Balkans itinerary 2 weeks

Nature
The wow factor for nature - does it show nature at its best? Doesn't need to be the wildebeest migration or diving with hundreds of hammerheads. Rather make you pause as you realise just how awesome the natural world can be
8
Culture
How much does this experience showcase some of the better and finer things that us humans can offer? Sure, it can be ancient ruins and renaissance churches, but it can also be festivals or soaking up some of the great modern cities of the world
8
Fun factor/activity
Very simple - was it fun? This is usually linked in with doing some kind of activity - i mean, walking along some cliffs is nice, but paragliding from them, now that is fun. Its a vastly underrated factor in a truly great experience
7
Avoid the crowds
Big tour groups and being surrounded by loud fellow tourists can sap the life out of even the greatest of travel experiences. This score is to reflect just how much you can avoid this. But. . . The score also takes into account if the crowds actually add to the experience, such as with a party town or a bustling local market
6
World famous
How world famous is the experience?
6
unique
How hard is it to have a similar experience in other places round the world?
6
Overall TE Score
The overall travel experiences score:  fun factor + avoid the crowds + (best of nature or culture) + (best of world famous or unique). Then convert into a score out of 100
67 *What the scores mean and where do they come from
RANKING
How this travel experience ranks compared to all the other experiences on this site, based on the travel experience (te) score
194th/457
Top 40%
continent
Europe
country
Albania / Bosnia & Herzegovina / Croatia / Kosovo / Montenegro / North Macedonia / Serbia
Length of time
2-4 weeks
Typical daily price
This gives you a rough idea of the daily price based on 2 people travelling where they can split costs like accommodation. It excludes travel there and back, and factors in inflation the numbers in brackets show the price range for the full time of the experience (so not necessarily daily). It is a range to reflect different budget vs higher end
$190 (typically $110 - $260)
Time of year visited
July
Primary Tags
Click on any of the tags to see all travel experiences with the same tag
Adventure Beaches Old town
All Tags
Boat trip Border crossing Bridges Castles / Fortresses Caves Christian site City Walls Cliffs Fjords Forests Hiking Islands Lakes Local villages Mountains Palaces Partying / Lash River Experience Romans Snorkeling Sunsets Swimming UNESCO world heritage site Waterfalls
Wow Factor
Two scores: first is the wow factor which ranges from ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ to ⭐️, and a separate category for the truly "gash". The second is the more analytical travel experience score, which considers 6 varied criteria to give an overall score out of 100.
⭐⭐

Summary

The Balkans are one of Europe’s most underrated travel regions – combining dramatic coastlines, historic towns, rugged mountains and cultural variety to rival anything in Western Europe. While destinations like Spain, France and Italy dominate most travel plans, the Balkans offer similar beauty but the variety of 8 countries, typically fewer crowds, lower costs and more of sense of adventure.

This itinerary is designed for a 2 week trip, focusing primarily on the Adriatic coastline through Croatia and Montenegro, with an inland detours to Bosnia and including Slovenia to the north and Macedonia to the south.  But I’ve also given a 1 week option if that is all you have.

Cracking trip if looking for something a bit different whilst also packing in many wow experiences.

10 Highlight moments

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#1 - Lake Bled, Slovenia. All the ingredients of a fairy tale: small church perched perfectly on a small island ✅ ; sitting in the middle of crystal clear water with only the light lapping of row boats ✅ ; castle nearby hanging over a precarious ledge to the water ✅ ; the further backdrop of the Julian Alps ✅ . An Instagrammer’s dream!

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#2 - The coast of Montenegro. The world's most beautiful coastline (a big claim, I know). The crystal clear waters of the Dalmatian coast meet full blown mountains that meet right on the waterfront and with the backdrop of picturesque beaches with terracotta roofed island paradises

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#3 - the island of Havar, Croatia. The most luxurious beach destination in the Balkans. Glitzy harbour with super yachts and world-class beach bars, a variety of adrenaline pumping lash centres in Havar Town coupled with more chilled out spots all around the island. And don't miss the Blue and Green caves that can be explored as part of a boat trip to Vis Island

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#4 Dubrovnik, Croatia. One of the best preserved Old Towns in the world, with spectacular city walls and a stunning setting that sees it surrounded by mountains to the east, the crystal blues of the Adriatic to the west and the terracotta roofs of the buildings pouring out into the nearby town. Dubrovnik quite rightly sits as one of the premier Old Towns in the world

