Tours in Croatia by Secret Dalmatia

History Tours in Croatia

From the Illyrian tribes to Roman palaces, medieval towns to Yugoslav military tunnels.

Whether urban or off the beaten track, Croatia’s history is unavoidable, fascinating, and complex, and is evident in everything – architecture, culture and traditions, defining the personality of each region. Fallen empires, medieval castles, incredibly intact Renaissance and Roman ruins, Yugoslavian tunnels, abandoned villages, astounding archaeology and hidden island monasteries – this alluring mix is what makes Croatia so unique. Step into the mysteries, triumphs, and tragedies of the past on our engaging walking tours of the cities, from continental Zagreb to the coastal vestiges of the Roman Empire in Split, and the illustrious golden age of the magnificent Dubrovnik. Get an insider insight into the local perception of both past and present times. Because we are so passionate about history, our special interest tours are carefully crafted experiences that enrich, inform and most ideally, surprise – leaving you with a unique and touching perspective.

A unique, private Palace Tour especially created for travelers with disabilities.  Not only discover the living 1,700 year-old walled fortress/residence of the Emperor Diocletian, but enjoy a wonderful grilled lunch with the fish that we buy together at Split’s bustling fish market! This tour is specifically designed for travelers who are in a wheelchair, are visually/hearing impaired and need a personal assistant as well as a professionally-trained tour guide.

Available all year round

half day

easy

Split

A unique, private Palace Tour especially created for travelers with disabilities.  Not only discover the living 1,700 year-old walled fortress/residence of the Emperor Diocletian, but enjoy a wonderful grilled lunch with the fish that we buy together at Split’s bustling fish market! This tour is specifically designed for travelers who are in a wheelchair, are visually/hearing impaired and need a personal assistant as well as a professionally-trained tour guide.

Available all year round

half day

easy

Split

Welcome to one of the most ‘storybook’ settings in Europe where the natural beauty and romantic ambiance of Slovenia put on a spectacular show – the magical Lake Bled! An emerald green lake with Slovenia’s only island is surrounded by alpine forests, a castle perched high on the ridge and the snowcapped peaks of the Julian Alps in the backdrop. A picture – perfect church occupies the small island, awaiting traditional hand propelled gondola style boats to make the short trip across the lake and bring curious visitors over. Discover the legends that surround the lake and ring the church bell for good luck, although you will already feel fortunate enough to be there!

Available all year round

full day

easy

Zagreb, Ljubljana

Welcome to one of the most ‘storybook’ settings in Europe where the natural beauty and romantic ambiance of Slovenia put on a spectacular show – the magical Lake Bled! An emerald green lake with Slovenia’s only island is surrounded by alpine forests, a castle perched high on the ridge and the snowcapped peaks of the Julian Alps in the backdrop. A picture – perfect church occupies the small island, awaiting traditional hand propelled gondola style boats to make the short trip across the lake and bring curious visitors over. Discover the legends that surround the lake and ring the church bell for good luck, although you will already feel fortunate enough to be there!

Available all year round

full day

easy

Zagreb, Ljubljana

Ljubljana, the delightful capital of Slovenia, is a city known for its friendly, welcoming people, an abundance of culture and the famous ornate bridges spanning the river Ljubljanica. A city with a small-town feel, Ljubljana seems designed for walking and socializing outside, with an intellectual, proud and creative spirit to the culture. As you stroll the attractive streets of its historical center, flanked by colorful Art Nouveau architecture, splendid churches and street art, your guide will tell you how the people of Ljubljana embrace life in full swing and how the social life, culture and history come together into an easy-going personality of Slovenia’s capital, proud underneath a picture-perfect castle on the hill.

Available all year round

full day

easy

Zagreb, Ljubljana

Ljubljana, the delightful capital of Slovenia, is a city known for its friendly, welcoming people, an abundance of culture and the famous ornate bridges spanning the river Ljubljanica. A city with a small-town feel, Ljubljana seems designed for walking and socializing outside, with an intellectual, proud and creative spirit to the culture. As you stroll the attractive streets of its historical center, flanked by colorful Art Nouveau architecture, splendid churches and street art, your guide will tell you how the people of Ljubljana embrace life in full swing and how the social life, culture and history come together into an easy-going personality of Slovenia’s capital, proud underneath a picture-perfect castle on the hill.

