Self-Launched: The Grand Tour of Slovenia & Croatia (15 Days, Ljubljana to Dubrovnik)

Land at Ljubljana Jože Pučnik Airport and take the Arriva airport bus to the main bus station (about £4.50, 45 mins) — far cheaper than a taxi. Check into a hostel in the Old Town or near Tabor, then take an evening wander along the Ljubljanica river, over the Triple Bridge and through Prešeren's Square. Grab a burek or a plate of štruklji for dinner.

🚌Airport bus ~£4.50

🛏Hostel dorm or private room, Old Town (approx. £20)

• →Evening riverside walk
• →Triple Bridge and Prešeren's Square

Do the city on foot: Prešeren's Square, the Triple Bridge, the riverside fish market (Pogačarjev trg, best on Saturday mornings) and the Town Hall. Book a GetYourGuide free-walking-tour-style city tour or a paid small-group tour (~£15) for the same historical context the operator's guide provided. In the afternoon ride the funicular up to Ljubljana Castle (~£8 return) for the viewpoint and exhibitions. Optional: a Slovenian folklore dinner show in the evening (~£60) — but if you're jet-lagged, save it for later in the trip.

🚌Walking; funicular ~£8

🛏Hostel dorm or private room, Old Town (approx. £20)

• →Guided walking tour of Ljubljana (~£15)
• →Funicular to Ljubljana Castle (~£8)
• →Fish market and Old Town

Take an early train or FlixBus from Ljubljana to Maribor (~2h, £8–12). Walk the old town along the Drava, cross the Glavni most, and do a wine tasting at one of the Old Vine House-style tasting rooms on Lent (~£12–18). In the afternoon catch the local bus or train to Ptuj (~40 mins, ~£4), Slovenia's oldest town, and see the Roman-era sites, castle and Dominican monastery. Return to Ljubljana in the evening, or stay overnight in Ptuj for a cheaper, quieter night.

🚌Train/bus Ljubljana–Maribor ~£10; Maribor–Ptuj ~£4

🛏Return to Ljubljana hostel, or guesthouse in Ptuj (approx. £20)

• →Old-town sightseeing of Maribor
• →Wine tasting on Lent (~£15)
• →Ptuj old town and castle

Take a morning bus or train to Postojna (~1h, ~£5) and buy a combined ticket to Postojna Cave and Predjama Castle online in advance (~£40–45; the cave alone is ~£28). The cave visit includes the underground train ride and a guided walk — book the slot you want on Postojna Cave's own website or via GetYourGuide. A shuttle bus runs between the cave and Predjama Castle in season; otherwise a local taxi is ~£12. Overnight in Postojna or continue to Divača/Sežana for the coast the next morning.

🚌Bus/train ~£5; castle-cave shuttle ~£5

🛏Guesthouse or hostel in Postojna (approx. £22)

• →Postojna Cave with underground train (~£28)
• →Combined Postojna + Predjama ticket (~£42)
• →Predjama Castle

Bus to the coast (Postojna–Koper ~1h15, ~£6). Base yourself in Koper or Piran. Piran is the star: Venetian-style Tartini Square, the cathedral bell tower climb (~£3) and seafood on the promenade. Koper has a compact old town and Praetorian Palace. A free walking tour of Piran runs in summer, or book a small-group guided tour via GetYourGuide (~£15). Local buses between Koper and Piran are ~£2.50 each way.

🚌Bus ~£6; local coast buses ~£5

🛏Hostel or guesthouse in Piran/Koper (approx. £24)

• →Piran old town and Tartini Square
• →Bell tower climb (~£3)
• →Koper Praetorian Palace and old town

From the coast, bus to Sežana/Divača and visit the Lipica Stud Farm for the Lipizzaner displays (~£15–22, book direct). Then continue by bus via Nova Gorica to Kobarid (~£10, 2h30 total including changes). In Kobarid visit the WWI museum (~£6) and hike the short Soča-themed walk to the Italian ossuary for valley views. Overnight in Kobarid or Bovec — hostels here are cheap and sociable.

🚌Buses via Sežana and Nova Gorica ~£16 total

🛏Hostel or guesthouse in Kobarid/Bovec (approx. £22)

• →Lipica Stud Farm (~£18)
• →Kobarid WWI Museum (~£6)
• →Soča Valley walk to the ossuary

Bus from Kobarid/Bovec to Bled via Kranjska Gora and Jesenice (~£12, 2h30). Walk the lake shore, then take a traditional pletna boat to the island (~£15 return, pay the boatman directly) and climb the 99 steps to the church. Bled Castle entry is ~£14. In the afternoon the local bus to Bohinj (~£3.50) drops you at the lake — swim or walk to the Savica waterfall if time allows. Alternatively, the Vogel cable car (~£20 return) gives the alpine panorama the tour included.

