Highlights
- Get to know Slovenia's capital and food scene with walking tours
- Visit Lake Bled and take a traditional boat out to the famous island
- Explore Predjama Castle, the most famous and largest cave castle in the world
- See Pula's ancient Roman amphitheater and cycle in Brijuni National Park
- Wander the medieval towns of Motovun and Grožnjan with a truffle lunch
Brief Itinerary
| Day | Highlights | Overnight |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Arrive in Ljubljana (Slovenia), Afternoon Food Tour | Ljubljana |
| Day 2 | Ljubljana Old Town Walking Tour, Transfer to Bled via Radovljica | Bled |
| Day 3 | Discover Bled Tour & Island Boat Ride, Visit Vintgar Gorge | Bled |
| Day 4 | Transfer to Rovinj (Croatia) via Postojna Cave Tour & Predjama Castle | Rovinj |
| Day 5 | Half-Day Trip to Pula, Biking Adventure in Brijuni National Park | Rovinj |
| Day 6 | Explore Istrian Hill Towns, Truffle Lunch, Transfer to Ljubljana | Ljubljana |
| Day 7 | Depart Ljubljana |
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive in Ljubljana (Slovenia), Afternoon Food Tour
Welcome to the Balkans! You've landed in Slovenia's charming capital, Ljubljana. Check into your hotel, then explore one of Europe's greenest cities. Take in the lively city's classic European castle, parks, and churches as you make your way along the banks of the Ljubljanica River to where your guide is waiting. This afternoon, you'll taste your way through Ljubljana's Old Town along with a local foodie, who will share stories of the people, architecture, history of the Slovene nation, and—of course—regional and national gastronomy.
During the food tour, you'll taste nine traditional dishes from all parts of Slovenia, along with four types of local wine. You'll get to explore the city's historical heart, learning about Ljubljana's history while snacking on the country's favorite treats and dishes. After the four-hour tour wraps up, you'll have a full stomach and be ready to explore more of the city at your own pace this evening.
Day 2: Ljubljana Old Town Walking Tour, Transfer to Bled via Radovljica
Dive deeper into Ljubljana's atmospheric Old Town today with a guided walking tour through its highlights and hidden corners. Along the way, you'll see landmarks like the Baroque Ljubljana Cathedral, the central Prešeren Square, the candy-pink facade of the Franciscan Church of the Annunciation, and the famous Triple Bridge. Pass the bustling central market and walk along the river to Ljubljana Castle, where your guide will point out its many dragons, which have become an iconic symbol of the city.
After the tour, a private driver will be waiting to collect you for the 45-minute journey north to Lake Bled. No matter the season, this picture-postcard lake with its solitary island is a sight to behold. En route, you'll stop at Radovljica, a medieval Slovenian town with a romantic moat and views of the Karavanke and Julian Alps. The town is known today as "Sweet Radovljica" (Radol'ca), thanks to beekeeping and chocolate traditions. Enjoy a traditional Slovenian lunch, or meet a beekeeper to learn why Radovljica is the world capital of apiculture.
Finally, get back on the road to reach Bled Town. Surrounded by clear turquoise water and a fairy-tale hilltop castle, it's considered one of the most beautiful places on Earth. Check into your hotel, then go for a relaxed stroll by the lake.
Day 3: Discover Bled Tour & Island Boat Ride, Visit Vintgar Gorge
Awake, ready to explore more of Bled today with a private guide. Hear about its legends, discover hidden corners, and learn about Slovenian cuisine. Then, you'll board a pletna, a traditional wooden boat, and cross to Bled Island, where you'll visit the church in the middle of the island and hear the story about the wishing bell on its tower. After, enjoy free time to stroll by the lake or try a traditional cream cake called kremzšnta. After the two-hour tour, return to Bled Town for a leisurely lunch.
