Captivating Croatia & Slovenia: A Week of Coastal Charms and Alpine Wonders

See the beautiful courtyard which was once the center of the palace, and is now the heart of Split.

The Peristyle was the central courtyard of the palace complex and the crossing point of its main streets. The columns around the courtyard were pillaged from Egypt, though the officer in charge of the operation must have forgotten to get some extras as four of the columns are clearly different from the others. There's also a black granite Egyptian sphinx on one side dating from 1500 BC which originally flanked the entrance to Diocletian's mausoleum (other sphinxes around the palace were decapitated by Diocletian to allay his superstition that they posed a threat to his rule). If you sit on one of the red cushions scattered around the Peristyle you'll be approached by a waiter with a menu of very expensive drinks, but it may be worth it just to sit and lap up the history and watch people go by. At the southern end of the Peristyle, steps lead up to a cone-shaped, roofless chamber which once served as the palace vestibule. Visitors would wait here before being summoned before the ex-emperor into his private apartments.

Enter this ancient gateway to discover palace cellars used as film sets for Game of Thrones.

While today about 200 feet (60m) from the water, the Bronze Gate originally sat directly on the sea, allowing boats to pull directly up to the palace. As you enter the gate you will find a mass of souvenir and arts & crafts stalls, but just inside the entrance on either side are the substructures, or cellars of the palace. After the palace fell into disrepair, the cellars were used as rubbish pits. Families occupying the apartments above would simply create holes in the floor and voila, they had an instant trash dump with a seemingly unending supply of space. Of course centuries of trash did eventually them fill up and they were only rediscovered in 1956; the excavations continue to this very day. While entrance to the cellar is not free, it provides an excellent idea of what the palace must originally have looked like, as they're an exact mirror image of the imperial living quarters above. Game of Thrones fans will also be happy to learn that the cellar was used as a filming set, including as Daenerys Targaryen's grand Meereen throne room.

See the beautiful courtyard which was once the center of the palace, and is now the heart of Split.

The Peristyle was the central courtyard of the palace complex and the crossing point of its main streets. The columns around the courtyard were pillaged from Egypt, though the officer in charge of the operation must have forgotten to get some extras as four of the columns are clearly different from the others. There's also a black granite Egyptian sphinx on one side dating from 1500 BC which originally flanked the entrance to Diocletian's mausoleum (other sphinxes around the palace were decapitated by Diocletian to allay his superstition that they posed a threat to his rule). If you sit on one of the red cushions scattered around the Peristyle you'll be approached by a waiter with a menu of very expensive drinks, but it may be worth it just to sit and lap up the history and watch people go by. At the southern end of the Peristyle, steps lead up to a cone-shaped, roofless chamber which once served as the palace vestibule. Visitors would wait here before being summoned before the ex-emperor into his private apartments.

Enter this ancient gateway to discover palace cellars used as film sets for Game of Thrones.

While today about 200 feet (60m) from the water, the Bronze Gate originally sat directly on the sea, allowing boats to pull directly up to the palace. As you enter the gate you will find a mass of souvenir and arts & crafts stalls, but just inside the entrance on either side are the substructures, or cellars of the palace. After the palace fell into disrepair, the cellars were used as rubbish pits. Families occupying the apartments above would simply create holes in the floor and voila, they had an instant trash dump with a seemingly unending supply of space. Of course centuries of trash did eventually them fill up and they were only rediscovered in 1956; the excavations continue to this very day. While entrance to the cellar is not free, it provides an excellent idea of what the palace must originally have looked like, as they're an exact mirror image of the imperial living quarters above. Game of Thrones fans will also be happy to learn that the cellar was used as a filming set, including as Daenerys Targaryen's grand Meereen throne room.

Stroll the atmospheric narrow streets of this small town nestled at the end of a clear blue bay.

