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Croatia Combined: 4 Fascinating Neighbours
Croatia is spectacularly located on the Adriatic Sea and brims with historic cities and vibrant towns like Dubrovnik and Split. We like Croatia because of its hidden bays, unspoilt islands and traditional fishing villages where life ticks along at a pace not akin to the bustle of modern-day Europe.
These days Croatia is famous for its bike and sail holidays, and rightly so. However, in this article, we make the argument that on your next trip to Croatia you should also include a visit to one of its interesting neighbours such as Bosnia and Herzegovina, Italy, Montenegro and Slovenia. Let us here introduce you to some of these fantastic travel destinations.
Bosnia and Herzegovina
In a day trip from Gradac in Croatia, you can visit Mostar in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Mostar is named after the protectors of the Old Bridge (Stari Most) over the Neretva River and is one of the most important destinations in the Herzegovina region. The bridge was originally built by the Ottomans in the 16
th century, destroyed in 1993 and luckily reopened in 2005. Today, the bridge and historic Mostar town are a protected UNESCO World Heritage Site, considered as one of the most exemplary pieces of Islamic architecture in the Balkan countries. You can also walk part of the long distance trail,
the Via Dinarica, which crosses through eight countries in the Balkans.
Italy
Around the 7th to 18th century, the Republic of Venice was spread along the Adriatic Coast almost all the way to Porec in Croatia. The area connecting both cities is dotted with ancient Roman towns and numerous castles and a charming coastline set at the foot of the Julian Alps. Porec is one of Croatia’s main travel destinations and the Eurasian Basilica is well worth a visit. Because Croatia and Italy are technically not connected by land, there is a small line of Slovenia to cross when you travel between Venice and Porec. Here you’ll find the settlement of Koper - originally Venetian, later Austrian and now Slovenian - another peaceful holiday resort.
Montenegro
Intriguing Montenegro has a wealth of historic treasures and a stunning Adriatic coastline. This is where you’ll find Pirate hideouts, coastal roads and sandy beaches, as well as the birdlife rich Skutari Lake (also known as Lake Skadar, Lake Shkodër or Lake Shkodra). A few miles south from Dubrovnik, it is one of the biggest lakes of the Balkan peninsula. The lake’s ground is partly below sea level, moreover, for the migratory birds on their journey to the south it offers a welcome resting place. In 1983 it was declared as a National Park and there are options to go for an afternoon boat trip on the lake.
Slovenia
There is an old disused railway between Trieste on the border with Slovenia and Italy that leads to Porec in Croatia. This railway now caters to cyclists and walkers and is known as the Parenzana Rail Trail (the name of the route is derived from Parenzo, which is the Italian name for Croatia’s Porec). The trail makes for a fantastic connection from Slovenia’s Lake Bled and Julian Alps downhill to Croatia’s Adriatic Coast. In this region you can find the massive Skocian Caves with their impressive underground gorge, Soca River, the delightful lakeside town of Bled, and of course the high peaks of the Julian Alps.
Feel like combining Croatia with one of these countries for your next holiday? The below activity holidays make sure you enjoy the best of Croatia combined with either Italy, Slovenia, Montenegro or Bosnia Herzegovina.
Contact our teams of travel experts for more information and booking requests, or download the trip notes you can find on each trip’s page for more details on departure dates, trip grading and inclusions.
Have you explored any of these countries? What were they like? Let us know in the comment section below.