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#5 Mostar, Bosnia & Herzegovina. Having lunch overlooking the UNESCO World Heritage listed Stari Most bridge. The bridge itself looks like something straight from Naboo in Star Wars with its beautiful sweeping arch held high by the two towers and with its gorgeous setting as the focal point of the town surrounded by the Herzegovina mountains. The Old Town is pretty to walk through and has the slightly unusual and eerie sights of pillars with thousands of bullet holes from the not so distant Civil War

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#6 - Lake Ohrid's Byzantine Churches, North Macedonia. There is a nice Old Town, a medieval castle with a set of walls that allow you some super views and various lakeside beaches that attract many local tourists. But it is the gorgeous views of the picturesque Byzantine-style church roofs overlooking beautiful Lake Ohrid that make it the highlight of North Macedonia

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#7 - The Pltivice Lakes, Croatia. How are these not more famous??!! Mesmerising aquamarines and luscious greens from these lakes and the hundreds of waterfalls that link them, all easily walkable across the boardwalks and hiking trails

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#8 The Bay of Kotor and its Old Town, Montenegro. The mini-hike up to St John's fortress for stunning views over the medieval maze of lanes and Venetian Palaces of the Old Town and the spectacular harbour behind

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#9 Ljubljana, Slovenia. Pretty and compact city to wander around for a day with its pedestrianised streets looking over the river, the famous 3 bridges and in particular the Ljubljana Castle area for views out across the city and nearby mountains

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#10 Sarajevo (Bosnia & Herzegovina). Vibrant, great night life city

What to prioritise

The Balkans have a lot to see and with the extra consideration of the highlights being spread across 8 countries.  For a first-time visitor, I would think about what to prioritise this way:

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ The Montenegro Coastline
Truly dramatic stretch of Adriatic coastline combining mountains, medieval towns and scenic bays.  With all three often thrown in together into impossibly small areas like the Bay of Kotor.  I left with the feeling that this was the most impressive coastline in the world. The Montenegro Coastline.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Lake Bled (Slovenia) 
A picture-perfect alpine lake with a small island church and castle views.  Beautiful loop walk round the small lake with regular stops for gawping at just how pretty everything is. Fairytale views by Lake Bled

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Havar (Croatia) 
Lively Adriatic island known for its clear waters, historic old harbour towns and a mix of relaxed beaches and nightlife. Jump on a boat to experience the blue and green caves or just chill in the idyllic island setting. Boat trips, beaches and exploring the caves around Havar Island.

⭐️⭐️⭐️ Plitvice Lakes (Croatia)
How is this not more famous? A series of cascading lakes and waterfalls connected by wooden walkways, set within a lush national park. Gorgeous and definitely worth the minor detour. The Plitvice Lakes in northern Croatia

⭐️⭐️⭐️ Mostar (Bosnia & Herzegovina)
Fascinating historic town in the centre of Bosnia with the iconic Mostar bridge, all too obvious scars from the war and strong Ottoman heritage. Felt like Nabboo from Star Wars.  Seeing Mostar’s Stari Most Bridge and its bullet-holed history.

⭐️⭐️⭐️ Dubrovnik (Croatia)
One of the most famous old towns in the world with exceptional views from nearby Mount Srd.  Gets pretty chocka full with fellow tourists though. Wandering Dubrovnik’s Old Town City Walls.

⭐️⭐️ Ljubljana (Slovenia)
Compact and charming capital that looks like something from the Hansel and Gretal fairy tale.  Riverside cafés, green spaces and striking castle grounds looming above. Wandering Ljubljana’s Old Town and Castle.

⭐️⭐️ Split (Croatia)   
Coastal city built around an the magnificent ancient Roman Domenitian’s Palace.  Many fly in near here.

⭐️⭐️ Lake Ohrid (North Macedonia)  
Big, tranquil lake with its highlight being the historic Byzantine churches dotted all along the cliffs. The Byzantine Churches of Lake Ohrid

⭐️⭐️ Sarajevo (Bosnia & Herzegovina)
Layered history, where Ottoman, Austro-Hungarian and modern influences mingle. Great night out.

⭐️ Zagreb (Croatia)
A functional capital but with a mix of nice mix of historic upper town streets and more modern city life.

⭐️ Northern Albania
Rugged, mountainous region offering remote landscapes and an interesting bus route, but deprioritise for the above. An odd few days making the way across Northern Albania.

⭐️ Skopje (North Macedonia)
Unusual mix of historic sites and large-scale modern redevelopment.

GASH – Belgrade (Serbia)
Historic fort and a gritty, energetic character.  Unless have local contacts, don’t bother.

GASH – Tirana (Albania) 
Communist-era remnants and modern urban development. Not worth the trip south.

GASH – Pristina (Kosovo) 
Other than to congratulte them on their new(ish) country, not much point in visiting.

