Time is always limited, and deciding where to go and what to do can feel overwhelming. This guide is designed to help you create your ideal itinerary by highlighting must-see attractions, top dining options, and activities you might want to skip. While researching, I found it difficult to find detailed information on parking, ferry usage, driving regulations in each country, and more. With this itinerary, I aim to share my insights and lessons learned to help you craft the perfect plan for your trip.

This guide will help plan out your trip to Croatia and Slovenia should you choose to visit both countries. Click here for my 7 days in Croatia itinerary or here for 7 days in Slovenia.

How Much Time Is Needed in Croatia and Slovenia?

This 7-day guide covers the best of Croatia and Slovenia. Although a week is far too short to fully explore, it highlights some of the top attractions in both countries. Ideally, you could spend two weeks in each, but that’s not always possible. This itinerary strikes a balance, giving you ample time in each country while allowing brief visits to Italy and Austria!

Getting Around

There are quite a few ways to navigate Croatia and Slovenia.

1. Car: We opted to rent a car in both countries. We used Sixt rental car company and had a great experience with it. Driving was truly the best way to see as many things as we did.
2. Public Transportation: Pubic transportation works in both countries but is not always reliable. It is quite difficult getting around Croatia without a car but not impossible.
3. Group Tours: Using group tours is a great way to see many sights such as Plitvice National Park in Croatia or Lake Bled in Slovenia. While a tour is a great option if you choose not to rent a car, it is more limiting.
4. Ferry in Croatia: The ferry system in Croatia works really well. We utilized the ferries a few times and had great experiences. They are also easy to navigate and relatively affordable. I recommend the TP Ferry line for ferry travel.

This itinerary can be flipped if you want to start in Zagreb and work your way down to Dubrovnik or, if doing both Slovenia and Croatia, start in Slovenia and work down to Dubrovnik.

Day 1: Arrive, Old Town Dubrovnik, and Cable Car

After arriving in Dubrovnik, make your way to your accommodation. The Dubrovnik airport is relatively small but doesn’t have the fastest transportation options to get to the old town. Our air bnb host arranged for a friend of hers to pick us up in his car and drove us to the old town, though we originally were going to take the bus into town. Bus and more information on Getting to Old Town.

We ate lunch at Pile Sandwich Bar, a place that came recommend and had a very long long, indicating it is a popular spot. The sandwich was good, made quick, and adorable as most places inside the walls are much more expensive.

After lunch, walk about ten minutes, from the Polče gate, to the Dubrovnik Cable Car. Do not buy tickets near the gate; buy the tickets at the entrance of the cable car. The address is: Ul. Kralja Petra Krešimira IV. 10A, 20000, Dubrovnik, Croatia. The cable car takes about 4 minutes each way and you can stay as long as you want, until closing.

Walk back to the city walls and get lost in the old streets.

Stop by Peppino’s Gelato! We stopped by both nights in Dubrovnik and I highly recommend the pistachio or the caramel goats milk.

Day 2: City Walls, Rector’s Palace, Lokrum Island

Grab a pastry at Bäckerei Bakery Panifico, located right next to the gelato shop.

Walk the city walls right at 8:00 am as there will be less people and it will be cooler. If you are debating spending the time and money on this experience, I am here to confirm this activity is worth it.

Seeing Dubrovnik from above is such a unique experience. The main entrance to walk the walls is right next to the Pile Gate.

Next, walk over to Fort Lovrijenac and explore the fort. If you purchased the Dubrovnik City Pass, the ticket to Fort Lovrijenac is included.

Fort Lovrijenac

Be sure to buy the Dubrovnik City Pass as that includes the City Walls, Fort Lovrijenac, certain museums, and a bus ticket. The city pass is a great deal since the ticket for just access to the city walls walk is the same price as the pass which includes more attractions.

Check out the Dubrovnik Pass Here

Dubrovnik is known for being the backdrop for the famous series Game of Thrones. While I haven’t watched the show, there was a lot of the show’s influence everywhere you looked. Optional: Take a Game of Thrones Tour. Check out options here.

