10 Day Road Trip Through the Balkans

Are you thinking about a trip to visit the countries in the Balkans? Then I can tell you that the best way to do that is by planning an awesome road trip and by renting a car, so you get the best way to check out those wonderful places you saw in photos. Why is it the best alternative? Because most of these places that you will want to visit are hard to reach my other means of transport, and this is the best way to fully explore more than the usual touristy spots in the city. So here is the itinerary that I had for my 10-day road trip through the Balkans!

I still remember the exact moment everything began, with the car humming at the border between Hungary and Serbia and my suitcase stuffed with road trip snacks (the essentials, obviously).

What countries can you visit in the Balkans

The places that were on my list were Serbia, Montenegro and Bosnia. For the whole trip I took 10 days, but that depends if you want to add more time to spend at the beach. Obviously you can adapt the itinerary if you want to include Bulgaria or Albania on your list, with at least 2 or 3 days for each.

Starting point for your road trip in the Balkans

Day 1 Visiting Serbia

After crossing the border between Hungary and Serbia it took us around 2 hours to reach the capital, our first stop. You should know that getting around the city is pretty easy and we didn’t have any issues with finding parking places.

The first place to check out was Belgrade, the capital of Serbia. The city, which translated means the “white city”, is worth visiting for its vast architectural places with historical importance. It’s funny, because the first impression of the city wasn’t white at all. It felt vibrant, loud, unfiltered, and charming in the most Balkan way possible.

We checked into the Hyatt Regency Belgrade, a modern and elegant base perfectly placed between New Belgrade’s shiny business district and the historical heart of the city. After hours on the road, sinking into crisp linens and city views felt like the right kind of welcome. And their breakfast? Let’s just say Balkan spreads are not for the faint of appetite.

After that we started exploring the city, and the first place to checkout it has to be the Belgrade Fortress. From up there you get one of the best views overlooking the city, staring over the Danube and Sava rivers merging below. Most parts that you will want to see have free the access, so we parked near the Old Town and wandered toward Kalemegdan Fortress.

Afternoon in Belgrade

We walked through Knez Mihailova, Belgrade’s main pedestrian street, tasting pastries we couldn’t pronounce and sipping Serbian coffee that came with a spoon of tradition, not sugar.

Skadarlija Neighbourhood is one of the most visited parts of the city. It has a bohemian vibe, think about lantern lights and live music. The vibrant neighbourhood is where you can find the best restaurants and the cutest coffee places.

We sat down at Mali Vrabac, one of the area’s classic restaurants — checkered tablecloths, hearty Balkan dishes, and musicians who wander between tables serenading you like you’re in an old European film. If you try one thing, let it be ćevapi or karađorđe steak, followed by plum rakija. It’s tradition (you’ll be told this more than once).

One of the most iconic place in Belgrade is definitely St. Sava. The church is dedicated to the founder of the Serbian Orthodox faith, Saint Sava, and is said to be built on the site of the saint’s remains. But also the most important thing why you will want to see this church is that it’s the largest Orthodox Church in the world.

That night we could’ve joined the floating clubs along the river — a Belgrade rite of passage — but our beds at the Hyatt whispered louder than the DJ beats. The mountains were calling us next, and tomorrow meant new roads and new stories.

Day 2 Road Trip in Serbia

After a lovely breakfast we started packing and getting ready to be on the road again. Leaving Belgrade felt like closing a book you weren’t quite finished with, but we had many other places to see.

From Belgrade we continued to Zlatibor, which is a resort town in the Serbian mountains. Soon after leaving the city the landscape changed instantly. The road went through sleepy villages where time seemed to move slower, and every few kilometers we found ourselves pulling over just to take it all in. Mountains stretched in the distance and there were plenty of little roadside cafés serving strong Serbian coffee where you could stop and admire the views. I recommend a night stop in the area. There are plenty of hiking routes that could interest you and the views are just spectacular. If that is not something that you are interested in you can take the Gondola up the mountains.

Road Costs & Tips

• ✅ Toll roads from Serbia (budget ~€10–€15 depending on route)
• ✅ Fuel budget: around €70–€100
• ✅ Border crossing: smooth, but keep passports & car papers handy
• ✅ Road condition: good but curvy, drive slow and enjoy the views

You can check my Instagram profile, for more photos from the trip.

Day 3 Entering Montenegro

From there we passed the border to Montenegro in the morning. I have to tell you that I was impressed. For the first two hours, the drive was smooth and peaceful, and then after you enter the country, the road is one of the best I have ever been on. And at that point I knew I chose the best way to travel to Montenegro. The route toward Podgorica turned narrow, curvy, and a little wild. There were tunnels carved through rock that appeared suddenly, and every few minutes we’d catch glimpses of deep valleys.

Before reaching the capital, we made a stop at Doclea (Duklja) ruins, once an ancient Roman town and now a quiet open-air reminder of the centuries that shaped this land.

By the time we rolled into Podgorica, hunger hit us hard, so we found a small family-run restaurant for a late lunch — warm bread, grilled meat, fresh cheese, and that comforting Balkan hospitality that feels like a warm hug. After eating, we took a slow walk through the city center, stretching our legs and soaking up the local rhythm — the mix of modern streets, cozy cafés, and leafy parks giving us a soft first impression of Montenegro’s quiet capital.

We spent the rest of the afternoon wandering this capital city and by the end of the evening we were too tired to even go out for dinner.

