My boyfriend and I decided to go on a road trip in August 2017, during his summer holidays. At that time, I wasn’t working much, just a few shifts as a bartender, so it felt like the perfect moment to leave.

We wanted to keep the trip as low-cost as possible, so we chose to travel with his car, which ran on diesel and was cheaper than petrol. For accommodation, we decided to go camping. It was summer, the weather was hot, and sleeping under the open sky felt like part of the adventure.

DAY 1 –  Friday 04.08.2017 

( Night at: Lubiana Resort Hotel and Camp )

We left Casale Monferrato at 8:30 in the morning, after he picked me up, full of excitement for the journey ahead. We made four stops along the way, enjoying the changing landscapes and the feeling of being on the road.

By 6:30 in the evening, we finally arrived at the Ljubljana Resort Hotel & Camp. We didn’t have much time, just enough to set up the tent, take a quick shower, and head for dinner at the campsite. Tired but happy, we ended the day under the stars, ready for the next part of our adventure.

DAY 2 – Saturday 05.08.2017

( Night at: Lubiana Resort Hotel and Camp )

We woke up at 9:00 in the morning and had a simple breakfast before getting ready for the day. Soon after, we rented bikes and headed toward the city center of Ljubljana, about 6 km away. The ride was easy and enjoyable, especially with the fresh morning air.

Once we reached the main square, we stopped at a bar to grab something to eat and take a short break. Then we started exploring the city, visiting the old buildings, churches, the local market, the famous Triple Bridge, the Butchers’ Bridge, and the Dragon Bridge. Every corner of the city felt lively and full of charm.

Later, we got back on our bikes and followed the river south toward the botanical garden, enjoying the peaceful atmosphere along the way. On our way back, we stopped at Makalonca, a small bar by the river, where we relaxed with a fresh mojito.

After that, we bought a few souvenirs, took some pictures to remember the day, and cycled back to the campsite. In the evening, we had dinner there again, ending the day in a simple but perfect way.

DAY 3 – Sunday 06.08.2017

( Night at: Airbnb in Zagreb )

In the morning, we packed up the tent, had breakfast, and got back on the road. Our first stop was the Postojna Caves, an incredible place that felt almost unreal, with its huge underground halls and formations.

After that, we continued our journey toward Zagreb. By the time we arrived, we were quite tired, so we kept things simple and had dinner at McDonald’s.

That night, we decided to stay in accommodation instead of camping. Since we were in a city, it felt easier, and also it gave us the chance to rest properly. It was his first time camping, and we weren’t completely sure how well we would sleep after the first couple of nights, so a comfortable bed felt like the perfect choice.

DAY 4 – Monday 07.08.2017

( Night at: Korana camping, Plitvice Jetzera )

We spent the morning exploring Zagreb, walking through the city and enjoying its atmosphere. Later, we had lunch at La Štruk before getting back on the road.

At 3 pm, we left Zagreb and headed toward Korana Camp. Once we arrived, we set up the tent and settled in. That evening, we had dinner at the campsite, at a small bar or restaurant there, a simple and relaxing way to end the day.

DAY 5 – Tuesday 08.08.2017

( Night at: Korana camping, Plitvice Jezera )

We had breakfast at the campsite, then headed out early. By around 10:30 we were already in line to buy tickets for Plitvice Lakes National Park. It was very busy, and we decided to do itinerary C, including the boat ride and the train on the way back.

There were so many people that we ended up waiting about two hours just to enter. The ticket cost around 180 kuna. Despite the long wait, we were excited to finally get inside and explore.

For lunch, we had simple sandwiches we prepared earlier, enjoying them during the visit.

After a full day in the park, we went back to the campsite and had dinner there at the bar/restaurant, ending the day in a relaxed way after so much walking and nature.

DAY 6 – Wednesday 09.08.2017

( Night at: Camping Marina, Krka National Park )

We left the campsite after breakfast at around 9:30 in the morning, heading toward Krka National Park. We arrived around 12:30, ready for another day in nature.

Parking cost about 50 kuna, and the ticket for the boat to reach the main waterfalls was around 180 kuna, while the reduced price for student was 110 kuna.

We spent the whole day exploring the park, walking around and enjoying the waterfalls and the natural beauty of the area. It was one of those places where time just flies.

In the evening, we stayed at Camping Marina, where we had dinner and relaxed after a long and beautiful day.

DAY 7 – Thursday 10.08.2017

( Night at: Solitudo camping, Dubrovnik )

We left in the direction of Dubrovnik at 10:30 in the morning and arrived at Camping Solitudo around 2:30–3:00 pm. After settling in, we decided to head straight to the nearest beach, Copacabana Beach, which was just a short distance from the campsite.

