Croatia and Slovenia Itinerary: 9 Days of Epic Hikes, Food, and Wine
Over the years, I’ve realized the trips I love most follow a certain formula: epic outdoor adventures paired with incredible food. Destinations like France, Japan, South Africa, and Peru all delivered that perfect mix.
After our latest trip, I can confidently add Croatia and Slovenia to that list.
My husband and I spent nine days exploring these two stunning countries, hiking through national parks, chasing waterfalls, wandering historic towns, and sampling plenty of amazing local food along the way.
This Croatia and Slovenia itinerary shares exactly how we structured the trip, from breathtaking hikes and scenic drives to memorable restaurants and charming cities. If you’re planning a trip to this part of Europe, hopefully our route gives you some ideas for creating your own adventure.
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Day 1: Travel to Zagreb
With a layover in London, we flew from the United States into Zagreb at 11:15 pm. By the time we got to the hotel, unpacked, and got settled in, it was 1 am.
Uber is available in Zagreb! We took an Uber to our hotel, which was fast, easy, and cheap.
Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner: Today was a travel day, so all meals were consumed at the airport or on the plane.
Overnight: Hotel Capital. Gorgeous, elegant hotel located in the heart of Zagreb.
Day 2: Day Trip to Plitvice Lakes
9 am – 2 pm: With 16 terraced lakes and 90+ waterfalls, we hiked from Entrance 1 on Route C in one of the most gorgeous parks in the world. Check out my planning guide on Plitvice Lakes National Park.
Breakfast: Grabbed a quick bite at the train station.
Lunch: Packed some protein bars to eat at the park.
Dinner: 8:30 pm reservation at Noel, Zagreb’s only Michelin-starred restaurant that focuses on Croatian dishes with a modern twist.
Overnight: Hotel Capital
Day 3: Explore Zagreb
12:15 pm: After sleeping in, checked out Dolac Market for the cornbread. Then ate at Burek to taste the famous street food, burek.
1 pm: Sipped a coffee at one of the world’s best coffee shops, Eliscaffe.
1:45 pm: Walked through the Gric tunnel and visited St. Mark’s Church and Museum of Broken Relationships.
3:15 pm: Walked along Strossmayer Promenade, saw the Croatian Inventor Murals, and found the viewpoint for the Zagreb Cathedral.
5:15 pm: Split a strukli at La Struk, one of the top things to do in Zagreb. Pre-dinner drinks at La Bodega Wine Bar.
Breakfast/Lunch: Burek and La Struk. Dinner: 9 pm at Stari Fijaker.
Overnight: Hotel Capital
Day 4: Train to Slovenia Wine Country
7 am: Very comfortable train ride from Zagreb to Ljubljana. Arrived at 9:16 am. Picked up the car rental from Atet, great local company!
11:30 am: Checked out Predjama Castle, the world’s largest cave castle. Continued to Gostilna Theodosius for a delicious lunch at 12:30 pm.
3:30 pm: Explored the unique wine varietals of Vipava Valley at Guerila Wines. Be sure to read my guide on Slovenia wine country.
Breakfast: Protein bars to carry you over for the train ride.
Lunch: Gostilna Theodosius (sadly, I learned they recently closed).
Dinner: Just snacks for dinner due to the late heavy lunch.
Overnight: Garni Hotel Dvor in Goriska Brda, one of Slovenia’s premier wine regions. Adorable B&B run by 2 sisters.
Day 5: Vipava Valley + Goriska Brda
10 am: Pick up time
11 am: Burja Estate (our favorite experience!)
1:30 pm: Tilia Estate, House of Pinots
4:30 pm: Edi Simcic
Breakfast: Wonderful breakfast at our B&B (included in the rate).
Dinner: 8 pm reservation at Belica. They serve some delicious local dishes. Check out my article on top Slovenian foods that are worth trying!
Overnight: Garni Hotel Dvor
Day 6: Hike #1 + Hike #2 + Hisa Franko
10:45 am: Hike #1! After breakfast at the B&B, drove to the trailhead of the hike known as Drugmbernca. It starts and ends at Dobrovo Castle and takes you through vineyards and the rolling countryside. The hike is 5.9 miles and takes 3 hours.
2 pm: Drove the scenic drive to Kobarid and checked in to the Airbnb.
Dinner: 8:30 pm reservation at one of the world’s best restaurants, Hisa Franko (this is THE reason we booked a trip to Slovenia).
Overnight: Booked Apartment Zonir but was switched to Apartment Honey Bee
Day 7 : Lake Bohinj + Lake Bled
10 am: Made the 2-hour drive to Lake Bohinj
12:30 pm: Walked around the crystal clear water of Lake Bohinj.
2:30 pm: Checked in to the hotel and explored the fairytale setting of Lake Bled. Must try the Bled cream cake.
5 pm: Hiked to the Ojstrica Viewpoint to get an absolutely stunning panoramic view of Lake Bled. Worth the strenuous 20-minute hike.
Breakfast/lunch: Strud’l near Lake Bohinj.
Dinner: 8:30 pm reservation at Finefood Penzion Berc (restaurant at our hotel, one of the best restaurants in Lake Bled).
Overnight: Penzion Berc, an incredibly charming hotel with the warmest hospitality
Day 8: Vintgar Gorge + Ljubljana
8 am: After a wonderful breakfast at the hotel, drove to Vintgar Gorge and arrived around 9 am. Walked the wooden walkways across the gorge and took in the stunning emerald green waters.
