Mountains, coastline, lakes, historic towns and short distances between completely different landscapes make the Balkans ideal for a road trip. Routes linking Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro and Albania are especially popular with travellers. Still, a good Balkan road trip is not a competition in how many borders you cross.
The most beautiful route is the one that leaves you enough time to stop when you see something interesting. You can start in Slovenia and head for the Croatian coast. After Zagreb and Plitvice, continue to Split and Dubrovnik. From Dubrovnik, cross into Bosnia and Herzegovina towards Mostar and Sarajevo. You can then continue via Trebinje into Montenegro. The Bay of Kotor is one of the most impressive road landscapes in the region.
If you have time, carry on towards Durmitor and the northern mountains. From there you can head down into Albania and finish the trip in Tirana or on the Albanian coast. Before renting a car, always check that the company allows you to cross every border on your route.
Rules, insurance and possible extra fees vary between rental companies. Waiting times at borders can also be longer during the summer season. That's why the mileage on Google Maps isn't the only factor when planning a day. Leave enough time for unplanned stops as well. The best road trip isn't the one where you covered the most kilometres. It's the one where you said at least a few times: "We have to stop here."
