Croatia Luxury Tour: Zagreb to Dubrovnik – 9 Days

Today, as your plane descends over Croatia, you will catch your first glimpse of the quintessentially Croatian orange and red roofs. Zagreb, the country’s capital, has found itself a place in the hearts of travelers in recent years, through its historically saturated architecture and ever-welcoming cafes. In the arrival’s hall, you will meet your private chauffer who will drive you out into the city towards your hotel. Passing by galleries, museums and cinemas, take note of the socialist roots that course through a rapidly modernizing city.

A gem of a European city, Zagreb is at once historic and new. It’s filled with leafy green parks and gothic/neo-renaissance buildings, yet there’s also modern shopping complexes, outdoor malls, and endless dining and drinking options. Consider heading out on a guided walking tour of the historic heart of the city. This involves walking from the main square to Zagreb’s Upper Town and passing through local markets before reaching St. Mark’s Square.

For dinner, head to the Michelin-guide restaurant, Noel, specialists in Croatian seafood. Overnight in the hotel.

In the morning, you’ll meet your driver and venture south to the sunny shores of Dalmatia and the beautiful town of Zadar. En route, you’ll stop to visit one of Croatia’s most popular national parks, Plitvice Lakes.

Plitvice Lakes National Park is Croatia’s natural masterpiece, gorgeous at any time of year.  A must-visit for any traveler to Croatia, the UNESCO-protected park is comprised of an exquisite collection of 16 glassy emerald green and blue travertine lakes, more than 90 cascading waterfalls that seemingly cover every corner of the park, and numerous caves. The terraced lakes are surrounded by beech and pine forests and are home to extensive wildlife. 

You’ll walk throughout the park along wooded boardwalks following your guide as they show you the most interesting places and explain the significance of its history and natural features. 

Following lunch, your journey south to the ancient Roman city of Zadar will continue. A historical center of the Dalmatian Coast, Zadar is famous for its picturesque coastline full of islands and vibrant blue waters, as well as fresh seafood and unforgettable sunsets. The rest of the day is yours to relax and explore after checking into your boutique hotel in the heart of Zadar’s old town. For dinner, head to the Michelin-guide restaurant, Foša, specialists in Croatian seafood. Overnight in the hotel.

Today you’ll meet your guide for a private walking tour to discover the often-overlooked star of Dalmatia. Set on a peninsula surrounded by the sparkling Adriatic Sea, today Zadar is home to a tidy network of polished stone streets and public squares. Explore the walled Old Town—a treasure trove of ancient city ruins and architecture from Roman and medieval times—and discover the 9th-century Church of St. Donatus, a 16th-century Venetian city wall, and the Roman Forum dating back to the 1st century. 

Carry on to the popular Gold and Silver Museum and its exhibit of bejeweled vessels in the shapes of various body parts, each containing a bone or other relic. Paintings, church artifacts, and other artwork are on display, too. From there, visit the modern Museum of Ancient Glass showcasing ancient glass artifacts and glassblowing demonstrations.

After touring the city by day, come to the waterfront just before dusk to witness another of Dalmatia’s most beautiful sunsets. During this time, you can marvel at Croatian artist, Nikola Bašić’s 72-foot Monument to the Sun art feature while you listen to the nearby Sea Organ play its unending melody, fueled by the ebb and flow of the Adriatic Sea’s current. Return to the historic center to choose between a number of excellent to-die-for seafood restaurants, followed by a stroll along the Riva, a wide ribbon of stone paths bordered by a grassy park on one side and the sea on the other. Overnight in the hotel.

Today you’ll meet your guide for a private walking tour to discover Ethno Agro Park Stella Croatica, where for generations, the Dabelić family has been growing olives, figs, vineyards and producing olive oil, wine and traditional delicacies. There you will see the botanical garden and see how they produce all of that, and you can even buy something from their array of nature based products. In this stop you’ll have a lunch.

Klis Fortress

Next on our itinerary is Klis Fortress. This medieval fortress is situated above a village bearing the same name – Klis. Due to its location, the fortress served as a major source of defense in Dalmatia, especially against Ottoman. The fortress is one of the most outstanding fortresses in Croatia and is not to be missed when in Split. Another interesting thing about this location is that some scenes from TV series Game of thrones were shot here. If you are a Game of Thrones fan this is a must.

If there’s interest following your tour, climb the Romanesque bell tower of the Cathedral of St. Dominus (St. Duje)—considered the oldest Catholic cathedral still in use—for stunning views over the city and Adriatic. Another option for great views is to hike or bike to the top of Marjan Hill. Referred to as the “lungs of the city,” the entire Marjan peninsula is dotted with tiny centuries-old churches, large cypress and black pine trees, and Mediterranean plants and herbs.

