Tour Croatia+ trip
Step into the world of spectacular destinations, ancient ruins, wonderful museums, soaring mountains and beautiful natural scenery of three inspiring European destinations Italy, Slovenia and Croatia.
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It’s difficult to describe Venice in a word or two. It is absorbing, romantic and most definitely unique, mostly because people don't just live overlooking the water, it’s a mix of unrepeatable feelings, views, sounds, reflections and colours that create the essence of the city.
Slovenia is rich in mountains, meadows, lakes, caves, and the sea. Its natural beauty is invaluable and it constantly ranks among the most attractive and friendly countries in Europe.
Croatia stands for perfectly preserved medieval cities, incredible food, dreamy landscapes, friendly people, picturesque red-roof houses, crystal blue waters of the Adriatic Sea and has the highest number of UNESCO Intangible Goods of any European Country.
Visit the famous Juliet’s House and contemplate the ill-fated love affair of Romeo and Juliet
You will learn a lot after you try a professionally guided tasting of 5 wines recommended by the sommelier
Experience Plitvice National Park on foot and in a boat. Experience first-hand the magical beauty of the lakes and waterfalls
Pula Arena It is the best-preserved ancient Roman landmark in Croatia and the sixth-largest of the 200 Roman amphitheatres in the world
You are about to discover the handpicked highlights of Italy, Slovenia and Croatia. Here you can learn a few interesting facts about some of them.
Italy
Italy has been, since antiquity, the centre of history, culture and art. Our museums, collections and archaeological sites reveal countless tokens of the past and the many civilizations that have passed across this country, evidence of which is still inextricably woven into the present-day landscape.
Its proper name Repubblica Italiana (Italian Republic), Nickname: “Bel Paese” which means beautiful country. Rome its capital city was founded in 753BC. Artistic wonders can be found everywhere, and every corner of the country holds countless and wonderful surprises. Our artistic and cultural heritage is one of the most valuable in the world.
Italy has more cultural UNESCO World Heritage Sites than any other country. The whole country can boast towns of breathtaking beauty, as these numbers demonstrate: 95,000 monumental churches, 40,000 forts and castles, 30,000 historical residences with 4,000 gardens, 36,000 archives and libraries, 20,000 historical cities and towns, 5,600 museums and archaeological sites, and 1,500 convents.
Venice
Venice is dubbed as one of the most romantic cities in the world and it is easy to see why when you walk through its many narrow cobbled streets and canals. Located in the Venetian lagoon, Venice is an island city that is formed from hundreds of individual islands all joined together by a network of canals and bridges. The central Grand Canal is a magnificent sight and the buildings that line it look simply beautiful. Furthermore, St. Mark’s Square is an absolute must-see with the opulent cathedral, the immense bell tower and the flocks of pigeons. Don’t forget to visit the Rialto Bridge, the Bridge of Sighs and Doges Palace too.
Verona
Verona, the UNESCO World Heritage Site and it’s surviving architecture and urban structure reflects the evolution of this fortified town over its 2,000-year history. Visit the famous Juliet’s House, see Juliet's balcony, where -it's said- she looked out to see her lover Romeo and relive the magic story of the two star-crossed lovers.
Spend some time at your pace to make some shopping, taste the famous "Juliet's braid", a typical dessert of Verona, or sip a glass of Valpolicella, a wonderful red wine coming from the famous namesake hill of Verona.
Slovenia
Slovenia offers tourists a wide variety of landscapes: Alpine in the northwest, Mediterranean in the southwest, Pannonian in the northeast, and Dinaric in the southeast. They roughly correspond to the traditional regions of Slovenia, based on the former four Habsburg crown land, each offers its own natural, geographic, architectural, and cultural features. Slovenia has mountains, meadows, lakes, caves, and the sea. Its natural beauty is invaluable and it constantly ranks among the most attractive and friendly countries in Europe.
Ljubljana
Ljubljana is one of the smallest European capitals. It’s never crowded – but also never boring. The city's unique architecture is the legacy of the Baroque and Art Nouveau periods and, most notably, the work of the famous 20th-century architect Jože Plečnik.
Ljubljana Castle a castle complex standing on Castle Hill above downtown Ljubljana. Originally a medieval fortress, it was probably constructed in the 11th century and rebuilt in the 12th century. It acquired its present outline with an almost complete overhaul in the 15th century, whereas the majority of the buildings date to the 16th and 17th centuries. Initially a defence structure and since the first half of the 14th century the seat of the lords of Carniola, it was since the early 19th century used for various other purposes.