Head over to Rector’s Palace, which is included in the City Pass. We decided to go to the grocery store and make sandwiches for lunch and enjoy the view from our apartment, charge our phones, and relax in the AC as May was already very warm.

View from the grocery store

After lunch head to Lokrum Island. The ferry over to Lokrum Island is about 15 minutes each way. Be sure to check the signs posted on the return times as the last boat, in May, left the island at 7:00pm. You can buy tickets at the alcove stand near the dock or online. There is no need to purchase these tickets in advance; I suggest waiting until you’re ready to head out as things can change, like weather, and often these tickets are not refundable.

Ferry to Lokrum Island

Lokrum island is full of activities, where you can cliff jump, float in the Dead Sea, sit in the Iron Throne, and befriend the island peacocks. Lokrum Island is truly stunning with its beautiful, blue water, lush landscapes, and diversity of plans and flowers. You can spend hours here exploring the island.

Tip: The beaches are very rocky so bring water shoes if you plan to swim in the sea.

Buy Lokrum Island tickets

For dinner, head to Spagetteria Toni’s for my favorite meal in Croatia: the beef pappardelle. Our server was hilarious, the service was great, and the food was incredible. There is both inside and outside seating and they do accept cards.

Beef pappardelle and six cheese gnocchi

End the night with a scoop of gelato from Peppino’s Gelato Factory.

Day 3: KorČULA

Start the day with breakfast at the same bakery; I opted for a chocolate croissant both mornings which was good- not as good as a French croissant but it was still delicious. This was the best bakery we tried, though Mlinar (located near the Pile Gate entrance) had some good options if you want to change things up.

Take an Uber or Bolt to the Ferry terminal and board your TP ferry line to Korčula.

Buy your ferry tickets in advance, about a week in non peak season should suffice. We were there mid May and the ferries were not fully booked, but the summer months tend to get very crowded. If traveling in June, July, or August, it is a good idea to book way in advance.

The ferry stops at Korčula, Hvar, Brač, and ends in Split. There are people boarding and disembarking at each stop. Each island offer something different so it is important to research what activities are offered, accommodations, and determine which island best suits your wants.

Buy your TP Line Ferry Tickets

I liked the TP Ferry line as it was easy to find, the ferry left on time, there were restrooms, and it was a nice experience. The only downside was the inconsistent temperatures. The ferry to Korčula was absolutely freezing causing me to wear three jackets and gloves while the ferry to Split was extremely warm.

Welcome to Korčula

We loved our stay at Apartments Filippi. Our host was wonderful, meeting us and helping us find the apartment and drove us to the ferry on our check out day.

Walk around the old town, strolling through the charming streets and quaint shops, and head to the water for sunset. The famous Massimo Cocktail Bar is just down the street from a great sunset viewpoint. You can go up to the top of St Mark’s Cathedral. There are plenty of free walking tours to join or take a boat cruise.

Enjoy dinner at PIZZERIA TEDESCHI. My second favorite meal, the local Žrnovski Makaruni, was fantastic. The pizza here was also really good, served with fresh basil!

For dessert visit L’Amore Gelato or visit Arula cafe for Krempita and delicious croissant sandwiches. This was our first experience trying Krempita and we were hooked- it is a traditional Croatian dessert also found in Slovenia. You must try it when visiting Croatia and can be found at many grocery stores where it is often cheaper.

DAY 4: Split, Diocletian’s Palace, and Marjan Viewpoint

Take the first ferry out from Korčula to Split. The ferry makes two stops, first at Hvar island and the second at Brač island, culminating in about a three hour journey. Our air bnb host picked us up from the port which was incredible helpful.

We enjoyed our Krempita on the ferry to Split. These were purchased at Arula cafe on Korčula and were delicious and well priced!

After getting situated, head out to explore the Promenade, Diocletian’s Palace, the underground tunnels, and make your way up Marjan hill for sunset.

The walk from the promenade to Marjan viewpoint is about 15 minutes all uphill (via stairs). There is another viewpoint even higher, but the first viewpoint offers great views.

There are quite a few free walking tours and Game of Thrones tours you can take in Split if that interests you.

Other ideas from Split: take a day trip to any other neighboring islands such as Vis, Brač, or Hvar. Take a full-day excursion to the Blue Caves! Fun Fact: Mama Mia was filed on the island of Vis!

