Self-Launched Essential Europe: Italy, Croatia & Mediterranean Magic

Arrive in Munich at any time. Check into a central hostel — Wombats City Hostel or Jaeger's Munich are great picks near the Hauptbahnhof. Drop your bags, grab a pretzel and a Maß of beer at the Viktualienmarkt or English Garden beer gardens, and get acquainted with your surroundings before meeting fellow travellers in the hostel common room.

🚌Arrive by air or train. S-Bahn from Munich Airport to city centre ~£12

🛏Wombats City Hostel Munich or Jaeger's Munich (~£22-28/night in a dorm)

• →Explore Marienplatz and the Glockenspiel
• →Grab a beer at the English Garden Biergarten
• →Stroll Viktualienmarkt

Spend the morning exploring Munich's Altstadt independently — Marienplatz, the Frauenkirche, and the Deutsches Museum are all walkable. Take an afternoon train to Innsbruck (approx. 2 hrs, ~£20-30 on Obb or Flixbus). On arrival, do a self-guided orientation walk along Maria Theresien Strasse with the Alps as your backdrop. Optional: visit Ambras Castle or the Grassmayr Bell Foundry.

🚌Train Munich–Innsbruck via ÖBB (~£20-30, ~2 hrs)

🛏Nonstop Hostel Innsbruck or Pension Paula (~£20-26/night dorm)

• →Self-guided walk along Maria Theresien Strasse
• →Optional: Ambras Castle visit (~£12)
• →Optional: Grassmayr Bell Foundry (~£8)
• →Evening drinks in the Altstadt

Start with a quick visit to the Imperial Palace (Hofburg) in Innsbruck (~£10) before boarding a train through the spectacular Dolomites toward Venice. The journey passes Lake Misurina country — if you have time, a short detour to Misurina is breathtaking. Arrive into Venice Mestre or Santa Lucia and transfer to your accommodation. Tonight, wander to a bacaro for cicchetti (Venetian tapas) and a glass of local Spritz.

🚌Train Innsbruck–Venice via ÖBB/Trenitalia (~£25-40, ~4-5 hrs)

🛏Generator Venice or Ostello Santa Fosca (~£25-35/night dorm)

• →Visit Hofburg Imperial Palace, Innsbruck (~£10)
• →Scenic train ride through the Dolomites
• →Evening cicchetti and Aperol Spritz in Venice

Venice is best explored on foot — and for free. Wander the labyrinthine streets of Dorsoduro and Cannaregio, cross the Rialto Bridge, and visit St Mark's Square (Piazza San Marco). The Basilica di San Marco is free to enter but book a timeslot in advance online. Take a vaporetto (water bus, ~£7.50) along the Grand Canal rather than an expensive gondola. Book a self-guided walking tour via GetYourGuide for the best-value experience (~£15).

🚌Vaporetto water buses for city travel (~£7.50/day pass)

🛏Generator Venice or Ostello Santa Fosca (~£25-35/night dorm)

• →St Mark's Basilica (free, pre-book online)
• →Rialto Bridge and market
• →Grand Canal vaporetto ride (~£7.50)
• →Self-guided walking tour via GetYourGuide (~£15)
• →Explore Dorsoduro neighbourhood

Take a morning Frecciarossa or Italo high-speed train from Venice Santa Lucia to Florence Santa Maria Novella (~2 hrs, ~£20-35 booked in advance). Check into a central hostel and head straight to the Piazzale Michelangelo for panoramic views of the city — it's free and unmissable. Explore the Oltrarno neighbourhood for aperitivo hour and dinner.

🚌Train Venice–Florence via Trenitalia/Italo (~£20-35, ~2 hrs)

🛏Ostello Bello Florence or Academy Hostel (~£22-30/night dorm)

• →Piazzale Michelangelo viewpoint (free)
• →Explore Oltrarno neighbourhood
• →Evening aperitivo in a local bar

Florence is a walkable open-air museum. Cross the Ponte Vecchio — free to walk across — and browse the goldsmiths and souvenir shops. Visit the Piazza della Signoria and admire the Palazzo Vecchio. Book Uffizi Gallery tickets online in advance (~£22) to avoid queues. The Duomo is free to enter the cathedral; the dome climb (~£20) is worth it for 360° views. End the day with a Florentine bistecca or ribollita stew at a local trattoria.

