Balkan cuisine has its roots in the Turkish kitchen. Over time, however, more and more influences from the Mediterranean cuisine on the one hand, but also from the Oriental direction were added. Basically, however, the Balkan cuisine is composed of influences from the various national cuisines that are geographically located in the Balkan region: Albania, Montenegro, Romania, Croatia, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Bulgaria. Balkan cuisine is very spicy and hearty, but it is also often described as very down-to-earth. Among the most famous dishes and foods are hearty grilled dishes such as grilled meat or roasted on a skewer, zucchini, peppers, eggplant, feta, yogurt and minced meat. The desserts also leave nothing to be desired. You can look forward to stunning cakes and especially sweet desserts.
The Balkans has a great variety of different cultures and ethnicities to offer. This is not found in any other country in Europe. Apart from the different cultural influences, the Balkans and thus the culture is built on a common past, marked by war and change. This can still be felt today, as each country on the peninsula also has its own language. Nevertheless, words, language and also the different values of the countries are now very similar.
About 80 million people live in the Balkans. But these people are connected by more than just the region in which they live. Language, traditions and a cruel past: the traces are everywhere and connect every single citizen. This connection also has much deeper roots than you can observe between ordinary neighboring countries.
The Balkans have an incredible, multifaceted nature to offer. From gorgeous coasts with crystal clear waters to rugged mountain landscapes, it's all here. The diversity of the lush, green landscapes is also reflected in the cultural diversity of the region. Green pine forests meet endless mountain landscapes as far as the eye can see. If you're a nature lover or explorer, this is the place to be, with one scenic highlight after another awaiting you.
Albanian, Bulgarian, Modern Greek, Romanian, Macedonian, Serbo-Croatian
Albanian lek, Convertible mark, Euro, Croatian kuna, Macedonian denar, Serbian dinar, Lev, Romanian leu
Faleminderit, Благодаря!(Blagodarya!), Ευχαριστώ (Efcharistó), Vă mulțumim, Благодарам! (Blagodaram!), Хвала! (Hvala!)
No time difference to Central Europe (exception: Bulgaria, Romania, Greece +1 hour)
Spring and summer
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