CROATIA HEART & SOUL

The city of Zagreb, Croatia's capital, is a haven of cultural offerings, from the Museum of Contemporary Art - the country’s largest - to its reputation for live jazz and its thriving culinary and restaurant scene. Visit the ranks of fresh food stalls at Dolac Market above the main square, and join the locals in their love of the outdoors with a walk through the woods and meadows of Maksimir Park or linger over a coffee and take in the alfresco café culture.

Your hotel for the next two nights, the stylish Esplanade Zagreb, originally opened in 1925 as a refuge for passengers disembarking the Orient Express and still possesses a feeling of old-world glamour. Its Art Deco interiors and classic rooms have seen their fair share of royalty and celebrities, making it one of Zagreb’s most prestigious hotels; its restaurants are a destination within themselves and the location is ideal, in the Donji Grad district which holds many of Zagreb’s galleries and museums.

This morning you pick up your hire car at your hotel and take the pleasant two-hour drive south from Zagreb to one of the most scenic places in the country: the UNESCO-listed Plitvice Lakes National Park, glassy emerald lakes spilling into each other in a series of waterfalls, lying in a valley lined with tree-covered mountains.

The lakes are renowned for their intense colours, from turquoise to jade green; icy grey to sapphire blue. They transform according to the minerals and organisms found in the water, combined with the light of the sun.

The park is well-connected through a network of paths, allowing you to hike around and enjoy the truly beautiful views; a diverse range of animal, bird and plant species resides within the area’s thick forestland, including brown bears, wolves, eagles and owls.

Check into Fenomen Plitvice, a unique luxury accommodation in the heart of National Park Plitvice Lakes.

After two nights in the clear alpine air of Plitvice, you’re back on the road. You’ll get your first taste of life on the glittering Adriatic as you make for Split. A melee of red-topped buildings and narrow medieval streets standing guard around the busy harbour, Split is vibrant, glamorous and has the Mediterranean, laidback vibe that comes naturally with frequent sunshine and sea air. You will drop off your hire car in Split. 

Spend your afternoon on one of the nearby beaches in the Marjan Forest Park before sampling the fresh seafood and the famed bar scene after the sun goes down.

You’ll sleep between original Roman walls at your hotel, Vestibul Palace. An intimate boutique hideaway found between the former emperor’s chambers and his square, the hotel brings style and modernity to the ancient, atmospheric old walls and is in the city centre, allowing you easy access to explore the city and waterfront in Split.

You might also like to visit the ancient city of Trogir, a 30 minute drive from Split, whose rich culture has been shaped by a combination of the ancient Greeks, Romans and Venetians. Witness the many historic and cultural monuments including St Lawrence Cathedral, whose 47m-high tower offers magnificent views over old Trogir and the surrounding area, as well as Kamerlengo Fortress, a former Venetian defence citadel.

Take the catamaran from Split to Hvar. The town of Hvar is dubbed the St Tropez of Croatia for its glamorous harbour, chic restaurants and buzzing nightlife, framed by azure seas and rolling hills. Hvar is a vibrant and ancient town with Gothic palaces and marbled pedestrian streets that are centred around a small bay, enclosed by 13th-century walls.

Stationed perfectly on the promenade’s edge, Adriana will be your base as you sail across Croatia’s calm blue waters, walk around Hvar’s glamorous harbour, dine out on delicious seafood in the marina, and relax in the spa.

When the sun goes down, Hvar shines with the best nightlife on the Adriatic coast, and with glass-wall bathrooms, an enormous rooftop seawater pool, and a wrap-around view of the ancient city, Adriana is the place to see and be seen at the island’s busiest destination.

Hop back on the catamaran from Hvar to Dubrovnik – your final stop on this luxury self-drive trip. Acquaint yourself with the ‘Pearl of the Adriatic’: the medieval streets of Dubrovnik’s Old Town which hold charming piazzas, fountains and cobblestoned streets to get lost in.

Walk along the ancient city walls and take advantage of the great bar and restaurant scene that awakens post-sunset to the sounds of live music, from contemporary to classic. Try Restaurant 360, serving delicately-crafted dishes with exquisite flavours that are matched by the restaurant’s setting, atop the city walls overlooking the harbour.

Your home for two nights is the former residence of Croatian nobility, Pucic Palace, tucked away in the heart of the city. Retreat to your traditionally-decorated room after days out discovering the medieval city, and linger over chilled Dalmatian wine on the open-air terrace - the perfect end to your luxury holiday in Croatia.