BALKANS TRAVEL IN 2 WEEKS

The Balkans is one of my favorite regions in Europe to explore. Every city I’ve been to is absolutely gorgeous filled with so much history. It’s not a very touristy region in comparison to other European cities. With that said, Dubrovnik is very busy and a few other places in Croatia are becoming increasingly popular. It’s also a great region to visit if you’re looking for the cheapest places to travel in Europe. Located in Southern Europe, the countries in the Balkans include Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Montenegro, Albania, Macedonia, Greece, Bulgaria, and Romania.

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Before I dive into the itinerary, there are a few things to keep in mind when planning your trip. Please leave me a comment below if you have any questions! I know it can be hard to plan the trip so am happy to help.

• TRANSPORTATION: Unlike the rest of Europe, transportation is a little tricky. I’ve primarily relied on buses and ferries throughout my travels in the Balkans. The ferries are great but buses can take a while! If you’re on limited time, you don’t want to be stuck on a bus for several hours. Max and I have also rented a car in Croatia which was great! We didn’t travel outside Croatia but found it to be so convenient for traveling from city to city. This is an option as this itinerary starts and ends in Split (oftentimes it’s expensive to drop off in another country).
• BALKAN ITINERARY: This itinerary is assuming 2 weeks in the Balkans. If you have less time, I suggest following the itinerary and ending on day 12 in Split. If you have less time than that, choose between Korcula Island and Hvar Island. Aside from that, I wouldn’t spend much less time in each of these places! If you have a question or would like a recommendation let me know in the comments below.
• BUDGETING: As I mentioned, it’s really inexpensive to travel the Balkans. Buses, ferries, and accommodation tend to be pretty inexpensive. I’ll give suggestions on each below. The food will be really expensive in Dubrovnik but aside from that, it should be very reasonable!

I always suggest traveling Europe in the shoulder season. Summers tend to be busy making the Spring and Fall perfect for exploring. This is especially true in the Balkans! I’ve been to this region twice during the shoulder season and it’s busy but not overly crowded. Moreover, the weather is excellent, warm enough for exploring and enjoying the Sea. With that said, these seasons can also be rainy but I’ve been lucky both times!

If you’re planning a trip to the Balkans, make sure to grab the travel planners linked below. There are a total of 8 templates. Six of the templates list suggestions and travel tips for the most popular cities in the region. There is also a place for you to add your travel information as well as blank templates. They’re a great way to plan your trip and stay organized.

Arrive in Split and keep your first day mellow by exploring the city. Split is a great place to start your trip in the Balkans because it’s centrally located. It’s also a great base in Croatia because there are a number of day trips you can do from Split, but I’ll go into detail on that shortly. While in Split, spend ample time wandering around the Split Old Town. Diocletian’s Palace actually forms half of the Old Town and was built for the Roman Emperor Diocletian. Similar to many places in Europe, the streets are filled with cobblestone, restaurants, and small alleys making it such a great spot to explore! For panoramic views of town, head to the Bell Tower at the Cathedral of Saint Domnius in the Old Town. You’ll also want to walk the Promenade as it overlooks the water and is filled with a number of restaurants and street vendors.

Read More: Split, Croatia – Complete Guide
Hotel Recommendation: We’ve always used Airbnb in Split and have found great places in the Old Town for around $50 per night.

On your second day in Split, I recommend either taking a day trip to one of the surrounding islands or a trip to Trogir, Croatia. You honestly can’t go wrong with either option! I’ve been to both Brac Island as well as Trogir and highly recommend both places.

You can take a catamaran or ferry to Brac Island Croatia from Split. The catamaran is a quick 25-minute ride whereas the ferry is about 50 minutes. The ferry arrives to Supetar which we enjoyed since there are a ton of local shops and restaurants. The island is actually pretty big so if you plan on spending a full day there you can leave the port city of Supetar and explore. If you plan to leave Supetar, I recommend renting a car.

Getting there: I recommend going to a tour agency upon arrival in Split for a current ferry/catamaran schedule.

Trogir on the other hand is relatively small. You can spend a few hours wandering and enjoying the quaint town. While visiting this seaside village you’ll want to visit Kamerlengo Fortress as well as St. Lawrence Cathedral. The Cathedral is known for its great views of town but is closed on Sundays. While these are the main activities in town, take your time enjoying the streets of Trogir. It’s a quick 30-minute drive from Split to Trogir so you’ll have plenty of time to enjoy Split as well.

Getting there: Buses run frequently between Split and Trogir. Click here for the most current prices.

