Self-Launched Western Balkans Adventure: Zagreb to Dubrovnik

Arrive in Zagreb at any time. Zagreb is well connected by train and bus from most European cities. Check into your hostel or guesthouse in the lively Lower Town area. Spend the evening wandering Tkalčićeva Street, grabbing a cheap local meal, and getting your bearings. The main bus and train stations are walking distance from most central accommodation.

🚌Fly or bus into Zagreb; airport bus to city centre ~£3

🛏Hostel Chillout or equivalent central Zagreb hostel/guesthouse (dorm ~£18/private ~£40)

• →Explore Tkalčićeva Street and the colourful café scene
• →Pick up a local SIM card for cheap data throughout the Balkans
• →Self-guided stroll around Ban Jelačić Square

Spend the morning on a self-guided walk of Zagreb's Upper Town (Gornji Grad), visiting St. Mark's Church, Lotrščak Tower, and the free Museum of Broken Relationships. In the early afternoon, catch a direct bus from Zagreb's main bus station to Plitvice Lakes (roughly 2–2.5 hrs, ~£10). Check into a guesthouse near the park entrance. In the evening, seek out a local konoba (tavern) for a traditional dinner — try the lamb slow-cooked peka style.

🚌Bus from Zagreb main bus station to Plitvice Lakes, ~£10

🛏Guesthouse Plitvice or similar near park entrance (~£35/private room)

• →Self-guided Upper Town walk: St. Mark's Church, Lotrščak Tower
• →Museum of Broken Relationships (free entry)
• →Bus Zagreb → Plitvice Lakes (~£10, book at the bus station or online)

Rise early for a morning walk through Plitvice Lakes National Park before the day-tripper crowds arrive. Buy your ticket at the entrance (around £20) and follow the well-marked wooden boardwalk trails past the cascading waterfalls and vivid turquoise lakes — allow 3–4 hours for the full lower and upper lakes loop. Afterwards, catch an afternoon bus south to Split (~4 hrs, ~£15). On the way, if time allows, ask the driver about a brief stop near Smiljan — birthplace of Nikola Tesla — or visit his dedicated museum en route. Arrive Split in the early evening and join a free walking tour of Diocletian's Palace (tip-based, departs daily from the Peristyle square).

🚌Bus Plitvice → Split, ~£15, approx 4 hrs

🛏Hostel Stari Grad Split or similar central Split guesthouse (~£20 dorm / £45 private)

• →Plitvice Lakes National Park self-guided walk (entry ~£20)
• →Optional: Nikola Tesla birthplace museum en route (~£5)
• →Free tip-based guided walking tour of Diocletian's Palace, Split

A full free day to explore Split at your own pace. Wander the living streets inside Diocletian's Palace — shops, bars, and apartments are literally built into the ancient Roman walls. Climb the Cathedral of Saint Domnius bell tower for panoramic views (~£3). Take a short ferry to the island of Brač (Supetar) for a day of beaches and relaxed island life (~£6 each way), or book a sea kayaking tour around the Split Riviera via GetYourGuide (~£35). In the evening, eat grilled fish along the Riva promenade.

🚌Walking and local ferry if visiting islands

🛏Hostel Stari Grad Split or similar (~£20 dorm / £45 private)

• →Explore Diocletian's Palace interior streets
• →Cathedral of Saint Domnius bell tower climb (~£3)
• →Optional: Ferry to Brač island (~£12 return)
• →Optional: Sea kayaking around Split Riviera via GetYourGuide (~£35)

Take the morning bus from Split to Mostar (~3.5 hrs, ~£12). Spend 3–4 hours exploring Mostar's atmospheric old bazaar (Kujundžiluk), crossing the iconic Stari Most (Old Bridge), and watching the bridge divers. Grab a burek or ćevapi for lunch (~£3). In the mid-afternoon, hop on the onward bus to Sarajevo (~2.5 hrs, ~£8). Check into a central Sarajevo hostel in Baščaršija — the Ottoman old quarter. Evening walk along Ferhadija Street.

🚌Bus Split → Mostar ~£12; Bus Mostar → Sarajevo ~£8

🛏Hostel Balkan Han or equivalent in Baščaršija, Sarajevo (~£16 dorm / £40 private)

• →Stari Most (Old Bridge) and old bazaar walk, Mostar
• →Watch the famous bridge divers (tip them if they jump!)
• →Bus Mostar → Sarajevo (~£8, ~2.5 hrs)

Start with a free tip-based walking tour of Sarajevo covering the Latin Bridge (assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand), the yellow fortress, and the mix of Ottoman, Austro-Hungarian, and Yugoslav architecture. Wander Baščaršija market for coffee and handmade crafts. In the afternoon, take a taxi or bus to the Sarajevo War Tunnel Museum (Tunel Spasa / Tunnel of Life) — entry ~£5 — for a powerful, moving account of the 1990s siege. Round off the day with a picnic lunch of local bread, cheese, and vegetables from the covered Markale market.

