Balkans Road Trip Itinerary: 2 Epic Weeks Down the Adriatic Coast

The Balkans region is one of the most underrated areas in Europe. It’s inexpensive, the weather is great year-round, and the locals are overwhelmingly friendly and welcoming. This 2-week bucket list Balkans road trip itinerary will take you to over ten cities in Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Montenegro.

You’ll experience National Parks, UNESCO World Heritage Sites, and historical ruins. I’ve listed all of the can’t-miss activities and stops along the way. Let’s go!

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What to know before you go

• The Balkans region is an area in southeastern Europe that encompasses 10 countries: Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Montenegro, Albania, North Macedonia, Greece, Bulgaria, and Romania. Each Balkan country is unique, but they all share a common location on the Balkan peninsula.
• Renting a car in Croatia is easy and inexpensive. Because you’ll be traveling through countries that aren’t in the European Union, though, you’ll need to purchase additional car insurance. We used Enterprise Rent-A-Car, but each rental car company is pretty similar.
• You’ll need to pay tolls when driving on Croatian highways. The fare depends on the size of your car and how far you’ve driven. It can be paid in cash (Kuna or Euros) or by debit/credit card.
• Turn by turn directions on Google Maps aren’t always available in each country. It would be handy to go old school and print out a road trip map before you leave.
• Depending on the time of day, the border crossings between countries can take a while to get through. Make sure to have your passport and car registration handy!
• We booked most of our hotels on Booking.com. I found that the deals on hotels were better than the prices on Airbnb. They also had a lot of boutique hotels and unique accommodations.
• Summer (June-August) is peak season in the Balkans. There will be more crowds and prices for hotels and activities will be higher. To save some money, try visiting during the shoulder season.

Balkans road trip itinerary overview

Total driving time: ~10 hours 30 minutes

Total driving distance: 397 mi / 639 km

Balkans road trip itinerary

Day 1: Arrive in Split, Croatia

Split is a lovely medieval town on Croatia’s Dalmatian coast. With cobbled streets, a boardwalk along the coast, and a historic city center, Split is a great introduction to travel in the Balkans.

Because your flight to Split will probably arrive later in the day, this first night is dedicated to wandering around with no set plans. Walk down the Riva boardwalk, explore the lively streets of Old Town, and grab some dinner and a drink. Konoba Laganini, Fig, and Bokeria Kitchen & Wine Bar are all great options for delicious Croatian food.

Where to stay in Split: We booked 3 nights at the Riva Royal Lounge Apartment, which was absolutely fantastic. It’s located right in the heart of Old Town Split and has a lovely balcony with views over the city.

Day 2: Split

Your first full day in Croatia will be filled with sightseeing and beach-going. Start out with breakfast at Brasserie on 7. Afterward, take a self-guided tour through all of Old Town’s highlights: Diocletian’s Palace, the Cathedral of St. Domnius, and Jupiter’s Temple are must-sees.

In the afternoon, head on over to one of Split’s dreamy beaches: Bacvice near Old Town or Žnjan City Beach a bit further out. Alternatively, you can spend your afternoon exploring the large Marjan Park. There, you can climb the Marjan Hill Stairs for a great view or rock climb near Karepić’s Tower.

In the evening, grab some fresh seafood from Adriatic Sushi & Oyster Bar or Lučica Restaurant.

Balkans road trip day 3: Croatian island-hopping tour

Day 3 of your Balkans travel itinerary starts out bright and early at Matejuška pier for an island-hopping boat trip. There are many tour companies that offer speedboat tours around Croatia’s various islands. We went with Viator Tours because they were relatively inexpensive and had great reviews.

The tour takes you to the islands of Biševo, Vis, Budikovac, Ravnik, and Hvar. You’ll get a bit of free time to explore each stop. I recommend getting an iced coffee in Komiža, swimming through the sheltered cove at Stiniva beach, snorkeling on Budikovac Island, and hiking up to the Spanish Fortress in Hvar.

You’ll arrive back at the pier in Split around dinnertime. This is your last night in Split, so make it count by going out for a nice dinner at Articok and grabbing drinks at Zinfandel Food & Wine bar.

Day 4: Krka National Park & Makarska

Split to Krka: 53 mi / 85 km (1 hour)

In the morning, pick up your rental car in Split. Spend your morning walking the Skradinski Buk trail at Krka National Park. If you have time, you can also check out Roški Slap and Krka Monastery.

