Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Slovenia, Hungary, Austria, Czech Republic
DUBROVNIK – ŠIPAN, LOPUD, KOLOČEP ISLANDS – MOSTAR – SPLIT – TROGIR – ZAGREB – PLITVICE – LJUBLJANA – PIRAN – PORTOROŽ – POSTOJNA – PREDJAMA – BLED – BOHINJ – VERŽEJ – BOGOJINA – FILOVCI – BUDAPEST – VIENNA – ČESKY KRUMLOV – PRAGUE
15 days / 14 nights
Highlights:
Visit the wonder of a castle built directly into a cliff edge in Predjama
The pearl of Slovenia: one of the 10 most beautiful islands in the world, Lake Bled
The best shopping and clubbing experience in this part of Europe
16 lakes & 92 waterfalls in Lake Plitvice
Itinerary:
DAY 1 Dubrovnik
DAY 2 Dubrovnik, Šipan, Lopud and Koločep Islands
DAY 3 Dubrovnik, Mostar, Split
DAY 4 Split, Trogir, Zagreb
DAY 5 Zagreb, Plitvice, Zagreb
DAY 6 Zagreb, Ljubljana
DAY 7 Ljubljana, Piran, Portorož, Ljubljana
DAY 8 Ljubljana, Postojna, Predjama, Ljubljana
DAY 9 Ljubljana, Bled, Bohinj, Ljubljana
DAY 10 Ljubljana, Veržej, Bogojina, Filovci, Budapest
DAY 11 Budapest, Vienna
DAY 12 Vienna, Prague
DAY 13 Prague, Česky Krumlov, Prague
DAY 14 Prague
DAY 15 Departure from Prague
DAY 1: DUBROVNIK
/Dubrovnik airport – Dubrovnik 25km, 45min/
Arrival at Dubrovnik Airport, after immigration transfer to Dubrovnik.
Dubrovnik has always been Croatia’s richest city, but today it is one of the best tourist cities in the Mediterranean, known as the “Pearl of the Adriatic.” The city is located in the extreme south of Croatia, at the foot of the hill Holy Wrath, just 35 km from the border with Montenegro.
Check-in at hotel in Dubrovnik.
Leisure time for the rest of the day.
Dinner.
Overnight in Dubrovnik.
DAY 2: DUBROVNIK, ŠIPAN, LOPUD AND KOLOČEP ISLANDS
After breakfast, a sightseeing tour of Dubrovnik. The Old Town is upheld by high city walls and joined UNESCO in 1979. Although it was heavily destroyed in the 1667 earthquake, Dubrovnik managed to preserve its Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque churches, monasteries, palaces and fountains.
After lunch, the tour will continue by boat, visiting the three most beautiful Elaphiti Islands situated off the coast of Dubrovnik: Šipan, Lopud and Koločep. Šipan is famed for its numerous palm tree species that grow on the island. In the times of the Republic of Ragusa, Koločep was an important shipbuilding site. Two members of Christopher Columbus’ crew on the Santa Maria were sailors from the island. Archaeological remnants of ancient European conquerors have been found on the island: from the ancient times of Greece and Rome to the Napoleonic times.
Free time before dinner. Take a stroll along the main street in Dubrovnik, called Stradun, and you might run into Tom Cruise, Angelina Jolie or Brad Pitt!
Overnight in Dubrovnik.
DAY 3: DUBROVNIK, MOSTAR, SPLIT
/Dubrovnik – Mostar 150km, 3h/
/Mostar – Split 180km, 3h30/
After breakfast, a drive through the marvellous gorge of the Neretva River towards Bosnia’s star city, Mostar. Mostar was named after the bridge keepers (“mostari”) who in the medieval times guarded the Stari Most (Old Bridge) over the Neretva. The Old Bridge, built by the Ottomans in the 16th century, is one of Bosnia and Herzegovina’s most recognizable landmarks, and is considered one of the most exemplary pieces of Islamic architecture in the Balkans.
Departure towards Split with just enough time to experience the Split nightlife. One of the most popular things to do at night in Split is to head down to the city’s main promenade, Riva, after the sun sets. Lined with cafés, restaurants and bars, it’s located right beside the ocean and is popular meeting spot for locals and visitors alike. You’ll often find stalls set up along the promenade, even after dark, plus lots of the city’s festivals are centred on this area.
Overnight in Split.
DAY 4: SPLIT, TROGIR, ZAGREB
/Split – Trogir 30km, 1h/
/Trogir – Zagreb 390km, 4h30min/
After breakfast, you will go on a guided tour of Split. The city got its reputation by the building of Diocletian’s palace in the 3rd century. Today the palace is one of the largest and best preserved late Gothic buildings in the world. The tour of the city centre will include Diocletian’s Palace, the Cathedral of St. Duje built during the Middle Ages using the materials of an ancient mausoleum, Jupiter’s Temple and a walk along the Riva, the main coastal promenade, where tourists from around the world gather in picturesque cafes.
