Always wondering why these Balkan people praise their countries? Simple. It’s in their DNA to embrace their Balkan spirit.
Google does not know everything. One can never get a direct experience, but one can get answers on what some ćevapi look like, but not how they taste, where Struga is, but nothing about how it feels to be there. There are certain secrets people need to discover by themselves.
If you want to feel The Balkans, understand the mosaic that they shape, first you need to know where they are, what do they have to offer, and what are they like, all of which you’ll find here!
The most southeastern European peninsula is called the Balkan Peninsula. The name was first introduced by the German geographer August Zeune in 1808. The word Balkan is Turkish and means “mountain,” and the peninsula is undoubtedly dominated by mountains, particularly in the west. Nowadays the area is known as the Balkans or Southeastern Europe.
The components of the region are not universally agreed upon. Generally speaking, the countries of Slovenia, Romania, North Macedonia, Serbia, Montenegro, *Kosovo, Croatia, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Bulgaria are all located on the peninsula and are collectively referred to as the Balkans. The geographical area commonly referred to as the Balkan Peninsula also includes parts of Turkey and Greece.
The Balkans have served as a crossroads for the Mediterranean, Central, Northern, and Eastern Europe, the Caucasus, Central Asia, and the Near East for millennia. Languages spoken here belong to all major linguistic families in Europe.
Three major religions: Christianity, Judaism and Islam have been coexisting for centuries. Nearly the entire Balkan area was under the rule of the Roman Empire in the 1st to 5th centuries, under the Eastern Roman or Byzantine Empire in the 5th to 11th -12th century and under the Ottoman Empire from the 15th to 19th century.
All this makes Southeastern Europe a unique showroom of Europe’s history and geography.
Introducing the Ts
Recently I was „locked“ in a hundred-year-old hotel in Belgrade with several Balkaners whom I like to call “my people” and I was able to come up with a list of Balkan highlights that I believe will influence the decision making process of which part of the Balkans to visit.
Like everyone else, Balkan people love their countries, one might say that they even praise them too much. Praising one’s country is a complex and multifaceted phenomenon that reflects a combination of personal, cultural, and societal influences. It gives people the chance to express their values, reaffirm their ancestry, and add to the sense of national identity and well-being.
So what are the Ts?
The Ts, according to this author, are attributes that best suit a country.
How is this division made? Simple. Subjectively. And why can’t it be objective? Again, simple. No one will say a bad thing about their country when talking to a foreigner or the “neighbor” across the border, but at the end of the day how can one say an unpleasant word about the Balkans?
The ones with the most memorable seaside: It would be absurd to not put Croatia on the top of the list, island of Dugi Otok, Island of Brač (especially the Golden Horn Beach), the Makarska Riviera, Konavle region (Pasjača Beach), Dubrovnik, Pula or Rovinj, they are all a must-see places. If you like a good combination of sea and medieval architecture, I’ve heard Montenegro has a lot to offer, but if you are seeking unspoiled setting, according to Emma from Albania, Baie de Kakomë, Gjipe Beach or Jale beach are the right captivating destinations. If the Adriatic or Ionian Sea are not on the travel list, there’s always the Black Sea.
The with the most memorable lakeside: Lake Ohrid is one of the oldest and deepest natural lakes in Europe with a depth of 288 meters, Lake Bled which is famous for its picturesque setting with a church on an island, a medieval castle on a cliff, and thermal springs or Lake Skadar which is noted for its wetlands, diverse wildlife, and importance as a bird habitat.
The ones with the best kept secrets: Every country has its own secrets. The Old Olive Tree, a symbol of the city of Bar, is the oldest tree in Europe and has stood in the same position for over 2,000 years! The Divje Babe Flute is a prehistoric artifact found in Slovenia in 1995 and it is considered to be the oldest musical instrument ever discovered! The Goddess on the Throne is the oldest known artifact in Kosovo, dating back to the Neolithic period. I asked Kenan and he said that Perućica is one of the last remaining primeval forests in Europe, located in Bosnia and Herzegovina and that it is a well kept secret.
The ones with the historic heritage: According to the Oxford English Dictionary “heritage” means ‘relating to things of historic or cultural value that are worthy of preservation’. The Balkans will explain this definition in the perfect way, especially through Kotor’s Old Town which is a UNESCO World Heritage site, the Kokino Megalithic Observatory, the oldest known archaeological site in North Macedonia, dating back to around 1800 BCE or the oldest known artifacts in Romania, the Peștera cu Oase human remains, which are some of the oldest early modern human fossils in Europe.
