Itinerary
- Day 1
Mestre
You'll arrive in Mestre and settle into your hotel. Your guide will meet you and hand over a travel card that gives you unlimited access to Venice's water and land transportation. If you're up for it, the guide can take you into Venice this evening to walk around and grab dinner at a local restaurant, getting a feel for the city's character before your full exploration tomorrow.
Optional Activities
- Evening visit to Venice with guide
- Dinner at a local restaurant
- Day 2
Venice
Head out on a scenic boat ride along the Grand Canal to see how the city is built. You'll stop at St. Mark's Square and check out St. Mark's Basilica with its luminous mosaics covering the walls and ceilings. From there, walk through the Doge's Palace and cross the Rialto Bridge. Spend time wandering the narrow streets and alleyways that make up Venice's layout. If you want, add on a gondola ride through the smaller canals, and end with dinner at a local spot in the evening.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Scenic ride along the Grand Canal
- Visit to St. Mark's Square
- Visit to St. Mark's Basilica
- Exploration of Doge's Palace
- Cross Rialto Bridge
- Walking tour through Venice's streets and alleyways
Optional Activities
- Gondola ride through the canals
- Dinner at a local restaurant
Landmarks/POIs Grand Canal St. Mark's Square St. Mark's Basilica Doge's Palace Rialto Bridge - Day 3
Venice - Murano - Burano - Ljubljana
Check out and take a boat to Murano island, where you'll watch glassblowers create pieces using traditional techniques at a factory there. Next, head to Burano island to see the colorful houses and explore its lace-making heritage. Walk around Galuppi Square and browse the shops. Later you'll travel to Ljubljana, Slovenia's capital. After checking in, spend the rest of your time exploring the city's atmosphere and trying out the different restaurants available.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Murano Glass Factory visit and glassblowing demonstration
- Burano island exploration
- Visit to Galuppi Square
- Exploration of Burano's lace-making shops
Optional Activities
- Purchase glass souvenirs from Murano
- Dining at Ljubljana restaurants
Landmarks/POIs Murano Burano Galuppi Square - Day 4
Ljubljana - Lake Bled - Ljubljana
Start with a guided tour of Ljubljana, checking out the Cathedral of Saint Nicholas, the baroque Town Hall, and Mestni Trg in the medieval section. You'll see Robba's Fountain, the central market, and the Triple Bridge. From there, head to Lake Bled for a traditional pletna boat ride out to the Church of Saint Mary on the island. Visit Bled Castle sitting high above the lake, and try the local krempita cream cake before heading back to Ljubljana.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Ljubljana
- Visit to Cathedral of Saint Nicholas
- Visit to Mestni Trg (Town Square)
- Visit to Robba's Fountain
- Visit to central open-air market
- Visit to Triple Bridge
- Traditional pletna boat ride on Lake Bled
- Visit to Church of Saint Mary on Lake Bled island
Optional Activities
- Visit to Bled Castle
- Tasting Bled 'krempita' cream cake
Landmarks/POIs Cathedral of Saint Nicholas Mestni Trg (Town Square) Robba's Fountain Triple Bridge Ljubljanica River Lake Bled Church of Saint Mary Bled Castle - Day 5
Ljubljana - Postojna Cave - Goriška Hills - Portorož
After checking out, travel about an hour to Postojna Cave. You'll ride an electric train through the underground landscape seeing stalactites, stalagmites, limestone pools, and waterfalls. Next, head into the Gorika Hills wine region and visit the medieval village of Smartno. Stop at a winery for wine tasting to try local wines and learn about the area. Later you'll arrive in Portoroz, the coastal town in Istria, and check into your hotel there.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Postojna Cave exploration with electric train
- Goriška Hills wine tasting at an authentic winery
- Visit to medieval village Šmartno
Landmarks/POIs Postojna Cave Goriška Hills Šmartno - Day 6
Portorož - Grozjan - Motovun - Poreč
Travel to Grozjan, a hilltop village known for its art scene and old medieval character. Walk the cobblestone streets and check out galleries and artist workshops. Take part in a truffle-hunting demo in the forest with a local hunter and trained dog, then taste truffle-infused cheese and sausages with Istrian wine. Continue to Motovun on its lush hilltop with views across the region and medieval streets. Check in to your hotel in Porec later.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Grozjan village exploration