10:30 am: Dropped off the rental car. Taxi to the hotel in Ljubljana.
12:30 pm-8 pm: Hotel check in. Checked out Open Kitchen, which is a gourmet food market. Discovered the famous bridges, the Mlekomat, and House of Illusions. See my article on Ljubljana for the top sights!
Breakfast: At Penzion Berc.
Lunch & Dinner: Open Kitchen. Only held on Fridays. Plan accordingly.
Overnight: Grand Hotel Union
Day 9: 1/2 day Ljubljana + Fly Home
12:00 pm: Slept in and then strolled around the Central Market. Picked up some prized pumpkin seed oil as a souvenir. Delicious with sourdough bread.
12:30 pm: Grabbed a coffee at the adorable, pocket-sized coffee shop called Crno Zrno.
1 pm: Strolled around the beautiful streets of Cankarjevo Nabrezje and Gornji trg.
1:30 pm: Took a taxi to the airport for the 5 pm flight back home.
Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner: At airport lounges and plane ride.
Map View of Croatia + Slovenia Itinerary
Who Will Love This Croatia + Slovenia Itinerary
- Foodies
- Casual wine drinkers and serious wine connoisseurs
- Outdoor enthusiasts
Best Time to Visit Croatia + Slovenia
The best time to do this 9 day Croatia & Slovenia itinerary will depend on what activities you want to do.
Overall though, to enjoy fewer crowds plus still have decent weather, the shoulder seasons are best.
I would advise May/early June and mid-September/October.
If you do not mind the crowds and want to enjoy the warmer weather and numerous festivals throughout Croatia and Slovenia, then the summer months of June, July, and August are ideal.
Just realize though places like Plitvice Lakes National Park and Lake Bled will be extremely crowded.
Itinerary Breakdown
- 3 nights in Zagreb, Croatia
- 2 nights in Goriska Brda, Slovenia
- 1 night in Kobarid, Slovenia
- 1 night in Lake Bled, Slovenia
- 1 night in Ljubljana, Slovenia
Airlines
American Airlines
- To make this Croatia & Slovenia itinerary work, we booked 2 long haul segments with American Airlines: United States to London Heathrow Airport and vice versa. Then we took regional airlines to Zagreb and from Ljubljana.
Croatia Airlines
- 8 pm flight from London Heathrow Airport. Arrived in Zagreb at 11:15 pm
LOT-Polish Airlines
- 5:05 pm flight from Ljubljana to London Heathrow Airport with a short layover in Warsaw, Poland. Arrived in London at 9:45 pm. Spent the night in London and flew out early evening the next day.
Car Rental
- Zagreb, Croatia: We used Uber to get to and from the airport. We used the bus to get to Plitvice Lakes National Park
- Slovenia: We rented a car through the local company, Atet. They were very professional and efficient.
Tours
- Bus Tickets from Zagreb to Plitvice Lakes
- Winestronaut (Goriska Brda and Vipava Valley Wine Tour)
Dinner Reservations
- Noel (Zagreb)
- Hisa Franko (Kobarid, Slovenia)
- Finefood Penzion Berc (Lake Bled, Slovenia)
Winery Reservations
- Guerila Wines
- Burja Estate
- Tilia Estate
- Edi Simcic
What I Would Have Changed
- We went in early May when the temperatures were still a little cool. If I were to go again, I would go towards the end of May when it is a little warmer.
- This Croatia & Slovenia itinerary was packed. If we had more time, I would spend 1 extra night in Goriska Brda and use it to relax by the hotel’s pool for a day.
- If we had more time, I would also add 1 more night to Lake Bled, so we could have done another day hike in Triglav National Park.
- My husband’s grandparents came over from Croatia, and his grandma used to make wonderful sarma (stuffed cabbage). I was hoping to find a restaurant in Zagreb that served some local Croatian dishes. Although the reviews are great, our dining experience at Stari Fijaker fell well below the mark in both the food and service. Maybe we were there on an off-night, but I would advise booking another restaurant.
- Consider booking another accommodation for Kobarid, especially if you add an extra night. Apartment Honey Bee was adequate and clean, but I would recommend trying to stay on the property of Hisa Franko (book well in advance) or Nebesa Chalets.
I’m Nichole, the author of all the blog posts on Enriching Pursuits. Think of me as your geeky DIY discerning travel friend who dives deep—Google Page 20 deep—to uncover the best ways to enjoy exceptional outdoor adventures and foodie experiences.
My husband and I are experienced snorkelers, day hikers, and casual cyclists who also love delicious street food, an incredible glass of wine, and the occasional Michelin-starred meal.
Balancing full-time careers, we cherish every second of our vacation days and love sharing tips to help you do the same. If this sounds like your kind of travel, subscribe below or drop me a note with any questions—I’d love to hear from you!
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Questions about our Croatia + Slovenia itinerary?
Let me know in the comments below!
Nichole, this has been so helpful in planning! Would you recommend bringing proper hiking boots or will sneakers suffice?
Thanks for reaching out. I would recommend trail runners, which falls in between hiking boots and sneakers. Some of the trails were muddy and wet because of recent rainfall, so you’ll want something with a little grip. My trail runners worked out great for these hikes. Happy to answer any other questions. Enjoy your trip!