Postojna Cave
The world's first railway in an underground cave was opened in Postojna Cave in 1872. Take a ride on the underground train and enjoy a 3.7-km-long journey on the world's only double-track cave railway. The wonderful Murano-glass chandeliers hanging from the ceiling of Postojna Cave's Dance Hall make for a fairytale atmosphere. Postojna Cave is the only place where you can see the most precious brilliant in the form of a cave formation and also meet the baby dragons. The magnificent five-metre-tall bright-white stalagmite called Brilliant is a symbol of Postojna Cave as well as the olm.
Olms have been captivating people's imagination since time immemorial and legend has it that they are actually baby dragons. They remain something of a mystery even today and are considered the largest cave-dwelling animal that can go without food for up to 10 years.
Croatia
Croatia, a land of spectacular sceneries, of rich cultural heritage and fairy-tale medieval towns situated at the crossroads of Central Europe and the Mediterranean Sea will offer you its miracles. Zagreb, the capital of Croatia, dated back to the 11th and 13th centuries with its Baroque architecture and colourful open-air markets, the unique setting of Plitvice Lakes, Diocletian’s Palace in Split as one of the most imposing and well-preserved Roman ruins anywhere, Dubrovnik, the Pearl of the Adriatic, the stunningly beautiful city with a fascinating history, are only some of the Croatian treasures which reveal themselves around every corner.
The smallest town in the world the town of “Hum” is so small its population is only between 17 to 23 people. Vinkovci in eastern Croatia is one of the oldest towns in Europe. It has been continuously inhabited for more than 8,000 years!
Rovinj
Rovinj is widely considered as the most beautiful town on the Istrian coast. Its historic centre is located on a hill on a small peninsula, which actually used to be an island, with the tiny strait filled in the 18th century. The artistic spirit of this town is visible at every corner, with numerous galleries, workshops and exhibitions year-round. One of the most famous events in Rovinj is the open-air exhibition on Grisia Street, which is open to everyone – academy-trained artists, amateurs, children...
Despite being the main route to the top of Rovinj hill, Grisia is actually a narrow, winding and stone-paved Mediterranean street.
The waterfront is adorned with the multi-coloured façades of old buildings, and you should add an evening stroll by the town's small port to your list of things to do in Rovinj. The summit of the hill is dominated by the baroque Church of St. Euphemia with an elegant bell tower and situated on a square. St. Euphemia became the patron saint of Rovinj thanks to a miracle: according to legend, her sarcophagus disappeared from Constantinople in 800 AD and washed ashore on the Rovinj waterfront.
Pula
The most famous landmark of Pula, Istria’s largest city, is the Arena, a gladiator amphitheatre that used to seat up to 23,000 people. It is the best-preserved ancient Roman landmark in Croatia, the sixth-largest of the 200 Roman amphitheatres in the world and the only one with all three storeys of the outer wall intact.
A testament to the architectural prowess of the builders is the ‘crown’ on the upper rim - each of the heavy stone blocks is of a slightly different shape to form the Arena’s perfect oval. There is little room for error when elevating such heavy stone blocks to a height of 30 m. The Arena isn't the only landmark dating back to the Roman era. Others include the Temple of Augustus, the Arch of the Sergii, the Gate of Hercules, the theatre among others.
Brijuni National Park
The archipelago of Brijuni is noted for its valuable cultural heritage from the Roman and Byzantine times. Due to its extraordinary beauty, the Brijuni islands have been, for over a hundred years now, a favourite tourist destination of world statesmen and aristocracy and were formerly the summer residence of President Tito, the leader of Yugoslavia. This group of two larger and twelve smaller islets with a total area of only 7 km2 is known for its preserved Mediterranean vegetation, which is partly landscape and partly national park.
Zagreb
The story of the city of Zagreb, the capital of Croatia, had begun more than 900 years ago. Situated under the hills of Medvednica and at the banks of the river Sava, the city gives you an open-hearted welcome. One of the most prestigious travel guides, Lonely Planet, listed Zagreb on top of the most desirable and exciting European destinations to be visited.
As a living, breathing city, Zagreb has a full menu of activities and pleasures all year round. Summers are rarely stifling and are a great time to enjoy Zagreb's parks. The season gears up in autumn with a full menu of concerts, exhibits and special events. Freezing winter temperatures make it the ideal time to duck into a cosy coffee house and linger over hot chocolate. In spring, cafe life blossoms as everyone heads outdoors for lunch on a terrace or an after-work drink on one of the city's attractive squares.
