The basic Baranja loop – it covers sweeping corners, wineyards, fields and lakes the region is known for.
This is my go-to weekend route when I have just a few hours to spend driving. It’s never crowded and is beautiful most times of the year.
- Loop Start/End: Kneževi Vinogradi
- Loop Type: Clockwise
- Distance: ~56 km
- Drive Time: ~1 hour
- Best Vehicle: Any car that you enjoy will do – the route is not very fast
- Season: Late spring through harvest season
- Vibe: Rustic, rolling, open vineyards and remote village roads
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Road Metrics
- Twist Factor: Low-medium — mostly sweepers with a few tighter spots in village entries
- Traffic: It is light, primarily local vehicles, but there might be more trucks as you get closer to the border with Hungary.
- Safety: Mostly good asphalt. Some vineyard crossings have gravel, but overall, it’s good quality.
- Surface: Good, some bad parts around Podolje
The route is my safe space when I need to simply take a nice and relaxing drive. My parents have a weekend house in Draž, and I’ve visited Baranja often. This route, however, takes us through one of the most-photographed Baranja locations, the viewpoint near the Belje winery.
Getting there is simple, but the roads are not as wide through the vineyards, so have that in mind. I suggest a stop at the viewpoint for a photo or two, and then a short drive will get you to Beli Manastir, Baranja’s largest city and regional capital.
From there, we go north towards the border but turn right towards Duboševica, where we are greeted with several long straights and a couple of sweeping corners before getting to Topolje and later Gajić and Draž.
After turning right in Draž, we go towards Podolje and then climb back up through a recently-renovated road towards Kotlina, and back to Kneževi Vinogradi.
The route is more solitary and introspective than an adrenaline-fueled drama, but I would recommend it to anyone looking to kill some time and relax. There are rarely cars on the road, and while it doesn’t offer spectacular sights like some roads in Croatia do, it has a great, laid-back energy that you simply can’t help but enjoy.
Recommended Stops
- Vinarija Belje & Vidikovac: You can book a tour of the Belje Vinery. Belje is one of the largest wineries in Croatia, and it is the base for the production of Belje wines.
- Draž: Draž has a small beach with a beach bar and a beautiful walkway above the water.
- Topolje Church: This unusually positioned church, known for hosting the Tisto Festival and the “Wine and Tambure” event, overlooks the Dunavac.
Route Overview
📍 Loop Start/End: Kneževi Vinogradi
🛣️ Distance: ~56 km
⏱️ Time: ~1 hr
↩️ Loop Direction: Recommended clockwise
🚗 To get there: From Osijek, go north to Bilje, then continue through Vardarac, Lug and Grabovac to Kneževi Vinogradi. It’ll take around 20 minutes.
🧭 Want to follow the same route?
👉 Open this drive in Google Maps
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It doesn’t matter whether you’re a local like me or visiting Baranja for the first time. This route is easy, enjoyable, and has great character, which will definitely make you smile.
🧰 Plan Your Drive
Before you go, here are a few tools that help you read the road ahead.
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Spirited Driving Score
60/100
The route is more on the casual side, but it is still enjoyable for a day trip through Baranja.
Note: Scores are based on road twistiness, traffic levels, elevation changes, surface quality, and overall driving experience.