Self Drive Tours & Trips in Balkans
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10 best Self Drive Balkans tour packages
Compiled by
NadineBalkans travel expert at TourRadar
- Adventures Along the Adriatic: Croatia, Montenegro & Bosnia, Self-Drive
- 11 Day Island Tour Santorini, Crete, Rhodes with Private Cruise to Cape Sounio
- Highlights of Croatia with Plitvice, Self-Drive (Multi country)
- 8 Day Private Tour in Ancient Greece, Peloponnese, Syvota, Parga, Corfu
- Grand Peloponnese, Self-drive
- Discovering Crete, Self-drive
- Greece island Hopping: Cyclades, Crete & City of Gods
- Self Drive: Albania North to South
- Highlights of Romania self-drive, 8 days
- Best of Croatia 11 Days, Self-Drive
The Opel Astra takes you from Dubrovnik's UNESCO walls to Mostar's bustling bazaars. Wind through Kotor's medieval lanes and Split's Roman heritage. Comfortable stays await at selected hotels like Hotel Astoria and Hotel Tragos with breakfast included.
Duration 8 days Destinations Croatia, Montenegro, Bosnia Age Range All Ages Welcome Operator Gulliver Travel From $1,631
15% Off- NZ$1,387You save $245
11 Day Island Tour Santorini, Crete, Rhodes with Private Cruise to Cape Sounio
3 Reviews by TourRadar travelers“Everything was well planned, clearly communicated and superbly executed.”
Martin, traveled in October
Seamless Balkans tour with included transportation between Greek islands. Domestic flights, ferry connections, and private transfers allow exploration of ancient ruins and coastal beauty at your preferred pace.
Duration 11 days Destinations Athens, Santorini, Crete, Rhodes Age Range All Ages Welcome Operator Private Tours Greece From $6,797
25% Off- NZ$5,098You save $1,699
Your Opel Astra awaits for the drive from Split to Mostar. Plitvice Lakes and Biograd's coast offer natural wonders, with comfortable stays at selected hotels including Hotel Tragos and Hotel Eden.
Duration 11 days Destinations Split, Trogir, Zagreb, Plitvice Lakes National Park, Biograd, Mostar, Dubrovnik Age Range All Ages Welcome Operator Gulliver Travel From $2,371
15% Off- NZ$2,016You save $356
8 Day Private Tour in Ancient Greece, Peloponnese, Syvota, Parga, Corfu
1 Review by TourRadar travelers
The road leads from coastal Parga to mountainous Metsovo. UNESCO sites like Corfu's Old Town and Meteora's monasteries dot the route. Premium accommodations and detailed routes included.
Duration 8 days Destinations Athens, Mycenae, Epidaurus, Nafplion, Olympia, Parga, Sivota, Igoumenitsa, Corfu, MetsovoSee all destinations Age Range All Ages Welcome Operator Private Tours Greece From $7,694
10% Off- NZ$6,925You save $769
The Group B Opel Corsa carries you from Athens through the Peloponnese peninsula. Pass the Corinth Canal, meander through wine country, and follow coastal roads to medieval fortress towns.
Duration 8 days Destinations Athens, Corinth Canal, Nemea, Mycenae, Nafplion, Sparta, Monemvasia, Limeni, Stoupa, KalamataSee all destinations Age Range All Ages Welcome Operator Destination Services Greece From $1,684
10% Off- NZ$1,516You save $168
Discovering Crete, Self-drive
3 Reviews by TourRadar travelers“The car was ideal to suit our needs, and the hotels were lovely. There is excellent value for money, and I would use this operator again.”
Renee, traveled in April
The largest Balkan island unfolds by car, from ancient Knossos to pink-sand Elafonissi Beach. Visits to Spinalonga island and Toplou Monastery complement stays at carefully selected 3-star hotels including Hotel Olympic in Heraklion.
