by Chloe Hay
Like Zagreb, Split comes alive at night as sun-worshippers switch their bikinis for dresses to enjoy the al fresco evening entertainment
Day 1&2: Zagreb
Do you want heaps of cultural activities to fill your days with but just as many night-time haunts to enable you to keep the party going round the clock? Then Zagreb is the perfect city for you. Spend your day trawling the museums and art galleries, climbing up the Lotrščak Tower for a 360° panoramic city-view and marvelling at the mesmerising St Stephen’s Cathedral. Then at night head to Tolkien’s House (decorated in fitting with the Tolkien books) for a sociable drink before hitting the many pubs and clubs Zagreb has to offer.
The ancient city walls that encompass old-town Dubrovnik: although a tad scary for anyone with a fear of heights, the view from the walls is phenomenal and so the climb up is a must!
Day 3: Plitvice Lakes
A few hours from Zagreb will find you in brown bear territory at the Plitvice Lakes – a national park home to stunning waterfalls and forest scenery. If you manage to get the place to yourself its beauty is incredibly hypnotic but unfortunately most of the time the park is so rammed with tourists that you find yourself stuck in human traffic jams so thick that
After a strenuous kayaking session out to Lokrum island, ditch the kayaks, grab a snorkel and some flippers and dive straight back in the water to marvel at the array of ocean life beneath you
you may believe you are in a queue for a ride at Disneyworld instead of waiting to cross a pretty water feature. Nevertheless, it is a must for keen nature lovers and photography enthusiasts alike but be sure you have your patient head on when you arrive!
Day 4&5: Split
As soon as the train pulls into Split the part of the trip you have all been waiting for is ready to begin: it’s time to kick back, relax and be a beach bum for a day or two – after all this travelling you definitely deserve it and where better to do it than along Europe’s most fought-after coastline?
As the sun sets over Dubrovnik take a bottle of wine down to the beach front to enjoy in the cool evening sun whilst locals take late night dips in the still waters
Day 6&7: Dubrovnik
If you’re yet to have your fill of golden sands and crystal clear waters then it is time to head on down to Dubrovnik at the southern tip of Croatia. There is currently no train line between Split and Dubrovnik so you will have to jump on a bus instead which, despite not being included in the price of your Eurail pass, is definitely worth the trip. For a slight thrill sign up with one of the sea-kayaking companies that line the main path into the old town and paddle your way out to Lokrum island where you will stop at an isolated bay for lunch and snorkelling. Back on land be sure to walk the city walls for a bit of history and some beautiful views. And of course, you’re still on the stunning Dalmatian coast so there’s absolutely nothing wrong with spending a day sunbathing on the beach, admiring the beauty all around you!
To continue your Eurail adventure after Croatia, why not hop on an overnight sleeper train north to Hungary’s capital – Budapest.
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