8 Nights / 9 Days
Who doesn’t enjoy a nice dinner invitation, especially one across borders! Prepare to pay compliments to two lovely European neighbors as Slovenia and Italy host you in some of their most tasteful locations. From savoring the finest of Slovenian cuisine in Ljubljana and pairing Castle charms with wine in Trieste to raising a toast to Venetian splendor in the City of Canals, this trip is one get-together that you definitely don’t want to miss!
- 4 Nights in Ljubljana
- 2 Nights in Trieste
- 2 Nights in Venice
Day 1 – Arrival in Ljubljana
Feel the warm greeting of Slovenia’s charming capital, where riverside cafés, leafy boulevards, and its eponymous castle make for a welcome you will never forget. Settle in and seize the rest of the day by enjoying your first taste of the city. Venture on a gentle stroll along the Ljubljanica River, linger past the pastel facades of the Old Town, and let the open-air markets make you feel at home. It’s the perfect introduction to a journey where every bite, view, and story feels like an invitation.
Day 2 – Slow Food with a View
Discover Slovenia’s essence with a slow food experience that slows down time and lets you savor every second. Hosted within the historic Ljubljana Castle, pair thoughtfully prepared cuisine with sweeping views, as each dish tells a story of local ingredients, timeless recipes, and a nation proud of its culinary roots. As you dine at your own pace, you’ll discover that Slovenian hospitality is one that deserves to be relished, one unforgettable course at a time.
Day 3 – A Taste of Tradition in Bled
Trade the dining room table for a countertop as you roll up your sleeves like a true Slovenian in the fairytale town of Bled. Under the guidance of a local chef, learn the delicious secrets of time-honored dishes as you try your hand in preparing them using the freshest regional ingredients. With every recipe, traverse Slovenia’s heritage through its flavors, before sitting down and sampling their enduring delights surrounded by Bled’s alpine charm and a captivating air of tradition.
Day 4 – Coastal Flavors in Piran
Grab your taste buds and head to Slovenia’s sun-drenched coast, where olive groves rustle with the salty touch of a gentle sea breeze. Begin with a guided tasting of locally crafted extra virgin olive oils, diving into stories of patience, soil, and Mediterranean sun with every bottle. Then, head to the colorful town of Piran for a leisurely lunch amid terracotta-topped facades and azure waters. There, every regional specialty and every coastal delight reveals that good taste is truly a thing of beauty.
Day 5 – From Slovenia to Trieste, with Castles, Cuisine, and Coastal Romance
Bid farewell to Slovenia’s warm charms as you head to Italy, bridging two picturesque European neighbors through history and hospitality. En route, pause at Miramare Castle, a 19th-century seaside marvel that once belonged to Archduke Ferdinand Maximilian and his wife Charlotte. Let its opulent halls and wind-swept gardens reveal tales of romance and melancholy against a backdrop of the Adriatic, before tracing the border to Lokev. There, enjoy a lunch at the Michelin Plate-awarded Hisa Hrasna, where Istrian and Karst flavors come together in a flourish of cultural synergy. Upon arrival in Trieste, reveal its many layers of Slovenian, Austrian, and Italian influences with an immersive walking tour. Wander through the sweeping Piazza Unità d’Italia, past 19th-century Austro-Hungarian façades, and along the Canal Grande, ending the day in a city that feels like an heirloom of a storied past.
Day 6 –Flavors and Fortresses at Duino Castle & Colli Orientali
Greet the day perched over the Adriatic as you bask in sea breezes and storybook views at Duino Castle. Feel like a true aristocrat amid elegant salons and ornaments of a 14th-century fortress that once housed the Thurn und Taxis family and even fuelled the musings of poets like Rainer Maria Rilke. Then it’s off to get a stronghold on flavor at Colli Orientali, where among ancient vineyard-cloaked hills, a family-owned estate invites you to sample robust local wines, paired with cold cuts, cheeses, and handmade biscotti. Finally, discover the syrupy art of traditional balsamic vinegar production, tasting its depth and complexity one drop at a time.
Day 7 – Trieste to Venice with Prosecco in Hand
Ease into the day along rolling vineyards and sun-dappled hills as you make your way from Trieste to Venice on a journey that can easily be called a toast in motion. Follow the UNESCO-listed Prosecco Wine Road, where bubbly isn’t just poured, it’s celebrated. Pause for a light lunch and guided tasting, letting each glass sparkle with the flavors of the land. By the time you arrive and check into your hotel in Venice, your palate will be primed and ready for the next course in this exquisite adventure.
Day 8 – A Venetian Finale of Sights and Sounds
Have your final full day unfold like a love letter to Venice with a walking tour of its most enchanting gems. Begin in St. Mark’s Square, where domes and campaniles rise above a sea of history. Meander through tucked-away courtyards and over quaint bridges to find the Scala Contarini del Bovolo, a spiraled architectural gem that blends Gothic, Renaissance, and Byzantine flair. Catch an echo of an aria in front of La Fenice Theatre, before concluding with a quintessential gondola past faded palazzos and hidden gardens, where every gentle ripple beneath you becomes a graceful farewell from the City of Canals.
Day 9 – Departure
Every great dinner ends with a fond farewell, and so too does this flavorful journey. As you say arrivederci to Italy and nasvidenje to Slovenia, you leave with memories shared over wine, laughter that echoed through ancient halls, and the taste of two cultures that came together at one table. Though the plates are cleared, the invitation remains, because when neighbors host you this well, you know it won’t be your last visit.