1st day Zagreb
Arrival to the Zagreb airport – Pleso; transfer by bus to the hotel in the centre of Zagreb. After registration and accommodation at the hotel, dinner at the restaurant; overnight stay at the hotel.
2nd day Zagreb – Samobor – Zagreb
After breakfast we’ll start a Zagreb city tour, the capital of Croatia. The sightseeing tour includes visit to the King Tomislav square and the adjacent park, proceeding across Zrinjevac park with its fountains, the most valuable example of the 19th century architectural design. From the park a short Praska street leads to the main Zagreb square called Trg Bana Jelacica. After a short walk we will arrive to the Cathedral on the Kaptol hill and visit its interior. The sightseeing tour continues on the Gradec hill dominated by picturesque St. Mark church and nearby parliament building. The most beautiful and still preserved today, is the Stone Gate which is another target of the visit, together with Jesuit Square, St. Catherine church and other monuments in the Upper Town. On the way back to Zagreb downtown optional visit to the National Theater and the Arts and Crafts Museum. Departure by bus to a lovely small town Samobor, only 20 km distant from Zagreb.
Lunch in the restaurant called Samobor Waterfalls. Sightseeing after lunch will include the main square and interesting buildings, the 18th century manor which today houses the Samobor museum, St. Anastasia baroque church with beautiful altars and famous wall paintings. After that we will visit the first private museum in Croatia called the Marton Gallery which contains the most important private collection of artistic craft objects in this part of Europe. After short free time, return to Zagreb and dinner at the hotel. Overnight stay at the hotel.
3rd day Zagreb – Rastoke – Plitvice – Zadar
After breakfast departure for the national park Plitvice Lakes. On our way to Plitvice we will stop in a picturesque little place called Rastoke – with its watermills run by the waterfall named Fairy’s Hair, unspoilt nature and old village houses. After short sightseeing of Rastoke we will continue our journey to the Plitvice Lakes – the 16 magnificent lakes embroidered with hundreds of wonderful white waterfalls in the midst of forests situated in the mountainous Lika region of Croatia. The Plitvice Lakes are included in the UNESCO’s list of World natural heritage. We will take a walk along pathways and wooden bridges across the lakes and around waterfalls up to the largest Kozjak lake. A boat will take us to the other shore of the lake from where we will walk to the tourist train station. A train will take us to the parking place near the Jezero hotel. Lunch at the hotel restaurant or at the restaurant “Lička kuća”.
After lunch departure to Zadar, the town on the Adriatic coast with rich cultural heritage. A local guide will take us to a sightseeing tour from Roman Forum, medieval remains and beautiful churches in Romanesque, Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque style. Picturesque squares and stone paved streets with cafes and shops emanate the spirit of Mediterranean. Another attraction worth visiting is the Sea Organ on Petar Kresimir IV embankment.
Free time for individual visit to the permanent exhibition of church art with valuable goldsmith and silver works, paintings and sculptures, or enjoying the city. Departure to the hotel in the Borik resort and dinner at the hotel restaurant. Overnight stay at the hotel.
4th day Zadar – National Park Krka – Šibenik
Breakfast. Pleasant drive by bus along the coast toward the Krka river national park. The Krka river with numerous cascades and waterfalls in magnificent nature all around became the seventh national park in Croatia in 1985. We will take a tour along pathways and wooden bridges, take a view of amazing waterfalls, visit old stone houses with watermills, weaving machines and some other traditional crafts. There is also the first hydropower plant in Europe with generators designed by great inventor Nikola Tesla. Visit to Skradinski buk and other waterfalls and small lakes. After a walk around we will take a boat and sail along the river to a small island Visovac in the middle of the river with a Franciscan monastery. Lunch will be organized in one of the restaurants within the national park. Departure by bus toward town Šibenik. Accommodation in the hotel within the Solaris resort near Šibenik. After refreshment we will return by bus to the centre of Šibenik. Walk around typical Dalmatian streets and visiting the famous 15th century cathedral, a splendid and monumental building in the shape of a Latin cross and a lofty cupola. The cathedral is on UNESCO’s list of cultural heritage. Visit to other interesting monuments such as the church of St. Michael, the ancient patron saint of the town, whose figure impresses on the town walls and in the municipal seal, visit to town hall, duke’s palace and other interesting buildings.
