Trip Logisitcs for 14 days in Eastern Europe/Balkans

It sounds like you'll spread yourself really thin because you're not accounting for transit time between all these disparate places, and you have inadequate time "on the ground" for each place (with the exception of perhaps Budapest). In Croatia alone (which has a very long coastline) you have 5 distinct places to see in just 6 days (the northernmost one is quite far from the southernmost one); in Bosnia you only have 2 days for two cities, one of which (Sarajevo) is much larger than the other and has plenty to do to fill 2 full days alone, if not more. If you're using public transport, especially in Bosnia, you have to build in some slack for bus schedules. Do you enjoy picking up and moving from one place to another just about every single day, except for the 3 in Budapest? How would that work for a 14 day trip? If it sounds tiring, that's a clue to go back to the drawing board and start culling your wish list of places to see.

I understand that--hence why I am seeking advice. As stated, I feared it would be too much, but am not sure what is more worth seeing and what can be saved for another time.

If you were to put all your listed places on a map, then Budapest stands out like an outlier. It's too far from anything else. You can easily stick to the area that includes Split and points south all the way to the border and including some islands (easily accessed from Split via ferry), Montenegro, and Bosnia (Sarajevo and Mostar) and that would easily take up 12 days on the ground (not including travel days each way) while allowing you to spend more than just a day at each place. It's very hard to see both northern and southern Croatia in a single trip of the length you're proposing unless you just stick to Croatia itself, or you're prepared to change locations constantly. Hope that helps a bit.

I think that's too much for the time you have.

With 14 days, stick to Croatia plus 1, maybe 2 other short attachments.

We did Croatia + Slovenia and a day trip to Kotor in 15 days (not counting arrival or departure days) and that was moving very fast (and we skipped Zagreb). We were able to make it work, but just barely.

With the time you have, I think you could do:

1. Croatia plus a few days in Budapest
2. Croatia plus Bosnia and Montenegro

May is a good time to go.

Budapest is geographically too far removed from the other locations, so I would be tempted to drop that, particularly as I think you need at least 4 full days there to see the main highlights.

Ideally, late May would be better than early May, particularly if you want some beach time.

Assume that you will lose day 1 to jet lag, so 3 full days in Zagreb. Stay at Plitvice the night before you enter the park then spend a full day in Split and a day trip to Trogir and another to Hvar. Note that at this time of year, there are fewer catamarans to Hvar town and there is a greater chance that they maybe cancelled if the sea is rough.

Take the bus to Dubrovnik, which takes half a day door to door and have at least 2 days here.

Head to either Mostar or Sarajevo or Kotor and fly home from there. You don’t have time for all three IMO.

Leave out Budapest, or do Budapest/Vienna.

In Croatia/Slovenia/B&H, 2 weeks is long enough to do:

3 night Dubrovnik
3 nights Split
3 nights Zagreb
3 nights Ljubljana

You might drop Zagreb, add Rovinj, and that would flow better.

I'd go to Mostar in there. You could consider Sarajevo, which is a great town, but 2 weeks is not a long time.

Okay, I love Budapest and all tolled have spent a bit more than a year there, and I love Montenegro and have spent not quite two weeks there over two trips, but have only been to Dubrovnik in Croatia; Bosnia never.

Croatia to Budapest is sort of tough. We had to travel by way of Belgrade where we stayed for a few days. Very interesting city; but not beautiful by most measures. There are connections between Sarajevo, Bosnia and Podgorica, Montenegro on Wizzair for well under $100.

Dubrovnik is a freaking Disneyland; but beautiful (especially in the evenings). I enjoyed the two nights but that was the extent of it. Splurge and get a room within the walls so your time is well utilized. If you go to Dubrovnik, then Kotor is a waste of time. It’s a smaller, less impressive Dubrovnik. But! the drive from Dubrovnik along the Bay of Kotor is beautiful with some good towns to stop and explore. We stayed in Perast for a couple of nights. Much more interesting that Kotor, which we did stop in for a few hours before driving on over the mountains to Podgorica. From Podgorica we headed to Budapest. That was the first trip. On the second trip we flew to Podgorica from the states (through Rome), spent 5 days exploring the coast and another 5 days in the mountains before flying on to Budapest by way of Podgorica.

Here is an idea based on my interests 😊
1 Depart US
2 Arrive Dubrovnik
3 Dubrovnik
4 Dubrovnik to Perast to Kotor to Budva (less than 3 hour drive time, but all day with the stops an sightseeing)
(we stayed inside the walls at a place called Inn Hotel Villa Sigurata. It was about $200 a night, but to wake in the center of the old town, walk out the door and into what is a remarkably beautiful town was amazing. Also gave us time before the tourist rush hit each day, and again in the evening after many of the tourist left)
5 Budva (Tour old town, kayaking, parasailing, hiking, …..)
6 Budva (beach time!)
7 Budva (take a boat deep sea fishng!)
8 Day trip to Stari Bar
9 Budva to Podgorica to Budapest
10 Budapest
11 Budapest (option for a day trip to Szentendre and the boat back down the Danaube)
12 Budapest
13 Budapest (yes, you will regret not spending four days in Budapest)
14 Home

I would cut out Budapest, and maybe shorten your time in Croatia to make this itinerary doable.

For the last two winters, I travelled the Balkans and in December, my trip included Dubrovnik, Kotor, and Bosnia.

I had two nights/one full day in Kotor and that was plenty.

Depending on what you want to see, I think 2 days is plenty for Dubrovnik,. I stayed outside of the city by the cruise terminal and took a bus into the city.

Bosnia is currently my favorite place to visit and I’ve traveled to Sarajevo the last couple of years. I am not a huge fan of Mostar, but it can be worth a stop, especially if you get out of town and see the Dirvish house.

Sarajevo deserves 4 days at least. 2 years in a row and I can’t wait to go back again. I stay at a small family run hotel right in the heart of old town. There are museums, walks, and so much history to see.

Traveling between cities is best done by bus and that can take some time.

Enjoy!