Sofia to Bucharest Grand Discovery (Self-Launched Balkans Route)

Land at Sofia Airport and take the metro (Line 4, ~1 lev / £0.45) or a metered taxi (~25 lev / £11) into the centre. Check into a hostel or budget hotel near Vitosha Boulevard or the Central Market. Spend the afternoon walking the city: Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, St Sofia Basilica, the National Art Gallery, the Presidential Palace guard change, and the Roman ruins of Serdica under the streets. Grab dinner of shopska salad and grilled meatballs (kyufte) at a mehana in the centre.

🚌Airport metro Line 4 to Serdika (~£0.45) or taxi (~£11)

🛏Hostel Mostel or a central budget hotel near Vitosha Blvd (dorm £12–18, private ~£30)

• →Self-guided Sofia walking route (Alexander Nevsky, St Sofia Basilica, National Art Gallery, Presidential Palace)
• →Free Sofia Walking Tour (tip-based, ~£5 tip)

Morning bus from Sofia's Central Bus Station to Skopje — roughly 5–6 hours, several departures daily. On arrival, walk or take a local bus into the centre. Self-tour Skopje's highlights: the Stone Bridge, Macedonia Square with its giant statues, the Old Bazaar, Mustafa Pasha Mosque and Kale Fortress (free to enter, sunset views over the city). Overnight in a hostel or guesthouse in the Old Bazaar or Debar Maalo district.

🚌Intercity bus Sofia–Skopje ~£15–20, 5–6 hrs; local bus to centre ~£0.70

🛏Hostel in Skopje Old Bazaar or Debar Maalo (dorm £10–15, private ~£28)

• →Skopje self-guided walk: Stone Bridge, Macedonia Square, Old Bazaar
• →Mustafa Pasha Mosque visit (free)
• →Kale Fortress viewpoint (free)

Early bus from Skopje to Prizren (about 2.5–3 hrs). Spend a few hours in Kosovo's prettiest old town: climb to Prizren Castle for city views, see the Sinan Pasha Mosque and the stone bridge over the Bistrica (White Drin) at Sadrvan Square. Then take an afternoon bus Prizren–Tirana (roughly 3.5–4 hrs via the Kukes or Durrës route). Check into a hostel near Skanderbeg Square. Optional detour en route out of Skopje: Matka Canyon, ~25 EUR for a shared boat or kayak trip if you have time.

🚌Bus Skopje–Prizren ~£6–8; bus Prizren–Tirana ~£10–12

🛏Hostel or guesthouse near Skanderbeg Square, Tirana (dorm £12–16, private ~£30)

• →Prizren Castle climb (free)
• →Sinan Pasha Mosque and stone bridge
• →Optional Matka Canyon boat trip near Skopje (~£22)

Morning self-guided walk around Tirana: Skanderbeg Square, the Skanderbeg statue, Et'hem Bey Mosque, the Clock Tower and the colourful Blloku district. Take an early afternoon bus from Tirana toward Ohrid (usually via Struga or Elbasan, roughly 5–6 hrs). Arrive in Ohrid in the evening and settle into a guesthouse in the Old Town. Dinner by Lake Ohrid with local trout and a glass of Tikveš wine.

🚌Bus Tirana–Ohrid ~£15–18, 5–6 hrs

🛏Guesthouse in Ohrid Old Town (private room £20–30, dorm £12–15)

• →Self-guided Tirana walk: Skanderbeg Square, Et'hem Bey Mosque, Clock Tower
• →Evening walk along Lake Ohrid waterfront

Full day exploring Ohrid on foot. Walk the Old Town: Hagia Sophia Church, the Ancient Via Egnatia remains, the Quarantine Church, Samuel's Fortress (small entry fee) and the Antique Theatre. In the afternoon, take the local boat or a cheap shared taxi to Sveti Naum Monastery, right on the lake near the Albanian border (~15 EUR return by boat, ~£40 if you prefer a local tour). Alternatively, hire a kayak or swim at Kaneo Beach. Sunset at the Church of St John at Kaneo is unmissable.

🚌Walking in town; boat or shared taxi to Sveti Naum ~£13–40

🛏Guesthouse in Ohrid Old Town (private room £20–30)

• →Samuel's Fortress and Hagia Sophia Church (small entry fees)
• →Church of St John at Kaneo
• →Sveti Naum Monastery day trip by boat or shared taxi
• →Lake Ohrid swim or kayak

Long travel day heading south into Greece. Bus from Ohrid to Kastoria (roughly 2–3 hrs, may require a change at Struga or Florina). Stretch your legs in Kastoria: the lakeside promenade, the historic Byzantine churches and the Ottoman-era mansions of the Doltso district. Then continue by bus toward Kalambaka via Ioannina or Kozani (5–7 hrs, one change likely). Arrive in Kalambaka and check into a guesthouse with views up to the Meteora rock pillars.

