Backpacking with locals on the Adriatic Coast

Explore the sun kissed melancholy towns of Italy, Croatia and Montenegro on holiday

If you prefer to go local on holiday and want to avoid the tourist crowds, then why not explore the Adriatic coast this summer? Brimming with remote little villages and unspoilt towns, the region is awash with lush sandy beaches and medieval Venetian ports. Always a joy to explore as a backpacker you can experience the hidden beauty of Italy, Croatia and Montenegro on a budget with HostelsClub. Book your holiday today and find more about the rustic charms of the road less travelled.

1) Trieste, Italy

Trieste is a neo-classical seaport that proudly stands as the most northernmost point of the Mediterranean on the Italian/Slovenian border. Lying in the shadow of the Alps, the city is often ignored by guidebooks in favour of nearby Venice, which is only 70 miles along the coast.

While it is understandable that Venice will get all the attention, this in itself is a great shame. As this elegant city of the Austro-Hungarian Empire feels more like Vienna than its picturesque neighbour and is now internationally recognised as the Mediterranean’s premiere coffee port.

With traditional Viennese coffee houses such as Caffè Tommaseo and Caffè degli Specchi dominating the central square, the Piazza dell’Unità d’Italia, the city retains a distinctive Central European splendour. Famous for its high winds, literary trails and black coffee, Trieste’s former residents include legendary Irish novelist James Joyce and Italo Svevo.

Offering backpackers an elegiac reminder of what pre-war Europe felt like before mass air travel, Trieste remains a city apart. A hair's breadth away from Slovenia and offering a beautiful gateway to the Veneto region, Trieste is an authentic reminder of European life at the turn of the century.

2) Hvar Island, Croatia

Attracting sun loving backpackers, Hvar Island is a gorgeous Croatian hideaway during the summer season, and is the sunniest island in the country. Forming part of the Dalmatian archipelago, travellers arriving here will be immersing themselves in a timeless Mediterranean fairytale, and one entirely free of traffic. Formerly part of the Venetian empire, today the island offers visitors the opportunity to unwind away from the hassles of urban life.

Go swimming and wander amongst the Venetian architecture, before climbing up the steep hill towards the sixteenth century fortress. Explore the hidden alleyways and crooked stairs before having a latte by the harbour. Come nightfall you shouldn't expect any crazy parties in Hvar Island. Although the island's restaurants and bars regularly stay open until late during the summer season. Order a bottle of wine from a local restaurant and see the night out watching the stars twinkle over the Adriatic.

3) Tivat, Montenegro

Tivat is one of the most secluded tourist spots in Mediterranean, idyllically situated in the central part of the Boka Kotorska bay. With its gorgeous Mediterranean climate and romantic turquoise coastline, the town is popular for sailing, kayaking and swimming. In recent years the town has undergone a radical transformation with neighbouring Porto Montenegro receiving huge investment from the yachting industry.

The old town is remarkably unspoilt despite the recent corporate investment and is largely free of mass tourism, which remarkable since there is an international airport only 3 kilometres away. Once you arrive you can unwind easily in Tivat, relax in the sunshine with a glass of wine or visit the the Renaissance Summer House Buca and Ostrvo Cvijeća (Flowers’ Island) with its historic monuments. You can easily spend a few days here before travelling across Montenegro.

*By exploring the lesser well known towns of the Adriatic coast you'll be well rewarded for your curiosity. From the imperial splendour of Trieste to the remote beach towns of little Montenegro, there'll be no shortage of blue eyed wonders awaiting you when you travel in the Mediterranean. Book your holiday today and save a fortune backpacking along the Adriatic coast and discover local life in style.

Default photo by: Kiwi Flies