Stari Grad is more laid back and family-oriented than Hvar Town but is becoming more popular with younger crowds and the jet-set as time goes by. Its streets are lined by stone houses decorated with bright window boxes, and there are plenty of small squares to explore that suddenly open up at the end of shoulder-rubbing alleyways. The fertile plain stretching south and west of Stari Grad is one of the few places in Europe where the ancient Greek system of field division has been preserved almost untouched. With olive groves and vineyards divided by a grid of dry stone walls and country lanes, it is easily explored on foot or by bike. A highlight within the town is the summer house and walled garden of the 16th-century poet and aristocrat Petar Hektorović called the Tvrdalj. This simple stone structure purpose-built for quiet contemplation and as a refuge for the locals in time of the attack is built around a central cloister with a turquoise pond packed with mullet. Almost immediately adjacent to the Tvrdalj is the Biankini Palace, an impressively restored Renaissance building that now houses the Town Museum

Hop over to these rocky islands to swim and snorkel in their picturesque little coves and lagoons.

If weather permits, Hvar can be a splendid place for swimming as the sea conditions are truly exceptional, with crystal clear water. If you are hoping for soft sand beaches though, you will be disappointed. Beaches range from "pebbly" to "rocky ledge". A great option is to catch a water taxi (about 50 Kuna per person roundtrip) from the town of Hvar to the forested Pakleni Island, where the best beaches are to be found. The contorted, crooked shorelines of the islands create numerous little coves and lagoons that are nice spots for swimming and relaxing. Sveti Klement is the largest of the islands and hence has the best facilities, but there are restaurants, bars, snack stands, and toilets located near most of the beaches. Snorkeling is also possible at the Pakleni Islands, although generally there are no reefs, as is the case along most of the Croatian coastline. However, visibility is amazing and there are plenty of interesting rock formations. The best option if you are serious about snorkeling is to go with an organized boat tour.

Check out where war galleys were once repaired on Hvar's main square.

There's plenty to see in Hvar Town beginning at the main square, Trg svetog Stjepana (St Stephen Square) where you'll find the 17th century Venetian arsenal in which war galleys were once hauled for repair. The upper story was adapted in 1612 to house the town theatre, one of the oldest Baroque playhouses in Europe. St Stephen's Cathedral at the eastern end of the square is a 16th-century building with a fragile looking four-story campanile. Some of the artwork inside might be worth your time popping in to see. The Bishop's treasury next door contains a small but fine selection of religious.

Climb to this stone fortress above the town of Hvar for the perfect photo.

Resting atop of the hill with breathtaking views of Hvar Town and the nearby Pakleni Islands is the Citadel, built by the Venetians in the 1550s but with the help of Spanish engineers, hence it is another name: the Spanish Fortress. It is the perfect spot for a photo of yourself standing on the turrets and overlooking the town and harbor. During the season it is open to visitors for a 40 Kuna entry fee. To reach the citadel just walk up the stairs located next to the Loggia, which is the colonnaded white building located just in front of the port. Once you reach the gardens above the town, then follow a zig-zagging path through the gardens. When you reach a gate in the garden, go through it, instead of taking the other path which is helpfully spray-painted with the word "stop". This will take you to the entrance of the citadel.

Ride the exhilarating rapids of the Sava Bohinjka River

Experience the thrill of rafting on the Sava Bohinjka River, where the rushing waters have carved a path through stunning Alpine scenery, offering an exciting ride full of natural beauty. But not too exciting - even complete beginners can enjoy this voyage.

Take an easy hike to see the amazing natural sculptures of Mostnica Gorge.

Mostnica Gorge offers a relaxed hiking experience through a stunning landscape carved by the Mostnica River, featuring unique rock formations and lush greenery. It's only about 2 miles (3km) roundtrip, but if you've got the energy and time, you can hike another 2.5 miles (4km) through a gorgeous Alpine valley to the Mostnica Waterfall. 

Hike to the majestic Savica Waterfall, a jewel of the Julian Alps.

Savica Waterfall, easily accessible by a short but steep hike, is a magnificent sight. The water dramatically bursts out from an underground karst cave within the mountainside and cascades dramatically into a clear pool, set against a backdrop of dense forests.

Stroll, sail, or soak in the beauty of Lake Bohinj's enchanting waters.

Lake Bohinj, is overlooked by towering mountains and its shore is hugged by deep green forests. The atmosphere is especially serene near the visitor center, where a stone bridge leads to the white church of St. John the Baptist. From the bridge you'll enjoy a stunning view of the lake. You can walk further along the shores, take a quick dip, rent a boat, or enjoy a scenic cruise on an electronic boat tour. 

