The Ultimate 1 Week Road Trip Itinerary to the Balkans: Montenegro, Bosnia-Herzegovina & Croatia

Montenegro is a small, little-known country on the Balkan peninsula. But with its towering mountains, unspoilt landscapes, crystal clear beaches and incredible blue rivers, it is one of the most underrated travel destinations. It must have been about a year ago that this tiny country caught my eye thanks to an Instagram post, and it was the inspiration for me to plan this week-long tour.

It was definitely one of my favourite trips, exploring a wide variety of landscapes from the Middle Eastern-inspired Bosnia, to the coastal old towns of Croatia, to the panoramic mountain roads of Montenegro. Each country would be worth a week or two on its own, so think of this trip as an introduction to the beauty of the Balkans.

Practical information

Getting there: Our main destination, Montenegro, can be reached cheaply with Wizzair, but it's better to drive, so you can combine your trip with other attractions. If you choose the latter, make sure you come from Bosnia or Croatia because of the situation between Serbia and Kosovo. Do not leave your green card at home, you may be asked for it at the border!

Transportation: Roads are in surprisingly good condition. There are no motorways or tolls in Montenegro, and only a few stretches of motorway are completed in Bosnia, where, as in Croatia, there is a gated system.

How long should you go for: You can spend a week or two in each of the three countries. We only had 7 days, but there was still plenty to see if you can spend at least a week in Montenegro.

When to visit: Montenegro's mountains still have snow in early May, and the roads wind through the mountains, so if you're looking for sightseeing, hiking and swimming, we'd recommend travelling from mid-May to the end of September.

How expensive is it?: Of the three countries, Bosnia was the cheapest and Croatia the most expensive. Dubrovnik is a real bargain, with expensive accommodation, attractions and parking. The other two are much cheaper. Fuel, accommodation and parking are below local prices, we spent most on food, but there is a big difference between the two countries. While a hearty dinner for two in Sarajevo was 15 EUR, it was 30 EUR in Montenegro.

Accommodation: Although the Balkans are catching up with the EU, remember that accommodation is rated differently to ours, so you should choose from a range of 3-4 star accommodation. However, the prices are very reasonable, for us 6 nights was 140 EUR per person. You can find links to all our accommodation below, under the relevant dates.

+ Tips:

Bosnia and Montenegro is not a member of the EU, so data roaming does not work here. Using mobile internet would be very expensive. I recommend buying an eSim or a mobile internet package that can be used outside the EU. In Montenegro it is also possible to buy a Sim card specially designed for tourists, which comes with 500 GB of internet and is sold in several places in each city.

Montenegro does not have its own currency, but uses the euro. The official currency in Bosnia is the Bosnian Mark, but the Euro is accepted everywhere. Make sure you have enough cash with you, as in many places it is the only currency available. In Sarajevo, for example, we had to pay for our accommodation in cash.

In Montenegro, tap water is not drinkable, so make sure you always have mineral water with you, and people with sensitive stomachs should use mineral water when brushing their teeth.

7-day itinerary

• Day 1: Arrival in Bosnia
• Day 2: Mostar and Dubrovnik
• Day 3: Dubrovnik, Kotor Bay and Perast
• Day 4: Kotor, Budva
• Day 5: Lovcen National Park and Sveti Stefan
• Day 6: Lake Skadar and Piva Canyon
• Day 7: Sarajevo and return home

Detailed itinerary by day

Day 1: Arrival in Bosnia

The first day was all about travelling. We set off after work in the early afternoon. The first stop on our road trip is Mostar, only 640 km from Budapest. However, Bosnia has only a small stretch of motorway, most of the roads are winding mountain roads, so the journey would take 8 hours.

As this would have meant arriving in Mostar very late and we didn't want to drive in the dark on one of the most beautiful drives in Europe, we just drove to Sarajevo on the first day. The drive took about 7 hours. We took the M6 and Croatia. The roads are very good everywhere and there is not much traffic on this route. Our first night was at the Sarajevo Waves Aparthotel.

+ Tip: If you can start in the morning, I recommend Mostar for your first day. Spend the evening there and continue to Dubrovnik the next day.

