Croatia and Bosnia 2-week itinerary
Mostar and Kravice Waterfalls Full-Day Tour from Split
Croatia’s Dalmatian coast and Bosnia’s river-carved interior complement each other perfectly — one provides swimming, island-hopping and Roman ruins; the other provides Ottoman culture, war history, waterfall hikes and cheap, excellent food. This two-week loop starts and ends at Split and can be adapted for a Dubrovnik-to-Dubrovnik arc.
Days 1–3: Split and the Dalmatian coast
Fly into Split airport. The city’s UNESCO-listed Diocletian’s Palace — an entire Roman emperor’s retirement complex converted into a living city centre — is one of Europe’s most extraordinary ancient sites. Wander the peristyle, explore the apartments built into the palace walls, and eat at one of the konoba restaurants inside the fortifications. Day 2: island ferry to Brač or Hvar (day return, fast catamaran from Split port). Day 3: Trogir, 30 minutes north-west of Split — another UNESCO medieval old town on a small island — or the Krka waterfalls inland (~1 h 30 min by car).
Budget note: Croatia is significantly more expensive than Bosnia. A mid-range dinner in Split runs 200–300 HRK (~26–40 EUR); accommodation in a comfortable apartment costs 100–200 EUR/night.
Day 4: Split to Mostar — your first Bosnia crossing
Drive south-east from Split on the A1 motorway, then branch off towards Imotski and the border crossing at Vinjani Donji (one of the faster crossings). Total drive: about 2 h 30 min. You are now in Mostar, and the contrast with Croatia is immediate and exhilarating — cheaper, less polished, more Ottoman, with the Neretva running emerald-green between limestone cliffs.
Check in to the old town. Walk Stari Most in the evening. Take a Mostar and Kravice full-day tour from Split if you prefer not to drive independently.
Day 5: Herzegovina day trip — Blagaj and Kravice Waterfalls
A compact circuit: Blagaj Tekija (30 min from Mostar), Kravice Waterfalls (50 min south), and Počitelj (35 min south) fit neatly into a day with a car. Alternatively, take a guided tour from Mostar that covers all three.
Kravice is swimmable from June to September (water temperature ~17–20°C even in July). Arrive before 09:30 or after 16:00 in July–August. Entrance: 10 BAM (~5 EUR).
Day 6: Mostar to Sarajevo via Konjic
Drive north on the M17 through the Neretva canyon — one of the most dramatic roads in the Balkans, with the blue-green river far below between limestone walls. Stop at Konjic for Tito’s ARK D-0 nuclear bunker (book the bunker tour before you arrive) and the reconstructed Ottoman covered bridge. Continue to Sarajevo — a further 60 km, about 1 hour. Total drive with Konjic stop: ~3 h 30 min.
Days 7–9: Sarajevo — three full days
Three days is the right amount for Sarajevo if you want to move beyond the tourist circuit. Day 7: the guided Old Town walking tour covering Baščaršija, the four-faith quarter and the Austro-Hungarian ring. Day 8: the Bosnian War and Fall of Yugoslavia tour with the Tunnel of Hope Museum. Day 9: Trebević cable car, the Olympic bobsled track and an afternoon free for the National Museum, the War Childhood Museum or a Bosnian coffee workshop.
Where to stay: Guesthouses in Baščaršija cost 60–100 BAM (~31–51 EUR) for a double; design hotels and boutique options run 120–180 BAM (~61–92 EUR).
Food: Bosnia is extraordinarily affordable. A full sit-down lunch with soup, main and local wine costs 25–40 BAM (~13–20 EUR).
Day 10: Sarajevo — the surroundings
With a car, day 10 opens up the mountains. The Lukomir plateau hike (guided, departs Sarajevo by minibus) is the single best day hike in central Bosnia. Alternatively, drive 20 km south to Ilidža and Vrelo Bosne springs park, or 30 km to the Bijambare caves. If the weather is poor, Sarajevo’s indoor options are underrated: the History Museum, the 1878–1918 Museum and the Ali Pasha Mosque.
Day 11: Sarajevo to Trebinje
Drive south through Mostar (stop for lunch if you skipped its day trips earlier) to Trebinje — about 3 h from Sarajevo. Trebinje is Herzegovina’s most quietly beautiful town: an Ottoman stari grad (old town) on the Trebišnjica river, excellent local wine and almost no mass tourism. The hilltop Hercegovačka Gračanica church offers panoramic views over the Popovo Polje valley. For wine, the region produces Žilavka white and Blatina red from vines grown on the limestone karst around town.
Days 12–14: Dubrovnik
Trebinje to Dubrovnik is 30 minutes. Drop the rental car at Dubrovnik airport if your return flights route through there, or keep it for city parking (expensive and difficult inside the walls; park outside and walk or take a bus). Three days in Dubrovnik covers the old city walls, Lokrum island, the Lapad peninsula beaches and a day trip to Montenegro or the Elaphiti islands.
Alternatively: Return to Split from Trebinje — 3 h via Mostar or 3 h 30 min via the coast road. Drop the car at Split airport.
Crossing the Bosnia–Croatia border
The main crossings used on this route:
- Vinjani Donji (Split→Bosnia direction, towards Mostar): typically fast, 5–15 min.
- Neum corridor (coastal route, Split↔Dubrovnik): two brief stops, passport/ID check. Average 5 min each in low season, up to 30 min in July–August peak.
- Trebinje→Dubrovnik (Ivanica crossing): very fast, 5 min.
All border crossings require a valid passport or EU ID card. Car insurance must be valid for Bosnia — most standard European car hire agreements cover BiH. Ask explicitly when booking.
Budget comparison: Croatia vs Bosnia
| Item | Croatia (Split) | Bosnia (Sarajevo) |
|---|---|---|
| Guesthouse double | 80–150 EUR | 31–51 EUR |
| Lunch (main + drink) | 20–35 EUR | 8–14 EUR |
| Coffee | 2–3 EUR | 1–1.50 EUR |
| Fuel (per litre) | ~1.60 EUR | ~1.38 EUR |
Bosnia makes the Balkans affordable for travellers who find Croatia stretching the budget in peak season.
Top experiences
Bookable activities with verified prices and instant confirmation on GetYourGuide.
