Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
did. Unfamiliar as they might seem, Croatia and Slovenia have what you've been looking
for: some of Europe's most spectacular natural wonders, a fascinating recent history, and a
spirit of adventure—much of it still off the beaten path.
Here in the land where the Adriatic meets the Alps, there are countless ways to have
fun. Begin your adventure by flipping through this topic, which covers Croatia's and Slove-
nia's best big-city, small-town, and back-to-nature destinations. You'll get all the specifics
and opinions necessary to wring the maximum value out of your limited time and money. If
you're planning a trip of a month or less, this topic is all you need.
Just two decades ago, Croatia and Slovenia—two of Europe's youngest nations—were
part of the union called Yugoslavia. Today they're proudly independent and racing toward
the future. Carefree Croatia, with a long and varied coastline, beckons vacationers with its
dramatically scenic terrain, romantic old towns, sunshine-bathed pebbly beaches, and irre-
pressible seafaring spirit. Perky Slovenia surprises travelers with its tidy quaintness, breath-
takingmountainscapes,colorfultowns,andimpossiblyfriendlynatives.Andforgoodmeas-
ure, I've also included detours into two other parts of the former Yugoslavia, each one of-
fering a striking contrast to Croatia or Slovenia: the craggy coast of Montenegro, and a pair
of diverse and fascinating Bosnian cities: bite-sized Mostar and bustling Sarajevo.
Use this legend to help you navigate the maps in this topic.
Experiencing Europe's culture, people, and natural wonders economically and hassle-
free has been my goal for three decades of traveling, tour guiding, and writing. With this
