Serbia + Bosnia 15-Day Road Trip: Belgrade to Dubrovnik (Self-Launched)

Land at Nikola Tesla Airport and take the A1 shuttle bus or bus 72 into the centre (~300–400 RSD / £3). Check into a hostel or guesthouse in Stari Grad or Savamala. Spend the afternoon walking Belgrade Fortress and Kalemegdan Park for Danube-Sava views, then dinner in the cobbled Skadarlija quarter (ćevapi and a local beer for around £8–10). Buy a Belgrade bus/tram day card if you plan to move around.

🚌A1 shuttle bus from airport (~£3), walking in the centre

🛏Hostel or guesthouse in Stari Grad/Savamala (dorm £12–18, private £25–35)

• →Belgrade Fortress & Kalemegdan Park (free)
• →Skadarlija evening walk
• →Optional: Nikola Tesla Museum (~600 RSD)

Full day in the capital. Start at the National Museum of Serbia on Republic Square (£5), wander Knez Mihailova and the Bohemian quarter, then take trolleybus 40 or bus 31 to the Temple of Saint Sava — climb the dome for city views. Optional: Museum of Yugoslavia (Tito's mausoleum) in Dedinje, reachable by bus 40/41. Evening: splavs (river barges) along the Sava if you want the local nightlife.

🚌Public buses/trolleybuses, ~£2 day ticket

🛏Hostel or guesthouse in Belgrade

• →National Museum of Serbia
• →Temple of Saint Sava (free, dome ~£2)
• →Knez Mihailova & Republic Square
• →Optional: Museum of Yugoslavia (~£4)

Take a morning bus from Belgrade's BAS station to Smederevo (~1 hr, ~£3). Explore the vast Smederevo Fortress on the Danube bank (free), then continue by local bus or shared taxi to the Viminacium Roman archaeological park (~£2–3 entry + transport) where you can see excavated legionary fort and Roman tombs. In the late afternoon catch a bus to Požarevac (~1 hr, ~£3) and stay overnight — a low-key Serbian provincial town with cheap rooms.

🚌Intercity bus Belgrade–Smederevo ~£3; local bus to Viminacium; bus Smederevo–Požarevac ~£3

🛏Small hotel or sobe (private rooms) in Požarevac (£15–22)

• →Smederevo Fortress
• →Viminacium Archaeological Park
• →Danube riverside walk

This is the trickiest leg without a car: take an early bus toward Veliko Gradište, then a taxi or local bus to Golubac Fortress at the Danube's Iron Gates (£5 entry, worth it for the towers and river views). Return to Veliko Gradište and continue by bus toward Požarevac/Belgrade, then a train or bus onward to Kraljevo (total 5–6 hrs). If the connections feel tight, consider staying a night in Veliko Gradište and shifting the Ibar monasteries to Day 5 morning. Overnight in Kraljevo.

🚌Local buses + one taxi stretch ~£15 total; onward bus to Kraljevo ~£8

🛏Guesthouse/hotel in Kraljevo (£15–22)

• →Golubac Fortress (Iron Gates)
• →Ram Fortress viewpoint (if time)
• →Optional: Tumane Monastery by taxi

Base yourself in Kraljevo for the morning and visit Žiča Monastery (15 min by local bus, free entry) — the coronation church of Serbian kings. Hire a taxi for a half-day loop to Studenica Monastery, a UNESCO site with 12th-century frescoes (~£25–30 for the round trip including waiting time), stopping at Maglič Castle on the way back if the driver is willing. Late afternoon bus to Novi Pazar (~1.5 hrs, ~£4), a fascinating Ottoman-era town with mosques and a bazaar.

🚌Local bus to Žiča ~£1; taxi half-day ~£27 split if possible; bus Kraljevo–Novi Pazar ~£4

🛏Guesthouse or small hotel in Novi Pazar (£15–20)

• →Žiča Monastery
• →Studenica Monastery (UNESCO)
• →Maglič Castle
• →Novi Pazar bazaar evening

Morning: taxi or local bus to Đurđevi Stupovi Monastery just above town, then continue to Sopoćani Monastery (UNESCO, famous frescoes) — a combined taxi loop is ~£20. For the Uvac 'Molitva' viewpoint, arrange a taxi from Nova Varoš or take a guided viewpoint transfer (~£20–30, book a day ahead via your guesthouse) — the serpentine gorge views are the trip's scenic highlight. Continue by bus to Zlatibor (~2 hrs) for a two-night stay in this mountain resort town.

🚌Taxi loop in Novi Pazar ~£20; Uvac transfer ~£25; bus to Zlatibor ~£5

🛏Guesthouse or apartment in Zlatibor (£18–25)

• →Đurđevi Stupovi Monastery
• →Sopoćani Monastery (UNESCO)
• →Uvac Molitva viewpoint

Day trip by local bus and shared taxi. Stopić Cave is ~10 km from Zlatibor (bus or taxi ~£5); Sirogojno's open-air 'Staro Selo' ethno village (£3) shows traditional log houses and wool crafts; Gostilje Waterfall is a short taxi hop away (£5–8). Alternatively rent a bike or join a small local tour from Zlatibor. Evening back in town — try kajmak, proja and rakija at a konoba (£10).

