Vienna to Dubrovnik: Self-Launched Balkan Capitals & Old Towns

Start in Vienna and take a regional train to Eisenstadt or Neusiedl am See (~€12-15, 1h), then a local bus (B24/B25, ~€5) into Rust. Spend the afternoon wandering Rust's pastel old town and storks'-nest rooftops, then cycle or walk out to the Lake Neusiedl shoreline (bike hire ~€12/day). Wine tasting in a Buschenschank in the surrounding vineyards costs €10-15 for a flight with snacks. Return to Vienna or overnight in Rust/Neusiedl — staying by the lake is cheaper.

🚌Regional train Vienna–Neusiedl/Eisenstadt ~£11 + local bus ~£4

🛏Guesthouse or hostel in Rust/Neusiedl am See, shared double (~£28 pp)

• →Walking tour of Rust old town
• →Cycling Lake Neusiedl shoreline
• →Heuriger wine tasting in Burgenland vineyards

Train to Bratislava (from Vienna ~€11 in 1h; from Neusiedl change at Bruck an der Leitha, similar fare). Drop bags and join the free 2.5h Bratislava walking tour from Hviezdoslavovo Square (tip-based, ~€8). Climb to Bratislava Castle for the Danube views, see the Old Town Hall and Michael's Gate, then cross the SNP Bridge (UFO bar) or take tram 4 to Petržalka to see the Soviet-era panel apartment blocks. Evening: Slovak pub food — bryndzové halušky and a beer (~€12).

🚌Train ~£10, local trams ~£3

🛏Hostel or budget hotel in Bratislava Old Town, shared double (~£30 pp)

• →Free walking tour of Old Town Hall and Michael's Gate
• →Bratislava Castle viewpoint
• →Petržalka communist-era architecture walk
• →Coffee in a historic old-town kaviarňa

Take a train Bratislava–Győr (~€10, 1h45) and store bags at the station. Walk Győr's baroque old town: Town Hall, Cathedral of the Virgin Mary, the Carmelite church and the beautifully restored Győr Synagogue. Lunch and a blueberry beer on Baross Gábor út (~€10). Continue by train Győr–Budapest (~€9, 1h30). Evening: ruin-bar crawl in District VII (Szimpla Kert and neighbours) and a bowl of goulash.

🚌Two regional trains ~£17

🛏Hostel or budget apartment in Budapest District VII/VIII (~£26 pp)

• →Győr old town walking route
• →Győr Synagogue visit
• →Baross Gábor street food and blueberry beer
• →Budapest ruin bar evening

Join the free Budapest walking tour (tip-based) covering St Stephen's Basilica, the Opera, Parliament and Heroes' Square. Walk or take bus 16 up to Fisherman's Bastion and Buda Castle for the panorama. Pre-book a daytime Széchenyi or Gellért thermal bath ticket online (~£22, cheaper on quieter weekdays). Finish with a public Danube river cruise — the D11/D12 commuter boat or a one-hour evening sightseeing boat (~£9-12) gives the illuminated-monument views for a fraction of a private cruise.

🚌Public transport day pass ~£5

🛏Hostel or budget apartment in Budapest (~£26 pp)

• →Free walking tour of Pest highlights
• →Fisherman's Bastion and Buda Castle
• →Széchenyi or Gellért thermal baths
• →Danube evening sightseeing cruise

Take the early train Budapest–Subotica (~€15-20, 3h30, cross-border service — check times, they're infrequent so leave early and buy the ticket at the counter). Spend the afternoon in Subotica: the jaw-dropping Art Nouveau City Hall, Cathedral of St Teresa of Avila and the Moorish-style Subotica Synagogue, all within a ten-minute walk. Then catch a local bus Subotica–Novi Sad (~€8, 2h) for two nights in Serbia's relaxed second city.

