Balkan Facial Features: How do You Set them Apart?

Are you also a fan of the Balkans like me and wonder about the Balkan facial features?

Have you ever thought about why people in different parts of the world look so different? Or why is it sometimes possible to tell from someone’s face where they are from? Well, how about the Balkan facial features?

In this post, I’ll take you on a tour of a fascinating group of people living on the Balkan peninsula and the things – in particular physical features – that make them unique and stand out from the crowd.

Let’s find out how you can recognize people from the Balkans!

What are balkan facial features?

You’ll find a huge variety of people in the Balkans! Besides all of these different people, there are also different languages, customs, and traditions. Because of this, it’s hard to say what typical Balkan facial traits are because there are so many different kinds.

However, people from this region often share certain physical traits. But keep in mind that these are broad generalizations as there are many variations.

Let’s look at some examples below:

1. Tone of Skin

People in the Balkans have quite a wide range of skin colors, from fair to brown, which really shows how different and diverse their genes are.

2. Color of Hair

When you’re in the Balkans, you’ll find that the large majority of people have brown or black hair, but some have blonde or red hair. In some cases, you’ll also find people with slightly lighter hair.

3. Eye Color:

People in this area also have a wide range of eye colors, from dark to green to blue and everything in between. But most people in the Balkans tend to have a darker eye color.

4. Nose Shape:

Some Balkan people quite often have big, strong noses as a typical shape, but this is not always the case. It differs quite a lot from Slovenia all the way down to Greece.

4. Facial Structure:

People from the Balkans have well-defined facial traits, such as high cheekbones and strong jawlines.

5. Hair Texture:

Most Balkan people have straight or wavy hair, but there are also people with curled hair in this area.

6. Height:

There are a lot of differences in heights across the Balkans. People from the Dinaric Alps area, which includes parts of several Balkan countries like Montenegro, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, and Slovenia, are known to be among the tallest in the world.

7. Body Type:

People from the Balkans usually have quite a strong and sturdy body type. Could be the result of the fact that people in the region always had a hard-working lifestyle throughout history.

But just remember that these are just general findings and that people can be very different. Beyond these general physical traits, it’s always important to see how different and unique each person is.

Can you recognize Balkan people by their appearance?

For me personally, most of the time, I can! However, I do have a lot of friends from this region and I also lived in this region. I even have a family-in-law from the Balkans!

But if you have less experience with the Balkans, it might be hard to recognize them by their looks alone because the area has a lot of different racial, genetic, and cultural groups. The Balkan Peninsula is home to many different ethnic groups.

Each group has its own unique traits that come from its genetic background, movements in the past, and mixing with other groups.

People from the Balkans tend to have fair to dark skin, brown or black hair, and eyes that can be blue or brown. Face shapes can be different, but many people in the area have high cheeks and very strong jawlines.

Every person is different, and their appearance is only one part of what makes them who they are. But personal traits, traditional practices, language, and a lot of other things are much more important to a person’s identity than how they look.

What are the physical features of the Balkans?

We’ve been through the facial features of the people living in the Balkans but what about the physical features of the Balkans itself?

You’ll find beautiful mountains, valleys, and beaches in the Balkans. You could argue that the people living here have been shaped by the beautiful scenery around them. Because of the rough scenery in the mountains, people built strong, sturdy bodies.

The very long coastline means that most locals eat a lot of seafood, which can affect their health and their appearance. I would say that the people of the Balkans are strongly built because of their geographical location and hard-working lifestyle.

Who are considered Balkan?

This always seems to be a bit of a sensitive question. The word Balkan refers to people from the Balkan Peninsula, which is in Southeastern Europe. And depending on how you look at geography and politics, countries in this area can slightly differ.