DAY 5: Day trip to Omiš

Start the day with breakfast at Ćiri Biri Bela. We loved this place so much we came back the next day! Highly recommend ordering any omelet as that was fantastic and very filling. This place was cute, with two outdoor patios, that offered friendly staff and delicious food.

Stop by the Green Market for produce such as fresh fruit, cheeses, or nuts. There are a variety of vendors and the market operates every day until 5:00pm. If you are not renting a car, which I highly recommend renting one, there is a Flixbus that you can take to reach Omiš. Find more information on their website here.

If visiting by car, park the car in the paid car park right before the bridge. At time of visit, it was 1.50 euro per hour. The car park address is: 21310, Priko, Omiš, Croatia.

Head over to visit Mirabella Fortress and climb up for spectacular view. You can purchase tickets for the Fortress upon arrival.

Note: This climb is steep and only accessible via stairs which are quite narrow.

Grab lunch at Pizzeria Omiš, grab a slice of Krempita at Bobis Bakery, and head to the beach for lunch. Remember to bring a towel and shoes as these beaches generally are rocky. While in Croatia, I learned that is the rocks that make the water so blue and clear.

Enjoy the afternoon at the beach and head back to Split for dinner at Soul Kitchen in Split.

Head to Bacvice Beach or Ovčice beach for sunset. There is a great walking path just down the street from Soul Kitchen that links up to the beach. You can take that path down at least a mile but if tide is high, the water reaches the sidewalk.

DAY 6: KRKA NATIONAL PARK

Start the morning at Ćiri Biri Bela for another amazing breakfast. I ordered the same thing because it was that good. Walk through the old town once more and stop by the produce market for any road trip snacks.

The drive from Split to Krka is about an hour. We arrived at Krka around noon on a Friday so it was not super busy but tour groups were present. There are quite a few tours that you can take if not renting a car, though the car really provides the most flexibility and is worth doing.

FIND KRKA TOURS HERE

There is a small grocery store, Studenac, about a half mile from the entrance where we bough bread and meat to make sandwiches and the park food is expensive. There are plenty of picnic tables to eat at in the park, though the best are the ones right by the gift shop just sown the street from the bus drop off.

There are a couple ways to enter Krka National Park. I recommend the Lozovac entrance. Krka is laid out in a loop, and walking the whole loops took about an hour with minimal stopping. Krka is a very large park with much more to see than Skradinski Buk, the most well-known waterfall. There are smaller offshoot pathways you can take but sticking to the main loop will highlight smaller waterfalls.

Right when you exit the bus, or reach the bus drop off point if walking, start right on the wooden bridge that says “walk” and that will take you on the loop tour and end with Skradinski Buk as the main highlight. You can do this walk in reverse order; if you choose to start with the waterfall, keep walking straight and follow the signs for the waterfall instead of taking the wooden bridge.

Tickets can be purchased in advance or upon arrival. There are restrooms in the parking lot and one in the park. Once you show your ticket, you can either take the bus down to the drop off point or you can walk. The sign advertises a 15 minute walk but it took closer to 25 minutes and it is a very steep walk, all downhill, on dirt. We opted to walk down and take the bus up which I suggest doing.

Tip: If you are going to Plitvice National Park, and are limited on time, I suggest skipping Krka as Plitvice is larger and more beautiful. Check out my blog on choosing between parks here.

After a few hours enjoying Krka, it is time to hit the road and drive to Plitivice Camp ground!

Check in at Camping Plitvice, which is about a 6 minute drive from the Plitvice entrance. The campground offers tent camping, mobile home camping, and small cottages.

The cottage stay was fantastic! Enjoy dinner at the restaurant, and they even offer a breakfast menu, as there are limited restaurants and grocery stores in the area.

Head to bed early as you will want to enter Plitvice early.

DAY 7: PLITVICE NATIONAL PARK and ZAGREB

Plitvice tickets can be purchased online and go by time. You can choose to enter at 7:00 am, 8:00 am, etc. We opted for the 8:00 am time slot and the park was already busy, though not as busy as it was when we were leaving in the afternoon. The tour groups generally arrive around 10 :00 am so keep that in mind. Just a few steps away from the park entrance, once inside, you are greeted with the famous Veliki Slap.

