Looking for some inspiration for a trip through the Balkans? In this post I’m going to share with you our 2-week Balkan road trip itinerary that will take you through some of the most beautiful countries in this region: Slovenia, Croatia and Montenegro.
Table of Contents
- Planning a Balkan Road Trip
- BALKAN ROAD TRIP – 2 WEEK ITINERARY
- Day 1: Maribor, Slovenia
- Day 2: Lake Bled and Ljubljana, Slovenia
- Day 3: Kobarid, Slovenia
- Day 4 : Pula, Croatia
- Day 5: Obatija, Croatia
- Day 6: Plitvice Lakes, Croatia
- Day 7: Trogir, Croatia
- Day 8 & 9: Split and Klis Fortress, Croatia
- Day 10 & 11: Dubrovnik, Croatia
- Day 12: Kotor, Montenegro
- Day 13: Budva and Sveti Stefan, Montenegro
- Day 14: Zadar, Croatia
- Driving in the Balkans
- Best Time to Visit the Balkans
- A Final Word
Planning a Balkan Road Trip
Planning the perfect road trip through the Balkans can be a challenging. There are so many amazing places to see in the Balkan Peninsula that it’s difficult to make choices.
The best way to explore the Balkans is by car. Although self-driving is more stressful and challenging than public transportation, it also has its own advantages. Driving will give you access more remote areas, allow you to make your own schedule and also give you more time to enjoy your destinations.
BALKAN ROAD TRIP – 2 WEEK ITINERARY
The Balkans offer endless possibilities for road trips in Europe. This 2 weeks itinerary will take you through some of the most beautiful places in the Balkan Peninsula. You’ll be able to discover the best parts of Slovenia, Croatia and Montenegro, so follow along.
Day 1: Maribor, Slovenia
We started our 2-week Balkan road trip in Maribor, Slovenia’s second largest city. Maribor has been famous since the Middle Ages for producing wine. In fact, the oldest noble-variety vine in the world can be found in Maribor. It’s more than 400 years old and still bearing fruits nowadays.
The town has many historic buildings, including Europe’s second oldest synagogue and a church built in the 14th century.
Day 2: Lake Bled and Ljubljana, Slovenia
On our second day we stopped in Ljubljana and took a beautiful day trip to Lake Bled. The picture perfect town of Lake Bled should be on any Slovenia road trip itinerary.
Lake Bled
One of Slovenia’s most popular travel destinations is Lake Bled. The gorgeous scenery reminds me a lot about the beautiful beaches in Lake Tahoe: the same serene beauty and relaxing atmosphere. Lake Bled is beautiful year round, not only in summer. If you decide to spend a few days here, you’ll find plenty to do, like hiking, mountain biking, and canoeing. But if you only have a few hours to check it out, that will work too.
You can walk around the lake, visit the fairytale medieval castle perched up high, overlooking the calm waters, take a cruise to the small island that is home to a beautiful church, and maybe even rent a kayak.
Ljubljana
Ljubljana, Slovenia’s capital, is one of Europe’s most charming cities. Its old town area with cobblestone streets, quiet courtyards and 19th-century wooden shop fronts is reminiscent of a bygone era. An absolute must-see for any Balkan itinerary.
The city is pretty small, so a day or two will give you plenty of time to see Ljubljana’s top attractions, which are concentrated in a pedestrian area around the beautiful Ljubljanica River.
Day 3: Kobarid, Slovenia
If you are ever in Slovenia, don’t miss Kobarid! This little village in the heart valley of Soca Valley was first made famous by Ana Roš – a local cook – who was crowned World’s Best Female Chef in 2017. So if you have some money to spare you should try some Slovenian traditional food at her Hiša Franko Restaurant in Kobarid.
But besides the famous restaurant, there are some other wonderful attractions in the village. Like the world renowned World War I Museum, the Soca River valley, or the mesmerizing turquoise waters of the Kozjak Waterfall (approximately 30 minutes walk from the main road).
Day 4 : Pula, Croatia
This nice town at the tip of the Istrian peninsula is a delight for archeology lovers! Pula is home to the best Roman ruins in Croatia and to one of the largest and best preserved Roman amphitheaters in the world. If you take a shovel and start digging just about anywhere in in Pula, you’ll most likely discover some ancient ruins.
