Best of Budapest to Dubrovnik Highlights Tour

The grandeur of Budapest shines along the banks of the Danube River. The architecture reflects the dramatic history as streets pulse with vibrant life. Your private transfer will meet you at Budapest’s Ferenc Liszt International Airport upon your arrival. After settling into the pace of the city, your guide will meet you in the lobby eager to introduce you to the fascinating mixture of glamour, history, and culture beginning at Castle Hill. The district encompasses over a half-mile of a limestone plateau. Medieval monuments loom over a network of caves possessing soothing thermal springs.

After breakfast, your guide will immerse you in the splendor of contemporary Budapest with flavors connected to a dynamic past. You will explore the city’s cuisine through the aromas of the Central Market Hall. Food stalls span three floors and fill the hall with the aromas of bay leaf, vanilla, and poppy seeds revealing the variety of authentic Hungarian food. You can sample dishes focused on spices like paprika, which lend to classic cuisine like rich goulash and paprkás, chicken cooked in cream. You will also find the enticing aromas of coffee emerging from a traditional neo-Renaissance coffee house.

You will travel with your private transfer from Budapest to Zagreb in the morning. As you move through the hinterland, you will find vineyards blanketing the flatlands leading to dramatic medieval castles and elegant Renaissance strongholds. At Trakoscan Castle, you can wander the 14th-century grounds to view an exceptional collection of ancient furniture. In Varazdin, you can enjoy Baroque architecture and manicured gardens at the historic heart of the city. A floral aroma will sweep across the main plaza as you explore the 17th-century Cathedral of the Assumption featuring the coat of arms of the noble Draskovic family.

The city of Zagreb embodies the beauty of Croatia and blends the charms of the past with exciting contemporary life. Your guide will take you on an enlightening tour of the city that blends history with the cultural flavor of Croatia’s capital. The Upper town hosts the Stone Gate, the last of five 13th-century gates that protected the city center. The painting of Mary and Jesus decorating the interior attracts pilgrims from around the country. The aromas of strukli will drift out of a central restaurant where you can sample the hearty pastry filled with sour cream and cottage cheese.

Your guide will meet you in the hotel lobby after breakfast and escort you toward the Plitvice National Park entrance. You will settle into the comforts of your luxurious villa located near the boundaries of the famous park, where you will have the remainder of the day at your leisure. You can relax in the surrounding nature or explore the trails around the Plitvicka Jezera municipality where you can visit the first Croatian sanctuary for abandoned bears. The beauty of the natural landscape will accentuate the charm of viewing the bears roaming the protected grounds and playing together.

You will venture into Plitvice National Park in the morning, where you can travel the seven routes winding around the 73,000 acres of protected landscape. The sounds of crashing water will emanate from the collection of cascades feeding the 16 pristine lakes separated by natural contours of the landscape. You will find the stunning cascade of Veliki Slap, the tallest waterfall in Croatia, which stands over 255 feet tall. From the viewpoint, you can look into the depths of the rocky gorge. When standing at the river’s edge, you can feel the cool mist sprout from the base.

The grandeur of Split reveals the layered history of Croatia dating back to the ancient Romans. The boutique shops and restaurants will open their doors inside the remains of Diocletian’s Palace. The looming spires of St. Domnius Cathedral shape the skyline above foundations dating back to the 4th century AD. After a tour of the city with your private transfer, you will continue to Trogir, a small island town where medieval houses support sloped rooftops glinting with orange tiles. Cafes and bars overlook the shimmering waters where yachts glide beside the marble promenade.

The streets of Split will fill with the scent of the sea breeze and the aroma of espresso shots with warm milk. The quiet village of Hodilje is located near the water and is known for farming shellfish. Your guide will lead you onto the clear sea to learn how the family has been harvesting oysters for generations. Once you return to land, you will sample the herbaceous flavor of locally-made olive oil, the apricot flavor of traditional rakia, a typical local spirit, and the luscious and briny combination of fresh oysters.

Dubrovnik is an enchanting city with a mixture of limestone streets, Baroque architecture, and medieval walls pressing against the shimmering Adriatic Sea. Your guide will lead you through the city’s history, from Onofrio’s Fountain to a grand Franciscan church that has produced wine for more than 100 years. The 11th-century towers of Fort Lovrijenac will soar above the Adriatic at 121 feet above sea level with walls reaching up to 39 feet thick. After enjoying the sunset known for changing the colors of the sea, your private driver will take you to Dubrovnik’s international airport for your flight home.