Self-Launched Slovenia & Croatia: Ljubljana to Dubrovnik on a Budget
15 days · Slovenia & Croatia
G Adventures charges £3,550
No-markup version: ~£1,480 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched 15-day adventure from Ljubljana to Dubrovnik, covering the same ground as G Adventures' Highlights of Slovenia & Croatia — but at a fraction of the cost. Explore Ljubljana's food scene, the Venetian streets of Piran and Portorož, a day trip to Trieste, the underground wonder of Postojna Cave, and Lake Bled and Bohinj before crossing into Croatia. Then island-hop the Adriatic, wander Split's old town, and finish in Dubrovnik — all using public buses, trains, local ferries, and self-bookable tours instead of a guided group trip. Costs are approximate backpacker/budget-traveller estimates in GBP.
Day-by-day
Arrive in Ljubljana
Ljubljana, Slovenia
Arrive into Ljubljana at any time and check into a central hostel or budget guesthouse. Spend the afternoon on a self-launched orientation walk: cross the Triple Bridge, stroll Prešeren Square, wander the riverside cafés of the old town, and climb to Ljubljana Castle for sunset views. Grab an optional group-style dinner at a local gostilna — try štruklji or a plate of Carniolan sausage.
🚌Local bus or airport shuttle from Ljubljana airport (~£8); city is walkable
🛏Central hostel or budget guesthouse (dorm/private room), £25-35
- →Self-guided old town orientation walk
- →Ljubljana Castle funicular and viewpoint
- →Riverside dinner at a local gostilna
Ljubljana Food Walking Tour
Ljubljana, Slovenia
Deep-dive the Slovenian capital's food scene on a self-bookable food walking tour (book via GetYourGuide or a local operator like Ljubljana by Food, ~£45). Visit the farmers market at Vodnikov trg, gourmet shops, and local diners, eating your way through the city with a light lunch included. The afternoon is free — relax at a riverside café, explore Metelkova's street art, or revisit the castle.
🚌Walking; city buses for longer hops (~£1.30 per ride)
🛏Central hostel or budget guesthouse, £25-35
- →Bookable Ljubljana food walking tour
- →Vodnikov trg farmers market
- →Metelkova alternative art district
Ljubljana to Portorož via Piran
Piran / Portorož, Slovenia
Take a morning bus or train toward the Adriatic coast, stopping in the resort town of Piran. Get oriented on the waterfront, main square (Tartini Square), and the Venetian-style lanes, then continue the short distance to Portorož and check in for the evening.
🚌Public bus Ljubljana-Piran (~£12-15, 2-2.5 hrs); local bus Piran-Portorož (~£2)
🛏Budget hotel or guesthouse in Portorož, £30-40
- →Piran waterfront and Tartini Square walk
- →Venetian architecture stroll
- →Portorož seaside promenade
Day Trip to Trieste, Italy + Wine Tasting
Trieste, Italy / Portorož, Slovenia
Cross the border into Italy for a self-launched day trip to Trieste. Explore the medieval old city and neoclassical new city, taste the famous Trieste coffee at a historic café, and visit Miramare Castle with its lush park and sea views. On the way back into Slovenia, stop at a local winery for a wine-tasting lunch (bookable directly, ~£35).
🚌Public bus Portorož-Trieste (~£5-8, ~1 hr): local buses to Miramare
🛏Budget hotel or guesthouse in Portorož, £30-40
- →Trieste old and new city walk
- →Miramare Castle and park
- →Winery lunch with wine tasting (bookable)
Postojna Cave, Lake Bled & Lake Bohinj
Lake Bohinj, Slovenia
Travel inland from the coast, stopping at Postojna Cave to explore the subterranean world on a self-bookable guided cave tour (~£28, includes train through the cave). Enjoy time in town for lunch, then continue north to Lake Bled for a lakeside walk soaking in the views. Finish the day at nearby Lake Bohinj and check into your accommodation.
