9 Days Western Balkans Self-Launched: Croatia, Bosnia & Montenegro

Arrive in Zagreb and check into a central hostel or budget hotel. Spend the day exploring the Croatian capital on foot — it's compact and very walkable. Head to the Upper Town (Gornji Grad) to visit the Cathedral, the colourful Dolac Market, the Stone Gate, and the iconic St Mark's Church with its tiled roof. Stroll across the so-called Blood Bridge and finish the afternoon on the lively Ban Jelačić Square in the Lower Town. Grab dinner at a local konoba (tavern) — try štrukli or a grilled meat platter.

🚌Arrive by flight into Zagreb Airport (ZAG). Take bus 290 to the city centre (~£4). Alternatively, train from Zagreb Airport area or taxi (~£12–18).

🛏Hostel Shaka, Hostel Chillout or similar central Zagreb hostel dorm (~£18/night) or budget hotel double (~£50/night).

• →Self-guided walking tour of Zagreb Upper Town
• →Visit Zagreb Cathedral (free entry to exterior)
• →Browse Dolac Market (free)
• →Walk through Stone Gate and visit St Mark's Church (free)
• →Explore Ban Jelačić Square and surrounds
• →Optional: Book a 2-hour guided Zagreb walking tour via GetYourGuide (~£12)

Take an early bus or join a day-trip shuttle from Zagreb towards Plitvice Lakes National Park — one of Croatia's most stunning natural wonders, with turquoise lakes and cascading waterfalls. Spend around 3 hours on the marked wooden boardwalk trails. Tickets must be booked in advance online, especially in peak season. After Plitvice, continue south by bus into Bosnia, arriving in the charming town of Bihać for the night. Wander the small city centre along the Una River before dinner.

🚌Take the early Flixbus or local bus from Zagreb to Plitvice Lakes (~2.5 hrs, ~£8). From Plitvice, take an onward bus to Bihać (~2 hrs, ~£7). Alternatively, book a shared shuttle from Zagreb covering both stops (~£25 total).

🛏Hostel Una Bihać or a local guesthouse in Bihać (~£20–30/night).

• →Plitvice Lakes National Park — self-guided walk on marked boardwalk trails (~3 hours)
• →Explore Bihać city centre and Una River waterfront (free)
• →Pre-book Plitvice entry tickets online at np-plitvicka-jezera.hr (~£20–28 depending on season)

A scenic and history-rich travel day through the Bosnian heartland. Stop in Travnik — a former Ottoman capital — to visit its colourful bazaar and the impressive Stari Grad fortress. Continue to Jajce, one of Bosnia's most picturesque towns, where a dramatic waterfall plunges into the city centre, and the ruins of a medieval fortress overlook the Pliva Lakes with their charming wooden watermills. Arrive in Sarajevo in the evening and settle in.

🚌Take an early morning bus from Bihać to Travnik (~2.5 hrs, ~£8), then onward bus to Jajce (~30 min, ~£3), then bus to Sarajevo (~2.5 hrs, ~£6). Note: connections may require waiting; check schedules at the bus station the night before.

🛏Hostel Balkan Han, Hostel Franz Ferdinand or similar central Sarajevo hostel/guesthouse (~£18–30/night).

• →Travnik castle and old town visit (castle entry ~£2)
• →Lunch in Travnik — try cevapi at a local restaurant (~£5)
• →Jajce waterfall and fortress visit (fortress entry ~£2)
• →Pliva Lakes and wooden watermills walk (free)
• →Evening stroll in Sarajevo's Baščaršija (old bazaar)

Sarajevo is one of Europe's most fascinating and emotionally layered cities — spend a full day absorbing its Ottoman, Austro-Hungarian and 20th-century history. Join an affordable guided walking tour of the Old Town (Baščaršija) for essential context on the 1990s siege and multi-cultural identity. Visit the Yellow Bastion for panoramic views, then head uphill to the abandoned Bobsleigh Track from the 1984 Winter Olympics — a hauntingly beautiful spot. In the afternoon, visit the unmissable Tunnel Museum (Tunel Spasa) on the city's outskirts, which tells the story of the underground tunnel used to supply the besieged city.

🚌Sarajevo tram and bus network is cheap and easy (~£0.80/ride). Taxi to Tunnel Museum ~£5 each way.

🛏Same as Day 3 in Sarajevo.

• →Old Town Sarajevo walking tour via GetYourGuide or local guide (~£12–18)
• →Explore Ottoman and Austro-Hungarian heritage quarters (free)
• →Yellow Bastion viewpoint (free)
• →Bobsleigh track hike (free, ~40 min walk from centre or taxi ~£5)
• →Tunnel of Hope (Tunel Spasa) museum (~£5, taxi or bus from centre)

Head southwest from Sarajevo through dramatic canyon scenery. Stop in Konjic to admire its elegant Ottoman stone bridge over the Neretva River. Continue to the magical village of Blagaj, where the Buna River springs gush from beneath a cliff at an extraordinary rate — a serene and spiritual spot with a historic Dervish monastery (tekke). Next, detour to Počitelj, a remarkably preserved medieval fortified town perched on a hillside. Arrive in Mostar in the late afternoon for a self-guided walk through the Old Town and the iconic Stari Most (Old Bridge).