- Truffle-hunting demonstration
- Truffle-infused cheese and sausage tasting with Istrian wine
- Motovun village exploration
Landmarks/POIs Grozjan Motovun Church of St. Stephen Motovun Forest - Day 7
Poreč - Rovinj - Lim Bay - Pula - Poreč
Explore Rovinj with its 18th-century Venetian buildings and cobblestone streets. See Grisia Street for local art and shops. Head to Lim Bay, an 11-km estuary with water channels. Eat fresh oysters, mussels, clams, and scallops at a waterside restaurant near an oyster farm. Continue to Pula to see the well-preserved Roman amphitheatre (6th largest in the world), the Temple of Augustus, Triumphal Arch of Sergius, and other Roman structures. Return to Porec by evening.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Walking tour of Rovinj's Old Town
- Exploration of Grisia Street
- Oyster and shellfish tasting at Lim Bay
- Visit to Pula's Roman amphitheatre
- Visit to Temple of Augustus
- Visit to Triumphal Arch of Sergius
Optional Activities
- Boat excursion to Pakleni Islands
- Beach relaxation
- Exploration of trails to Milna Bay
- Mediterranean lunch at local restaurant
Landmarks/POIs Rovinj Rovinj's Old Town Grisia Street Lim Bay Lim Channel Pula Roman Amphitheatre Temple of Augustus Triumphal Arch of Sergius Pakleni Islands - Day 8
Poreč - Opatija - Plitvice Lakes National Park
Check out and travel to Opatija, a town known for its history and architecture. Stop for a coffee and walk along the Lungomare promenade with views of the sea. Pass through villages and rolling hills with glimpses of the Adriatic. Arrive at Plitvice Lakes National Park and take a 3-hour guided tour of the upper and lower lakes among the 16 connected cascading lakes, a UNESCO site. Have a meal at a restaurant nearby, then check into your hotel.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit to Opatija
- Stroll along Lungomare promenade
- 3-hour guided tour of Plitvice Lakes National Park
Optional Activities
- Dining at restaurant near Plitvice Lakes
Landmarks/POIs Opatija Lungomare promenade Plitvice Lakes National Park - Day 9
Plitvice Lakes National Park - Trogir - Split
Head to the Croatian coast and explore Trogir, a UNESCO site on a small island with Romanesque, Gothic, Renaissance, and Baroque buildings. See the Cathedral of Saint Lawrence, Clock Tower, Loggia, Land Gate, Kamerlengo Castle, and Saint Mark's Tower. Continue to Split, Dalmatia's largest city with 1,700 years of history. Walk through Diocletian's Palace with its narrow streets and markets. Visit the former Temple of Jupiter and the Cathedral of Saint Domnius. Stroll the Riva waterfront promenade and check into your hotel.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Walking tour of Trogir
- Visit to Cathedral of Saint Lawrence
- Exploration of Trogir medieval architecture
- Walking tour of Split's Old Town
- Visit to Diocletian's Palace
- Visit to Temple of Jupiter
- Visit to Cathedral of Saint Domnius
- Stroll along Riva promenade
Landmarks/POIs Trogir Cathedral of Saint Lawrence Clock Tower Kamerlengo Castle Saint Mark's Tower Diocletian's Palace Golden Gate Temple of Jupiter Cathedral of Saint Domnius Riva promenade - Day 10
Split - Hvar Island - Split
Drive to the ferry port and board a high-speed catamaran to Hvar Island, enjoying the blue water during the trip. Take a walking tour of this Venetian-style town with traffic-free cobbled streets and restaurants. See the harbour, Renaissance Cathedral, Benedictine Convent, Franciscan monastery, and Church of Our Lady of Mercy. You'll have free time to take a boat trip to the Pakleni Islands, relax on beaches, or have a Mediterranean lunch. Return to Split in the late afternoon by catamaran.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- High-speed catamaran to Hvar Island
- Walking tour of Hvar town
- Visit to harbour
- Visit to Renaissance Cathedral
- Visit to Benedictine Convent
- Visit to Franciscan monastery
- Visit to Church of Our Lady of Mercy
- High-speed catamaran return to Split
Optional Activities
- Boat excursion to Pakleni Islands
- Beach relaxation
- Exploration of trails to Milna Bay
- Mediterranean lunch at local restaurant
Landmarks/POIs Hvar Island Hvar town Renaissance Cathedral Benedictine Convent Franciscan monastery Church of Our Lady of Mercy Pakleni Islands Milna Bay - Day 11
Split
Check out of your hotel as your Balkan tour wraps up. Most people extend on their own from here. Airport transfer isn't included in the tour cost, but you can arrange one through Balkan&more for an additional fee if you set it up ahead of time.
Optional Activities
- Airport transfer (available for additional fee with prior arrangement)
