The Balkans offer a one-of-a-kind travel experience, blending ancient history, breathtaking landscapes, and vibrant cultures. From the snow-capped peaks of the Accursed Mountains to the turquoise waters of the Adriatic, every corner of this region is packed with surprises. Imagine driving along the Adriatic Highway, exploring medieval fortresses in Serbia, or enjoying a scenic train ride through Montenegro — you can find all this and more on a Balkan road trip.
A Balkan road trip is perfect for adventure seekers, history buffs, and food lovers. Whether you’re a backpacker looking for an affordable journey or a couple seeking a luxury Balkan holiday, the region offers incredible diversity.
If you love off-the-beaten-path destinations, budget-friendly travel, or stunning nature, this is the ideal trip for you.
✈︎
How Long to Visit the Balkans?
One Week Balkan Itinerary: stick to one or two countries, like Croatia and Montenegro or Serbia and North Macedonia.
2-Week Balkan Road Trip: cover five to six countries, mixing coastal drives and mountain adventures.
3-Week Balkans Itinerary: a full Balkans loop, including Albania, Bosnia, Serbia, Bulgaria, and Greece, plus hidden gems along the way.
✈︎
How Much Does It Cost to Visit the Balkans?
Budget Travel: €30–€50/day.
Hostels: €10–€15/night Street food: €3–€5 Bus/train travel: €5–€15 per ride
Mid-Range Travel: €70–€120/day (Example: a 2-week Balkan road trip with car rental and comfortable stays.)
Boutique hotels: €40–€70/night
Restaurants: €10–€20/meal
Car rental: €20–€40/day
Luxury Travel: €200+/day (Example: a Peaks of the Balkans guided tour with premium hotels and gourmet dining.)
5-star hotels: €150–€300/night
Private tours: €100+
Fine dining: €30–€50/meal
✈︎
Local Tips and Money-Saving Advice for Visiting the Balkans
✅ Use public transport. A Balkan train itinerary can be both scenic and affordable.
✅Eat at local bakeries (try Burek in Bosnia, Ćevapi in Serbia, and Pide in Turkey).
✅ Rent a car outside major cities for cheaper rates. ✅ Winter (December–February) is great for skiing in Bulgaria and Montenegro.
✅ Must-Have Travel Passes: Balkan Flexipass (great for train travel across multiple countries) or Interrail Route Balkan (for unlimited train travel if you’re under 27.
✈︎
Featured Travel Guides from the Balkans
Now that you know how to plan your Balkan road trip itinerary, check out some of my detailed guides on The Travel Bunny:
Planning to travel through the Balkans someday? Do you have any idea of how much there is to see in Southeastern Europe? Luckily, I’ve prepared this ultimate Balkans travel bucket list with must-see places, awesome events, and wonderful experiences you simply have to try if you’re coming over. After all, a bucket list is “a number of experiences or achievements that a person hopes to have or accomplish during their lifetime”. Are you ready? Check out the ultimate Balkans bucket list below! Albania Bosnia and Herzegovina Bulgaria Croatia Greece Kosovo Montenegro North Macedonia Romania Serbia Slovenia Multiple Balkan destinations Ideas …
If you’re taking a plane to southeastern Europe, odds are pretty high to have a layover in Belgrade, Serbia. When I flew from Dubrovnik to Bucharest, I had a few hours to spare in this wonderful Serbian city. Based on my own experience, I’ll share with you some advice on what to see in Belgrade in one afternoon. What to see in Belgrade in one afternoon If you just have one afternoon in Belgrade Serbia, there are some sites and attractions that you should not miss: Belgrade Fortress The Belgrade Fortress, a medieval stronghold perched on a hill overlooking the …
In this article, I will speak about the pros and cons of traveling to Dubrovnik, Croatia, as discovered during our short stay there. Dubrovnik was the place where I was going to part ways with Ana and Tim. I planned a two-night stay before taking the plane to Bucharest, with a short stop in Belgrade (Serbia). They, however, planned to drop me in Dubrovnik and skip it altogether, because it hadn’t sparked up their interest enough to add it to their list. Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links. This means that at no extra cost to you, …
After visiting Budva, one of Montenegro’s most popular cities, we continued to travel to Kotor Bay. We made our way to Lovcen National Park, to Njegos Mausoleum, where, besides an amazing construction, we found some amazing views over Kotor Bay. Stop in Lovcen National Park when you travel to Kotor Bay The National Park is located on the rocky side of the Dinara Alps and it takes its name from Mount Lovcen. The mountain rises quite steeply from the edge of the Adriatic Basin, closing the bays of Boka Kotorska. For history lovers visiting Montenegro, Lovcen National Park is a …
From Albania, we continued to travel to Montenegro’s seaside. We arrived near the seaside in the afternoon on a really hot day. Ana and I were sitting on the grass, in the shade, while Tim was looking for a place to stay. But everything was booked, so we had to search in several towns until we found something. We ended up staying in Buljarica Beach, one of the few places still not yet suffocated by tourists. Buljarica Beach We shared a very small room in Buljarica Beach, with a narrow double bed and a single bed. Around the bed, we …