🚌Bus ~£12; local bus to Bohinj ~£3.50

🛏Hostel in Bled or Bohinj (approx. £24)

• →Pletna boat to Bled Island (~£15)
• →Bled Castle (~£14)
• →Lake Bohinj
• →Optional Vogel cable car (~£20)

Bus from Bled to Ljubljana (~£6, 1h20) and connect with a FlixBus or Arriva service to Zagreb (~2h30, £10–15). Check into a hostel in Donji Grad or near the main square. Spend the evening on Tkalčićeva street — the café-bar strip — and try a štrukli and a local craft beer.

🚌Buses Bled–Ljubljana–Zagreb ~£20

🛏Hostel dorm or private room, Zagreb centre (approx. £22)

• →Tkalčićeva street evening
• →Croatian food tasting

Join a free walking tour of Gornji Grad and Kaptol (tip-based, ~£8–12 in tips) or a GetYourGuide small-group tour (~£15) covering the Stone Gate, St Mark's Church, the Dolac market and the funicular. Afternoon: the Museum of Broken Relationships (~£6) or the Mimara. Dolac market is the cheap lunch stop — grab a sandwich and fruit.

🚌Walking; short tram rides ~£1 each

🛏Hostel dorm or private room, Zagreb centre (approx. £22)

• →Free walking tour of Gornji Grad & Kaptol (tips ~£10)
• →Dolac market
• →Museum of Broken Relationships (~£6)

Take the early FlixBus/Arriva from Zagreb to Plitvice (Entrance 1) — about 2h15, £10–13. Book your park ticket online in advance at np-plitvicka-jezera.hr (roughly £35 in peak season, cheaper off-peak; includes the boat and shuttle within the park). Follow the Lower Lakes boardwalks first, then boat across Kozjak and shuttle back up. Overnight in one of the guesthouses near Entrance 1 or in Mukinje — much cheaper than a park hotel.

🚌Bus Zagreb–Plitvice ~£12

🛏Guesthouse near Entrance 1 (approx. £25)

• →Plitvice Lakes National Park full day (~£35)

Bus from Plitvice to Zadar (~2h, ~£12). See the Antique Forum, St Donat's Church (exterior) and St Anastasia's Cathedral, then sit by the Sea Organ and the Greeting to the Sun. Catch the afternoon bus Zadar–Split (~2h, ~£11) and break the journey at Trogir (bus station is a short walk from the UNESCO old town — 1 hour is enough). Continue to Split and check into a hostel near the old town.

🚌Buses Plitvice–Zadar–Split ~£23

🛏Hostel dorm or private room, Split (approx. £24)

• →Zadar Forum, St Donat and Sea Organ
• →Trogir old town stop

Do a small-group walking tour of Diocletian's Palace via GetYourGuide (~£18, includes the cellars) or a free walking tour for tips. Cover the Golden Gate, the peristyle, the cathedral (tower climb ~£7) and finish with coffee on the Riva. Afternoon options: swim at Bačvice beach (free) or take the local bus to Klis Fortress (~£3.50 each way, entry ~£8).

🚌Walking; optional local bus ~£7

🛏Hostel dorm or private room, Split (approx. £24)

• →Diocletian's Palace walking tour (~£18)
• →St Duje Cathedral and bell tower (~£7)
• →Riva and Bačvice beach

Bus Split–Dubrovnik is about 4h30 (~£15, book FlixBus or Arriva ahead). Drop your bags and walk the medieval city walls straight away (~£32 entry — go late afternoon for the light and fewer crowds). Cross Pile Gate, see the Franciscan Monastery cloister, Onofrio's Fountain and the Rector's Palace (~£10). A guided Old Town walking tour via GetYourGuide is ~£18 if you want the context; otherwise the walls plus a podcast do the job.

🚌Bus Split–Dubrovnik ~£15

🛏Hostel in Old Town or Lapad (approx. £28)

• →Dubrovnik city walls (~£32)
• →Rector's Palace (~£10)
• →Pile Gate and Franciscan Monastery

Take the ferry to Lokrum island (~£20 return, 15 mins) for the botanical garden, the monastery ruins and Fort Royal — and the peacocks. Alternatively, a day trip on the Elafiti islands (Koločep, Lopud, Šipan) by public ferry or a GetYourGuide boat trip runs £30–45. Consider whether Mostar is worth it — it's a long day trip (~£35–45 by bus tour) but the Old Bridge is genuinely spectacular. Farewell dinner: grilled fish in Gruž or a cheap konoba in Lapad (~£18).

🚌Local ferry ~£20

🛏Hostel in Old Town or Lapad (approx. £28)

• →Lokrum Island ferry and Fort Royal (~£20)
• →Optional Elafiti boat trip (£30–45)
• →Optional Mostar day trip (£35–45)

Depending on your flight, use the Atlas airport shuttle (~£8) or local bus line 11 to Dubrovnik Airport. If you have a late flight, a final swim at Banje beach or a coffee on Stradun before heading out.

🚌Airport shuttle ~£8

🛏N/A — departure day

• →Final morning on Stradun or Banje beach