Road Trip Balkan 3 Weeks: The Perfect Itinerary
The Balkans, located in Eastern Europe, is a less-known travel destination, which is exactly why we decided to go there. And what a great choice it was! The region is completely different from Western Europe: the cultures, customs, and people. The locals are incredibly friendly and love to chat if you’re open to it. Here’s our road trip Balkan itinerary 3 weeks with tips, plus our free Google Maps travel guide Balkans!
The Balkan countries include the former Yugoslavia (Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Serbia, Kosovo, North Macedonia, and Montenegro) as well as Albania, Greece, and Bulgaria. So, it’s all the countries on the peninsula in Eastern Europe. But we often see that only the former Yugoslav nations are considered part of the Balkans. Our itinerary covers the following countries: Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Montenegro, Kosovo, North Macedonia and Albania.
Slovenia (2 days)
Activities: Soča rivier (1), Vršič Pass, Great Soča Gorge, Boka Falls, Kobarid
Accommodation: Hostel Kobarid
The first few days of our 3-week Balkan road trip itinerary were all about exploring Slovenia. The area around the Soča River is truly stunning! We were tempted to do a rafting tour here, but the weather wasn’t quite right. Hostel Kobarid is a great option for a stay if you’re not into camping.
Croatia (3 days)
Activities: beach hopping (2, 3)
Accommodation: Ecocamp Rizvan City, Camp Stine, Roak Oak Camping/Glamping Imotski
In Croatia, it was time to relax along the coast. We spent a few days at different beautiful beaches, which were mostly quiet, especially up to Zadar. Parking was easy, too. Check out our favorite beaches in Croatia!
Bosnia and Herzegovina (1 day)
Activities: Trebinje
Accommodation: Guesthouse Zavala
From Croatia, you can easily cross into Bosnia & Herzegovina. We took the Imotski border crossing because it’s much quieter. We stopped by the charming town of Trebinje on our way to Montenegro. On our return journey, we visited Mostar. You can read more about it in our travel guide about Bosnia!
Montenegro (3 days)
Activities: Durmitor National Park (Sedlo Pass), Tara river rafting (4)
Accommodation: Camp Lekovac, Camp Budečevica, Restoran & Motel Manjež
Montenegro really surprised us in every way. We drove towards the mountains in Durmitor National Park, where there are great hiking trails and breathtaking views at Sedlo Pass. We also made an unplanned stop at the Tara River, where we spent a day rafting. Looking for more tips about Montenegro? Check out all our Montenegro travel tips!
Kosovo (1 day)
Activities: Rugova Canyon viewpoint, Prizren
Accommodation: check out hotels in Prizren
Kosovo didn’t really impress us. You’ll find yourself surrounded by expensive cars with license plates from German speaking countries. We got quite a strange feeling in this country. However, we managed to stop at some nice outdoor spots. For instance the Rugova Canyon Viewpoint on our way to North Macedonia. We’d also recommend visiting the town of Prizren, though we didn’t go ourselves since we arrived late. It seemed like a very charming place!
North Macedonia (2 days)
Activities: Skopje, Lake Ohrid (5)
Accommodation: camping Rino
Even though we’re not city people, we visited North Macedonia’s capital, Skopje. When we went in August, it was quite calm, but the downside was that many shops were closed. You don’t need an entire day to explore Skopje, but an afternoon exploring is really nice. In the afternoon, we headed to Lake Ohrid, where we found a lovely campsite. From there, you can jump right into the water! But be cautious of small snakes in the lake.
Albania (2 days)
Activiteiten: Tirana, Kruje
Accommodation: Kruje campsite
Before we left, we were warned about the roads in Albania. And indeed, the roads were worst from all the Balkan countries we visited. However, it is doable with a normal car if you just stay on the main roads. Our first stop in Albania was Tirana, a much busier city than Skopje, where you can easily spend an afternoon. Just note, it can get quite hot in the summer months!
Our favorite stop in Albania was Kruje. This small town, nestled in the mountains, has a nice mix of touristy charm. If you’re in the area, don’t miss the restaurant at the Kruje campsite. It’s only open to camping guests, and the owner prepares local dishes with ingredients she has on hand. You won’t know exactly what you’re eating or how much you’ll pay, but it’s all part of the fun!
Tip: Use the ViaMichelin app to see which roads are paved.
Montenegro (2 days)
Activities: Serpentine, Kotor (6)
Accommodation: autocamp Zelenika
On our way back home, we passed through Montenegro again. And still it was one of our favorite countries during this trip. We drove along the coast to Kotor via the Serpentine mountain pass. This narrow winding road offers stunning views of Kotor, but be careful, as buses are allowed to drive up from Kotor. It can be quite dangerous!
Kotor is a bit crowded and touristy, but we found it very charming! The narrow streets lead to little squares where you can enjoy a meal outdoors. We decided to visit Kotor later in the day when the temperatures slightly became more comfortable.
Bosnië & Herzegovina (1 dag)
Activities: Mostar
Accommodation: El Higo Studio Appartments
We added Mostar to our 3-week Balkan road trip itinerary last minute. It’s a great place to visit in the evening since it’s small. The old part of town has plenty of eateries and souvenir shops. Of course, you can’t miss crossing Mostar’s famous bridge over the river. In the evening, we enjoyed chatting with the owner of El Higo Studio Apartments. The people here are incredibly friendly!
Croatia (1 day)
Activities: beach hopping
Accommodation: Ecocamp Rizvan City
Since we loved the beaches in Croatia, we decided to stay another day on our way back home. If you prefer exploring the countryside, the Plitvice Lakes are also worth a visit!
Slovenia (2 days)
Activities: Lake Bled, Bled, rafting Sava rivier
Lake Bled is one of the most popular spots in Slovenia, and it’s easy to see why! Though it was crowded, a short visit was absolutely worth it. We opted for a rafting tour on the Sava River, which was a bit wilder and busier than the Tara River rafting in Montenegro.
