Amazing Balkans: Bucharest to Venice, Self-Launched

Land, take bus 783 from Otopeni Airport to Piața Unirii (~£1.20), and check into a hostel or budget guesthouse near the Old Town. Do your own walking loop of the historic quarter, Stavropoleos Monastery and Revolution Square, then view the Palace of the Parliament from outside (the interior tour needs ID and a pre-booked slot, ~£12 if you want it). Evening: cheap mici and a beer in Lipscani.

🚌Airport bus 783 from Otopeni to Piața Unirii, ~£1.20

🛏Hostel dorm in Bucharest Old Town (£12-16)

• →Self-guided Old Town walk
• →Palace of the Parliament exterior
• →Revolution Square and Stavropoleos Monastery

Take an early train from Bucharest Gara de Nord to Sinaia (~1h30, ~£5), walk the gardens of Peleș and Pelișor Castles and, if time allows, pay the entry to Peleș (~£8). Bus or shared taxi to Bran (~£8) to see Bran Fortress (Dracula's Castle, entry ~£10), then continue to Brașov and take the evening train to Sighișoara (~£6). Late dinner of goulash in a cellar restaurant in the citadel — no need to pay for a themed Dracula dinner.

🚌Train Bucharest–Sinaia ~£5; local bus/shared taxi to Bran ~£8; train Brașov–Sighișoara ~£6

🛏Guesthouse in Sighișoara citadel (£18-22)

• →Peleș & Pelișor Castle gardens
• →Bran Fortress (Dracula's Castle)
• →Sighișoara citadel evening

Early bus from Sighișoara to Biertan for the UNESCO fortified church (~£2, entry ~£3), then bus to Sibiu (~£4) for a slow wander of the Large and Small Squares and the Liar's Bridge. In the afternoon take a bus to Deva/Hunedoara for Corvin Castle (entry ~£8) and finish with an evening train or bus to Timișoara (~£8). It's a big day — if you prefer, skip Hunedoara and sleep in Sibiu instead.

🚌Local buses ~£6 total, plus train/bus Hunedoara–Timișoara ~£8

🛏Hostel or budget hotel in Timișoara (£18-24)

• →Biertan fortified church
• →Sibiu old town walk
• →Corvin Castle, Hunedoara

Morning in Timișoara's Union Square and Orthodox Cathedral, then the direct bus to Belgrade (~3-3.5h, ~£10-14). Check into a hostel near Skadarlija and walk a self-guided loop: Republic Square, Knez Mihailova, Kalemegdan Fortress at sunset over the Sava/Danube confluence, and the Museum of Yugoslavia (optional, ~£5). Dinner of Ćevapi in Skadarlija.

🚌Direct international bus Timișoara–Belgrade ~£12

🛏Hostel dorm in central Belgrade (£10-15)

• →Kalemegdan Fortress
• →Knez Mihailova and Republic Square
• →Museum of Yugoslavia (optional)
• →Skadarlija dinner

Take a morning bus or train to Sremska Mitrovica to see the Imperial Palace of Sirmium ruins (free/cheap), then continue by bus toward Sarajevo — often via Šid–Tuzla or a direct early afternoon service (~6h, ~£18-22). Arrive in Sarajevo in the evening and wander Baščaršija bazaar for burek and coffee.

🚌Bus/train Belgrade–Sremska Mitrovica ~£4; bus to Sarajevo ~£20

🛏Hostel in Baščaršija, Sarajevo (£10-15)

• →Sirmium ruins
• →Sarajevo Baščaršija bazaar

Start with a free walking tour or DIY route of the Old Town, Latin Bridge and the Tunnel of Hope (entry ~£5). Catch a mid-morning bus to Mostar (~2h15, ~£9) to see Stari Most and the old bazaar, then take the afternoon/evening bus on to Dubrovnik (~3h, ~£14, crossing into Croatia — bring your passport).