After lunch, the tour will proceed towards the coastal town of Trogir, situated in central Dalmatia, only 30 km from Split. The Old Town covers an area of only 1 km2, but the island in it is intertwined with numerous palaces, churches and bell towers of different styles, from Romanesque-Gothic and Renaissance to Baroque. The most beautiful architectural work is that of the cathedral of St. Lorenzo, which was built in the 13th century. This rich cultural village has been protected since 1997 under UNESCO.
Late arrival in Zagreb. Dinner. Check-in at hotel.
Overnight in Zagreb.
DAY 5: ZAGREB, PLITVICE, ZAGREB
/Zagreb – Plitvice 150km, 3h/
/Plitvice – Zagreb 150km, 3h/
After breakfast, departure towards the Plitvice Lakes National Park and tour of the Park in the afternoon. It is composed of 16 blue and green lakes, connected with more than 90 waterfalls and rapids. For the beauty and the attraction of the Plitvice Lakes, travertine and the plants of travertine take the credit. With the formation of travertine and the partition of the river bed, lakes have formed. This is a magnificent architectonic phenomenon of nature, surrounded by thick woods in which bears, wolves, wild hares, martens, and partridges live. The park has belonged to UNESCO Cultural Heritage since 1979. Lunch.
Dinner back in Zagreb, before a crazy night of partying. You will celebrate your last night in one of Zagreb’s famous nightclubs. With plenty of dancing and drinking, the party doesn’t stop until the early hours of the morning. Whether you will choose Saloon, Route 66, Gallery or Aquarius Club, you will party the night away.
Overnight in Zagreb.
DAY 6: ZAGREB, LJUBLJANA
/Zagreb – Ljubljana 150km, 3h/
After breakfast, a sightseeing tour of Zagreb. Zagreb is a city of parks, palaces, museums and universities. The city lies on the south-western part of the Pannonian Basin and extends between the Sava River and Mount Medvednica. It represents an important link between Central Europe and Asia Minor and the shortest link between the Pannonian Plain and the Adriatic Sea. Departure on a tour of the biggest attractions of the city such as the Cathedral, the picturesque and bustling marketplace Dolac, the Church of St. Mark – the symbol of Zagreb, the vantage point of the tower Lotrščak, which offers a splendid view over Zagreb, the stone gate where you can light a candle, and Bana Jelačič Square, which is not only the crossroads of the upper and lower parts of the city but also the heart of the city, connecting the young and old residents of Zagreb. Lunch.
Departure towards Ljubljana with a sightseeing walking tour. Ljubljana has everything that modern capitals have to offer, and on top of that, it has managed to keep the pleasant and relaxing atmosphere of a smaller city. You will visit the old part of town along theLjubljanica River and you will see the most important cultural and historical monuments including the Three Bridges and the New and Old Markets where you will be delighted with boutique shops and nice restaurants. We will also stop at the famous bridge and learn a few secrets of the medieval city before the path continues to the town square with the Town Hall and the city icon – a fountain symbolizing the three rivers of Carniola. We will also visit the nearby baroque church of St. Nicholas, the food market and the Dragon Bridge with its four dragons that protect the city while also serving as its trademark. With the funicular railway you will climb to the castle which rises above the town. You will finally climb the castle’s tower and enjoy the view over the city and its green surroundings.
Dinner.
Overnight in Ljubljana.
DAY 7: LJUBLJANA, PIRAN, PORTOROŽ, LJUBLJANA
/Ljubljana – Piran 130km, 2h/
/Piran – Portorož 5km, 15min/
/Portorož – Ljubljana 130km, 2h/
After breakfast, departure for a day trip on the Slovenian coast. First stop will be Piran. Piran is characterized by medieval architecture, with narrow streets and compact houses. It is the birthplace of composer and violinist Giuseppe Tartini, who played an important role in shaping its cultural heritage. The town’s main square, Tartini Square, is named after him.
The next stop will be the popular tourist resort city of Portorož. The beach is well-maintained and you can go swimming in the beautiful, warm Mediterranean Sea where the temperatures, warmed by the summer sun can get up to 31 °C. Also, there are several bars on the beach that offer a lively atmosphere year round. There you can treat yourself to a cup of fresh coffee after a long walk on the beach. Numerous restaurants by the sea invite you to a tasty lunch. Enjoy a delicious wine tasting in the karst region – a region well known for its vineyards.
Return to Ljubljana and dinner.
Overnight in Ljubljana.