Later in the afternoon, we took the bus into the city center. We bought tickets at the campsite for about 12 kuna each. Once in Dubrovnik, we walked around the old town and down toward the port, enjoying the stunning views and the atmosphere of the city.

For dinner, we stopped at Locanda Restaurant near the port. It had a very romantic atmosphere, especially with the lights and the sea nearby, the perfect way to end our day in Dubrovnik.

DAY 8 – Friday 11.08.2017

( Night at: Camping Matija, Betina Murter Island )

We set off in the direction of Murter and Kornati National Park. Before leaving Dubrovnik, we tried to have breakfast in the Old Town, but it wasn’t really possible. It was extremely crowded, and parking was both far away and expensive, around 40 kuna per hour, so we decided to continue our journey instead.

We drove up to one of the viewpoints above Dubrovnik, where the most famous panoramic photo of the city is usually taken. The view from there was absolutely stunning, and we spent quite a bit of time enjoying it before getting back on the road.

On the way, the first campsite we tried was fully booked, so we had to change plans and ended up staying at Camping Matija. For dinner, we went near Camping Plitka Vala, keeping things simple after a long day of travel.

Later in the evening, we watched the sun go down over Betina, a peaceful and beautiful moment that perfectly closed the day.

DAY 9 – Saturday 12.08.2017

( Night at: Camping Matija, Betina Murter Island )

We had breakfast at Leopold Bar and then spent some time walking around Murter, enjoying the island’s calm atmosphere.

In the afternoon, we went to the small island of Školjić to sunbathe and relax for the rest of the day, even if the weather wasn’t the best. It was still a nice and quiet escape from everything.

In the evening, we had dinner at Pizzeria Riva in Betina, a simple and relaxed way to end the day by the sea.

DAY 10 – Sunday 13.08.2017

( Night at: Camping Matija, Betina Murter Island )

We decided to visit Kornati National Park with a tour boat called Turera. It was one of the highlights of the trip, a full day surrounded by incredible islands and crystal-clear water.

We had lunch on board the boat while sailing through the archipelago. Later, we stopped for about two hours at the beautiful Levrnaka Island, often called a “paradise beach,” where we could swim, relax, and enjoy the scenery. At around 2 pm, we continued the tour.

Our next stop was Vrgada Island, where the boat paused again so we could jump into the water and cool off. On the way back, we also saw a fish farm, which was interesting to observe from the boat.

We returned to Murter around 5:30 pm. In the evening, we had an aperitif while watching the sun set over the islands, just like the day before, another perfect and peaceful moment to end the day.

DAY 11 – Monday 14.08.2017

( Night at: Kosirinia Camping, Murter Island )

We rented a boat in the morning and everything was going well since my boyfriend knew how to drive it. We were enjoying the sea and the freedom of being out on the water.

The only problem came when I jumped into the water and accidentally stepped on a sea urchin. We had to head back immediately and went to the hospital to have the spines removed.

After that, we changed campsite to continue our stay more comfortably. In the evening, we went back to Pizzeria Riva for dinner, the same place we had liked the night before. Despite the unexpected accident, it still ended with a nice and familiar atmosphere.

DAY 12 – Tuesday 15.08.2017

( Night at: Kosirinia Camping, Murter Island )

We rented a boat again, and this time everything went really well. We spent the day enjoying the sea, having fun, and just relaxing without any rush.

It was a simple but perfect day on the water, exactly what we needed after the previous experience.

In the evening, we came back to the campsite and had dinner there, ending the day in a calm and easy way.

DAY 13 – Wednesday 16.08.2017

( Night at: Campeggio Obelisco, Trieste )

I woke up early in the morning and went for a walk to the nearby bay, Kosirina, to take some pictures and enjoy a last swim in that beautiful spot.

After that, we left the Murter Islands and started our long drive toward Trieste, about 400 km away. We arrived in the late afternoon and checked into Camping Obelisco.

Later, we took a bus into the city center of Trieste to explore a bit and have dinner. After a long day of travel and new impressions, we went back to the campsite and finally went to sleep.

DAY 14 – Thursday 17.08.2017

We woke up early in the morning and started the day by visiting Castello di Miramare. It was a beautiful way to begin the morning, walking around the castle and enjoying the views over the sea.

In the afternoon, we began our journey back home, spending the whole afternoon in the car. It was a long drive, but also a quiet time to reflect on everything we had experienced during the trip.