Begin your discovery of Croatia’s Jewish heritage in the capital city of Zagreb. You’ll be met by private transfer upon your arrival to the airport, and after checking into your hotel you can take the rest of the day to relax after your long journey. If you want to stretch your legs, we suggest walking the cobbled streets of the Upper Town to visit 13^th-century St. Mark’s Church and then find an enticing cafe or restaurant in the Lower Town for dinner.

Our local guide will meet you at your hotel to bring you on a tour of the city focused on its Jewish heritage. Learn about the Jewish community’s history which dates to the 14^th century. At the turn of the 20th century when the Lower Town was formed, Jews were a very important part of society, but the community was completely decimated during the Holocaust. Your guide will show you some especially impressive architectural achievements, including the Old National Library and Ethnographic Museum.

After breakfast, your driver/guide will bring you to Rovinj, one of Istria’s most beautiful coastal towns. Check into your hotel and take time to get refreshed. In the afternoon, you’ll meet a local guide for a sightseeing tour. With the city at the foot of the Church of St. Euphemia, when it concludes we suggest climbing the hill to the church where you’ll enjoy a panoramic view and then wander the streets where you’ll find many art studios and galleries to pop into.

Explore more of the magnificent Istrian Peninsula with your driver/guide picking you up to discover this Tuscany-like region, minus the crowds. You’ll visit the medieval hilltop villages of Motovun and Groznjan, known for their rare truffles. You’ll be able to purchase some of the rare treats in the little local shops, which are available in many different forms like truffle vinegars and olive oils. After returning to Rovinj, enjoy the evening on your own with many outstanding dining options available.

Heading to the next destination on your itinerary, Plitvice, your driver/guide will bring you to UNESCO-protected Plitvice Lakes National Park, nestled in a mountainous region with 16 lakes in striking shades of blue and green, and around 100 waterfalls. As you follow the pathways and cross the wooden bridges, you’ll be able to observe the remarkable diversity of flora and fauna, while immersed in the lush greenery and cascades around nearly every turn, looking like something out of a fantasy.

Transferring from Plitvice to Split, you’ll stop to tour the ancient walled city of Trogir. This 2,300-year-old UNESCO World Heritage Site boasts some of the most impeccably preserved Romanesque-Gothic architecture in all of Central Europe. You’ll explore the labyrinth of small stone streets, the imposing Cathedral of St. Lawrence and stroll the seaside promenade overlooking the Venetian castle and fortress,15^th-century Kamerlengo before continuing to Split. After checking into your hotel, you’ll find many restaurants and cafes on the Riva promenade and palace complex.

Discover Split’s Jewish heritage on a half-day tour that features multiple landmarks, including the Jewish Tower, Židovska Kula, in Diocletian’s Palace which is where the Jewish community helped defend the city from an Ottoman invasion. Wander through the narrow streets of Get, the former Jewish Ghetto, to see the Synagogue and then travel to Marjan Hill to visit the old Jewish cemetery and take in a view overlooking the city, harbor and the Adriatic. Afterward, enjoy dinner on your own in Split.

This morning your drive/guide will pick you up for the transfer to Dubrovnik, stopping to visit Mostar just over the border in Bosnia along the way. Capture a photo the city’s famous symbol, the 16^th-century Old Bridge and then join a sightseeing tour of the Old Town that includes the Karagöz Bey Çamii mosque, the city’s most spectacular mosque, with time to browse or buy in the old bazaar’s traditional shops or enjoy a meal before continuing on to the ‘Pearl of the Adriatic.’

You’ll discover Dubrovnik’s Old City with our knowledgeable local guide while gaining an understanding of Jewish life with a walk that begins at Onofrio’s Fountain and continues along Stradun, the main street, to the area where the Jewish community once reside. Visit the 15^th-century synagogue, still active today, along with numerous other landmarks like the Jewish fountain and Rector’s Palace, before wandering the narrow shopping street of Od Puca with its many goldsmith shops. Enjoy time to explore on your own after the tour.

Today you have a day at leisure to explore Dubrovnik and enjoy soaking up the atmosphere and beauty of the old town.

This evening we have a special farewell dinner planned. You will be hosted by a family in their countryside home. This very unique experience includes cooking part of your meal with the matriarch of the family and dining with the whole family, hearing about how they have managed to trace their family roots back over 500 years. This is one of our client favorites!

With departure day here, after enjoying breakfast your private driver will pick you up for transfer to Dubrovnik Airport or your onward hotel in Dubrovnik if you’ve decided to extend your time here. If you’d like to explore other destinations in Croatia or beyond, reach out to our travel experts who can create an addition to your itinerary.