Plitvice and the Dalmatian coast to Kotor

Route description

From Zagreb, the A1 motorway and then the D1 lead south to Plitvička jezera, the Plitvice Lakes, sixteen terraced lakes joined by waterfalls and boardwalks. Buy tickets online in summer and start early, before the paths get crowded. A forest campsite near Rakovica is within easy reach of the entrances.

The route then crosses the mountains to the coast at Zadar, with its Roman forum and the Sea Organ on the waterfront. The A1 continues along the Dalmatian hinterland to Split, where the old town is built inside Diocletian’s Palace.

South of Split the coastal road winds above the sea past the Makarska Riviera; the Pelješac Bridge now lets you reach Dubrovnik without crossing the short Bosnian stretch at Neum. In Dubrovnik, walk the almost 2 km of Gradske zidine, the city walls, early in the day, before the cruise crowds; parking near the old town is scarce.

The last leg crosses into Montenegro and follows the shore of Boka Kotorska, a fjord-like bay, to the walled town of Kotor. Climb to the fortress for the view, and spend the night at the marina motorhome stopover. Montenegro is outside the EU, so carry your passport and vehicle papers and check that your insurance covers the country.