7-Day Adventure in Croatia and Slovenia

9:00 AM - 11:00 AM

Walking Tour of Split Old Town & Diocletian's Palace

This two-hour guided tour will take you to the Roman emperor Diocletian's 1700-year-old palace which was built as his personal rest home. Walk from the Bronze Gate through the central hall of the ancient cellars is the main communication line between the busy waterfront promenade, the Riva, and the palace's main forecourt, the Peristyle. You'll also stop by the Cathedral of St Duje, one of the most beautiful cultural attractions on the Adriatic coast, the Roman temple of Jupiter (latterly a Christian baptistry), the fabulous Golden Gate, and the medieval Croatian bishop who introduced the Croatian language in religious services.

Early Morning to Afternoon

Excursion to Beautiful Hvar Island

Hvar has a reputation as the Croatian Ibiza, i.e. lots of young people partying as if their lives depended on it, but it's actually much more than that and remains relatively unspoiled and comparatively affordable in relation to the mainland coast. Both of its main towns, Hvar and Star Grad, are lovely medieval towns full of traffic-free alleys surrounded by ancient stone houses; these act as a romantic backdrop to the towns' many cafes from where you can indulge in people-watching and view the fancy yachts filling up the harbor. In the summer, you can take a passenger-only 1-hour catamaran trip directly to Hvar Town. In other months, Hvar is still relatively easy to get to via a 2-hour car ferry to the main island port of Stari Grad. If you do take the ferry, it's still just a short bus or taxi ride to Hvar or Stari Grad - you can even walk to Stari Grad from the ferry port. Keep in mind though that you must be quick off the ferry to catch the bus. If you can afford it, taking a private boat is the ultimate way to experience Hvar, as you can swim, snorkel, and sunbathe along the way. Also keep in mind that while Hvar is happening in the warmer months, it is quite sleepy in the off season. Many restaurants and attractions will be closed, but if you enjoy exploring in peace and quiet, it is the perfect time to visit.

8:00 AM - 1:00 PM

Private Transfer from Split to Ljubljana

A private transfer with door-to-door service is certainly the most convenient way to travel. The 5.5 hour journey to Ljubljana takes you through the scenic landscape of of Dalmatia and southern Slovenia, transporting you from the rugged and arid coastline into the verdant green uplands of Slovenia. Since the tourism dollars of European travelers are so important to Croatia, the country has expended large sums on building an impressive highway system to facilitate their drives south. However, once in Slovenia, most of the journey will be along two lane highways. Unfortunately, there are no good train or bus connections between the cities, as any bus or train trip would require a connection and several extra hours of travel. So while private transfers are expensive and not-so-carbon-friendly, they are the best option in this case.

Morning to Evening

Excursion to Postojna Caves & Predjama Castle

Two of Slovenia's most famous and impressive attractions are located about 6 miles (10km) from each other, meaning that it's a no-brainer to see both of them on the same excursion. The other-worldly Postojna Caves are some of Europe's most impressive, while the the wonderfully dramatic Predjama Castle, 9km north of the cave, is built into a setting as unforgettable as it is improbable. Pressed into a huge cavern, hollowed out of the high, flat rock face over the karstic swallow hole of the Lovka stream. The caves are fairly easily reached from Ljubljana. You have a choice of either bus or train; although you will have to walk over a mile (1.7km) to reach the cave ticket office from the train station. Getting to the castle is another story. During July and August, a free shuttle bus runs from the caves to the castle, but otherwise, the only option is finding a taxi. You can also face very long lines at both attractions. For these reasons, we suggest pre-purchasing a guided excursion that covers both. The castle, first built in 1202 AD, contains some interesting features, including holes in the ceiling of the entrance tower for pouring boiling oil on besiegers, a very dank dungeon, a 16th-century chest full of treasure (unearthed in the cellar in 1991), and an eyrie-like hiding place at the top called Erazem's Nook, named for the castle's most famous resident, Erazem Lueger. Lueger was a 15th-century robber-baron who, like Robin Hood, allegedly stole from the rich to give to the poor. In 1484, the Austrian army besieged the castle, but it proved impregnable. Little did they know that the castle had a secret passage through which the castle garrison could be resupplied. Erazem was thus able to mock his attackers, even showering them with fresh produce. But the Austrians had the last laugh when they bribed one of his servants to give him away; as Erazem answered the call of nature one evening the servant placed a candle in a window to indicate that his master had gone to the wooden lavatory, which was positioned on the outer wall. The Austrians fired a cannonball at the castle privy and Erazem died an ignoble death.

Morning to Evening

Excursion to the Picturesque Lake Bled

With its mountain setting, dark turquoise waters, boats rowing passengers out to the island church, and dramatic cliff-top castle, Lake Bled is picture-postcard perfect, making it the most popular destination in Slovenia for both international and domestic tourists alike. You can take a walk or ride a tourist train around the lake, row out to the island, and dine alongside the enchanting shoreline. With enough time to spare, you can also take in the dramatic Vintgar Gorge and the beautiful medieval village of Radovljica. Lake Bled is about an hour-and-a-half trip from Ljubljana. You have two options for getting to there by public transport - bus or train. Buses depart Ljubljana more frequently and arrive at a very convenient location near the lakeshore in Bled, but they can get very crowded during the summer, especially at the weekends when seemingly every young backpacker in the country wants to get there, while the train departs more infrequently and doesn't arrive directly in Bled, but it isn't as crowded. Of course you can also just take a guided excursion if you want to keep it simple.

To Be Determined

Transfer to Ljubljana Airport by Taxi

Ljubljana has one main airport, Ljubljana Airport, also known as Ljubljana Jože Pučnik Airport, where almost all visitors depart. You can also arrange a private transfer for added convenience. If you are picked up about two hours and forty-five minutes before your departure time, you should arrive at the airport with about two hours to spare, depending on traffic. The cost should be about 35 EUR. It is a very small airport so you should have little trouble finding your way upon arrival at the airport.