🚌Bus Sarajevo–Mostar ~£9; bus Mostar–Dubrovnik ~£14

🛏Hostel dorm or budget room in Dubrovnik (£20-30, higher in summer)

• →Sarajevo Old Town & Latin Bridge
• →War Tunnel (optional)
• →Mostar Stari Most and bazaar

Walk the city walls early to beat the crowds and heat (entry ~£30 — buy online), then visit the Franciscan Monastery with its historic pharmacy (~£4) and the Assumption Cathedral. In the afternoon take the public ferry to Lokrum island (~£5 return) for swimming and the botanical gardens, and finish with a sunset drink above the old harbour.

🚌Local bus to Old Town ~£2; Lokrum ferry ~£5 return

🛏Hostel dorm or budget room in Dubrovnik (£20-30)

• →Dubrovnik city walls
• →Franciscan Monastery
• →Lokrum island ferry and swim

Take a bus up the Pelješac Peninsula to Ston (~1h15, ~£7) to walk part of the famous walls (~£8) and taste oysters, then continue to Split by bus (~2h30, ~£12). In Split, join a free walking tour or DIY it around Diocletian's Palace, the Riva and Marjan Hill for sunset.

🚌Bus Dubrovnik–Ston ~£7; bus Ston–Split ~£12

🛏Hostel dorm in Split (£15-22)

• →Ston walls
• →Pelješac Bridge viewpoint
• →Diocletian's Palace and Riva

Leave Split early for Plitvice Lakes National Park (~3h bus, ~£15; park entry ~£25-35 seasonal, includes the boat and train). Spend 4-5 hours on the boardwalk trails, then take an afternoon/evening bus toward Rijeka/Opatija (~3h, ~£15) for a seaside sleep.

🚌Bus Split–Plitvice ~£15; bus Plitvice–Rijeka/Opatija ~£15

🛏Guesthouse or budget hotel in Opatija/Rijeka (£20-28)

• →Plitvice Lakes National Park with boat crossing
• →Opatija seaside promenade

Cross into Slovenia by bus toward Postojna (~2h, ~£12) for the cave train tour (~£24, book ahead). Continue by bus/train to Bled (~2h, ~£7) for the pletna boat to the island church (~£15) and a lakeside walk, then a late bus to Ljubljana (~1h15, ~£6).

🚌Bus Opatija–Postojna ~£12; Postojna–Bled ~£7; Bled–Ljubljana ~£6

🛏Hostel in Ljubljana centre (£18-24)

• →Postojna Cave train tour
• →Lake Bled island by pletna boat
• →Ljubljana evening stroll

Morning free walking tour or DIY loop of Ljubljana's castle hill, Triple Bridge and market, then the direct FlixBus/train combo to Venice (~3.5-4h, ~£18-25). Settle into a hostel in Cannaregio or near Mestre (much cheaper), and spend the evening getting lost in the calli.

🚌Bus or bus+train Ljubljana–Venice ~£20

🛏Hostel in Venice/Mestre (£25-35)

• →Ljubljana Old Town & castle viewpoint
• →Venice evening wander in Cannaregio

Buy a 24-hour vaporetto pass (~£20) and use it as your boat transfer; join a free/pay-what-you-want walking tour or do your own route from St Mark's Square (book the Basilica skip-the-line online) through the Rialto and Dorsoduro. A gondola ride costs ~£70-80 per boat — share the cost with hostel mates if you want the photo, or take the traghetto ferry across the Grand Canal for ~£2.

🚌24h vaporetto pass ~£20

🛏Hostel in Venice/Mestre (£25-35)

• →St Mark's Square & Basilica
• →Rialto Market
• →Dorsoduro and traghetto crossing
• →Optional shared gondola

Last espresso and bacari cicchetti crawl, then bus 5 or the ATVO express to Marco Polo Airport (~£8) or train onward if you're continuing the trip. If you have hours to spare, Murano is a quick vaporetto hop for glass workshops.

🚌ATVO/bus to Marco Polo Airport ~£8

🛏—

• →Morning bacari breakfast
• →Optional Murano glass island trip