Travelling through the Balkans with children can be extremely rewarding thanks to the great variety packed into a relatively small area. Ten history museums in a row probably won't excite the kids.
But fortresses, boat rides, waterfalls, mountains, lakes and old town streets can turn the trip into a big adventure.
Slovenia is especially well suited to families who love nature, lakes and outdoor activities.
Sarajevo, for example, can combine a gentle city tour with a cable-car ride up Trebević.
Mostar can be paired with a nature trip into Herzegovina. Jajce offers a waterfall, a fortress and lakes close together. On the Croatian and Montenegrin coasts, a few cultural days combine easily with the sea and boat trips.
Slovenia is especially well suited to families who love nature, lakes and outdoor activities.
The most important rule of a family tour is not to overload the day. Long transfers every day can quickly become tiring, especially for younger children. It's better to spend two or three nights in one place than to pack suitcases every morning. Private transport also gives far more flexibility for breaks.
Hotels with family rooms and a good location should be chosen more carefully than for adults-only trips. It's also important to leave enough free time. A scoop of ice cream on the town square will sometimes stay in a child's memory longer than the UNESCO monument the parents wanted to see. The best family itinerary balances learning, fun and rest.
And the Balkans offer an almost ideal combination of all three.
