Need info about Balkan countries?

Question

I'll be travelling to following Balkan cities in following months and need some tips about cities:

Sofia, Bulgaria
Bucharest, Romania
Timisoara, Romania
Ljubljana , Slovenia
Belgrade, Serbia
Podgorica, Montenegro
Zagreb, Croatia
Valetta, Malta
Skopje, Macedonia
Nicosia, Cyprus

Tips I need are:

1. Are taxis safe? After I landed to an airport, can I pick a taxi to the hotel?
2. What currenty is accepted? Euro accepted?
3. Can I find a taxi from the street or should I call a taxi station? Is there a taximeter or it's a bargain?
4. How about taxi fares? Airpot to city center for example?
5. Is it safe to take a walk around the hotel? I know this depends on the area but in average.
6. Are there english explanations in streest? Ecpecially for countries like Bulgaria, since alphabet used is different.
7. What's an average dinner cost?

Thanks,

Answer 1

About Skopje:
1. Yes, they are safe and you can find some at the airoport...
2. Euro is accepted in some stores but it's better if you exchange it into the national currency "denar". 1 euro= 62 denars
3. You can catch a taxi from the street, no need to call a taxi station. And every taxi has a taximeter, but some can even accept bargain.
4. Not sure, but i think it's around 300 denars(5 euros)
5. It's safe everywhere
6. Yes, the one is on cirillyc alphabet and the other is on latin one
7. 5-10 euros

Here are some places in Skopje that are attractive for visit:
1. Matka (Womb)- canyon on the river Treska, not so far from the city (Skopje), actually there is a bus going there… Only few minutes from the canyon there are few (5-6 I’m not sure) beautiful old churches.
2. The Stone Bridge- in the centar, on the river Vardar
3. The Fortress Kale (near the Centar)
4. St. Bogorodica and St. Kliment Ohridski (there are many beautiful churches, but don’t miss these two)
5. The Old Bazaar- with many small shops from the time of the Turks, Turkish baths, Mosques, Kursumli An, Amams - Cifte Amam, Daut Pasa Amam e.t.c)
6. For shoping there are many malls, but the best ones are: GTC (Gradski trgovski Centar and Ramstore mall). You must check some of the coffee bars placed on the bench of the river Vardar (they’re actually in GTC)
7. Milenium Cross on mountain Vodno (almost in the centar of the city). It has great panoramic view at night!!!
8. DID YOU KNOW THAT MOTHER TERESA WAS BORN IN SKOPJE? You can see the place where her house used to be (it’s near the city square)

And yes Ohrid is a MUST visit place. The best city in Macedonia and in the area. Here is what you can do there...
During the day you can go on any of the many beautiful beaches by the shore of the lake, do some shoping, sightseeing in the city or just sit in one of the many cafés in any of the narrow streets in the Old Town and enjoy. For all the young people, the nightlife is great and vibrant. The cafes work late at night, but there’re also so many nightclubs where you can carry on from there. The most popular these days are Nemo, Liquid, Cuba Libre, Aquarius...

For sightseeing, there’re enormous many old churches, my favourite ones are Plaoshnik, more than 15 centuries old, St. Jovan Caneo, St. Naum… If you climb on the Samuil Fortress, just 5 min from the centre, you get amazing sight on the whole lake.

The Lake is clean, one of the oldest ones in Europe, from 1980 protected by UNESCO as a place of world cultural and natural inheritance. Most of the lake’s plant and animal species are endemic, which also makes Ohrid unique. The most famous among these are two types of Ohrid Trout. You should try them prepared on the traditional way. Mmmmm…

Ohrid is also known as the site of the first Slavic university run by St. Clement and St. Naum at the end of the 9th century. Ohrid, also, used to be the centre of the orthodox Christianity in the whole region. There’s so much history there…

And DO NOT miss a boat trip on the lake, especially at night, believe me one of a kind experience!!

I must not forget to mention the hospitability of the people there.

In the last few years Ohrid is soooo popular among foreign tourists, especially Greeks, Dutchmen, Bulgarians, Serbians etc. So, check it out!!!

