Adriatic Adventure: Self-Launched Croatia Island-Hop & Montenegro Mountains

Fly into Split (SPU) and check into a hostel in the old town or Bačvice. Spend the afternoon wandering Diocletian's Palace — a Roman emperor's retirement home that's now a living city — plus the Riva waterfront and Marjan Hill for sunset. Buy your catamaran ticket for Hvar this evening (Krilo or Jadrolinija, book online a few days ahead in summer).

🚌Airport bus no. 37 to city centre ~£5, or Uber ~£15

🛏Hostel in Split old town / Bačvice (dorm £18–28)

• →Diocletian's Palace walking loop (free)
• →Riva waterfront & Marjan Hill sunset
• →Book Split–Hvar catamaran ticket

Take the morning catamaran from Split to Hvar Town (~1hr, £8–14). Drop bags at your hostel and climb to the Spanish Fortress for the classic view over the harbour. In the afternoon take a water taxi to the Pakleni Islands for swimming and snorkelling coves (taxi ~£8 return). Evening in Hvar Town's marble-paved squares.

🚌Catamaran Split–Hvar ~£8–14; water taxi to Pakleni ~£8

🛏Hostel or guesthouse in Hvar Town (£25–40 dorm/private)

• →Spanish Fortress viewpoint (€5)
• →Pakleni Islands swim & snorkel
• →Hvar Town evening stroll

Take the local bus to Stari Grad (£3) to see the UNESCO-listed Greek agricultural plain, then on to Vrboska, the 'Little Venice' fishing village with its stone bridges. Rent a bike or scooter (~£15–20/day) or use buses to reach the quiet south-coast beaches at Dubovica. Dinner back in Hvar Town or Stari Grad, which is cheaper.

🚌Local buses ~£6 total; optional bike hire ~£15

🛏Hostel/guesthouse Hvar or Stari Grad (£22–35)

• →Stari Grad Plain (UNESCO)
• →Vrboska village walk
• →Dubovica beach

Take the catamaran/ferry from Hvar to Korčula (~1h15–2h, £10–16 depending on route via Pescara or direct). Korčula Town is a miniature Dubrovnik — a walled medieval peninsula town said to be Marco Polo's birthplace. Walk the walls, visit the Marco Polo House, and swim at Banje beach just outside the walls.

🚌Catamaran Hvar–Korčula ~£10–16

🛏Hostel or sobe (private room) in Korčula old town (£25–40)

• →Korčula town walls walk (€5)
• →Marco Polo House
• →Banje beach swim

Cycle or take the local bus out to Lumbarda (4km) to taste Grk white wine at family wineries, then continue to Vela Luka on the west end for the Vela Spila cave and quiet coves. Alternatively take a boat trip to the tiny islet of Badija with its Franciscan monastery (£10). Cheap konoba dinner of fresh fish and blitva.

🚌Bike hire ~£12 or local buses ~£5; Badija boat ~£10

🛏Hostel/sobe Korčula (£25–40)

• →Lumbarda wine tasting (£8–12)
• →Vela Spila cave
• →Badija islet boat trip

Take the morning ferry to Sobra or Polače on Mljet (£6–10). Hire a bike at the national park entrance (£10) and ride the flat path around Veliko Jezero, take the little boat out to the 12th-century Benedictine monastery on St Mary's islet (£3), and swim in the saltwater lakes. Entry to the national park is €25 in season.

🚌Ferry Korčula–Mljet ~£6–10; bike hire ~£10

🛏Guesthouse in Polače or Sobra (£25–35)

• →Mljet National Park lakes (€25)
• →St Mary's islet monastery boat (£3)
• →Cycling the lakes path

Morning ferry or catamaran from Mljet to Dubrovnik (~1h30–2h30, £12–18). Check into a hostel in the old town or Lapad. In the late afternoon (cooler, fewer cruise crowds) walk the full 2km city walls (€35 — pricey but the signature experience), then take the cable car up Srđ for sunset (£20 return) or hike up free. Evening swim at Buža Bar, a bar on the rocks outside the walls.