But archeological sites are not the only attraction in Pula. The town has some of the most stunning pebble beaches in Croatia, with crystal clear waters and beautiful coves.
Tip: If you are traveling with a big family and looking for a place to stay, Croatia is one of the European countries where you can find all inclusive family resorts.
Day 5: Obatija, Croatia
This beautiful coastal town on the Adriatic Sea marked with belle-époque villas and boutique hotels was a fashionable resort since the 19th century. Its most popular attractions is the Lungomare promenade, that curves along the coastline, offering views of the town and neighboring islands.
One day will give you plenty of time to walk the 12 kilometers promenade. You can admire the famous Maiden With The Seagull statue and visit Villa Angiolina and its beautifully manicured park. In the evening you can stop for dinner in the tranquil fishing village of Volosko.
Day 6: Plitvice Lakes, Croatia
As cliché as this may sound, not visiting Plitvice Lakes if you are in Croatia would be a crime. Do not plan this just as a short stop on your way towards coast, but rather as s full day excursion. No picture or movie can do justice to his place!
Plitvice consists of a series of 16 terraced lakes joined by waterfalls, extending into a limestone canyon. The mineral-rich waters flowing over the limestone for thousands of years have created gorgeous waterfalls, caves and coves along the way.
The park is laced by miles of wooden walks with great viewpoints. From here you can admire panoramic views of the waterfalls and the green water of the lakes.
Tip: Avoid the high season and organized tours at all cost if you want to really enjoy the surreal beauty of Plitvice Lakes.
Day 7: Trogir, Croatia
Set on a small island and surrounded by medieval walls, Trogir will steal your heart right from the start. Its maze-like narrow streets lined up with tiny souvenir shops, ice cream parlors and unassuming restaurants have an irresistible charm.
The old town still has many intact buildings from the 13th and 14th centuries. For magnificent views over the entire town and the surrounding sea, climb up the town’s beautiful clock tower.
Since it’s only a short 25 minute drive from Split, Trogir can be easily explored on a day trip from Split.
Day 8 & 9: Split and Klis Fortress, Croatia
Split is jam-packed with history, beautiful architecture and a walkable coastlines. Many people visit Split as part of a Croatia sailing tour, but the best way to visit it is by taking a road trip through the Balkans.
There is a great deal of things to do in Split, but the city’s main attraction is Diocletian’s Palace, the core upon which the city grew. Built between 298 and 305 AD, the Roman Emperor’s palace complex is a small city in itself, with a maze of marble alleys and buildings containing shops, cafes and bars.
Klis Fortress
Just a short 30-minute drive from Split lies the majestic fortress of Klis. Aside from its more recent celebrity as a filming location for the Game of Thrones TV series, this incredible fortification was built to guard Western Europe against the Ottoman Turks.
Klis Fortress was the barricade that protected everything that defines Europe today: its history, culture and religion.
Day 10 & 11: Dubrovnik, Croatia
Dubrovnik was the highlight of our Balkans road trip. It is in my opinion one of the most beautiful medieval towns on Earth! First of all, it has a fantastic location, right on the shore of the Adriatic Sea.
Secondly, if you add to the mix the red roof tiles, the fortress and defensive walls, the limestone streets, and you’ll have the perfect fairy tale tourist destination.
Two days in Dubrovnik will give you enough time to visit all the Old Town attractions and walk the 2 km loop of the City Walls. Don’t miss the Dubrovnik Cathedral, the Franciscan Monastery and the Rector’s Palace.
Also, take time to browse through the little boutiques and art galleries in town and hike up to Fort Lovrijenac (also know as St. Lawrence Fortress). If you have time, you can also take the cable car up to Mount Srđ (at 405 meters) to visit Fort Imperial that will give you a glimpse into Croatia’s War of Independence.
Day 12: Kotor, Montenegro
The Bay of Kotor is considered Montenegro’s most beautiful spot and once you see it you’ll understand why. As you drive from Dubrovnik, the narrow winding road around the bay will take you by the village of Perast.
If you have time, you should stop and visit it. But if you want to get to Kotor quicker, you can take the ferry between Lepetane and Kamenari (takes about 5 mins, costs €4 per car and runs every 15–30 mins).
