Group of 6Lisbon, the Algarve & Madeira
July 2026
7 nights · Lisbon → Lagos → Sintra → Lisbon → Funchal → Lisbon
Germany, Croatia & Montenegro
Couple · July 2026 · 23 nights
A couple spent three and a half weeks moving south from Berlin to the Montenegrin coast, travelling on the ground by train, bus and boat wherever possible. Germany was three cities with a day trip from each, Croatia was Split and Dubrovnik, and Montenegro closed the trip with the Bay of Kotor, the Budva Riviera and Lake Skadar. Montenegro sits outside Schengen, so it was planned with its own visa and flights.
- Travellers
- Couple
- When
- July 2026
- Length
- 23 nights
- Route stops
- 8 stops
Munich → Berlin → Frankfurt → Munich → Split → Dubrovnik → Kotor → Budva → Podgorica
Day by day
Day 1: Land in Munich, train to Berlin
Morning arrival in Munich and an ICE train of about four hours north to Berlin. Evening walk on the Kurfürstendamm, a few steps from the hotel.
Overnight in Berlin
Day 2: Historic Berlin
Brandenburg Gate, the Reichstag and the Holocaust Memorial on foot, then Checkpoint Charlie and one of the Museum Island museums. Evening at the East Side Gallery along the Spree.
Overnight in Berlin
Day 3: Charlottenburg and the Tiergarten
Charlottenburg Palace and its gardens in the morning, before the crowds. Afternoon through the Tiergarten to Potsdamer Platz, ending at the TV Tower on Alexanderplatz.
Overnight in Berlin
Day 4: Berlin to Frankfurt
A four-hour ICE train to Frankfurt. Evening in the Römerberg, the old town square with its half-timbered houses.
Overnight in Frankfurt
Day 5: Frankfurt city day
Breakfast at the Kleinmarkthalle covered market, a walk along the Main and an afternoon at the Städel Museum. Apple wine in Sachsenhausen in the evening.
Overnight in Frankfurt
Day 6: Day trip to Heidelberg
Regional train to Heidelberg, under an hour away. The castle ruins, the Old Bridge and the Philosopher’s Walk above the Neckar, back in Frankfurt by evening.
Overnight in Frankfurt
Day 7: Frankfurt to Munich
A three-hour ICE train to Munich. Marienplatz for the Glockenspiel and dinner around the Viktualienmarkt.
Overnight in Munich
Day 8: Munich palaces and parks
Nymphenburg Palace in the morning, then the English Garden and the surfers on the Eisbach wave. Evening at the Hofbräuhaus.
Overnight in Munich
Day 9: Neuschwanstein Castle
An early train to Füssen and the bus up to Neuschwanstein, with castle tickets booked weeks ahead. Back in Munich for a last evening.
Overnight in Munich
Day 10: Fly to Dubrovnik, on to Split
Late-morning flight from Munich to Dubrovnik via Zurich. Road transfer up the coast to Split, arriving late evening.
Overnight in Split
Day 11: Diocletian’s Palace
The Roman palace that became the old town: the Peristyle, the cathedral and the cellars below. Lunch on the Riva and sunset from Marjan Hill.
Overnight in Split
Day 12: Island day from Split
A foot-passenger ferry to Hvar or Brač, both under an hour from Split, for beaches and a slower day. Back for dinner near the Green Market.
Overnight in Split
Day 13: Split to Dubrovnik
Bus or catamaran down the coast to Dubrovnik. First evening walking the Stradun in the old town.
Overnight in Dubrovnik
Day 14: City walls and Mount Srđ
The two-kilometre city walls walk at 8 am, before the cruise ships arrive. Afternoon cable car up Mount Srđ, then the Rector’s Palace and Fort Lovrijenac.
Overnight in Dubrovnik
Day 15: Lokrum Island
Ten-minute ferry to car-free Lokrum for its botanical garden, monastery ruins and swimming coves. Last dinner by the old harbour.
Overnight in Dubrovnik
Day 16: Into Montenegro
Leave Croatia for Montenegro and transfer to Kotor on the bay. Evening walk through the walled old town and St Tryphon Cathedral.
Overnight in Kotor
Day 17: Perast and Our Lady of the Rocks
Drive around the bay to Perast and take the short boat to the islet church of Our Lady of the Rocks. Roman mosaics at Risan on the way back.
Overnight in Kotor
Day 18: Kotor fortress and Lovćen
An early climb to the San Giovanni fortress above the town. Afternoon up the serpentine road to Lovćen National Park, stopping in Njeguši for local ham and cheese.
Overnight in Kotor
Day 19: Kotor to Budva
A 40-minute private transfer along the coast to Budva. The citadel and ramparts of the old town, then Mogren Beach.
Overnight in Budva
Day 20: Sveti Stefan
The Sveti Stefan islet viewpoint and the beaches at Miločer and Pržno nearby. Sunset over Budva and dinner in the old town.
Overnight in Budva
Day 21: Adriatic boat day
Speedboat along the coast to swim in the Blue Cave, with stops at Žanjic and Sveti Nikola island. Timings were left to the weather on the day.
Overnight in Budva
Day 22: Ostrog Monastery to Podgorica
Inland to Ostrog Monastery, built into a vertical cliff face. On to the capital, Podgorica, for an evening along the Morača river.
Overnight in Podgorica
Day 23: Lake Skadar
Boat safari from Virpazar across Lake Skadar, the largest lake in the Balkans, past island monasteries and birdlife. Wine tasting in a cellar built in a former aircraft tunnel.
Overnight in Podgorica
Day 24: Fly home from Tivat
An early start with a packed breakfast and a transfer of under two hours to Tivat airport. Flight home via Belgrade and Frankfurt.
What we arranged
- Flights in, between Munich and Dubrovnik, and home from Tivat, with airside-only transits
- Eight hotels over 23 nights across three countries, breakfast included at most
- ICE train legs Munich–Berlin–Frankfurt–Munich with seat reservations
- Neuschwanstein tickets booked as soon as dates were fixed
- Private driver for every transfer and day trip in Montenegro
- A separate Montenegro visa application, since it is not covered by Schengen
Shared with names, exact dates and prices removed.