🚌Walking and city bus

🛏Ostello Bello Florence or Academy Hostel (~£22-30/night dorm)

• →Ponte Vecchio walk (free)
• →Piazza della Signoria and Palazzo Vecchio (exterior free)
• →Uffizi Gallery (~£22, book in advance)
• →Duomo and optional dome climb (~£20)
• →Traditional Florentine dinner

Morning train to Rome (Frecciarossa, ~1.5 hrs, ~£20-35 booked ahead). Check in to a central hostel and immediately head to the Colosseum and Roman Forum — book tickets online in advance (~£18). Late afternoon, throw a coin in the Trevi Fountain and wander through the Baroque streets of the historic centre. Tonight, seek out a local trattoria in Trastevere for authentic Roman pasta.

🚌Train Florence–Rome Frecciarossa (~£20-35, ~1.5 hrs); Metro within Rome (~£1.50/journey)

🛏The Yellow Hostel or Ostello Bello Grande Rome (~£22-32/night dorm)

• →Colosseum and Roman Forum (~£18, pre-booked)
• →Trevi Fountain (free)
• →Pantheon visit (~£5)
• →Explore Trastevere neighbourhood for dinner

Dedicate today to the Vatican — book Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel tickets in advance online (~£28). The queue without a booking can be 3+ hours. St Peter's Basilica and the square are free. Afternoon, explore Campo de' Fiori, the Jewish Ghetto, and Piazza Navona. Optional: book a free walking tour via GetYourGuide (tip-based) to catch stories behind the sights.

🚌Metro and walking

🛏The Yellow Hostel or Ostello Bello Grande Rome (~£22-32/night dorm)

• →Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel (~£28, pre-booked)
• →St Peter's Basilica (free)
• →Piazza Navona (free)
• →Campo de' Fiori market (free)
• →Optional: tip-based walking tour via GetYourGuide

Take a morning flight or ferry combination to Split, Croatia. The most budget-friendly option is a Ryanair/Wizz Air flight from Rome Ciampino or Fiumicino to Split Airport (~£30-60 booked ahead). Check into a central hostel inside or near Diocletian's Palace and spend the afternoon exploring the palace ruins — wandering in is free. Grab fresh grilled fish and a local Pošip white wine at the Pazar market area.

🚌Budget flight Rome–Split (~£30-60); Airport bus to city centre (~£5)

🛏Stari Grad Hostel or Hostel Split 9 (~£18-28/night dorm)

• →Explore Diocletian's Palace (free to wander)
• →Wander the Riva waterfront promenade
• →Pazar morning market (free)
• →Try local Dalmatian cuisine for dinner

Book a full-day island-hopping boat tour from Split's harbour via GetYourGuide or Klook (~£50-65). Standard tours typically include Hvar, Vis, the Blue Cave on Biševo, and the Green Cave on Ravnik. Alternatively, take the public ferry to Hvar (~£8 each way) and spend the day exploring independently — the island's old town is stunning and car-free. Return to Split for the evening.

🚌Boat tour from Split harbour, or public Jadrolinija ferry to Hvar (~£8 each way)

🛏Stari Grad Hostel or Hostel Split 9 (~£18-28/night dorm)

• →Island-hopping boat tour including Blue Cave (~£50-65 via GetYourGuide)
• →OR: public ferry to Hvar and self-explore (~£16 return)
• →Swim stops at clear Adriatic coves
• →Evening back in Split

Board an early Flixbus or local Croatia Bus service from Split to Dubrovnik (~3.5 hrs, ~£10-15). The coastal road is spectacular — keep your eyes on the sea. Check into a hostel in or near the Old Town, then spend the afternoon soaking in the famous Stradun promenade. For sunset, hike up to Srđ Hill (free on foot or ~£8 cable car) for jaw-dropping panoramic views.

