LAKE BLED

TRADITIONAL SLOVENIAN VILLAGE EXPERIENCE

Alpine charm, hearty food & living traditions in Radovljica

Adult: 79 EUR

Just a short drive from Lake Bled, the tourist bustle gives way to Radovljica, a beautifully preserved medieval alpine town. At its heart stands Gostilna Lectar, a centuries-old inn where gingerbread, music, and hearty cooking keep Slovenian traditions alive.

The evening begins downstairs in the Lectar Workshop & Living Gingerbread Museum, where artisans have been crafting red honey hearts since 1766. You’ll watch the process unfold much as it has for generations, in the same house that has stood for over 500 years.

Upstairs, the inn’s rustic dining rooms welcome you for a traditional Alpine feast. A creamy mushroom soup served in a bread bowl opens the meal, followed by a farmer’s platter of local meats, sauerkraut, and seasonal sides. Between courses, folk dancers and musicians — with harmonica and polka rhythms — bring the room to life, turning dinner into a lively cultural celebration.

More than a meal, this is an evening of Slovenian heritage at its most authentic: food, music, and craft bound together in the charm of Radovljica’s old square.

LAKE BLED

ALPINE JEWELS AND LAKE BOHINJ

Villages, mountains, and Slovenia’s largest glacial lake

Adult: 51 EUR

Departing from Lake Bled, we follow the Sava River upstream into the Bohinj Valley, passing through a string of traditional alpine villages — Stara Fužina, Srednja Vas, Bohinjska Češnjica, and Ribčev Laz. Each offers a glimpse of rural life in the Julian Alps, with wooden houses, meadows, and views of peaks rising on every side.

Our destination is Lake Bohinj, Slovenia’s largest glacial lake and nearly twice the size of Bled. Wilder and more dramatic, it is framed by steep mountains and dense forests. We’ll stroll along the lake’s serene shores before visiting St. John the Baptist Church, dating back to the 13th century, where remarkable frescoes tell stories of faith in this remote valley.

To finish, enjoy a slice of the famous Slovenian cream cake with a drink, the perfect end to a morning immersed in the alpine beauty and village traditions of Bohinj.

LAKE BLED

LAKE BLED AND CASTLE EXPLORATION

Island, castle, and timeless alpine beauty

Adult: 77 EUR

Set among the Julian Alps, Lake Bled feels almost designed for beauty: a still lake ringed by mountains, a thousand-year-old castle perched on a cliff, and a small island crowned with a church. This experience is about exploring all three, not just admiring them from afar.

We begin at Bled Castle, one of the oldest in Slovenia, where stone walls and museum rooms reveal centuries of history. From its terraces, the panoramic view of the lake and surrounding Alps is nothing short of spectacular.

Next, a private Pletna boat carries us across the water to Bled Island. At its heart stands the Church of St. Mary, home to the famous wishing bell. Ringing it is said to make wishes come true — a tradition that has drawn visitors here for centuries.

This is Lake Bled at its most complete: history, legend, and alpine scenery woven together in one unforgettable exploration.

OPATIJA

RIJEKA AND KVARNER BAY DISCOVERY

Seafaring heritage, and the pulse of Croatia’s great port

Adult: 46 EUR

From our hotel in Opatija, we set out with a Local Specialist to discover the shores of Kvarner Bay, driving into the heart of Rijeka. Once the most important Hungarian seaport, this city rose to prominence at the turn of the 20th century, when shipyards, palaces, and grand civic buildings transformed it into one of Central Europe’s wealthiest ports.

On a walking tour through the city center, we explore Rijeka’s elegant architecture, the Baroque clock tower, and the lively cafés along the Korzo promenade — all signs of its cosmopolitan past.

To finish, we drive up to Trsat Castle, a medieval fortress overlooking Rijeka, where sweeping views take in the city, the bay, and the islands beyond. After taking in the panorama, we return to Opatija for the evening.

