Especially for you, we have prepared a list of places that are perfect for a holiday trip and which you can get to at really attractive prices. Today we are pleased to present some interesting places from Greece and the Balkans that are really worth visiting in the next two months.
Chania – a Venetian pearl in Crete
Is there anything better than a vacation in Crete? Although there are many wonderful places in the world, it doesn’t change the fact that this Greek island located on the northwestern edge Chania is a wonderful holiday destination. The city was founded in the 4th millennium BC. and for hundreds of years it changed its nationality many times. Chania was in the hands of the Byzantines, Venetians and Turks and finally became part of independent Greece in 1913.
Thanks to this, we can find remains of many cultures and traditions there. Right next to the beautiful Venetian port you will find a Turkish mosque, and the local old town is a combination of buildings from the Venetian and Turkish times. It also has other interesting attributes, such as the Market Hall, built by the Greeks in the 20th century. Chania is not only a beautiful city surrounded by Venetian fortifications, it is also a picturesque area with the Lefka Ori mountain range, the amazing Samaria gorge, Balos lagoon and many charming villages and towns situated between high mountains and the azure sea.
Split and the Dalmatian coast
The second largest city in Croatia in terms of population and well known to tourists, however, it is still a charming and wonderful place. Split is one of the biggest urban attractions in Europe. It was founded on the ruins of the Roman Palace of Diocletian and you can still see the remains of this impressive building. The most popular parts of the building are: the palace peristyle – today a theater stage, Diocletian’s mausoleum rebuilt in the 8th century. Domions, or the former temple of Jupiter (baptistery from the 8th century). Split is associated not only with antiquity. The city situated on a peninsula surrounded by the waters of the Adriatic Sea is a place where you can find an impressive seaside promenade or a beautifully situated pearl of modernist architecture, the Poljud Stadium, where the European Athletics Championships were held in 1990.
The surrounding area of Split, the Dalmatian coast and numerous islands in the Adriatic Sea are full of beautiful towns and popular resorts. In the near distance there are, among others, Sibenik with its impressive quay, the fortress of St. Nicholas and the Cathedral of St. James, Trogir – the mecca of sailors sailing on the waters of the Adriatic, or the most famous Croatian resort – Makarska. And this is only a small part of the attractions of Dalmatia and the Adriatic Sea!
Tivat – at the gates of Boka kotorska
Kotor is a place that everyone interested in the Balkans knows. One of the most charming cities in this part of Europe. It is located on one of the most beautiful bays on the continent. On the shores of the Bay of Kotor there are charmingly situated towns – Tivat, Perast, Risan and other smaller towns. You won’t find many monuments in Tivat, but it’s a great place to visit. In Tivat you can find one of the most exclusive marinas in the Adriatic – Porto Montenegro. To experience the beauty of this place, you should definitely visit other places along the Boka. Risan is an ancient city that is picturesquely situated between the mountains and the northeastern end of the bay, with great views and access to water.
In Kotor you can mainly find signs of the presence of Venetians. The view of the old city, inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage Site and surrounded by thick ramparts, is really breathtaking. Over narrow streets, atmospheric squares, magnificent centuries-old tenement houses and towers of the Romanesque cathedral of St. Tryphon, you can see the Kotor fortress located on the slopes of the Lovćen massif.
Kalamata – sunbathing among olive groves
A beautiful Greek city located on the southern coast of the Peloponnese. Kalamata is famous not only for its numerous olive groves and the excellent olive oil produced in the area. This place has a rich history, which is clearly visible thanks to the buildings in the city center – the Archaeological Museum, the Folk Art Museum, the Byzantine church Agloi Apostoloi or the ruins of the castle, where you can see a beautiful view of the whole area. In the vicinity of Kalamata, you can also find older buildings from ancient times – the archaeological site of Mesini with the discovered ruins of an ancient city or the Temple of Apollo in Bassaj, one of the best-preserved monuments of ancient Greek architecture.
The surroundings of Kalamata are associated not only with oil, olives and interesting monuments. There are also many other beautiful places. Among others, the port city of Pylos, the wonderful Polilimnio waterfalls with a dozen small lakes filled with emerald water, and the beautiful and amazingly situated Voidokilia beach, which is located between the Ionian Sea and the Gialova Lagoon. In Kalamata, you can also find many places perfect for relaxing on the beach. There are definitely fewer tourists near Pylos, so it is an ideal place for lovers of a peaceful vacation.
Ohrid – a magical place on the border
What is North Macedonia associated with? Many of you will definitely say that with Alexander the Great and the controversial reconstruction of Skopje that has been carried out in recent years. However, this small country has a wonderful treasure – the great and large Lake Ohrid and an incredibly photogenic area – with Ohrid in the lead. The lake, which is one of the deepest lakes in Europe and is divided by the Macedonian-Albanian border, is surrounded by mountain ranges. Ohrid is a spectacular city with a beautiful coast and great views. In this place you can find old tenement houses covered with a characteristic red tile, Tsar Samuel’s fortress, numerous churches – with the beautiful church of St. John the Theologian and the wonderful church of St. Sophia. A remnant of the Hellenistic times in the form of the Ancient Theater, which today is the main arena of the Ohrid Summer music festival.
What else can you find on the shores of Lake Ohrid? Right on the border with Albania, you will see impressively located St. Naum from the 10th century. On the opposite side of the lake, right at its northern end, on the bank of the Black Drin river flowing out of it, there is the town of Struga. This area is much quieter than Ohrid and there are also many beaches.
Burgas and the Bulgarian Riviera
Burgas and the Bulgarian Riviera have been very popular since the 1970s and 1980s. It was a time when the Bulgarian authorities decided to expand the tourist base in this area. As a result, tourists from many European countries started coming to the Black Sea. Bulgaria is still a very popular travel destination. A popular city to visit is Burgas, one of the largest cities in the country. There are many interesting places to see (local Archaeological Museum, Historical Museum, large historical center, Seaside Park and beaches). It is known as a place that can be visited in 1-2 days and then you can move to other smaller towns on the Riviera.
The best places for beach lovers are Pomorie and Sunny Beach, located north of Burgas on the Black Sea. After relaxing on the sand, it is definitely worth visiting the nearby Nessebar, a historic town that dates back to ancient Greece. The old town located on a promontory is surrounded by magnificent defensive walls, and behind them there are as many as 40 historic churches in the area, although only some of them have survived to this day in good condition and are not only protected ruins. In the southern part of the Bulgarian Riviera is Sozopol, famous for its wonderful coastline and history dating back to antiquity. Going further south, we will find, among others, Ahtopol and Sinemorets with a large sandy beach at the mouth of the Veleka River and a beautiful cliff coast.
Of course, there are more wonderful places worth visiting this year. If you are looking for other interesting destinations, check out all the flight deals on eSky and choose the best offers for you!