DAY 8: LJUBLJANA, POSTOJNA, PREDJAMA, LJUBLJANA
/Ljubljana – Postojna 60km, 1h/
/Postojna – Predjama 15km, 30min/
/Predjama – Ljubljana 70km, 1h30min/
After breakfast departure to Postojna, which at the time of the Austro-Hungarian Empire constituted the only exit to the Adriatic Sea. You will visit Postojna cave, which is a network of 23 kilometres of tunnels, galleries and halls, in which experienced guides have accompanied more than 30 million visitors in over 200 years. This is the biggest classical karst cave and the most visited tourist cave in Europe. The cave train will take you into the depths where, thanks to the electric lighting, you can appreciate all the dimensions and nuances of the underground karst, where the geological past is written in a unique way.
After lunch and a wine tasting at a wine cellar in the karst region, you will visit Predjama castle, a castle built directly into a cliff edge, with an underground tunnel through the mountain. Photo stop.
Departure towards Ljubljana. An evening of shopping in the largest shopping centre in Slovenia will follow. BTC City is the largest shopping centre in Slovenia with specialized shops, supermarkets, and more than 450 stores. Free time. In addition to shopping, you will have the opportunity to visit the entertainment centre Arena, where under one roof you have low endurance sports activities and programs for relaxation, shopping and film entertainment with educational and playful content. The amusement centre covers an area of 9,000 m2. The centre includes billiards and bowling centre with its central entertainment centre serving as the XPAND cinema with 3D stereoscopic projection, representing the most innovative technology in the field cinematography in this part of Europe. This is the most modern equipped cinema for digital projection in 3D and its dynamic seats enable a new and unique experience on screen. Atlantis Water Park is also at your disposal for pampering you. This is a water park with a wide variety of facilities with dynamic architecture including a 15,000 m2 room for entertainment, relaxation, gathering new strength and recreation. It also includes 16 swimming pools, three of which are outdoor, and offers visitors plenty of fun, adventure, and 15 thematic saunas.
Dinner.
Overnight in Ljubljana.
DAY 9: LJUBLJANA, BLED, BOHINJ, LJUBLJANA
/Ljubljana – Bled 60km, 1h/
/Bled – Bohinj 25km, 45min/
/Bohinj – Ljubljana 80km, 1h30min/
After breakfast, departure towards Bled. Bled is one of the most prestigious Slovenian resorts with its glacier-formed Alpine lake, the famous island of the Slavic goddess of life, Živa, and the oldest castle in Slovenia. In the 19th century, the Swiss doctor Arnold Rikli discovered the beneficial natural resources here and established a spa centre, making Bled one of the most popular touristic places in Austria-Hungary. You will traverse the lake in a traditional boat called pletna towards Bled Island, which was visited by pilgrims as early as the ancient times. From Bled castle, you will admire the fairy-tale lake and the high limestone peaks of the Julian Alps. Lunch.
After lunch head over to the mountain village of Bohinj, home of the largest natural glacial lake in Slovenia, Lake Bohinj. There are many humorous myths relating to Bohinj. It is said that the Turks (the mighty conquerors) turned around when they tried to invade Bohinj, because they thought it was the end of the world. Another myth says that a magic creature, Zlatorog (the Goldhorn), lives in the mountains.
Dinner in Ljubljana. You will party the night away in one of Ljubljana’s classy nightclubs as Cirkus. The club Cirkus offers a unique and exclusive nightclub experience for enthusiastic groups of partygoers during the week and especially on weekends and is able to cater to the needs of up to 1000 guests. The club was designed in an old enchanting cinema-theatre and it stretches across 2 stories of lavishing galleries, including an intimate and cosy VIP area. The focal point is an elevated DJ booth, showcasing top international and regional DJs, singers, musicians and other artists as they spin and perform a blend of various urban genres, topped with colourful entertainers, such as dancers and live acts.
Overnight in Ljubljana.
DAY 10: LJUBLJANA, VERŽEJ, BOGOJINA, FILOVCI, BUDAPEST
/Ljubljana – Veržej 200km, 3h/
/Veržej – Bogojina 20km, 30min/
/Bogojina – Filovci 5km, 10min/
/Filovci – Budapest 300km, 4h/
After breakfast, departure from Ljubljana towards the country of Hungary. Just before crossing the border you will visit the famous floating mill of Veržej crossing the Mura River into the most eastern region of Slovenia, Prekmurje. The modern church in Bogojina and the black pottery workshop in Filovci are just two of the places you visit before a wine tasting in one of the many high-quality wine cellars in the region full of vineyards. After lunch you must try the local specialty, gibanica; a sweet pie containing apple, walnut, poppy seeds and cottage cheese.
Dinner in Budapest, finished with delicious digestives. The people of Budapest know good food and they know how to make great alcoholic drinks. Their alcohol is cheap and abundant. There is plenty of it in their numerous nightclubs, where the locals go dancing all night long. You cannot miss the most famous phenomena, which are called “ruin bars”. These retro pubs – often combined with an open-air taproom – bring the word alternative to a higher level. Transformed from an abandoned residential building, these places offer a unique atmosphere with eccentric designer decorations and a genuine partygoer’s audience. One of the best known ruin bars is Instant. It boasts with 23 rooms, 6 bars and 4 dance floors – it’s a real labyrinth with a surreal touch.
