Best of Croatia & Montenegro

Your exciting adventure begins with your arrival at Zagreb’s international airport. You’ll be welcomed by your private driver for a transfer to your hotel in the capital city. Take time to relax and refresh before getting a view over the city by riding the cable car to the Upper Town in the medieval district. Ease any jet lag with a walk through the narrow streets lined with 17^th– and 18^th-century buildings, with some of the city’s top cafes, bars, and restaurants here too.

• Preferred Hotel Hotel Esplanade, Zagreb

A sightseeing tour with our local guide will bring you to see highlights like Croatia’s tallest cathedral and Zagreb’s symbol, the gothic-style Zagreb Cathedral with its two soaring twin spires, 13^th-century St. Mark’s Church and its famously colorful room, the House of Parliament and the Croatian National Theater. Take a walk through Dolac Market which offers a wide range of local products like fruits and vegetables, meats, and multiple rows of fresh regional cheeses, with a cheese tasting included.

• Preferred Hotel Hotel Esplanade, Zagreb

Moving on from Zagreb, your private driver will transfer you to Opatija on the Istrian peninsula. On arrival in Opatija, check into your hotel and then enjoy the afternoon exploring this beautiful Austro-Hungarian-themed town. Unlike the medieval-style towns you will see on the rest of your trip, the architecture in Opatija is unique in Croatia. A must-do activity is to take a stroll down the coastal walking path called the Lungomare and visit Angiolina Gardens.

• Preferred Hotel Hotel Ambasador, Opatija

Look forward to a flavorful private tour that begins with a visit to romantic Rovinj, including the art galleries along Grisia street. Afterward, you’ll enjoy a wine tasting alongside local bites at a winery on your way to hilltop Motovun. One of the most picturesque villages in Istria, here you’ll enjoy a tasting and presentation of various truffle products. Conclude the excursion in the world’s smallest town, Hum, where you’ll enjoy more sightseeing and local product tastings before returning to Opatija.

• Preferred Hotel Hotel Ambasador, Opatija

Say goodbye to Opatija today and transfer towards Plitvice Lakes National Park. You will have the chance to visit the explore this huge national park with its 16 lakes and countless waterfalls tomorrow, so sit back and relax for the rest of the day.

• Preferred Hotel Fenomen Plitvice, Plitvice

Experience the world-famous Plitvice Lakes on this private guided walking tour. You can decide whether you want to visit the Lower Lakes, Upper Lakes or both. You’ll be mesmerised by falls like Veliki Prstavac, Mali Prstavac and the “Great Waterfall,” along with countless other smaller cascades, and the surreal hues of the lakes which range in colour from aquamarine to brilliant emerald. At the end of the tour, you can hop on the train for a panoramic ride back to the north-side entrance. After the tour, continue towards Split

• Preferred Hotel Cornora Hotel, Split

This morning you’ll learn about Split’s fascinating history on a guided tour of the historic center, including Diocletian’s Palace. As you marvel at the magnificent buildings and monuments with influences by the Greeks, Romans, and Venetians, you’ll feel as if you’re walking back through time. Afterward, head to nearby Trogir, home to the remarkably well-preserved 15^th-century Kamerlengo Castle and multiple impressive Romanesque, Gothic, Renaissance, and baroque structures, including the Cathedral of St. Lawrence, one of Croatia’s finest examples of sacral architecture.

• Preferred Hotel Cornaro Hotel, Split

Enjoy a relaxed breakfast before being transferred to sunny Hvar, one of Croatia’s most popular islands drawing international jet setters from across the globe to enjoy its beautiful beaches, stunning old town, and world-class restaurants. Upon your arrival, take time to settle into your accommodation and then perhaps enjoy a preview on your own by heading to the main square for people-watching or climbing to the 16^th-century fortress for a glorious view.

• Preferred Hotel Hotel Adriana, Hvar

On this popular tour, you will spend 6 hours on board a sailing ship exploring the beautiful Pakleni Islands. The tour does not follow a fixed itinerary, the ship’s skipper will decide the best islands to visit based on the weather conditions that day. You will stop to enjoy the beaches and hop off the boat for swimming and snorkeling. There will be a lunch stop on one of the islands where you can enjoy a proper Dalmatian lunch by the sea.

• Preferred Hotel Hotel Adriana, Hvar

Your last day on Hvar is all to yourself to either spend the day exploring the town or relaxing at the popular Bonj les Bains beach club and sipping cocktails.

Optional – Half-Day Island Tour
You might take enjoy doing our private tour of the island. This popular private experience includes visiting some of Hvar’s more hidden seaside towns, brimming with character. You will also get to venture inland to visit a very sought-after family-run winery with a stunning underground tasting room. Our local guide will take you through Hvar’s impressive lavender fields and to a very traditional Croatian restaurant for lunch.

• Preferred Hotel Hotel Adriana, Hvar

After breakfast, we will transfer you to Dubrovnik. The 3-hour journey will have you arriving at your hotel around lunchtime. This afternoon, learn the secrets behind Dubrovnik’s incredible Old Town on this guided walk. Your knowledgeable guide will regale you with fascinating facts and historical anecdotes from the city’s history whilst strolling the atmospheric streets. Some of the highlights include the 1438 Onofrio’s Fountain which has carried drinking water into the city for nearly 600 years and the Franciscan Monastery which hosts one of Europe’s oldest still-functioning pharmacies, the baroque Cathedral of the Assumption and the Church of St. Blaise, the city’s patron saint.

• Preferred Hotel Hotel Bellevue, Dubrovnik

Your private driver/guide will bring you to Croatia’s southern neighbor, Montenegro. In Kotor, meet up with a local guide for a one-hour tour of the fortified town that sits along sapphire Kotor Bay, surrounded by dramatic fjord-like mountains. Stroll through the squares and narrow streets to visit Kotor Cathedral and other Romanesque churches before catching a boat ride to Our Lady of the Rocks, an islet made from sunken ships and local rock. You will then return to Perast with free time for lunch. On route back to Dubrovnik, our driver will stop at a family-run winery that boasts not only delicious local wines and snacks but truly spectacular views and Montenegrin charm.

• Preferred Hotel Hotel Bellevue, Dubrovnik

Learn to rustle up tasty and authentic Croatian food in our home-hosted cooking class in the picturesque Konavle Valley. Your warm and welcoming hosts trace their family heritage back over 500 years. Guided by the matriarch of the family, you will prepare the ingredients to create some of the classic and most popular Konavle region dishes. Meats are cooked under a baking lid bell or skewered on laurel sticks. You will learn how to cook traditionally without electricity or kitchen gadgets. Enjoy a celebratory feast and sample the delicious cuisine and local wine.

• Preferred Hotel Hotel Bellevue, Dubrovnik

It’s time to bid farewell to Croatia and Montenegro after this fascinating 14-day journey. Our private driver will transfer you to Dubrovnik Airport for your return flight home.

Want to customize this itinerary?

If you are looking to extend your stay in Dubrovnik or any of the destinations on this itinerary, please speak to our Croatia travel experts.