If you plan to spend 10 days traveling in Europe, here’s something for you. This Slovenia and Croatia itinerary will be a mix of the alpine landscapes of Slovenia and some of the most beautiful coastal and inland parts of Croatia. These 2 countries border each other and both have stunning landscapes and experiences that will make your vacation unforgettable. We are going to start this journey in Slovenia, but you can easily turn this itinerary upside down any way you like.
We are Croats, but we also travel to Slovenia a lot because of our work. With every day of working we spend there, we take at least 2 additional days for relaxation and exploration. We love Slovenia very much and it’s a good idea to have such a journey as the one we’re presenting in this article since Slovenia and Croatia are very different and you’ll really feel like you have visited 2 separate countries.
Here’s the ultimate Slovenia and Croatia itinerary for 10 days!
Days 1-4: Discover Magical Slovenia We have split this journey in a way that you’ll spend 4 days in Slovenia and 6 days in Croatia. We believe it will be the perfect balance, resulting in an amazing vacation. For each day of this itinerary, we are going to put a link to at least one suggested activity you can do in a particular place.
Day 1: Ljubljana Our first day of this 10-day Slovenia and Croatia Itinerary will be all about Ljubljana, the capital of Slovenia. Its airport is well connected with other European airports, so it can be a good starting point for this journey.
Arrive in Ljubljana , the capital of Slovenia.
Explore Ljubljana Old Town , walk along the Ljubljanica River , cross the Triple Bridge , and enjoy the atmosphere of this vibrant city.
Visit Ljubljana Castle for the best panoramic views of the city and the surrounding area.
Dinner in any of the riverside restaurants.
Activity Suggestion:
Day 2: Lake Bled and Lake Bohinj The second day in Slovenia is reserved for some of the most visited destinations in Slovenia. We are going to visit 2 famous lakes – Lakes Bled and Bohinj. Both of them are beautiful, with the difference that Bled is a bit more visited and crowded destination, while you can enjoy more peace at Lake Bohinj.
Drive or take a guided tour from Ljubljana to Lake Bled .
Visit Bled Castle and take a traditional pletna boat to the famous Bled Island .
Have lunch anywhere near the lake.
Head to Lake Bohinj , a quieter and even more stunning glacial lake, according to many travellers.
You can also hike to nearby Savica Waterfall if you are into a bit of walking.
Activity Suggestion:
Lake Bled and Bohinj Day Trip from Ljubljana
Day 3: Triglav National Park and Vintgar Gorge We suggest spending a night somewhere in the Lake Bled area because our third day of this Slovenia and Croatia itinerary will be all about the nearby beautiful places. Both Triglav National Park and Vintgar Gorge are close to Lake Bled.
Spend a part of the day exploring Triglav National Park , the most famous national park in Slovenia.
Walk through the stunning Vintgar Gorge, located just 10 minutes away from Lake Bled.
Optionally, drive through the scenic Pokljuka Plateau or to Soča Valley if you want to enjoy more mountain scenery.
If you want to hike a bit, we suggest hiking to Viševnik Peak. Many say that this is the easiest hike above 2000 meters.
Activity Suggestion:
Triglav National Park Adventure Tour
Day 4: Postojna Cave and Predjama Castle or Škocjan Caves (or both) We’ll spend part of our last in exploring the underworlds of Slovenia. You have 2 choices for this, and if you want, you can visit both famous caves in Slovenia. One is Postojna Cave, the most visited such place in Slovenia, with a train inside a cave and a massive underground system. Alternatively, you can choose Škocjan Caves, our favorite and less visited place, with the stunning underground river flowing through this cave system in Slovenia.
Visit the incredible Postojna Cave , one of the largest karst caves in the world.
Stop by Predjama Castle , a castle partially built into a cliff.
Visit Škocjan Caves and be amazed at some of the most stunning natural wonders you’ll ever see in your life.
Drive to Croatia in the afternoon (you’ll need about 1.5-2 hours to Rijeka or the Istria region).
Activity Suggestion:
Postojna Cave and Predjama Castle Guided Tour
Days 5-10: Explore Stunning Croatia For the next 6 days, we’ll be exploring Croatia. Since the Istria, the largest peninsula in Croatia, is the closest to Slovenia, we are going to visit it first. Istria is an absolutely stunning part of Croatia, famous for its gastronomy, especially truffles and wines.
Day 5: Rovinj and the Istrian Coast Once we have arrived in Istria, we are going to spend the whole day exploring some of the best places of this peninsula.
Arrive in Rovinj , one of the most picturesque coastal towns in Croatia.
Walk the narrow streets of the Old Town.
Visit St. Euphemia’s Church .
Visit nearby Pula, a place famous for its Roman influence.
Enjoy sunset views and fresh seafood by the sea.
