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.
- 🗺️ stops
- 7
- 🌏 countries
- 5
- 🛏️ hostels
- 161
- 💸 best cheap bed (Dubrovnik)
- €1.00
The route
Map © OpenStreetMap contributors, OpenFreeMap. The line joins the stops in order; it is not a road or flight path.
Stop by stop
Getting to Zagreb · ~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.
Getting to Dubrovnik · ~165 km as the crow flies
- Coachabout 3.5–4.5 hThe road crosses a short stretch of Bosnia at Neum: keep your passport handy.
- Catamaran (April–October)about 4.5–5 h
Times are typical ranges; operators change schedules, so check before you book. Sources: Gecko Routes, Time Out.
Getting to Kotor · ~61 km as the crow flies
- Bus into Montenegroabout 2–3.5 hPlus the Karasovići / 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 · ~162 km as the crow flies
- Busabout 7–8 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 · ~194 km as the crow flies
- Busabout 7–8 hMorning departures, plus an overnight service via Foča (about 10 h).
Times are typical ranges; operators change schedules, so check before you book. Sources: Wanderu, Meet Bosnia.
Watch: The Balkans Trail: Ljubljana to Belgrade by bus
Seven cities and five countries on the classic Balkans backpacker route, leg by leg: Ljubljana, Zagreb, Split, Dubrovnik, Kotor, Sarajevo and Belgrade, with how long each bus ride takes.
Video transcript
Seven cities. Five countries. One long, cheap bus ride through the Balkans. The Dalmatian coast, the Bay of Kotor, and the old cities inland. Start in Ljubljana, with a day out to Lake Bled. About two hours by bus to Zagreb, or two and a half by train. Plitvice Lakes is the side trip. Then down to the sea at Split. Around five hours by coach. Three and a half to four and a half hours more to Dubrovnik. Keep your passport handy. The road crosses a short stretch of Bosnia at Neum. Over the border into Montenegro, and the Bay of Kotor. Two to three and a half hours, plus the border queue. Then inland to Sarajevo. Seven or eight hours, with Mostar as the side trip. And the last leg, seven or eight hours more, to Belgrade. About nine hundred and sixty kilometres, as the crow flies. Hostel picks at every stop, and every leg, with how long it really takes. The Balkans. Plan it on AirConnect.
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 €1.00 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.