Duration 8 days Destinations Heraklion, Chania, Elafonisi, Rethymnon, Agios Nikolaos, Elounda, Spinalonga, Sitia Age Range All Ages Welcome Operator Destination Services Greece From $1,054
10% Off- NZ$949You save $105
Greece island Hopping: Cyclades, Crete & City of Gods
7 Reviews by TourRadar travelers“Everything worked out wonderfully and I was verry happy with the hotels.”
Gina, traveled in August
Duration 15 days Destinations Athens, Mykonos, Ios, Santorini, Rethymnon, Chania, Heraklion Age Range All Ages Welcome Operator Journaway From
10% Off- NZ$4,496
Self Drive: Albania North to South
1 Review by TourRadar travelers“The hotel staff almost everywhere was nice and the hotel quality varied in terms of the actual rooms.”
Rachel, traveled in August
A fully-equipped Dacia with GPS navigation opens up Balkan treasures. Theth's mountains and Saranda's coast beckon, with included insurance and unlimited mileage. A comprehensive travel manual ensures seamless independent travel.
Duration 11 days Destinations Tirana, Shkoder, Theth, Durres, Berat, Apollonia Archaeological Park, Gjirokastra, Saranda, Butrint National Park, Llogara National Park Age Range All Ages Welcome Operator Good Albania From
10% Off- NZ$2,358
Romania's treasures await on a 1,760km route from Bucharest to Transylvania's medieval towns. UNESCO sites and iconic castles dot the journey. Centrally located 4-star hotels provide comfortable bases for exploration.
Duration 8 days Destinations Bucharest, Sinaia, Bran, Brasov, Gura Humorului, Voronet, Sighetu Marmatiei, Sapanta, Cluj-Napoca, SighisoaraSee all destinations Age Range All Ages Welcome Operator World Synergy Travel From
10% Off- NZ$1,179
Best of Croatia 11 Days, Self-Drive
6 Reviews by TourRadar travelers“The car was a good quality car and most accommodation was nice.”
REINA, traveled in August
An Opel Astra carries you from Zagreb's medieval streets to Dubrovnik's ancient walls. Plitvice Lakes and coastal towns invite exploration, with stays at selected hotels like Hotel Savoy and Hotel Tragos.
Duration 11 days Destinations Zagreb, Opatija, Plitvice Lakes National Park, Zadar, Split, Dubrovnik Age Range All Ages Welcome Operator Gulliver Travel From $2,527
15% Off- NZ$2,148You save $379
What people love about Self Drive Tours in Balkans
- Greece island Hopping: Cyclades, Crete & City of Gods
It was my first solo trip and it couldnt have gone better. I was a little scared at the beginning, but journaway provided me with excellent support and advice throughout. Everything worked out wonderfully and I was verry happy with the hotels.
- Great tour of Croatia 15 Days, Self-Drive
This is an excellent way to see Croatia. We enjoyed driving and seeing the countryside at our own pace. Croatia is spectacularly beautiful. All the accommodations arranged for us were also wonderful. We stayed an extra couple of days in Zagreb and Dubrovnik which we used to tour Slovenia, Budapest, Hungary, Mostar, Bosnia and Kotor, Montenegro. All were amazing and we would 100% recommend this tour.
- Discovering Crete, Self-drive
I maybe should have thought about this more. I assumed there might be other folks on this tour and we'd have someone suggesting where to go. Instead, I was on my own and traveling alone. That was okay. I had the itinerary and the hotel for suggestions and I had a great time (except when I thought I'd lost my cards and spent all my time at Rethymnon dealing with that, but that was not the fault of the tour.) The hotels were good except that finding them was not always easy and the one at Agios Nikolaou had some stairs (and google sent me the wrong way down a one way street to get there.) They all had balconies and good to great breakfasts. My biggest complaint was that the rental company gave me a black car. They said I should have ordered a nonblack car. But I didn't order it and who would bring a black car to Crete? It was hot at 9:30 in the morning in September. I was warned it would be a standard, which wasn't a problem for me. But it had 6 gears plus reverse. Going into or over the mountains required a lot of up and down shifting, I had been warned by a taxi driver in Athens about Crete drivers, but it was the motorcycle drivers that had death wishes. This is a tour for the adventurous and self-directive. I made it to both Elafonissi Beach and the Cave of Zeus, which I highly recommend, though they mean negotiating the aforementioned mountain roads with hairpin turns on narrow roads.
