Niš has symbolically handed over the key to the city to well-known actors as part of the Niš Film Festival, which takes place in the open-air Niš Fortress Amphitheatre. Notable sights in Niš include the Skull Tower – a stone structure embedded with 58 human skulls. A macabre reminder of the First Serbian uprising in 1809, the tower is a symbol of Serbian independence and a key part of the national identity. For history buffs, don’t miss Mediana archaeological site – the birthplace of Roman Emperor, Constantine the Great.

The capital of North Macedonia is a treasure trove of Balkan culture. Film is an important part of its heritage and it shows – Skopje hosts several film festivals throughout the year, ranging from the International Film Festival KineNova to the Philosophical Film Festival. Take a walk through the historic city and get lost among the traditional craft shops of the fascinating Old Bazaar, one of the Balkan state's largest markets. From there, make sure you visit the Stone Bridge, one of the main symbols of the city, built in the 15th century on Roman foundations.

You may have heard of the French Lumière brothers as the fathers of cinema, but you’re probably less familiar with their pioneering contemporaries – Yanaki and Milton Manaki. The duo shot the Balkans’ very first motion pictures in Bitola just years after the first Lumière film was captured. They also introduced the Bioscope 300 film camera to the country. These days, their legacy lives on in the Manaki Brothers International Cinematographers Film Festival, the first and oldest festival dedicated to cinematographers. When in town, take a walk down Shirok Sokak, a kilometre-long pedestrian street lined with charming Neo-classical buildings on each side. Do as the locals do and stop in one of the many cafes to sip a glass of iced coffee on the terrace, especially if it’s summer!

Thessaloniki’s idyllic Mediterranean coastal charm has made it a favourite with directors looking for unusual filming locations. Films such as 1995’s Ulysses’ Gaze, starring Harvey Keitel, through to Hollywood blockbusters including 2022’s The Expendables 4, featuring Sylvester Stallone and Jason Statham, have been shot in the port city. For fans of non-fiction, Thessaloniki is also home to an international documentary film festival. On the waterfront, you can also find the Cinema Museum of Thessaloniki, where Greek film history is on display.

Elefsina has a glorious past – it is best known for being the site of the Eleusinian Mysteries, one of the most famous religious events of the Ancient Greek religion, and the birthplace of Aeschylus, one of Greece’s best-known writers of tragedy and drama. The Aeschylia Festival, a celebration of film, music and theatre which takes place at a former industrial factory every summer, is one of Greece's most influential festivals. Elefsina also has an open-air cinema and hosts the Athens Open Air Film Festival in June. As European Capital of Culture 2023, Elefsina will focus on the links between its history, its people, the environment, and the city itself.