
Our journey from Venice to Croatia was an adventure filled with festive charm, challenging weather, and a rewarding end.
Our first stop was Rijeka, where we stayed near the enchanting Trsat Castle, a historic castle perched high above the city. At Christmas, the castle transforms into a magical fairyland, illuminated with twinkling lights that make it feel straight out of a storybook.
We spent the evening exploring the beautifully decorated grounds and stumbled upon Santa in his magical grotto. Santa was everything you’d want him to be warm, jolly, and full of energy. Georgia had a wonderful chat with him, sharing stories about our travels, while he listened with genuine interest and laughter. It was a magical experience that left us all feeling the festive spirit.
The next day… we set off for Šibenik, only to encounter extreme weather. Torrential rain that quickly turned into fierce winds and eventually, inevitably a blizzard that covered the roads in deep snow. For about 80 miles, we followed snow ploughs and trucks plodding along at 30mph, navigating icy roads and barely able to see through the storm at times.
We needed to fuel in the car so a much needed stop at a petrol station gave us a break from the chaos, we had some lunch in the warm too, but even in that short time about 30 mins over two inches of snow had piled up on the roof of our car. We continued onward and the journey was tense, but things took an unexpected turn when we reached the Sveti Rok Tunnel, a 5 mile passage through Croatia’s A1 motorway.
The tunnel is known as the climatic divide between the cooler northern mainland and the warmer Mediterranean climate of Dalmatia. Honestly, driving through felt like entering another world on the northern side, we faced fierce snow and ice, but emerging on the Dalmatian side, the snow was gone, replaced by drizzle and clear roads. It was an incredible moment that highlighted the dramatic contrast in Croatia’s weather.








After such a challenging journey, arriving at our apartment was like stepping into a dream. This place is incredible spacious, beautifully decorated, and full of thoughtful touches that make it feel special. It’s been the perfect haven for relaxing after a day of adventure, and it’s one of the best accommodations we’ve stayed in so far so choosing the right place to stay can make all the difference especially when you need a well deserved rest.