You can choose which path you want to take which range from easy to difficult. We took path C, which was great as we stopped by Veliki Slap first and headed to even more waterfalls along the walk. If opting for route C, to get around the park you need to take a boat and later a small train which takes you closer to the parking lot. The train will drop you off but it is still about a ten minute walk back to the parking lot. The train and boat are included in your ticket.

I didn’t realize how much more there was to Plitvice than Veliki Slap. Plan on spending about four hours in total at the park. The C path walk took about three hours to complete.

Boardwalk and paths clearly marked with signs.

Pictured below is the first rest stop with picnic benches, restrooms, and the boat stop. You can turn around and head back to the entrance at this point or take the boat if taking the longer paths.

View of the Upper Lakes

Read more about Plitvice here if you are deciding between Krka and Plitvice or want more information on the parks.

BUY PLITVICE TICKETS HERE

RASTOKE

After Plitvice head to the city built on waterfalls, otherwise known as Rastoke. Rastoke is a very small town in between Plitvice and Zagreb.

Have lunch at Bistro Kum and the pizza was delicious!

After lunch, walk around the town. Most of the grassy space and areas to walk that will be up close to the waterfalls are in an area that requires a ticket. I didn’t like that they blocked off one of the prettiest parts of town and require you to pay to access it, so it was disappointing to see that. There are many parking lots scattered throughout the small town, and the one we parked at was Zagrebačka ul. 8, 47240, Slunj, Croatia.

After the quick pit stop, about an hour and a half, continue north to Zagreb where you can drop off the rental car. Usually it is cheaper to do one car in each country as opposed to diving over the border and returning the car in a different country than it was picked up in. This was the case for us, so we returned the car to the Sixt car drop off in Zagreb. We had a few options for dinner but our rental return associate recommended a Cevapi restaurant so we went there.

Before dinner we stopped for gelato and a strawberry matcha at Melt. The pistachio flavor is what they are known for, though at our tine of visit, we were too early in the pistachio season. The gelato was delicious and fresh- highly recommend!

Gelato and Matcha at Melt

Cevapi is traditionally from Bosnia and usually consists of stuffed meat sausages served with bread and onions. The restaurant is called Stari Kotač.

We ordered the large size and one individual portion of Cevapi and it was really good! The flavor was delicious and the bread was light and airy. The staff was funny and entertaining which made the experience more enjoyable.

After dinner walk around the main square, Ban Josip Square, and stroll through the various charming streets. Stop by the Cathedral of Zagreb and stroll through the various city parks.

DAY 8: ZAGREB TO LAKE BLED

Enjoy the morning in Zagreb with a lovely breakfast at Melt. The avocado toast and hot chocolate was delicious.

Walk around the Ban Jasip square again, head to the Funicular, then walk to the Stone Gate and stroll the neighboring streets.

Stop by Dinara for a delicious pastry for the train ride. Order the chocolate donut and chocolate croissant. The croissant was delicious!

Head to the Zagreb Glavni Kolod Train Station for the train to Ljubljana train station. I recommend purchasing tickets on the ÖBB app. Be sure to enter Ljubljana as the destination not Ljubljana Tivoli as that stations is just outside city center.

Arrive in Slovenia

We picked up the car from Sixt again and drove to our accommodation, nestled in a charming neighborhood minutes away from the city. It really was the perfect location and came with a parking spot which is rare to find.

We drove straight to our accommodation in Lake Bled. The house was absolutely beautiful and in a lovely neighborhood, walking distance to the grocery store and the the lake.

Have dinner at Blejska Hiša and order the beef goulash- the goulash here was incredible, the best meal I had in Slovenia. The beef was tender, extremely flavorful, and very filling. It is served with homemade gnocchi which was light and fluffy.

After dinner walk to the lake and enjoy an evening by the water.

