7-Day Adventure in Croatia and Slovenia

See the beautiful courtyard which was once the center of the palace, and is now the heart of Split.

The Peristyle was the central courtyard of the palace complex and the crossing point of its main streets. The columns around the courtyard were pillaged from Egypt, though the officer in charge of the operation must have forgotten to get some extras as four of the columns are clearly different from the others. There's also a black granite Egyptian sphinx on one side dating from 1500 BC which originally flanked the entrance to Diocletian's mausoleum (other sphinxes around the palace were decapitated by Diocletian to allay his superstition that they posed a threat to his rule). If you sit on one of the red cushions scattered around the Peristyle you'll be approached by a waiter with a menu of very expensive drinks, but it may be worth it just to sit and lap up the history and watch people go by. At the southern end of the Peristyle, steps lead up to a cone-shaped, roofless chamber which once served as the palace vestibule. Visitors would wait here before being summoned before the ex-emperor into his private apartments.

Enter this ancient gateway to discover palace cellars used as film sets for Game of Thrones.

While today about 200 feet (60m) from the water, the Bronze Gate originally sat directly on the sea, allowing boats to pull directly up to the palace. As you enter the gate you will find a mass of souvenir and arts & crafts stalls, but just inside the entrance on either side are the substructures, or cellars of the palace. After the palace fell into disrepair, the cellars were used as rubbish pits. Families occupying the apartments above would simply create holes in the floor and voila, they had an instant trash dump with a seemingly unending supply of space. Of course centuries of trash did eventually them fill up and they were only rediscovered in 1956; the excavations continue to this very day. While entrance to the cellar is not free, it provides an excellent idea of what the palace must originally have looked like, as they're an exact mirror image of the imperial living quarters above. Game of Thrones fans will also be happy to learn that the cellar was used as a filming set, including as Daenerys Targaryen's grand Meereen throne room.

See the beautiful courtyard which was once the center of the palace, and is now the heart of Split.

The Peristyle was the central courtyard of the palace complex and the crossing point of its main streets. The columns around the courtyard were pillaged from Egypt, though the officer in charge of the operation must have forgotten to get some extras as four of the columns are clearly different from the others. There's also a black granite Egyptian sphinx on one side dating from 1500 BC which originally flanked the entrance to Diocletian's mausoleum (other sphinxes around the palace were decapitated by Diocletian to allay his superstition that they posed a threat to his rule). If you sit on one of the red cushions scattered around the Peristyle you'll be approached by a waiter with a menu of very expensive drinks, but it may be worth it just to sit and lap up the history and watch people go by. At the southern end of the Peristyle, steps lead up to a cone-shaped, roofless chamber which once served as the palace vestibule. Visitors would wait here before being summoned before the ex-emperor into his private apartments.

Enter this ancient gateway to discover palace cellars used as film sets for Game of Thrones.

While today about 200 feet (60m) from the water, the Bronze Gate originally sat directly on the sea, allowing boats to pull directly up to the palace. As you enter the gate you will find a mass of souvenir and arts & crafts stalls, but just inside the entrance on either side are the substructures, or cellars of the palace. After the palace fell into disrepair, the cellars were used as rubbish pits. Families occupying the apartments above would simply create holes in the floor and voila, they had an instant trash dump with a seemingly unending supply of space. Of course centuries of trash did eventually them fill up and they were only rediscovered in 1956; the excavations continue to this very day. While entrance to the cellar is not free, it provides an excellent idea of what the palace must originally have looked like, as they're an exact mirror image of the imperial living quarters above. Game of Thrones fans will also be happy to learn that the cellar was used as a filming set, including as Daenerys Targaryen's grand Meereen throne room.

Stroll the atmospheric narrow streets of this small town nestled at the end of a clear blue bay.

