Grandeur and glamour meet in old Eastern cities as lakes and waterfalls twist towards the Dalmatian coast. Islands await, idyllic and untamed as ancient cities arouse, memoirs to an altogether different time. Welcome to Eastern Europe, and for all of the history and the natural beauty, it is the culture you will most remember as explored on this 10-day trip through four European countries. So luxuriate on the old-world highlights and relax along the coast as you hop to Austria, Slovakia, Croatia...
Customizable Itinerary
Day 1
Vienna – Waltzing Your Way Into Vienna
Vienna is so easy on the eye. Streets of vernacular architecture come from different eras, and almost every townhouse has its own artistic flourish. On some small streets, it will be as if you are walking alongside a palace with everything so prim and proper as it shimmers in the Austrian capital. Your hotel is down such a street, a boutique building with high ceilings and shutters that open towards the city. Check in and take a stroll through your surroundings, perhaps stopping at a coffee house on a corner. This city along the Danube has always been famous for its music, and tonight you can hear a rendition of classics with an orchestral performance in an opera house that has entertained royalty. You will be waltzing your way into Eastern Europe, discovering the atmosphere and music of yesteryear, feeling the city’s dynamic pull.
What's Included:
Day 2
Vienna – Iconic Highlights and Coffee Houses
Day 3
Vienna – Bratislava and the Slovak Republic
Day 4
Zagreb – A Surprising Capital
Day 5
Plitvice Lakes – Nature and Lush Landscapes
Day 6
Hvar – A Dreamy Old City and Island
Day 7
Hvar – The Secrets of Hvar
Day 8
Dubrovnik – Ragusa Fortress Town
Day 9
Dubrovnik – An Alluring Day in Montenegro
Day 10
Dubrovnik – Departure
Trip Highlights
- Drift away on the Dalmatian island of Hvar, splitting your time between a beautiful coast, a vine-covered interior, and the medieval Stari Grad
- Waltz your way into the Viennese experience with an orchestral performance in an old opera house
- Spend a day amid the waterfalls and waterways of Plitvice Lakes, one of Europe’s finest national parks
- Take a day trip to Montenegro to admire the beauty of Kotor, a small city yet to be overwhelmed by tourism
- Compare the capitals by spending a day in Bratislava, Slovakia and another in Zagreb, Croatia, where proud monuments and beautiful culture bring a very personal experience
- Luxuriate in the Ragusa fortress town of Dubrovnik, a dazzling historical city on the Dalmatian coast
- Explore the grand imperial highlights in Vienna and also in Split, Croatia’s colorful coastal port
Detailed Description
There is a sense of the exotic as you touch down in Eastern Europe. There is a mystique that hangs in the air, and immediately you will notice the presence of untold stories and histories. You can tell this is a region of secrets, as almost every lane hides something new and every corner seems to whisper of a forgotten time. Glamorous cities are draped along water and islands await, made grand by Roman ruins and thick medieval walls. Nature also has a tale to tell here, remarkably untouched by all the quarrel and conflict that have shaped the region over time.
In just ten days, you can connect a myriad of diverse highlights as this private handcrafted tour takes you to four countries with the complete sweep of city, forest, island, and port. Each destination could keep you for a week, such is the complexity of its history and culture. However, there is no need to stay that long or to rush. It would take years to make sense of everything that has happened in Vienna, yet two days will provide a rounded impression of its artistic story and culture. Likewise, Dubrovnik has the charm that can captivate for weeks, but with a couple of nights, you can make sense of the city and its old-world beauty.
Waltz your way into Vienna with a concert performance on the first night, the setting as grand as the orchestral repertoire. Explore all the imperial highlights while energizing at the famously regal coffee houses. The train to Bratislava takes less than an hour, and you spend the whole of the next day in Slovakia, a cute old capital absolutely distinct from its Austrian neighbor. Zagreb is a surprising and a hugely underrated destination, an old capital yet to be dominated by tourism. It is authentic and very welcoming for the best way to ease into the week you will spend in Croatia.
Driving southwest, you will spend the following day at Plitvice Lakes, Eastern Europe’s most beautiful national park. Cross bridges to veil-like waterfalls, and then ride a boat across the lakes before a night in a wooden cabin that keeps you firmly inside nature. Split has the grandeur to rival Vienna, and you can spend half a day exploring. It is then a short ferry ride to Hvar, a Dalmatian island of vineyards and old Venetian towns. Spend two nights in Hvar before a scheduled boat takes you to Dubrovnik, Croatia’s jewel.
The city is fabulous as the thick walls protect a near-island enclave of cobbles and small squares. Walk the walls for a sense of history, and then explore the nitty-gritty of the mazy alleys. The next day will be all Dubrovnik, and the following is all Montenegro for a private tour over the border that showcases the best of Kotor and its surroundings. It will be an authentic glimpse into a country that is finally gaining the recognition it deserves. You will be back in Dubrovnik for sundown on a terrace, so you can gaze over the harbor, sip on fine Croatian wines, and toast to ten days of Eastern European highlights. Consider learning more about our travelers’ best Europe travel experiences by reading their Europe travel reviews.
Starting Price
$4,100 per person (excluding international flights)
Your Zicasso trip is fully customizable, and this sample itinerary is a starting place for your travel plans. Actual costs are dynamic, and your selection of accommodations and activities, your season of travel, and other such variables will bring this budget guideline up or down. Throughout your planning experience with your Zicasso specialist, your itinerary is designed around your budget. You can book your trip when you are satisfied with every detail. Planning your trip with a Zicasso travel specialist is a free service.
What's Included
- Accommodations
- In-country transportation
- Some or all activities and tours
- Expert trip planning
- 24x7 support during your trip
Your final trip cost will vary based on your selected accommodations, activities, meals, and other trip elements that you opt to include.
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