3-5 Days in one place in the Balkans -- where to go?

This is unfortunately such a broad question for such a brief window and “one place.” You need to work out your sightseeing objectives a bit. Sounds like the coast is important. In July, almost anywhere is sure to be busy. Kotor seems to still be a little off the Western radar. Albania definitely is, and from what I’ve seen and heard is an excellent if emerging destination. But none of these places are exactly undiscovered.

What I can say about the Croatian coast is while it gets very crowded they seem to scale to the demand pretty well. I hate crowds, and throughout Croatia it never seems so miserably crowded that I can’t stand it. It will be HOT HOT HOT though.

Kotor is more mobbed on cruise ship port days. Check CruiseMapper.com for schedules. That information might help you narrow your list of options.

You need to work out your sightseeing objectives a bit. Sounds like the coast is important.

By “one place,” I mean not traveling around. We’re going there to get away more and see other than to travel around and see a lot of sights.

The place I missed during my trip through some of the western Balkan countries last year, for lack of time, and regret very much is Sarajevo. It's nowhere near the coast, but folks who've been there really like it.

I have been to Split and Dubrovnik in Croatia and both are historic and great to visit. However, crowds will be there.

Have also been to Bulgaria and Romania. Transylvania is great in Romania.
Hungary is special, a bit removed from the Balkans, but consider it.

July will be high season. Croatia will be mobbed and expensive. Not a good idea.

Someone said Budapest. Sure if your friends are coming from a few Middle Eastern destinations there are direct flights. Budapest is not Balkan.

Bulgaria, Nesebar hits all the requirements. Lovely place

Sarajevo is a popular destination for practicing Muslims so has everything associated with that. And it's a facinating destination for people of all religions, even a fair number of orthodox Jewish.

Montenegro but not Kotor. Think Budva or Ulcinj. But again high season, but still not as bad in crowds or cost as Croatia. Since it's July, maybe the high country like Zabljak and the Tara River Canyon.

Apparently the Albanian coast has heated up in recent years but I bet still cheaper and more enjoyable than Croatia. Look at Sarande.

My first picks? Budapest or Sarajevo or Ulcinj.

Oh, and the Middle East is a terribly vague term, so another convenient meetup point could be Armenia. I have "Middle Eastern" friends who go there when the situation dictates.

Wait, you said 3 to 5 days. Hotel Sokaline and a few day trips with a guide. One to Kotor and to the coast and one to Zabljak and the canyon. Perfect hideout with friends and very affordable and very beautiful. I have more details if it works for you.

Ostrog Monastery https://youtu.be/ixrJu6qv46M?si=WML9Hs2hOQCsKZwE
AND Hotel & Restaurant Sokoline https://youtu.be/miNV1FVK7qI?si=iZC_lViMUEk6JGI

Tara River Canyon https://youtu.be/9aGMZB8hB5Y?si=NFKsf6YtGAX2uVCa

Budva https://youtu.be/GF7hyxB8Xq4?si=re2lmDTm5pRNpioH

Ulcinj, https://youtu.be/SBY7G9HHw5s?si=wjPy2V0P1mhua7Cs

Oh, and the Middle East is a terribly vague term, so another convenient meetup point could be Armenia. I have "Middle Eastern" friends who go there when the situation dictates.

He’s coming from Israel

Someone said Budapest. Sure if your friends are coming from a few Middle Eastern destinations there are direct flights. Budapest is not Balkan.
Bulgaria, Nesebar hits all the requirements. Lovely place

Sarajevo is a popular destination for practicing Muslims so has everything associated with that. And it's a facinating destination for people of all religions, even a fair number of orthodox Jewish.

Montenegro but not Kotor. Think Budva or Ulcinj.

Thanks

Since I wrote the original post, I’ve been looking at the east coast of Bulgaria as well: Varna and Burgas. Have never heard of Nesebar.

Why not Kotar? Is it the crowds?

I stayed in Burgas for a few days in 2015, side-tripping to Nesebar and Sozopol. The latter were interesting; Burgas, to me, was not. I haven't been to Varna but am not sure it has ever gotten past its role as a low-budget beach destination for the Iron Curtain crowd. I liked Bulgaria but found Plovdiv and Veliko Tarnovo my favorites. I don't think I gave Sofia enough time to judge it fairly.

Sarajevo has made it's way toward the top of my list of favorite places I've ever traveled.

If I were planning this, I would maybe look at 3 things. First, are there any current issues in a location that might make a location less or more enjoyable for my friends. Second, direct flights from Israel. Third, I would want to make it a longer trip for myself since I am coming from so far so is it a place I would enjoy longer or is it a place that is a good stepping off location for something else that interests me.

Budapest while not Balkan is a place where Jewish tourists have no current issues. Its also a very Jewish city if that means anything to your friends. Plenty to see and do and a good jumping off point for a lot of Europe. Summer tourism is easily absorbed by the size of the city. A lot of good hotels depending on your budget and likes. Yes on-stop flights from Israel. I know someone in the area that can probably help.

I love Sarajevo. I am talking to someone about my return in early September. My last trip was May last year and while I don’t recall any issues at the time …. Still worth checking to see if there have been any issues. I like the Hotel Old Town but there are several good ones in the same area. The problem is that there are no non-stop flights, and it might take them 10 hours to get there. You will have to check and see where you can fly to from Sarajevo after your friends leave. Not the best connected city. I know a guide/trip planner/agent in the area that can probably help.

Nessebar is about 45 minutes from Burgas and hits most of your criteria. Stay at the Hotel St. John. Wonderful for about 5 days. Great history and beaches (nearby). Bulgaria still isn’t the “in” place to be so the July tourism more likely to be manageable. Direct flights to Burgas from Israel. From Nessebar after your friends leave, Bulgaria is a pretty interesting country; or Burgas is well connected to Europe with discount airlines. I know a guide/trip planner/agent in the area that can probably help. https://youtu.be/MJFx7R4IgLY?si=F4TuvAmcozbvsj_b

Montenegro. Why not Kotor; the mass of humanity in a city that now only exists to serve tourists. Otherwise, Montenegro is just about my most favorite destination in Europe. I was there for the fourth time in May this year. Kotor is great for a day, but 3 to 5 days, no, not for me at least. I love nearby Perast and it would be very much worth visiting but in July will also be too crowded for me to want to stay in. The boat trips are great (and inexpensive). If you go down the coast things thin out a bit which is why I said Ulcinj. https://youtu.be/LaPcThRQdi4?si=DD75vjwFN3ZsE2Ab Things are better in the high country too, which is why the hotel I suggested above and a couple of road trips. Those trips will cost the group a few hundred dollars for the day. This is an economical country and breath taking in its beauty from high country to the coast. AND direct flights into Tivat from Israel. From Montenegro, after your friends leave you could go on to Bosnia or Croatia or Albania or fly non-stop to Budapest in about an hour, for about $50. I know a guide/trip planner/agent in the area that can probably help.