In the afternoon, you might like to take a trip to Vintgar Gorge. Just a 10-minute taxi ride away, this is one of Slovenia's greatest natural gems and a must-visit when in Bled. Created by the Radovna River carving through the hills, you can traverse the gorge's series of pools, rapids, and waterfalls via a winding wooden boardwalk. Return to Bled and choose a cozy spot for dinner—for a memorable experience, climb to the hilltop medieval castle and enjoy Slovenian specialties with views over the lake.
Day 4: Transfer to Rovinj (Croatia) via Postojna Cave Tour & Predjama Castle
Chat with a local specialist who can help organize your trip.
Today, you'll journey south into Croatia to reach the coastal town of Rovinj, a three-hour drive away. En route, your driver will stop at two extraordinary Slovenian sights: Postojna Cave and Predjama Castle. At the former, you'll take a 90-minute tour of the subterranean wonder, including an underground train ride, to view its magnificent cavern halls, dramatic stalagmites, and unusual fauna. Make sure to bring a jacket, as it's cooler inside!
Continue to the nearby Predjama Castle, the most famous and largest cave castle in the world. Perched in the middle of a 400-foot-high (122 m) cliff, you can venture inside to enter the medieval world of brave knights, romantic stories, and hidden treasures before continuing to Rovinj. This small jewel on the west coast of the Istria region was once part of the Venetian Empire and today is known for its sun-drenched climate and delicious cuisine. Check into your hotel, then seek out dinner in one of Rovinj's world-class restaurants and take a stroll through its cobbled streets as evening falls.
Day 5: Half-Day Trip to Pula, Biking Adventure in Brijuni National Park
This morning, you'll meet a private guide for a half-day adventure to Pula, the largest town in Istria. Located 45 minutes from Rovinj on the peninsula's southern tip, its strategic location means Pula has been occupied throughout the centuries by everyone from the Romans to the Allied Forces in World War II. Beyond its beautiful beaches and harbor, it's most famous for its Roman amphitheater, the Pula Arena, dating from the first century. Make a beeline for the arena, which is one of the 10 largest colosseums the Romans ever built.
After, a guide will collect you for a biking adventure across nearby Brijuni National Park, an archipelago of 14 islands and islets of exceptional beauty. Venture to Fažana, a small coastal town near Pula, where you'll catch a boat to Veliki Brijun, the main island in the park. Cycle past a Byzantine castrum (fort) from the second century BCE and a first-century Roman residential villa. Bring swimwear to enjoy the remote beaches and seek out dinosaur footprints that date back 100 to 125 million years. When it's time to return to the mainland, your driver will return you to Rovinj.
Day 6: Explore Istrian Hill Towns, Truffle Lunch, Transfer to Ljubljana
Today, you'll return to Ljubljana, turning a three-hour drive into a full day of adventure and fun across the Istria. This area is sometimes called "Croatian Tuscany," thanks to its picturesque medieval hilltop towns, forests, and vineyards. Your first stop is Motovun, an ancient sleepy town located atop a 909-foot (277 m) hill. Within the medieval city walls, you'll find Romanesque, Gothic, and Renaissance buildings, all in a beautiful location with views over the Mirna Valley.
Your next stop is Grožnjan, another medieval hilltop town surrounded by terraced olive groves and vineyards. Once an important stronghold for the Venetians, the town's importance declined with the 18th-century collapse of the empire. Today, it's popular with artists and is filled with galleries and studios.
For lunch, you'll visit a family estate for a special truffle lunch. Meet a truffle hunter to hear how truffles are found, prepared, and served. You'll snack on homemade products such as cheese with truffles, truffle oil, truffle honey, as well as truffle frittata (scrambled eggs with truffles), which you'll help prepare. The family will share local wines and brandies before you continue on the road to Ljubljana.
Day 7: Depart Ljubljana
Your week in Croatia and Slovenia comes to a close today. If you have time, spend the morning enjoying more of Ljubljana at your leisure. When the time comes, your driver will collect you for the 30-minute private transfer to Ljubljana Airport to catch your departing flight. Safe travels!
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