Taste of Croatia: Luxury Food & Wine Tour

Your sightseeing culinary adventure begins in the capital of Zagreb. Our driver will be there to welcome you at Zagreb’s airport and provide a transfer to your hotel. After settling in, join our local guide for a private tour that takes in many highlights with a break for a Croatian cheese tasting at Dolac Market. Discover Zagreb’s Austro-Hungarian heritage as you stroll the cobbled streets, crossing the main square to witness the magnificent gothic-style Zagreb Cathedral, the tallest building in Croatia with spires that soar over 354 feet over the city. Step through the Upper Town gate to admire the government buildings and Lotrscak Tower too.

• Preferred Hotel Hotel Esplanade, Zagreb

This morning your private driver/guide brings you to Kumrovec Old Village, a unique village along the banks of the river Sutla which divides Croatia and Slovenia. An open-air museum depicting authentic life in a 20th-century Zagorje village, it features some 40 traditional restored buildings, including the home of former Yugoslavian leader Josip Broz Tito. After touring, you’ll enjoy time at your leisure to explore the homes and farm facilities which feature traditional workshop exhibits on your own. Next, head to Grešna Gorica, a family-run restaurant surrounded by vineyards and lush meadows where you’ll sit down for a meal of Zagorje delicacies.

• Preferred Hotel Hotel Esplanade, Zagreb

Say farewell to Zagreb this morning as your driver will meet you upon checkout at your hotel for a private transfer to San Canzian Village & Hotel, a stunning escape in the Istrian countryside. Once you’ve checked into your upscale accommodation a short distance from the small towns of Buje and Groznjan, you’ll have the remainder of the day at your leisure. You may wish to explore the surrounding villages or simply relax with a glass of wine and enjoy the magnificent panoramic views of lush hills, vineyards, and olive groves. There are many outstanding eateries for sampling the local culinary delights too, including Luciano the hotel’s Michelin guide featured restaurant.

• Preferred Hotel San Canzian, Buje

A flavorful, scenic day awaits with a private sightseeing/food excursion through Istria. Your first stop is Hum, a symbol of medieval culture and what claims to be the world’s smallest town, with only one street that loops around inside the impressive historic walls. As you wander through, you’ll enjoy a tasting of local products before venturing to your next destination: Buzet for more samples. In charming Motovun, one of the most well-preserved medieval hilltop settlements, you’ll enjoy a light lunch, a presentation of truffle products, and a truffle tasting. Conclude your culinary journey in Vizinada where you’ll enjoy a wine tasting.

• Preferred Hotel San Canzian, Buje

It’s time to travel to your next destination, romantic Rovinj. Be sure your bags are packed and ready as your private driver will provide a transfer to your hotel in the village which lies along the west coast of the Istrian Peninsula. After checking in and getting settled, you might enjoy a stroll through the cobbled streets of the captivating Old Town with its significant Venetian influence. It’s overlooked by the steeple of the church of St. Euphemia with its sunset-facing terrace and campanile marking the town’s highest point providing a spectacular view that’s especially idyllic at dusk. You’ll find many enticing eateries for dining afterward.

• Preferred Hotel Hotel Adriatic, Rovinj

An excursion through three different eras of Croatian history your private guide will bring you to multiple intriguing sights while you enjoy some of Istria’s delicious flavors. Your first stop is medieval Labin with its old town a labyrinth of winding cobbled streets on a hilltop overlooking the Kvarner Coast. Next, visit Pula at the peninsula’s southern tip. Tucked into the valley of seven hills, enjoy awe-inspiring Adriatic views and a visit to its well-preserved 1st-century Roman amphitheater among other ancient sites. You’ll also enjoy an olive oil/wine tasting, time to shop, and a visit to the Choco World Factory in elegant Opatija.

• Preferred Hotel Hotel Adriatic, Rovinj

Savor the seaside views this morning before checking out of your Rovinj hotel. You’ll be met by your driver for a private transfer to Plitvice. Check into your hotel, a luxurious rural resort in the heart of UNESCO-listed Plitvice Lakes National Park, one of the most beautiful and the most famous in all of Europe with its dazzling lakes in surreal shades of blues and greens and countless cascading waterfalls. The rest of the day is yours – you might take advantage of the facilities which include a sauna and a soothing Jacuzzi for a relaxing soak followed by dinner in the excellent on-site restaurant.

• Preferred Hotel Hotel Fenomen, Plitvice

Today you’ll get to explore the national park on a private guided walking tour. Your expert guide will give you the option of visiting the Lower Lakes, Upper Lakes, or both. There are a total of 16 different lakes here with brilliant hues ranging from deep emerald to aquamarine. Marvel at cascades like Mali Prstavac, Veliki Prstavac, and countless others that are laced in between the lush greenery while walking across wooden bridges and strolling scenic wooded paths. At the tour’s conclusion, you’ll take a panoramic train ride back to the north entrance. From here, continue to your accommodation in photogenic Sibenik.