Available all year round

full day

easy

Zagreb, Ljubljana

Just a half hour from the hustle and bustle of Zagreb, travel 500 years back in time! Step back into the illustrious past of Zagorje, the beautifully romantic region north of Zagreb. Private tour of Zagorje castles is an exceptional oportunity to explore the historic treasures of the area. Filled with medieval and Renaissance fortresses, Baroque estates and over fifty castles, this is one of the richest regions in the whole of Croatia! As you travel through a landscape of rolling hills, vineyard-lined slopes and castle-topped hillocks, explore the famous, atmospheric Trakoscan castle and the Baroque heartland of Croatia, the town of Varazdin and enjoy the opportunity for some off-the-radar continental culture transporting you into the heartfelt Croatia.

Available all year round

half day

easy

Zagorje

Just a half hour from the hustle and bustle of Zagreb, travel 500 years back in time! Step back into the illustrious past of Zagorje, the beautifully romantic region north of Zagreb. Private tour of Zagorje castles is an exceptional oportunity to explore the historic treasures of the area. Filled with medieval and Renaissance fortresses, Baroque estates and over fifty castles, this is one of the richest regions in the whole of Croatia! As you travel through a landscape of rolling hills, vineyard-lined slopes and castle-topped hillocks, explore the famous, atmospheric Trakoscan castle and the Baroque heartland of Croatia, the town of Varazdin and enjoy the opportunity for some off-the-radar continental culture transporting you into the heartfelt Croatia.

Available all year round

half day

easy

Zagorje

Quiet Šibenik sits at the gateway to both the stunning Kornati islands and Krka waterfalls National Parks, making it an ideal base for exploring central Dalmatia or a perfect en route break on your journey along the coast. Secret beauty of Šibenik hasn’t been recognized yet but its recent fame as filming location for the wildly popular Game of Thrones hit series may be a game changer! Explore the oldest native Croatian town on the Dalmatian coast while you walk through Šibenik Old town highlights, enjoying its architecture, tumultuous history and rich culture.

Available all year round

half day

easy

Šibenik, Zadar, Split

Quiet Šibenik sits at the gateway to both the stunning Kornati islands and Krka waterfalls National Parks, making it an ideal base for exploring central Dalmatia or a perfect en route break on your journey along the coast. Secret beauty of Šibenik hasn’t been recognized yet but its recent fame as filming location for the wildly popular Game of Thrones hit series may be a game changer! Explore the oldest native Croatian town on the Dalmatian coast while you walk through Šibenik Old town highlights, enjoying its architecture, tumultuous history and rich culture.

Available all year round

half day

easy

Šibenik, Zadar, Split

Between the mountains of Mosor and Kozjak, at an altitude of some 360 meters, gaze away at the lands of Bosnia and Croatia like the ancient Romans, Mongol Tatars and Turkish sultans once did. Or Daenerys Targaryen, for that matter. You are at the fortress of Klis, the guardian of the region’s history from its dawn to the present day. Recognized as strategically important stronghold by the Illyrians, regions ancient inhabitants, Klis was later taken over by the Romans and has witnessed the reign of Croatian kings, Knights Templar, Turks, Venetians, Napoleon and Austrians, growing with each subsequent sovereign. Today Klis proudly holds the Croatian flag in face of powerful bura, a wind that always delivers a clear mind and a forceful body much needed as medieval archery requires full focus. An exciting and fun tour that ends with your new skills from the Middle Ages!

Available May to October

half day

easy

Split

Between the mountains of Mosor and Kozjak, at an altitude of some 360 meters, gaze away at the lands of Bosnia and Croatia like the ancient Romans, Mongol Tatars and Turkish sultans once did. Or Daenerys Targaryen, for that matter. You are at the fortress of Klis, the guardian of the region’s history from its dawn to the present day. Recognized as strategically important stronghold by the Illyrians, regions ancient inhabitants, Klis was later taken over by the Romans and has witnessed the reign of Croatian kings, Knights Templar, Turks, Venetians, Napoleon and Austrians, growing with each subsequent sovereign. Today Klis proudly holds the Croatian flag in face of powerful bura, a wind that always delivers a clear mind and a forceful body much needed as medieval archery requires full focus. An exciting and fun tour that ends with your new skills from the Middle Ages!

Available May to October

half day

easy

Split

Beyond the sun, sea and famous nightlife, Hvar holds a history of 2400 years and more UNESCO treasures than any other island in the world! From the palatial home of the island’s true Renaissance man, poet Petar Hektorović, to the candle-lit ‘garage wine tasting’ with Croatia’s most famous boutique vintner, stroll down the memory lane of this beautiful island and peek into its precious interiors, discovering along the way the Greek forethought, Slavic feistiness, Venetian sense of style and nature’s beauty enveloping it all. The story of Hvar is the one of traditions persisting in the face of globalization, and sometimes, hand in hand with it.