🚌Walking; taxi to Tunnel Museum ~£6 return

🛏Hostel Balkan Han or equivalent (~£16 dorm / £40 private)

• →Free tip-based Sarajevo orientation walking tour
• →Baščaršija bazaar and artisan market browse
• →Markale covered market picnic lunch (~£5)
• →Sarajevo War Tunnel Museum (Tunnel of Life), entry ~£5

A free day to explore at your leisure. Take the cable car up Mount Trebević for panoramic views of the city and the ruins of the 1984 Winter Olympics bobsled track (~£5 return). Alternatively, book a day trip to Vrelo Bosne (Spring of the Bosna River) by horse-drawn carriage — a serene nature escape just outside the city (~£10 entry, carriage ~£5). In the evening, try Sarajevo's legendary čevapi at Aščinica Hodžić or any local aščinica (traditional eatery).

🚌Cable car ~£5 return; local bus/taxi as needed

🛏Hostel Balkan Han or equivalent (~£16 dorm / £40 private)

• →Cable car to Mount Trebević and abandoned Olympic bobsled track (~£5)
• →Optional: Vrelo Bosne day trip by horse-drawn carriage (~£15)
• →Čevapi dinner at a local aščinica (~£5)

Take the morning bus or shared shuttle from Sarajevo to Kotor (~5–6 hrs, ~£20). The journey winds through dramatic Montenegrin mountains and along the serpentine road down to the Bay of Kotor — stunning views the whole way. Check into a guesthouse in Kotor's Old Town. In the late afternoon, explore the medieval old town walls and the Church of St. Tryphon (entry ~£3). If arriving in time, wander to the waterfront for sunset over the bay.

🚌Bus or shared shuttle Sarajevo → Kotor, ~£20

🛏Hostel Marija or similar guesthouse inside/near Kotor Old Town (~£18 dorm / £45 private)

• →Bus/shuttle Sarajevo → Kotor (~£20, scenic mountain route)
• →Self-guided walk of Kotor Old Town
• →Church of St. Tryphon (~£3)
• →Sunset walk along the Bay of Kotor waterfront

A free day to explore the spectacular Bay of Kotor. Hike up to the Fortress of St. John above the Old Town for jaw-dropping views (entry ~£5, ~1 hr climb). Take a local bus or taxi (~£5) to the baroque village of Perast and hire a small boat to the two famous islands — Our Lady of the Rocks and St. George (~£5 per person). Alternatively, book a sea kayaking tour around the bay via GetYourGuide (~£35). Roman mosaics in Risan are also reachable by local bus.

🚌Local buses and small boat hire within the bay

🛏Hostel Marija or similar (~£18 dorm / £45 private)

• →Hike to Fortress of St. John above Kotor (~£5 entry)
• →Local bus to Perast and boat to Our Lady of the Rocks island (~£10)
• →Optional: Sea kayaking in the Bay of Kotor via GetYourGuide (~£35)
• →Optional: Roman mosaics in Risan by local bus (~£3 return)

Take the morning shared shuttle or bus from Kotor to Dubrovnik (~2.5–3 hrs, ~£15) — a scenic coastal ride crossing back into Croatia. Check into a hostel in or near Dubrovnik's Old Town. In the afternoon, walk the famous Dubrovnik City Walls (~£25 entry) — a 2km circuit with stunning views over the Adriatic and the orange-roofed old city. The walls take about 1.5–2 hours. Look out for Fort Minceta, Fort St. John, Fort Lawrence, Fort Revelin, and St. Luke's Tower. Catch the sunset from the walls if timing allows.

🚌Shared shuttle or bus Kotor → Dubrovnik, ~£15

🛏Hostel Angelina Old Town or similar (~£25 dorm / £55 private)

• →Bus/shuttle Kotor → Dubrovnik (~£15, ~2.5 hrs)
• →Dubrovnik City Walls walk (~£25 entry)
• →Sunset views over the Adriatic from the walls

A full free day in the Pearl of the Adriatic. Ride the cable car up Mount Srđ for panoramic views of the old city and islands (~£12 return). Walk out to the Lovrijenac Fortress (~£5 entry, free with walls ticket). Take a short ferry to Lokrum Island (~£10 return) for swimming and a botanical garden. In the evening, explore the pedestrian Stradun main street and dine at a local konoba in the old town — freshly caught seafood at its finest.

🚌Local ferry to Lokrum; walking within old town

🛏Hostel Angelina Old Town or similar (~£25 dorm / £55 private)

• →Cable car to Mount Srđ (~£12 return)
• →Lovrijenac Fortress visit (~£5 or included with walls ticket)
• →Ferry to Lokrum Island for swimming (~£10 return)
• →Evening seafood dinner on Stradun

Depart at any time. Dubrovnik Airport is about 20km from the old town — catch the Atlas airport bus from the bus station (~£5) or a taxi (~£25). If you have time before your flight, grab a final coffee on the Stradun or take a short morning walk along the city walls one last time. Dubrovnik is also a ferry hub for onward travel to Split, the islands, or Italy if you're extending your adventure.

🚌Atlas airport bus to Dubrovnik Airport ~£5

• →Final morning stroll along Stradun
• →Airport bus to Dubrovnik Airport (~£5)