Have a nice trip

Answer 2

About Bucharest and Timisoara in Romania... you should ask the taxi driver first how much he will charge you. If he doesn't say, find another. And also try looking for a taxi which belongs to a firm, not a private one, the privates (they usually stay in front of the exit from the airport, charge you more and have a single "taxi" sign on the top of the car). Also, you must change your euros in lei (lei are convertible so you can do that at any bank from the West). Anyway, a taxi fare shouldn't be higher than 2/3 new lei or 20000/30000 old lei (they have changed recently so beware) for a km which is less than an euro (approx 3,5 lei or 35000 old lei).
Yes, it's safe to walk around the hotel, especially in Timisoara, people are nice and civilized there. Also the center of Bucharest is safe. No English explanations in the street, or maybe only few, but almost anyone (especially young people) speak English.
As for the dinner cost... it depends on the restaurant... from 20 -30 lei to 50 lei. Try the mall or other fast foods in the hypermarkets (not in the street fast foods because you never know what you eat. lol)
Good luck!

Answer 3

Hello, first of all, I think Malta is not in Balkans and I can help only for the two Romanian cities: Bucharest and Timisoara. So:
1.You can get a taxi from the airport, it will be something about 10-20 euros to the center.
2.In Romania we use "leu/lei", but you can change euros or dollars in a change office, or, better, in a bank.
3.It's hard to find taxi on the street, better to call a station and, remember that taxi's cars are yellow.
4.I've already answered.
5.If you choose a central hotel is safe to walk not only around it, but also in all center city.
6.In streets there are not explanations, but many people talk English, so they can help you.
7.A dinner in a Mac is about 10-15 euros (a complete meal, I mean), but in a restaurant could be even 50-60 euros (also complete and drink included).
I hope, it will be helpful.

Answer 4

Croatia-Zagreb
safe,there are taxis from the airport,the cost i don¸t know but just like in any other euro city,not very cheap.
You can walk not just around the hotel but all over the city with no fear,even at night.
dinner cost 50-100kn
euros not accepted.KUNA is the currency
1 Euro=7.5 kunas
1 beer=15 kn in a cafee
1coffee=it depends where you drink it from 6-15 kuna
Have fun

Answer 5

Hi there! It will be interesting journey. From Belgrade airport u have jatairways bus every hour, wait in front of main enter, u can see information on board table, ticket cost 2 euro. Or call [phone] it's city taxi it's cheaper i use them.
Euro u can change in change office or in some bank, 1 euro is 85 csd (dinars).
People mostly speak English very well, I think u wont have problem. It is safe to walk around, no war, city is full of tourists.
Dinner is not expensive,u can eat Serbian bbq 1-2 euro in restaurants like fast food, or in restaurant 5-10 euro it depends of ur appetite.
In Montenegro their volute is euro. Skopje is not big city, I have been few times, nice people... visit Ohrid if u have time.
Sofia is big city, I had a great time there.I am sure that students speak English well find someone on street to help u, they r friendly people and helpful. Meal is also cheap.

It's safe in every ex Yugoslav country, don t worry, u will enjoy ur journey. Have a good time.

Answer 6

I've been recently to Ljubljana and Zagreb. There is not much difference from Austria - taxis were safe but fairly costly, they all have taximeters and everybody speaks English. Euro is accepted in some places in Ljubljana, same in Zagreb, but you are better of changing money into local currency. Ljubljana and Zagreb are exceptionally safe, I felt free to walk as much as I wanted (and I did!) - actually feels much safer than average western-European city. And no, there is no English explanation of street names in Ljubljana and Zagreb, but street names are not THAT complicated and they write with regular alphabet. Dinner I had in Ljubljana was about 10euros and I spent lots of time in Zagreb, so dinner price varied from 5euro (pizza) to 20 (really fancy restaurant). Nobody tried to cheat on prices, though I was obviously foreigner - prices are clearly displayed and most places have bi-lingual menus (local language and English). I enjoyed my visit very much and looking forward going again next summer!

Answer 7

I must add something to Franklin's advice - be careful not less than everywhere exept at your street adress. And for Macedonia, ovcichka's comment is more than enough. Most of Macedonians are rised in good hospitality familiar tradition. Also I believe you should have at least one domestic living friend at any destination.
Depends of the age, of course:-)))

Answer 8

taxis are a rip-off in every city that you mention, some more than others.
be very careful in Bulgaria, Romania, Macedonia, Serbia, Slovenia, Croatia, Montenegro
(i don't know about Malta and Cyprus, but those are not BALKAN countries)

Answer 9

Wow, i think euro is accepted ..enjoy your trip.

Answer 10

ovcichka gave you the answer for visiting MACEDONIA! Good luck!!