Secret Istria & Zagreb the capital

Ready to-use itinerary

OVERVIEW

  • 9 days private tour
  • Rovinj, Pula, Poreč, Motovun, Grožnjan, Vrsar, Opatija, Zagreb the capital
  • Regions: Istria, Kvarner, Lika, Zagreb
  • Discover magical Istria and must-see places like Rovinj, Pula, Poreč and hilltop towns with its spectacular views over the countryside like Motovun and Grožnjan
  • Discover beautiful landscape of Istrian inland, taste great food and meet locals
  • Explore natural beauties: Brijuni National Park, Lim Channel, Motovun forest, Plitvice Lakes National Park
  • Truffles, wines & olive oils tasting tour
  • Arrival airport: Venice - Departure airport: Zagreb

 

Day 1    VENICE AIRPORT - ROVINJ

Arrival at Venice airport. Transfer to your hotel in Rovinj. Use a free time to discover Rovinj  - take a walking tour to discover this beautiful romantic town that for sure will charm you with its colorful buildings and squares, as well as the diverse culinary and entertainment offer. The narrow cobblestone streets will take you to the top of a small hill, where you will find the biggest and most significant monument in town - the church of St. Euphemia. Overnight at the hotel in Rovinj.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Day 2  WINE TASTING & HILLTOP TOWNS TOUR: MOTOVUN - GRAČIŠĆE - GROŽNJAN - MOMJAN

In the morning, the private guided Istria tour will start to discover Istria inland, hilltop towns and to taste excellent Istrian wines in the morning. Driving through beautiful landscapes of Istria’s inland and arrive at our first stop – in Gračišće at wine producer who is only one producing French style burgundy type wines in the Istrian peninsula using the highest quality Istrian grapes. While testing excellent wines and listening to an interesting story of our host you can enjoy amazing view from the hill in old town Gračišće. We continue our trip to central Istria to visit Motovun - picturesque hilltop town with medieval walls situated on a hill above the Mirna River where we will enjoy breathtaking view on famous Motovun forest - habitat of the white truffles. After sightseeing, you will meet local expert in truffles hunting from who you can hear all about this precious subterranean fungus. You will have a chance to try different combination with truffles (cheese, homemade pasta, etc.) with glass of local wine and view on hills in the heart of Istria. Driving further to our next stop - Grožnjan, a town of artists where you will experience local culture and architecture visiting its galleries that are lining the narrow, cobble stone streets. Here you can take a lunch in the traditional Istrian tavern and enjoy the delicacies of domestic gastronomy of your choice. After lunch, last stop is another very famous winemaker with centuries old tradition in Momjan, located at the north-west of the Istrian peninsula on 270 m above the sea level on St. Mauro hill, surrounded by vineyards and olive groves, within a delightful landscape where the view extends from the Alps to the Adriatic Sea. Meet our host, famous wine producer from Momjan, taste his great wine and learn how the soil at the north-west of the Istrian peninsula is giving the wines their special characteristics. Return to Rovinj. Overnight at the hotel in Rovinj.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Day 3    BRIJUNI NATIONAL PARK - PULA

After the breakfast, traveling to Fažana – an entrance to Brijuni National Park. You will visit the only National Park in Istria with its 14 islands and remarkable animal species, rare flora and carefully preserved traces of 5000 years of human history all at one place. After relaxed walk through beautiful Fažana and light lunch, driving to Pula, 3000 old town where you will find the Amphitheatre - imposing Arena, the 6th largest in the world, one of the best preserved Roman Amphitheaters in the world, the most significant monument in Pula. Your private guide will show you all the beauties of Pula and tell you interesting stories of its history. After the tour, return to Rovinj. Overnight at the hotel in Rovinj.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Day 4    LIM CHANNEL - VRSAR - POREČ - NOVIGRAD

In this full-day private guided excursion you will visit Istria seaside towns. First stop is a flooded canyon valley - Lim Channel, also known as Lim Bay or Lim Fjord, a former natural border in the Roman Empire that has divided two Roman provinces, today's  Poreč and Pula. Lim Channel is one of the most beautiful natural resources of the Istrian peninsula. Lim Bay is 10 kilometers long and 30 meters deep and its widest part is around 600 meters wide. From both sides very steep mountains rise, in some parts even up tp 100 meters. Next stop is cute small coastal old town of Vrsar, situated on a hill from where you can enjoy in breathtaking view on the sea and nearby islands and busy harbor where life has been going on in the bay of Vrsar since ancient times. Take a walk along its narrow streets and small intimate squares inside the ancient walls. Nearby, there  the artists Dušan Džamonja Park of Sculptures where you can take a walk along this open air museum. After lunch, our next stop is town of Poreč  former Roman colony. Explore the town together with a private tour guide and find out all about the old town core, its various monuments, cultural and historical attractions. Enjoy the sights of Romanesque architecture with beautiful Venetian gothic palaces and visit UNESCO World Heritage Site - Episcopal Complex of the Euphrasian Basilica - a masterpieces of Byzantine sacral art in the Historic Centre of Poreč. Last destination of the day is picturesque Novigrad-Cittanova, or Emona (Emonia) as Roman settlement. Developed on the islet and joined to the mainland in the 18th century, the old town has maintained its medieval urban plan until today. Take a walk along the old town where Byzantines, Franks, Germans, Venetians, Napoleon, Austro-Hungarians and Italians have left their traces here which can be found on each and every street and square of Novigrad. After watching beautiful sunset, leaving Novigrad and driving back to Rovinj. Overnight at the hotel in Rovinj.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Day 5    VODNJAN - OLIVE OIL TASTING - OPATIJA