Overnight in Budapest.
DAY 11: BUDAPEST, VIENNA
/Budapest – Vienna 250km, 3h30min/
After breakfast you will take a guided city tour of Budapest. The city has two sides, Buda and Pest, stretching along the banks of the Danube, representing two different characters of the city. Suburban Buda and its historic castle district offer medieval streets and houses, museums, caves and Roman ruins. The Castle District of Buda is a UNESCO World Heritage site, where you will also see the Matthias Church, Liberty Statue and the Citadel. The dynamic Pest side boasts the largest parliament building in Europe, riverside promenades, flea markets, bookstores, antique stores and café houses. The tour will also pass by magnificent monuments and sites such as Millennium Monument, City Park, Széchenyi Spa, Vajdahunyad castle, Andrássy Avenue (UNESCO World Heritage), Stephen’s Cathedral and the beautiful neo-Gothic Parliament building, home of the Holy Hungarian Crown.
Lunch. Afternoon free for shopping. Budapest has a whole shopping street dedicated to world fashion brands. The old buildings in Deák Ferenc utca have been renovated to house international brand shops like Tommy Hilfiger, Sisley, Mexx, Lacoste, Puma, Furla etc.
Departure towards Vienna. Dinner.
Overnight in Vienna.
DAY 12: VIENNA, PRAGUE
/Vienna – Prague 300km, 4h30min/
After breakfast, you will take a guided city tour of Vienna. You will have a guided walk along the Ringstrasse, you will pass by the State Opera House, the magnificent Museum of Fine Arts with its world famous art treasures of the Habsburgs and the Natural History Museum, the cultural district the Museums Quartier, the Hofburg, the Parliament, the City Hall and the Burgtheater.
After lunch, the tour will proceed with the visit of the showrooms of Schönbrunn Palace, which was the former summer residence of the Habsburg imperial family, considered one of the most beautiful baroque palaces in Europe. Today, the palace is part of UNESCO’s cultural heritage due to its historic importance, its unique grounds and its splendid furnishings. On the way back to the opera you will visit the Belvedere Palace, which houses the largest Gustav Klimt collection in the world.
Afternoon free. Spend it on the Viennese high streets, where you will shop amongst all these brands that are internationally known and loved: Versace, Prada, Armani, Hugo Boss, Rolex… Nothing is missing! And in case you are a sweet-tooth, don’t miss the chance to taste the most famous cake in the world, the Sacher cake!
Departure towards Prague. Dinner.
Overnight in Prague.
DAY 13: PRAGUE, ČESKY KRUMLOV
/Prague – Česky Krumlov 180km, 3h/
After breakfast, departure to a full-day excursion to Česky Krumlov. You will have the opportunity to admire the beautiful South Bohemian countryside, with its picturesque villages and many ponds. Česky Krumlov is a town on the UNESCO Heritage List. This unique urban complex, comprising of three hundred historical houses and the National Castle, the second largest after Prague Castle, draws many visitors every year and is rightly called “The Pearl of Renaissance”. In the town you will be fascinated by the large rococo garden, an extensive bridge over a deep gap in the rock upon which the castle is built, and the castle itself, which in turn consists of many defined parts dating from different periods of time, and many other interesting attractions.
Return to Prague. Get ready to experience the best party scene in the world. Prague is proud to offer the largest nightclub in Europe. Karlovy lazne is a nightclub with no less than 5 floors! 5 different dance floors with 5 different styles of music. Something for every taste!
Overnight in Prague.
DAY 14: PRAGUE
After breakfast you will have a city tour of Prague with a local tourist guide. Since 1992, the extensive historic centre of Prague has been included in the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites. You will visit all the main attractions: the magnificent building of the State Opera, the world class National Museum, the Wenceslas Square, where many historical events occurred, the largest medieval square in Europe, Charles Square. The tour will proceed to the banks of the Vltava River and across the river to Prague Castle. There, a walk around the Castle courtyards awaits you, where, among other things, you will have the opportunity to see St.Vitus Cathedral. After that you will visit attractions in the Old Town: St. Nicholas Church, the Týn Church and the Old Town Hall with its astronomical clock (horologe) and the 12 Apostles.
Lunch. Afternoon free. You must visit one of the many beer breweries and pubs that flourish in Prague’s city centre. The Czech Republic is known worldwide for excellent beer. This is where you can experience the cheapest beer in Europe! You can even get a deal for an unlimited amount of alcohol for a fixed fee.
Overnight in Prague.
DAY 15: Departure from Prague
/Prague – Prague airport 20km, 1h/
Drop-off at Prague airport.