Kotor is the ideal base if you are planning to visit the coast of Montenegro. Kotor’s Old Town is lovely, although not as polished as its neighbors in Croatia. Right above the Old Town, the Fortress of Kotor will offer the most stunning views to those who dare climb its 1355 steps.
Day 13: Budva and Sveti Stefan, Montenegro
Budva
Budva can’t beat Kotor’s attractiveness, but Kotor can’t beat Budva’s location –right on the water. Surrounded by the city walls, Budva’s old town treasures 2500 years of history.
Walking through the Citadel and admiring the sweeping views from its walls is perhaps the best thing you can do in Budva. There is also a small library within the walls of the Citadel.
Sveti Stefan
Just down the coast from Budva, Sveti Stefan has a reputation for being stunningly beautiful. Unfortunately, for most people the fortified island village will only remain a distant image.
Sveti Stefan is owned by the luxurious Aman Resort and is actually closed to the public. So unless you are ready to pay €800 per night to rent a room at the resort, you’ll just have to settle for a quick snapshot from the road.
Day 14: Zadar, Croatia
Zadar was our last stop on the return from Montenegro. Although it’s the second largest city in Dalmatia, Zadar is actually very easy to explore. That’s in part due to its many pedestrian-friendly streets, but also to the fact that most of its attractions are concentrated in the Old Town area.
Although one day in Zadar was enough to visit most attractions, the time seemed way too short to take in the beauty of this place. Don’t miss the Sea Organ, the Greeting to the Sun, the Forum, Zadar Cathedral, People’s Square and the Five Wells Square.
Driving in the Balkans
Driving in the Balkans is quite safe. We drove through the Balkan countries many times before and for 14 days during this road trip. We’ve only encountered friendly people who where eager to help the best they could when we asking for directions.
For the most part the roads are in good condition, especially the toll roads in Slovenia and Croatia. You’ll find lots of rest areas and places where you can pull over to take a break.
I wrote a complete guide for driving in the Balkans which includes information about renting a car, driving on motorways, international driving permits, border crossing, and parking. If you are planning a road trip through the Balkan countries I encourage you to read it.
Best Time to Visit the Balkans
Being born and raised in Romania, one of the Balkan countries, I can tell you from experience that the best time to visit this region is April to June or September to November.
Summers are unbearably hot and winters are cold and rainy. However, that is not to say that you may not have fun if you visit the Balkans in summer or in winter.
We traveled the Balkans in April, which is one of the best times to visit Europe. The weather was perfect, sunny and warm, but the water was cold so we couldn’t swim in the Adriatic. We also made very good deals on lodging and food.
A Final Word
There are many reasons to visit the Balkan Peninsula and seeing gorgeous scenery is one of them. I hope our drive along the Adriatic Coast inspired you to create your own Balkan road trip itinerary.
Despite its mesmerizing beauty, the Balkan region remained off the radar for a very long time, but in the last 30 years that has totally changed. These days most European itineraries include at least one of the Balkan countries that we visited.
One Day in Zadar: Best Things to See and Do in 24 hours
Jane
Fantastic article Anda, but you’re missing Europe’s most beautiful and inexpensive destination, Albania!
Anda
I’ve heard Albania is beautiful, so maybe next time I’ll include it in my itinerary.
Babu Kaji Sitaula
Wonderful images!
It appears to be a stunning region of the planet. As you said, preparation is key, and understanding how much you can manage while on vacation is essential for a successful trip.
Prakash Chandra Devkota
Wow, this is extremely stunning and enthralling! Thank you for this article; I’m going to save it for future reference. I’m dying to go to all of these places after reading this!
Juan Emilio
Hi, I loved your itinerary!
Im from Uruguay and planning my honeymoon. Our wedding is in October, do you think the water is still warm for bathing? I loved the idea of the roadtrip and hope we can bath in Craotia beaches.
Thanks!
Juan
Anda
Hi Juan, I think October is a great time to avoid the heat and the crowds in Croatia. The water temperature is still O.K., but not very warm. It may be anywhere from 17-20ºC.