Varaždin
Varaždin is the city of Baroque, young people, music, flowers and bicycles. „Little Vienna“ with rich natural legacy interwoven in parks, a must-see destination, located in the North of Croatia on the southern bank of the River Drava.
The town starts to develop around the old fortress in the shape of a medieval Wasserburg, which helps in Turkish raids. Important owners of the fortress were Counts of Celje, Beatrice Frankopan, Margrave Georg of Brandenburg, and Baron Ivan Ungnad and Count Thomas Erdödy. In 1756, Varaždin the official residence of Ban Francis Nadasdy becomes the capital of all Croatia. Maria Theresa founded the Royal Croatian Council and it hosts the Croatian Parliament; it becomes the Croatian administrative centre and the seat of many Croatian noblemen.
In 1776 a big fire destroyed almost 80% of all buildings and houses in Varaždin, so the administration moves back to Zagreb.
Plitvice Lakes National Park
See for yourself why Plitvice Lakes have found their place on UNESCO's World Heritage List. There are numerous ways to experience the park throughout the year. The scenery offers a broad palette of stunning colours: turquoise lakes, vividly green forests, rustic brown leaves or snow-white waterfalls. The Plitvice Lakes are famous for their 16 magnificent and entwined cascading lakes that form a gorgeous ring of water. Plitvice has been named one of the 35 most beautiful national parks in the world, and for good reason.
Arrival to Venice, Italy. Private transfer from the airport to the hotel. With its gondolas, canals, amazing restaurants, and unforgettable romantic ambience, Venice is surely a city for one's bucket list. Waterfront palazzos, palaces, and churches make drifting down the Grand Canal feel like cruising through a painting. Venice and its symbolic places are renown all over the world: St Mark's Square with its Campanile, the St Mark's Basilica and the Doge's Palace, the Rialto Bridge, its palaces and its churches, its canals and its streets, the “calli”.
Time at leisure to enjoy Venice at your own pace.
Overnight in Venice.
Small-group tour featuring St Mark's Square, St Mark's Basilica including the visit of the Pala D'Oro inside the church, Bridge of Sighs, Doge's Palace (exterior), Bell Tower and Clock tower, Castello District of Venice and secret Venice (2 hours). Please wear comfortable footwear as this tour involves a lot of walking.
Equipped with complimentary headphones so that you can follow every word of your expert English-speaking Venice tour guide as you stroll around St. Mark's Square discussing all the major monuments that will include the Doge's Palace, Bridge of Sighs, Bell Tower & Clock Tower before entering St. Mark's Basilica with skip the line tickets to enjoy an in-depth tour of St. Mark's Basilica discussing the fabulous mosaics and visiting the Pala D'Oro.
In the second part of the tour, you'll explore a very different Venice. A Venice that's more fascinating and intimate, the Hidden Venice. While the tour guide continues to narrate the story of Venice, you'll enjoy exploring another world of narrow alleyways and meandering canals, punctuated by delicate bridges, hidden architectural gems and fascinating stories about the Venetians who created this incredible city from absolutely nothing!
In the afternoon you will experience private Venice Gondola Ride. This voyage along the evocative side canals of Venice offers the most romantic tours of Venice by boat.
The route features some of the amazing attractions: the glorious Baroque Salute Church that was built to commemorate the end of Venice's most severe and devastating plague, the La Fenice Opera House, the Guggenheim Museum & Peggy Guggenheim's former home, the ill-fated Ca' Dario Palace, Mozart's home in Venice and numerous magnificent Gothic/Byzantine Palaces that echo the great prosperity that Venice & the Venetians once enjoyed during the times of the Serenissima Republic.
The Gondola is as unique as Venice itself. Their crescent-shaped hulls and their forcole that allow the Gondolieri to position their oars in many different ways is the secret to how these long and slender crafts can navigate the narrow and intricate network of waterways of Venice.
Overnight in Venice.
Private tour from Venice featuring a private walking tour of Verona along with a wine tour in the famous Valpolicella wine country, home to the Amarone wine and visit to a selected winery (9 hours).
On a 2-hour private walking tour of Verona, you'll quickly understand that this city is much more than the famous Roman amphitheatre and the ill-fated love affair of Romeo and Juliet. Starting with the Romans conquering Verona, and ending with its contemporary history, the different ages of the city are visible through all the various monuments scattered around its historical centre. After a fascinating walking tour, your tour itinerary continues with a drive up into the nearby hills to explore the delightful countryside of the Valpolicella wine region.
