Croatia Self Drive 09 - Slovenia & Istria

Summary

This fly-drive holiday takes you through the best of northern Croatia and Slovenia, combining the historic streets of Pula and the Istrian coast with Slovenia’s alpine scenery. Wander hilltop villages, enjoy local food and wine, cruise Lake Bled, explore Ljubljana, and marvel at the Postojna Caves—all while travelling at your own pace on scenic, short drives designed to maximise sightseeing and relaxation.

Activity code: CRFD09

Duration: 10-14 Days

Northern Croatia & Slovenia Fly-Drive: Istria, Ljubljana & Lake Bled

Explore the northernmost corner of Croatia and the highlights of Slovenia on this perfectly balanced self-drive holiday. Starting in the historic city of Pula, your route takes in the full Istrian Peninsula, with its dramatic coastlines, charming hillside villages, and a wealth of culinary delights, as well as nearby islands such as Krk or Cres. The itinerary then crosses into Slovenia, where you can enjoy the compact and welcoming capital, Ljubljana, the breathtaking scenery of Lake Bled and Triglav National Park, and the remarkable Postojna Caves. This holiday is designed to give you a rich mix of culture, history, stunning landscapes, and relaxed exploration.

Your journey begins in Pula with a smooth transfer to your hotel, leaving time to wander the city’s historic streets, visit the magnificent amphitheatre, or perhaps take a short trip to the Brijuni Islands. From here, you can explore the Istrian countryside, visiting coastal towns or hilltop villages such as Motovun, famed for its culinary treasures, truffles and local markets. Driving distances are short, allowing plenty of time for sightseeing, leisurely walks, or extended lunches overlooking vineyards and olive groves.

Crossing into Slovenia, the itinerary offers the chance to spend a couple of nights in Ljubljana, a city full of charm, riverside cafés, and elegant architecture, before heading to Lake Bled and Triglav National Park. Here, you can enjoy hiking, boat trips, or simply relaxing amid the spectacular alpine scenery. On the return journey, a visit to the Postojna Caves provides a fitting finale to your exploration of this part of Europe. The circuit concludes back in Pula, where you drop off your car and prepare for your journey home.

Designed as a flexible circuit, this itinerary could equally be started in Ljubljana, or extended with extra nights in any of the locations to suit your own pace and interests.

Important Information

Flights available to book with us through a range of airlines, from various UK airports to Croatia. If we book your flights this means that your holiday will also be fully ATOL protected.

Prices shown are a guideline "from" (in UK Pounds) and are based on a travelling party of at least 2 adults. Single supplements may need to be applied to the twin/double price and discounts for children (under 12yrs) and/or a 3rd adult sharing a room are available upon request. Quoted prices for individual enquiries will depend upon your chosen accommodation, room availability and dates of travel. We always aim to match a high quality experience with exceptional value for money. Discounts will apply if there are 3 or more people in your travelling party as fixed costs such as transportation and guides will be shared equally between the group.