After the Sibenik city tour, a short ride by bus to Vodice, a small town known for its tourist offer and hospitality. Dinner in one of typical small restaurants offering fish and good wine. Return to the hotel in Solaris. Overnight stay at the hotel.
5th day Šibenik – Trogir – Solin – Split
After breakfast departure toward the town – museum, Trogir. The walk around this splendid town reveals beautiful buildings such as small and large Cipiko palaces, southern town door, the monastery and church of St. Lawrence with the famous portal carved by master Radovan in the 13th century, fortress Kamerlengo and nearby round tower from the 15th century .
On the way to Split, we will stop in Solin. Roman Salona/Solin is one of the most important Roman and early Christian localities. Antique monuments and constructions are well preserved and give us good impression of ancient times. A local guide will take us on the tour among Roman forum with nearby theater from the 1st century, temples, town walls, old Christian cemetery Kapljuc with the remainders of basilicas from the 4th century. Lunch in one of the restaurants in Solin. After lunch continuation of a journey toward Split, large and important coastal town with its port and ferries traveling from Split to Dalmatian islands. Sightseeing itinerary will include visiting of the palace and its cellars, Peristil, the inner yard of antique palace with colonnades, the cathedral and its famous bell tower, Golden gate, the monument to Grgur Ninski and other. After the tour with local guide – free time for individual program. Accommodation at the hotel Peristil or hotel Park, dinner at the hotel. Overnight stay at the hotel.
6th day Split – Ston – Dubrovnik
After breakfast at the hotel departure toward the south of Dalmatia. The first town on the itinerary is Ston well known for its rich history and the wall that is the longest defense wall in Europe. Within the walls we will visit the old town with former city hall of the Dubrovnik Republic in Gothic-Renaissance style, palace Sorkocevic and former bishopric, Rector’s palace, Franciscan monastery, St. Nicolas church with its rich interior and valuable pieces of art. Ston is also famous for oyster beds and fresh oysters offered in restaurants.
Lunch in one of the local restaurants and a short ride by bus to Dubrovnik, one of the most attractive destinations in the Mediterranean. Accommodation in the hotel. After a short rest at the hotel, sightseeing tour around Dubrovnik with a local guide that will include the cathedral, Orlando’s Column – the symbol of freedom and independence of Dubrovnik, the Sponza palace, Dominican monastery, Rector’s palace, Franciscan monastery with the old pharmacy, Dubrovnik stone walls and other. Free time for individual programs. Dinner at the hotel restaurant. Overnight stay at the hotel.
7th day Dubrovnik – Cavtat – Konavle
Breakfast. Today excursion will include visit by bus to the picturesque villages around Dubrovnik. The first destination is a small village Mihanic and a visit to the house and gallery of the only naive painter of Dubrovnik – Mijo Šiša Konavljanin. After visiting the gallery and artist’s unusual paintings, a lunch in one of the famous restaurants in Konavli with traditionally prepared food. After lunch departure to Cavtat. This ancient small town is situated on the peninsula Rat covered with pine woods. Many archeological findings speak about the Hellenic town of Epidaurum which was destroyed in the 7th century. Today, Cavtat is a tourist centre with many interesting monuments like the native house and gallery of the famous painter Vlaho Bukovac, the mausoleum of the Račić family, the work of the sculptor Ivan Meštrović. Rector’s palace from the 16th century is on the embankment. Today it houses the gallery and the collection of Baltazar Bogišić, a lawyer and writer who lived in the 19th century. We will also visit the exhibition at St. Nicholas church rectory containing a valuable collection of paintings, sculptures and church art. Free time and return to Dubrovnik. Dinner at the hotel restaurant. Overnight stay at the hotel.
