9 days Private tour of Croatia

Welcome to Zagreb. Your journey starts at Franjo Tuđman Zagreb airport where you will be welcomed by your private guide-driver who will be with you during the whole tour. Transfer to your hotel. Upon check-in feel free to join your guide for the short orientation tour. According to your landing time and available time we can arrange Day 1 with more activities. Otherwise, afternoon at leisure and overnight with dinner in the hotel in Zagreb.

After breakfast in the hotel, we’ll take a sightseeing tour of the charming Croatian Capital.  Zagreb is a real metropolis, a delight to walk through with a lively street atmosphere, numerous cafes, restaurants, and shopping but still green and so close to nature. 

You will start a tour with the visit to beautiful Zagreb Cathedral before we proceed to Upper Town by walking through Croatia’s biggest fruit and vegetable market ”Dolac”.

In the fortified, medieval Upper Town your guide will show you:  St. Mark’s church, with its famous red and white, Croatian coat of arms roof, Parliament, and government palace. Later we will take a ride with Zagreb’s funicular to get us back to Zagreb’s Downtown for leisure time. We suggest a visit to some of the numerous city museums like unique: ”Museum of broken relationships” or just take a walk through Lenuci Horseshoe – a U-shaped complex of city squares and parks.

Afternoon we proceed to Opatija, this delightful town is considered the cradle of Croatian tourism it is the home of the first hotel opened in Croatia, Hotel Kvarner in 1884 as well as of the Croatian Museum of Tourism. Take a walk along the sea promenade (Lungomare) and feel the charm of European aristocracy 19-century favorite resort. Overnight in Opatija.

Today we are exploring the Istrian peninsula – one of Croatia’s most delightful and colorful regions. The first stop is Hum – a medieval hilltop town, with a population of fewer than 30 inhabitants also known as the smallest city in the world. Later we delight our tastebuds by sampling truffles and olive oil crafted by local producers. We continue toward Rovinj, one of the most photogenic Croatian cities. With smooth, shiny marble cobblestone streets and pastel-colored houses in coastal settings, Rovinj is just too beautiful to be excluded from any of Croatia’s Highlight itinerary.

Our final destination for today is the Istrian capital of Pula, famous for one of the most preserved Roman amphitheaters in the World, Pula Arena which is still used today but for the less brutal events. Return to Opatija for the evening and overnight.

After breakfast, we depart towards the Plitvice National Park located in the Lika – mountainous region in central Croatia.

16 lakes connected with breathtaking waterfalls are inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage list since 1979. A leisurely hike with your guide allows you to take in the natural beauty of the surrounding area, the experience o nature is amazing. The park is visited mostly on foot – however, the entrance includes an electric boat ride across the Emerald Green Lake “Kozjak” and a train ride back to the main entrance.

In the afternoon, we cross through the Velebit mountain to arrive at the Dalmatian coast, backed by high mountains with hundreds of offshore islands, this region became one of Europe’s most popular holiday destinations.  Our first stop is the city of Zadar, after check-in, we will take a sightseeing tour with our local guide. Zadar will delight you with many attractions from ancient  2nd century BC Roman Forum to modern installations: Greeting to the sun and Sea organs. Enjoy the sunset that Alfred Hitchcock named ‘’the most beautiful in the world’’.  Overnight in Zadar.

This morning after breakfast we depart Zadar and make our way toward the south with the first stop in UNESCO listed coastal town of Trogir.  Meet the city with 2300 years of tradition and rich culture created under the influence of old Greeks, Romans, Venetians. With the concentration of palaces, churches, towers,  and fortresses built from stone on a small island, Trogir in every way deserves its nickname “THE STONE BEAUTY”. After a sightseeing tour, you will have enough time to have lunch and try some local specialties in one of many city’s restaurants or just to grab a drink and chill at a seaside promenade having a view on some of the most expensive world yachts moored in front of you.  We continue our journey with a short drive to Split, regional Capital, Croatian second biggest city and home of magnificent  Diocletian Palace.   Hotel Check-in and short refreshment before we start exploring this amazing city in the company of our local guide.  Modern split grew around the Diocletian’s Palace, which now is melted into the city center representing its historic city center.

The palace built by the Roman emperor Diocletian is inhabited since it was built in the 3rd century till nowadays which makes it a living monument and one-of-a-kind ancient architecture in the world. In the evening experience the Mediterranean charm of this vibrant city with world-class nightlife and great restaurants.  Overnight in Split.

Split – Dubrovnik. Leaving Split after breakfast we drive south along the Dalmatian coastline, crossing the Neum Corridor of Bosnia and Herzegovina to Dubrovnik – an architectural masterpiece that delights visitors from all around the world. But before we get there we another surprise for you. Let’s take a safari tour with traditional wooden boats that have been used by pirates in the Neretva river valley.  We will, cruise through hundreds of canals and take a peek into the untouched heart of the Neretva river Wetlands and at the end of the cruise we will serve a traditional lunch Neretvanski brudet – flavorful fish stew traditionally accompanied by polenta or rustic, country-style bread. Upon arrival in Dubrovnik and hotel check-in, let’s join our local guide in a sightseeing tour and explore Dubrovnik’s old city.

Fortified by mighty walls rising straight from the cliffs bathed in the turquoise Adriatic Sea, Dubrovnik is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful European cities. Tour includes the ticket for the city walls – from where you will admire the beautiful view of city rooftops, the old port, and nearby islands.  See the Rector’s Palace, Onofrio’s Fountain, and Franciscan Monastery with the oldest pharmacy in Europe still being in use.  Stroll through elegant courtyards and along limestone streets, admiring the remnants of Dubrovnik’s Golden Age.

For more amazing views we suggest a late afternoon cable car ride up to the top of Srdj Hill, the view from there is breathtaking.  The evening is at leisure or we can book some local experience for you like an evening cruise with dinner or dinner with locals – family-style dinner on the open terrace of a family house. Overnight in Dubrovnik.

Leaving Dubrovnik after breakfast we drive back to the north along the Dalmatian coast through the coastal villages in a beautiful Mediterranean setting. Today it’s time to sample island life, we will take a ferry to the island of Hvar and upon arrival a panoramic drive toward the southeastern side of the island where the same name town of Hvar is settled. Hvar is one of the most popular destinations in Croatia, even among the world’s celebrities who visit the island every summer. After Chek in and refreshment in the hotel we will take a boat ride to Pakleni Islands –  where you will find all that you need for a hot summer day: private beaches, thick shade forest, and crystal-clear sea that you can dip into for a cooling break and restaurants with delicious and healthy Mediterranean food. Spend the evening at leisure discovering the sights and delights of Hvar. Overnight in Hvar.

Leaving Hvar after breakfast with a ferry transfer to the mainland and drive to Sibenik –  the oldest Croatian coastal town on the Adriatic.

This city was the first in the world to light its streets by a polyphasic system of alternating current in 1894, powered by the Krka river. The plant supplied enough electricity to power 340 street lights in the city of Šibenik.

The Cathedral of St. James in Šibenik is one of the most important and most beautiful architectural achievements in Croatia, and it is protected as the UNESCO Cultural World Heritage site since 2000.

After a sightseeing tour, You will have enough time for exploring narrow stone streets and houses squeezed together, typical for Dalmatian cities, and lunch in one of many cities restaurants.  Afternoon departure for Zagreb for overnight.

Your Private tour of Croatia ends today. Spend the morning at leisure before an included transfer to Zagreb airport for your onward flight.