The Balkans

The Balkans comprise Albania and the nations of the former Yugoslavia. They include Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia Herzegovina, the Yugoslav Federation (Serbia and Montenegro), FYR Macedonia and Albania. These countries are located on the eastern shore of the Adriatic Sea between Italy and Greece.

Languages - The dominant languages are Serbo Croatian written in latin characters in Croatia and Slovenia and cyrillic script in the Yugoslav Federation, Bosnia and FYR Macedonia.

Albanian is the dominant language of Albania and Kosovo. Macedonian is spoken in FYR Macedonia. English is a popular second language amongst many educated people in the Balkans. Italian, German, Greek and Turkish are spoken in various areas.

Passport and Entry Requirements - Bosnia Herzegovina & Slovenia do not require a visa for Australia passport holders for a stay of up to 90 days. FYR Macedonia and Albania both require visas for Australian passport holders. Australian passport holders travelling to FYR Macedonia will need to apply for a Visa prior to departure, approx fee of $AUD33.00 per person will apply and the same applies for Albania however the Visa will be issued upon arrival and a fee of EUR10 per person will apply.

Health - No vaccinations are required unless arriving from infected areas.

Duty Free - There are slight variations between countries but as a guide 1 litre of spirits, 250 grams of tobacco or 250 cigarettes and 250 grams of perfume should keep you within the law in all countries.

Banking Hours - There are national variations but 9-4 Monday Friday is standard.

Medical Services - Standards of service vary widely throughout the region. Most cities have excellent medical and hospital services. Travel insurance is absolutely vital for visitors.

Currency - The Balkan states have a variety of national currencies including the Yugoslav denar, Bosnian Convertible Mark, and Albanian lek. In 2007 Slovenia adopted the Euro currency.

Phone and Post - Phone cards are common throughout the Balkans as are coin phones. Postal services are efficient. Telecommunications facilities tend to be more advanced in Slovenia than in other Balkan countries.

Tipping - Not compulsory but welcome.

Climate - Overall the Balkans enjoy a classic Mediterranean climate with warm to hot dry summers May-Sept and cool to cold and rainy winters Nov-Feb. Many parts of the Balkans are mountainous and snow is common during winter.

Voltage and Plugs - 220 volts AC 50 herz with a two cylindrical pronged plug is standard throughout the Balkans.

Safety -Travellers on organised tours can be confident about their safety and EMTA suggests that visitors use organised programmes in the region. Independent travellers in Macedonia, Kosovo and Albania need to be aware that civil war, banditry and public disorder present a safety risk. There are few concerns about safety in Slovenia and Serbia. People in this region are very hospitable but unless specifically invited. its is advisable to avoid indiscrete remarks on regional political matters as these tend to arouse strong emotions and passions.

Dress - Dress as you would in Australia but when visiting religious sites modest dress is expected. Balkan winters can be very cold so pack accordingly.

Shopping -The best value goods are clothing, handicrafts and jewellery.

Internal Transport - There are good bus services linking all parts of the Balkans . Rail services vary in quality and frequency. Taxis are reasonably priced by Australian standards.

Driving - Drive on the right hand side of the road. Roads throughout Slovenia and Serbia are of a high standard. Roads linking main centres in Albania and Macedonia are good but deteriorate off the beaten track.

Accommodation - The region has the full range of accommodation. The most popular tourist destinations along Adriatic coast have a comprehensive range of accommodation types, most of which are of high standard.

Major Attractions - The main attractions include the beautiful Slovenian capital Lublijana and Serbia's culturally vibrant capital Belgrade. The Bosnian capital Sarajevo has recovered from years of war and is an interesting mixture of Christian and Muslim cultures. The entire region has a wealth of fascinating historical sites, beautiful forests and spectacular mountain scenery.

Food and Drink - The Balkans is a region of many cultural, religious and national influences. Consequently it is a gourmet's delight. Balkan food is a mixture of Turkish, Greek, Italian, Austrian, Hungarian and local food and cooking styles. Eating is relatively inexpensive throughout.

Tap water is drinkable in most regions but bottled water is widely available.
There are no restrictions on alcohol. Even in those parts of the Balkans with large Muslim populations such as Albania and Bosnia the locals have a liberal attitude to alcohol.

Entertainment - The rich cultural and ethnic variations make for a diverse range of music, dance and art.

Public Holidays - There are variations between each country. Your travel agent or EMTA member can assist you with each country.