Day 2: Mostar and Dubrovnik

The main road between Sarajevo and Mostar is one of the most scenic drives, winding for 100 km along the Tresanica and Neretva rivers, through pine forests and rocky mountain peaks. There are several stops along the way, which you should definitely take advantage of and admire the scenery from more than just the car. You can also stop for coffee or lunch. There are many restaurants, cafes and gas stations along the way. If you leave early in the morning (around 8am), you will arrive in Mostar around 10-11am.

It's also worth leaving early to find a parking space. We left the car in a fenced parking lot near the center, which cost 6 euros for the day. The city of Mostar is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Bosnia and Herzegovina. With cobbled streets, old stone buildings and a picturesque bridge over the azure blue Neretva River, the city looks like something out of a fairy tale.

Its main attraction is the Old Bridge, built in 1566 by order of Sultan Suleiman in the then Turkish-ruled city. The bridge you see today is a reconstructed version of a medieval bridge destroyed in 1993 during the Yugoslavian war and opened in 2004. The bridge not only provides a passage across the river, but also connects the Muslim and Catholic parts of the city. It has become a tradition for bridge jumpers to collect money on the bridge, and if they collect enough, they might even get to jump. And don't miss a walk around the bazaar.

The city can be explored in a couple of hours, so after lunch, head on to Dubrovnik, about 3 hours away. The road is also very scenic, we drove to the Pelješac Bridge, from where the road continues along the coast and overlooks the small islands.

The afternoon program was supposed to be the old town of Dubrovnik, but we got caught in the rain. Man plans, God does, they say! So we changed our itinerary and moved it to the next day. By the evening, the rain had stopped, so we had a chance to explore the area around our accommodation. Our accommodation was Rooms Franica, not far from the Uvala Lapad beach. This part of Dubrovnik also has pedestrian streets and many restaurants. The Dubrovnik harbor was also close to the accommodation, with ferries to Bari and cruise ships departing from here.

+ Tip: If you have more time, visit the Blagaj Monastery, 20 minutes from Mostar. In the afternoon, hike or take the cable car up Srd Hill for a great view of Dubrovnik's Old Town.

Day 3: Dubrovnik and Perast

Dubrovnikis perhaps Croatia's most iconic and popular city, largely thanks to the Game of Thrones series, but not without reason. The 16th-century Old Town sits on a cliff overlooking the azure sea and is surrounded by well-preserved city walls.

Start your morning early and arrive before the walls open. I recommend leaving your car at your accommodation and taking the bus to the center, as parking around the old town costs at least 10€/hour. Dubrovnik's main attraction is the city wall, which is about 2 km long, and you should definitely walk around it for a wonderful view of the old town streets, orange roofs, Lovrijenic Fortress and harbors. The entrance fee is €35. Bring a hat and water as there is no shade up there and it can get very hot, especially in the summer.

The tour of the City Wall takes about 2 hours, before continuing on to Montenegro, take a stroll around the Old Town and visit the West Harbour. The afternoon is spent exploring the picturesque town of Perast. The drive from Dubrovnik takes about 2 hours, but you may have to wait at the border, so allow for this.

Although very small, with only one main road, Perast is home to 16 historic churches, so there is plenty to see! A popular activity is climbing the tower of St. Nicholas Church. If time permits, hop on a water taxi and visit Our Lady On The Rock, the famous island in the bay.

We spent a total of 3 nights in Montenegro. We stayed at the Hotel Ponta Nova, close to Budva, which offers luxurious rooms with views and easy access to the next day's activities.

+Tip: If you have more time, take a swim at one of Dubrovnik's many beautiful beaches.

Day 4: Kotor and Budva

The Bay of Kotor is perhaps one of the most beautiful places I have ever visited. The crystal blue waters of the bay, nestled between high, rugged mountains, with tiny villages along the water's edge, are truly phenomenal. Surrounded by its historic walls, Kotor is by far the most visited tourist destination in Montenegro, and for good reason. The city is a maze of narrow streets where churches, squares, restaurants and shops are connected by winding alleys.

Start the morning by climbing Kotor's city walls, a true bucket list activity with an entrance fee of just €8. There are 1,350 steps to the top of the castle wall, the Fortress of St. John, and you'll need closed shoes because the stones are slippery. The climb takes about 1 hour, but the view from the top is worth the effort! The best views of the old town and the bay are from here. After this hike, you'll enjoy a cold drink and lunch in the old town.

