Croatia and the Balkans: Budapest to Split Self-Launched
15 days · Croatia and the Balkans
G Adventures charges £2,330
No-markup version: ~£828 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched 15-day overland route from Budapest through Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro and Croatia, finishing in Split. You'll replicate the G Adventures EJBT itinerary using public buses, trains and ferries, staying in hostels, guesthouses and family-run pensions in the same towns. Highlights include Petrovaradin and Kalemegdan fortresses, Sarajevo's Tunnel of Life, Mostar's Stari Most, sea kayaking in the Bay of Kotor, the walls of Dubrovnik and beach time on Hvar. All costs are approximate per-person estimates based on current budget/backpacker rates and exclude international flights.
Day-by-day
Arrive in Budapest
Budapest, Hungary
Land in Budapest and take the 100E airport shuttle bus to Deák Ferenc tér in the city centre (about HUF 2,200 / £5). Check into a hostel or budget guesthouse in District VII or VIII. Spend the evening wandering the ruin bars and getting your bearings along the Danube, with the illuminated Parliament and Chain Bridge a short walk away.
🚌Airport shuttle bus 100E, ~£5
🛏Hostel or budget guesthouse in central Pest, ~£20-28 dorm/private
- →100E airport shuttle to city centre
- →Evening walk along the Danube
- →Ruin bar visit
Budapest to Novi Sad
Novi Sad, Serbia
Head to Népliget bus station and take a direct coach to Novi Sad (roughly 4-5 hours, ~£15-20). Serbia is outside Schengen, so carry your passport for the border. After checking into a hostel near the centre, stretch your legs in the old town (Stari Grad) and try your first Serbian dinner — pljeskavica or ćevapi with kajmak — in a kafana.
🚌Direct coach Budapest–Novi Sad, ~£17
🛏Hostel or guesthouse in Novi Sad centre, ~£16-22
- →Coach to Novi Sad
- →Stari Grad old town wander
- →Serbian dinner in a kafana
Novi Sad to Belgrade
Belgrade, Serbia
Morning climb up to Petrovaradin Fortress for views over the Danube and the clock tower. Grab lunch back in Stari Grad, then take a local bus or train to Belgrade (about 1.5 hours, ~£6-8). Settle into a hostel in the Skadarlija or Dorćol area and head out for Belgrade's famously good nightlife.
🚌Local bus or train Novi Sad–Belgrade, ~£7
🛏Hostel in central Belgrade, ~£15-22
- →Petrovaradin Fortress (free to enter)
- →Stari Grad and Dunavska street walk
- →Bus/train to Belgrade
- →Skadarlija evening out
Belgrade
Belgrade, Serbia
Explore Kalemegdan Fortress and the Kalemegdan park overlooking the confluence of the Sava and Danube. Spend the afternoon browsing the Zeleni Venac or Kalenić markets, visit the Nikola Tesla Museum (around £6), or cross to Zemun for riverside cafés. Free day, easy to do it all on foot or with a day transit ticket.
🚌Walking plus day transit ticket, ~£3
🛏Hostel in central Belgrade, ~£15-22
- →Kalemegdan Fortress and park
- →Kalenić green market
- →Nikola Tesla Museum
- →Zemun riverside walk
Belgrade to Sarajevo
Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Long travel day: take an early coach from Belgrade's central bus station to Sarajevo (7-8 hours including border, roughly £22-28). Arrive in the evening, check into a guesthouse or hostel in Baščaršija, and take a gentle wander past the Latin Bridge where Franz Ferdinand was assassinated, then eat ćevapi at a Baščaršija grill house.
🚌Coach Belgrade–Sarajevo, ~£25
🛏Guesthouse or hostel in Baščaršija, ~£15-22
- →Coach to Sarajevo
- →Latin Bridge
- →Baščaršija evening stroll and ćevapi dinner
Sarajevo: Tunnel of Life and Old Town
Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Visit the War Tunnel (Tunnel of Life) in Butmir — a private taxi or the local tram plus a short walk gets you there; entry is around BAM 10-15 (£5-7). Ask the driver or the tunnel museum about combining with the Yellow/Red Fortress viewpoint. In the afternoon, explore Stari Grad for Sarajevo Roses, and optionally Gallery 11/07/95 (about £6) or the History Museum. Finish with Bosnian coffee in a courtyard.