OPATIJA

OPATIJA DINNER 

Stancija Kovačići

Adult: 70 EUR

Perched in the hillside village of Rukavac, above Opatija and the blue curve of Kvarner Bay, lies Stancija Kovačići — a restored 19th-century stone house that has become one of the region’s most celebrated rustic restaurants. With wood-beam ceilings, lavender-scented terraces, and a homely atmosphere, it captures the spirit of both the mountains of Učka and the nearby Adriatic coast.

Dinner here is built on local traditions, guided by Chef Vinko Frlan’s philosophy of simple, seasonal, and authentic cuisine. Local wines, warm hospitality, and the quiet setting of the village make this evening a highlight — an immersion into Istria’s culinary identity, served in a place where rustic warmth meets refined tradition.

SPLIT

TRADITIONAL KONOBA DINNER

My Big Fat Croatian Wedding

Adult: 71 EUR

In the coastal village of Stobreč, just outside Split, a night of Dalmatian celebration awaits. Held in a rustic stone konoba — the traditional cellar-style tavern — this is more than a dinner: it’s the most spirited party of the journey.

Expect generous platters of Dalmatian specialties, free-flowing local wine, and live music that quickly turns into a full evening of dancing, laughter, and song. With the atmosphere of a family wedding, this is the night where the group comes together, memories are made, and the Adriatic spirit shines at its liveliest.

SPLIT

ISLAND OF BRAČ

Jewel of the Adriatic

Adult: 99 EUR

From Split we sail across the Adriatic on a one-hour ferry, bound for Supetar, the gateway to Brač — Croatia’s third-largest island, and the biggest in Dalmatia. With our Local Specialist, we venture inland to the island’s oldest settlement, the stone village of Škrip, where history lingers in its narrow lanes and warm welcomes.

Here, we pause to share local wine and prosciutto, meeting islanders who keep Dalmatian traditions alive. The journey continues through Brač’s rugged interior, where olive groves and quarries have shaped life for centuries. The island is renowned for its luminous white limestone, prized since Roman times and used in landmarks from Diocletian’s Palace in Split to the White House in Washington.

The day concludes back in Supetar, a charming port town with a seafront promenade and Venetian-inspired architecture. At this quieter time of year, with the summer crowds gone, the atmosphere is relaxed and authentic — the Adriatic at its most genuine.

DUBROVNIK

FARMHOUSE DINNER AT THE OLD OLIVE PRESS

Dubelj Family in Orašac

Adult: 73 EUR

Just outside Dubrovnik, in the village of Orašac, the Dubelj family opens their farmhouse to share a tradition that has endured for generations. At the heart of the property stands an old stone olive press, once used to produce the oil that sustained village life. Here, Mato and Anka explain how olives were harvested and pressed in the past — a glimpse into Dalmatia’s rural heritage.

Afterwards, the evening unfolds around the family table, where a homemade dinner is served with local wine. It’s the kind of meal that reflects the land itself: simple, fresh, and deeply tied to the rhythms of the countryside. More than just dining, this is an evening of warm hospitality — a chance to slow down, share stories, and experience the everyday heart of Dalmatia.

DUBROVNIK

ADRIATIC CRUISE AND SEAFOOD LUNCH

From Dubrovnik’s Old Port to a Hidden Bay

Adult: 79 EUR

From the Old Port of Dubrovnik, we set out by private boat for a leisurely cruise along the Adriatic. Gliding past the city’s medieval walls, you’ll see Dubrovnik from its most spectacular angle — stone ramparts rising straight from the sea, much as sailors would have first glimpsed them centuries ago.

Leaving the harbor behind, we follow the coast to one of the bay’s secluded inlets, where a freshly prepared seafood lunch is served with drinks. The setting is relaxed and unspoiled, a quiet escape where the rhythm of the Adriatic sets the pace.

This is Dubrovnik experienced from the water — a balance of history, scenery, and local flavor — and a memorable afternoon in Croatia’s most storied port city.