Road trip · 14 days
The Grand Balkans Road Trip: Six Countries in 14 Days
Zagreb to Belgrade the long way — down the Adriatic, through Montenegro and Albania, across North Macedonia and up through Serbia. Fourteen days, six borders, and one rental car that must be allowed to cross all of them.
Day by day
| Day | Route | km | What to see |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1–2 | Zagreb → Plitvice → Split | 410 | Lakes then the Dalmatian coast; sleep in Split. |
| 3–4 | Split → Dubrovnik (via Neum) | 230 | Nine kilometres of Bosnia at Neum, then the walls of Dubrovnik. |
| 5–6 | Dubrovnik → Kotor → Budva | 110 | Border at Debeli Brijeg before nine; the Bay of Kotor and the Lovćen serpentine. |
| 7–8 | Budva → Shkodër → Tirana → Berat | 330 | Into Albania via Hani i Hotit; Rozafa castle at Shkodër, a night in Tirana, then Berat. |
| 9–10 | Berat → Ohrid | 200 | Cross into North Macedonia at Qafë Thanë; Lake Ohrid's monasteries and a boat to Sveti Naum. |
| 11 | Ohrid → Skopje | 170 | The stone bridge, the old bazaar and the statues of Skopje. |
| 12 | Skopje → Niš | 250 | Into Serbia at Preševo; the Skull Tower and the best grilled meat in the Balkans. |
| 13–14 | Niš → Belgrade | 240 | Motorway north; two nights for the Kalemegdan fortress, Zemun and the drop-off. |
Book the car before the flights sell out the fleet
Summer availability on automatics and SUVs runs out weeks ahead.
Before you go
- The single most important booking detail: written permission to cross into Bosnia, Montenegro, Albania, North Macedonia and Serbia, with the green card for each. Not every company allows Albania — confirm before paying.
- Kosovo is excluded by most Croatian and Serbian rentals; this route deliberately avoids it.
- A one-way drop in Belgrade from a Zagreb pick-up costs €150–300. Alternatives: loop back via the motorway in a day, or reverse the route.
- Budget €70–100 in tolls and border fees, and carry cash in euros — Albanian and Serbian booths do not always take cards.
- Border queues at Neum, Debeli Brijeg and Preševo double in July and August. Cross before nine or after six.
Common questions
How many days does this route need?
14 days as written, covering about 2200 km. Add a day for every island or mountain detour you cannot resist.
Where should I rent the car?
Collect in Zagreb — see our Zagreb car rental guide for prices, deposits and the desks worth using.
Can a rental car cross the borders on this route?
Rentals cross freely into Slovenia, Bosnia, Montenegro and Serbia with a cross-border fee; the coastal road to Dubrovnik passes through Bosnia at Neum, so ask for the green card even if you never plan to leave Croatia. Kosovo is usually excluded.
When is the best time to drive it?
May–June and September–early October: warm, dry, and without the July–August traffic and border queues. Winter closes the high passes.
Rules of the road in Croatia
| Drives on the | RIGHT |
|---|---|
| Speed limits (town / open road / expressway / motorway) | 50 / 90 / 110 / 130 km/h |
| Tolls | Toll booths on all motorways; pay by card or cash, or an ENC transponder from the rental desk. |
| Vignette | None — Croatia uses booths, not stickers. Neighbouring Slovenia needs an e-vignette. |
| Winter rules | Winter equipment compulsory from mid-November to mid-April on marked roads: winter tyres or chains on board. |
| Taking the car across borders | Rentals cross freely into Slovenia, Bosnia, Montenegro and Serbia with a cross-border fee; the coastal road to Dubrovnik passes through Bosnia at Neum, so ask for the green card even if you never plan to leave Croatia. Kosovo is usually excluded. |
| Local quirks | Blood-alcohol limit is 0.05%, zero for drivers under 25. Headlights on in daytime from November to March. Parking in old towns is by zone and the fines arrive months later through the rental company. |
| Currency | euro (EUR) |