What I’d Do Differently: Balkans Edition

Updated April 2026 | 3 min read

We drove two weeks through six countries in August 2022. It was the best trip we have ever taken, and we would do it again, but not the same way. Here is what we would change.

Skip Bucharest, Start in Budapest

We flew into Bucharest to start the trip and spent a day there. It was fine but not essential. The Palace of Parliament is impressive in a Soviet-excess kind of way, but compared to Budapest, Ljubljana, and Dubrovnik, Bucharest felt like filler. If we did it again, we would fly into Budapest and start the drive from there, saving two days and one border crossing.

The Romania day trip to Sinaia and Bran Castle was a highlight though. Peles Castle is genuinely stunning. If Romania is on your list, go there directly.

Spend Three Nights in Dubrovnik, Not Two

Two nights was enough to walk the walls and see the old town, but we rushed the Kotor day trip and skipped the Elafiti Islands entirely. A third night would have let us take a slower day trip to Montenegro and still have time for Lokrum Island.

Skip Belgrade, Add a Night in Mostar

Belgrade is a real city with great nightlife and the Bohemian Quarter is fun, but on a two-week trip focused on coastal beauty and medieval towns, it felt out of place. Meanwhile, we only had a few hours in Mostar and it deserved a full day. The Stari Most bridge, the Turkish bazaar, and the surrounding countryside are all worth more time.

Drive the Coastal Road, Not the Highway

Between Zadar and Split, we took the highway to save time. Mistake. The old coastal road (the Jadranska Magistrala) is one of the most scenic drives in Europe, and we missed it because we were trying to make a check-in time.

Book Lake Bled Accommodation in Advance

We did Lake Bled as a day trip from Ljubljana, which meant a lot of driving and not enough time at the lake. Book a night at Lake Bled and do the Postojna Cave the next morning.

Budget More for Croatia, Less for Serbia

Dubrovnik is nearly as expensive as Western Europe, especially in the old town during peak summer. Belgrade and Sofia were shockingly cheap. A sit-down dinner for two with drinks in Belgrade cost what a single appetizer cost in Dubrovnik.

The Bottom Line

None of these are regrets. The Balkans road trip was the best trip we have taken. We would just redistribute our time toward the places that surprised us most: Mostar, Lake Bled, and the Adriatic coast.

Book on GetYourGuide:

• Dubrovnik Old Town Walking Tour
• Mostar Day Trip

Related Reading

Balkans Road Trip: Budapest to Sofia via the Adriatic Coast has the full route and budget.

Travel Tools We Actually Use

• eSIM Data: Airalo eSIM for Croatia — Skip the airport SIM card line. Buy before you land, activate when you arrive. We use this every trip now.
• Car Rental: Compare car rental prices for Croatia — We compare across all major rental companies here. Book early for shoulder season.
• Travel Insurance: — Comprehensive coverage for trip cancellation, medical, and baggage. We learned the hard way that skipping insurance is not worth it.
• VPN: — Public wifi at hotels and airports is sketchy. This keeps your banking apps and passwords safe.
• Money Transfer: — Best exchange rates, no hidden fees. We use the multi-currency card for every trip.

Book Tours and Activities

• Dubrovnik Game of Thrones Tour
• Kotor Day Trip from Dubrovnik
• Budapest Thermal Baths Entry

Gear That Saved Us in Europe

• Osprey Farpoint 40 Travel Backpack – Fits in overhead bins on budget European airlines.
• Anker Nano Power Bank – Long museum and walking days drain your phone.
• Airalo eSIM – One eSIM for all of Europe.
• Universal Travel Adapter – EU, UK, and Swiss plugs are all different.
• Packing Cubes – Keeps your bag organized across multiple cities.
• Rain Jacket (Marmot Precip) – Weather changes fast in shoulder season.

Find Your Next Flight

Plan Your Trip to Balkans

Ready to book? Search flights to Balkans to compare prices across airlines. And compare hotel rates in Balkans to find the best deals for your dates.

Affiliate disclosure: This post contains affiliate links at no extra cost to you. SafetyWing, Skyscanner, Airalo, Booking.com, Viator, GetYourGuide.

Plan your own trip: guides I actually use

Cards, lounges & insurance:

• Best Airport Lounges I Have Actually Used — From Changi to Istanbul
• Is Priority Pass Worth It in 2026 — My Honest Review After 15 Airports
• Best Travel Credit Cards for 2026: The Cards I Actually Use and Why
• Best Travel Insurance for 2026: What I Actually Recommend After 15 International Trips
• The Credit Card Points Strategy That Funded $15,000 of Travel

Finding cheap flights:

• When to Book Flights by Region — The Booking Windows That Actually Save Money
• How to Find Error Fares and Flight Deals — The Services I Actually Use
• Google Flights vs Skyscanner vs Momondo — Which Actually Finds the Cheapest Flights

Staying connected abroad:

• Best VPN for Travel 2026 — NordVPN vs Surfshark and Why You Need One
• Best eSIM for Travel 2026 — Holafly vs Airalo vs Nomad

Travel gear I actually use:

• Best Portable Chargers for Travel in 2026: Which Size You Actually Need
• My Exact Travel Tech Setup After 15 International Trips
• Best Noise-Canceling Headphones for Travel in 2026: Tested on 40+ Flights
• Best Travel Backpacks for 2026: The 5 I Have Actually Used
• Phone Photography Tips for Travel: How to Take Great Photos With Just Your iPhone