Road Tripping Through the Balkans: The Ultimate 2-Week Itinerary
I’ve done this route three times now, and honestly, every trip throws up something new. Border queues that weren’t there last year. A road in Albania that looked fine on Google Maps but turned into a dirt track. But that’s the Balkans for you — unpredictable, beautiful, and absolutely worth the effort if you’re prepared.
This 2-week itinerary covers roughly 2,000 km starting and ending in Dubrovnik. You’ll cross four borders, drive through mountains that’ll take your breath away (literally, in some cases), and see places that most travellers skip because they think it’s too complicated. It’s not complicated. You just need to know a few things before you go.
Why Hire a Car for the Balkans?
Look, you could do parts of this by bus. The bus network in Croatia is excellent. But once you get into Montenegro, Albania and rural Bosnia, public transport becomes… optimistic. Buses run when they run. Some routes don’t exist at all. And the best spots — the ones you’ll actually remember — are the ones you can only reach with four wheels.
For Croatia sections, check out crocarhire.com for options with no hidden fees. If you’re picking up in Dubrovnik, book early — summer inventory disappears fast.
What Car Do You Need?
Here’s where people make mistakes. They book the cheapest compact because they’re trying to save €200. Then they hit the Albanian mountain roads and realise why that was a bad idea.
Get something mid-sized. A Volkswagen Golf or similar. Enough power to overtake trucks on the single-lane roads through Bosnia, but not so big that you’ll struggle in the narrow streets of Kotor’s old town. Ground clearance matters more than you think — some of the Albanian secondary roads have potholes that’ll swallow a low-slung sports car whole.
Air conditioning is non-negotiable from June to September. Temperatures hit 35°C+ regularly, and the air quality in cities like Sarajevo suffers when it’s hot.
Day 1-2: Dubrovnik to Kotor (80 km)
Start your balkans road trip itinerary in Dubrovnik. Pick up your rental car in the morning — give yourself time to check it over properly. Take photos of any scratches. The parking lots in Dubrovnik are tiny and the locals park with millimetre precision, so check for door dings before you drive off.
The drive to Kotor takes about 2 hours if you go straight through. But don’t. Stop at the Bay of Kotor viewpoint about 30 minutes after crossing into Montenegro. The road zigzags up the mountain — it’s called the P1 — and there’s a pullout that’ll give you the classic Kotor Bay photo. Worth the 10-minute detour.
Border crossing: Croatia to Montenegro via Debeli Brijeg is usually fine, but allow an extra hour in July and August. The queue can back up significantly, especially on weekends.
For Montenegro car hire options and local tips, see rentalcarsmontenegro.com.
Where to stay: Kotor old town has limited parking. Stay in Dobrota or Muo if you want to park near your accommodation.
Day 3-4: Kotor to Shkodra (60 km)
The Montenegro-Albania border at Sukobin is straightforward. I’ve crossed it four times and the longest wait was 30 minutes. The Albanian side is more relaxed — sometimes surprisingly so. Don’t be shocked if the border guard barely looks at your passport.
Shkodra is your gateway to northern Albania. It’s also a good reality check for what Albanian roads are like. The main road from the border into Shkodra is fine, but once you’re in the city, the road quality varies block by block.
Fuel up in Montenegro before crossing. Petrol is cheaper in Montenegro than Albania, and there aren’t many stations right after the border.
Where to eat: Hotel Rozafa’s rooftop restaurant overlooks the lake. The food is decent, but the view is why you’re there.
Day 5-6: Shkodra to Sarajevo via Mostar (420 km)
This is your longest driving day. Split it up if you can. But if you’re pressed for time, you can do it in one push.
The route takes you back through Montenegro (yes, another border crossing) and into Bosnia and Herzegovina at Hum border crossing. This one can be slow — I once waited 90 minutes here in August. The guards check every car thoroughly.
Mostar is worth a 2-3 hour stop. Park near the old town (look for “Plavi Grad” parking lot — about 2€ for 4 hours). Walk the Old Bridge, grab a coffee, and get back on the road.
