The The Balkans Trail
From Ljubljana down the Dalmatian coast to Dubrovnik and the Bay of Kotor, then inland to Sarajevo and Belgrade: cheap buses, short hops, big history. The best hostels at every stop, and how to get to the next one.
Photo: Dragan Cenic on Pexels.
- ๐บ๏ธ stops
- 7
- ๐ countries
- 5
- ๐๏ธ hostels
- 161
- ๐ธ best cheap bed (Dubrovnik)
- โฌ1.00
The route
Map ยฉ OpenStreetMap contributors, OpenFreeMap. The line joins the stops in order; it is not a road or flight path.
Stop by stop
Getting to Zagreb ยท ~117 km as the crow flies
- Trainabout 2.5 hAround eight a day.
- FlixBusabout 2 hRoughly hourly.
Times are typical ranges; operators change schedules, so check before you book. Sources: Trainline, Croatia Traveller.
2ZagrebCroatia ยท 17 hostelsGetting to Dubrovnik ยท ~165 km as the crow flies
- Coachabout 3.5โ4.5 hThe road crosses a short stretch of Bosnia at Neum: keep your passport handy.
- Catamaran (AprilโOctober)about 4.5โ5 h
Times are typical ranges; operators change schedules, so check before you book. Sources: Gecko Routes, Time Out.
Getting to Kotor ยท ~61 km as the crow flies
- Bus into Montenegroabout 2โ3.5 hPlus the Karasoviฤi / Debeli Brijeg border, which can add from minutes to hours in summer.
Times are typical ranges; operators change schedules, so check before you book. Sources: Sofia Adventures, Chasing the Donkey.
Getting to Sarajevo ยท ~162 km as the crow flies
- Busabout 7โ8 hUsually one or two a day, early morning.
Times are typical ranges; operators change schedules, so check before you book. Sources: Omio.
Getting to Belgrade ยท ~194 km as the crow flies
- Busabout 7โ8 hMorning departures, plus an overnight service via Foฤa (about 10 h).
Times are typical ranges; operators change schedules, so check before you book. Sources: Wanderu, Meet Bosnia.
FAQ
What is the The Balkans Trail?
From Ljubljana down the Dalmatian coast to Dubrovnik and the Bay of Kotor, then inland to Sarajevo and Belgrade: cheap buses, short hops, big history.
How long is the The Balkans Trail?
About 958 km in straight lines between our 7 stops (Ljubljana, Zagreb, Split, Dubrovnik, Kotor, Sarajevo, Belgrade); real road and rail distances are longer.
Which countries does the The Balkans Trail go through?
Slovenia, Croatia, Montenegro, Bosnia And Herzegovina, Serbia.
Where is the cheapest good hostel bed on the The Balkans Trail?
Dubrovnik: Villa Banana, rated 9.4 on Hostelworld, from โฌ1.00 a night (the lowest dorm price among hostels rated 8+ from 50+ reviews, 11 October 2026).
Hostel prices and ratings from Hostelworld's public listings (11 October 2026). Distances are straight-line between city centres. AirConnect may earn a commission if you book through our links, at no extra cost to you.