An optional lunch (payment on the spot) at a restaurant located in the Valpolicella will enhance the overall experience of this beautiful part of the Veneto Region. Time permitting there will be a stop at an enchanting small village perched on a top of a hill from where on clear days you can enjoy beautiful views of the surrounding scenery and Lake Garda.
You'll then visit a celebrated wine estate in the Valpolicella wine region. For an in-depth tour of the winery to thoroughly understand the unique methods used to produce the famous Amarone red wine, enjoy a full wine tasting of the most representative wines produced by the estate, and including the Amarone Classico and Ripasso.
A selection of small appetizers will also be included to enhance the flavour of the wines tasted. You'll also have the chance to taste some of the local olive oil produced in the Lake Garda area. After completing the wine tasting your tour itinerary concludes and you will make our way back to Venice.
Overnight in Venice.
Early depart to Ljubljana, the capital of Slovenia, by private vehicle (approximately 5-hour drive). After check-in at the hotel, take the sightseeing tour of the city. Ljubljana is an attractive and friendly city with a green soul. It is one of the smallest European capitals, never crowded but also never boring, a city full of creativity, heritage and history.
Walk along the river Ljubljanica which passes through the town's centre, take a tour of the Three Bridges. Afterwards, visit the baroque City Hall and Ljubljana's main attraction Ljubljana Castle, standing on a hill above the city for about 900 years. Return funicular ride. The predominant architectural styles in the rest of the city centre are Baroque and Vienna Secession. Many important buildings and structures in Ljubljana were designed by Slovenia’s most famous architect Jožef Plečnik.
After the tour visit a 300-year-old wine cellar, taste 7 Slovenian wines of the highest quality from the three winegrowing regions, try some delicious appetizers, and let the expert English-speaking sommelier lead you down the thrilling path of tasting a selection of Slovenia’s best wines. You’ll learn a bunch of interesting facts and unlock the secrets of Slovenia’s deeply respected winemaking tradition.
Overnight in Ljubljana.
From Ljubljana proceed to Postojna (app. 1-hour drive). Visit the world-famous Postojna Cave, the biggest cave in Europe which is also known as one of the most stunning caves in the world. Ride on a miniature electric train through the fantastic subterranean world enriched with beautiful stalactites and stalagmites.
A legendary tourist train takes you to the underground network of karst tunnels, galleries, and halls. Postojna Cave is the only karst cave with a cave railway.
For 140 years it has been taking visitors to see stalactites and stalagmites and other features created by water. During an hour and a half long guided tour, you learn about all of the most important karst features, you see the largest, 5-metre-high stalagmite known as Brilliant, you visit the oldest underground post office in the world and the most famous underground animal – the human fish.
In the afternoon departure to Istria peninsula, city of Rovinj, Croatia (approximately 2-hour drive).
Overnight in Rovinj.
In the morning sightseeing tour of the art city of Rovinj which is widely considered as the most beautiful town on the Istrian coast. Its historic centre is located on a hill on a small peninsula, which used to be an island, with the tiny strait filled in the 18th century. The artistic spirit of this town is visible at every corner, with numerous galleries, workshops and exhibitions year-round. One of the most famous events in Rovinj is the open-air exhibition on Grisia Street, which is open to everyone – academy-trained artists, amateurs, children.
Afterwards, visit the art medieval cities Motovun and Grožnjan.
Motovun is a medieval settlement in the form of an acropolis. You will be led to the top of Motovun hill and its Venetian style square by the longest staircase in Istria, which consists of 1052 steps. In the central square is the Romanesque Municipal Palace, the largest secular building in Istria of that period surrounded by many other historic buildings.
The medieval town of Grožnjan remained largely untouched. It sits on the hill, a 228 m above the sea level, and it offers amazing vistas over the Mirna Valley, olive groves and vineyards and the sea. Grožnjan is known as “the town of artists” since several artists founded an art colony in the old abandoned houses where they reside and work.
Visit the wine cellar Kabola near Momjan at 275 m of altitude, where the view stretches to the Alps and Dolomites on one side, and rich greenery of untouched nature and wonderful sea view on the other. Tour of the cellar, professionally-guided tasting of 5 wines recommended by the sommelier. You will taste 5 wines among famous Kabola wines: Istrian Malvasia, Amfora Malvasia, Momjan Muscat, Sparkling Wine RE, Teran, Merlot or Cabernet. Cheese, prosciutto, bread, dessert and olive oil will be tasted too.
