From Zagreb: Ljubljana and Lake Bled Guided Day Tour

Beginning with your hotel pickup in Zagreb at 8am, you will depart the city and ride on a 1.5 hour long drive to Ljubljana, the capital of Slovenia.

Once we cross river Sava, we are officially exiting Zagreb and starting our adventure.

While enjoying your relaxing drive and just before crossing the Croatian border, you will see a medieval castle on top of a hill, Castle Mokrice. The castle has a rich history, mentioned already in the 15th century, it was the home of many noble families throughout the centuries, one of them being the famous Auerspergs. It was also used in a music video by the Pet Shop Boys.

On the drive we will also pass a city of Krško which is a very important source of energy for both Croatia and Slovenia. Beacouse there is a nuclear power plant Krško. It was a joint venture by both governments during the time of Yugoslavia and it provides more than a quarter of Slovenian's and 15% of Croatian's power supply.

While on the drive we will pass many quaint villages and towns. One that stands out the most is a lovely town called Novo Mesto. A river town with a rich archaeological heritage.

We will begin a walking tour through the city and explore its many wonderful locations while learning about the rich and complex history. Where once stood a Roman city called Emona today it is Ljubljana, the capital of Slovenia and also its largest city. You will learn about Napoleon's connection to the city, the evolution of Ljubljana through time and many other interesting facts. . It is a beautiful and multicultural place. While on your guided walk tour you will stand in front of the imposing road bridge called the Dragon bridge. The legend says that Jason the founder of Ljubljana joined with his Argonauts and slayed a dragon and that is how the bridge got its name. You will also learn how the bridge evolved through history and how it changed.

Our next stop is the wonderful Ljubljana Cathedral, officially named Saint Nicholas Church. This magnificent structure was built at the start of the 18th century and it was rebuilt several times. What originally started as a Gothic church later evolved into a Baroque building. While walking around the cathedral you will see and learn about the mythic Slovenian doors that tell the entire history of the people of Slovenia. Entrance to the Cathedral is permitted but the entrance fee is 2 euro.

Jože Plečnik is the most famous Slovenian architect and he is responsible for how Ljubljana looks today and the city's entire identity. Most of his work on the city happened between the two World wars and his urban designs changed how Ljubljana developed through time. You will learn about his inspirations when creating countless squares, parks and streets in the city and also bridges. We will visit the famous Triple bridge, a formation of three public bridges that Jože Plečnik designed.

To finish our walking tour through Ljubljana we will visit the central square called Prešeren Square. It is located in the old town area and it's the true heart of the city. All major events in Ljubljana happen around Prešeren square, from festivals, political events and concerts. You will learn about how the square got its name in connection to a famous Slovenian poet France Prešeren and his tragic love affair with a mysterious woman called Julia.

Free time to enjoy Ljubljana and explore various restaurants and cafe's.

Our drive to Bled will lead us around many awe-inspiring man-made and natural creations. One of them is the Storžić mountain which will be visible from the van. It is one of the most dangerous peaks in Slovenia.

While enjoying the drive you will get to experience the vast beauty of the Alps that run through the country of Slovenia.

While enjoying your drive you will also get a chance to see the fourth largest city of Slovenia, Kranj. A culturally rich city that has history dating back to the medieval ages. Also famous for its sausage.

On our drive we will also pass Radovljica, a small and quaint town located right next to the Julian Alps. Radovljica is famous for its chocolate festival that happens every April.

Visiting Lake Bled would not be complete without a boat ride to the only island in Slovenia. You are able to ride on the lake and to the island with traditional boats called Pletna. These traditional boats cannot be found anywhere else in the world except for Lake Bled. The boat will take you to the island where you can explore it, visit the church of Mary the Queen, ring the fortune bell and soak up the sun and enjoy the lovely mountain air.

To finish the trip you will visit Castle Bled. There you have an hour of free time to explore the castle and get introduced to its rich history. Castle Bled is a medieval castle that sits on a precipice overlooking the town of Bled and Lake Bled. It is the oldest castle in Slovenia and it offers a wide range of activities for history buffs. You can explore the castle, visit a winery and enjoy the one of a kind Bled Cream cake while absorbing the magnificent view from the top of the castle.