Head to Mostar Bosnia and Herzegovina which is just over 2 hours from Split. Most people only spend a few hours in Mostar however, it really deserves the extra time. Mostar is extra magical in the evening and morning when the day trippers have cleared out. Arrive to Mostar and spend the day exploring town.

Getting there:

• Via bus from Split (cheapest option but will take close to 4 hours)
• Daytrip from surrounding cities (expensive – private shuttle service)

While Stari Most, the Old Bridge in Mostar is the main attraction, there is a lot to see in town. One of my favorite activities is climbing the minaret at the Karadjoz-bey Mosque for panoramic views of Mostar. Another great activity in Mostar is visiting one of the many Turkish houses scattered throughout town. If you only have time for one, make it, Kajtaz House because it’s run by the original family. The owner gives a great background of the house which is impressive and full of original artifacts. A tour of the houses is 4 Mark (2 Euro) per person.

While there are a ton of reasonably priced restaurants, Irmas’s is a must! The restaurant isn’t along the water, but the food is phenomenal run by the sweetest family. If you’re looking for a city to indulge in, Mostar is the place since the restaurants are so inexpensive.

Read more: Mostar in a Nutshell

This itinerary sets aside two days in Mostar, allowing for a little extra time to travel around Bosnia. Two of the best places to visit from Mostar are Blagaj Tekke and Kravice Waterfalls. There are actually a few tours which combine these two spots into a day trip. It’s an excellent option if you have two days in town!

Blagaj Tekke is a unique Monastery positioned at the base of a cliff along the Buna River. Founded in the Ottoman Empire the Monastery is about 600 years old. You’re also able to enter the Monastery for roughly 3 euros. Kravice Waterfalls is absolutely beautiful with lush greenery and spectacular views. If you’re looking for waterfalls it’s a must! It’s a great option if you don’t have time for Plitvice or other waterfalls in Croatia.

Travel Tip: If you have a car rental or are utilizing Daytrip you can also stop at Kravice Waterfalls on your way to Split and Blagaj Tekke on your way to Kotor.

Make your way to Kotor Montenegro on your 5th day in the Balkans. Depending on how you travel to Kotor you’ll likely arrive early afternoon. I suggest keeping your first day relatively mellow by exploring the Old Town and taking a tour of the blue caves.

Getting there:

• The first time we traveled to this region we used Daytrip to get from Mostar to Kotor. While this was a pricier option, we found it to be the easiest way to travel from Mostar to Kotor especially on a time crunch.
• You can also travel from Mostar to Kotor by bus although this will be a long day!

The Lady of the Rocks and Blue Cave tour is approximately 3 hours so it’s perfect for your first afternoon in Kotor! Our tour started with a boat ride to the blue caves. On our way to the cave, we passed by Mamula Island which is a former Austo-Hungarian fortress. It was used as a prison in WWII. Within a few years, the island will be turned into a luxury beach resort. From there, we arrived to the blue caves. We were able to swim around for a little bit before getting back on the boat. Our next stop was the mammoth cave which was used to hide submarines during the war. Lastly, we made a stop at Our Lady of the Rocks before returning to Kotor. After the tour, I recommend soaking in the streets of Kotor.

Read More: Kotor, Montenegro in 2 days
Hotel Recommendation: Apartments Hun

Start your first full day in Kotor off with my favorite activity in town, hiking the Fortress. The views are absolutely spectacular with panoramic views of the town and Kotor Bay throughout the hike. The hike opens at 8 am and I really recommend starting the hike first thing. There is minimal shade along the hike so it gets hot quickly. The views are worth it though! After the hike, take one of the free or inexpensive walking tours in town to learn more about the history of Kotor. Walking tours are an excellent way to hit all of the main sites in Kotor Old town and gain insight into the city.

I also recommend visiting Perast Montenegro which is less than 15 minutes from Kotor. You can take the blue line city bus from Kotor to Perast which runs hourly making it an easy day trip. Perast is a pretty small town so you really only need an hour or two here. Grab a late lunch on the water in town and soak in the view. For one of the best views in town, climb to the top of the Bell Tower at St. Nikola Church. Be careful on your way up, as the ceilings are pretty low throughout. At 5′ 2″ I had to duck quite a few times while climbing to the top! The view from the top of the tower is honestly spectacular with panoramic views of the Fjords with a few islands in the distance.

Travel tip: If you’re driving to Kotor or using a private car, I recommend stopping in Perast on your way to Kotor. If you go this route, you can do the blue caves tour in the afternoon on your second day.