• Preferred Hotel Hotel Armerun, Sibenik

This morning, tour Sibenik and its incredible medieval center with white limestone buildings that sparkle under the Mediterranean sun. Discover its famous gothic and renaissance St. James Cathedral, dating back to at least the 11th century, it’s a UNESCO World Heritage Site famous for its 71 head sculptures. Nearby in Drnis, marvel at the only Ottoman empire minaret ruin in Croatia at a 16th-century mosque turned church. You’ll have the chance to sample one of the most renowned authentic Croatian products of certified geographic origin: Drnis prosciutto. Learn how it’s made at a family-run eatery alongside cheese, seasonal veggies, homemade bread, and Croatian wine.

• Preferred Hotel Hotel Armerun, Sibenik

This morning you’ll take a private transfer from Sibenik to Split, Croatia’s second-largest city and one of its most intriguing. It’s best known for its UNESCO-listed Diocletian’s Palace which dates back over 1,700 years from when Roman Emperor Diocletian chose the site as his retirement residents, but there’s a long list of other things to see and do. After checking into your hotel, enjoy the rest of the day at leisure perhaps strolling the Riva seaside promenade, a great spot for people-watching with a glass of wine. The palace’s well-preserved Roman-era buildings house a wide variety of cafes and eateries ideal for dinner this evening.

• Preferred Hotel Judita Palace, Split

Get to know some of the tastiest flavors Split has to offer on a 3-hour private food and cultural tour. You’ll get to sample signature eats as you explore the vast 4th-century palace complex and its surrounds, starting with the Green Market that lies adjacent. Check out the many local foods on offer and enjoy a tasting followed by a visit to a konoba known for its culinary specialties such as handmade pasta and fresh seafood. Stop at a small shop to taste the traditional soparnik (peasant pie) and then try some amazing gelato and delectable traditional pastries in the city’s oldest pastry shop.

• Preferred Hotel Judita Palace, Split

With so much to do in Split, you’ll have a full day of leisure to do what interests you most. You might explore more of the palace, including a climb up the nearly 200-foot-high bell tower at Saint Dominus Cathedral. You’ll enjoy one of the best views of the city, the sea, and beyond. The palace cellars are also worth a visit – “Game of Thrones” fans will recognize them as the place where Daenerys trained her dragons. Learn more about Split’s history at the city museum in the heart of the palace and perhaps head to Bacvice Beach, less than a 15-minute walk away.

• Preferred Hotel Judita Palace, Split

It’s time to head to the final destination of your trip, Dubrovnik, the “Pearl of the Adriatic.” Enjoy the magnificent coastal views along the Peljesac Peninsula with its fjord-like landscape. A memorable stop will be made along the way in Ston, world-famous for its oysters, said to be some of the world’s best. You’ll hop into a small boat to reach a floating pontoon in the bay for a fresh oyster-tasting experience, with the delicacies harvested straight from the sea. Enjoy them with some tasty Dalmatian wine before continuing to your Dubrovnik hotel where you’ll check in and enjoy the evening at leisure.

• Preferred Hotel Hotel Excelsior, Dubrovnik

Start your day with a guided walk through Dubrovnik’s walled Old City. While strolling the marble-paved streets, your local guide will provide interesting facts about the city’s history. Discover Onofrio’s Fountain which supplied the city’s drinking water for nearly 600 years and marvel at the elegant 14th-century Rector’s Palace. You’ll see the Franciscan Monastery, home to one of Europe’s still active pharmacies dating to 1317, and much more. This afternoon, visit a family home for a home-hosted cooking class. Help the family matriarch prepare a traditional meal while getting expert instruction and then sit down to enjoy the feast with local wine.

• Preferred Hotel Hotel Excelsior, Dubrovnik

You’ll have a full day to do as you wish in Dubrovnik. A walk atop the City Walls is a must, with the centuries-old defensive walls stretching for 1.2 miles around the historic center. An iconic symbol of the city, as you stroll you’ll see the red-tiled roofs on one side, with the endless blue of the Adriatic and nearby islands on the other. You might visit Lokrum Island, just a 15-minute ferry ride from the Old City. Once there, enjoy the lush nature reserve with peacocks and adorable bunnies roaming around. Or sunbath and swim in the clear blue waters along the coast.

• Preferred Hotel Hotel Excelsior, Dubrovnik

After more than two weeks of experiencing Croatia’s many sights and flavors, your trip comes to an end. This morning your private driver will meet you at your hotel to provide a private transfer to Dubrovnik International Airport where you can catch your return flight home or head out on further travels. We wish you a safe journey with many photos and memories of a lifetime to take along with you.