Croatia’s popularity as a holiday destination has sky-rocketed in the last few years, and it’s not hard to see why! The country’s beauty is breath-taking, and it’s relatively small size means you can cram lots into a small space of time. The capital city Zagreb is in the north-west and is a beautiful city; however the lure of the Adriatic Sea and Dubrovnik old town on the southern coast draws thousands every year. We offer a Croatian city-break with a difference… a tour that takes you from Zagreb, down to Split, out to the Elaphite Islands of Hvar and Korcula, and finishes in Dubrovnik. You’ll spend 2 nights in Zagreb and a night in Split, on each island and in Dubrovnik. So apart from the natural beauty of the country, why should you choose a city break in Croatia?
Zagreb, a historically rich city, is divided into three parts – the Upper Town, the Lower Town and the ‘New Zagreb’. The fortified Upper Town contains many of the big tourist attractions; St Mark’s Church, the Presidential Palace, the Cathedral and Croatian National Theatre. Our city-break includes a tour of these major attractions in Upper Town, with your afternoon and evening left free for you to explore the other areas of the beautiful City. New Zagreb is the residential area of the city and doesn’t have much to offer tourists, however Lower Town is full of cafes, restaurants, shops, theatres and bars that need to be explored! Make sure to keep your eyes peeled for the ‘pimp my pump’ street art initiative… where artists have given old water pumps a new age make-over.
Plitvice National Park, half way between Zagreb and Split, is a well-known UNESCO World Heritage Site and is an absolute must-see. Our city break package includes a tour of the 16 crystal-blue lakes and 92 spectacular waterfalls. You can walk on the wooden promenades with magnificent views of the waters and every turn leads to a breath-taking scenery and yet another waterfall.
The magnificent city of Split has numerous archaeological, historical and cultural sites, and is the next city on our city break (after a brief stop at Trogir). In Split you can explore the Roman fortress, Diocletian’s Palace, which sights in the heart of the city and also have your first taste of the gorgeous beaches Croatia has to offer. Enjoy casual drinks along the shore front, or venture to Bervice beach and experience Split’s thriving nightlife.
Just off the coast of Croatia lies the Elaphite Islands; a collection of small islands with white beaches and turquoise seas. Hvar and Korcula are both on the Croatian city-break agenda, with a ferry or catamaran transporting you through the crystal clear waters. Make sure you have your camera ready for this, because the views are stunning! Hvar attracts up to 20,000 visitors a day in summer, with its unique cultural and historical heritage making it an important tourist resort. Make time to exploit the tepid water temperatures, and organise scuba diving, jet skiing or water skiing, or else just relax on the beach with cocktail in hand. Korcula is one of the most undisturbed medieval towns in the Mediterranean, so follow in the footsteps of the famous Marco Polo and explore his hometown! Make use of your time here to experience the narrow streets, beautiful churches and magnificent palaces.
In my opinion, you can’t go to Croatia and not visit Dubrovnik and if you avail of our Croatia city break package, then you’ll end your tour here! Walk the length of the Old Town walls and glance over the distinctive orange roofs to take in the incredible views … some you might recognise from the HBO series, Game of Thrones! Why not buy some ice cream and walk the length of the main cobbled street, watching the street performers and browsing the windows of the many shops? Dubrovnik Old Town is a hub of restaurants, bars and café’s; but make sure you explore down the narrow streets before you choose where to eat - some of the city’s hidden gems can be found down these pokey alleys. Venture through the old stone arches and navigate the cobweb of streets to the harbour, where you can sit and watch the boats come and go. Explore further on round from the harbour and you’ll find people jumping off the rocks into the sea. Dubrovnik Old Town has something for everyone; this combined with the hustle and bustle of the city will have you falling in love!
If you’d rather settle in one place, we have other Croatian packages. Our wine and taste break is more suited to the relaxed food-lover.