takes 3hrs from Brasov- Sibiu

For train schedules please visit: www.cfrcalatori.ro Get train schedule information and make reservations up to 24 hours in advance at this office. Tickets for same-day travel can only be purchased at the station.

1254H: Train #1623 leaves Brasov

1542H: Train arrives Sibiu ; walk 600meters to old town

1620H: Explore Piata Mare aka Big Square in Sibiu Upper Town, Stroll down Strada Nicoale Balcescu , admire Orthodox Cathedral in Sibiu

Day 15: Sibiu- Bucharest

0800H: Walk around Piata Mica aka Small Square , cross the Bridge of Lies

0900H: Visit Catholic Basilica, Brukenthal National Museum,

Wander through Sibiu Lower Town; admire the passageway

1054H: Take Train IR#347 from Sibiu to Bucharest

1605H: Arrive Bucharest

Day 16: Bucharest (Romania National Day)

Day 17: Bucharest- V.Turnovo  (Involves border crossing from Romania to Bulgaria)

1245H: Travel by train operated daily from Bucharest Gara de Nord (Buy train ticket from counter 01 for international departure)

Change train at Gorna Oryakhovitsa

2022H: Train arrives in Veliko Tarnovo, the medieval capital of Bulgaria

Day 18: Veliko Turnovo – Sofia

0900H: Explore Veliko Turnovo ; Park of miniatures, Velchova ZaveraSquare (Old town),

1230H: Depart Veliko Turnovo to Sofia by bus

1545H: Arrive Sofia

Day 19: Sofia

11am/2pm/6pm: Free Sofia City Tour (Duration around 2 hours)

Meeting Location: Palace of Justice (Sudebna Palata)

Day 20: Sofia – Skopje [Macedonia]

0930H: Take bus from Sofia to Skopje

1300H: Arrive Skopje

1400H: Explore Carsija old town, walk across stone bridge, Art bridge, Mother Tetresa Memorial House, Shop at old Bazaar

1600H: Explore Kale Fortress

Day 21: Skopje

0900H: Take cable car up to Vodno Mountain (Millennium Cross), see monuments at Plostad Makedonija

1000H: Visit Matka Canyon (gorge, lake, caves; road trip out from Skopje)

1600H: Back to Skopje  

Day 22: Skopje– Ohrid

Explore Lake Ohrid, UNSECO site.

Day 23: Ohrid- Tirana [Albania]

0830H: Take taxi/ small car on the road from Ohrid to Struga (Costs: Euro 2)

0930H: 3.5 hours journey; Struga- Tirana

Day 24: Tirana  – Athens (Greece)

1630H: Depart by overnight bus to Athens [look for Anna Tour Bus company]

Tickets can be purchased online or at ticket booth on that day.

Day 25: Athens (Greece)

0600H: Arrive Athens

1000H: Explore Athens

Day 26: Athens- Santorini

0900H: Explore Athens

1335H: Arrive Athens Airport

1535H: Depart Athens on Ryan Air FR1236 ;

1625H: Arrive Santorini

Day 27: Santorini

Day 28: Santorini

Day 29: Santorini – Athens

1655H: Ryan Air FR1237

1745H: Arrive Athens

Day 30: Athens- Delphi – Athens

0730H: Leave for Delphi , 180 kilometers away from Athens. Public Bus takes about three hours and will cost around 10E. The KTEL of N. Fokidas SA bus company operates the bus from Athens to Delphi. https://www.ktel-fokidas.gr/en/delphi/delphi-athina-delphi

Day 31: Athens

0700H: Head to Acropolis ; early morning to avoid crowd. Free admission Sunday

1000H: Walk through Plaka, explore Monastiraki Flea Market

1200H: Visit Acropolis Museum

Day 32:Athens

Day 33: Athens- Singapore

1120H: Depart on Scoot TR713

Day 34: Singapore  

0425H: Arrive SIN

Categories: Europe Region, Itinerary

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