DAY 9: VINTAR GORGE, BLED ISLAND, AND BLED CASTLE

I suggest purchasing tickets to Vintar Gorge online as time slots fill up. You can only enter once it your time, not before. For example, we bought tickets the night before and the first time slot available was 9:07am. When we arrived, someone tried at 9:00 to go in but their ticket was for 9:15 and the terminal denied them, so the time on your ticket matters.

Park the car or catch the bus to the gorge at Rečiška cesta 63 (also known as P1). The bus will drive you down to the entrance of Vintar Gorge, which is about 25 minutes to walk. The road is tight and narrow so I highly suggest taking the bus instead of walking or driving yourself.

The gorge is about 1k and took about 45 minutes to walk through, stopping to take pictures along the way. You will be required to wear a safety helmet and hair nets are provided.

Vintarg Gorge is one of the most beautiful places I have seen. By the time we got in, at 9:07, the people ahead had cleared out so we had the gorge to ourselves. This is an activity that should be done first thing in the morning or about an hour before closing.

At the end of the gorge, you either take the short or long way back. We opted for the long way and I am so glad we did! The path takes you through the beautiful forest. The path is well marked, making stops along the way at St. Katherine’s Church and walking through the cow and sheep pasture, along the beautiful Slovenian hillside.

The path ends back at the entrance of the gorge where you can catch the bus back to P1. The way took about an hour to walk, and absolutely worth it.

BUY VINTAR GORGE TICKETS HERE

Spend the rest of the afternoon on Bled island. Catch a row boat to Bled island and enjoy the charming church, steps, and view. You can row yourself to the island or pay someone to row the boat over, though they don’t leave until the boat is full. You can walk around the whole island in about ten minutes. It is very small but does offer a bell tower you can go up for a fee.

Head to Lake Bled Castle for a tour of an 11th century castle! You can purchase tickets online or at the entrance. You can drive up or walk, though walking is very steep. We decided not to go in the castle but the view from the castle was beautiful, and we could see the meadow we walked through on the way back from Vintar Gorge!

Head back to Blejska Hiša for dinner. We loved it so much we came back for a second night and it was just as good. The beef goulash is something I still think about.

DAY 10: LAKE BLED WALK AND LAKE BOHINJ

Start the morning with a walk around Lake Bled. We based out of Bled for three nights, though this walk can easily be skipped if only here for the day. On weekends, there is the summer toboggan that runs- check it out here. The walk around the lake is about 6 km or 4 miles. It is a beautiful walk and provides wodnerful views of the island.

After the walk, head to lunch or make lunch at home, your rental, like we did. Then it is time to head out to Lake Bohinj. The drive is about 27 minutes and is a beautfil drive. Near this address, Ribčev Laz, 4265 Bohinjsko jezero, Slovenia, you will find paid parking spots, though there are quite a few small lots around the main street you can park too.

Lake Bohinj

The city of Bohinj is small though it is still worth the drive and visit. Stop by the Cerkev Sv. Janeza Krstnika, the famous white church. You can do plenty of water activities from rafting to kayaking. On a nice day, head out for a boat tour or take the cable car to the top of the mountain for breathtaking views of the lake. There is a walking path just after the bridge you can follow to Stara Fužina 3, 4265 Bohinjsko jezero, Slovenia, offering beautiful view of the lake! There are also free restrooms in that parking lot.

Head to dinner at Pizzeria Rustika, a delicious Italian restaurant offering delicious pizza and pasta. The staff was friendly and the food was quick. This restaurant in it only a few minutes walk back to the water to enjoy the lake for sunset.

DAY 11: Zelenci Nature Reserve, Kranjska Gora, Austria, ITALY, and KOBAIRD

The plan for this day was to drive from Lake Bled to Kobaid, stopping along the way. We didn’t want to drive the Vrisic pass, especially as we had rain the days before, and the road is known to be slippery with potential rock slides. Be sure to check the current conditions here before driving.

There is a way to avoid the Vrisic pass and make it down to Kobaird; you drive through Italy! However, since Kransjska Gora is only 30 minutes, by car, from Villach Austria, we decided to make a last-minute stop on the way.

We went to Zelenci Nature Reserve first then to Kransjska Gora, however, I recommend doing in reverse. Start with Kransjska Gora which offers incredible views of the Julian Alps. There is a restaurant in the town and there are free public restrooms.