However, in general, the countries situated in the Balkans are:

• Albania (check out my post about visiting Albania)
• Bosnia and Herzegovina (check out my post about great things to do in Sarajevo!)
• Bulgaria (check out my post about what language they speak in Bulgaria)
• Croatia (check out my post about tips for traveling to Croatia)
• Greece
• Kosovo (check out my post about 17 fun facts about Kosovo)
• Montenegro (check out my post about things to see in Montenegro)
• North Macedonia (check out my post about one day in Skopje)
• Romania (check out my post about visiting Romania in winter time)
• Serbia (check out my post about the national dish of Serbia!)
• Slovenia (check out my post about how to spend 3 days in Slovenia)

Some even argue that some parts of Turkey and Italy may also be thought of as being in the Balkans. I’ll leave this up to you to agree or disagree.

Each of these countries has its own culture, language, and past, which makes the Balkans a place with a lot of variety.

So, most of the time, people from these countries are called people from the Balkans.

What race is Balkan?

The Balkans are a region, so not a race or group of people. People from different cultural groups live in the Balkans. Even though there are a lot of things in common, each ethnic group has its own language, culture, and history.

Albanians, Bosniaks, Bulgarians, Croats, Greeks, Macedonians, Montenegrins, Romanians, Serbs, and Slovenians are some of the people in these groups.

Each group is different, but they all live in the same place which is the Balkan Peninsula.

Balkan facial features: FAQs

The information below is related to the main topic and will dive in a little bit deeper to give you even more insights!

What is the difference between Slavic and Balkan?

This is a very good question! Slavic is actually the name for a group of people who all speak one of the Slavic languages (from the same Slavic language family).

There are Russians, Ukrainians, and Poles in this group, but there are also Bulgarians, Macedonians, and people from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Serbia, and Slovenia.

So, not everyone who is Slavic is from the Balkans, but some people from the Balkans are Slavic! Does this still make sense to you?

What makes the Balkans special?

There are many reasons why the Balkans are unique. It’s a place of different cultures and, in some cases, very complex histories.

In this fascinating region, you can find old Greek ruins, Roman forts, Ottoman mosques, and Christian buildings.

The Balkans have a extremely rich and diverse culture because of this mix of different influences. But what’s so special about the people?

Their strength, their love of music and dancing, their tasty food, and, of course, their distinctive faces!

Talking about music and dancing, check out my post about Dzejla Ramovic, the upcoming and rising star from Bosnia in the music industry!

What are some Balkan stereotypes?

The Balkans have their own myths, just like every other place in the world. There are some interesting stereotypes but of course, they don’t apply to everyone. Here are some of the most popular ones:

• Party-loving People: They are often thought to be very social and enjoy going to parties. This is probably because people in the area have a long history of making exciting music and dancing.
  
  Folk dances like the Greek Sirtaki and the Serbian Kolo are lively and energetic. I would really recommend to join the dances if you can!

• Strong Coffee Drinkers: People in the Balkans are known for drinking strong coffee made in the Turkish style. I heard from a good Bosnian friend of mine that a good Balkan coffee is said to be black as hell, strong as death, and sweet as love.

• Hospitality: Most people think that the people in the Balkans are very friendly. You’ll have a good chance of being invited for a diner or some drinks by locals and I would always advise to accept the offer and to enjoy this experience!

• Strong Temper: Some people have the idea that Balkan people are quick-tempered or passionate, which may come from the troubled or complex past of the area.

• Resilient: People from the Balkans are often thought to be very strong because the area has a long past of war and hard times.

The Wrap-Up: Balkan facial features

So, I took you on a virtual trip through the beautiful Balkan region and looked at the scenery, people, and the typical Balkan facial features.

The Balkans really are a place with a lot of different cultures, ethnicities, and experiences, all of which make the people there look different yet united in its diversity.

Even though people from this region share some face traits, it’s important to remember that everyone is different.

So, the next time you meet someone from the Balkans, take a moment to check out their unique traits and become an expert in recognizing this group of people!

If you like this topic, check out my post about Slavic features.

Your restless voyager,

Dustin