Before heading back to your accommodation, stop in Budva. Here you can also visit the charming old town and the harbour. The afternoon is for relaxing and swimming. We explored the beaches next to the accommodation.

+ Tip: If you'd rather skip the city wall tour or spend more time in the bay of Kotor, pay for a 3-hour cruise (€40, book here) to take you around the sights of the bay.

Day 5: Lovcen National Park and Sveti Stefan

This day is similar to yesterday, with hiking in the morning and beach in the afternoon. Today's first stop is Lovcen National Park. Located just behind Kotor in the rocky Dinari Mountains, this national park is slightly smaller than the rest of the country's national parks. Lovcen is best known for the Njegos Mausoleum at 1660m, the resting place of former Montenegrin Bishop Petar Petrovic Njegos II. If you're not into hiking or just don't have the time, you can simply drive up to the entrance of the mausoleum. But if you're feeling active enough, I recommend this hike. The views from the top are truly incredible, with miles of rugged mountains in every direction. Admission to the national park is €3, to the mausoleum €8.

Spend the afternoon at one of the surrounding beaches, such as Sveti Stefan. The island itself, which is a hotel, is closed to tourists, but it is surrounded by a beautiful red sand beach. Finish the day at one of the seafront restaurants and try the local freshly caught fish and sopská salad.

Day 6: Skadar Lake and Piva Canyon

This is our last day in Montenegro. So we started the morning with packing and after that the first program was Lake Skadar. Lake Skadar is a freshwater lake surrounded by huge mountains on the border of Montenegro and Albania. It is well worth a visit to experience its incredible biodiversity and unique landscapes, which provide an essential habitat for birds. It is also interesting that much of its surface is covered with water lilies and looks more like the landscape of a distant Asian country than a European lake.

There are many ways to explore the lake, you can pay for a boat trip, go hiking, but my personal favorite is the Pavlova Strana lookout, which is accessible by car and offers a spectacular view of the horseshoe bend of the lake.

From here, we headed towards Sarajevo via the Piva Canyon. This scenic road is not well known, but it is one of the most beautiful panoramic roads. The E762, which winds along the dammed Piva River, is a road with rock-cut tunnels and requires careful driving. You can expect some rock falls and the road is not very wide. The canyon itself is 33 km long and 1200 m deep in places. The 220 m high dam is the highest in Europe. Unfortunately, there are no real rest stops along the way, but fortunately not many people go there, at least in late May, so we stopped at some places along the way.

In Bosnia, the panoramic road continues along the Drina River as the M18. But be prepared that the road quality on this side is very bad, in some places there is only dirt road. The border crossing is also very adventurous, you have to cross a wooden bridge into Bosnia.

We arrived in Sarajevo in the evening, considering that it is the last night, we should definitely sit in one of the restaurants and try the csavap or csevapchicha. We have booked accommodation for the last night near the centre, at Guesthouse Biser.

+ Tip: Add another day to your trip and explore the Durmitor National Park and the deepest canyon in Europe, the Tara Valley.

Day 7: Sarajevo and returning home

Like all of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Sarajevo has a strong Turkish influence. The sights of the city can be easily explored in a morning. Visit the Pigeon Square, the Old Town with its bazaar atmosphere dating back to the 1400s, the Old Town Hall and the Gazi Husrev Mosque.

You can feel the history in Sarajevo. The Yugoslavian war in the 1990s left a deep mark on the city. To this day, there are many ruined, abandoned, bullet-riddled houses and military cemeteries. The other important event associated with this town is the outbreak of World War I. In 1914, Franz Ferdinand and his wife were assassinated here. A plaque next to the Latin Bridge commemorates this event.

Don't miss out on local coffee and honey cake before the 7-hour drive home!

When I started planning this trip, I had no idea that the Balkans had so much to offer. This trip made me realize how much beauty is on our doorstep and inspired me to discover the lesser known hidden treasures of Europe. My favorite country of the three was Montenegro. Whether it's sandy beaches or towering mountains, Montenegro has something for everyone. If you can, make sure you visit, it's worth it. If you want to see more of my travels, follow my Instagram and Tiktok pages.

Safe travels!

Heni

Accommodation

In the description I have linked all the accommodation we stayed in. I always use booking.com when booking. You can find more accommodation at the link below.

More programmes

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