8th day Dubrovnik – optional excursion to NP Mljet – Dubrovnik
A whole day excursion to the island of Mljet – one of the most beautiful islands in the Adriatic covered with thick forests, quite unusual for the Adriatic coast. We will walk around the two lakes and take a boat to an islet in the middle of the Big Lake with the Romanesque church of St. Mary and the 12th century Benedictine monastery. Due to specific spiritual and cultural dimension, the monastery has become a symbol of the island and national park. Lunch at the restaurant Odisej, free time and return to Dubrovnik. Dinner and overnight stay at the hotel.
9th day Dubrovnik – Trsteno – Makarska – Omiš
After breakfast departure by bus to the nearby Arboretum Trsteno. These unique gardens are among the oldest arboretums in this part of Europe. After visiting Trsteno, we will continue our journey toward Makarska riviera. Makarska is a lovely town settled between the mountain Biokovo in the back and the sea coast with sandy beaches. During the walk around town we will visit the Franciscan church and monastery with a unique museum of shells that were collected by a priest and natural scientist Dr. Jure Radić, the church of St. Mark Evangelist and other interesting buildings. Lunch in one of the local restaurants. After lunch departure for the town Omiš at the estuary of the Cetina river. Apart from natural beauty and special gastronomic offer, Omiš has rich cultural heritage. We will visit a parish church with beautiful portal and bell tower (the church has two paintings by a 17th century painter from Ravenna (Ignoli) and wooden cross from the 15th century), local museum with it archeological collection and the collection of old traditional tools, household objects and costumes that depict how people lived in Omiš and nearby Poljice, St. Spirit church from the 16th century, Franciscan monastery with art collection and a Romanesque fortress Mirabell on the hill. Dinner at one of Omiš restaurants. After dinner a short drive to the San Antonio hotel in Podstrana, overnight stay.
10th day Omiš – Knin – Zagreb
After breakfast departure toward Knin. The old town Knin lies on the crossroad of routes from the sea to the hinterland. In the vicinity is the source of the Krka river. After visiting the fortress and local museum we will proceed toward Zagreb.
Lunch in one of the lovely restaurants along the highway. Arrival to Zagreb – overnight accommodation at the Palace hotel including dinner.
Price includes:
Hotel accommodation:
accommodation in 4* hotels on half board basis
Hotel list:
Zagreb: hotel Palace, hotel Dubrovnik, hotel Sheraton or similar
Zadar: hotel resort Falkensteiner / hotel Funimation or similar
Šibenik: hotel resort Solaris / hotel Ivan or similar
Split: hotel Park, hotel Peristil or similar
Dubrovnik: hotel Excelsior, hotel Uvala or similar
Podstrana: hotel San Antonio
dinner at the local restaurants on the 1st and the 4th and day of itinerary
Local guides for sightseeing tour of Zagreb, Plitvice lakes, Zadar, national park Krka, Šibenik, Trogir, Solin, Split, Dubrovnik and national park Mljet
Entrance fees: Tickets for all national parks, galleries and other according to program: “Samobor museum, gallery Marton Samobor, Rastoke, National park “Plitvice lakes”, National park “Krka”, Natonal park “Mljet”, St. Donat church in Zadar, St. Dominic church and monastery in Trogir, Diocletian palace in Split, cathedral and its baptistery in Split, Franciscan and Dominican monasteries in Ston, St. Nicholas church in Ston, St. Blasius cathedral in Dubrovnik, Rector’s palace, Franciscan and Dominican monasteries in Dubrovnik, Dubrovnik stone walls, gallery of naive painter Mijo Konavljanin, the family Račič mausoleum, Rector’s palace, St. Nicholas church and its art collection in Cavtat, visit to islet and Benedictine monastery on the island Mljet, arboretum in Tresteno, Franciscan monastery and shell collection museum in Makarska, local museum collection, town museum and Franciscan monastery in Omiš, Knin fortress.
English speaking tour lieder
Comfortable coach on disposal as per itinerary
Portages
Price doesn’t include:
Tips
Drinks
Additional health insurance
Other services and entrance fees that are not mentioned in “price includes”
Supplement for single room: on request
Please note: Do to possible overbooking, Via travel Agency reserves the right to substitute hotels from the list providing similar accommodation
Reservations: All reservations /bookings are opened 55 days before each departure unless noted differently for each departure