Stari Grad is more laid back and family-oriented than Hvar Town but is becoming more popular with younger crowds and the jet-set as time goes by. Its streets are lined by stone houses decorated with bright window boxes, and there are plenty of small squares to explore that suddenly open up at the end of shoulder-rubbing alleyways. The fertile plain stretching south and west of Stari Grad is one of the few places in Europe where the ancient Greek system of field division has been preserved almost untouched. With olive groves and vineyards divided by a grid of dry stone walls and country lanes, it is easily explored on foot or by bike. A highlight within the town is the summer house and walled garden of the 16th-century poet and aristocrat Petar Hektorović called the Tvrdalj. This simple stone structure purpose-built for quiet contemplation and as a refuge for the locals in time of the attack is built around a central cloister with a turquoise pond packed with mullet. Almost immediately adjacent to the Tvrdalj is the Biankini Palace, an impressively restored Renaissance building that now houses the Town Museum

Hop over to these rocky islands to swim and snorkel in their picturesque little coves and lagoons.

If weather permits, Hvar can be a splendid place for swimming as the sea conditions are truly exceptional, with crystal clear water. If you are hoping for soft sand beaches though, you will be disappointed. Beaches range from "pebbly" to "rocky ledge". A great option is to catch a water taxi (about 50 Kuna per person roundtrip) from the town of Hvar to the forested Pakleni Island, where the best beaches are to be found. The contorted, crooked shorelines of the islands create numerous little coves and lagoons that are nice spots for swimming and relaxing. Sveti Klement is the largest of the islands and hence has the best facilities, but there are restaurants, bars, snack stands, and toilets located near most of the beaches. Snorkeling is also possible at the Pakleni Islands, although generally there are no reefs, as is the case along most of the Croatian coastline. However, visibility is amazing and there are plenty of interesting rock formations. The best option if you are serious about snorkeling is to go with an organized boat tour.

Check out where war galleys were once repaired on Hvar's main square.

There's plenty to see in Hvar Town beginning at the main square, Trg svetog Stjepana (St Stephen Square) where you'll find the 17th century Venetian arsenal in which war galleys were once hauled for repair. The upper story was adapted in 1612 to house the town theatre, one of the oldest Baroque playhouses in Europe. St Stephen's Cathedral at the eastern end of the square is a 16th-century building with a fragile looking four-story campanile. Some of the artwork inside might be worth your time popping in to see. The Bishop's treasury next door contains a small but fine selection of religious.

Climb to this stone fortress above the town of Hvar for the perfect photo.

Resting atop of the hill with breathtaking views of Hvar Town and the nearby Pakleni Islands is the Citadel, built by the Venetians in the 1550s but with the help of Spanish engineers, hence it is another name: the Spanish Fortress. It is the perfect spot for a photo of yourself standing on the turrets and overlooking the town and harbor. During the season it is open to visitors for a 40 Kuna entry fee. To reach the citadel just walk up the stairs located next to the Loggia, which is the colonnaded white building located just in front of the port. Once you reach the gardens above the town, then follow a zig-zagging path through the gardens. When you reach a gate in the garden, go through it, instead of taking the other path which is helpfully spray-painted with the word "stop". This will take you to the entrance of the citadel.

Take a train deep inside a mountain to explore these wondrously beautiful caverns.

Postojna's wondrously vast complex of naturally formed underground chambers and an astonishing array of stalactite and stalagmite formations has been attracting open-mouthed visitors for two centuries already, thanks in no small way to the open-topped electric train that shuttles punters 1.2 mile (2km) inside the cave system before the guided tours begin.  As fascinating and multifarious as they are, the tour isn't all stalactites and stalagmites and how they've formed over the millennia. You also get a commentary on the alterations humans have made to the cave over the 200 years since it's discovery and you'll be shown how incipient stalactites have even started to form on concrete arches built over 90 years ago. Near the end of the tour, you will be introduced to the cave's 'baby dragons', or which people once believed were dragons - olms or 'Proteus anguinus'. With a length of 25 to 30 centimeters, the olm is the largest cave-dwelling animal and the only vertebrate in Europe that lives exclusively in subterranean areas. It is extremely well-adapted to life in darkness; its skin lacks any protective pigmentation, and the blood that shows through it makes it very pale and slightly pink in colour. The resemblance in colour to that of white-skinned humans is the reason why the olm is in some languages referred to as the human fish. It has a life expectancy of up to 100 years and can survive without food for several years.