🚌Catamaran Mljet–Dubrovnik ~£12–18

🛏Hostel in Dubrovnik old town or Lapad (£25–38 dorm)

• →Dubrovnik city walls (€35)
• →Srđ cable car (£20) or free hike
• →Buža Bar cliff swim

Morning at leisure — swim at Banje beach, wander the Stradun early before crowds, or take a kayak tour around the walls (£25). In the afternoon catch the direct bus from Dubrovnik bus station to Kotor (~2h30 including border, £12–16; several daily departures). Settle into Kotor's old town and eat by the marina.

🚌Direct bus Dubrovnik–Kotor ~£12–16

🛏Hostel or guesthouse inside Kotor old town (£18–28 dorm)

• →Banje beach swim
• →Optional sea kayaking (£25)
• →Kotor old town evening wander

Take the local boat from Kotor's waterfront to the islet of Our Lady of the Rocks and on to Perast (£6–10 for the boat). Explore Perast's baroque old town and its church towers. Return to Kotor by local bus (£2) and spend the afternoon climbing the city walls to the San Giovanni fortress (€15, 1,350 steps) or sea-kayak in the bay (£20).

🚌Local boat ~£6–10; bus Perast–Kotor ~£2

🛏Hostel/guesthouse Kotor (£18–28)

• →Our Lady of the Rocks islet
• →Perast old town
• →Kotor fortress climb (€15) or sea kayaking (£20)

Take the coastal bus to Budva (£3) for a morning in its walled old town and a swim, then a bus or shared taxi inland toward Nikšić and up to Ostrog Monastery, the white cliff-face monastery (£15–20 combined). From there continue by bus to Žabljak (£10–12). This is a long travel day — alternatively base in Nikšić and visit Ostrog as a day trip.

🚌Buses Budva–Ostrog–Žabljak ~£25 (or shared taxi ~£35)

🛏Guesthouse or mountain hostel in Žabljak (£20–32)

• →Budva old town & beach
• →Ostrog Monastery (free entry)
• →Scenic mountain drive

Walk from town to Crno Jezero (Black Lake) and hike the loop trail around it (€5 park entry, 2–3hrs). In the afternoon raft or hike along the Tara Canyon — the deepest in Europe — or join a half-day rafting trip from Žabljak (£35–45). Rent a bike or kayak at the lake if you prefer (£10–15).

🚌Walking; local taxi to Tara ~£12 each way

🛏Guesthouse in Žabljak (£20–32)

• →Durmitor National Park entry (€5)
• →Black Lake loop hike
• →Tara Canyon rafting (£35–45) or kayak hire

Take the bus from Žabljak to Mojkovac/Kolašin (£6–8). From Kolašin arrange a taxi or hop on an organised day trip to Biogradska Gora National Park (£10–15 taxi each way, €4 park entry) — one of Europe's last three primaeval forests, wrapped around Biogradsko Lake. Walk the lakeside path, rent a boat (£8) or bike, then return to Kolašin for a slow mountain-town evening.

🚌Bus Žabljak–Kolašin ~£7; taxi to Biogradska Gora ~£12 return

🛏Guesthouse or hostel in Kolašin (£20–30)

• →Biogradska Gora National Park (€4)
• →Biogradsko Lake walk & boat hire
• →Kolašin town evening

Book a half-day 4x4 or jeep tour out of Kolašin (£45–65) into the Sinjajevina plateau or Bjelasica back country, or take the more affordable option of a hiking morning on the Kolašin trails followed by the bus to Podgorica (£6, ~1h40). Walk Podgorica's old town, the Millennium Bridge and the Ribnica river gorge, and finish with a final dinner of Montenegrin Njeguški pršut and local wine.

🚌4x4 tour ~£55 or bus Kolašin–Podgorica ~£6

🛏Hostel or budget hotel in Podgorica (£20–30)

• →4x4 back-country excursion (£45–65) or Kolašin hiking
• →Podgorica old town & Millennium Bridge
• →Final dinner out