Highlights of Croatia Fly-Drive Holiday

Fly to Zagreb, collect the hire car and check in to the hotel for two nights.

Enjoy a full day exploring the cosmopolitan city of Zagreb, where the highlights lie within the thousand-year-old upper town of Gornji Grad. Here, find the Presidential Palace and the historic St. Mark’s Church displaying the Croatian, Dalmatian and Slovenian coats of arms, now an impressive emblem of the city. Linking the upper town with the lower town is the world’s shortest funicular. (B)

Drive to Plitvice (190 km) with a possible stop en route in Slunj for a stroll around the Rastoke watermills. Check in for two nights. (B)

Take a whole day to explore Plitvice Lakes. The lakes were shaped by limestone sediments and minerals spread by water flow and absorbed by plants and trees. Over time these turned to stone, a unique phenomena of this karst region. The area of Plitvice, declared a National Park in 1949, comprises densely forested mountains and a string of sixteen crystal clear emerald lakes and waterfalls. Alongside the lakes there are over 50 miles of walkways so you can choose a leisurely stroll or a more ambitious hike. In 1996 the Plitvice Lakes were entered in the UNESCO Register of World Natural Heritage Sites. (B)

Drive to Zadar (145 km) and check in for one night. Explore this typical laidback Mediterranean walled town, with a romantic harbour, white stone-paved streets, fashionable cafes and ancient landmarks. (B)

Drive to Split (158 km). Stop en route at Krka National Park to admire the famous waterfalls before heading to Sibenik and Trogir, two undiscovered gems, where you might think you have landed on a film set, as every corner is full of character and locals are ‘busy’ resting in the shade from the warmth of the sun. Check in to your Split hotel for two nights. (B)

Discover historic Split, a charming UNESCO Heritage City with its magnificent Diocletian’s Palace and central piazza, Peristil. This popular square is an acoustic-rich setting for a cappella singers at dusk. You can spend hours here wandering the many hidden passages of the old town, dotted with boutique shops, cafes and galleries. Marjan Hill is also a lovely place to escape the crowds and gain great views of the town below. (B)

There are several routes you can take from Split to Korcula, either by car ferry from Split to Vela Luka on the west of Korcula island (approx. 3 hour ferry and an hour drive on to Korcula town). Alternatively, drive south along the coastal road crossing on to the Peljesac peninsula via the newly opened Peljesac bridge. From here you can cross by hourly ferry from Orebic to Domince on Korcula island (approx. 3.5 hour drive). Check-in to your hotel for a three night stay. (B)

Korcula is one of the largest and most attractive of Croatia’s many islands with over 190 rocky coves, secluded beaches and extensive vineyards. The main town on the island has a fascinating Old Town, with Venetian architecture and wonderful stone walls dating from the 14th century. There is plenty to do on Korcula, apart from relaxing, including exploring by some of the island’s numerous walking trails. (B)

Why not opt to take a boat across to the neighbouring island of Mljet where 1/3 of the island is classed as national park. Bike along pine forested trails, swim in the inland saltwater lakes or kayak across them to a marooned Benedictine monastery (this can be organised as a private speedboat tour or by scheduled public catamaran). (B)

Take the ferry back to the mainland and drive to Dubrovnik (110km). Stop en-route in Ston, a small fortified medieval town, which lies at the point where the Peljesac peninsula joins the mainland. The most impressive feature of Ston is its fortified walls, which stretch for just less than 5 kilometres. Arrive Dubrovnik and check in to your hotel for four nights. (B)

Allow plenty of time to explore Dubrovnik and its surrounding areas. Cross the wooden drawbridge to the Pile Gate and stroll the famous marble-paved main street where the Franciscan church and monastery can be found, before walking the ancient wall which encircles the city for stunning views over the southern Dalmatian coast and the red roofs of the UNESCO-listed Old City below. For an even better vantage point, take the cable car to the top of Mt Srd. (B)

You might like to explore the islands dotted around Dubrovnik's shores today. Take a cruise to the Elafiti Isands; Kolocep, Lopud and Šipan. These verdant islands have gardens full of oranges and lemons and lovely seashore landscapes, charming, picturesque villages with small votive churches. A day trip here usually involves a trip on a Galleon boat and a fresh fish picnic. In the other direction is Lokrum, which you can reach by regular ferry boat from the Old Town. An uninhabited island ringed by rocky coves, Lokrum has the ruins of a Benedictine monastery at its centre, where wild peacocks and rabbits roam. A saltwater lake provides a sheltered spot to swim. (B)

If you have had your fill of Dubrovnik after a few days then its perfect location will enable you to either head further south down to Montenegro, where the spectacular Bay of Kotor awaits, or north into Bosnia-Herzegovina where just over a 2 hour drive could see you soaking up the delightful charms of Mostar and its iconic Stari Most (Old Bridge). (B)

 

Enjoy a last morning in Dubrovnik before driving to the airport for the return flight to the UK. (B)