🚌Local tram plus taxi to Butmir, ~£8
🛏Guesthouse or hostel in Baščaršija, ~£15-22
- →Tunnel of Life / War Tunnel museum
- →Sarajevo Roses walking hunt
- →Gallery 11/07/95 (optional)
- →Bosnian coffee in Baščaršija
Sarajevo to Mostar
Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Take a morning train from Sarajevo to Mostar (about 2 hours, BAM 14 / £6) — one of the most scenic rail journeys in the Balkans, following the Neretva gorge. Check into a guesthouse in the old town and see Stari Most, ideally at sunset when divers jump. Climb the Koski Mehmed Pasha Mosque minaret (about £3) for the classic bridge view, and visit the War Photo Exhibition (about £3).
🚌Train Sarajevo–Mostar, ~£6
🛏Guesthouse in Mostar old town, ~£15-20
- →Scenic train Sarajevo–Mostar
- →Stari Most Old Bridge
- →Koski Mehmed Pasha Mosque minaret
- →War Photo Exhibition
Mostar to Kotor
Kotor, Montenegro
Bus from Mostar to Kotor via Trebinje (roughly 4-5 hours with border crossing, about £18-22). The route descends into the Bay of Kotor — sit on the left for the views. Check into a hostel just outside the walled city (Old Town beds fill fast in summer) and spend the evening wandering Kotor's lanes and the waterfront.
🚌Coach Mostar–Kotor via Trebinje, ~£20
🛏Hostel or guesthouse near Kotor Old Town, ~£18-26
- →Coach Mostar–Kotor
- →Bay of Kotor arrival views
- →Old Town evening walk
Kotor sea kayaking and free time
Kotor, Montenegro
Book a half-day guided sea kayak tour of the bay through GetYourGuide or a local operator on the waterfront (from around £25-35) — paddle to the tiny Our Lady of the Rocks islet and spot the submarine tunnels. Alternatively hire a kayak independently. Afternoon: climb Kotor's city walls to San Giovanni fortress (free, about 1,350 steps, allow 2 hours) or head to the beaches at Dobrota. Pay the small Old Town and fortress entry fees where signed.
🚌Walking, ~£0
🛏Hostel or guesthouse near Kotor Old Town, ~£18-26
- →Half-day sea kayaking in the bay
- →Our Lady of the Rocks islet
- →San Giovanni fortress wall climb
- →Dobrota beach time
Kotor to Dubrovnik
Dubrovnik, Croatia
Travel to Dubrovnik: several daily coaches run around the bay (2.5-3.5 hours, about £18-23), or take a local bus to Herceg Novi and cross by ferry/short bus. Dump your bag at a hostel in the old town or Lapad. In the afternoon, walk the city walls (about £30-35 in peak season) or take the cable car up Mount Srđ (about £25) for sunset views over the terracotta roofs.
🚌Coach Kotor–Dubrovnik, ~£20
🛏Hostel in Lapad or Old Town area, ~£25-35
- →Coach to Dubrovnik
- →City walls walk (optional)
- →Mount Srđ cable car for sunset
- →Old Town café stop
Dubrovnik: Deša project and coast
Dubrovnik, Croatia
Visit the Deša Women's Centre in the old town — a non-profit empowering local women through traditional crafts, and the trip's 'G for Good' stop; it's free to visit and you can support by buying handicrafts. In the afternoon, hop the local ferry to Lopud island (about £10 return) for sandy Šunj beach, or kayak around the old town walls from Banje beach (about £30). Return for a quiet evening in Lapad.
🚌Local bus in Dubrovnik plus optional ferry, ~£12
🛏Hostel in Lapad or Old Town area, ~£25-35
- →Deša Women's Centre visit
- →Optional Lopud island ferry trip
- →Sea kayaking around the walls (optional)
- →Lapad waterfront evening
Dubrovnik to Hvar
Hvar, Croatia
Take a morning bus or local ferry connection up the coast to Split, then the fast catamaran to Hvar (Split–Hvar around £18-25, roughly 1 hour). Alternatively sail direct from Dubrovnik to Hvar in season (around £30). Check into a hostel or guesthouse in Hvar town or Stari Grad, then hit the beaches at Bonj or spend the evening in the old town squares.
