Dubrovnik to Rome

Dobro dosli! Welcome to Croatia. Your adventure begins with a welcome meeting at 6 pm tonight in Dubrovnik – the undisputed jewel of the Dalmatian Coast. With the sparkling water of the Adriatic in the background, this city is full of character and can be easily covered on foot. If you arrive early, maybe visit the Church of St Blaise, take a cable car to Mount Srd or discover Game of Thrones filming locations. After your meeting, maybe find a local restaurant for dinner and get to know your fellow travellers.

Today, explore Dubrovnik to your heart’s content. Maybe visit Big Onofrio’s Fountain, built by architect Onofrio della Cava in the 15th century to supply water to the city. Or check out the Franciscan Monastery – home to one of the world’s oldest continuously functioning pharmacy, founded in the 13th century. You could take a daytrip to the Elafiti Islands – a small archipelago northwest of Dubrovnik – exploring churches along the way. It’s a gorgeous place to swim or find a coastal restaurant for a long lunch. After a day spent however you like, maybe kick back on Banje Beach as the sun goes down or find a good spot for dinner with a sunset view.

This morning, travel up the coast to Split. If Dubrovnik is considered the heart of Dalmatia, Split is certainly the soul. On a small peninsula on the eastern shores of the Adriatic Sea, it’s the second-largest city in Croatia. Today is a long travel day, so it’s a good idea to get stuck into your book or favourite podcasts. When you arrive, the afternoon is free for you to explore Split at your own pace. Maybe wander through the historic streets, see the UNESCO World Heritage – listed Diocletian’s Palace or join a tour with a local guide. Dinner by the sea is recommended, whether you’re after fresh seafood or you just want to catch the deep colours of the sunset.

Today is a free day in Split. At the heart of its atmospheric Old Town is a fascinating city-within-a-city – the remains of a third-century palace built for Roman Emperor Diocletian. These ancient walls now house a vibrant mix of shops, cafes, restaurants and houses. Maybe step back in time as you stroll the sprawling maze of passageways and courtyards – you’ll also find a 16th-century synagogue and a courtyard often filled with music. This afternoon, why not sample Croatia’s fine coffee culture with a frothy kava from a cafe on the Riva waterfront promenade or climb the Cathedral of Saint Domnius for panoramic views over the city. The rest of the night is free for you to explore Split at your own pace.

Visit one of Croatia’s most beautiful UNESCO World Heritage sites – Plitvice Lakes National Park. You’ll have free time to explore on your own, or you can follow your leader to see the best spots – all trails in the national park are well marked, so it’s difficult to get lost! Walk through the wooded hills, surrounding turquoise lakes and waterfalls. As you go, you may glimpse local wildlife living in the primeval forest vegetation of beech trees, fir spruce and white pine. Later, drive to Croatia’s capital of Zagreb, where you’ll stay tonight.

This morning, take an orientation walk around Zagreb with your leader. Then, the rest of the day is free – maybe check out the gothic Zagreb Cathedral, with its twin spires that dominate the city’s skyline, or visit one of the excellent museums, like the quirky Museum of Broken Relationships. Perhaps your appetite will lead you to the Dolac Market – the main market in the city – and a great spot to pick up seasonal fruits, vegetables, preserves, olive oil, cheese and meats. Stop by one of the bakeries for a taste of cevapcici (grilled minced meat) – a traditional market snack.

Travel by train this morning across the Slovenian border to the cosmopolitan capital of Ljubljana (pronounced ‘Lyub-Li-Yana'). When you arrive, check into your accommodation before heading out on a short orientation walk with your leader. The rest of the day is then free for you to delve deeper into this beautiful city. Located in the centre of Slovenia, Ljubljana is a city full of style and sophistication, history, monuments, churches, museums and great restaurants. Maybe wander around the old city centre, renowned for its unique architectural appearance. You might like to visit the Ljubljana Castle, the Town Hall or the Dragon Bridge, or stop at the central Preseren Square, dedicated to the Slovenian romantic poet France Preseren.

