I spent around two weeks backpacking through the Balkans and followed this route:
Budapest (2 nights):
Stayed at Maverick Central Market. Great location and an easy place to start the trip with a social atmosphere.
Belgrade (4 nights):
Stayed at Smart Hostel. Surprisingly enjoyable city with cheap food, good walking areas, and a relaxed pace. Staying longer helped reduce costs and avoid constant packing.
Sarajevo (2 nights):
Stayed in an apartment near Sarajevo City Center. Convenient for shopping and food, but the stay felt a bit short due to travel time.
Mostar (2 nights):
Stayed at Hostel Majdas. This ended up being one of the best hostels of the trip, with easy transport connections.
Kotor (3 nights):
Stayed at Hostel Pupa, close to the old town with supermarkets and restaurants nearby.
Notes from the trip:
Distances between cities are often longer than expected due to roads, borders, and transport delays.
Staying longer in one place (like Belgrade) helped reduce costs and made the trip more relaxed.
Simple food like supermarket meals and basic breakfasts helped keep expenses low.
Cash was still useful in many places even when cards were accepted in cities.
Offline maps and hostel Wi-Fi were enough for basic travel needs.
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