Take a train deep inside a mountain to explore these wondrously beautiful caverns.

Postojna's wondrously vast complex of naturally formed underground chambers and an astonishing array of stalactite and stalagmite formations has been attracting open-mouthed visitors for two centuries already, thanks in no small way to the open-topped electric train that shuttles punters 1.2 mile (2km) inside the cave system before the guided tours begin.  As fascinating and multifarious as they are, the tour isn't all stalactites and stalagmites and how they've formed over the millennia. You also get a commentary on the alterations humans have made to the cave over the 200 years since it's discovery and you'll be shown how incipient stalactites have even started to form on concrete arches built over 90 years ago. Near the end of the tour, you will be introduced to the cave's 'baby dragons', or which people once believed were dragons - olms or 'Proteus anguinus'. With a length of 25 to 30 centimeters, the olm is the largest cave-dwelling animal and the only vertebrate in Europe that lives exclusively in subterranean areas. It is extremely well-adapted to life in darkness; its skin lacks any protective pigmentation, and the blood that shows through it makes it very pale and slightly pink in colour. The resemblance in colour to that of white-skinned humans is the reason why the olm is in some languages referred to as the human fish. It has a life expectancy of up to 100 years and can survive without food for several years.

Take a train deep inside a mountain to explore these wondrously beautiful caverns.

Postojna's wondrously vast complex of naturally formed underground chambers and an astonishing array of stalactite and stalagmite formations has been attracting open-mouthed visitors for two centuries already, thanks in no small way to the open-topped electric train that shuttles punters 1.2 mile (2km) inside the cave system before the guided tours begin.  As fascinating and multifarious as they are, the tour isn't all stalactites and stalagmites and how they've formed over the millennia. You also get a commentary on the alterations humans have made to the cave over the 200 years since it's discovery and you'll be shown how incipient stalactites have even started to form on concrete arches built over 90 years ago. Near the end of the tour, you will be introduced to the cave's 'baby dragons', or which people once believed were dragons - olms or 'Proteus anguinus'. With a length of 25 to 30 centimeters, the olm is the largest cave-dwelling animal and the only vertebrate in Europe that lives exclusively in subterranean areas. It is extremely well-adapted to life in darkness; its skin lacks any protective pigmentation, and the blood that shows through it makes it very pale and slightly pink in colour. The resemblance in colour to that of white-skinned humans is the reason why the olm is in some languages referred to as the human fish. It has a life expectancy of up to 100 years and can survive without food for several years.

Take a train deep inside a mountain to explore these wondrously beautiful caverns.

Postojna's wondrously vast complex of naturally formed underground chambers and an astonishing array of stalactite and stalagmite formations has been attracting open-mouthed visitors for two centuries already, thanks in no small way to the open-topped electric train that shuttles punters 1.2 mile (2km) inside the cave system before the guided tours begin.  As fascinating and multifarious as they are, the tour isn't all stalactites and stalagmites and how they've formed over the millennia. You also get a commentary on the alterations humans have made to the cave over the 200 years since it's discovery and you'll be shown how incipient stalactites have even started to form on concrete arches built over 90 years ago. Near the end of the tour, you will be introduced to the cave's 'baby dragons', or which people once believed were dragons - olms or 'Proteus anguinus'. With a length of 25 to 30 centimeters, the olm is the largest cave-dwelling animal and the only vertebrate in Europe that lives exclusively in subterranean areas. It is extremely well-adapted to life in darkness; its skin lacks any protective pigmentation, and the blood that shows through it makes it very pale and slightly pink in colour. The resemblance in colour to that of white-skinned humans is the reason why the olm is in some languages referred to as the human fish. It has a life expectancy of up to 100 years and can survive without food for several years.

