Zagreb is a perfect base for exploring. Within two hours you can be at Croatia’s most famous lakes, in a fairy-tale castle, on a wine road or in another country. These are the ten trips our drivers recommend most.
1. Plitvice Lakes
Sixteen turquoise lakes and waterfalls in a UNESCO-listed national park. About 2 hours from Zagreb. Plan 3–4 hours of walking. Plitvice Lakes day trip → · Our Plitvice guide →
2. Rastoke and Karlovac
A village of old water mills over the Slunjčica falls, and Karlovac, the town of four rivers with its freshwater aquarium. About 1 h 30 min. Easy to combine with Plitvice. Rastoke & Karlovac day trip →
3. Trakošćan Castle and Varaždin
A romantic hilltop castle above a lake, and Varaždin, Croatia’s baroque former capital. About 1 h 15 min to Varaždin. Trakošćan & Varaždin day trip →
4. Croatian Zagorje
Green hills, the Krapina Neanderthal Museum, the open-air village museum in Kumrovec, Veliki Tabor castle and family wineries. Under an hour to the first stop. Zagorje day trip →
5. Samobor and the Plešivica wine road
Samobor’s cream cake (samoborska kremšnita) in the town square, then tastings at family wineries on the Plešivica hills. About 30–40 minutes – and with a driver, everyone can taste. Samobor & Plešivica wine tour →
6. Ljubljana
Slovenia’s green, car-free capital on the Ljubljanica river: dragons, bridges and a castle above the old town. About 1 h 45 min. Zagreb to Ljubljana →
7. Lake Bled
The island church, the clifftop castle and the famous cream cake at the foot of the Julian Alps. Usually combined with Ljubljana in one long day. Ljubljana & Lake Bled day trip → · Is Bled in a day worth it? →
8. Opatija and Rijeka
Elegant Habsburg-era villas and the seaside promenade of Opatija, and the port city of Rijeka. About 2 hours – the quickest way from Zagreb to the sea. Zagreb to Opatija & Rijeka →
9. Lonjsko Polje Nature Park
Wooden villages and the storks of Čigoč, the "European stork village", in a landscape of flooded meadows. About 1 h 15 min. Best from spring to late summer, when the storks are nesting.
10. Istria
Rovinj, Motovun and the truffle hills are about 3 hours away, so Istria works best as a long day or an overnight trip. Zagreb to Rovinj & Istria →
Why a private day trip?
On a group tour you follow the bus. With your own driver, you leave when you want, stay longer where you like it and skip what doesn’t interest you. The price is per vehicle, so for a family or group of friends it is often close to the price of group-tour tickets.
Questions before you book?
Call or message us any time – you will speak to the people who drive you.