🚌Bus Ohrid–Kastoria ~£10; bus Kastoria–Kalambaka via Ioannina ~£18–25, 5–7 hrs

🛏Guesthouse or budget hotel in Kalambaka (Kastraki side) £20–32

• →Kastoria lakeside walk and Byzantine churches
• →Doltso Ottoman mansion district
• →Evening view of the Meteora rock formations from Kalambaka

Get up early to visit the Meteora monasteries — six are open on a rotating schedule; entry is about 3 EUR each. You can reach the monasteries by hiking trails from Kastraki or by the local bus from Kalambaka (a couple of euros). Aim for Great Meteoron, Varlaam and Rousanou. Mid-afternoon, take the bus or train from Kalambaka to Thessaloniki (roughly 3–4 hrs). In Thessaloniki, walk the waterfront to see the White Tower and the Arch of Galerius.

🚌Local bus to Meteora monasteries ~£2; bus or train Kalambaka–Thessaloniki ~£12–18

🛏Hostel or budget hotel near Thessaloniki waterfront (dorm £14–20, private ~£35)

• →Meteora monastery visits (Great Meteoron, Varlaam, Rousanou, ~£2.50 each)
• →Hike the Kastraki trails between monasteries
• →White Tower and Arch of Galerius waterfront walk

Bus from Thessaloniki to Sofia (roughly 5–6 hrs, direct services exist). If you want to include Rila Monastery, break the journey: take a bus to Blagoevgrad or Dupnitsa, then the local shuttle up to Rila Monastery (UNESCO-listed, free entry, beautiful frescoes). From Rila, continue to Sofia by bus. Back in Sofia, revisit Alexander Nevsky Cathedral at dusk and take a relaxed evening walk through the National Art Gallery and Presidential Palace area.

🚌Bus Thessaloniki–Sofia ~£20–28; shuttle to Rila Monastery and onward to Sofia ~£8–12

🛏Hostel or budget hotel in central Sofia £12–30

• →Rila Monastery visit (free entry, UNESCO site)
• →Evening Sofia city walk: Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, National Art Gallery

Take an early bus or train to Veliko Tarnovo (about 3–4 hrs). Explore the medieval Tsarevets Fortress overlooking the Yantra River and the craft lanes of Samovodska Charshia. Then continue north across the Danube to Bucharest — usually via Ruse (bus Veliko Tarnovo–Ruse ~£6, then bus or train Ruse–Bucharest ~£8–12). Arrive in Bucharest and check into a hostel or budget hotel in the Old Town or near Piata Romana.

🚌Bus Sofia–Veliko Tarnovo ~£10; bus/train Veliko Tarnovo–Ruse–Bucharest ~£15

🛏Hostel or budget hotel in Bucharest Old Town (dorm £12–18, private ~£32)

• →Tsarevets Fortress, Veliko Tarnovo (small entry fee)
• →Samovodska Charshia craft street
• →Danube crossing at Ruse

Full day in Bucharest. Self-walk the historic centre: Revolution Square, the Romanian Athenaeum, the elegant Villa Crosse Passage arcades, Manuc's Inn and the Old Princely Court, then the vast Palace of the Parliament (book a guided interior tour in advance, ~£12). Alternatively, take the full-day Transylvania excursion to Bran Castle, Brașov and Peleș Castle — bookable via GetYourGuide or a local operator for around 130–150 EUR. Evening: craft beer or wine in the Old Town.

🚌Walking in the centre; Transylvania day tour by coach ~£110–130

🛏Hostel or budget hotel in Bucharest Old Town (dorm £12–18)

• →Self-guided Bucharest walk: Revolution Square, Athenaeum, Manuc's Inn, Old Princely Court
• →Palace of the Parliament tour (~£12)
• →Optional Bran Castle / Brașov / Peleș Castle day trip (~£115–130)

Final morning for a last coffee and pastry in the Old Town or a wander through Cismigiu Park. Take the bus (783 express) or a taxi to Henri Coanda (Otopeni) Airport for your onward flight. No onward transfer is included in the self-launched plan — arrange it locally or via your accommodation.

🚌Bus 783 to Otopeni Airport ~£1, or taxi ~£12

🛏—

• →Final morning in Bucharest Old Town
• →Cismigiu Park walk (optional)