Pedal through breathtaking valleys and over Alpine foothills.

Cycle through the Bohinj Valley, where a well-maintained cycling path takes you along the shore of the lake, through charming villages, over Alpine foothills and pastures, and alongside the clear emerald waters of the Sava Bohinjka River. With much of the path relatively flat and paved, you do not need to be in peak condition to enjoy this trip, although at some points you may need to dismount and walk.  

Ride the exhilarating rapids of the Sava Bohinjka River

Experience the thrill of rafting on the Sava Bohinjka River, where the rushing waters have carved a path through stunning Alpine scenery, offering an exciting ride full of natural beauty. But not too exciting - even complete beginners can enjoy this voyage.

Discover Slovenia's art and culture at the National Gallery and other nearby institutions.

The National Gallery is the art gallery of Slovenia, with a permanent collection of art dating from the Middle Ages to the early 20th century. For the artistically minded, there's a cluster of institutions nearby that you should definitely check out, including the horse-shoe shaped Opera House, and the Museum of Modern Art, which picks up where the National Gallery leaves off, including exhibits from the influential Neue Slowenische Kunst (New Slovene Art) movement of the mid-1980s. Very close by on Prešernova cesta is the building that houses both the National Museum and the Natural History Museum; it's at the latter that you'll find an almost complete 20,000-year-old skeleton of a mammoth found near Kamnik in 1938. The city's main public park, Tivoli Park, opens up just across the road from the Museum of Modern Art.

Take a picture with the iconic dragon statues on this pedestrian bridge.

The bridge is a beautiful piece of Secessionist architecture with four carved, spitting, feisty-tailed dragons (the city symbol) sitting atop chunky pylons at each corner of the bridge. Just next to the bridge you'll discover the Market Colonnade, an elongated, gently curving pavilion sheltering a veritable smorgasbord of lovely food shops and a downstairs fish market. The colonnade runs along the length of the riverbank all the way to the Triple Bridge.

Take a walk across the most famous sight in Ljubljana - the enchanting Triple Bridge.

The bridge is a brilliant piece of architecture and the city's most photographed landmark. To get an idea of how 'green' and sustainable the city has become the Triple Bridge very recently still had vehicular traffic coursing over its beautifully balustraded concourse. The 'triple' in the bridge is the result of national architect Jože Plečnik's decision in 1929 to broaden the existing central bridge dating from 1842 with two lateral footbridges, in order to make access to the oldest part of town on the right bank of the river safer and more convenient for pedestrians; to top it off, he added the Renaissance balustrades, based on the rising bridges of Venice's waterways, and rows of lamps, all of which gives the bridge a magical appearance at night. Geographically and socially, the pulsing heart of the city is Prešernov trg, a small and animated square on the left bank of the river next to the Triple Bridge. It is named after France Prešeren, the national poet, whose statue also adorns the square. The square is Ljubljana's main point of reference where open-air cafes do a brisk trade, and street performers and musicians keep the tourist crowds entertained during the summer months. 

Be sure to check out this beautiful church and spend some time in the surrounding square.

You are sure to see lots of churches on any trip to Europe, but the Ursuline Church of the Holy Trinity is certainly not like most other Baroque churches from the 1700's. With its irregular roof line, six columns surrounding the entrance, and many windows, the facade looks more like that of a palace than a typical Baroque church. The beautiful white interior is also unusual in that it is not painted, although there are several ornate altars and paintings to provide some color. The church is located on Congres Square, i.e. Kongresni trg. It is a popular, grassy park shaded by leafy trees and fringed by more architectural gems. It's also a good spot to come to in the evenings for quieter repast if you wish to avoid the crowds thronging both sides of the riverbank. On one corner of the square is Kazina (Casino), a smart Classicist mansion built in 1837 for entertaining the Ljubljana elite. Cafe Zvezda housed inside Kazina is said to serve up some of the best cakes and desserts in town. The Slovene Philharmonic Hall hosts one of the oldest musical institutions in Europe, which was one of the foremost in the Hapsburg Empire. Its honorary members included Haydn, Beethoven, and Mozart, and Gustav Mahler was the in-house conductor in 1881-82. Next door is the huge neo-Renaissance university building.