Croatian UNESCO World Heritage Sites Tour

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Ready to-use itinerary

OVERVIEW

  • 9 days private tour
  • Regions: Istria, Kvarner, Dalmatia, Lika, Zagreb
  • Discover all 7 Cultural and 1 Natural UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Croatia like National Park Plitvice Lakes, Dubrovnik old town, Split with Diocletian Palace  and others
  • Arrival airport: Dubrovnik - Departure airport: Zagreb

 

Day 1    DUBROVNIK AIRPORT - DUBROVNIK

Arrival at Dubrovnik airport. Transfer to your hotel in Dubrovnik. After the accommodation in the hotel, use a free time to walk around the Old Town and its central street Stradun and take a cable car to Mt.SrÄ‘ to enjoy panoramic view on Dubrovnik and nearby islands. Overnight at the hotel in Dubrovnik.         

 

Day 2    UNESCO SITES: DUBROVNIK OLD TOWN & STEĆCI MEDIEVAL TOMBSTONES IN DUBRAVKA, KONAVLE REGION

In the morning, from your private tour guide you will hear all about your first UNESCO Heritage Site from 1979. –  famous Old city of Dubrovnik. Explore the Old Town, the Franciscan Monastery with one of the oldest pharmacies in the world, the renaissance Rector’s Palace, town walls, Lovrjenac Fortress as well as many picturesque squares and churches of this amazing town. In the afternoon, we will continue our UNESCO Sites tour and drive to Konavle region, just south of Dubrovnik. In less than an hour of driving, you will see the church of St. Barbara in the village of Dubravka, one of the oldest churches in Konavle. There is the largest preserved medieval graveyard where more than a hundred of medieval tombstones can be found in their original position. These medieval tombstones engraved with scenes from the life of the deceased and inscriptions chiseled in the medieval script called “bosančica”. Stećci Medieval Tombstones Graveyards in two locations are the newest UNESCO Site in Croatia (2016). On our way back, we can stop in Cavtat, a picturesque small town founded by the Greeks in the 6th century BC, wrapped around pretty harbor and bordered by beaches. Here you can explore Old town, walk along 7 km long seaside promenade, have a cup of coffee and enjoy in Cavtat and its own charm. Overnight at the hotel in Dubrovnik.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Day 3    UNESCO SITES: STEĆCI MEDIEVAL TOMBSTONES IN CISTA VELIKA & SPLIT OLD TOWN WITH THE PALACE OF DIOCLETIAN

In the morning, departure to second location of medieval tombstones, part of Stećci Medieval Tombstones Graveyards UNESCO Site in Cista Velika. Your local guide will tell you the story about these distinctive medieval tombstones or stećci, which date from the 12th to 16th centuries CE from the area that is a homeland of tombstones and without which it is impossible to consider this unique medieval phenomenon. Interesting is to see that stećci are mostly carved from limestone and feature a wide range of decorative motifs that represent iconographic of locally distinctive traditions. After the tour, driving direction Split and in less than one hour of driving, arriving in another UNESCO Site in Croatia from 1979: Historical Complex of Split with the Palace of Diocletian. Your private guide will take you to sightseeing of Split where you will hear all about the Diocletian Palace, an ancient palace built by the Roman Emperor Diocletian at the turn of the fourth century AD. A walk through the ancient city takes you through time, along the great examples of ancient architecture like Peristyle, the middle aged Romanesque Church and Gothic Palace, Renaissance portals of the noblemen’s houses, Baroque facades and modern architecture superbly merged in the rich heritage. After the tour, enjoy in excellent dinner and a glass of delicious local wine, take a walk across the Riva, famous Split waterfront and enjoy in amazing town of Split. Overnight at the hotel in Split.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Day 4    UNESCO SITE: STARI GRAD PLAIN ON THE ISLAND OF HVAR

In the morning, your private guided tour on the longest Croatian island - island of Hvar will start to experience spectacular landscapes, discover another UNESCO Site in Dalmatia but as well to taste local food, wine and olive oil. Although vines were already grown by the early Illyrians, it is since the arrival of the Greeks from the island of Paros and the establishment of Pharos (Stari Grad) in 384 BC, that wine has become one of the dominant industries of the island. First you will visit Stari Grad Plain, UNESCO Site from 2008, a natural reserve first colonized by Ionian Greeks in the 4th century BC. You can see the ancient stone walls, trims and small stone shelters as testimony to the ancient geometrical system of land division used by the ancient Greeks that has been remained intact over 24 centuries. At the heart of the Island of Wine you can find picturesque villages and many vineyards built as terraced steps on the surrounding hills and valleys. Try best selection of local wines together with homemade food. After lunch you will visit the Historic Centre of Stari Grad town and you will discover town of Hvar, one of the most beautiful harbors in the world with a rich cultural heritage, seven-century old walls and noble houses and public buildings from Venetian era. Back to Split in late afternoon, overnight at the hotel in Split.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Day 5    UNESCO SITES: HISTORIC CITY OF TROGIR & THE CATHEDRAL OF ST. JAMES IN ŠIBENIK

