Searching for the ultimate Croatia and Slovenia 10-day itinerary? Keep reading!
If you’re thinking of combining Croatia and Slovenia in one itinerary, here’s how to spend the best 10 days in these two neighboring countries. Both Croatia and Slovenia are absolutely stunning and there’s plenty to see in both countries.
This 10-day Croatia and Slovenia itinerary is exactly how I, as a local Croatian, would choose to spend my own holiday exploring both of these beautiful countries. This itinerary might not include all the places you want to visit, but I wanted to give you a comfortable way of exploring some of the most beautiful spots in both Croatia and Slovenia. Let’s go!
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CAN YOU EXPLORE EVERYTHING IN CROATIA AND SLOVENIA IN 10 DAYS?
The answer is obviously no, but you can see the highlights! To be quite honest, you would need at least 2 weeks to explore Croatia properly, and at least a week to explore Slovenia. Since we only have 10 days for this itinerary, you will have to settle for some of the best highlights of both countries. 10 days will be just enough to see a few of the bigger cities, and some of the most stunning nature in this part of Europe. If you have longer than 10 days, feel free to add additional stops from any of my Croatia itineraries!
DO YOU NEED A CAR TO DO THIS CROATIA AND SLOVENIA ITINERARY?
You don’t need a car to explore Croatia and Slovenia, but if you’re not driving, you’ll probably need to shorten this itinerary quite a bit. Without a car, a lot more time will go into getting from place to place, which means less time for actually exploring.
Here’s a few reasons why you should explore these two countries by car:
Firstly, you’ll be much more flexible. If you’re venturing outside the big cities, without a car, you’ll be wasting time on slow or infrequent public transport. If you have a car, you can drive straight to all your destinations and also make stops at charming villages, vineyards, and scenic viewpoints that you’d probably miss if you were relying on public transport.
Secondly, you’ll save plenty of time. Some places can take a long time to reach by bus or train, often with multiple connections, while you could get there much faster and more easily by car. That also gives you more time to explore and not limit yourself to just the easily reachable spots!
Read more >>> SHOULD YOU RENT A CAR IN CROATIA?
WHERE TO STAY IN CROATIA AND SLOVENIA
Here are a few great accommodation options in each town you’ll be staying if you follow this itinerary:
LJUBLJANA: Exe Lev, B&B Hotel Ljubljana Park, The Hotel Ljubljana, Grand Hotel Union Eurostars
BLED: Vila Bled, Hotel Park – Sava Hotels & Resorts, Hotel Kompas
ROVINJ: Grand Park Hotel, Boutique Residence Arion, Boutique hotel Lili, Residence Dream
PULA: Grand Hotel Brioni Pula, Monvidal by Bura Hotels, Boutique Hotel Valsabbion, Villa Brandestini, Park Plaza Histria Pula
SPLIT: Hotel Luxe, PRIMA Life Spalato, The View Luxury Rooms, Hotel Vestibul Palace & Villa, Riva Palace
ZAGREB: art’otel Zagreb, Hotel Academia, Met Boutique Hotel, Hotel Dubrovnik
CROATIA AND SLOVENIA ITINERARY:
This is an itinerary I’d recommend if you want to see some of the most beautiful places in both Croatia and Slovenia. It doesn’t cover every popular spot, simply because it’s impossible to see it all in just one trip. But it does include a great mix of cities, nature, and the coast. If there are any places you’d rather swap out or add in, feel free to adjust it to fit your own travel style and preferences!
DAY 1: LJUBLJANA
Start your first day in Ljubljana. You can either fly directly into Ljubljana or land in Zagreb and take a quick 1.5-hour drive to kick off your trip in Slovenia’s capital. Ljubljana is a lovely city, much smaller than Zagreb, but with a wonderful old town feel. You can check out our full guide for spending one perfect day in Ljubljana, but here’s a quick overview of the must-dos while visiting Ljubljana.
First, explore the Old Town of Ljubljana. That includes St. Nicholas Cathedral, the Town Hall, Triple Bridge, Prešeren Square, Dragon Bridge, and beautiful baroque buildings.
After that, take the funicular to Ljubljana Castle. This is one of Ljubljana’s main landmarks, and you can explore the castle tower, different exhibitions, and enjoy panoramic views of the city and Julian Alps. You can grab lunch or a drink up at the castle, or head back down and enjoy a meal at one of the many restaurants along the Cankarjevo Nabrežje embankment by the river.
Use the afternoon to walk to Tivoli Park, Ljubljana’s largest park. It’s a perfect location for relaxing under trees or having a picnic. There’s also the Tivoli Mansion right in the park, which is worth checking out.