After breakfast, leaving Rovinj and in half an hour drive you will reach Vodnjan. A short stop to explore, a town of a rich history with many historical buildings, churches, mummies that are exposed in the Church of Saint Blaise and second highest bell tower in Istria. Driving along winding road that passes by many olive groves and descends gently toward the sea we will visit awarded top quality extra virgin olive oil producer. Arriving to the property of our host where on fertile red soil different varieties of olives are growing, discover the luscious world of liquid gold by tasting different types of olive oils and walking among majestic olive trees. You will have a chance to taste most awarded Croatian olive oil and learn all about the different characteristics, culinary uses, and many health benefits of various olive oils. After lunch, leaving Istria and on the late afternoon arriving in Opatija, a town with longest tradition of tourism in Croatia, surrounded by luxuriant evergreen vegetation and numerous secession buildings from 19th century, where you can have excellent dinner in one of many great restaurants. Overnight at the hotel in Opatija.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Day 6    OPATIJA - PLITVICE LAKES NATIONAL PARK

In the morning your private guide will take you to sightseeing tour of Opatija that will charm you with its public gardens, the illuminated 12-km-long coastal promenade known as the "Lungomare", beaches and fountains and beautiful villas due to rich history as Europe's most important health resorts of the 19th century. After lunch, driving direction Lika region to overnight at the hotel in Plitvice Lakes National Park area.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Day 7    PLITVICE LAKES NATIONAL PARK - ZAGREB

In the morning, enter into the world of green forest and crystal water -  famous and one of the oldest national parks in Southeast Europe, largest in Croatia and UNESCO Site - Plitvice Lakes National Park, arranged in cascades. The 16 lakes that can be seen from the surface are grouped into the 12 Upper Lakes (Gornja jezera) and the 4 Lower Lakes (Donja jezera). Walk along the network of paths and bridges that permit pleasant and safe walking during the visit and sightseeing is also organized by tourist train and boat rides. You will see many small streams and spill into each other in cascades and thundering waterfalls but as well as the highest waterfall - the Large Waterfall (78m). Every season has its own unique charm and the Plitvice Lakes with their alternating colors and every new awakening, both trapped in ice or in the shade of the trees, will leave you with a very distinct, unique and invaluable impression. After the tour, driving direction Croatian capital, Zagreb. Overnight at the hotel in Zagreb.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Day 8    ZAGREB CITY TOUR

After breakfast, you will meet your private guide and take a walking sightseeing tour of Zagreb and its historical center - the settlement on two hills: secular Gradec, today known as the Upper Town, and ecclesiastical Kaptol. You will hear interesting things and facts about Zagreb and its rich history. Visit the Cathedral with two high bell towers that have become the symbol of Zagreb and St.Mark’s Church with its picturesque roof featuring Croatian coats of arms, the Stone Gate, the entrance to the Upper Town. Take a ride with Funicular Railway, walk along streets of Lower town, feel the energy of the main square of Ban Josip Jelačić, the heart of the city and a meeting point for all Zagreb citizens. Relax in famous city park Maksimir or city square and park Zrinjevac. On the Strossmayer Promenade in the Upper Town enjoy a romantic panorama of Zagreb accompanied by the sculpture of Croatian poet Antun Gustav Matos sitting on the bench. Enjoy in excellent lunch and glass of local wine. Have a drink in Tkalca Street or Cvjetni Square. Overnight at the hotel in Zagreb.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Day 9    DEPARTURE (ZAGREB AIRPORT)

Transfer from your hotel in city center to  Zagreb airport. Departure to home-journey.

 

HIGHLIGHTS

Istria and Kvarner region:

  • Poreč, Rovinj, Pula, Vrsar, Novigrad, Motovun, Grožnjan, Opatija
  • UNESCO World Heritage Site: Episcopal Complex of the Euphrasian Basilica in Poreč
  • Roman Amphitheater in Pula
  • Brijuni National Park, Lim Channel
  • Truffles, wine & olive oil tasting

Other regions:

  • UNESCO World Heritage Site: Plitvice Lakes National Park
  • Zagreb, the capital

 

PRICE PER PERSON

$ 1.750

starting from:

The price shown is approximate for a private tour based on a group of 4  people. Final price is depending on your specific query, special needs or interests and traveling date.

INCLUDED IN PRICE:
  • Private Car & Driver service for all road transportations including airport transfers
  • Private local licensed English speaking tour guide for sightseeing: Istria hilltop towns tour, Istria seaside towns tour, Pula, Opatija, Zagreb
  • Entrance tickets: National park Brijuni, Roman Amphitheater in Pula Diokletian palace cellars in Split, National Park Plitvice Lakes
  • Truffles tasting in Istria
  • Wines & olive oils tasting
  • 24 hour assistance
  • VAT & tourist taxes
NOT INCLUDED IN PRICE:
  • Airline tickets
  • Accommodation
  • Additional health insurance
  • Meals
  • Tips
  • Personal expenses
  • Anything else not mentioned in the inclusion

 

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