Slovenia & Croatia: Lakes, Caves & Castles

• Arrive at the airport to meet your fellow travelers and your Tour Director.
• Transfer to your accommodations and check in to your hotel.
• Head out for the first group dinner of your trip.

• Spend the morning with a local guide wandering the cobbled, colorful streets of Ljubljana’s car-free Old Town. Architect Jože Plečnik reshaped much the Old Town in the early 1900s, transforming the famous river embankments to make the area the social, walkable place it is today.
• Stand in Prešeren Square, the heart of Ljubljana, named for Slovenia’s greatest poet. Just steps away, cross the iconic Triple Bridge (because it’s composed of three bridges, obviously) before spotting the elegant Robba Fountain.
• See Dragon Bridge, guarded by four fierce dragon statues, symbols of the city’s legendary origins.
• Take the funicular from the Old Town up the hill to your Ljubljana Castle tour for panoramic views of rooftops, church spires, and (on clear days) the Kamnik–Savinja and Julian Alps range.
• Try different Slovenian snacks during an included food tasting, like Kranjska klobasa (Carniolan sausage), rolled štruklji dumplings, sweet potica pastries, Bled cream cake, and cheesy burek.

Central Market: Grab lunch at one of the vendors of this riverside market just steps from the Old Town, selling everything from fresh produce and honey to cheeses and baked goods.

Metelkova nightlife: Walk through this former military site turned colorful street-art and culture zone. It comes alive later in the day and into the night.

Ask your Tour Director:

• About Jason and the dragon: The city’s symbol is a dragon and is tied to local mythology.
• The best golden-hour spots along the river: The Ljubljanica River is lined with cafes full of locals enjoying the scenery.
• Why is Ljubljana called a green capital? Ljubljana has one of the highest percentages of green space in Europe.
• About the bees! Ljubljana has urban beehives, including rooftop ones. Beekeeping is a huge thing in Slovenia.

• Hop on your private coach bus for a short ride from Ljubljana to the serene shores of Lake Bled.
• Enjoy a free afternoon to grab lunch—please get the cream cake, too, we beg—rent a boat (included) to Bled Island to explore the tiny church and ring the legendary Wishing Bell, or hike up to Mala Osojnica or Ojstrica for panoramic views of the lake, castle, and Julian Alps.
• Visit Bled Castle, Slovenia’s oldest castle that dates back to the 11th century and now features a museum, wine cellar, and one of the area’s best viewpoints.
• Return to your hotel in Ljubljana for the night.

• Travel by bus to Slovenia’s famous Postojna Caves for a guided tour, partly by electric train, where you’ll glide through huge underground halls filled with stalactites and stalagmites. It’s also home to the rare “human fish” (olm), a blind aquatic salamander, kind of like an axolotl, only found here.
• Continue to Opatija, Croatia to check into your hotel and head out for a free evening by the sea.

Seafood & Malvazija wine: Croatia is famous for its seafood. Order a fresh catch of the day alongside a glass of local Istrian Malvazija wine at a seaside konoba (tavern).

Lungomare Promenade: Want stunning views of Kvarner Bay and the islands? Stroll this famous 7-mile walkway that stretches from Volosko to Lovran.

Maiden with the Seagull: Snap a picture of Opatija’s most recognizable symbol, perched on a rocky outcrop along the Lungomare. Kind of Croatia’s answer to Denmark’s The Little Mermaid.

American Gardens: Explore these 100-year-old terraced gardens built by a Hungarian merchant, providing 360-degree views of the Adriatic Sea.

St. James’s Church: Visit this historic church—dating back to the 1400s—which gave the town its name (Opatija is the Croatian word for “abbey.”)

Colosseum Lounge & Beach Bar: Make a VIP lounger reservation (about €60 for two people) and relax by the beach, paddle around the pool, and watch the sailboats pass by.

• Board your private coach bus bound for Plitvice Lakes National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, for a guided Plitvice Lakes tour of the park’s cascading turquoise waters and falls connected by wooden boardwalks.
• Continue north to Zagreb, Croatia’s energetic capital that blends historic charm with a modern energy. The city is known for its strong coffee culture, street art, markets like Dolac, and a year-round festival scene.

Museum of Broken Relationships: Visit this super unique and emotional museum that showcases donated objects from past relationships, each telling a story of love and loss.

Upper & Lower Town: Explore Upper Town (Gornji Grad) for its cobblestone streets, church spires, and landmarks like St. Mark’s Church, and Lower Town for leafy parks, grand Austro-Hungarian architecture, and buzzing squares.

Zagrebačka Špica: A Saturday tradition in Zagreb where locals dress up, meet in the center, and linger over coffee. It’s a relaxed, stylish “see and be seen” cafe culture ritual.

• Get to know Zagreb with a local guide, starting at Ban Jelačić Square, the heart of the city, surrounded by colorful buildings and cafe terraces, where trams cross paths, street performers play, and locals meet under the statue of nobleman Josip Jelačić.
• See Dolac Market, where red umbrellas cover stalls of fresh produce, cheese, and local goods. Continue to the towering Zagreb Cathedral, its twin spires rising over the city skyline, then wander down Tkalčićeva Street, a lively strip of cafes, bars, and brightly hued buildings.
• Get lunch, shop for souvenirs, or people watch with a coffee on your last free afternoon before your Farewell Dinner.

Souvenirs: Take a little bit of Zagreb home with classic souvenirs: bright licitar hearts, traditional Croatian gingerbread cookies; fragrant lavender sachets from the coast; rich Kraš chocolates like Bajadera; and delicate handmade lace.

Zagreb Funicular: Take 64 seconds out of your last day and ride the oldest and shortest funicular in the world connecting the Lower Town to the Upper Town.

Lotrščak Tower cannon: The daily firing of this cannon at noon every day is a 19th-century tradition originally used mark time and the closing of the gates. Now it just freaks out anyone who happens to be nearby.