Krka to Makarska: 84 mi / 135 km (1 hour 30 minutes)

In the afternoon, drive over to the town of Makarska. Makarska is known for its wide, sandy beaches, mountainous backdrop, and family-friendly atmosphere. Spend some time at Gradska plaža, the main beach in town, and then stop at Domina for some pizzas.

Makarska to Ljubuški: 50 mi / 80.5 km (1 hour 10 minutes)

In the early evening, make your first border crossing into the beautiful country of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Check in to your accommodation at Motel Most, a lovely hotel in the countryside. Have dinner at the restaurant downstairs and go for a sunset walk along the Trebižat River.

Day 5: Bosnian countryside & Kravice Waterfall

After having breakfast at Restoran Most, drive over to the Kravice Waterfall parking lot to start your Bosnian countryside tour with Hercegovina Go.

This safari Jeep tour takes you all around Ljubuški and the surrounding areas while teaching you about Bosnian culture and history. You’ll make stops at Herzog Stjepan Fortress, Vodice natural water source, Koćuša Waterfall, and Čeveljuša, a boat launch site where you’ll have lunch while floating down the river.

After your tour, buy your tickets to get into the Kravice Waterfall area. Spend the rest of the afternoon swimming under the falls and drinking beers at the connected bar. Have a leisurely evening back at your hotel.

Balkan road trip day 6: Mostar, Bosnia & Herzegovina

Ljubuški to Mostar: 22 mi / 36 km (40 minutes)

Head over to the city of Mostar in the morning for a day of sightseeing. After checking into your hotel and parking your car, walk through Mostar’s Old Town. A few exciting landmarks include Stari Most (Old Bridge), Koski Mehmed Paša and Karađoz Beg Mosques, and the Museum of War and Genocide.

In the evening, have dinner at one of the many restaurants with terraces overlooking the Neretva River. If you cross the Old Bridge and see a bit of commotion, make sure to stop and watch — local boys often make dramatic jumps from the 79 ft (24 m) bridge as a way to earn some cash!

Day 7: Day trip to Blagaj

Mostar to Blagaj: 7.8 mi / 12.7 km (15 minutes)

On day 7 of this travel itinerary, take a day trip to the nearby town of Blagaj. There, you can experience the very cool Dervish House, an old monastery built into the side of a cliff. After exploring the inside of the house and taking some pictures across the river, head to the adjoining restaurant for a quick brunch (the crêpes are really good).

Nearby, you’ll find Stjepan Grad, also known as Old Town Fortress. You can spend a bit of time hiking up to the abandoned castle on the hill and exploring the ruins (it’s free!). Before leaving Blagaj, make sure to have lunch at Konoba Gold Fish — it’s located on the river and the workers catch and cook your lunch right after you order.

After your day in Blagaj, head back to Mostar for one more night. Grab some light dinner and drinks at Restaurant Šadrvan or Bašćine.

Day 8: Kotor, Montenegro

Mostar to Kotor: 116 mi / 187 km (3 hours)

Leave Mostar pretty early to begin the longest stretch of drive on your Balkans road trip itinerary. On the way, stop at Pekarna Stećak to get some delicious, local baked goods (try the sirnica and the burek). You have another border crossing into Montenegro, so make sure to stock up on the snacks! The Montenegro road trip section of this itinerary has a lot of long, hilly drives.

Once in Kotor, start out by climbing the Kotor Walls. This 45-minute hike up the medieval walls leads you to St John’s Fortress, an old, ruined fort with unbelievable views of the city and surrounding bay.

Afterward, grab some dinner and explore the narrow streets of the tiny Old Town. Don’t miss the Cathedral of Saint Tryphon, the Sea Gate, or the old Clock Tower in Trg od Oružja (Main Square).

Balkan road trip day 9: Bay of Kotor

Today, you’ll spend some time cruising around the Bay of Kotor. Head over to the pier across from Old Town to book a boat tour. Our tour stopped at the Blue Cave, went around the town of Herceg Novi, and let us off at Our Lady on the Rocks Island outside of Perast.

After your boat ride, walk back along the water to get to Kotor Beach. This is a lovely spot to spend an afternoon and soak in the sun. Once you start getting hungry, walk north along the path to reach a strip of restaurants along the water. Caffe Restaurant Kadena had great clam linguine and outdoor seating with great views of the sunset.

Day 10: Budva Old Town

Kotor to Budva: 14 mi / 22.6 km (25 minutes)

Spend the morning exploring Budva’s tiny, fortified Old Town. The Citadela Fortress and the Budva ballerina statue in particular are iconic and shouldn’t be missed. Have lunch at Old Fisherman’s Pub for some good seafood and nice atmosphere along the water.