The drive from Mostar to Sarajevo winds through the mountains. It’s about 130 km but takes 2.5-3 hours because you’re averaging 50 km/h on the winding roads. Beautiful but tiring. Watch for traffic coming the other way cutting corners on the blind bends.
For Bosnia driving tips and car hire options, see carhirebosnia.com.
Fuel tip: Fill up before leaving Mostar. Stations become sparse in the mountains, and prices are higher.
Day 7-9: Sarajevo to Belgrade (290 km)
Sarajevo deserves at least two full days. The city is walkable once you’re in the centre, but you’ll need your car for trips out to the Tunnel Museum or the bobsleigh track on Trebević mountain.
The drive to Belgrade takes about 5 hours via the E73/E761 route. The road quality improves significantly once you’re closer to Serbia. The border crossing at Šamac can be slow — allow an hour for the crossing itself.
Belgrade traffic is something else. Avoid arriving during rush hour (7-9am, 4-6pm). The city centre doesn’t have that much parking, so book accommodation with parking included if possible.
For Serbia-specific car hire info, check carhireserbia.com.
Where to stay: Belgrade has plenty of options, but Savski Venac and Vračar neighbourhoods have better parking than Dorćol.
Day 10-11: Belgrade to Novi Sad to Osijek (250 km)
Take a detour through Novi Sad (90 km from Belgrade). Petrovaradin Fortress has great views and a clock tower that’s famous for having its hour and minute hands reversed. Don’t ask me why. It’s a thing.
Cross into Croatia near Ilok. This is typically the fastest border crossing of the whole trip — I’ve done it in under 15 minutes every time. You might get lucky.
Osijek is your overnight stop. It’s a university town with a relaxed atmosphere and surprisingly good food scene. After the chaos of Belgrade traffic, it’s a relief.
Day 12-13: Osijek to Plitvice to Split (400 km)
Drive west to Plitvice Lakes. It’s about 3.5 hours from Osijek. Buy your tickets online in advance — they sell out regularly in summer, and you don’t want to drive all that way only to be turned away.
Park at Entrance 1 for the classic route. Give yourself 4-5 hours minimum. The wooden walkways can get crowded, so go early if you can (arrive by 8am in peak season).
The drive from Plitvice to Split is about 3 hours via the A1 motorway. It’s toll road — expect to pay around €15-20. Fast and well-maintained compared to what you’ve been driving on.
Day 14: Split to Dubrovnik (230 km)
The final leg. You can take the coastal road for scenic views, but it’s slow — allow 4+ hours. The inland route via the A1 to Ploče then the coastal D8 is faster at about 3.5 hours.
Border warning: If you take the coastal route, you’ll pass through a short stretch of Bosnia (Neum corridor). It’s about 9 km of Bosnian territory. You don’t need to stop if you’re just transiting, but have your documents ready in case. Some car hire companies require you to declare this crossing in advance.
Practical Tips for Your Balkans Road Trip
Documents: You need your passport, driving licence, and the car’s registration documents. An International Driving Permit is recommended but often not asked for — better to have it just in case.
Insurance: Check that your car hire includes coverage for all countries on your route. Some companies exclude Albania or require additional insurance at the border.
Cash: Keep some euros for Montenegro (uses euro unofficially) and Bosnian marks for Bosnia. Albania uses lek. ATMs exist but aren’t always reliable in rural areas.
Navigation: Download offline maps. Google Maps works fine for most routes but has occasional spectacular failures on Albanian back roads. Maps.me is a good backup.
Final Thoughts
Two weeks is enough to cover this route without feeling rushed, but you’ll be doing a lot of driving. If you can stretch to 16-18 days, you can add stops in Albania’s south (Berat, Gjirokastër) or spend more time in Bosnia (the Jajce waterfalls are worth a detour).
The Balkans reward patience and preparation. Roads aren’t always what you expect. Border queues appear without warning. But the scenery, the food, and the price point make it one of Europe’s best road trip destinations. Just don’t cheap out on the car — you’ll regret that more than any other decision you make on this trip.
Ready to book? Check 365carhire.com for car hire options across the Balkans with no hidden fees.
