ZAGREB TOURS

Day 1 ZAGREB

Arrival in Zagreb. Your ZAGREBTOURS host will greet you at Zagreb airport and take you to your hotel. After a brief rest, we will take you for an evening walk and the first introduction to the Croatian capital. You will also try some of the culinary specialties in one of Zagreb's taverns. Overnight in Zagreb.

Day 2 ZAGREB – OPATIJA

Breakfast. After breakfast, you will discover why people say that Zagreb is a city on a human scale. We will introduce you to the rich history of one of the oldest central European cities. Zagreb will certainly enchant you with its lively street atmosphere and friendly welcome. After lunch, we head towards Opatija. After being placed in a hotel, we will walk along the Queen of the Adriatic as we often call Opatija. Accompanied by the scent of the sea, we will enjoy the beauty of magnificent villas and beautiful parks and gardens. Overnight in Opatija.

Day 3 OPATIJA – HUM – MOTOVUN – BERAM - ROVINJ

Breakfast. Today we are going to reveal you some of the treasures of Green Istria. Legend says that the giants built some of the most beautiful towns in the continental part of Istria. Each worked on his top hill and one at the time cities emerged: Motovu, Oprtalj, Groznjan, Roč ... Having done all the cities, they remained a little more rock and thus created the smallest city in the world - Hum. In Hum, we'll learn about the oldest Croatian script - Glagolitic and try the famous local medicine - Biska. The road leads us further to the medieval town Motovun and its top encircled by medieval walls. From a height of 277 m there is an unforgettable view over the valley of the River Mirna, the Motovun woods and unspoiled nature. Here we'll also enjoy the traditional Istrian cuisine. You will just love the truffles, prosciutto, chesee and famous Istrian wines, Malvasia and Teran. We continue our drive through Istria and on the way to Rovinj we will stop in the little town of Beram which is one of the places with the longest continuous settlement in Istria. At the Beram cemetery we will visit the Saint Mary of Škriljinah church known for one of the most valuable works of the Istrian medieval painting, with its famous fresco of "Dance of the Dead," which sends us a message: Memento mori ... We continue towards the town of Rovinj, where we will check in to the hotel. Overnight in Rovinj.

Day 4 POREČ – ROVINJ

Breakfast. Today we are going to enjoy the beauty and visit the monuments of old coastal towns Poreč and Rovinj. We will visit the Euphrasian Basilica, the symbol of Poreč under UNESCO protection, peek into the hidden nooks and crannies of the stone streets and city walls. On the way out from Poreč will discover the secret of the Istrian Stonehenge. On the way back to Rovinj we visit the Lim Bay, a place where the ships were hiding from the bed weather in ancient times and today that's one of the Istrian natural beauty and a place known for good seafood – fish, mussels and oysters. We will try those fruits of the sea depths in a pleasant atmosphere of the Lim channel. In the afternoon we go back to Rovinj, where we will relax in a cozy walk along the old town. Enjoy the famous sunset of Rovinj peninsula, and we'll tell you the legend of St. Euphemia, explain you what is the tabakina from Rovinj and discover many more secrets of this beautiful town. Overnight in Rovinj.

Day 5 ROVINJ – PULA

Breakfast. After yesterday's great day in Poreč and Rovinj, a day ahead of us is with taste of antiquity. We will visit Pula - biggest town in Istria and its center since Roman times. We will introduce you to many Roman monuments that will tell us about rich and long history of Pula. We will find out whether the most famous symbol of the city, the amphitheater from the first century and the sixth largest in the world, was actually built because of love. You will hear the story how this great ancient city became the city of poor and misery in the middle Ages and then again started to shine in the 19th century when it became the main Austrian naval base and a major shipbuilding center. In the evening we return back to Rovinj. Overnight in Rovinj.

Day 6 ROVINJ – SV. PETAR U ŠUMI – PAZIN – ZAGREB

Breakfast. Today we say good bye to Rovinj and the coast of Istria. We will drive back along the roads of Green Istria towards little town – Saint Peter in the Forest, a town of white monks – Paulines. In the church of St. Peter and St. Paul, we will see a painting of Madonna of Czestochowa, protector of Poland. According to a legend, at Christmas 1721 the painting shed tears for a week, which attracted a great number of people, first those curious and then so many pilgrims that the square in front of the church had to be extended.
We will follow, then the paths of Jules Verne towards the town of Pazin in the heart of Istria. We will visit the Pazin Castle and step into the cave of Pazin, a place where exept Jules Verne and famous Dante Aligheri found his inspiration for the entry into hell in his Divine Comedy He wrote "Abandon all hope, ye who enter here" In the afternoon we will enjoy some more delicacies of Istrian cuisine and taste some more of famous Istrian wines. Arrival in Zagreb is expected in the evening. Accommodation in a hotel. Overnight in Zagreb.