Overnight in Rovinj.
In the morning departure towards Pula, the oldest town on the Eastern Adriatic Coast.
Sightseeing of the city includes a visit of the beautiful Roman amphitheatre – the Arena, a gladiator amphitheatre that used to seat up to 23,000 people. It is the best-preserved ancient Roman landmark in Croatia, the sixth-largest of the 200 Roman amphitheatres in the world and the only one with all three storeys of the outer wall intact.
Then drive to Fažana and embark on a boat to Brijuni National Park. The sightseeing tour includes a ride in a tourist train, a visit to the remains of the Roman villa dating from the 1st century B.C. in the bay of Verige, the safari park which breeds zebras, Somali sheep, dromedaries, llamas and elephants. Visit the archaeological museum, located in the Citadel building from the XVI century and the Church of St. Germain with its permanent exhibition of copies of frescoes and Glagolitic writings from Istria.
Overnight in Rovinj.
Morning departure to Plitvice Lakes National Park (approximately 3,5-hour drive). Upon arrival visit the Lakes.
Plitvice Lakes National Park is registered on UNESCO's List of World Heritage Sites. The park is a magical world of lakes, waterfalls, moss and forests. Nestled in the embrace of the surrounding wooded mountains are sixteen smaller and larger crystal turquoise lakes, interconnected by foaming cascades and deep falls. The park includes the headwaters of the Korana River in an area surrounded by dense forests and is additionally ornamented by several caves, springs and flower-filled meadows, which show the vast diversity of flora and fauna in the park.
A sightseeing walking tour of the National Park, which includes a boat ride, allows you to experience first-hand the magical beauty of the lakes and waterfalls, each spectacular in its own right.
Overnight in Plitvice or surroundings.
After check-out from the hotel departure to Zagreb (approximately 2,5-hour drive). On the way to Zagreb stop at Barać Caves, just 20 km from Plitvice Lakes National Park. These caves, after which the entire protected area was named, were first opened for visitors way back in 1892. Descend below the surface of the earth and discover the fascinating world of subterranean life. The temperature inside the cave is always around 9°C, so make sure to bring a jacket or warm sweatshirt and wear appropriate footwear.
The professional guide will lead you on the lit path that snakes through stalactites and stalagmites and, during a 60-minute stroll, tells you about the formation of the cave through millennia. You will be taken back into time and shown a variety of monuments in stone, the habitat where the cave bear once used to live, the place where a mediaeval bronze necklace was discovered…And then, at one moment, the tour will lead you into total silence and darkness so that you may immerse yourself in a one-of-a-kind experience of the subterranean world that you will cherish forever.
Proceed to Zagreb.
Upon arrival, go on a walking city tour (approximately 2 hours): The Stone Gate, Grič Cannon and St. Mark's Church are just some of the Upper Town's most cherished sights. A walk along its narrow streets, each with its own stories from the past, is a real pleasure. There is also the elegant architecture of Zagreb's Lower Town and its Austro-Hungarian buildings and parks, as well as the charming pedestrian streets and squares where locals love to relax.
Overnight in Zagreb.
Full day excursion to Varaždin, including a visit to the Old Town Castle and walking tour discovering all hidden gems of the city. Once the capital city of Croatia, this true Baroque gem considered to be one of the most desirable cities to live in Croatia. „Little Vienna“ with rich natural legacy interwoven in parks shows its unique urban identity not only in the opulent Baroque architecture of the historic core but also in the warmth of its squares and romantic streets.
Visit the famous beautifully landscaped cemetery established in 1773 and considered to be the most beautiful cemetery in Croatia and even in Europe.
Afterwards head to Trakošćan Castle, a late 13th-century observation post that was part of north-western Croatia's fortification system. According to legend, Trakošćan was named after a Thracian fortress that supposedly existed during antiquity. The castle was mentioned for the first time in 1334 and its last owners were the Drašković family. At the castle, you can explore the knight's and hunting halls, the music salon, the studio of the painter Julijana Erdödy, a weapon collection dating back to the period between the 15th and 19th centuries and furniture. Also, you will enjoy the nearby lake and take outstanding photos.
Return to Zagreb, overnight.
Free time until your private transfer to the airport in Zagreb.
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