Next up is Dubrovnik, Croatia which is one of my absolute favorites places! Traveling between Kotor and Dubrovnik is easy as it’s a common travel route. Arrive in Dubrovnik late morning/ early afternoon and enjoy getting lost in the medieval streets of Old Town. Take a tour of the Old Town to get your bearings down there are several free walking tours in town but I’ve linked an inexpensive one as well. You’ll likely be exploring Dubrovnik when it’s really busy so I highly recommend wandering around again in the evening or first thing in the morning.

Getting there:

• The easiest way to travel from Kotor to Dubrovnik is by bus which takes about 2.5 hours. It took a lot longer when we took the bus so plan for some delays.
• You can also travel by taxi which is a set fare of 130 euros.

 

For one of the best views overlooking the town, head to the Dubrovnik Cable Car. There’s an excellent view at the top of the mountain and it’s a great place to enjoy a sunset while in Dubrovnik. There are a few ways to get to Mount Srd. The most popular way to reach the top of Mount Srd is by Cable Car. The Cable Car was actually built in 1969 in order for visitors to have a great view of Dubrovnik. The entrance for the cable car is located just outside of the Old Town. If you’re active or on a budget, I recommend hiking to the top of Mount Srd! There isn’t much of a view in the beginning but, once you get above the tree line, the view is spectacular!

Read More: Must See Spots in Dubrovnik
Hotel Recommendation: Hotel Rustico

Walking the walls of Dubrovnik are an absolute must while in town! The views are spectacular throughout and it’s an excellent experience. The walls encompass the Old Town of Dubrovnik and were built in the 15th and 16th century to protect the city. To avoid the crowds in Dubrovnik, you’ll want to walk the walls either first thing in the morning or right before closing. The walls generally open around 8 am and the tours start rolling in around 8:30. I recommend an 8 am start time to give yourself a jump on the tours. Set aside roughly two hours to walk the walls factoring in plenty of time for photos.

Booking:

• Self guided: You can purchase your ticket at the entry for 250 Kuna. This cost also includes entry to the Lovrijenac Fort.
• Tour: City Walls Walking Tour (entry fee to walls NOT included!)
• Tour: Combo Tour – City Walls + Old Town (entry fee to walls NOT included!)

Spend the afternoon kayaking around Dubrovnik. You can either rent a kayak or book a tour (I’ll link both options below). This was another one of our favorite activities in town as there is nothing like being on the water in Dubrovnik. The scenery is beautiful! We rented a kayak for three hours and started our Kayak from Fort Lovrijenac. We followed the path most tours go on however, preferred going on our own. We were able to stop at Lokrum Island for awhile to swim and relax which we loved.

Tour Information:

• Kayak Rental: $30 USD (3 hours)
• Sunset Kayak Tour: $43 USD per person (2.5-3 hours)
• Kayak & Snorkeling Tour: $38 USD per person (2.5 hours)
• Kayak Lokrum Island: $43 USD per person (3 hours)

Another excellent tour in Dubrovnik is the Elaphiti Islands tour. It’s a great chance to soak in the Croatian sun and explore a few islands. The Elaphiti Islands is a short boat ride from Dubrovnik consisting of several islands. Most tours will make a stop at Kolocep, Lopud, and Sipan islands. The islands are relatively small and you’ll have plenty of free time to explore each island. I loved each of the islands as they felt vastly different from one another so it was nice to see all three. You can pick up local products such as wine, jam, and olive oils from most of the islands on the tour. Lunch is served on the boat as well as unlimited drinks including wine and beer.

Pricing: This is a pretty popular tour in Dubrovnik as it’s around $40 USD!
Booking: There are several tour options from Dubrovnik. We booked this trip online approximately two days before our excursion. The tour we booked help up to 40 people whereas some of the other group tours hold up to 150 people – which is a lot! If you prefer to book in person, head to a tour agency upon arrival and they will be able to help you.

Head to Korcula Island on your 10th day which is about a two-hour ferry from Dubrovnik. I loved Korcula Old Town so I really recommend getting there early especially if you want to site see in Korcula. Similar to Dubrovnik, Korcula Town is a walled city which feels as though you’ve entered the medieval time.

Getting There: Korcula is an island located between Split and Dubrovnik. The island is a perfect stop on a trip to the Dalmatian Coast. Ferries run daily connecting Dubrovnik – Korcula – Split.

Airbnb Recommendation: Apartment Marino (clean, inexpensive, located on the edge of town!)

