Highlights of Hungary, Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina in a 14-day private tour

Enjoy the spectacular Hungarian capital, "the grand city "Budapest, admire ornate Art Nouveau façades and Neo-Gothic landmarks and walk along the grand boulevard of Andrássy Avenue to Heroes' Square. Experience a ride to Balaton Lake, the Hungarian sea, with its beautifully diverse landscape. Drive through impressive Bosnian landscapes to Sarajevo, the unique cultural mix of different worlds and cross the UNESCO-protected Old Bridge in Mostar. Take time to admire the impressive ruins of Diocletian's Palace in Split, walk the walls of the Old Town of Dubrovnik and be reinvigorated by the turquoise waters of the Adriatic.  

You are about to discover the handpicked highlights of Hungary, Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina. Here you can learn a few interesting facts about some of them.

Hungary

Located in central Europe, Hungary offers a wide range of unique destinations. Low mountain ranges, lakes and rivers, plains and more are spread across the country, as are many small, quaint villages. With easy access to Europe due to its convenient location, visitors to Hungary will enjoy the ability to experience a vivid culture that showcases its worthiness as one of the top 15 global destinations.

Hungary is also the birthplace of many famous people. Erno Rubik, a sculptor and professor, invented Rubik's Cube in 1974. Hungary boasts 13 Nobel Prize winners, and magician Harry Houdini was also born in the country's capital, Budapest.

Budapest

The Hungarian capital, Budapest, with a population of 2 million people, is situated on both sides of the river Danube. Pest is flat, while Buda is hilly. The grand city full of European charm reveals a multi-cultural past in Europe rich with Roman, Renaissance, Turkish, German and Austrian impressions, and Hungarian culture's rare ability to fuse these interactions with its own unique identity. To see the city from her best angle, head up to the Fisherman's Bastion for incredible views from Castle Hill.

Visitors to Budapest are often impressed by its wonderful late 19th- and early 20th- century buildings, incorporating motifs from old Hungarian architecture - folk art and even oriental features. If you are an art lover looking for a truly unique architectural style in Hungary, or if you like to explore different styles, you'll find Hungarian Art Nouveau fascinating.

Bosnia and Herzegovina

Bosnia and Herzegovina is an almost landlocked country – it has a narrow coast at the Adriatic Sea, about 20 kilometres long surrounding the town of Neum. It is bordered by Croatia to the north, west and south; Serbia to the East; and Montenegro to the southeast. The inland Bosnia is a geographically larger region than Herzegovina, with a moderate continental climate, hot summers and cold and snowy winters. The region's climate has given Bosnia and Herzegovina a wealth of diverse flora and fauna.

Sarajevo

The capital city of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Sarajevo, is located near the country's centre.

In Sarajevo, you can find traces of the Neolithic Butmir Culture, Illyrians, Romans, and Slavs, as well as remains representing the medieval Bosnian Kingdom, the Ottoman and Austro-Hungarian Empires, the Kingdom of Yugoslavia and the Socialistic Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.

Over the past 100 years, Sarajevo has found itself a member of six states and has witnessed the Sarajevo Assassination, the First and Second World Wars, the XIV Winter Olympic Games, and the longest-running siege of any town in modern history. Sarajevo is steeped in history and is always eager to share its many fascinating stories with visitors.

Croatia

With approximately 1,200 islands, azure waters and colourful villages rich in history, Croatia is drawing more and more travellers to its shores. Croatia is the Mediterranean's fastest-growing destination, luring travellers with its pristine national parks, adventure sports and UNESCO World Heritage sites.

The mere mention of Croatia conjures up images of colourful landscapes, sparkling waters and fortified towns furnished with quaint outdoor cafés. Situated at the crossroads of the Mediterranean, Central Europe and the Balkans, Croatia has it all, from beautifully preserved medieval cities to stunning natural wonders.

Zagreb

The capital of Croatia, the city of Zagreb, is divided into three parts. The thousand-year-old Gornji grad (Upper Town) contains the Presidential Palace, the iconic St Mark's Church, the Croatian parliament, museums and galleries. All of those are set in cobbled streets lit by gas lamps. The 19th-century Donji grad (Lower Town) with its shops, restaurants, cafes, theatres and parks; and the modern post-World War II area of Novi Zagreb ('new Zagreb') which is full of high-rise buildings.

Zagreb holds many museums, galleries, theatres, restaurants and cafés, green areas, viewpoints and places to stroll around. Admire the glass ceiling at Oktogon, the Secessionist-style tiled facade at Kallina house, rummage through vibrant produce at the Dolac Market and wander through 'the Green Horseshoe', a U-shaped configuration of city squares and parks in downtown.

Split

Split is the largest city on the Croatian coast, and yet it has preserved the relaxed lifestyle of the Mediterranean. The city grew around the palace of the Roman Emperor Diocletian, which had been built almost two millennia ago. The centre of the complex is made entirely of white stone and is a UNESCO World Heritage site. In the palace itself are antiques which include three 3500-year-old sphinxes brought to Split from Egypt for the Emperor. It is a city within a city with a labyrinth of narrow streets packed with people, bars, shops, cafes and restaurants located within old buildings. To get the best view of the city, you must climb the Bell Tower of St. Domnius Cathedral, considered the world's oldest Catholic cathedral.

Dubrovnik

Dubrovnik is known as one of the world's finest and most perfectly preserved medieval cities in the world. The neatly contained Dubrovnik centre, a UNESCO World Heritage site, is the result of meticulous reconstruction after the earthquake of 1667. But its allure also lies in the fact that it is a lived-in city, vibrant and bustling with locals whose homes line the narrow streets and sunlit squares.

Dubrovnik Old Town weaves the story of its history and its present into the splendid fabric of fine architecture and magnificent city walls. Starting from Pile square on the eastern side of Dubrovnik Old Town, walk through the maze of narrow streets, lively piazzas, and stunning palaces like Sponza and churches like St. Blaise.