The best part of living in Romania is without any doubt being in the center of Europe, with easy access to many countries. You simply need to take a train or bus and you’ll be crossing borders! That’s why, when I lived in Romania, I couldn’t stop myself but visiting the Balkans, an unknown area then (I’m talking about 10 years ago), except for the war.
The itinerary I’m showing you here is what I did, that’s why the starting and ending place of the trip is Romania. If you’re traveling from somewhere else you can simply fly to any of the Balkan countries. If you want to start from Romania there are cheap flights with Wizzair to Timișoara.
Dubrovnik in the afternoon.
The famous fortress in Dubrovnik has been showcased in the popular Game of Thrones series. There are lots of walking tours available now that follow the recording locations.
Itinerary
Timișoara (2 days)
Visit the Orthodox Cathedral, Unirii Square, Victoriei Square, and get lost along the streets of the historic centre. Also don’t forget to enjoy the amazing Romanian food!
Train from Timișoara (Romania) to Belgrad (Serbia)
Because this is easier said than done, read the article I’ve written about the steps you’ll need to follow to take this train. I’m sure it’ll help you!
Belgrad (3 days)
Watch the sunset from the famous Walls, go shopping in the commercial streets in the centre of the old town, relax in one of the many parties happening in the boats in the river, or scape to watch St. Sava Temple (including a freshen bath for your feet in the numerous fountains you’ll find there).
Use the tram to move along the city, it’s the easiest and cheapest way.
Bus from Belgrad (Serbia) to Sarajevo (Bosnia)
I did this trip almost 10 years ago. Unfortunately, since 2012 there are no trains doing this part, so you can do it by bus or minibus. You’ll find the timeline for the buses and the stops here.
Sarajevo (2 days)
Bascarsija, the mosque, the famous fountain… enjoy a sunset from the Yellow Fortress (and on the way back relive the history walking along the many graveyards). Mix with the locals and sit with them on the table to eat burek. Walk the streets, discover all the buildings (the ones that are still standing and the ones half destroyed) and you’ll feel touched by the war disasters.
If you’ve got time go and explore Mostar (I couldn’t do it, but it’s a great reason to come back!).
Bus from Sarajevo (Bosnia) to Dubrovnik (Croatia)
It’s almost 6 hours so make sure to take a snack with you for the trip. The ticket costs only 20€ here. The bus station in Dubrovnik is around 3km from the old town, so it’s recommended to take a taxi until there (approx. 10 minutes).
Dubrovnik (3 days)
Don’t go away without visiting the fortress and the old town with all its artisanal shop. Take the ferry to Lokrum island to enjoy a day trip swimming in crystal clear waters. Go partying with the locals and enjoy a romantic dinner in one of the many restaurants around the harbour.
Bus or ferry from Dubrovnik to Split
There’s no connection by train, so you’ll need to take the bus (around 4.30 hours). The ticket costs 20€ (timetables here).
There’s another option, going by ferry or catamaran. The company Krilo is the one with the best reputation and frequency of services, but you can also check this one.
Split (2 days)
Old Split is fabulous (the dioclesian palace, the cathedral, the fortress…). Visit the harbour and have a bath in the sea, or simply enjoy a walk by the seaside at sunset.
Bus from Split to Zagreb
The ticket costs around 15€ and it takes 5 hours. You can see the schedule and buy tickets here.
Zagreb (2 days)
Jelacic Square. the «Well of Life», Maksimir Park… Pay a visit to the market, and if you’ve got time do one of the many «free walking tours».
Bus from Zagreb (Croatia) to Timisoara (Romania)
Flixbus does this route. You can see the schedule here in case you’d rather do a combination of 2 or more buses. The price goes from 50€ to 80€.
If you can on your way back to Timișoara you can do a day trip to Cluj-Napoca, a really beautiful city in the North of Romania.
