Zagreb to Athens: Adriatic & Ancient Capitals (Self-Launched)

Fly or bus into Zagreb. Check into a hostel in the Donji Grad/Gornji Grad area, then self-walk the compact old town: Ban Jelačić Square, the Cathedral of the Assumption (free), St Mark's Church with its tiled roof (free), and the Museum of Broken Relationships (~€4). Evening: cheap grilled food and beer on Tkalčićeva street. Sort out your onward bus ticket to Plitvice tonight.

🚌Airport bus or tram from Zagreb Airport (~£7); walkable city centre

🛏Hostel in central Zagreb (dorm)

• →Self-guided old-town walk
• →Museum of Broken Relationships (~£4)
• →Dolac market wander

Take an early bus from Zagreb to Plitvice (~2.5h, ~£10–13). Drop bags at a guesthouse or hostel near Entrance 1/2, then spend the afternoon in the park on the wooden boardwalks and boat across Lake Kozjak. Buy your timed-entry ticket in advance via the official NP Plitvice site (peak season ~€40, off-season ~£15–25) — this replaces the operator's included entry.

🚌Local bus Zagreb–Plitvice (~£11); park shuttle boat & train included in ticket

🛏Guesthouse or hostel near Plitvice Entrance 1

• →Plitvice Lakes boardwalk & boat circuit
• →Lower Lakes viewpoints

Morning bus from Plitvice to Split (~3–3.5h, ~£14). Check into a hostel in the old town/Varoš area, then wander the Diocletian's Palace complex on your own (free to enter the palace; cathedral/crypt tickets ~£3–5). Evening swim at Bačvice beach and a sunset stroll up Marjan Hill (free). Big night out optional — Split's old town is your oyster.

🚌Bus Plitvice–Split (~£14); city is walkable

🛏Hostel in Split old town (dorm)

• →Diocletian's Palace self-walk
• →Bačvice Beach
• →Marjan Hill sunset

Choose your own Split day. Option A: catamaran to Bol on Brač for Zlatni Rat beach (~£12 return, ~1h each way). Option B: local bus to Trogir's UNESCO old town (~£3, 40 min). Option C: hike Marjan, swim, and hit the Mestrovic Gallery (~£3.50). Book any boat trips direct at the Riva or via Klook/GetYourGuide.

🚌Catamaran Split–Bol (~£12 return) or local bus to Trogir (~£3)

🛏Hostel in Split old town (dorm)

• →Zlatni Rat beach day trip OR Trogir
• →Mestrovic Gallery (~£3.50)
• →St Duje Cathedral

Morning catamaran from Split to Hvar Town (~1–1.5h, ~£10–14). Check into a hostel or sobe (private room) and climb to the Spanish Fortress for the classic view (~£8.50). Afternoon: swim at Pokonji Dol or take a water taxi to the Pakleni Islands (~£10). If you want a full boat day, book a Pakleni Islands group cruise direct or via GetYourGuide (~£35–45 instead of the operator's ~£90).

🚌Catamaran Split–Hvar (~£12); local water taxi to Pakleni (~£10)

🛏Hostel or sobe room in Hvar Town

• →Hvar Fortress (~£8.50)
• →Pakleni Islands swim or boat trip
• →Hvar old town & harbour

Ferry back to Split in the morning, then take the afternoon bus down the coast to Dubrovnik (~4.5h, ~£18–22) — sit on the right for the Neretva delta views. Check into a hostel in the old town or Lapad. Evening: casual dinner in the old town and a drink at a Buža-style cliff bar.

🚌Catamaran Hvar–Split (~£12); intercity bus Split–Dubrovnik (~£20)

🛏Hostel in Dubrovnik old town or Lapad (dorm)

• →Coastal bus ride
• →Dubrovnik old town evening stroll

Walk the city walls early to beat the crowds (~€35, ~£30) — this replaces the operator's optional wall walk. Afternoon sea-kayaking around the walls and Lokrum (~£30–35, book via GetYourGuide or a local operator on Banje beach — cheaper than the operator's listed ~€36). Optional: War Photography Museum (~£9) or the cable car up Srđ (~£25) for sunset.

🚌Walkable old town; local bus to Lapad if staying out of centre (~£1.50)

🛏Hostel in Dubrovnik old town or Lapad (dorm)

• →City Walls walk (~£30)
• →Sea kayaking half-day (~£33)
• →War Photography Museum (~£9)

Cross the border into Montenegro on a local bus (Dubrovnik–Kotor, ~2.5–3h, ~£15–18) — keep your passport handy. Check into the old town's famous hostel (mixed dorms, like the operator) or a Kotor guesthouse. Afternoon: wander the walled old town and do a short bay-side walk. If you want the homestay/local-household experience the reviews rave about, book a village guesthouse near Kotor or Njeguši for a night via Booking.com.