Marielle
I started off with your 2 weeks in Europe blog post and stumbled upon this gem!! This has been exactly what we have been looking for. We have a campervan and have been dying to road trip to the Balkans, hopefully this coming Spring or Summer. We are also avid hikers, would you have any recommendations as to which country in the Balkan Region would be the best for longer hiking trips or hiking destinations? Thanks so much!
Anda
If you are looking for mountain hiking, Montenegro and Croatia have exceptionally beautiful landscapes, but I’m afraid I can’t make any specific recommendations. We didn’t do much hiking on this road trip, except for Plivice Lakes which was quite spectacular. But that’s mostly a nature walk where you’ll be walking mostly on flat terrain.Thank you for dropping by.
Renee
This looks like doable itinerary. We are in our mid 70’s and are a little limited in doing stairs and lots of
climbing. Can you tell me where you stayed in each place? Also, anyplace that you would advise to
stay more than one night? Thank you
Anda Galffy
Hi Renee
Our 2 week Balkan itinerary was doable, but a little rushed. We don’t have so much vacation, so we tried to see as much as we could in these two weeks. Ideally, you should spend at least two days in each place you stop. We’ve spend only one day in cities like Ljubljana, Pula, Opatija, or Zadar, but each one of these cities definitely deserves more time.
In regards to climbing stairs, you don’t have to do it if you don’t want to. We climbed a lot of stairs in Dubrovnik (on the city walls) because we wanted to explore the Old Wall of Dubrovnik. Also because the view from up there was fantastic. We also climbed to the Fortress of St.John, in Montenegro, also because from up there you get the best view of the bay of Kotor. But if strenuous activity is not your cup of tea, just do as much as you can of it. Even if you just climb a few stairs, you’ll still see something, so it’s worth trying.
Archana Singh
I am a huge fan of Balkans. And, last year I spent a month travelling through these countries. I loved all the places, people and food on the way. I further continued to visit Bosnia & Herzegovina, Serbia and Bulgaria. I wish I could have spent more time in the maze-like narrow streets of Trogir. Loved Split. Your post is pretty informative and perfect for anyone planning to do the Balkans trip for the first time.
Clarice / Camping for Women
Woah! This is such a long trip but actually it has been our bucket list to enjoy more of Croatia. Saving your post for future reference. We hope to visit soon.
Abhinav Singh
Wow, this indeed sounds like an epic trip! Kozjak waterfall is a great find. It looks stunning! Croatia as a country had always fascinated me. It just looks like a paradise no one tells you about! It still is an undiscovered region for many travelers as more popular European destinations overshadow the beauty that Balkans is. The 14 days long itinerary shared by you tempts me to pack my bags and embark on this trip now. There are so many interesting stops en route.
Raghav
This is absolutely brilliant, what an experience. Loved the photos. This entire region of the world remains undiscovered by me, although I have been to other places in Europe. I adore the changing sceneries and the perfect mix between nature and that old-world-charm. Thank you for the itinerary and reigniting my wish to explore the Balkans.
Amrita
This is such a lovely itinerary covering the landscape, history and art. I was planning a trip to Balkans and could not decide which places should I visit. The photographs look amazing. I would definitely visit Pula. The photograph captured all my imagination and now I am just thinking about when can I plan to do the Balkan trip. Did you self drive all through the trip?
Jane Dempster-Smith
That is a great itinerary and very doable in 2 weeks. I have always wanted to travel to Lake Bled and cruise to the small island with the beautiful church on it, I have seen so many photos. I loved trying out local cuisine when I travel and would definitely seek out Ana Ros’s cooking. I have heard that Plitvice National Park is beautiful and well worth a visit. I loved your photos.
Leah
Awesome, beautiful post! My husband and I have been discussing the possibility of planning a trip to this part of the world soon. Croatia and Slovenia are must-sees for us, but we would love Montenegero too. Knowing us, we would probably choose to take a road trip. Plitvice especially caught my attention. How stunning! I am going to make a note of it for when we get to go.
Paula
What an awesome itinerary. I must admit I have not visited any of these places even though I am originally from Europe, but hopefully I can do something similar to this in the future. I especially want to visit Croatia as it seems like a beautiful place with a lot of history and nature. I can see why Dubrovnik was the highlight of your trip.