Follow along the cliffsides deep into this incredibly scenic gorge.

Another outstanding sight near Lake Bled is Vintgar Gorge, an impressively deep one mile (1.6km) ravine about 2.5 miles (4km) north of town. It was not officially discovered until 1891, but now it's easily accessible via a continuous chain of wooden gantries and bridges, suspended from the precipitous rock face, and running the entire length of the gorge. There are a number of ways to get there, including on foot, by bike, train (take one from Jezero Bled station one stop to Podhom and follow the signs to the gorge), bus (they run frequently during the summer months from Bled bus station), or taxi. Also, ask for a map from the information center so you don't get lost. You should take into consideration, however, that the gorge is rather wet and a little bit slippery, and bottlenecks form on the narrow gantries during the height of the tourist season as people stop to take photos.

If you like honey, chocolate, and gingerbread, make time for the small but exquisitely preserved medieval town of Radovljica, just 4 miles (6km) south-east of Bled.

Built on an outcrop above the River Sava and the beautiful Sava Valley, everything of interest in the town is centered around the wonderfully quiet Linhartov trg (Linhart Square), which is framed by Gothic and Renaissance buildings. The highlight is Thurn Mansion, clearly recognizable by its thickly stuccoed facade and vast spread of coats of arms. Inside, a magnificent double stairway leads up to the truly splendid Beekeeping Museum. Don't be fooled into thinking that it must invariably be a dull topic, as beekeeping is one of Slovenia's oldest and most celebrated traditions. After going over the history of beekeeping and examples of pioneering apiculture the undoubted high point of the museum is its collection of over 200 beehive panels - wooden end panels painted with religious, satirical or humorous motifs and scenes.  Otherwise check out the Parish Church of St Peter just to the east of the museum, and the best-preserved houses on the square: no.3 Vidic House and no.22, the muralled Šiveč House. Radovljica also has a long chocolate and gingerbread-making tradition, so don't miss the live gingerbread workshop and museum at no.2 Pension Lectar.

Row (or be rowed) to this beautiful island in the center of Lake Bled.

The most recognizable symbol of Bled Island  is the Church of the Assumption, although there are a handful of other buildings on the islet. The church dates from 1689 and its most outstanding features are the well-preserved frescoes. A wishing bell, which keeps many visitors amused, was installed in 1534, though a larger bell hangs in the enormous free-standing belfry. Weddings are held regularly in the church and traditionally it is considered good luck for a groom to carry his bride up the 99 stone steps on the day of their wedding before ringing the bell and making a wish inside the church.  Numerous pletna boats take passengers to the island. A pletna looks sort of like a Venetian gondola, but wider. You'll pay about 15 EUR for a return journey, which includes 25min there, 40min on the island itself, and another 25min back, i.e. an hour-and-a-half altogether. The pletna oarsmen will be happy to answer your questions as you make your way across the lake. Only locals are permitted to operate a pletna. The tradition has been passed from generation to generation for the past few centuries. The pletna operate all year round depending on the weather. If you want to expend your own energy to get across the lake, then there a number of places around the lakeshore where you can rent a rowboat and get to the island under your own steam. There's also a motorized ferry that runs regularly from the main tourist information office for around 12 EUR.

Stare down at the lake from this dramatic castle precariously perched on a cliff.

Perched up high on a precipitous craggy bluff near the town center is Bled Castle, enclosed by a Romanesque wall and studded with stout parapets, towers and ramparts, just as any medieval castle should be. Originally constructed in the 11th century, the castle's present appearance dates from the 17th century, and is characterized by a lower and upper courtyard. Probably its best feature is the beautiful chapel. There are outstanding views from the castle terrace of the lake and island below, while the castle restaurant has a reputation as one of the best in Lake Bled. Close by at the start of one of the tracks leading up to the castle you'll also find the photogenic Parish Church of St Martin.