🚌Local bus Dubrovnik–Kotor (~£16)

🛏Hostel in Kotor old town (dorm) or village guesthouse

• →Kotor old town wander
• →Bay of Kotor waterfront walk

Hike the Ladder of Kotor / San Giovanni fortress trail early (~£3 entry to the walls, ~2–3h up). Afternoon: local bus to Perast (~£1.50, 20 min) for the baroque waterfront and an optional boat to Our Lady of the Rocks (~£5). Optional kayak rental in the bay (~£18) or a day trip to Lake Skadar via a local minibus tour. Cheap, hearty Montenegrin food in the old town.

🚌Local bus Kotor–Perast (~£1.50); walk to trailhead

🛏Hostel in Kotor old town (dorm)

• →Ladder of Kotor hike
• →Perast & Our Lady of the Rocks
• →Bay kayaking (optional, ~£18)

Long but scenic travel day: bus Kotor–Tirana via Podgorica or Shkodër (~5–6h, ~£15–20, book locally in Kotor or via a Balkan bus aggregator). Arrive Tirana, check into a hostel around Blloku or the centre, then self-orientate: Skanderbeg Square, the colourful Piramida (free), and Bunk'Art if you're keen. Cheap Albanian dinner and raki.

🚌Bus Kotor–Tirana (~£18)

🛏Hostel in central Tirana or Blloku (dorm)

• →Skanderbeg Square
• →Piramida & Bunk'Art (optional)
• →Blloku district evening

Take the morning furgon (minibus) or bus from Tirana towards Saranda (~5–6h, ~£10–12), stopping at Gjirokastër to see the hilltop fortress (~£2.50) and stone old town. Continue south, then if time allows visit the UNESCO Butrint archaeological site (~€10, ~£9) — do it on a local bus or taxi from Saranda (~£5 each way). Check into a Saranda guesthouse.

🚌Furgon/minibus Tirana–Gjirokastër–Saranda (~£12); local bus to Butrint (~£5 return)

🛏Guesthouse in Saranda

• →Gjirokastër fortress & old town (~£2.50)
• →Butrint archaeological site (~£9)

Short hop across the Ionian: ferry from Saranda to Corfu town (~30–60 min, ~£10–15 depending on operator — book with Ionian Seaways or Sarris Cruises). Once in Corfu, check into a hostel or guesthouse near the old town and self-walk the Venetian lanes, the Liston, and Palaio Frourio (Old Fortress) for sunset (~£5).

🚌Ferry Saranda–Corfu (~£12); walkable old town

🛏Hostel or guesthouse in Corfu Town

• →Saranda–Corfu ferry crossing
• →Corfu old town & Liston
• →Old Fortress (~£5)

Use the green KTEL local buses from Corfu Town to explore for a day (~£2–4 per trip). Options: Paleokastritsa beaches and boat caves, the Achilleion Palace (~£9), or Glyfada beach for a lazy swim. Archaeological Museum (~£2.50) if you're having a culture day. Book any boat trips direct at the harbour — cheap and flexible.

🚌Local KTEL buses (~£6 total)

🛏Hostel or guesthouse in Corfu Town

• →KTEL green bus to Paleokastritsa or Glyfada
• →Achilleion Palace (~£9)
• →Archaeological Museum (~£2.50)

Fly Corfu to Athens (~1h, ~£30–60 if booked early — often cheaper than the overnight bus+ferry combo) or take the bus/ferry via Igoumenitsa (~£55, 14h) for the slow-travel version. Land at Athens, check into a hostel in Plaka or Monastiraki, then evening wander the Plaka lanes with the Acropolis lit up.

🚌Flight Corfu–Athens (~£40) or bus+ferry via Igoumenitsa (~£55); Athens metro to centre (~£5)

🛏Hostel in Plaka or Monastiraki (dorm)

• →Acropolis floodlit walk
• →Plaka & Monastiraki evening

Book your Acropolis timed entry online in advance (~€20–30, ~£18–26) and go early to beat the heat and crowds. Then the Acropolis Museum (~£8) or the National Archaeological Museum (~£10), and a walk through Syntagma and the National Garden. Big night out in Gazi or Monastiraki to close the trip.

🚌Walkable / Athens metro (~£3)

🛏Hostel in Plaka or Monastiraki (dorm)

• →Acropolis & Parthenon (~£22)
• →Acropolis Museum (~£8)
• →Syntagma Square & National Garden