Day 7 ZAGREB

Breakfast. After six wonderful days and exploring Zagreb and Istria, the time has come to say good bye. Your host and now for sure your good Croatian friend will take you to the Zagreb airport and wish you a pleasant journey and Good bye!

Zagreb

Zagreb has a rich cultural heritage dating from prehistoric ages. The very first findings of human habitants in the area date all the way to the Stone Age, around 35000 B.C. Zagreb arise from two settlements Gradec i Kaptol. Kaptol developed as a spiritual centre, where clergymen were given land to live on, and where they built curies. Somewhat later than the Kaptol settlement, the settlement called Gradec was established on the west side of the Medvescak creek. In 1242 king Bela IV, in order to thank for the shelter and to strengthen the country's defense, gave the habitants of Gradec the Golden Bull. The Golden Bull was the privilege which excludes Gradec from the governor's rule and obliges them only to army duty for the king. Simultaneously, under the influence of the Cistercians, restoration and fortification of Kaptol commenced. The city of Zagreb, with its cultural and historical legacy and significance, is one of the most vital cities in Europe.

Rovinj

Rovinj is located on the west coast of the Istria peninsula and is one of the most beautiful destinations in the Adriatic. Rovinj was inhabited in the prehistoric period - the Bronze and Iron Age. At that time Histria tribe lived there and their culture flourished while they traded with the Greeks and Etruscans. Since the mysterious dawn (13th July 800) when miraculously sailed marble sarcophagus containing the body of St. Euphemia on the Rovinj coast, Rovinj has become associated with this martyr, whose church is nowadays a symbol of the city. In the 18th century the Church of St. Euphemia was built based on the designs of the Venetian architect Giovanni Dozzija. Rovinj is a city you will never forget.

Opatija

Opatija is one of the first touristic towns in Croatia. It’s located on the east coast of Istria peninsula and at the foot of the mountain Ucka, Nature Park. Impressively decorated parks and gardens, long promenades, remarkable centuries-old Austrian villas, beautiful beaches and the warm climate are the reasons why tourists come to Opatija, last several centuries. The Austrian emperor Franz Joseph I used to spend in Opatija several months during the winter, because of its incredibly mild micro climate. Opatija is well known for its sculpture Minden with a seagull, which is positioned on a promontory close to the Juraj Sporer art pavilion. Maiden with a seagull is today a symbol of Opatija.

Hum

Hum is included in the Guinness book of Record as the smallest city in the world. It has only 23 inhabitants and is situated on the Istria peninsula. Within the city walls this medieval town has two small streets, Church of Mary’s Ascension from 1802 and the Romanesque church of St. Jerome from the 12^th century. Hum is famous for its Alley of Glagolitic that includes early monuments of Croatian literacy. Hum’s city gate, through which you enter into the city, is one of the features of the mentioned Alley. If you find yourself in Hum, do not miss the homemade honey brandy.

Motovun

Motovun is the best preserved medieval fortress of Istria peninsula. It is located on top of the very steep hill and in the foot of the hill flows river Mirna. The town's name is of Celtic origin, derived from the word Montona meaning city in the mountains. The city was built between the 14th and 17th century and it is a typical representative of the Venetian colonial architecture. In Croatia, Motovun is best known for its Motovun Film Festival, held each year at the end of July.

Pula

Pula is the largest city and Istria's administrative center since Roman times. It is located on the southwestern area of the Istria peninsula and has a long tradition of winemaking, fishing, shipbuilding, tourism and transit port. Archeological sites show that history here begun in the Neolithic (6000-2000 BC).  The most popular sights that you shouldn't miss are: the Arena - the sixth largest Roman amphitheater in the world; Arch of Sergius, the Temple of Rome and Augustus from 1^st century; the Triumphal Arch; Gate of Hercules; Augustan Forum; Little Roman Theater; Byzantine chapel of St. Maria Formosa;  and St. Francis monastery and church.

All prices are expressed in euro and all specified prices are based per person.

If you would like to customize your Croatian tour (eg. add new places, extend your stay), please feel free to contact us at igor@zagrebtours.com so we can make an offer that fits your wishes.

Additionally, we also offer transfers from Venice, Budapest and Wien airports.