🚌Cross-border train ~£16 + bus ~£7

🛏Hostel or guesthouse in Novi Sad centre (~£20 pp)

• →Subotica Art Nouveau city hall and squares
• →Cathedral of St Teresa of Avila
• →Subotica Synagogue interior tour
• →Evening in Novi Sad old town

Morning city walk through Novi Sad's pedestrian centre and Dunavska street, then climb to Petrovaradin Fortress — the clock tower and Danube views are free (underground tunnels ~£3 if open). Take bus 79 or a taxi (~€8) across the river, then the suburban train or local bus to Sremski Karlovci (~€3, 20 min). Visit the Four Lions fountain and the town's wine cellars — tastings at a family cellar such as Vinarija Kiš or a Probus tasting room cost €8-12 for a flight plus a glass of bermet. Return to Novi Sad in the evening.

🚌Local bus/train Sremski Karlovci return ~£6

🛏Hostel or guesthouse in Novi Sad (~£20 pp)

• →Novi Sad city walking tour
• →Petrovaradin Fortress ramparts and clock tower
• →Sremski Karlovci Four Lions fountain
• →Wine cellar tasting and bermet
• →Fruška Gora vineyards stroll

Take the fast train Novi Sad–Belgrade (~€7, 40 min) and drop bags near Republic Square. Afternoon: free walking tour of Belgrade (tip-based, ~£8) or self-guide through Kalemegdan Park, Belgrade Fortress, the Pobednik monument and the confluence of Sava and Danube. Walk Knez Mihailova, and pop into the National Museum (free on Sundays, otherwise ~£5). Dinner in Skadarlija with ćevapi and rakija (~£14).

🚌Express train ~£6 + trams ~£3

🛏Hostel or budget hotel near Republic Square (~£22 pp)

• →Belgrade Fortress and Kalemegdan Park
• →Pobednik Monument and Danube-Sava confluence
• →Knez Mihailova and Republic Square walk
• →National Museum visit
• →Skadarlija bohemian quarter dinner

A long travel day: take a bus or shared minivan from Belgrade to Zvornik (~€15, 2h30) on the Drina River — stop for lunch at a riverside ćevabdžinica and a wander along the riverbank. Continue Zvornik–Sarajevo by intercity bus (~€15-18, 3-4h, limited afternoon departures — book the early morning option or use a shared van transfer). Arrive Sarajevo, check into a baščaršija guesthouse, and eat a Bosnian dinner of somun, dolma and baklava (~£12).

🚌Two intercity buses/shared vans ~£32

🛏Guesthouse or hostel in Sarajevo old town (~£20 pp)

• →Drina River stop in Zvornik
• →Riverside lunch and old market
• →Evening stroll in Baščaršija

Morning free walking tour of Sarajevo (tip-based, ~£8) covering the Ottoman bazaar, the Austro-Hungarian quarter's Vijećnica, and the Latin Bridge of WWI fame. Stop for Bosnian coffee at a coffee house in Baščaršija (~£3) — Caffe Divan or any Divan-style house works. Then take the afternoon train Sarajevo–Mostar (~€8, 2h, spectacular Neretva gorge scenery) and cross Stari Most. Wander the Old Bazaar and visit Biščevića Kuća Ottoman house (~£4). Sunset at the bridge with a glass of local wine.

🚌Train Sarajevo–Mostar ~£7

🛏Guesthouse in Mostar old town (~£22 pp)

• →Sarajevo free walking tour and Latin Bridge
• →Bosnian coffee in Baščaršija
• →Scenic train through the Neretva canyon
• →Stari Most and Mostar Old Bazaar
• →Biščevića Kuća Ottoman house

Final morning in Mostar — climb the Old Bridge early for photos before the tour crowds, or a quick swim cove on the Radobolja. Direct buses Mostar–Dubrovnik run several times daily (~€20-25, 3h, cross-border), or go via Čapljina/Metković if timing suits. Arrive Dubrovnik, and finish with a walk along the city walls if you have the evening (walls ticket ~£30, or just Stradun and the Buža cliff bar for free sunset views).

🚌Direct bus Mostar–Dubrovnik ~£21

🛏Hostel or guesthouse outside Dubrovnik old town (Lapad/Gruž, ~£30 pp)

• →Sunrise on Stari Most
• →Mostar Old Bazaar shopping
• →Dubrovnik Stradun and Buža cliff bar sunset
• →Optional city walls walk