🚌Local buses and shared taxis ~£15

🛏Guesthouse or apartment in Zlatibor

• →Stopić Cave
• →Sirogojno Ethno Village
• →Gostilje Waterfall
• →Zlatibor lakeside walk

Early bus/taxi to Mokra Gora (~40 min) for the Šargan Eight heritage narrow-gauge railway (£10–12, book ahead in season). Afterwards take a local bus to Višegrad (~1.5 hrs) to see the UNESCO Mehmed Paša Sokolović Bridge and Kamengrad. Then bus Višegrad–Sarajevo (~2.5–3 hrs, ~£8), arriving evening. Stay in a hostel in Sarajevo's Baščaršija old town (dorm £10–15, private £25–35).

🚌Taxi Zlatibor–Mokra Gora ~£10; bus Višegrad–Sarajevo ~£8

🛏Hostel or guesthouse in Baščaršija, Sarajevo (£10–30)

• →Šargan Eight railway
• →Višegrad Bridge (UNESCO)
• →Višegrad Kamengrad viewpoint

Slow day on foot. Join a free walking tour of Baščaršija (tip £5) covering the Old Orthodox Church, Gazi Husrev-beg Mosque, the Sarajevo Cathedral and the 'Sarajevo meeting of cultures' line. Lunch on ćevapi at a Baščaršija ćevabdžinica (£4–6), then coffee in a traditional sebilj-side café. Optional evening: join a local history tour about the siege or visit the Gallery 11/07/95 (£5).

🚌Walking; tram day ticket ~£1.50

🛏Hostel or guesthouse in Sarajevo

• →Sarajevo Cathedral
• →Baščaršija bazaar & free walking tour
• →Gazi Husrev-beg Mosque
• →Optional: Gallery 11/07/95

Ride the Sarajevo funicular up to Yellow Bastion for morning views (£1.50), then take tram/bus to the Tunnel of Hope museum in Ilidža (£3). Catch a mid-afternoon train or bus to Mostar (~2 hrs, train ~£5, scenic Neretva gorge route). Stop in Konjic on the way (or as a separate bus break) to see the 17th-century Ottoman bridge. Arrive Mostar, check into a guesthouse in the old town, and walk the Stari Most at sunset.

🚌Funicular ~£1.50; train Sarajevo–Mostar ~£5; local tram ~£1

🛏Guesthouse in Mostar old town (£15–25)

• →Sarajevo funicular
• →Tunnel of Hope Museum
• →Konjic Old Bridge
• →Mostar old town & Stari Most

Take local bus 36 or a shared taxi to Blagaj Tekke (~£2), the dervish monastery at the foot of a cliff spring. Then continue to Počitelj's medieval Ottoman old town (bus or taxi ~£3) and climb the fortress tower. Return via a small family winery near Čitluk or Blagaj for a Žilavka/Blatina tasting (~£8–12). Back in Mostar for an evening under the bridge.

🚌Local buses and shared taxis ~£8

🛏Guesthouse in Mostar

• →Blagaj Tekke monastery
• →Počitelj Medieval Old Town
• →Herzegovina wine tasting
• →Mostar bridge at night

Shared taxi or bus to Kravica Waterfall near Ljubuški (£3 entry, ~£8 transport each way; summer swimming is possible). Combine with the pilgrimage town of Međugorje (bus ~£3) and, if you have time, the Roman villa ruins at Mogorjelo near Čapljina. A half-day organised minivan from Mostar costs ~£20–25 if you'd rather not juggle connections. Evening back in Mostar with a cheap grill dinner.

🚌Bus/shared taxi Mostar–Kravica–Međugorje ~£15, or minivan tour ~£22

🛏Guesthouse in Mostar

• →Kravica Waterfall
• →Međugorje pilgrimage centre
• →Mogorjelo Roman site (optional)

Bus to Stolac (~1 hr) to see the fortress and the Radimlja medieval stećak tombstones (UNESCO, free). Continue by local bus or taxi to Vjetrenica Cave near Ravno (£5 entry, bring a light jacket) — check seasonal opening hours before you go. Then bus/taxi onward to Trebinje (~1.5 hrs), a pretty Herzegovinian town with a walled old town and plane-tree squares. Check into a guesthouse.

🚌Buses Mostar–Stolac–Trebinje ~£8; taxi stretch to cave ~£10

🛏Guesthouse in Trebinje (£15–22)

• →Radimlja archaeological site (UNESCO)
• →Stolac Fortress
• →Vjetrenica Cave
• →Trebinje old town

Take a local bus or taxi to Tvrdoš Monastery (5 km out of town, free entry, known for its wine cellar — a tasting is ~£5). Back in Trebinje, walk the Arslanagić Bridge, the Church of the Holy Transfiguration and the Austrian-era old town, then sit in the main square with coffee and a Herzegovina wine (£3). Easy, slow day before the final hop to Croatia.

🚌Local bus/taxi to Tvrdoš ~£5

🛏Guesthouse in Trebinje

• →Tvrdoš Monastery & wine cellar
• →Trebinje historical centre
• →Arslanagić Bridge
• →Church of the Holy Transfiguration

Cross the border to Croatia: take a bus from Trebinje to Dubrovnik (~1.5 hrs, ~£8, several morning departures; bring your passport for the Neum/Brgat border crossing). Drop bags, then walk the Stradun and climb the city walls (~£30 — the one splurge) or catch the cable car for sunset over the old town. Fly out from Dubrovnik or stay on for the islands; note Croatia uses the euro.

🚌Bus Trebinje–Dubrovnik ~£8

🛏Hostel or sobe in/near Dubrovnik old town (£25–40)

• →Dubrovnik city walls
• →Stradun & old town
• →Optional: Srđ cable car
• →Optional: Lokrum island ferry