Lake Bohinj in summer

Balkan road trip in 2 to 3 weeks

Four countries, short driving days and time for swimming.

Start β€Ί Routes β€Ί Balkan road trip in 2 to 3 weeks

A road trip with children stands or falls with short driving days and enough time for swimming and playing. On this route, you therefore see per day where you drive, sleep and what you can do.

In 2 to 3 weeks you will travel with the family from Slovenia via Plitvice and the Dalmatian coast to Mostar and the bay of Kotor and back via Durmitor. Two countries are in the EU (Slovenia, Croatia), two are not (Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro), so expect border controls.

Compiled and checked by Arjan (Zuidlaren) Β· Sources are in the text Β· updated 20 October 2026 Β· About this page

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  • Reisedauer2–3 weeks (our assessment)
  • CountriesSlovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro
  • ArrivalVignette in Slovenia; otherwise toll per route or country, see country pages

Day by day

  1. Days 1–2

    Getting to Slovenia. Bled or Bohinj as the first stop; see also The route through Slovenia.

    🎟️ Tours: GetYourGuide: Lake Bled

    πŸ›οΈ Nights 1–2 (Bled): our tip: Penzion Kaps β†’ View rooms on Booking.com

  2. Days 3–4

    To Croatia: the Plitvice Lakes. Croatia

    🎟️ Tours: Viator: Plitvice ticket

    πŸ›οΈ Nights 3–4 (Plitvice): our tip: House Tina β†’ View rooms on Booking.com

  3. Days 5–7

    The Dalmatian coast, for example around Split. Pay attention to the dress rules in the old town. Croatia

    🎟️ Tours: GetYourGuide: Split · Viator: Krka + Šibenik

    πŸ›οΈ Nights 5–7 (Split): our tip: Annex building of Art Hotel β†’ View rooms on Booking.com

  4. Days 8–9

    Bosnia and Herzegovina: Mostar and the Kravica Waterfalls. Bosnia and Herzegovina

    🎟️ Tours: GetYourGuide: Mostar · GetYourGuide: Kravica

    πŸ›οΈ Nights 8–9 (Mostar): our tip: Hotel Villa Milas β†’ View rooms on Booking.com

  5. Days 10–12

    Montenegro: the Bay of Kotor. Montenegro

    🎟️ Tours: Viator: Kotor, Perast · GetYourGuide: Bay of Kotor

    πŸ›οΈ Nights 10–12 (Kotor): our tip: Hostel Pupa β†’ View rooms on Booking.com

  6. Days 13–15

    Montenegro: Durmitor, Crno jezero and the Tara Gorge. After that, via Bosnia (Sarajevo) or the same way back.

    🎟️ Tours: Viator: Durmitor + Tara · GetYourGuide: Durmitor

    πŸ›οΈ Nights 13–15 (Ε½abljak): our tip: Pinnacle MNE β†’ View rooms on Booking.com

  7. Week 3

    Three weeks? More rest days on the coast or on the lakes, or from Montenegro further to Albania.

    🎟️ Tours: GetYourGuide: Albania

Borders and papers

  • Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro are not EU members: expect border controls. Travel documents are on the respective country page.
  • Take the green card of your car insurance and check that the countries on your route are not crossed out.
  • Driving licence: see Car hire.

Tolls per country

Camping along the route

The daily plan is our own estimate. Check the driving times per stage in your route planner; mountain roads take longer than you think.

On the way south? Read beforehand Through Austria: vignette, section tolls and motorway exit bans.

Travelling with a dog? Read With dog in the Balkans: rules per country.