Itinerary
- Day 1
Budapest
You'll arrive at Budapest airport where your driver meets you for the transfer to your hotel. During the drive, you'll catch views of the city's famous bridges and thermal baths. After checking in, the afternoon and evening are yours to relax and settle in before things start tomorrow.
Landmarks/POIs Chain Bridge Elisabeth Bridge Hungarian Parliament Building - Day 2
Budapest
Your guided sightseeing tour covers Budapest's main attractions, starting with a mix of walking and driving through the city. You'll see the Chain Bridge, Castle District, Heroes' Square, and the grand Hungarian Synagogue (all UNESCO World Heritage Sites). Grab lunch during your free time, then later this afternoon you board a one-hour Danube river cruise with wine, floating past the illuminated Royal Palace and Parliament building.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Guided sightseeing tour of Budapest including Chain Bridge, Castle District, Elisabeth Bridge views, Hungarian Parliament Building, Heroes' Square, and Hungarian Synagogue
- One-hour Danube River cruise with wine
Optional Activities
- Optional dinner cruise upgrade - 2.5-hour journey with dinner served on board
Landmarks/POIs Chain Bridge Castle District Elisabeth Bridge Hungarian Parliament Building Heroes' Square Hungarian Synagogue Royal Palace - Day 3
Novi Sad - Belgrade
Head into Serbia and explore Vojvodina's wine country. Start at Zvonko Bogdan Winery for a guided tour and tasting of Palic vineyard wines. From there, continue to Novi Sad, the 2021 European Capital of Culture, where you'll walk through the pedestrian zone and see local landmarks. After that, visit Petrovaradin Fortress for Danube views and have dinner there. Later, drive to Belgrade for the evening, with free time to wander the bohemian Skadarlija quarter.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Dinner in a beautiful setting at Petrovaradin Fortress)
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Zvonko Bogdan Winery with wine tasting of three different wines
- Sightseeing tour of Novi Sad including City Hall, old city centre, Matica Srpska cultural foundation, synagogue, and Danube riverbank walk
- Visit to Petrovaradin Fortress
Landmarks/POIs Zvonko Bogdan Winery City Hall Matica Srpska Petrovaradin Fortress Skadarlija - Day 4
Belgrade
This morning's walking and driving tour starts on Knez Mihailova Street and includes a visit to the city's oldest tavern for local coffee and rakija. You'll walk through Belgrade Fortress and Kalemegdan Park to see river views, cross Branko's Bridge into New Belgrade to check out Brutalist architecture and the modern waterfront, then visit the Temple of Saint Sava with its mosaics. The tour finishes at Republic Square, leaving the rest of the day free.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Guided walking and driving tour of Belgrade
- Visit to Knez Mihailova Street pedestrian zone
- Local coffee and rakija tasting at the city's oldest tavern
- Walk through Belgrade Fortress and Kalemegdan Park
- Visit to Temple of Saint Sava
- Panoramic tour of New Belgrade including Ada Bridge, Dedinje area, and Belgrade Waterfront
Landmarks/POIs Knez Mihailova Street Belgrade Fortress Kalemegdan Park Branko's Bridge Ada Bridge Temple of Saint Sava Republic Square - Day 5
Zagreb - Ljubljana
Drive to Zagreb, Croatia's capital, and spend the morning exploring its European culture and architecture. Visit Kaptol, the Franciscan monastery, Church of Saint Francis, Dolac farmers' market, and the baroque Church of Saint Mary. After lunch, head into Slovenia and stop at Otocec Castle, the only water castle in Slovenia built above the Krka River. Continue to Ljubljana to check in and then explore the capital's historic and modern areas.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Sightseeing tour of Zagreb including Kaptol, Franciscan monastery, Church of Saint Francis, Dolac farmers' market, Church of Saint Mary, and Ban Josip Jelacic's monument
- Visit to Otocec Castle
Landmarks/POIs Kaptol Franciscan Monastery Church of Saint Francis Dolac Farmers' Market Church of Saint Mary Ban Josip Jelacic Square Otocec Castle - Day 6
Lake Bled - Ljubljana
Start with a walk through Ljubljana's riverfront, seeing the Cathedral of Saint Nicholas, baroque Town Hall, medieval Town Square, Robba's Fountain, the central market, and Triple Bridge. Then drive to Lake Bled to see the island, the most photographed spot in Slovenia. Take a traditional pletna boat to explore the Church of Saint Mary on the island, then visit Bled Castle for lake views. Try the famous krempita cream cake before heading back to Ljubljana for the night.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Ljubljana including Cathedral of Saint Nicholas, baroque Town Hall, medieval Town Square, Robba's Fountain, central market, and Triple Bridge
- Pletna boat ride to Lake Bled island
- Visit to Church of Saint Mary on Lake Bled island
Optional Activities
- Visit to Bled Castle
Landmarks/POIs Cathedral of Saint Nicholas Town Hall Town Square Robba's Fountain Central Market Triple Bridge Lake Bled Bled Island Church of Saint Mary Bled Castle - Day 7
Postojna Cave - Goriska Hills - Portoroz
