11 days in Croatia, Slovenia & Trieste Itinerary

From snowcapped Alpine peaks to sandy Adriatic beaches, a trip to Slovenia is like taking several vacations at once. Whatever the season, the country offers enticing natural attractions, all close at hand, including thick forests, scenic valleys, cave systems, waterfalls, lakes, and the Adriatic coast. For those seeking an active holiday, you'll fine an abundance of ski slopes, trails to hike, roads to bike, and rocks to climb. Pay a visit to some of Slovenia's spa resorts and take advantage of the fresh mountain air and thermal waters. Various castles, churches, and historical towns--many of which are fully preserved--tell stories of the country's past. In Slovenia's major cities, admire the architecture, explore the local arts, visit museums, and chat with the locals over a cup of coffee. Slovenian cuisine offers a blend of Alpine and Mediterranean tastes and is definitely worth trying, along with the country's wines.

Once situated on the edge of empires between the Balkans and Central Europe, Croatia represents a land of great natural diversity and rich cultural heritage. Croatian cultural tourism relies on the charming juxtaposition of contrasts. Venetian palaces sit next to Napoleonic forts, Viennese mansions face Socialist Realist sculpture, and early Slavic churches built on the sites of ancient Roman settlements offer countless sightseeing opportunities. Croatia's museums present the main stages of the history of Europe. The country's sapphire seawater and long coastline speckled with islands draws visitors, as do numerous nature reserves, marinas, ancient fortified towns, and sandy and rocky beaches. In recent years, Croatia's shoreline has become a famed center for nautical tourism and naturism, and is a promising diving destination. Hikers explore outdoor landscapes of canyons, underground grottoes, dramatic waterfalls, stony peaks, and scenic lakes of the Dinaric Alps, which hug the coastline. Inland areas showcase mountain resorts, national parks, pine forests, vineyards, and spas.

As the "Pearl of the Adriatic," Dubrovnik-Neretva County boasts a slender, diverse coastline separated from inland areas by a mountain range and split at Neum by the state border with Bosnia and Herzegovina. Many powerful empires and sea fleets have battled in this region during its boisterous history--the Byzantines, Saracens, Croats, Venetians, as well as Osman, Roman-Germanic, Hapsburg, and Napoleonic empires all left their mark on the land. The preserved white-stone defensive walls of Dubrovnik, the county seat, inspired writer George Bernard Shaw to call it "paradise on Earth" and have helped the city to retain its independence for centuries. Today the city's old town is a World Heritage Site, with narrow, steep medieval alleys, churches, Baroque palaces, and fountains. Along the county's seashore, drink in the series of islands, some of which feature national parks.