9-Day Christmas in Croatia Tour

A warm welcome awaits you as you step outside Zagreb’s airport and into your private transfer to your hotel. Croatia’s rich past comes into sight with classic architecture intertwined with contemporary builds, the brilliance of the polychrome roof tiles of St Mark’s Church standing out against a wintery sky. If time permits, take a stroll through the city streets to catch a glimpse of glistening Christmas lights that add an ambiance of warmth to the crisp winter night.

Your private walking tour through Zagreb will deliver a blend of historic sights and store windows draped in tinsel and Christmas cheer. Step into Ban Jelačić Square and absorb the festive atmosphere, focusing on the large Christmas tree centrally poised, its grand presence bringing color and cheer to the square. While meandering through the Dolac Market, sink your teeth into fresh produce and traditional delicacies like delicious štrukli. Feel the crunch of the flaky pastry as you bite into this cheese-filled pastry, noticing the tang of sour cream on top. Amble through picturesque Zrinjevac Park and embrace the soft sounds of classic Christmas music filling the air.

Set out this morning on a comfortable and scenic 90-minute drive to Slovenia’s capital city, Ljubljana. You may be captivated by the city’s perfect blend of history, culture, and impressive natural beauty. Visit Prešeren Square, where the salmon-colored Franciscan Church of the Annunciation stands boldly amid gray and white buildings and a possible flurry or blanket of snow. Run your hands over the cool, rough texture of the Triple Bridge, a trio of concrete, latticed walkways crossing over the Ljubljanica River as you cross from Ljubljana’s modern center to its Old Town, Christmas lights glistening in the low light of late afternoon. Visit the Robba Fountain, admiring the Baroque artistry in the intricate marble sculptures of river gods.

Your luxury transfer will take you to the Zagreb airport, where you will connect to a flight to Dubrovnik. Your transfer will take you through winding streets as you trade the busy streets of the capital for the ancient city walls of Dubrovnik’s Old Town, a medieval display of Renaissance architecture. You may notice how the colors run from orange to blue as the iconic terracotta rooftops flow into the gray stone walls and turquoise waters of the Adriatic Sea. Embrace Dubrovink’s winter festivities as you exchange friendly smiles with festive bear and elf mascots, the sounds of traditional caroling, or kolendavanje, filling the air.

Behind Dubrovnik’s imposing, defensive walls lie many treasures, and today, you will get to wander through the pedestrian-only maze of limestone streets and hidden alleys of Old Town. You will notice how fresh and still the air is, the streets quiet with the absence of vehicles. Walk down the main thoroughfare of the Stradun and spend time at the Rector’s Palace, its facade featuring a beautiful covered corridor with arches that provide shade and a place to relax. The interior’s Corinthian-style column boasts a sleek shape and ornate capitals, with intricate stone carvings depicting flowers, animals, and scenes from Greek mythology.

The day is yours at leisure. You may wish to walk along the spectacular city walls, discovering a system of forts and towers weaving around orange-colored rooftops and winding alleyways. Glance out over the azure waters of the Adriatic Sea, eventually making your way down to Old Town, where you might indulge in a mug of gluhwein, the spiced beverage warming you up as you explore a little more. Spend time at a Christmas market in the illuminated Convent of St. Claire, where local artisans showcase their handcrafted ornaments and traditional candied orange peel and roasted almonds can be enjoyed as traditional carols, or Dubrovnik kolenda, fill the air.

Cross the border today into Bosnia and Herzegovina, visiting the picturesque city of Mostar. Driving up the coast, you will cross a winter scenescape of dazzling bays and bridges before heading inland, finally arriving in Old Town Mostar. Visit the magnificent Stari Most Bridge, a 16th-century Ottoman structure characterized by its elegant single-arch design and spanning 100 feet over the rippling aqua waters of the Neretva River. Draped in a brilliant rainbow of festive lights and decorations, this timeless stone structure, reaching for the sky at 78 feet, is an impressive sight of Christmas cheer. Following the river south, you will stop in the medieval village of Počitelj before returning to Croatia to settle into your hotel in Split.

Start your day with a walking food tour of Split, where you will be introduced to tantalizing seasonal flavors. Take a bite of a Christmas favorite, a crunchy fritule, a donut-style pastry bursting with flavors of citrus zest and the warmth of a hint of rum. Sip a glass of Plavac Mali red wine, with bold red plum and licorice flavors. After enjoying lunch at leisure, your driver will take you to Trogir. Discover the medieval charm of the coastal town, with its Hellenistic layout and festively-lit waterfront. Listen to the sound of lapping waves against moored boats and notice how the sunlight glints off the Adriatic Sea to illuminate the honey-colored stone buildings.

If time permits before your private transfer to the airport, step outside your hotel and enjoy a little more time exploring the stunning city of Split. Watch as the Riva Promenade comes to life as the city awakens. Perhaps spend time admiring the grandeur of Diocletian’s Palace, dressed in marble, limestone, and brick, before bidding the city and Croatia a fond farewell.