DAY 2: LAKE BLED
On day two, find your way from Ljubljana to Lake Bled. If you have a car, you can easily reach Lake Bled from the capital in under 45 minutes. If you don’t have a car, go by bus. It will last a bit longer, but it will get you there for cheap. Read our Ljubljana to Lake Bled guide to get all information on how to reach Bled and what to do there.
Firstly, once you get to Bled, either rent a boat or book a ride on a Pletna boat in order to reach the stunning Bled Island in the middle of the lake. There’s not much to do on the island, but you can climb 99 steps up to the Baroque Church of the Assumption. Check out the guide above for prices!
Later, make sure you hike up to Bled Castle, which is perched 130 m above the lake edge. If you can’t walk, you can also go by car, take a shuttle, or ride a horse‑drawn carriage up to Bled Castle. However, if you can, I would highly recommend hiking up. Once you’re there, explore the museum, wine cellar, printing works, and terraces that offer incredible views of the lake and the Alps.
Finally, walk or bike around the lake. It’s a 6 km lakeside loop which will take around 2–3 hours to walk it, or 1 hour to cycle around it. There’s plenty of places where you can rent a bike, and this way you can pause at scenic viewpoints, boat piers, and cafes and restaurants!
DAY 3: POSTOJNA CAVE AND PREDJAMA CASTLE
Another very popular place in Slovenia is Postojna Cave. Start your morning by driving from Bled to Postojna Area. It’s about an hour-long drive, and if you’re using public transport, you need to return to Ljubljana and then grab another bus to Postojna Cave. Book a Combo ticket online for 42 euros which includes both the cave and the castle.
First, explore Postojna Cave. This incredible cave is truly magnificent and you’ll love exploring it. To do a complete tour, you’ll ride the amazing underground electric train for about 3.5 kilometers, and then you’ll walk the rest. The whole tour is around 1.5 hours, so not too long.
Keep in mind that the temperature in the cave is always quite low. It stays at around 10 °C (50 °F) even during summer, so bring a jacket and wear good shoes!
If you’re by car, drive from the cave to Predjama Castle. If you come by bus, there’s a free shuttle that can take you from the cave to the castle. It’s a 20-minute drive.
The incredible Predjama Castle is tucked into a 123 m cliff and it’s the largest cave castle in the world. It’s absolutely worth exploring and it won’t take you too long to do so. You can do it yourself, or book a guided audio‑tour, which I would recommend. It will take you around an hour to explore the whole castle.
After exploring, you can grab some lunch near the castle or the cave, and then start your drive to Rovinj in Croatia!
DAY 4: ROVINJ
Use day four to explore Rovinj. It’s a charming town, and one day is more than enough to see everything in it.
Start your day by walking through and exploring Rovinj Old Town. It’s one of the prettiest old towns in Croatia, and you’ll absolutely love it. The narrow, cobbled streets and colorful buildings will make you feel like you’re in a fairytale. You should also explore the local farmers’ market with fresh fruits, cheeses, and olive oil which is just outside the Old Town. You can get some really delicious souvenirs you can bring home. While you’re in the Old Town, climb to the top of St. Euphemia Church bell tower. It has some of the most stunning panoramic views of Rovinj and nearby islands.
Once you’re finished with the Old Town, go and explore the pier and harbor promenade. Rovinj has one of the most beautiful waterfront promenades with absolutely gorgeous views of the Adriatic and the Old Town. Along the way, make sure you sit down for a drink at Mediterraneo Bar, which is super dreamy, located on the rocks right by the sea.
Finally, go for lunch/dinner on the waterfront. There are several excellent restaurants you can choose from, and make sure you try traditional Istrian truffle pasta. If you want to experience a more inland, family-oriented restaurant go to Orca restaurant, which has delicious food!
DAY 5: PULA AND BRIJUNI NP
BRIJUNI NP
Brijuni is maybe my favourite national park in Croatia, so it just had to be in this itinerary. It’s quite easy to reach it from Rovinj, and it’s definitely worth it. Drive to Fazana from Rovinj, as that’s where all the ferries to Brijuni National Park depart from. It will take you around 30-40 minutes to reach Fazana, and then you need to go to Fazana harbour to grab a ferry to Veliki Brijun Island, which is the main island of Brijuni NP. The ferry is organized by the national park and it’s included in the price of the ticket. It’s a 15-minute ferry ride, and it will take you around 4-5 hours to explore Brijuni NP.
There’s plenty to do on Brijuni, especially if you like an active day trip. Firstly, I would highly recommend renting bikes to get around the island. There is a tourist train for those who can’t bike, but seeing Brijuni on a bike ride is truly a magical and scenic experience. You can cycle literally anywhere and it’s super freeing and relaxing. It’s also a great way to avoid the crowds, since you can explore at your own pace. If you’re looking for something a bit easier, you can rent a golf cart too.