Getting to Zelenci Nature Reserve by Car

Zelenci Nature Reserve can be skipped if you are limited on time. Park at either 4280 Podkoren, Slovenia, or have navigation take you to Gostilna Zelenci at Podkoren 75b, 4280 Kranjska Gora, Slovenia. The car park here is free and next to the restaurant.

Follow the signs to the lake and enjoy the stunning view!

Now you can choose if you want to drive the Vrisic pass down to Bovec and Kobaird, avoid Vrisic and go through Italy, or make a pit stop in Austria on the way. Villach is a small town 30 minutes away Slovenia. However, we make it to the town of Lederersidlung and stopped at a grocery store for some Austrian chocolate and road trip snacks instead. We wanted to visit the war museum just past the Austrian border but it was closed.

Note: We did not need any documentation to cross into Austria from Slovenia. We had to add an international pass to the car but nothing else was needed. Be sure to check before crossing.

We made our way from Austria to Tarvisio, Italy! We stopped at Al Mangart Pizzeria for lunch, and this pizza was delicious, one of the best we had on the trip.

When in Italy you can’t pass up gelato, so we went to Crema Cioccolato. The pistachio and cherry flavor were delicious.

We stopped by Lago del Predil as it was on the way down to Bovec.

We made our way to the Ravelnik Open Air Museum. This museum features bunkers, caves, trenches from WW1. This museum is literally in the woods. To get there, you park along the road and walk about ten minutes uphill, in the woods, to find ourself still in the woods. The museum is not really a traditional, indoor museum. It is a wooded walking path with bunkers, forts, and old cabins from the war. Honestly, I would not recommend visiting this and heading straight to Kobaird.

Before Kobaid, you can stop by Slap Boka, the highest waterfall in Slovenia. While this waterfall was pretty, the waterfalls in Kobaird were prettier, so this was another thing you can skip if short on time.

After a long day on the road, finally arrive at your accommodation in Kobaird. Napoleon’s Bridge was the inspiration for driving down south and visiting the Soča valley. The water was the most blue and clear I have seen. Napoleon’s Bridge is about a 5 minute walk from the downtown Kobaird.

Head out to hike Slap Kozjak, around 4:45 pm. This was the perfect time as it was very empty on the trail which made it a more enjoyable experience. We walked from our accommodation in downtown Kobaird, and it was only about 15 minutes to the start of the trail head. If you are coming by car, park at Ladra 1, 5222 Kobarid, Slovenia.

The hike is about 40 minutes from downtown one way, or half an hour from the car park to the waterfall. The hike is really beautiful, with the Soča river following the trail. Truly one of my favorite hikes I have done. You start the hike by passing some bees- they won’t hurt you!

You will follow the signs for Slap Kozjak and eventually will make it to a small booth where someone will collect the payment. To see the actual waterfall, you need a ticket. This ticket will get you a discount at the War museum in Kobaird!

From the hut it is just a few minutes until you reach the waterfall which was stunning!

The hike is more of a flat walk, taking you through beautiful woods and along the Soča river.

Stop by Kravca for local frozen yogurt!

We ate dinner at a pizza restaurant and it was just okay. At this point int he trip we were all tired of pizza.

DAY 12: Kobaird Musuem, Tivoli Park, and Ljubljana

Start the day at the Kobaird Museum to learn about Slovenia’s part in the World War 1. This museum was done really well, and I could tell a lot of time and effort went into this. You can purchase tickets at the counter and remember to use your ticket from Slap Kozjak for a discount!

If you only have one day in Kobaird, you could start with the museum then hike. I highly recommend a stop at this museum if you have time for it.

Start the 2 hour drive to Ljubljana. We met our host and made the 5 minute walk to the city center where we enjoyed a late lunch at Klobasarna, a charming grab and go eatery featuring traditional sausages and Ricet, a traditional Slovenia barley soup.

I had the sausage and soup and both were really good. I would recommend the soup add in the sausage. This place was quick which I also enjoyed.