Bianca
Lake Bled simply looks beautiful! I am gutted I still haven’t been having missed out on a trip with friends last year. I have some travels on the cards for later this year so hopefully, I can squeeze it into the itinerary.
Agness of aTukTuk
This is a truly awesome itinerary! I am considering to visit some Balkan countries so you gave me an excellent idea!
Annie
I agree, I think Dubrovnik is a stunning place! I wish I had more time when I was there, I would have loved to do a road trip. Kotor looks absolutely magical!
Laura Lynch
I really love this area. A roadtrip is such a great way to see it all and experience more intimately the areas you’re traveling through. I could definitely go back and spend more time in Ljubliana. Such a beautiful place.
Claire
This looks like a wonderful route! I would love to do this, but hopefully take more time – it seems you did a lot in 2 weeks,!
Dorene
Thank you for the wanderlust Itinerary and pictures. I have bookmarked this for my guide for my visit hopefully next year.
Sara Broers
The beauty here is amazing. Lake Bled caught my eye right away, yet then your photos kept sharing more beauty. This would be a dream road trip come true. Thanks for sharing this beautiful part of the world with all of us.
Siddhartha Joshi
Wonderful! I was just researching about Eastern Europe to plan a trip there and came across your article…now I am tempted to do exactly what you did – a road-trip 🙂
Anda Galffy
Hope you’ll have a wonderful trip in Eastern Europe, Siddhartha.
sherianne
Planning is a nightmare and I have been wanting to visit this area for a long time — Thank You for sharing your work. Pinning this one right now!
Fiona Maclean
I love Croatia and could easily spend 14 days just travelling there. Everywhere you’ve mentioned in Croatia that I have visited I could endorse and Pula is already on my wish list. I rather enjoyed Osiek and Slavonski Brod too – inland and more Austro Hungarian than the Dalmatian Coast. Now I just need to visit Slovenia and Montenegro too and see some of the places you recommend!
Lia
Woah, this is beautiful! I’ve never explored eastern Europe but I’ve been seeing a lot of stuff lately about road trips through these areas. Your photos definitely have me wanting to plan a trip now 😛
Jennifer
We used to live in Northern Italy and did a road trip down the entire Croatian coast, Montenegro, Albania and Bosnia. It was an awesome trip! We were totally unimpressed with Plitvice and I’d replace Pula with Rovinj, which is far more beautiful and has a lot more to offer than Pula. But it was an awesome road trip to take and even in the midst of summer, no where other than Dubrovnik was all that crowded.
Anda Galffy
Interesting that you weren’t impressed with Plitvice. You most likely visited the park during the busy season, which indeed makes it way less attractive. As for Rovingj, we haven’t visited it this time. I’d be curious to see how it compares to Pula.
shere
I also spend a lot of time researching the countries and checking driving distances. With kids, we don’t like to spend a lot of hours in the car
Anda Galffy
Yea, it’s kind of difficult to keep the kids in the car for too long. Still, the car is the most convenient means of transportation when you travel with small children.
Rob+Ann @TravelLatte(.net)
What an amazing road trip! I can just imagine the planning that went into this trip. And what great photos you brought back! Each one is just Wow after Wow. That seashore at Lungomare, though…love it! It’s official: we have #TravelEnvy. 😉 #TheWeeklyPostcard
Anda Galffy
Hahaha, I don’t believe you envy me, Rob. You guys take so wonderful trips!
Anda Galffy
Thank you, Victoria. Hope you could get some useful information from this article, in case you decide to take this road trip.
eileen g
This scenery is really beautiful and I bet most of it wasn’t very crowded. I would love to do this trip! if we are roadtripping i try to do 2 nights in each place, and limit our one-night stops. And I try to drive no more than 4 hours in a day. it doesn’t always work, but it is the ideal. it’s easier to mange in europe, where distances are less than in the U.S.
Anda Galffy
I agree. Besides, you’ll always find wonderful little towns to visit in Europe, no matter where you stop.
Leigh
This looks so amazing! This area has been on my list for a while, looks like a 2-week road trip would be perfect!
#TheWeeklyPostcard
Sally@Toddlers on Tour
It looks a beautiful part of the world. As you say planning is so important and knowing how much you can handle on a holiday is important for that trip to be a success.