🚌Public bus Portorož-Postojna (~£10) then Postojna-Bled/Bohinj (~£12, connections via Ljubljana)
🛏Guesthouse or hostel in the Lake Bohinj area, £28-38
- →Postojna Cave guided tour (bookable)
- →Lake Bled lakeside walk
- →Bled Island viewpoint
Lake Bohinj Free Day
Lake Bohinj, Slovenia
Start with a self-guided orientation walk around the Bohinj area, then spend the rest of the day as you please. Options include swimming or a boat ride on the lake, hiking to the Savica Waterfall, mountain biking, or ziplining over the valley (bookable locally).
🚌Local Bohinj buses and walking; lake boat (~£8)
🛏Guesthouse or hostel in the Lake Bohinj area, £28-38
- →Savica Waterfall hike
- →Lake swimming or boat ride
- →Ziplining or cycling (bookable locally)
Lake Bohinj to Ljubljana / Coastal Transfer
Ljubljana, Slovenia
Enjoy a final Bohinj morning — a short walk to the Vogel cable car viewpoint (bookable, ~£15) if time allows — then take a public bus back to Ljubljana. Re-orient in the capital, restock supplies, and prepare for the onward journey into Croatia.
🚌Public bus Bohinj-Ljubljana (~£8, ~2 hrs)
🛏Central hostel or budget guesthouse, £25-35
- →Vogel cable car viewpoint (bookable)
- →Ljubljana old town evening stroll
Ljubljana to Zagreb to Split
Split, Croatia
Cross into Croatia. Take a public bus or train from Ljubljana to Zagreb (~£14, 2.5 hrs), then continue on to Split by bus or train (bus ~£20, ~5-6 hrs). Check into a hostel or guesthouse in Split's old town or near the ferry port ready for the Adriatic leg.
🚌Public bus Ljubljana-Zagreb (~£14) + Zagreb-Split bus (~£20) or train (~£22)
🛏Hostel or budget guesthouse in Split, £30-40
- →Zagreb old town short stopover
- →Split Diocletian's Palace evening walk
Split Old Town & Marjan Hill
Split, Croatia
Explore Split's UNESCO-listed Diocletian's Palace on a self-guided walk or a bookable walking tour (~£18). Explore the Riva promenade, the fish market, and climb Marjan Hill for city and sea views. The evening is free for konoba dining on the waterfront.
🚌Walking; local city bus (~£1.50)
🛏Hostel or budget guesthouse in Split, £30-40
- →Diocletian's Palace self-guided or booked walking tour
- →Marjan Hill viewpoint
- →Riva promenade sunset
Šibenik & Zlarin Island
Šibenik / Zlarin, Croatia
Take a public bus north to Šibenik (~£8, 1.5 hrs). Join a local walking tour of the old town and its UNESCO cathedral (~£15). Then hop the local ferry to the car-free island of Zlarin, known for its coral heritage and quiet coves — walk, swim, and settle in for the night.
🚌Public bus Split-Šibenik (~£8); local ferry Šibenik-Zlarin (~£5 return)
🛏Family guesthouse or island room on Zlarin, £25-35
- →Šibenik old town and cathedral walking tour
- →Local ferry to Zlarin island
- →Island coastal swimming
Island Hopping the Adriatic
Zlarin / Prvić, Croatia
In the warmer season, take the short local ferry to the neighbouring island of Prvić (Faust Vrančić's birthplace) to explore its tiny villages and beaches. Note: in colder months many island shops and cafés close, so instead return to Šibenik for a fuller day and its market. Rent a kayak or cycle the quiet island roads.
🚌Local inter-island ferry (~£5-8); island bike/kayak rental (~£12)
🛏Family guesthouse or island room, £25-35
- →Local ferry to Prvić island
- →Island cycling or kayaking (bookable locally)
- →Village and beach exploration
Return to the Mainland / Transfer South
Šibenik / Split, Croatia
Ferry back to Šibenik and spend a relaxed morning in its cafés and medieval lanes. In the afternoon, travel south toward Split or onward along the coast by public bus, readying for the final stretch toward Dubrovnik.