Available May to October

half day

easy

Hvar island

Beyond the sun, sea and famous nightlife, Hvar holds a history of 2400 years and more UNESCO treasures than any other island in the world! From the palatial home of the island’s true Renaissance man, poet Petar Hektorović, to the candle-lit ‘garage wine tasting’ with Croatia’s most famous boutique vintner, stroll down the memory lane of this beautiful island and peek into its precious interiors, discovering along the way the Greek forethought, Slavic feistiness, Venetian sense of style and nature’s beauty enveloping it all. The story of Hvar is the one of traditions persisting in the face of globalization, and sometimes, hand in hand with it.

Available May to October

half day

easy

Hvar island

One of our most thought-provoking and poignant tours focuses on the first half of the 1990s when the city of Zadar and its surroundings were strongly affected during the fierce Croatian War for Independence. Zadar was a focal point during the conflict and faced some of the most tragic days in all of its 3,000 years long history such as the siege which had kept the city without water and power for months. Countless marks of devastation stayed behind as reminders, yet it will be the stories and personal accounts that will resonate with you on this private tour. Along with a greater understanding of the complex triggers of the war, you will gain respect for the people of the region who bounced back from near destruction to again become a vibrant and beautiful destination.

Available all year round

half day

easy

Zadar, Šibenik

One of our most thought-provoking and poignant tours focuses on the first half of the 1990s when the city of Zadar and its surroundings were strongly affected during the fierce Croatian War for Independence. Zadar was a focal point during the conflict and faced some of the most tragic days in all of its 3,000 years long history such as the siege which had kept the city without water and power for months. Countless marks of devastation stayed behind as reminders, yet it will be the stories and personal accounts that will resonate with you on this private tour. Along with a greater understanding of the complex triggers of the war, you will gain respect for the people of the region who bounced back from near destruction to again become a vibrant and beautiful destination.

Available all year round

half day

easy

Zadar, Šibenik

The entire Balkan region is a fascinating mix of tradition, ethnicity and heritage, where one’s experiences can vary from village to village, as proud communities uphold the traditions of their ancestors. The majestic Old town of Mostar is a unique slice of Europe’s multicultural history, with the gap between two entirely different communities spanned by an Ottoman Old Bridge over the River Neretva. Held by empires in centuries past, glossy of their influences evident in the architecture, traditions and the fabulous cuisine, enduring turbulent histories over and over again, Mostar is entirely unique.

Available all year round

full day

easy

Split, Dubrovnik, Sarajevo

The entire Balkan region is a fascinating mix of tradition, ethnicity and heritage, where one’s experiences can vary from village to village, as proud communities uphold the traditions of their ancestors. The majestic Old town of Mostar is a unique slice of Europe’s multicultural history, with the gap between two entirely different communities spanned by an Ottoman Old Bridge over the River Neretva. Held by empires in centuries past, glossy of their influences evident in the architecture, traditions and the fabulous cuisine, enduring turbulent histories over and over again, Mostar is entirely unique.

Available all year round

full day

easy

Split, Dubrovnik, Sarajevo

If only the walls could talk! Split is a city of stories, literally an open-air museum that begs for a voice to sort out the layers of history that sit remarkably preserved and unfussed about in this atmospheric and wondrous Roman ruin. There is a unique feeling to Split, the bits of ancient civilization sitting in the midst of modern life on the narrow streets lined with restaurants, café-bars, and boutiques. As your walking tour guide unveils the eras off of Split’s shiny corners and palace facades, acquire perhaps the most important tidbit of the local philosophy: the art of ‘pomalo’, a skill of taking it easy and enjoying life at its very core.

Available all year round

half day

easy

Split

If only the walls could talk! Split is a city of stories, literally an open-air museum that begs for a voice to sort out the layers of history that sit remarkably preserved and unfussed about in this atmospheric and wondrous Roman ruin. There is a unique feeling to Split, the bits of ancient civilization sitting in the midst of modern life on the narrow streets lined with restaurants, café-bars, and boutiques. As your walking tour guide unveils the eras off of Split’s shiny corners and palace facades, acquire perhaps the most important tidbit of the local philosophy: the art of ‘pomalo’, a skill of taking it easy and enjoying life at its very core.

Available all year round

half day

easy

Split

  • Travel Destination