In addition to the stunning vistas, you’ll be rewarded with attractions less visited: the Jewish cemetery and 13th and 15th-century churches, St. Nicholas and St. Jerome, respectively.  Afterward, head to Zenta beach and relax on the sand warmed by the day’s sun before choosing a nearby restaurant for dinner.

Overnight in the hotel.

After breakfast, your driver will take you to Split center where you’ll meet your captain and start an island-hopping tour by boat that covers all the highlights of the area. Enjoy visiting the unique Blue Cave, swimming in Stiniva Cove, snorkeling in the lagoon of the Budikovac Island, lounging in one of the bars on Pakleni Islands and exploring the old town of Hvar. Make the most of your time here, wander the streets of Hvar, perhaps even stop at one of the local restaurants to taste some exquisite food. You will return to Split late in the afternoon and enjoy a short ride to your hotel.

Today, we are starting with Photo safari through the Neretva Valley, one hour ride with the car from Split & Dubrovnik. The Photo safari is a unique tourist experience in which guests are driven by indigenous Neretva vessels (small wooden boats from which are some even 100 years old) for a leisurely cruise through the surrounding wetlands (with local snacks and music on board) .

On Your way discover the places where once the ancient Illyrians, Greeks, Romans sailed, and the pirates of Neretva planned their raids of enemy galleys. Discover the allure of one of the last swamps on the European continent, its flora and fauna, the diversity of wild birds and the traditional lifestyle of the Neretva people.

End up at a beautiful local restaurant overlooking the water for Peka lamb and other local dishes. Board the boats to return to Opuzen. Walk around collared streets of the small town Opuzen and feal the Zen energy in the air. You may want to venture out to one of the friendly bars around the town square to meet the locals over a beer or two.

On the way stop in Ston to see the Croatian Chinese wall and for oyster and wine tasting. Late afternoon arrival in Dubrovnik and the remainder of your evening is at leisure. Overnight in the hotel.

Spend the day as you like, exploring this ancient medieval city. We recommend getting up early to take advantage of all that Dubrovnik has to offer, starting with a visit to the open-air Gundulić Square Market for authentic Dubrovnik wares, like dried lavender, local brandies, and dried fruits. From there, take a stroll through the narrow streets of Old Town, walk atop the encircling city walls, or head to  Lovrijenac fortress and Orlando Column. 

Be sure to break up your walk by sampling the local cuisine. Dubrovnik’s location on the border with Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro means there is some unique fusion cuisine here as well as downright wild fast food options (think octopus burgers). But you can also find good-old Italian-inspired comfort food like pasta in meat sauce, black risotto, and basic but hearty meat-and-potatoes dishes.

In the afternoon, head to Banje Beach for a swim and some relaxation on the sandy stretch of beach close to Old Town. There’s also the option to join a kayak excursion to the islands facing the city. A great way to end the day is to catch the sunset from the water on a sunset dinner cruise (2.5 hours) on a replica of a traditional karaka ship or from your own private boat. Enjoy the view of Old Town from this vantage point. Overnight in the hotel.

There’s no better vantage point in which to enjoy sweeping views of Dubrovnik and the surrounding coast than atop Srđ Mountain. ,Requiring a vigorous hike, this peak looks out over the city from 1,351 feet (412 meters) high. The steep trailhead to the top runs just under 1.5 miles (2.5 km), which takes about an hour to reach the viewing point. If you’d rather save your energy for more city walking, you can opt for the cable car.

At the top, you’ll enjoy the amazing views up and down the Dalmatian coast for miles in each direction. If you’re a history buff, the old Fort Imperial houses a museum dedicated to the Croatian War for Independence, which was fought against Serbian forces from 1991-1995. It features over 500 exhibits including war documents, maps, weapons, flags, logbooks, and more.

After taking in the views and history, you can either hike down the same trail or take the cable car back to the city center. Enjoy the rest of your day in Dubrovnik at your leisure. Because this is your final night in beautiful Croatia, stop at one of the bars along the city walls for a breathtaking sunset.

Depending on when you depart, you may have time to visit one of Dubrovnik’s museums, like the Franciscan Monastery and Museum. This large complex houses many treasures, including the world’s third oldest pharmacy dating from 1317.

Alternatively, for a collection of 15,000 pieces of interesting works, visit the Rector’s Palace and Cultural Historical Museum. Wander this well-preserved palace-turned-museum and explore its exhibits, some detailing life in the Republic of Ragusa during medieval times.

The drive to the airport from Dubrovnik takes around 45 minutes with normal traffic.