Dubrovnik to Athens: Beachfronts & Fortresses (Self-Launched)
9 days · Croatia, Montenegro, Albania & Greece
G Adventures charges £1,499
No-markup version: ~£795 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched 9-day run down the Adriatic and across into the Balkans — Dubrovnik's walls, Kotor's fjord-like bay, gritty-cool Tirana, UNESCO Gjirokastër, beachy Saranda and Butrint, then a ferry hop to Corfu and a final push to Athens. You book your own hostels and buses, cross the same borders on public transport, and pick your own optional activities — for a fraction of the guided group price. Best for solo travellers comfortable with a fast pace and a few early bus departures. Costs are approximate and based on backpacker/budget rates.
Day-by-day
Arrive Dubrovnik — Old Town & City Walls
Dubrovnik, Croatia
Land in Dubrovnik and check into a hostel in or just outside the Old Town (Hostel Angelina, Hostel Old Town Dubrovnik or similar, £18-30/night dorm). Spend the afternoon walking the 2km City Walls (€35 / ~£30) for the classic rooftop views — go early or late to dodge the crowds and heat. Wander the Stradun, poke into the Franciscan Monastery, then head to Buža Bar on the seaward cliffs for a sunset drink. Meet fellow travellers at your hostel's common area rather than a CEO welcome meeting.
🚌Airport shuttle bus to Old Town ~£8 (or local bus 1A/1B); everything walkable once there
🛏Hostel dorm in/around Old Town (~£18-30)
- →Dubrovnik City Wall Walk (~£30)
- →Stradun Old Town stroll
- →Buža cliff bar sunset drink
- →Franciscan Monastery & Museum (~£5)
Dubrovnik to Kotor — Bay of Kotor by Bus
Kotor, Montenegro
Take the early bus from Dubrovnik's main bus station down the coast to Kotor — the route hugs the Adriatic and crosses into Montenegro, so bring your passport. The journey is 2.5-3.5 hours depending on border queues. Arrive in Kotor and get settled in a Old Town hostel or guesthouse (Old Town Hostel Kotor or a private room, £12-20). Spend the afternoon exploring the car-free Old Town and climbing at least part of the Ladder of Kotor (free) for views over the bay. Optional late-afternoon swim at a nearby beach.
🚌Public bus Dubrovnik → Kotor, ~2.5-3.5 hrs, £14-18 (crosses Montenegro border)
🛏Old Town hostel/guesthouse (~£12-20)
- →Scenic coastal bus route
- →Kotor Old Town exploration (free)
- →Ladder of Kotor hike or partial climb (free)
- →Bay sunset walk
Kotor — Sveti Ivan Fortress & Bay Day Trip
Kotor, Montenegro
Beat the heat by tackling the Sveti Ivan (San Giovanni) Fortress hike early — roughly 1,200 steps up the old fortification wall (small entry fee, ~£3), with huge views over the bay of Kotor. Spend the afternoon on the water: either kayak in the bay (rentals ~£18) or take a cheap local bus to Perast and a boat out to Our Lady of the Rocks (island church). Herceg Novi is another easy beach option via bus. Eat cheap grilled fish and burek in the Old Town.
🚌Local buses around the bay £1-3; boats to Perast ~£5
🛏Old Town hostel/guesthouse (~£12-20)
- →Sveti Ivan Fortress hike (~£3 entry)
- →Sea kayaking in Bay of Kotor (~£18)
- →Day trip to Perast & Our Lady of the Rocks (boat ~£5)
- →Old Town cafes / cheap eats
Kotor to Tirana — Into Albania
Tirana, Albania
Travel day: bus from Kotor to Tirana (via Podgorica or direct summer services), roughly 5-7 hours with the Montenegro–Albania border crossing. Arrive in Tirana and check into a central hostel (Milingona Hostel or Trip'n Hostel, £10-18). Stretch your legs around Skanderbeg Square, the colourful Piramida (free, now partially climbable) and Bunk'Art 2 if time allows. Grab a cheap local meal — byrek, tavë kosi or grilled meats — for under £6.
🚌Bus Kotor → Tirana, ~5-7 hrs, £18-25 (passport required at border)
🛏Central Tirana hostel (~£10-18)
- →Border crossing Montenegro → Albania
- →Skanderbeg Square orientation walk
- →Piramida visit (free)
- →Bunk'Art 2 museum (~£4)
Tirana to Saranda via Gjirokastër (UNESCO)
Saranda, Albania
Take a morning bus south to Gjirokastër (3-4 hrs from Tirana), the UNESCO-listed stone town — wander the cobbled bazaar and climb to the hilltop Fortress (small entry ~£3). Grab lunch in the historic centre (the tour's included lunch becomes your own cheap lunch, ~£6). Continue on to Saranda on the coast (1-1.5 hrs) and check into a seafront hostel or guesthouse (£12-20). Evening stroll along the Saranda promenade.
🚌Bus Tirana → Gjirokastër ~£8; Gjirokastër → Saranda ~£4
🛏Saranda seafront hostel/guesthouse (~£12-20)
- →Gjirokastër Old Town & bazaar (UNESCO)
- →Gjirokastër Fortress visit (~£3)
- →Lunch in historic centre (~£6)
- →Saranda promenade evening walk
Butrint & Saranda, then Ferry to Corfu
Corfu, Greece
Morning at the Butrint Archaeological Site just south of Saranda (UNESCO, entry ~£18) — Greek, Roman and Byzantine ruins in a lagoon setting; reachable by local bus or shared taxi. Back in Saranda, take the afternoon passenger ferry or hydrofoil across to Corfu (~30-60 mins, ~£20-25). On arrival find a hostel in Corfu Town or near the port (£18-28). Explore Kerkyra Old Town's Venetian streets and the Palaio Frourio in the evening.