Klobasarna Sausage and Ricet soup

Spend the rest of the afternoon shopping and strolling the charming streets. This is also a good time to visit the Ljubljana. Castle or take a canal tour. We stumbled upon the tail end of the farmers markets, called Central Market, and bought some local strawberries and cherries which were so fresh and sweet.

The original dinner plan was to go to Open Kitchen and try a little bit of everything. Open Kitchen happens every sunny Friday in the city where chefs from various restaurants come and cook in the square. I was disappointed when it was canceled due to the weather. I really wanted to try the gnocchi goulash I saw, so we found a place that had it!

Beef Goulash at Lana’s Corner

Our waiter said the beef goulash is usually a lunch item and it wasn’t on the menu, the chef so graciously made the beef goulash! This one was also very good, though the one in Lake Bled was the best.

I wanted to try Cacao, a speciality chocolate/dessert shop after seeing it online, and ordered a slice of chocolate cake. I was disappointed in the cake as it was not the cheapest piece. I would not recommend this place for dessert.

DAY 13: Postojna Cave and Predjama Castle

Start your morning with breakfast at Lana’s Corner. They are known for their cinnamon rolls, so of course we had to order one. It was not very sweet and didn’t come with frosting which seems to be their signature as these sell out usually within two hour of opening. It wasn’t my favorite pastry but it was fun to try something new. I also ordered a matcha latte which was pretty good.

Head out to visit Postojna Cave, located about 40 minutes from Ljubljana. You will have to pay to park, but you pay when you are on your way out. Stop by the kiosk to pay for your parking before getting in your car to leave.

You can purchase tickets in advance if you know what time you will arrive. Since we didn’t know, we bought them same day at the ticket counter. Tours go by time and language and they seem to prioritize groups like schools. There was an English line, a German line, and an audio line for those who do not speak German nor English. You will funnel into a line based on the time of your ticket and the language you want the tour in. From there, you will board your train with your tour guide, taking you 2.5k down to the belly of the cave.

The tour from start to finish took about an hour and fifteen minutes. The cave experience was not the best as it was extremely busy and unorganized. The caves have been around since the 1800s and truly amazing to see such a natural beauty. While the caves were fascinating and truly magical, the experience was damped due to the crowding. I personally would have skipped the cave tour had I known what it would have been like and taken a day trip to Piran instead.

You can buy a ticket that includes the cave tour and entrance to Predjama Castle. The castle is about a fifteen minute drive from the caves. There are parking attendances who will direct where to park.

The castle experience was much better as there were less people and you can go at your own pace. The castle experience was about 45 minutes but you can take longer if you take your time. There are a lot of small and narrow, and slippery as it rained, stairs you have to take to access the interworking of the castle. If you are unable to do stairs, I would suggest skipping this.

There are many tour groups that come if renting a car is not an option. You can find more infromation of group tours here.

Head back to Ljubljana for the evening. Stop by Le Potica for a traditional Slovenia dessert. Potica is a type of rolled bread filled with either nuts or other filling. I got a raspberry one and it was delicious!

Enjoy dinner at Meat Point, which was delicious. There is a good variety of food here and the staff was friendly.

Enjoy strolling through Ljubljana at night—the castle and bridges are beautifully illuminated, and the town comes alive with vibrant energy after dark.

DAY 14: TRAVEl DAY

Enjoy a delicious breakfast at Papillon Bistrot. I ordered the omelet and it was extremely filling. It came with a side salad and bread, which was different, but really good.

After breakfast, we headed to the airport to catch our flight to Germany.

That’s a wrap on 2 weeks in Croatia and Slovenia! I hope this was helpful and that you have the best time. Truly two of my favorite places I have been from the food, the people, and the nature.

Where To Stay

I will link each place we stayed in below as I would absolutely go back to each one of them. Since we picked up the car a few days into the trip, parking was essential for our accommodation.

Dubrovnik: Sunset Stairway Apartment (2 nights)

This apartment was fantastic! The location was amazing, right in the heart of the old town with beautiful views of the water. The only potential issue is the amount of stairs needed to reach the apartment. It is up about 100 stairs, but worth the climb. Our host was truly wonderful, and it came equipped with a washer, air conditioning and comfortable beds. It truly felt like a local experience and I found that to be extremely enjoyable.

