Why Your Next Small Group Holiday Should Be in Croatia and Slovenia

Dubrovnik has always been the jewel in the Dalmatian crown, with its terra cotta rooftops and Medieval streets. Hike up to the city walls, where you can see the historic city as it’s meant to be seen: from above. The walk along the walls will take you in a full circle around old Dubrovnik, so you can stop for a ton of group photos along the way to the old town, Fort Lovrijenac and the wine-coloured sea.

Why do two countries when you can do three? A short drive from Dubrovnik, Montenegro makes the perfect group day trip with the stunning Bay of Kotor being just over an hour away. Explore the historic, rugged streets of Kotor or sail across the bay from picturesque Perast to a pretty church on an artificial islet built out of rocks and old ships.

Split is an unusual city whose center is built up inside the walls of an old Roman palace once belonging to Emperor Diocletian. The labyrinth of narrow streets winds in and out of plazas clad with Corinthian columns and terrace cafés, leading into hidden, tight alleys that are ripe for exploring.

Some 15 kilometres (nine miles) outside Split, this Medieval fortress was once the seat of many Croatian kings and also played a key role in protecting Croatia’s Dalmatian coast from the invading Ottomans. Today, its impressive stone walls surrounded by cypress trees and succulents are worth the trek not just for its history, but for the scenic view over the coast and the islands beyond.

Just south of Zagreb, Plitvice Lakes National Park is one of the most popular outdoor destinations in Croatia. Spend a day walking along the wooden boardwalks over the pristine blue lakes and admiring the cascading waterfalls.

The impressive Postojna Caves stretch out over a network no less than 24 kilometres (15 miles) long. Since the 19th century, visitors have been able to visit the grand heart of the cave on a small train that takes you 3.5 kilometres (2.2 miles) deep into the complex. Prepare to be amazed by gigantic stalactites and intricate mineral deposits. But the ride to get there is just as spectacular, as you whizz through narrow passages and pass cavernous halls dripping with chandeliers.

Ljubljana may be a small box of a town – one with cobbled streets and ornate bridges spanning the Ljubljanica River – but what it lacks in size is made up for in its vast variety of food. Explore the taverns en masse for some hearty farm-to-table fare, Istrian cheeses, fresh fish from the Adriatic, succulent olives, Slovenian craft beer, cold-pressed pumpkin seed oil and home-made gelato. Wash it all down with an espresso from Ziferblat, the city’s unique ‘time’ café, where you pay for every minute of your visit.