Kat
Wow, absolutely beautiful and captivating! Thanks for this post, I’m going to bookmark this for future reference. Although chances are I might not do a road trip, the places mentioned here will be ideas for me to plan on what to see in the Balkans 🙂
Daria
The post made me wanna visit all of these places right now!
I loved it and I wish to see Dubrovnik one day, everybody seems to fall in love with it.
As well, I’m interest in Kotor & Montenegro.
Thank you for sharing your itinerary and planning, it is definitely useful and as well a good read!
Brooke of Passport Couture
Excellent itinerary! I’ve been wanting to visit these countries for a long time and some friends of mine tried to arrange a travel excursion but it never happened. I’m going to show them your post and see if we can’t use it to work on a future trip again. Thanks for your suggestions!
jo
Wow there is a lot of planning went into this trip – you’ve done all the hard work of planning the route and itinerary. I would love to do this trip – as is, no changes, it looks perfect. I may need to wait till the kids leave home they aren’t ones for road tripping much. Taking in 3 countries in 2 weeks, the diversity of things to do, beaches, culture, ruins, scenery – this trip has it all.
Anda Galffy
Thank you,Jo. Two weeks for these 3 countries gave us barely enough time to see what’s out there,but not enough time to enjoy a little relaxation. We plan to return soon.
Mary {The World Is A Book}
What an epic trip you guys had! They all look beautiful! I’d love to do this when we have enough time. W’ll be in Split and Dubrovnik next month for cruise stops. Thanks for a great preview! Your photos as always are stunning and really bring the beautiful scenery to life. I love the new look of your site too.
Anda Galffy
June is beautiful in Croatia. I can hardly wait to read about your trip to Split and Dubrovnik, Mary.
Anisa
What a jam packed itinerary! You are right the planning really makes the difference. The trip really looks amazing, you went to several places that are on my bucket list. Your photos turned out lovely! #TheWeeklyPostcard
Anda Galffy
Thank you, Anissa. Hope you’ll get to see these places soon.
Lydia C. Lee
That’s stunning. Sending to a friend headed that way.
Anda Galffy
Thank you, Lydia
Ava Meena
This is a part of Europe that I would love to explore and haven’t at all. You’ve put together a great, detailed itinerary that I will definitely be saving. Looks like you had a beautiful trip!
Anda Galffy
Thanks, Ava. Hope you’ll get to visit the Balkans someday. This part of Europe was under communism for a long time but now has come a long way.
Lolo
We’ll be hitting up several of these places in a few weeks for our honeymoon, and some we have visited! Definitely want to go visit Pula! Love the new site!!!!
Anda Galffy
Thanks, Lolo. In know you visited some parts of Croatia. I envy you for going back. I miss it already.
Lyn aka The Travelling Lindfields
I like your new theme – very classy!
Anda Galffy
Thanks, Lyn. I like it too.
Nigel Kane
Great article. We were in Croatia last August so totally agree about avoiding Plitvice in high season….was a disaster!
Anda Galffy
Thank you, Nigel. August must be terribly busy in Croatia.
Rhonda
I can appreciate all the hard work that goes into planning an exciting road trip. Your 14-day excursion looks like an exercise in how to do it right. I am impressed with how much you got to do.
Anda Galffy
Truth is that it was a little tiring, but worthwhile.
Julz
Beautiful pictures!!
Am contemplating a small road trip with the kids this summer. When i see this it makes me want to do it even more 🙂 thank you!
Anda Galffy
Depending on how old your kids are, this will surely be an exciting trip. Lots of history and beautiful nature.
Debbra Dunning Brouillette
This is certainly a very beautiful part of the world that I am totally unfamiliar with. Your excellent photography, as usual, makes me want to go! It still seems like quite an ambitious itinerary, but you were able to hit the highlights of this section of the Adriatic coast and hopefully didn’t come back too exhausted! I appreciate the amount of planning that went into your trip, since I also like to do reading and research before a trip.
Anda Galffy
Thank you for your comment, Debbie. It was more tiring for my husband who had to do all the driving. The Adriatic Coast is absolutely stunning, you should go.