🚌Take a morning bus from Sarajevo to Mostar (~2.5 hrs, ~£7). Hire a local taxi for the Konjic–Blagaj–Počitelj stops en route (~£30–40 shared, or book a half-day local tour via GetYourGuide ~£20). Alternatively, base yourself in Mostar and do Blagaj and Počitelj as an afternoon trip by taxi or local bus.

🛏Hostel Majdas, Hostel Nina or similar in Mostar Old Town (~£18–25/night).

• →Konjic Ottoman bridge visit (free)
• →Blagaj Tekke and Buna river springs (~£2 entry to tekke)
• →Počitelj medieval town walk (free)
• →Mostar Old Town self-guided walk (free)
• →Stari Most bridge visit and evening riverside dinner (~£10–15 for meal)

Travel south through the stunning Neretva delta and briefly through Neum — Bosnia's tiny slice of Adriatic coastline — before crossing into Croatia and arriving in Split. The city's ancient Diocletian's Palace is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and still a living neighbourhood — wander through its marble lanes, arches and squares. Note: the original tour overnights in Neum, but Split makes a more rewarding base with far more accommodation and restaurant options. This is an optional adjustment.

🚌Take the early Flixbus or local coach from Mostar to Split (~3 hrs, ~£10–14). Buses pass through Neum — you can stop for a swim if you wish (passport required for this short border crossing).

🛏Hostel Emanuel, Hostel Stari Grad or budget guesthouse in Split Old Town (~£22–35/night).

• →Self-guided exploration of Diocletian's Palace, Split (free entry to the complex)
• →Visit the Cathedral of Saint Domnius inside the palace (entry ~£5)
• →Wander the Riva promenade and Meštrović Gallery area
• →Optional: Book a 2-hour Diocletian's Palace guided tour via GetYourGuide (~£15)

Take a morning bus from Split to Dubrovnik — one of the world's most beautiful walled cities. Walk the famous city walls for panoramic views over the terracotta rooftops and Adriatic (book online to avoid queues). Explore the Stradun (main limestone street) and the Rector's Palace. After a few hours, continue by bus into Montenegro, arriving in the Adriatic resort town of Budva in the evening. Take an evening stroll through Budva's compact Old Town.

🚌Morning bus from Split to Dubrovnik (~4.5 hrs, ~£12–16 via Flixbus or Autotrans). Afternoon bus or shared shuttle from Dubrovnik to Budva (~2.5 hrs, ~£10–15). Cross the border at Debeli Brijeg — passport required.

🛏Hostel Pirate, Hostel Old Town Budva or similar (~£20–28/night).

• →Dubrovnik City Walls walk (~£24, book ahead at visitdubrovnik.hr)
• →Stradun promenade and Old Town exploration (free)
• →Optional: Game of Thrones locations tour via GetYourGuide (~£20)
• →Budva Old Town evening walk (free)

Take a local bus from Budva around the spectacular Bay of Kotor (Boka Bay) — one of the most dramatic landscapes in Europe. Kotor's medieval walled city is a UNESCO site; climb the fortress walls above for extraordinary views (worth every step). In the afternoon, hire a water taxi from Perast to visit the charming island church of Our Lady of the Rocks (Gospa od Škrpjela), a man-made island with a fascinating history. Continue to the chic marina town of Tivat (home to Porto Montenegro) before returning to Budva.

🚌Local bus from Budva to Kotor (~30–40 min, ~£2). Local bus between Kotor and Perast (~15 min, ~£1). Bus or taxi Tivat to Budva (~20 min, ~£3–8).

🛏Same as Day 7 in Budva.

• →Kotor Old Town walk (free entry to town, fortress walls ~£6)
• →Climb Kotor fortress for panoramic views (~£6)
• →Perast village walk and water taxi to Our Lady of the Rocks (~£5 boat return)
• →Tivat and Porto Montenegro marina stroll (free)
• →Optional: Kotor Old Town guided tour via GetYourGuide (~£12)

Take a morning bus or shared shuttle back to Dubrovnik for your final afternoon in this stunning walled city. If you didn't get enough yesterday, revisit a favourite spot — try the Buža bar (hole-in-the-wall cliff bar) for a farewell drink over the Adriatic, or take the cable car up Mount Srđ for sweeping views. Depart from Dubrovnik Airport or stay on for extra nights — the city rewards more time.

🚌Bus or shared shuttle from Budva to Dubrovnik (~2.5 hrs, ~£10–15). Airport transfer from Dubrovnik Old Town by bus 11 (~£5) or taxi (~£20).

🛏N/A — end point Dubrovnik. Optional extra nights at Hostel Angelina or similar (~£25–35/night).

• →Final morning in Budva or depart early to Dubrovnik
• →Dubrovnik cable car to Mount Srđ (~£15 return)
• →Buža cliff bar for farewell drinks
• →Optional extra: sea kayaking around the city walls via GetYourGuide (~£40)