A Winter Break in Ljubljana

Enjoy breakfast at the hotel before setting out with your local guide to explore the city.

Slovenia's capital city lies in a basin between the Karst and Alpine region at 298 metres above sea level. It's a medium-sized city with a huge amount of character. The Baroque Old Town nestles at the foot of Castle Hill, Art Nouveau mansions are in abundance as well as some of the  masterpieces from the world renowned architect Jože Plečnik. Add in an open-air market, the Ljubljanica River that meanders through the city and a mighty castle rising above above the narrow streets and you have pretty much the perfect city. At this time of the year you have the addition of traditional market stalls, scents of mulled wine and a full programme of activities. Ljubljana boasts one of the most imaginative Christmas lights displays in this part of Europe.

The afternoon is free to continue your exploration of the city or you might like to take part in a wine tour (optional).

Wine tour in Ljubljana centre (duration approx 2.5 hours.)
This is quite the best introduction to the wine story of Ljubljana: taste 6 Slovenian wines from different regions with accompanying snacks in 3 renowned wine venues in the city.

Today is a free day or you might like to participate in an optional excursion:

Option 1: Visit Zagreb's Christmas market (duration approx. 8 hrs)
If one Christmas market isn't enough for you why not head across to Croatia and visit Zagreb's, voted Europe's best Christmas market for the third year in a row! The main square in the city is the centre of various cultural, music and art events throughout Advent. Enjoy picking up seasonal gifts and souvenirs made by Zagreb’s manufacturers of traditional Croatian products. Taste home-made food, offered at the Advent houses, and warm up with mulled wine or hot chocolate!

Option 2: Explore the Slovenian coast – Koper, Izola & Piran with a local guide (duration approx. 7 hours)
Discover three cities along the Slovenian coast. The tour begins by visiting the capital city of this region, Capo d’Istria (capital of Istria), known in Slovenian as Koper. During the walk through the old town you can admire the cathedral, Praetorian palace and many other historical buildings left from the time of Venetian rule. Continue to Izola, the old Mediterranean town lying on the south-west shore of the Gulf of Trieste, a fishing and wine-making area. Piran, the pearl of the northern Adriatic, is the smallest of the three cities, but it has the richest history displayed in its palaces dating from all periods in history from the 12th century.

After breakfast at the hotel depart on your Slovenian Gastronomy excursion.

First of all though you'll visit the famous caves at Postojna, the largest cave system in Slovenia. Here you'll see many incredible stalactite and stalagmite formations. After your visit you'll head to the small town of Radovljica for a traditional Slovenian lunch. This will usually consist of meat and vegetables dishes cooked in the traditional way, followed by a delicious apple dessert with nuts and honey. Radovljica’s old town sits atop a natural promontory and is one of the best-preserved in Slovenia with houses dating from 15th and 16th century.

Your tour then continues to Bled Castle whose history goes back to 1004 when the German Emperor Henry II gave his estate at Bled to Bishop Albuin of Brixen. At that time, only a Romanesque tower protected by walls stood on the site. The first castle was built in approximately 1011 but the Bishops of Brixen never resided there. This is why the castle doesn't have luxurious large rooms; it was primarily used for defensive purposes. After your visit you will be able to sample the famous Bled dessert “Bledska Kremšnita”

Breakfast at the hotel and some more free time (depending on your flight time). Private transfer to Ljubljana Airport for your flight home.