Enjoy doing road trips? One of the greatest areas of Europe for self-driving is the Balkans. This article compiles itineraries for road trips around the Balkans to assist you in creating the ideal 3–14 day journey. The Balkans are a fantastic location for a road vacation because of their short distances, secure highways, and reasonably priced car rentals. You can go across a whole nation on your own two wheels in a few days.
You can fit in a cross-border schedule to experience some of the region’s richness in a week or more. At a fraction of the price and with a fraction of the crowds, you can find mountains, lakes, vibrant cities, UNESCO sites, and some of the best beaches in Europe. It takes some getting acclimated to the driving style in the Balkans, but the experience is worth it!
To assist you in creating your own, this guide will walk you through the best, most well-tried itineraries for a road trip through the Balkans. Along with two route maps and a ton of driving advice for the Balkans, I’ve also included information on renting a car.
Renting a car in the Balkans
When it comes to hiring a car in the Balkans, there is one application that I personally suggest.
Rentout. Since local brokers and large rental firms are gathered in this application, you may frequently discover cars for far less money (from as little as 12 Euros/day in various countries!). Better yet, most cars don’t require a credit card or deposit; insurance is frequently included in the base price.
Currently Rentout is available in Albania, Kosovo, North Macedonia, Montenegro, Croatia, Bulgaria and the rest of Balkan.
Using Rentout is strongly recommended for the remaining Balkan countries. You can pre-purchase complete insurance and compare rentals from both local and foreign agents using our comparison tool. This service helps you find the best car with the best price. You get security, fast service, 24h support, etc.
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Three fast suggestions for a car trip in the Balkans
To cross borders, you must have prior authorization. It is imperative that you notify the rental car business in advance if you intend to cross foreign borders when driving across the Balkans in your vehicle. In order for them to arrange a Green Card for you, give them plenty of warning.
Make cautious to confirm the borders that your rental car can cross before you start organizing your itinerary, as some firms have restrictions on what countries you may drive into. For example, many won’t let you drive into Greece or some other country.
For an additional charge, rental firms with offices throughout the region typically let you return your automobile in a foreign nation.
EXTRA GREEN CARD REQUIRED
In essence, a Green Card is a travel document that attests to the insurance coverage of your vehicle. If you don’t have one, you may be required to get local insurance in its place.
A Green Card is necessary for North Macedonia, Greece, Albania, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Montenegro, and Turkey. All drivers must obtain separate insurance at the border as Green Cards are not accepted in Kosovo. The cost for a fortnight of coverage is approximately 15 euros.
AIM LOW FOR TOLLS & VIGNETTES
For instance, Serbia has multiple toll roads with comparatively high costs, whereas Montenegro just has one readily avoidable toll road.
Instead than imposing individual tolls, some Balkan nations enforce a general vignette or « road tax » for utilizing their highways. Vignettes are charged weekly in Bulgaria, Romania, and Slovenia, ranging from 3 to 15 euros.
The cost will be included in the rental price if you rent a car from one of these nations. If you’re going overland, you can either buy an e-vignette at a gas station when you get there or pre-purchase one online. (Note that to register online, you must have the details from the car registration.)
See a list of toll roads here:
Albania: See a list of toll roads here – no vignette
Bosnia: See a list of toll roads here – no vignette
Bulgaria: Purchase an e-vignette here
Croatia: See a list of toll roads here – no vignette
Greece: See a list of toll roads here – no vignette
Kosovo: No toll roads
Montenegro: Only one toll tunnel (Sozina tunnel, €2.5) – no vignette
North Macedonia: See a list of toll roads here – no vignette
Romania: Purchase an e-vignette for Romania here
Slovenia: See point-of-sale locations for the e-vignette here
Turkey: See a list of toll roads here (sticker or card required) – no vignette