Day 4- Day 7 Exploring Montenegro

On Day 4 we hit the road again, this time toward the coast. The landscape shifted once more, mountains slowly giving way to a horizon that glimmered blue. And then, like a secret revealed all at once, the Adriatic Sea appeared.

Budva Montenegro

Our first coastal stop was Budva, the Riviera heartbeat of Montenegro. We walked the narrow stone streets of Budva Old Town. The fortress is surrounded by waves brushing the medieval walls, cafés spilling onto tiny squares, and the salty breeze felt through everything. Budva gets loud in summer, it’s true, but it is something that you can’t miss.

For a seaside lunch, we grabbed a table at Jadran by the Sea, right on the waterfront. You could choose from a variety of seafood, like grilled calamari, octopus, but also homemade bread, a squeeze of lemon, and the kind of sea view that makes you want to linger a little too long. Enjoy the views over the marina with boats and seagulls in the background.

A short drive later, we reached Sveti Stefan, that postcard-perfect island where terracotta rooftops sit perched above the sea. We only stopped here for one hour but it was totally worth it. Later that day we continued toward Kotor, the place we chose as our base for the next few days in Montenegro.

Around Budva there were plenty of parking places, but only around the Old Town, since the inside is a pedestrian area. But in Kotor it was a bit tricky. The city is situated at the base of the mountain and with the lake just in front. Cars need to be left outside the city walls and then you walk inside. There are many parking lots, don’t get me wrong, but the ones closest to the city fill up fast and there is a bit of walking if you have to leave your car further away. Which would be a bit harder if you carry larger bags.

Kotor Montenegro

We checked into a charming stone-walled guesthouse tucked inside the Old Town, where shutters opened to laundry lines swaying between buildings and church bells chiming.

The next day started with a fresh glass of orange juice and a fresh burek from a tiny bakery on Pjaca od Mlijeka. Then we laced up our shoes for the legendary climb to the San Giovanni Fortress. Keep in mind that it’s a steep climb with stairs winding up the mountainside. But when you reach the top you will realise that it was totally worth it. And yes. this is the place from where you can take that well-known snap of the Bay of Kotor.

The rest of the day was slow in the best way. Gelato in hand, we wandered through the Old Town’s maze of stone lanes, tiny squares, and ivy-covered walls. Cats posed for photos like professional influencers. We browsed local shops selling handmade jewelry and herbs from Montenegrin mountains, and ended the day at Konoba Scala Santa, a cozy traditional restaurant where seafood risotto meets rustic charm.

Still looking for tips for your epic Montenegro road trip?

From Kotor to Tivat

Tivat is elegant, think of it like Kotor’s modern cousin. Porto Montenegro gleams with luxury yachts, chic cafés, and palm-lined streets. We walked the marina, watching sunlight glitter on anchored sails and imagining which yacht we’d pick if we were millionaires (spoiler: all of them). Lunch at One Restaurant gave us fresh seafood and a view straight out of a glossy travel magazine.

We returned to Kotor in the late afternoon, just in time to catch the golden hour from the castle walls and enjoy dinner by the water.

From Kotor to Perast

On our last day in Montenegro we decided to visit Perast. Some of the activities that I recommend here are to walk along the streets of the Bay and admire the Church of Saint Nicholas. Here you can take a short boat trip to Our Lady of the Rocks, circle the little island, and sit for a moment in stillness, surrounded just by the sea sky and mountains.

Then we were back on the road. Crossed the border into Bosnia, but somewhere near Trebinje, the universe handed us one of those unplanned travel moments. And so we decided to take a detour to Dubrovnik since we were so close by. It took us less than 45 minutes to arrive into the center of the city.

Dubrovnik is really this one-of-a-kind city. Medieval stone walls wrapping around a peninsula, terracotta rooftops glowing at sunset and so many opportunities of great places to eat seafood. Because that’s how I remember it.

And let’s not forget that every alley feels like a movie frame (and honestly, thanks to Game of Thrones, half of them are)! We spent the rest of the day walking around the city as the following morning.

If you want to find out how we spent the rest of the day in the city you should read this itinerary for Dubrovnik.

Day 9-10 Trip in Bosnia

Continued the road trip into Bosnia. The city that you should consider is definitely Mostar. We started our day with a slow walk toward Stari Most, the famous Old Bridge. It doesn’t matter how many photos you’ve seen — the first time you see it in person, it takes your breath away.

Standing there, listening to the river rushing below, watching early vendors open their shops is just an incredible feeling. We wandered the cobbled lanes of Bazar Kujundžiluk and then had breakfast. It was simple and perfect: warm burek, yogurt, and a view of the river from a terrace tucked just high enough for quiet but close enough to feel the pulse of the city waking up.

Midday brought more exploring — the Koski Mehmed Pasha Mosque and its minaret climb offering a view that felt like floating above Mostar: the bridge, the river, the red roofs, the mountains guarding the horizon.

Lunch was at Restoran Šadrvan, where traditional Bosnian dishes like čevapi and dolma tasted like the kind of comfort only home cooking can give. We also received warm bread that came in baskets. After that it was all just about walking around and discovering different corners of the city.

The next morning, we packed the car again. Most of the road it was me going over our cameras overloaded with memories. Our journey continued towards Croatia, chasing some of the best coastal views on the way.

Road trips have a funny way of changing you. You start chasing destinations, but somewhere along the way, you fall in love with the journey itself.

Useful Facts for This 10 Day Balkan Road Trip

Here are some tips that might help you in your 10 Day Balkan road trip.