🚌Bus Split–Dubrovnik via Flixbus or Croatia Bus (~£10-15, ~3.5 hrs)

🛏Hostel Marker or Fresh Sheets Hostel Dubrovnik (~£22-35/night dorm)

• →Scenic coastal bus ride
• →Stradun promenade walk (free)
• →Sunset from Srđ Hill (hike free or cable car ~£8)
• →Swim at Banje Beach

Walk the famous Dubrovnik City Walls — buy your ticket at the gate (~£28). The 2km circuit takes 1-2 hours and offers unbeatable views over the terracotta rooftops and Adriatic. Alternatively, book a self-guided Game of Thrones locations tour via GetYourGuide (~£15-20) to find King's Landing filming spots. Cool off with a swim at Buža Bar, the cliff bar accessible through a hole in the city wall.

🚌Walking; optional Lokrum ferry (~£15 return)

🛏Hostel Marker or Fresh Sheets Hostel Dubrovnik (~£22-35/night dorm)

• →Dubrovnik City Walls walk (~£28)
• →Game of Thrones locations self-tour (~£15-20 via GetYourGuide)
• →Swim at Buža cliff bar
• →Explore Lokrum Island via ferry (~£15 return)
• →Old Town wander and local konoba dinner

Catch an early morning bus from Dubrovnik to Kotor, Montenegro (~2.5 hrs, ~£10-15). The route hugs the Adriatic coast and enters the stunning Bay of Kotor fjord. Check into a hostel in or near Kotor's medieval Old Town — a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Spend the afternoon exploring the car-free lanes. In the evening, hike up to the Fortress of San Giovanni above the city (free, ~1 hr) for sunset views over the bay.

🚌Bus Dubrovnik–Kotor (~£10-15, ~2.5 hrs)

🛏Old Town Hostel Kotor or Hostel Cattaro (~£18-25/night dorm)

• →Explore Kotor Old Town (free to wander)
• →Hike to Fortress of San Giovanni (free, ~1 hr)
• →Swim in the Bay of Kotor
• →Sample local rakija and seafood

Take a local bus from Kotor to Budva (~1 hr, ~£3-5). Budva's Old Town is compact, walled, and beautiful. Spend time on Budva's beaches — Mogren Beach is a local favourite, a short walk from the Old Town. Optional: day trip to Sveti Stefan, the iconic island resort village visible from the coast road (~30 min by bus, ~£2). Return to Kotor or overnight in Budva.

🚌Bus Kotor–Budva (~£3-5, ~1 hr); local buses for Sveti Stefan (~£2 each way)

🛏Hostel Stari Grad Budva or Montenegro Hostel (~£15-22/night dorm)

• →Budva Old Town walk (free)
• →Mogren Beach swim
• →Optional: Sveti Stefan viewpoint (~£2 bus each way)
• →Beachside konoba dinner

Cross the border into Albania by local minibus or shared taxi from Ulcinj or Podgorica (~£8-15). Head to Shkodër, Albania's northern cultural capital. Visit the impressive Rozafa Castle (£2) perched above the confluence of three rivers, with sweeping views of the Albanian Alps. Shkodër is a great intro to Albanian culture — incredibly friendly locals, super cheap food, and a vibrant cycling culture.

🚌Shared minibus or taxi Ulcinj/Podgorica–Shkodër (~£8-15)

🛏Wanderers Hostel Shkodër or Hostel Tradita (~£10-16/night dorm)

• →Rozafa Castle visit (~£2)
• →Explore Shkodër's pedestrian boulevard
• →Cycle hire for city exploration (~£5/day)
• →Try traditional Albanian byrek and qofte for dinner

Take a morning furgon (shared minibus) from Shkodër to Tirana (~2 hrs, ~£3-5). Albania's buzzing capital is a colourful, chaotic delight. Visit Skanderbeg Square, the Et'hem Bey Mosque, and the National History Museum (~£3). Climb the communist-era Pyramid of Tirana (now a tech hub) or the BunkArt 2 bunker museum (~£4) for Cold War history. The Blloku district is the place for café culture and nightlife.