In the morning, with your private guide you will depart direction another UNESCO Site from 1997: Historic City of Trogir, a remarkable example of urban continuity where the orthogonal street plan dates back to the Hellenistic period. Here you can find many fine public and domestic buildings and fortifications, beautiful Romanesque churches and the outstanding Renaissance and Baroque buildings from the Venetian period. Our next stop is town of Šibenik, a historic city where the river Krka flows into the Adriatic Sea. Private guided tour will enable you to find out more about this town, created initially as an ancient Croatian castrum, where St. Michael’s Fortress still dominates the town. There you can visit another UNESCO SITE from 2000: The Cathedral of St James in Šibenik built entirely from stone using unique construction techniques where the form and the decorative elements of the Cathedral, such as a remarkable frieze decorated with 71 sculptured faces of men, women, and children, also illustrate the successful fusion of Gothic and Renaissance art. Overnight at the hotel in Šibenik.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Day 6    UNESCO SITE: PLITVICE LAKES NATIONAL PARK - OPATIJA

After the breakfast, driving direction Lika region to enjoy in beauty of Plitvice Lakes National Park, UNESCO Site since 1979. Enter into the world of green forest and crystal water - famous and one of the oldest national parks in Southeast Europe, largest in Croatia, 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, leaving Plitvice and traveling to Kvarner region where you can feel an unique mixture of sea air and mountain climate. After the accommodation in the hotel in Opatija, a beautiful small town with perfect location on the coast at the foot of Mount Učka that will charm you with its public gardens, the illuminated 12-km-long coastal promenade known as the "Lungomare", fountains and beautiful villas due to rich history as Europe's most important health resorts of the 19th century. Overnight at the hotel in Opatija.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Day 7    PULA - ROVINJ- POREÄŒ & UNESCO SITE: EPISCOPAL COMPLEX OF THE EUPHRASIAN BASILICA IN THE HISTORIC CENTRE OF POREÄŒ

After the breakfast, driving direction Istria region. Our first stop is the 3000 years old town of Pula, a place where you can find many ruins from Roman time, like 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 lunch, driving to romantic medieval town of Rovinj that for sure will charm you with its colorful buildings and squares. 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. Arriving to our final destination of the day: 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 since 1997: Episcopal Complex of the Euphrasian Basilica in the Historic Centre of Poreč- a masterpieces of Byzantine sacral art in the Historic Centre of Poreč. Visit the basilica, atrium, baptistery and episcopal palace and admire to  the most complete surviving complex of its type. Overnight at the hotel in Poreč.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Day 8    ZAGREB

In the morning, leaving Istria and driving to Zagreb, the capital of Croatia. Find out all about Zagreb on your private guided city tour. Visit 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. Buy some fresh fruit on Dolac - farmers’ market and have a dinner in a local restaurant. Overnight at the hotel in Zagreb.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Day 9    DEPARTURE (ZAGREB AIRPORT)

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

 

 

HIGHLIGHTS

Istria and Kvarner region:

  • UNESCO World Heritage Site: Episcopal Complex of the Euphrasian Basilica in Poreč
  • Poreč, Rovinj, Pula,  Opatija
  • Roman Amphitheater in Pula

Dalmatia region:

  • UNESCO World Heritage Sites: Old City of Dubrovnik, The Cathedral of St James, Historical Complex of Split with the Palace of Diocletian, Historic City of Trogir, Stećci Medieval Tombstones Graveyards in Dubravka and Cista Velika, Stari Grad Plain
  • Dubrovnik, Split, Šibenik, Trogir, Hvar
  • Island of Hvar
  • Wine tasting in Hvar

Other regions:

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

 

 

PRICE PER PERSON

$ 1.450

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
  • Boat ride to island of Hvar
  • Private local licensed English speaking tour guide for sightseeing: Istria tour, Split, Dubrovnik, Šibenik, Trogir, Hvar island, Zagreb
  • Entrance tickets: Roman Amphitheater in Pula Diokletian palace cellars in Split, Dubrovnik city walls,  Šibenik Cathedral,  National Park Plitvice Lakes
  • Wine tasting in Hvar
  • 24 hour assistance
  • VAT
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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