🚌Local bus/shared taxi to Butrint ~£3; ferry Saranda → Corfu ~£20-25
🛏Corfu Town hostel/guesthouse (~£18-28)
- →Butrint Archaeological Site (~£18)
- →Saranda → Corfu ferry crossing
- →Kerkyra Old Town wander (free)
- →Palaio Frourio (Old Fortress) viewpoint
Corfu — Beaches & Achilleion
Corfu, Greece
A full free day on Corfu. Use the island's cheap KTEL green buses to reach Paleokastritsa or Glyfada for swimming and coves, or head to the Achilleion Palace, Museum and Gardens (~£9) south of town. History fans can hit the Archaeological Museum of Corfu (~£3) and the Temple of Artemis site. End the day with a gyros/souvlaki dinner for under £6 and a wander round Corfu Town's Liston.
🚌Local KTEL buses around island £1.5-4
🛏Corfu Town hostel/guesthouse (~£18-28)
- →Paleokastritsa or Glyfada beach day
- →Achilleion Palace & Gardens (~£9)
- →Archaeological Museum of Corfu (~£3)
- →Corfu Town Liston evening
Corfu to Athens — Ferry & Bus
Athens, Greece
Travel day to Athens. Two main options: (1) the direct overnight/early ferry from Corfu to Patras (~8-10 hrs, from ~£25), then a KTEL bus Patras → Athens (~3 hrs, ~£15); or (2) a cheap flight Corfu → Athens (from ~£40-70 if booked early). Arrive in Athens and check into a Plaka/Monastiraki hostel (£18-30). If energy permits, walk to Syntagma Square and get your first glimpse of the floodlit Acropolis at night — the group's Big Night Out becomes your own night out in Gazi or Psyrri.
🚌Ferry Corfu→Patras ~£25 + bus Patras→Athens ~£15; or flight ~£40-70
🛏Plaka/Monastiraki hostel (~£18-30)
- →Corfu → Patras ferry + bus / flight to Athens
- →Syntagma Square visit (free)
- →Night view of the Acropolis
- →Psyrri or Gazi nightlife
Athens — Acropolis & Departure
Athens, Greece
Get to the Acropolis (combined ticket ~£18 which also covers the Ancient Agora, Roman Agora, Temple of Olympian Zeus and more) right at opening to beat the heat and crowds. Follow with the New Acropolis Museum next door (~£9) and a wander through the Roman Agora and Monastiraki flea market. Grab a final souvlaki, then head to the airport by metro (Line 3, ~£9, ~40 mins) for your onward flight.
🚌Athens metro Line 3 to airport ~£9
🛏—
- →Acropolis & Parthenon (combined ticket ~£18)
- →New Acropolis Museum (~£9)
- →Roman Agora (included in combined ticket)
- →Monastiraki flea market
Self-launched vs. G Adventures
| This itinerary (self-launched) | G Adventures | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£795 | £1,499 |
| Duration | 9 days | 9 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £704 per person (47%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more G Adventures-style trips? Check them out here.~£795
estimated per person
You never pay Travel Crew for this — you pay hostels, transport, and activity providers directly, the same as if you'd booked it all yourself.
This publishes your dates so other travellers can find and join you — no tour operator needed.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does Dubrovnik to Athens: Beachfronts & Fortresses (Self-Launched) cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £795 per person for 9 days in Croatia, Montenegro, Albania & Greece. This is an AI-generated estimate based on typical budget-traveller prices — actual costs will vary by season and how you book.
Is this cheaper than booking with G Adventures?+
Yes — G Adventures charges around £1,499 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £795 — a saving of roughly £704 (47%) per person.
How long is the Croatia, Montenegro, Albania & Greece trip?+
This itinerary runs 9 days, covering 9 day-by-day stops through Croatia, Montenegro, Albania & Greece.
How do I join this trip?+
You can join an existing open departure using this itinerary if one is scheduled, or launch your own departure with your own dates and invite other travellers to join you — no tour operator required.
Isn't it easier to just use a tour operator?+
Well, yes, a tour operator will book all the individual parts of your travel for you and provide a guide. That's obvious, but doing this has the potential to save the group thousands, which can in turn improve your itinerary substantially or save you huge amounts of money. Also, when you launch a departure, Travel Crew has tools in place to help you book the individual sections of the trip or make it easier for you to do this as a group. Really, you do not need a middle man. If you are more comfortable paying more and using a middle man, then you should certainly do this.
Is it safer to book through a tour operator?+
Arguably, there isn't much difference. A self-launched trip runs on the same principle as a group travel crew: collective responsibility, everyone looking out for each other, the same way it would if a group of friends organised the trip themselves — because that's exactly what's happening. You should always take out travel insurance before you go, self-launched or not; that doesn't change either way. Every open departure is published publicly with real dates and a real trip organiser, so it's never an anonymous arrangement, and our support team is reachable any time you need help, including in an emergency while you're away. Longer-term, we're building direct relationships with ground DMCs in popular destinations, offered as an optional paid add-on for extra on-the-ground support. Ultimately, though, the group is responsible for its own conduct and safety on a self-launched trip, same as on any trip you plan yourself.
What kind of trip is this?+
This is a adventure, culture, beaches trip through Croatia, Montenegro, Albania & Greece, self-launched rather than run by a tour operator — you organise it with a group you find or bring yourself.
Would you like to name the operator, name the trip, or have any suggestions about how to improve this itinerary?
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