What is the Balkan Bus Meeting?

The Balkan Bus Meeting (BBM) is one of the most established Volkswagen Bus and Camper gatherings in the Balkans. It is a private, community-driven event for Volkswagen Bus and Camper enthusiasts, held every year in a different Balkan country — Greece, Bulgaria, Turkey, Romania or Serbia.

Over the years, BBM has grown far beyond the Balkans, bringing together Volkswagen Bus enthusiasts from all over Europe, strengthening our community and fueling the passion that connects us all.

How it all started

The story of the Balkan Bus Meeting began with a conversation in a Greek tavern.

Two Turkish friends, Eren and Mecit, were passing through Thessaloniki on their way to Germany to attend an international Syncro meeting. During their stay, they met Themis and talked about the idea of creating an international meeting where Volkswagen Bus enthusiasts from different Balkan countries could come together.

Not long after that, in the autumn of 2010, Ivan organized the first Bulgarian-Greek VW Bus meeting in Sofia, at the parking area of the National Historical Museum. After the evening, Ivan and Themis went to a restaurant together. During dinner, Themis told Ivan about the conversation he had had with Eren and Mecit and their idea of creating an international Balkan meeting. Ivan liked the idea immediately. Then Themis asked him a simple question:

“If we, the Greeks, organize the first meeting in Greece, would you agree to organize the second one in Bulgaria?”

Ivan didn’t hesitate. His answer was: “Yes. We will take the baton from you and organize the second meeting in Bulgaria.”

And that was how it all began.

The idea was simple: to create a gathering where Volkswagen Bus enthusiasts from across the Balkans could meet, exchange experiences, skills and information, discover interesting places, experience different cultures and, most importantly, share their love and passion for Volkswagen Buses.

After several months of preparation, the first Balkan Bus Meeting became a reality in Greece in 2011. Camping Evridiki

Greece 2011

We enjoyed the meeting so much that we immediately started thinking about the next one. As promised, the second BBM took place in Bulgaria in 2012. Camping Kiten

Bulgaria 2012

There, we met Dursun and many other friends from Turkey. They loved the idea and were happy to take the next step and host the following meeting in Igneada.

Turkey 2013

On our way back from Turkey, we met Gabi and friends from “Air Cooled Riders – Romania”. They decided to stay in Bulgaria for a few days by the seaside. After a little persuasion — with some help from Bulgarian rakia, of course — they agreed to host the next Balkan Bus Meeting.

Romania 2014

At the Romanian meeting, a large group from “Buba Club – Serbia” joined us. They had heard about the Balkan Bus Meeting and came to see what it was all about.

They really liked the atmosphere and the spirit of the meeting and eventually convinced Sasa, Smaka and the Serbian team that it was their turn to host the next BBM.

Serbia 2015

And so the wheel kept turning. It was time for Greece again:

Greece 2016

Then came:

Bulgaria 2017, Turkey 2018, Romania 2019

After the difficult year of 2020, the BBM journey continued:

Serbia 2021, Greece 2022 , Bulgaria 2023, Turkey 2024, Romania 2025

And then it was time to return to Serbia in 2026.

This time, the event was organized by the young and enthusiastic VW Bus Club Serbia, who proudly took over the baton from Buba Club Serbia, the club that had hosted BBM back in 2015.

Žika, Gale and their friends from the club put their hearts and souls into making the 2026 meeting special. Their energy, dedication and hospitality were truly appreciated, and we are deeply grateful to them for everything they did to keep the spirit of the Balkan Bus Meeting alive.

More than fifteen years after that first conversation, the Balkan Bus Meeting has become much more than just an annual VW Bus gathering.

It has become a journey through the Balkans, a celebration of friendship, adventure and the unique community that has grown around these old Volkswagen Buses.

We have travelled thousands of kilometres together, crossed borders, discovered new places, shared countless meals and drinks, helped each other with broken buses, danced together, laughed together and made friendships that go far beyond the meeting itself.

Different countries.
Different languages.
Different cultures.

One passion. One community. One Balkan Bus Meeting.