The Capitals of the West Balkans

Day 1: LJUBLJANA

Arrival in Ljubljana. Transfer from the airport to the hotel. Overnight stay in Ljubljana.

Day 2: LJUBLJANA - ZAGREB

After breakfast, a sightseeing tour of Ljubljana, the capital of Slovenia. Walk along the Ljubljanica River, which passes through the town’s center, tour the Three Bridges, the Baroque City Hall, and 13th-century Ljubljana Castle. Drive to Zagreb, the capital of Croatia. Arrive at the hotel. Overnight stay.

Day 3: ZAGREB - VARAŽDIN - ZAGREB

Breakfast. Sightseeing tour of Zagreb including the Upper Town, the historical center of the city, St. Mark's Church with its famous multi-colored roof, the Cathedral, the Croatian National Theatre, and the University. After the city tour, head towards Varaždin. This baroque city or Little Vienna as people like to call it, was once the capital of Croatia. After a sightseeing tour, drive back to Zagreb, where we stay overnight at the hotel.

Day 4: ZAGREB - OSIJEK - VUKOVAR - BELGRADE

After breakfast, we leave for Osijek, “the capital of Slavonia”, the eastern part of Croatia. After a sightseeing tour of the Old Town – Tvrđa, the Cathedral of St. Peter and Paul, and a walk by the Drava River, the journey continues towards Vukovar. This town and port on the Danube is famous for the heroic battle in the Patriotic War and, unfortunately, unprecedented devastation to which the town was exposed over the months of the war. Among several attractive buildings severely damaged in the recent war, the most interesting are the castle of the Eltz family (18th c.), baroque buildings in the center of the town, the Franciscan Monastery, the parish church of St. James, the Orthodox church of St. Nicholas, etc. Proceed to Belgrade; overnight stay in a hotel.

Day 5: BELGRADE - NOVI SAD - BELGRADE

A half-day city tour of Belgrade, the capital of the former Yugoslavia and present-day capital of Serbia. The city’s main attractions include the impressive Kalemegdan Fortress, dramatically situated where the Sava and Danube rivers join, Republic Square and Knez Mihajlova Street, Saint Sava Temple, the largest Orthodox Church in the city, and Tito’s Memorial. In the afternoon, travel northwest to Novi Sad, the second-largest city in Serbia. Novi Sad is situated on the Danube River, which provides its greatest wealth. Besides the beautiful Petrovaradin fortress, which dominates over the town, the University and the National Theater are also buildings of interest. Drive back to Belgrade. Overnight stay at the hotel.

Day 6: BELGRADE - SARAJEVO

After breakfast, we leave for Sarajevo, the capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Sarajevo has a rich and fascinating culture, and it has been home to Muslims, Croats, Turks, Jews, and Serbs.

Day 7: SARAJEVO - MOSTAR - SARAJEVO

We continue towards Mostar, a town situated in the valley of the Neretva River. It is known for the famous 16th-century Old Stone Bridge with its unique arch. This beautiful piece of art was demolished in the last war, but its reconstruction was completed in 2004. If you wish, you can also visit Međugorje. In the afternoon, we drive back to Sarajevo, where we stay overnight in the hotel.

Day 8: SARAJEVO - NIKŠIĆ - PODGORICA

After breakfast, we leave for Podgorica, the capital of Montenegro. On the way to Podgorica, a short stop in Nikšić – a town with a rich cultural and historical legacy. The town derives its name from Montenegrin King Nikola, who built his palace there. The journey then continues to Podgorica. This city lies on 5 rivers: the Zeta, Morača, Ribnica, Cijevna, and Sitnica. Besides its many theaters, Podgorica also offers historical sites: Sahat – Adžipaša Osmanagić fortress, the walls of Nemanjić town, the ruins of the ancient town of Duklja, the Old town, and the Vezir Bridge. Overnight stay at the hotel in Podgorica.

Day 9: PODGORICA - BUDVA - KOTOR - DUBROVNIK

After breakfast, we depart for Dubrovnik with short stops at several sites in Montenegro. On the way to the most famous Croatian city, Budva and Kotor will also be visited. Apart from being famous for its nearby island St. Stefan, Budva's Old Town, which lies on a small peninsula, is known as a treasure trove of cultural heritage with its narrow streets and squares alongside famous buildings and churches. Kotor, a city of merchants and famous seafarers, is situated in the Boka Kotorska bay. Medieval architecture and numerous monuments of cultural heritage have made Kotor a UNESCO listed “World Natural and Historical Heritage Site”. Buildings are crisscrossed with narrow streets and squares throughout the entire city. One of these squares contains the Cathedral of Saint Tryphon (Sveti Tripun), a monument of Roman culture and one of the most recognizable symbols of the city. Continue on to Dubrovnik, with an overnight stay at the hotel.

Day 10: DUBROVNIK

Breakfast, and then a sightseeing tour of Dubrovnik. The walls of Dubrovnik surround a perfectly-preserved complex of public, private, sacral, and secular buildings representing all periods of the city’s history, beginning with its founding in the 7th century. Particular mention should be made of the city’s main street, Stradun, the Rector’s Palace, the church of St. Blaise, the Cathedral, three large monasteries, and City Hall. The Republic of Dubrovnik was the center of a separate political and territorial entity and was proud of its culture, its achievements in commerce, and especially of its freedom, preserved through so many turbulent centuries. Overnight stay at the hotel in Dubrovnik.

Day 11: DUBROVNIK - DUBROVNIK AIRPORT

Breakfast and free time until the transfer to the Dubrovnik airport.