One of the places you absolutely cannot miss is the Safari Park. This park has several exotic animals like zebras, llamas, and ostriches, as well as an elephant, which you can pet, feed, and so on. There are also some Roman ruins worth exploring, and you can go golfing if that’s an interest of yours. If you’re visiting during summer, there are also a few beaches where you can go for a swim! Here’s a full guide on all you need to know about Brijuni NP.
PULA
After finishing exploring Brijuni NP, return to Fazana, and drive from Fazana to Pula. It’s only a 20-minute drive, and you’ll be in one of the most famous Croatian towns known for incredible Roman ruins. While you could spend a few days there, you can see all the important landmarks in one afternoon, so it’s not necessary to stay for longer.
Start by exploring the most important landmark in town, which is Pula Arena. The Arena is a popular and one of the best-preserved Roman Amphitheaters outside of Italy. It’s not as big as the Colosseum, but it’s still stunning, and it will take you around 45–60 minutes to explore the inside, including the underground exhibition. While there can be crowds during summer, it’s nowhere near Colosseum crowds, so you can just buy tickets on the spot once you get there!
After Arena, explore the Old Town and the most famous main square, Roman Forum. It won’t take you long, since Pula’s Old Town is quite small, but there are a few landmarks worth checking out, such as the Temple of Augustus, Arch of the Sergii, and the City Hall. Here’s a guide on the best things to do in Pula!
DAY 6: PLITVICE LAKES
Day six is another active day, with another stunning national park – Plitvice Lakes. It will take you some time to reach Plitvice from Pula, so I would highly recommend starting your journey no later than 8 a.m. This way, you can stop and visit the charming Rastoke Waterfalls before moving on to the magnificent Plitvice Lakes. The Lakes will definitely be crowded if you’re visiting in the summer, however you’ll still have a great time because truly nothing can ruin the incredible views of the lakes and the waterfalls.
I would recommend starting at entrance 2, visiting the Upper Lakes first, then taking a boat to Lower Lakes and seeing the popular waterfalls and lakes there. The walk is not hard, there are some steps but they’re not overly steep, but keep in mind that the paths are not really adapted for strollers, so if you’re visiting with a baby, make sure you carry them instead of using a stroller. Here’s a complete guide to Plitvice Lakes!
DAY 7-8: SPLIT
On day seven, start your journey from Plitvice Lakes to Split. It’s a three-hour drive, and on the way there you can make a quick stop in Zadar or Sibenik for a small break. Once you’re in Split, use your first day to explore the Old Town and everything around it. Stroll down the Riva Promenade, go for an ice cream at Ela’s, explore the Diocletian’s Palace, have lunch at Buffet Fife, and climb Marjan Hill. Here’s 16 best things to do in and around Split.
On day eight, or your second day in Split, have a beach day. Split’s beaches might not be the most charming on the coast, but there are still plenty worth checking out. Znjan Beach has been recently renovated and is definitely worth a visit, and if you want more options, take a look at this blog post on the best beaches in Split!
DAY 9: TROGIR AND KRKA NP
Start your day by driving from Split to Trogir. Trogir is really close, only about 20-30 minutes from Split, so you don’t have to have an early morning. You can start your day around 10 a.m. and still have plenty of time to visit everything you need that day.
Once you arrive in Trogir, park your car (or get off the bus) and find your way to Trogir Old Town. Make sure you walk down the picturesque Riva promenade, explore the stunning narrow streets of the Old Town, and visit the famous Kamerlengo Fortress.
After exploring Trogir, continue driving to Krka National Park. Krka NP is second most popular national park in Croatia, and I’d highly recommend visiting it. Krka waterfalls are beautiful and much different than Plitvice waterfalls. You’ll need a few hours to do the usual walking tour that goes from Lozovac entrance to Skradinski Buk waterfall. The tickets are 40 euros during summer time, same as Plitvice, and while I would say I prefer Plitvice, if you have got the time, Krka is absolutely worth visiting!
DAY 10: ZAGREB
Spend the final day in Croatia’s capital city, Zagreb. Zagreb is a charming town, and while you can’t see everything in a day, you can definitely see the most important highlights of the city. Spend your day in the city center. Explore both the Upper and Lower Towns, stop by Dolac Market, enjoy lunch at one of the many local restaurants, relax in the green spaces of Zrinjevac and Tomislavac parks, and don’t miss the charming Zagreb Botanic Garden. If you’ve got the time, spend some of it shopping on Ilica, Zagreb’s most famous shopping street. Here’s a detailed guide on how to spend one day in Zagreb!
