Montenegro and Croatia sit peacefully on the Adriatic coastline with rugged mountains landscapes, medieval villages and beaches nestled within hidden coves. This 11-day road trip will take you from the lively streets of Dubrovnik to the small towns of Budva in Montenegro with the perfect mix of outdoor adventure and chilled beach time. 

Tip: This is a long travel day with a lot of moving parts so depending on where you are flying from as well as the coach and boat timings it may be best to spend night 1 in Dubrovnik before heading onto Mjlet. In addition to this, there are no direct car ferries from Dubrovnik to Mljet island. If you opt to travel by car the only option is to drive from the airport to Prapratno and take a car ferry from there to Sobra in Mljet. The total journey time is about 2 hours, including 45 minutes of the ferry crossing and then a short drive to your accommodation. A plus to this is then having a car to travel around the island but you will be more restricted in ferry times.

Tip: Mjlet is a very remote island with one single road running from west to east. This does mean that you can’t really get lost but public buses only run twice a day so the best option is to stay in Pomena where you can hire cars and motorbikes for the day.

Travel Time: Plane, 40-minute coach, a 1-hour 30-minute boat

In the late afternoon, there is no better way to see the sunset than out on the water in a Kayak. There are plenty of tours to join that set off throughout the day but golden hour is even more magical. Our particular tour started at the small port of Pile just outside the walls of the Old Town. Double-seater kayaks are available which, after 15 minutes of paddling, I quickly realised was a great idea as the tour is 3 hours long and pretty strenuous on the arms. As you push off the sand you won't miss the Lovrijenac fortress which sits imposingly atop a small cliffside and was built to protect the city from a Venetian attack in the 11th century. We then wrapped around the city walls until reaching the cave of Betina for a 20-minute swim break before heading around Lokrum and the Elaphiti Islands. This is the best way to get a unique perspective of Dubrovnik before heading out for dinner and drinks.

Travel Time: None

To Do: Walls of Dubrovnik, Đivovići Beach + Kayak Tour

The centrally connected island that Sveti Stefan is famous for was originally built during the 15th century to house 12 families when the town was no more than a fishing village. In 2009 it opened as the newest resort to the ultra-luxury hotel chain Aman but has remained closed since the start of the pandemic in 2020. Although no one can visit the island half of the beach that it is connected to is open to the public and a perfect spot to spend the rest of the afternoon. Make sure to take an evening stroll along the coastal path to adjacent bays Milocer and Queen's beach.

Travel Time: 2.5 Hour Coach, 1 Hour Drive

To Do:  Sveti Stefan, Milocer and Queen's Beach

Croatia and Montenegro make the perfect combination trip from afternoons spent exploring the Odysseus Caves on the remote island of Mjlet to the pretty peaceful town of Sveti Stefan. This route allows you to spend time in the popular town of Dubrovnik while mixing in a scattering of lesser-known locations along the stunning Adriatic coastline.

You may also like Must-Do 11-Day Road Trip Through Albania + North Macedonia or Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Most Beautiful Places

Picture yourself heading to Croatia + Montenegro? Pin this for later…