🚌Bus plus catamaran, ~£35
🛏Hostel or guesthouse on Hvar, ~£22-30
- →Coastal coach to Split
- →Fast catamaran to Hvar
- →Bonj beach
- →Hvar old town nightlife
Hvar beaches and Pakleni islands
Hvar, Croatia
Book a small-group boat trip around the Pakleni islands (GetYourGuide or waterfront kiosks, from about £30-40) with swim stops and snorkelling, or take a shared taxi boat (about £10 return) to Jerolim or Palmizana and explore independently. In the late afternoon, climb to Hvar Fortress (about £8) for sunset. Hire a local scooter to reach the quieter south-coast beaches if you prefer.
🚌Shared taxi boat or tour boat, ~£15
🛏Hostel or guesthouse on Hvar, ~£22-30
- →Pakleni islands boat trip
- →Snorkelling and swim stops
- →Hvar Fortress (Španjola)
- →South coast beach trip
Hvar to Split: Diocletian's Palace
Split, Croatia
Catch the morning catamaran to Split (about 1 hour, £15-20). Check in near the old town and join a small-group Diocletian's Palace walking tour — bookable on GetYourGuide or Klook from around £15-20, or join the free-walking-tour model and tip £10. See the peristyle, cellars and cathedral, then wander the Riva and Marjan hill for sunset.
🚌Catamaran Hvar–Split, ~£18
🛏Hostel or guesthouse in Split old town area, ~£22-30
- →Catamaran to Split
- →Diocletian's Palace guided walk
- →St Duje Cathedral area
- →Riva waterfront and Marjan hill sunset
Depart Split
Split, Croatia
Spend the morning at Bačvice beach or grabbing a final coffee on the Riva, pick up any remaining souvenirs at the green market, and take the local airport shuttle bus to Split airport (about £7) for your onward flight. Optionally add a day trip to Trogir or Krka National Park if your flight is late.
🚌Airport shuttle bus, ~£7
🛏None (departure day)
- →Bačvice beach morning
- →Split green market
- →Airport shuttle bus
Self-launched vs. G Adventures
| This itinerary (self-launched) | G Adventures | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£828 | £2,330 |
| Duration | 15 days | 15 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £1,502 per person (64%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more G Adventures-style trips? Check them out here.~£828
estimated per person
You never pay Travel Crew for this — you pay hostels, transport, and activity providers directly, the same as if you'd booked it all yourself.
This publishes your dates so other travellers can find and join you — no tour operator needed.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does Croatia and the Balkans: Budapest to Split Self-Launched cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £828 per person for 15 days in Croatia and the Balkans. This is an AI-generated estimate based on typical budget-traveller prices — actual costs will vary by season and how you book.
Is this cheaper than booking with G Adventures?+
Yes — G Adventures charges around £2,330 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £828 — a saving of roughly £1,502 (64%) per person.
How long is the Croatia and the Balkans trip?+
This itinerary runs 15 days, covering 15 day-by-day stops through Croatia and the Balkans.
How do I join this trip?+
You can join an existing open departure using this itinerary if one is scheduled, or launch your own departure with your own dates and invite other travellers to join you — no tour operator required.
Isn't it easier to just use a tour operator?+
Well, yes, a tour operator will book all the individual parts of your travel for you and provide a guide. That's obvious, but doing this has the potential to save the group thousands, which can in turn improve your itinerary substantially or save you huge amounts of money. Also, when you launch a departure, Travel Crew has tools in place to help you book the individual sections of the trip or make it easier for you to do this as a group. Really, you do not need a middle man. If you are more comfortable paying more and using a middle man, then you should certainly do this.
Is it safer to book through a tour operator?+
Arguably, there isn't much difference. A self-launched trip runs on the same principle as a group travel crew: collective responsibility, everyone looking out for each other, the same way it would if a group of friends organised the trip themselves — because that's exactly what's happening. You should always take out travel insurance before you go, self-launched or not; that doesn't change either way. Every open departure is published publicly with real dates and a real trip organiser, so it's never an anonymous arrangement, and our support team is reachable any time you need help, including in an emergency while you're away. Longer-term, we're building direct relationships with ground DMCs in popular destinations, offered as an optional paid add-on for extra on-the-ground support. Ultimately, though, the group is responsible for its own conduct and safety on a self-launched trip, same as on any trip you plan yourself.
What kind of trip is this?+
This is a culture, adventure, backpacker trip through Croatia and the Balkans, self-launched rather than run by a tour operator — you organise it with a group you find or bring yourself.
Would you like to name the operator, name the trip, or have any suggestions about how to improve this itinerary?
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