The ones with the best cuisine: When it comes to cuisine it is really hard to choose or make a decision. If you want to try good barbeque, I’d probably pick Serbia but when I asked Emina she said that Bosnian cevapi, are the best ones, even though some might say that it’s just a variety of the traditional Turkish kebab. If you want to try delicious and nutritious seafood, Albania and Croatia are the top picks.
The ones with the adventures: The Balkans offer a wide array of adventure opportunities for energetic people such as hiking and trekking in Romania, Bulgaria and Montenegro, rock climbing and mountaineering in Croatia or Greece, you could try water sports in Bosnia and Herzegovina or North Macedonia, mountain biking in Serbia or Slovenia, wildlife watching in Romania or North Macedonia.
The ones with an idyllic winter scene: From Kranjska Gora or the Julian Alps in Slovenia, to Kopaonik or Zlatibor in Serbia, from Bansko and Borovec in Bulgaria to Poiana Brașov or Sinaia in Romania, you will always be able to feel the Balkasn irreplaceable energy. Whether you are looking to hit the ski slopes, explore historic castles, relax in thermal spas, or enjoy festive Christmas markets these are the right fit for you.
How to recognize a person from The Balkans?
To recognize a Balkan person, first you must forget about the typical prejudices and stereotypes. For example, a Balkan breakfast is not only coffee and cigarettes, sometimes it can also be burek, sometimes we really keep cookies instead of a needle and thread in the cookie box, everybody does not love barbeque nor everyone’s grandma is a “clean-holic”.
To recognize them, there are a few obvious characteristics:
- They are warm people – Balkan people are known for their hospitality and generosity. People from the nearest village and people from faraway lands get the same special treatment. Every visitor is welcomed with open arms and treated like family. Those who announce their coming get an even more special treatment and that’s a homemade meal prepared by the whole house, which must not be touched until the guests arrive.
- Family oriented people – In my opinion it is one of the most obvious characteristics that distinguish Balkan people from the other European countries. People love being close to their family and friends, it may be one of the very reasons why it is so hard for them to move out of their countries, and live in a country with a more developed economy.
- Large-hearted patriots – Balkan people have developed a strong sense of national identity and loyalty, this can be seen especially when the national team of a country is playing, so it can be said that everyone keeps at least one flag in their home.
- Sometimes stubborn – There is a perception that Balkan people can be stubborn or resistant to compromise, particularly in matters of personal pride or cultural identity.
- Hot-headedness – Balkan people are sometimes stereotyped as quick to anger or prone to emotional outbursts. This stereotype is often perpetuated by depictions of passionate arguments or conflicts in media and popular culture.
There’s also another way to recognize a Balkan person and that’s by scrolling on TikTok and checking the trendiest sound “Sorry for being so Balkanik”. This is a trend that “accidentally” started the Albanian prime minister.
Bear in mind that these characteristics are not applicable to every person or community in the Balkans, and they should not be allowed to overwhelm the rich diversity, and positive attributes of the region and its people.
Find out if you’re Balkanik
Let me be honest from the beginning! You can try every type of food, visit every corner of The Balkans, explore historical sites, discover the natural beauty, but it’s never going to be enough. I personally believe that it’s not something you can practice, I believe you have to be born with it.
But if you are as stubborn as Balkan people can be and if you really want to see what it’s like being a “Balkanik” then I suggest this: go paragliding above Ohrid; try everything from the Bosnian or Turkish cuisine in a day; go clubbing in Belgrade or Tirana; go river rafting on the Tara or explore Croatian lesser-known gems. If you had these experiences than you can truly say you tried being “Balkanik”.
Other amazing Balkan destinations were definitely left out but that is the number one rule you need to learn when you are describing the Balkans: you simply can’t fit The Balkans in one article. And the second thing this article should teach you is that you can leave The Balkans, but it never leaves you, you always cherish a part of it wherever you go.
“You can never cross the ocean until you have courage to lose sight of the shore” (this quote is from Gide’s 1925 novel Les faux-monnayeurs – The Counterfeiters).
For the Balkans, I think, it is going to take more than losing sight of the shore. I think you will have to enjoy losing yourself in the experience that awaits you.