Activity Suggestion:
Day 6: Plitvice Lakes National Park On the sixth day of this Slovenia and Croatia itinerary, we’re going to drive to Plitvice Lakes, the most famous national park in Croatia. Since we have not visited any of the hilltop towns in Istria on a previous day, we suggest doing so on our way to Plitvice. Hilltop towns in Istria are stunning medieval locations that you’ll love.
Start driving toward the Plitvice Lakes and stop at any hilltop town – Motovun, Grožnjan, Završje, Žminj…
Continue driving to Plitvice Lakes National Park (~3 hours from Rovinj).
Spend the day exploring the most famous natural wonder in Croatia which consists of 16 cascading lakes and stunning waterfalls.
Activity Suggestion:
Day 7: Zadar and Šibenik After the visit to Plitvice Lakes, you can either drive directly to Zadar or you can spend a night in the Plitvice Lakes area and drive to Zadar in the morning, depending on when you’ll end your visit to this national park.
Head south to the coastal city of Zadar or spend a night in the Plitvice Lakes area.
Visit the Sea Organ and Greeting to the Sun, 2 famous art installations in Zadar.
Continue to nearby Šibenik , explore its old town, and visit the St. James Cathedral .
Optional: Visit Krka National Park if you want another waterfall experience. Krka is somewhat different than Plitvice, but still a bit different.
Activity Suggestion:
Zadar Walking Tour with Sea Organ Visit
Day 8: Split and Diocletian’s Palace As we are closing in on the end of this vacation, we are traveling further south in Croatia. After Zadar and Šibenik, we are staying in the second-largest city in Croatia and one of the most visited cities in this country – Split. Split is famous for many things – it has a rich Roman-influenced history, it’s one of the best Croatia island hopping destinations, and it has Hajduk.
Drive to Split . It’s very close to Šibenik, so you won’t spend much time on the road.
Explore the UNESCO-listed Diocletian’s Palace , one of the best preserved Roman palaces in the world..
Walk along the Riva promenade and drink a coffee in one of the cafes.
Enjoy some beach time at Bačivice Beach or nearby beaches.
Head to the Marjan Hill and enjoy some great panoramic views of Split and the surrounding area.
Activity Suggestion:
Split Old Town and Diocletian’s Palace Guided Tour
Day 9: Island Hopping to Hvar or Brač We already mentioned that Split is one of the best destinations for island hopping in Croatia, and now is the time to visit one of the islands. There are many different kinds of guided boat tours, so choose the one for you according to your preferences. We are going to put some suggestions in the section below. Alternatively, you can also take a ferry or catamaran to any of the nearby islands.
Take a ferry or guided tour from Split to Hvar , Brač, or any other nearby island .
Spend the day island-hopping or exploring the historic towns of these islands.
Relax on famous beaches like Zlatni Rat (Brač) or Palmižana Bay (Hvar).
Activity Suggestion:
Pakleni Islands Boat Tour from Hvar
Day 10: Dubrovnik We have left the most visited destination for the last day of this Slovenia and Croatia itinerary. We believe Dubrovnik doesn’t need much of an introduction. It’s the most visited destination in Croatia and one of the most well-preserved medieval cities in the world.
Depending on whether you have chosen to spend a day on any of the islands or you have chosen to return to Split, you can either take a direct ferry from the islands to Dubrovnik or you can drive through the Makarska Riviera and the rest of southern Croatia.
Drive or take a ferry south to Dubrovnik .
Spend your final day in Croatia exploring the Old Town and Dubrovnik surroundings.
Walk the City Walls , visit Rector’s Palace , and enjoy this magical location.
Have a sunset drink at Buža Bar , a unique bar located on the cliffs outside of the city walls.
Activity Suggestion:
Dubrovnik Old Town and City Walls Walking Tour
Travel Tips for Slovenia and Croatia Road Trip For an even better vacation in Slovenia and Croatia, here are just a few quick travel tips:
Car Rental : Renting a car for this journey will give you maximum flexibility.Border Crossing : Both Slovenia and Croatia are part of the EU, and border crossing is not monitored in a conventional way.Currency : The Euro is the main currency in both countries.Toll Roads : You need a vignette (toll sticker) for traveling on the highways in Slovenia. Croatia uses toll booths on its highways.Navigation : Use Google Maps, but download offline maps too.Packing : Bring layers, it will be cooler in the mountains and Slovenia, and warmer on the Croatian coast and the islands.
Before You Venture on a Trip through Slovenia and Croatia This 10-day Slovenia and Croatia itinerary is just a perfect balance of the mountains and alpine landscapes of Slovenia, and the coastal parts and islands of Croatia. In these 10 days, you can experience really a lot and end up with the vacation you’ll remember for a long time. Both Slovenia and Croatia have many magnificent places, and the most famous ones are included in this itinerary.
Enjoy this journey and have a great vacation!