Korčula: Apartments Filippi. (1 night)

The apartment had a beautiful view of the water, was very clean, one and a half bathrooms, and was a quick walk into town. Our host helped find the place and dropped us off at the ferry.

Split: Apartment Bačvice Holiday with free parking

We needed a place that offered parking and this accommodation did just that. Our host picked us up from the ferry terminal and drove us to the house. It is a beautiful two bedroom, one bath apartment, conveniently located near the beach which was nice for sunset. It is a large apartment and came fully stocked of pans, pots, etc for any cooking we did.

Plitvice National Park: Camping Plitvice (1 night)

I was really excited to stay at this place and it didn’t disappoint. The cabin was clean and very close to Plitvice Park entrance. The restaurant on site was delicious and convenient as there are not many food options in this area. There are many activities to participate in on the grounds as well.

Zagreb: Canopy buy Hilton Zagreb City Center

Slovenia Accomodation:

Lake Bled: Vila Milan

This house was beautiful! It was recently renovated and very clean. There are three bedroom but 5 beds available, making it great for families or larger groups. It is about 10 minutes from the lake and walking distance to the Mercator grocery store and the amazing restaurant we had dinner at twice.

Kobaird: Apartments Aria

Kobaird is a charming town you will pass through on the way back to Ljubljana. This apartment was in a great location, very clean, and a friendly host. IF you come with a car there is a dedicated spot for it which is helpful.

Ljubljana: SIPPO Apartments

I was really impressed with SIPPO Apartments. The location was great and our host was very friendly. Sine we had a car we needed a place that had parking and this apartments came with a dedicated spot. The location was walkable with various grocery stores, restaurants, bars, and landmarks only 5 minutes away.

When to visit Croatia and Slovenia

After researching, talking to various people, and visiting myself, I can say May was a fantastic month to visit. Croatia especially was perfect weather. It was sunny, warm, and not too hot. Talking to our various hosts, they all validated us in coming in May instead of the summer months where the weather is scorching hot and the crowds are overwhelming. If you can’t come in May I would suggest September or October.

Slovenia also had nice weather though we had more cloudy days than sunny. I would suggest Slovenia in the summer where you can optimize water activities like rafting or kayaking.

Driving in Croatia and Slovenia

Before traveling to Croatia, I was advised to drive up the coast to avoid driving on the cliff side of the road. The roads in Croatia are well-paved, with clear and easy-to-read signs. However, the speed limit seems more like a recommendation than a strict rule—driving at the limit often left us far behind other vehicles. Overall, driving in Croatia is straightforward and hassle-free.

There is not a robust public transit or train system that connects Dubrovnik to Split, which is why I recommend take the ferry and island hopping on your way up tot Split. I would also recommend starting in Dubrovnik and going north, ending in Split or Zagreb and continuing on to another country from there.

Driving in Slovenia was equally smooth. Well-maintained roads and clear signage made navigation straightforward. Renting with Sixt Car Rental in both countries simplified the process, as Sixt provided the necessary vignette for Slovenian highways.

Good to know before you go to CROATIA AND SLOVENIA

Pack water shoes: The rocky beaches is what makes the water so clear in Croatia. Thanks to the rocks, it provides the crystal clear blue water we all love. The rocks can be quick sharp so it is best to bring some water shoes to use while swimming.

Bring Euros: I thought I wouldn’t need any cash as the last few countries I visited didn’t require any as everything was contactless payment, but Croatia and Slovenia still have areas and restaurants that do not take card. The various farmers markets took card but some restaurants didn’t. The biggest use of Euros in Croatia and Slovenia were for public restrooms as most restrooms required payment, some only accepting coins.

Pack a rain jacket and umbrella. The rain jacket was helpful for the freezing cold ferry rise as it served as a windbreaker which helped. The umbrella, while used for rain, was really used for sun protection as the Croatian sun is powerful.

Bring snacks. Depending on where you go, you might not have access to the grocery stores. The local market inside the city walls closed early on Sunday and we wanted to grab a quick snack but couldn’t. Snacks also come in handy on the ferry or when visiting more remote places like Plitvice or Krka.