After checking out, you'll visit Postojna Cave just an hour away, boarding an electric train to explore the underground landscape with stalactites, stalagmites, limestone pools, and waterfalls. From there, head into the Goriska Hills region shared by Slovenia and Italy, where you'll see the medieval village of Smartno and tour an authentic winery for tasting. End the day in Portoroz, the Istrian coastal town, and check into your hotel.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit to Postojna Cave with electric train exploration
- Visit to medieval village of Smartno
- Wine tasting at an authentic winery in Goriska Hills
Landmarks/POIs Postojna Cave Smartno Goriska Hills - Day 8
Porec
Head to Groznjan, a hilltop village with a vibrant arts scene and medieval architecture, where you can explore galleries and workshops before grabbing a local drink. Next, participate in a truffle-hunting demonstration in a nearby forest with an expert and his trained dog, learning to find white and black truffles and tasting truffle-infused cheese and sausages with Istrian wine. Later, visit Motovun, an ancient hilltop town with countryside views and narrow medieval streets, then check into your hotel in Porec.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit to Groznjan with exploration of galleries and workshops
- Truffle-hunting demonstration with expert and trained dog
- Truffle tasting of local truffle-infused cheese and sausages with Istrian wine
- Visit to Motovun with walking tour of medieval architecture and town walls
Landmarks/POIs Groznjan Motovun Church of St. Stephen Motovun Forest - Day 9
Rovinj - Pula - Porec
Explore Rovinj, known as the gem of Istria, wandering through the old town with 18th-century Venetian architecture and cobblestone streets. Discover Grisia Street famous for local art, shops, and Mediterranean views. Have lunch at a seaside restaurant near Lim Bay where you'll try oysters, mussels, clams, and scallops. Continue to Pula to see the well-preserved Roman amphitheatre (sixth-largest Roman coliseum worldwide), plus the Temple of Augustus, Triumphal Arch of Sergius, and Twin Gates, then return to Porec in the evening.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Walking tour of Rovinj old town including Grisia Street
- Oyster and seashell tasting at a seaside restaurant near Lim Bay
- Visit to Pula Roman amphitheatre
- Visit to Temple of Augustus
- Visit to Triumphal Arch of Sergius
- Visit to Twin Gates in Pula
Landmarks/POIs Rovinj Grisia Street Lim Bay Pula Roman Amphitheatre Temple of Augustus Triumphal Arch of Sergius Twin Gates - Day 10
Opatija - Plitvice Lakes
After checking out, drive to Opatija, an elegant coastal town with rich history and architecture. Take a coffee break while strolling the famous Lungomare promenade with sea views. Pass through picturesque countryside with charming villages and rolling hills overlooking the Adriatic. Continue to Plitvice Lakes National Park with its 16 interconnected cascading lakes (a UNESCO World Heritage Site). Your 3-hour guided tour covers both upper and lower lakes. After lunch at a nearby restaurant, check into your hotel.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit to Opatija and Lungomare promenade
- Guided 3-hour tour of Plitvice Lakes National Park including upper and lower lakes
Landmarks/POIs Opatija Lungomare Promenade Plitvice Lakes National Park - Day 11
Trogir - Split
Check out and head to Trogir, a UNESCO World Heritage Site on a small island with stunning architecture, sea views, and palm-lined promenades. Walk through medieval streets blending Romanesque, Gothic, Renaissance, and Baroque styles, visiting 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. Enter through the Golden Gate and explore Diocletian's Palace's narrow streets, Temple of Jupiter, Cathedral of Saint Domnius, and the vibrant Riva promenade.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Sightseeing tour of Trogir including Cathedral of Saint Lawrence, Clock Tower, Loggia, Land Gate, Kamerlengo Castle, and Saint Mark's Tower
- Walking tour of Split including Diocletian's Palace, Temple of Jupiter, Cathedral of Saint Domnius, and Riva promenade
Landmarks/POIs Trogir Cathedral of Saint Lawrence Clock Tower Loggia Land Gate Kamerlengo Castle Saint Mark's Tower Diocletian's Palace Temple of Jupiter Cathedral of Saint Domnius Riva Promenade - Day 12
Hvar - Split
Drive to the ferry port and board a high-speed catamaran to Hvar, the queen of the Croatian islands. Travel through Splitska Vrata with beautiful seascape views, then walk through Hvar's traffic-free cobbled streets featuring Venetian architecture, restaurants, and bars. Visit the harbour, Renaissance Cathedral, Benedictine Convent, Franciscan monastery, and Church of Our Lady of Mercy. You'll have ample free time to relax on beaches, hike to Milna Bay, dine locally, or take an optional boat trip to the Pakleni Islands before returning to Split in the late afternoon.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- High-speed catamaran round trip from Split to Hvar
- Walking tour of Hvar including harbour, Renaissance Cathedral, Benedictine Convent, Franciscan monastery, and Church of Our Lady of Mercy
Optional Activities
- Boat excursion to Pakleni Islands
- Beach relaxation on Hvar
- Hiking to Milna Bay
- Mediterranean lunch at local restaurants
Landmarks/POIs Hvar Splitska Vrata Renaissance Cathedral Benedictine Convent Franciscan Monastery Church of Our Lady of Mercy Pakleni Islands Milna Bay - Day 13
Departure
Your tour ends after breakfast. Wishing you a safe onwards journey!
- Meals
- Breakfast
