Future EuroVelo 21 to link Belgrade to Shkodër via Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro

Spanning 1,061 km, the future EuroVelo 21 will offer cyclists a unique experience through diverse landscapes – from the Pannonian Plain to the Dinaric and Mediterranean region – and will showcase some of the region’s most significant natural environments, cultural heritage sites and rural communities.

The route begins in Belgrade, where the Sava meets the Danube. This is also a confluence of three EuroVelo routes which will connect to the new route: EuroVelo 6 – Atlantic-Black Sea, EuroVelo 11 – East Europe Route, and the future EuroVelo 18 – Sava Cycle Route. It continues through central Serbia passing through Mokra Gora Nature Park, where you can ride on the Šargan Eight train, the region’s only steam engine train.

The route then enters Bosnia and Herzegovina, crossing the Mehmed Paša Sokolović Bridge and going towards the capital city of Sarajevo. From there, the route continues south to Mostar and its famous Old Bridge, one of the UNESCO World Heritage sites located on the route.

The future EuroVelo 21 then continues in the direction of Dubrovnik, where cyclists can leave the route and make a short trip across the border to join EuroVelo 8 – Mediterranean Route, or continue towards Montenegro and its capital Podgorica – just like the old railroad once ran. This section passes by another UNESCO World Heritage site, the Vjetrenica cave, famous for its biodiversity and beauty.

Montenegro also offers stunning natural beauty, including the Salty Lake and views of some of the highest mountains in the Balkans. Perhaps the most beautiful part of this section is the Shkodër Lake on the border with Albania and the picturesque city of Shkodër, where the route ends with a connection to EuroVelo 8 – Mediterranean Route.

The candidate route is the result of a strong cross-border collaboration between national and regional stakeholders, including ministries, tourism boards and NGOs, and in particular National EuroVelo Coordination Centres and ECF members. The development of the future EuroVelo 21 is supported by all the regions the route crosses.

This project marks a significant step in expanding the EuroVelo network into Bosnia and Herzegovina, strengthens sustainable mobility and tourism across Southeast Europe, and will be well-integrated with other cycle route networks as a strategic corridor. The route will not only connect countries and cities, but also promote regional development, environmental awareness, active mobility and sustainable tourism. The route will become the 20th route of the EuroVelo network at the latest by 2031, provided that a set of criteria according to the European Certification Standard are met. These criteria are part of the New Routes, Route Extensions and Itinerary Changes process, which applies to all new routes that wish to join the EuroVelo network.