🚌Furgon Shkodër–Tirana (~£3-5, ~2 hrs)

🛏Freddy's Hostel Tirana or Trip'n'Hostel (~£10-18/night dorm)

• →Skanderbeg Square and Et'hem Bey Mosque (free)
• →National History Museum (~£3)
• →BunkArt 2 bunker museum (~£4)
• →Explore Blloku district cafés and bars
• →Try traditional tavë kosi (baked lamb) for dinner

Catch a morning bus from Tirana to Saranda (~5-6 hrs, ~£8-12) — a scenic journey through mountain passes and down to the Ionian coast. Saranda is the jumping-off point for the Albanian Riviera. Check in and head straight to the beach. In the late afternoon, take a local taxi or minibus to the stunning Ksamil beaches (~£4 return) — three tiny islands offshore accessible by a short swim.

🚌Bus Tirana–Saranda (~£8-12, ~5-6 hrs); local taxi to Ksamil (~£4 return)

🛏Hostel Hairy Lemon Saranda or Hostel Era (~£12-18/night dorm)

• →Scenic bus journey through Albanian mountains
• →Ksamil Beach swim (~£4 return taxi/minibus)
• →Saranda waterfront promenade walk
• →Fresh seafood dinner in Saranda

Hire a local taxi or join a shared tour for the day (~£20-30 total for both sites). Visit Butrint, a UNESCO World Heritage archaeological site with Greek, Roman, Byzantine, and Venetian ruins set in a beautiful lagoon park (~£5 entry). Then head to Syri i Kalter (Blue Eye Spring) — a strikingly blue natural freshwater spring emerging from underground (~£2 entry). Return to Saranda for a final evening on the Albanian coast.

🚌Shared taxi or day tour to Butrint and Blue Eye (~£20-30 total)

🛏Hostel Hairy Lemon Saranda or Hostel Era (~£12-18/night dorm)

• →Butrint UNESCO archaeological site (~£5 entry)
• →Blue Eye Spring – Syri i Kalter (~£2 entry)
• →Return swim at Ksamil or Mirror Beach
• →Final Albanian dinner on the waterfront

Take the short ferry crossing from Saranda to Corfu Town (~35 mins, ~£15-20 with Finikas Lines or Ionian Cruises). Check into a hostel in Corfu Town's stunning Venetian Old Town — a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Spend the afternoon exploring the winding lanes, the Old Fortress (£6), and the Liston promenade. Sip a local Kumquat liqueur and watch the sunset from the Old Fortress walls.

🚌Finikas Lines or Ionian Cruises ferry Saranda–Corfu (~£15-20, ~35 mins)

🛏Bella Venezia Hostel Corfu or HI Corfu Hostel (~£18-28/night dorm)

• →Ferry crossing Saranda–Corfu (~£15-20)
• →Corfu Old Town Venetian lanes (free to explore)
• →Corfu Old Fortress (~£6)
• →Liston promenade and Kumquat liqueur tasting
• →Sunset from the Old Fortress

Hire a scooter (~£20-25/day) or use local KTEL buses (~£2-5 per journey) to explore Corfu's highlights. Head north to Paleokastritsa — dramatic coves, turquoise water, and a clifftop monastery (free, dress modestly). Then swing through the mountainside village of Lakones for views back down the coast. Back in Corfu Town, pick up olive oil, local honey, or Kumquat sweets as souvenirs from the market.

🚌Scooter hire (~£20-25/day) or KTEL local buses (~£2-5/journey)

🛏Bella Venezia Hostel Corfu or HI Corfu Hostel (~£18-28/night dorm)

• →Scooter hire for island exploration (~£20-25/day)
• →Paleokastritsa coves and monastery (free)
• →Lakones mountain village viewpoint
• →Local market shopping for souvenirs
• →Farewell dinner in Corfu Town

Your 21-day adventure concludes in Corfu. Depending on your departure time, grab a final Greek breakfast — fresh spanakopita, loukoumades, and strong Greek coffee — and take one last stroll through the Old Town before heading to Corfu Airport. Flights depart to many European hubs. If you're not rushing, Corfu Port also connects to Athens, Patra, and Igoumenitsa for onward Greek adventures.

🚌Bus to Corfu Airport (~£2) or taxi (~£15-20)

• →Final Greek breakfast in the Old Town
• →Last stroll through Corfu Venetian lanes
• →Transfer to Corfu Airport or Port