What our customers ask about Self Drive Tours & Trips in Balkans
What are the must-see highlights on a Balkans Self Drive tour?
A Balkans Self Drive tour offers access to significant UNESCO heritage sites across multiple countries. Visitors can explore Plitvice Lakes National Park in Croatia known for its interconnected lakes and waterfalls. In Bulgaria the Rila Monastery stands as a testament to Orthodox architecture while Mostar's Old Bridge in Bosnia represents a symbol of post-war reconstruction. The route leads through Split where Diocletian's Palace remains a living monument Dubrovnik with its well-preserved medieval walls and Sofia's grand Alexander Nevski Cathedral. Natural landscapes include Slovenia's Julian Alps and the scenic drives along Croatia's Dalmatian Coast. A TourRadar traveler mentioned: "We had a delightful day exploring the magnificent views from Veliko Tarnovo and the romantic Black Sea coast."
When is the best time for a Self Drive tour in the Balkans?
Plan your Balkans road trip between May and September for the most reliable weather conditions. The coastal areas of Split and Dubrovnik see fewer crowds in June or September with pleasant temperatures around 25°C. For mountain regions like Plitvice Lakes July and August provide clear visibility and stable conditions. Winter brings challenging driving conditions especially through Slovenia's Julian Alps where snow is common. One TourRadar traveler commented: "End of May was the perfect time to explore as well with great weather and fewer tourists."
What documents and requirements are needed for a Balkans Self Drive tour?
Requirements include being between 21-69 years old depending on the country and rental company with a valid driver's license held for at least one year. Cross-border travel through Croatia Bosnia and Albania may require multiple-entry visas. Rental companies require a credit card for deposit and strongly recommend an International Driving Permit. Hotels such as the Olympic in Athens or Hotel Dubrovnik in Zagreb need passport identification at check-in. As one TourRadar traveler advised: "Make sure to check age restrictions as some rental companies won't let you be the driver if you're over 69 years old."
What's included in a typical Balkans Self Drive tour package?
Standard tours cover stays at established hotels such as the 4-star Hotel Sacher in Salzburg or Hotel Falkensteiner in Croatia. Packages typically include daily breakfast car insurance GPS navigation and detailed route guides. Operators provide round-the-clock support airport transfers and emergency communication tools like local SIM cards. Most tours come with pre-programmed GPS coordinates for key attractions and recommended stops. A TourRadar traveler shared: "Communication with the organizers was very easy and enjoyable - they provided pre-routed GPS and handled all accommodations perfectly."
How challenging is driving in the Balkans region?
Road conditions and driving complexity vary across the region. The coastal routes of Croatia and Montenegro combine scenic beauty with narrow winding roads. Modern highways connect major cities like Zagreb and Belgrade offering straightforward driving experiences. Mountain routes through Slovenia and northern Albania call for extra caution and attention. As described by a TourRadar traveler: "Driving in Bulgaria was easier than expected and the overall logistics of this trip are very well thought out with comfortable timing and relaxation time."
How much should I budget for additional expenses on a Balkans Self Drive tour?
Additional costs beyond the tour package include around 150-200 USD for fuel 30-50 USD daily for meals outside breakfast and parking fees ranging from 10-20 USD per day in tourist centers like Dubrovnik or Split. Factor in entrance costs to attractions such as Plitvice Lakes at 30 USD or Diocletian's Palace at 10 USD. A TourRadar traveler advised: "Local dining experiences are recommended and restaurants often feature traditional cuisine at reasonable prices."
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