Itinerary options

The Balkans is quite forgiving in terms of flexibility for itineraries because most stops are located on the coast.  The main issue is when you venture off the coast and need to spend long drives getting through the mountains, especially in Bosnia and Montenegro.

The below itineraries are the way I would think about this trip if I had 1 week, or 2 weeks.

 

1 week itinerary – Havar, Dubrovnik, Kotor and an inland trip to Mostar

 

If you only have a week, hit these 4 major highlights.  Its tough not to visit Slovenia’s Lake Bled and Northern Macedonia’s Lake Ohrid, but I think you’ll just take up far too much time getting there, whereas the 4 places I mention are far closer together.  Wonderful trip and will leave you keen to return to complete the other places another time.

 

Day 1 – 2 Havar Island.  Chill out on the various secluded beaches on the island, take a boat trip to the mysterious blue and green caves near Vis Island, and hit some of the great lash / partying in the beach bars of Havar Town.  It is the star island and beach spot of the Adriatic.

Day 3-4 Mostar. Give yourself 2 days to experience Bosnia’s Mostar, with its wonderful Old Town, world famous Stari Most Bridge and the pillars with thousands of bullet holes as an eerie reminder of the Civil War.  Plus the time for the 3.5 hour drive there and 2.5 hour drive to Dubrovnik.

Day 5 Dubrovnik. One of the most famous Old Town in the world with a stunning walk along the City Walls and for views looking down from Mount Srd.

Day 6 – 7 Kotor and the Montenegro Coast. Enjoy the picture perfect views of Sveti Stefan and the sensational Kotor Bay.  Be sure to stay in Kotor Old Town.

 

2 week itinerary

 

Same as the core of the 1 week trip, but to include the highlights of the north in Slovenia and Plitvice Lakes, plus continuing to the south for Lake Ohrid via Albania

 

Day 1-3 – Slovenia.  Fly into Ljubljana.  Give yourself 3 days in total to experience the picture perfect spot of Lake Bled, the instagrammers dream, where the walk around the lake and to the view points is just stunning; and to wander the Old Town and climb up the to Ljubljana Castle.

Day 4-5 – Plitvice Lakes and driving down to Havar.  Give yourself 2 days to make your way from Slovenia to Havar via the hugely underrated Plitvice Lakes National Park in northern Croatia.  Optional is to also visit Split for Diocletian’s Palace on the way.

Day 6 – 7 Havar Island.

Day 8 – 9 Mostar.

Day 10 Dubrovnik.

Day 11 – 12 Kotor and the Montenegro Coast.

Day 13 – Albania / Kosovo.  Make your way either through Albania, for a spot of randomness, or through Kosovo, with its historic city of Prizen.

Day 14 – Lake Ohrid.  Chill out at the end of an awesome trip by the lakeside of Lake Ohrid and see the Byzantine Churches with their beautiful settings by the cliffs.

Day 15 – Fly out from Skopje.

What the Lonely Planet suggests and why it should be tweaked

 

 

Lonely planet Balkans 2 week itinerary map

 

The Lonely Planet recommends for its “Greatest Hits” route to do the above. I agree with big parts of this but I’ve made the changes:

  • Added in Havar in Croatia – it is one of the highlights and mad to miss it.
  • Added Lake Bled in Slovenia – if you’re visiting all the way up in Ljubljana, there is no way you’re not making the visit to Lake Bled.
  • Don’t bother with Belgrade – it’s in there to represent Serbia, whereas the reality is that unless you have some friends there that can show you around its not a great highlight.
  • Chose between Albania or Prizren in Kosovo – don’t do both as you’re only really passing through these places to get to Lake Ohrid.
  • My route hugs the Dalmatian Coast a bit more and saves you time doing the detour to Zagreb and roundabout way to Albania.

Experiences nearby

Wow Factor Score Two scores: first is the wow factor which ranges from ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ to ⭐️, and a separate category for the truly "gash". The second is the more analytical travel experience score, which considers 6 varied criteria to give an overall score out of 100. LowHigh
  • Elite, unmissable
  • World-class, downsides
  • Meets the Wow Factor
  • Worth it
  • Meh
  • Gash

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Score Detail

The scores above are the real point of this site.

Over 20+ years and 100+ countries, I’ve tried to rank the world’s best travel experiences - from genuinely mind-blowing ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ to the properly gash.

Every one of the 500+ places on this site has both a Wow Factor rating and a more analytical Travel Experience (TE) score based on the things that actually make travel memorable.

If you're curious about the thinking behind it, head to the About page.

Otherwise, explore the map above or on the Home page and see which places truly deliver maximum wow.

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