Aside from the town of Korcula, the island is known for Posip white wine which is one of the top wines in Croatia. As such, there are a handful of wine tours you can take from town. These tours not only allow you to try new wines but you’ll also be able to see so much of the island. If you’re on limited time you can also enjoy the wine at a few small wine shops in town like Wine Bar & Shop Bokar (our favorite in town!).

Booking:

• 2 wineries + lunch
  
• 1 winery + other local stops you can also opt to do a similar tour via bike!
• You can also stay in Dubrovnik an extra day and do a wine tasting tour to Korcula and the Peljesac Region. We didn’t go this route because we preferred the extra time in Korcula but if you don’t want to bounce from city to city this is a great option!

 

If you’re not a wine drinker, don’t worry! There is plenty to do in Korcula, as I mentioned, I love the Old Town. Marco Polo is said to be from the Island of Korcula so there is plenty of sightseeing. A few places worth visiting in town include the Land Gate, St. Mark’s Cathedral, and Marco Polo’s house. We spent an entire day wandering around town, while it’s small we loved the laid-back island. If you’re visiting when it’s warm, you can spend a few hours at the beach! If you like being on the water and are looking for an adventure, I’ve linked a great 1/2 day tour from town to Korcula Archipelago.

Continue on to Hvar from Korcula Island which is about 1 hour by ferry. Hvar Island is absolutely breathtaking with incredible views overlooking the Sea. This itinerary sets aside 1 evening in Hvar but you could honestly spend 2-3 days on the island. The Island is known for its sunshine and some of the best beaches in Croatia! Spend the day wandering the streets of Hvar and soaking in the beauty of the island. You’ll want to spend ample time exploring St. Stephen’s Square which is the largest square in Dalmatia. For the best view of Hvar, walk to the Spanish Fortress which is a quick hike from town. If the weather is nice, enjoy some time at the beach.

Getting There: Hvar is an island located between Split and Korcula and ferries run daily connecting Korcula – Hvar – Split.
Travel tip: You can also make Hvar a day trip on your way to Split if you prefer checking in and out of less hotels. Another option is to take a day trip to Hvar from Split.

Since you’ve already been to Split, you’ll know whether or not you’ll want to head back first thing or spend a few more hours enjoying Hvar. As such, I recommend playing this day by ear. If you fell in love with Split and want extra time exploring then take an early ferry back. If you feel like you didn’t quite have enough time in Hvar, have a slow morning and enjoy your last few hours in Hvar. Either way, you’ll likely return to Split in plenty of time to soak in the Old Town in the evening!

As I mentioned, Split is the place to stay if you’re looking to explore the surrounding areas of Croatia. As such, it’s the perfect place to take a day trip to Croatia’s waterfalls. I suggest taking a day trip to Krka National Park. If you’re looking for Croatia waterfalls, Krka waterfalls is the place! It’s a quick 1-hour bus ride from Split making it an easy day trip. You can either do Krka National Park as a self-guided tour or as a group tour. If you don’t have a car, I recommend taking a tour since it’ll be much easier. I haven’t personally been to Krka National Park but several of my friends have been on tours and absolutely loved the park!

You can also take a day trip to Plitvice Lakes National Park but honestly, it’s far and I wouldn’t recommend it. The waterfalls are about 2.5 hours from Split so visiting Plitvice is a commitment. There are several tours from Split so it’s doable but I think Krka is the route to go from Split.

*photos below are Plitvice Waterfalls!

Tour Options:

• Krka Waterfalls & wine tasting from Split or Trogir – please note this does NOT include the entrance fee to the park
  
• Krka Waterfalls & Sibenik from Split – more expensive but lunch & entrance fee to park are included
• Plitvice Lakes Tour from Split – please note this does NOT include the entrance fee to the park
• Plitvice Lakes Tour from Trogir or Split – includes entrance fee to the park

 

I recommend taking it easy on your last day in Split! This is a jam packed itinerary so enjoy a mellow day in town. If you like a quick travel pace, you can also visit whichever town you didn’t visit on day 2. If you want to spend your last day on the water, there are also a ton of island tours you can take from Split. The tour I’ve linked is an all day tour which stops at 3 islands (Shipwreck, Blue Lagoon, and Maslinica).

I absolutely love exploring the Balkan region of Europe. While Croatia is becoming more popular, other countries still feel off the beaten path. The towns are beautiful and filled with rich history, gorgeous views, and endless activities.

Safe Travels :)

Sarah

I’ve linked a few of my favorite travel essentials below! See our travel shop for more essentials including my favorite baby travel gear. Let me know if you have any questions in the comments below, I’m happy to help!