🚌Local ferry (~£5) + public bus Šibenik-Split (~£8)
🛏Hostel or budget guesthouse en route, £28-38
- →Šibenik medieval old town
- →Coastal bus scenic ride
- →Seafood konoba dinner
Coastal Route to Dubrovnik
Dubrovnik, Croatia
Take a public bus down the spectacular Dalmatian coast to Dubrovnik (~£20, 4-5 hrs), crossing briefly through a corridor of Bosnia and Herzegovina — carry your passport. Check into a hostel or guesthouse, then take an evening walk around the illuminated old town walls' exterior and the Stradun.
🚌Public bus Split-Dubrovnik (~£20, bring passport)
🛏Hostel or budget guesthouse in Dubrovnik, £35-45
- →Scenic coastal bus journey
- →Dubrovnik Stradun evening walk
- →Old town exterior night views
Dubrovnik Old Town & City Walls
Dubrovnik, Croatia
Walk the full circuit of Dubrovnik's medieval city walls (~£30 entry) for the classic views over terracotta rooftops and the Adriatic. Explore the Rector's Palace, the cathedral, and the old port, then take the cable car up Mount Srđ for sunset (~£22 return). Finish with a farewell dinner in a konoba.
🚌Walking; local bus to cable car or old town (~£1.50)
🛏Hostel or budget guesthouse in Dubrovnik, £35-45
- →City walls circuit walk
- →Rector's Palace and old port
- →Mount Srđ cable car sunset
Depart Dubrovnik
Dubrovnik, Croatia
Depart at any time. Depending on your flight, squeeze in a final morning swim at Banje Beach or a coffee on the Stradun before heading to the airport.
🚌Airport shuttle or local bus to Dubrovnik airport (~£8)
🛏N/A (departure day)
- →Banje Beach morning swim
- →Final old town coffee
Self-launched vs. G Adventures
| This itinerary (self-launched) | G Adventures | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£1,480 | £3,550 |
| Duration | 15 days | 15 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £2,070 per person (58%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more G Adventures-style trips? Check them out here.~£1,480
estimated per person
You never pay Travel Crew for this — you pay hostels, transport, and activity providers directly, the same as if you'd booked it all yourself.
This publishes your dates so other travellers can find and join you — no tour operator needed.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does Self-Launched Slovenia & Croatia: Ljubljana to Dubrovnik on a Budget cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £1,480 per person for 15 days in Slovenia & Croatia. This is an AI-generated estimate based on typical budget-traveller prices — actual costs will vary by season and how you book.
Is this cheaper than booking with G Adventures?+
Yes — G Adventures charges around £3,550 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £1,480 — a saving of roughly £2,070 (58%) per person.
How long is the Slovenia & Croatia trip?+
This itinerary runs 15 days, covering 15 day-by-day stops through Slovenia & Croatia.
How do I join this trip?+
You can join an existing open departure using this itinerary if one is scheduled, or launch your own departure with your own dates and invite other travellers to join you — no tour operator required.
Isn't it easier to just use a tour operator?+
Well, yes, a tour operator will book all the individual parts of your travel for you and provide a guide. That's obvious, but doing this has the potential to save the group thousands, which can in turn improve your itinerary substantially or save you huge amounts of money. Also, when you launch a departure, Travel Crew has tools in place to help you book the individual sections of the trip or make it easier for you to do this as a group. Really, you do not need a middle man. If you are more comfortable paying more and using a middle man, then you should certainly do this.
Is it safer to book through a tour operator?+
Arguably, there isn't much difference. A self-launched trip runs on the same principle as a group travel crew: collective responsibility, everyone looking out for each other, the same way it would if a group of friends organised the trip themselves — because that's exactly what's happening. You should always take out travel insurance before you go, self-launched or not; that doesn't change either way. Every open departure is published publicly with real dates and a real trip organiser, so it's never an anonymous arrangement, and our support team is reachable any time you need help, including in an emergency while you're away. Longer-term, we're building direct relationships with ground DMCs in popular destinations, offered as an optional paid add-on for extra on-the-ground support. Ultimately, though, the group is responsible for its own conduct and safety on a self-launched trip, same as on any trip you plan yourself.
What kind of trip is this?+
This is a culture, foodie, budget trip through Slovenia & Croatia, self-launched rather than run by a tour operator — you organise it with a group you find or bring yourself.
Would you like to name the operator, name the trip, or have any suggestions about how to improve this itinerary?
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