The Balkans with a Private Driver: 5 Classic Routes

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The best parts of a Balkan trip are often between the cities: a stone bridge over an emerald river, a hilltop fortress, a family restaurant famous for its roast lamb. With a private driver-guide you can stop at all of them, without worrying about bus timetables, rental car paperwork or border queues. Here are five classic routes our drivers travel every season.

1. Sarajevo to Dubrovnik via Mostar

The most popular route in the region, and one of the most beautiful. From Sarajevo you follow the Neretva river through its canyon to Konjic and Jablanica, then on to Mostar and its Old Bridge. In the afternoon there is time for the Dervish house in Blagaj, the medieval town of Počitelj or a swim at the Kravica Waterfalls before you cross into Croatia and reach Dubrovnik in the evening.

• Best stops: Konjic, Jablanica, Mostar, Blagaj, Počitelj, Kravica
• Tip: a long but rewarding day. If you have time, break it with a night in Mostar.

2. Split to Sarajevo through Herzegovina

Travellers coming from the Dalmatian coast can reach Sarajevo through the heart of Herzegovina. The route passes the Kravica Waterfalls and Mostar, then climbs through the Neretva canyon to the capital. It is a natural way to add Bosnia to a Croatia holiday.

3. Dubrovnik to the Bay of Kotor

A short drive with big views. You follow the coast into Montenegro and around the fjord-like Bay of Kotor, with stops in Perast, where boats leave for the island church of Our Lady of the Rocks, and in the walled town of Kotor. Budva and Sveti Stefan are a short drive further.

4. Kotor to Tirana, Lake Ohrid and Skopje

For travellers who want to go further south, this route crosses into Albania, with a stop in Shkodra or a night in Tirana, then continues to Lake Ohrid in North Macedonia, one of the oldest lakes in Europe, and finally to Skopje. It is the core of our 7-Day Balkan Tour.

5. Sarajevo, Jajce and Travnik

Inland Bosnia is often skipped, which is a shame. In one day you can visit Ottoman Travnik, the wooden watermills on the Pliva Lakes and the waterfall in the centre of Jajce, the last capital of the medieval Bosnian Kingdom. See our Travnik and Jajce Tour.

Private driver or rental car?

• No border stress: your driver knows the crossings and the documents needed for the vehicle.
• No one-way rental fees, which can be high when you drop a car in another country.
• A guide on board: you hear the history of each place as you pass it.
• No parking hunts in old towns like Dubrovnik and Kotor.

How to book a private driver-guide

Send us your route, dates and number of travellers and we will reply with a plan and a price. You can book a private driver-guide for a single day, a one-way journey with sightseeing, or a full tailor-made Balkan tour.

Frequently asked questions

How long is the drive from Sarajevo to Dubrovnik?

About five hours of driving without stops. With sightseeing on the way, plan for a full day.

Do I need my passport for every border?

Yes. Keep your passport with you, as there are passport checks at most borders in the region.

Can we change the route on the day?

Within reason, yes. That is one of the main advantages of travelling with your own driver.

Day trips from Sarajevo: Mostar and Herzegovina Tour (from €90) · Medieval Bosnia: Travnik and Jajce Tour (from €85)

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Related articles

• Dubrovnik to Sarajevo: How to Get There and What to See on the Way
• How to Plan a Balkan Trip: Step-by-Step Guide
• Is Mostar Worth Visiting? Things to Do in Mostar
• Private Driver and Guide in Bosnia and the Balkans