Jewish Heritage Croatia

Your exciting tour through Croatia’s Jewish Heritage begins in Zagreb. Your private driver will meet you at the airport for transfer to your five-star hotel in the capital city. You’ll have the rest of the day to relax and explore at your leisure. You might want to get a preview of the 3,000-year-old Old Town, with the cobbled streets and impressive architecture in Upper Town like the 13th-century St. Mark’s Church with its colourful roof or wander through the Lower Town with its picturesque parks, unique shops, cafes and other eateries. After wandering around, stop at one of the famous local restaurants for dinner.

After resting up, enjoy a more in-depth look at Zagreb. Your private guide will bring you through its streets, focusing on its Jewish heritage. You’ll learn about the history of the Jewish community which began in the 14th century but was totally decimated during the Holocaust. Jews were an important part of society here, with their “golden age” around the turn of the 20th century when the Lower Town was formed. You’ll see some grand architectural achievements here, like the Ethnographic Museum and the Old National Library. Following your tour, you’ll have easy access to the many enticing restaurants in Zagreb’s center for dinner.

Your driver/guide will meet you in your hotel lobby after breakfast for the journey to one of the Mediterranean’s most romantic cities, Rovinj. Along the way you’ll stop in Lim bay to enjoy lunch at one of the popular spots Anthony Bourdain featured in the travel/food show “No Reservations.” Continuing to elegant Rovinj, you’ll be delivered to your hotel with time to relax and refresh before joining a local guide for a private sightseeing tour. We suggest capping it off with a stroll along the promenade, climbing to the hilltop St. Euphemia’s Church for a panoramic vista, and a meal on the waterfront.

Look forward to exploring the beautiful Istrian Peninsula today – often compared to Tuscany without the crowds, you’ll visit the stunning hilltop towns of Motovun and Groznjan, renowned for their truffles while surrounded by vineyards. We suggest picking up some of these rare treats which come in a variety of forms available in the local shops like truffle olive oil and truffle salt. After returning to Rovinj, enjoy the rest of the day on your own, perhaps visiting the art gallery housed within the old tobacco factory, Galerija Adris before enjoying dinner in one of the many highly rated eateries.

This morning you’ll travel to your next destination, Plitvice Lakes. After fuelling up with breakfast your private driver will meet you at your hotel to bring you to your accommodation near the national park. We recommend enjoying lunch just outside the park at Villa Degenija for an excellent sample of the local cuisine before settling into your room. After checking in and relaxing, you’ll have the option to explore the beautiful nature that surrounds you by taking part in a variety of activities such as hiking or cycling, with bike rentals available. Or, simply kick back, unwind and enjoy the picturesque scenery.

After breakfast, head inside the national park for a self-guided tour. One of the country’s top attractions, this UNESCO World Heritage Site is home to 16 interconnected lakes in stunning colours that range from brilliant turquoise to emerald. Flowing over the limestone and chalk for thousands of years, barriers were created over time resulting in the tranquil pools and the endless mesmerising waterfalls you see today. Hop on the boat across one lake to reach the paths that wind around them and then finish with a panoramic train ride. Afterwards, your driver will bring you to ancient Split, built around the 4th-century Diocletian’s Palace.

A half-day tour through Split’s Jewish heritage will bring you to numerous landmarks, like the northeast tower in Diocletian’s Palace referred to as Židovska Kula, or the Jewish Tower. The Jewish community helped defend the city from an Ottoman invasion from this very tower. You’ll see the Synagogue, tucked among the narrow streets of Get, the former Jewish Ghetto where the Jews resided, locked in at night to prevent strife between he Christian and Jewish communities. After exploring the historic center, you’ll head to the old Jewish cemetery on Marjan hill. A food and wine tasting tour with a local family follows in Kastela.

While your final destination this evening is Dubrovnik, you’ll visit Mostar just across the border in Bosnia along the way. You’ll see its most famous symbol, the Old Bridge, considered a masterpiece of 16th-century architecture. A local guide will take you on a tour through the Old Town to marvel at impressive sights like the Karagöz Bey Çamii mosque, the most beautiful of all the mosques in Mostar, built during the same era as the Old Bridge. You’ll have time to pick up souvenirs in the old bazaar’s traditional shops or dine on famously delicious eats in the Old Town before continuing to Dubrovnik.

Waking up in beautiful Dubrovnik, you’ll meet your local guide for a walking tour to get an understanding of Jewish life here and how it’s changed throughout history, starting at Onofrio’s Fountain. You’ll stroll along the main street known as the Stradun to the street where the Jewish community once resided, visiting the 15th-century synagogue that’s still in use today. Learn about the 16th-century poet and philosopher Yeshayah Cohen and visit many other major historic sites, from the Jewish fountain to Rector’s Palace and Od Puca Street where many of the city’s goldsmiths have shops. You’ll have time to explore on your own afterwards.

After breakfast you’ll travel outside the city with your guide for a sightseeing tour through Konavle and Cavtat. Discover striking natural beauty from lush green hills and soaring mountains along with interesting historic monuments with the area dating back more than a thousand years. You’ll begin by visiting a watermill that aids in the production of traditional wool material and producing flour. The city of Cavtat was founded by the Greeks and has become renowned for its seafood eateries. You’ll enjoy strolling the promenade and cobbled streets, as well as sampling the tasty fresh specialities which combine traditional and modern fare.

As they say, all good things must come to an end. You’ll want to have your bags packed and ready as your private driver will pick you up after breakfast for transfer to Dubrovnik Airport or your onward hotel in Dubrovnik if you’ve decided to extend your time here.