In the afternoon, head over to any one of Budva’s beaches: Slovenska, Mogren, and Pizana are all great options. Grab some dinner afterward at any one of the casual beachfront restaurants.

My hotel recommendation in Budva is La Villa Boutique Hotel. They have super cute rooms and are reasonably priced.

Day 11: Budva beaches

Today is a fully-fledged beach day! Stay in Budva town or head over to nearby Bečići, where you’ll find fewer crowds and cheaper prices. Kamenovo, Bečići, and Public Stone beaches are all wonderful and have plenty of restaurants and bars nearby for lunch.

If you’re up for more of an adventure, hike the Seven Bay Trail over to the beautiful town of Sveti Stefan. The walk takes about three to four hours round-trip and follows the rocky coastline around a few different beaches. At the end of the trail, the town of Sveti Stefan itself sits on a tiny islet on the water. It’s connected by a narrow pedestrian street with beaches on either side.

For dinner, try Porat or Nevena restaurants in Bečići town. Definitely save room for dessert afterward at Mika, a cafe with a wide range of goodies and coffee-based drinks.

Day 12: Dubrovnik, Croatia

Budva to Dubrovnik: 58 mi / 93 km (2 hours 10 minutes)

Today, you’ll cross one last border back into Croatia. Although the distance is short, the driving time to Dubrovnik takes way longer than expected because of the roundabout drive around Kotor Bay.

Once you’re in Dubrovnik, spend your afternoon exploring the Old Town (either on your own or with a Game of Thrones-themed tour). Make sure to check out the Pile Gate, Sponza and Rector’s Palaces, and the Dubrovnik Cathedral.

Afterward, get tickets to walk along the Walls of Dubrovnik. These are the fortified city walls that encircle the Old Town and they give you an amazing view all the way around. Once you’re done, try Nishta or Gradska Kavana Arsenal Restaurant for dinner.

Where to stay in Dubrovnik: We stayed at Guest House Kono right outside of the city centre. The apartment was clean, comfortable, and was in a great location.

Day 13: Dubrovnik

For the last full day of your Balkan road trip itinerary, start by taking the Dubrovnik Cable Car up Srđ Hill. Besides being super fun to ride, the cable car and viewing platforms at the top give you a wonderful view of the city from above.

Afterward, you could either spend the afternoon cliff jumping at Dubrovnik city beach or take a sea kayaking and snorkeling tour. Either way, it pays to spend some time in the clear waters of the Adriatic coast.

Alternatively, you could spend the day exploring nearby Lokrum Island. There, you can hike, wander around some ruins, hit the beach, or meet some wild peacocks. Several spots on the island were also featured on HBO’s Game of Thrones.

Have one last farewell dinner at La Bodega wine bar or Dubravka 1836 Restaurant. As a treat, end off your trip with some fancy cocktails from Buzz Bar.

Day 14: Departure

If you have time, have one last breakfast or lunch in Dubrovnik. Drive over to the Dubrovnik Airport (DBV), drop off your rental car, and start reminiscing about the amazing 2 weeks you’ve just spent.

(And if you’re like me, immediately start planning your next trip back. Hah!)

If you have more time on your Balkans road trip

Here are some suggestions for activities and places to visit if you want to extend your Balkans road trip.

• Zadar: 9th century BC town on Croatia’s Dalmatian coast
• Plitvice Lakes National Park: UNESCO World Heritage Site in central Croatia. You’ll find lakes, waterfalls, and alpine forests.
• Sarajevo: Capital and largest city in Bosnia and Herzegovina
• Durmitor National Park: Park with glacier-formed lakes and gorges in northwestern Montenegro
• Lovcen National Park: Panoramic mountaintop park with a mausoleum
• Skadar Lake National Park: Mountainous park with massive Skadar Lake that spreads over Montenegro and Albania
• Tara National Park: Gorgeous, untouched nature in the Balkan country of Serbia

What to pack for a Balkans road trip

• Sun hat: Because it’s important to protect your skin and hair from the sun. This one is easily packable and comes in lots of different colors.
• Good walking shoes: Sightseeing can be exhausting. Needless to say, you’ll want comfortable shoes to make it through the day.
• Microfibre towel: This quick-drying towel is great to have for the beach and doesn’t take up tons of room in your suitcase!
• Water shoes: Lots of beaches in the Balkans are rocky. These water shoes will protect your feet from cuts and scrapes.

Thanks for reading this 2-week Balkans road trip itinerary!

xoxo Niki