Take a daytrip to beautiful Bled today, ranked as one of the most scenic alpine resorts in Europe, and spend the hours as you wish. Bled’s fairytale-like scenery includes a castle, a tranquil lake and an island topped with a church. Maybe take a pletna boat ride (a wooden, awning-covered boat rowed by a special oarsman) across Lake Bled to its island, then climb the 99 steps to St Mary’s Church. After, be sure to seek out the famous Bled cream cake – nearly every cafe and cake shop in town claims their cream cake is the best! There’s also plenty of action for adrenaline junkies on offer today, so pick what suits you best, from rafting, caving and cycling to canoeing, boating or swimming. Tonight, maybe join your fellow travellers for dinner and try two other local specialties – struklji (rolled dumplings) and potica (nut roll) – before returning to Ljubljana.

This morning, travel by bus to Venice – the capital of northern Italy’s Veneto region, known for its canals and small islands connected by nearly 400 bridges. When you arrive, the day is free for you to explore. Maybe visit St Mark’s Basilica, the Rialto Bridge or Doge’s Palace (the ruler of Venice), ride a gondola through the romantic canals or seek out some tiramisu (coffee-soaked sponge cake) – the region’s specialty! Tonight, you might like to join your fellow travellers for dinner at a local restaurant to celebrate the last night of your trip.

Enjoy free time in the watery wonderland of bridges, towers, piazzas, canals, churches and gondolas today, practically unchanged for the last 600 years. Rich with artistic masterpieces, modern Venice combines history with contemporary life through food, performance, art and architecture. Take a walk around the maze of streets behind San Marco Square and begin to understand the complex canal system as you find the next delicious thing to eat. You’ll have a meeting tonight at 6 pm to meet the new members of your group.

This morning, head out for an orientation walk of the city, exploring the Classical, Gothic and Baroque styles of architecture that surround San Marco Square. For lunch, maybe get involved in the lively social scene at a local bacaro or simply watch the world go by at a restaurant on the edge of the canals. Then, you’re free to explore Venice at your own pace. There are only two ways to get around this city – on foot or by boat. Maybe take the Vaporetto (water bus) over to the island of San Giorgio to climb the bell tower for views over the city. Or fulfil a bucket list favourite and take a journey down the Grand Canal in a Venetian gondola, if you haven’t already. Along the way, you might like to fuel up with a light bite of cicchetti (a tasty local snack).

Board a morning train through the scenic north of Italy to the once important naval base of La Spezia – known mainly as the gateway to the gorgeous Cinque Terre (Five Lands). The name comes from the five tiny villages of Monterosso, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola and Riomaggiore – positioned on a series of coves between sheer cliffs. When you arrive in La Spezia, there won’t be much time to explore (that’s what tomorrow is for), but after checking into your hotel, you can take a short walk around the pedestrian zone on Via del Prione. Or, simply head out for dinner with your group.

Spend today exploring winding footpaths and pastel villages with your included Cinque Terre Pass. Your leader will walk you to two of the five villages – the pass gives you access to the paths and trains of the area for 24 hours. Please consult your leader on which walking section is right for you, as some have challenging uphill stretches, narrow paths, steep cliffs and foot bridges. Alternatively, take the train between any of the villages, or back to La Spezia whenever you want. After working up an appetite, maybe take advantage of an optional pesto-making class. Focaccia is also a speciality in this area and makes a great start to lunch.

Depart La Spezia today and catch a train to Florence. When you arrive, check into the hostel and go for a brief walk around the immediate area to get your bearings. Florence is one of the most culturally rich and beautiful cities in Italy, known to many as the beating heart of Tuscany. The Medicis, Leonardo da Vinci, Raphael, Brunelleschi, Machiavelli, Donatello and Michelangelo all lived in Florence at the height of their creative reign. Food is a major part of the city’s identity and the optional activities on offer reflect this. Maybe explore the city’s culinary history (and taste some local treats) on a Florence Foodies Walk with Urban Adventures. Carnivores might be drawn to try the Bistecca alla Fiorentina (the Florentine Beef Steak, essentially a huge T-bone steak that comes with classic sides).

Enjoy another day in beautiful Florence. It’s impossible to see everything in this Renaissance wonderland, so the best idea is to relax and pick a few things you really want to do. Maybe start with a visit to the Galleria dell’Accademia, where you can see Michelangelo’s famous statue of David, or perhaps stop by the Uffizi – one of the world’s oldest art galleries. Active types might want to walk up to Piazzale Michelangelo, which is set on a hill on the south bank of the Arno River, to take in beautiful views of the city. There are plenty of optional activities available during your time here, so be sure to grill your leader for the details on each – something is sure to pique your interest!