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We will start the 2023 season with our annual road trip on the Adriatic coast using the famous Magistral road.
Starting out in Slovenia, we will drive down to the Istirian peninsula for the first time, exploring more roads and seaside towns, then the length of the Magistral all the way to Montenegro. There - we will take a loop using that insane mountain road between Budva and Podgorica, with two nights in Porto Montenegro, before going up to Dubrovnik and Split.
We meet in Kempinski Palace Hotel in Portoro on the 6th of May. You can relax from your trip today, while the team prepares your cars for the event ahead. In the evening, we will have dinner and the driver's briefing. We will have some advice to prepare you for this exciting road trip with your supercar.
The next seven days we enjoy the most stunning roads and views the Balkans have to offer. Istria, the Magistral, Mostar and the red carpet, fantastic Montenegro, and of course Dubrovnik.
Every day will consist of about three to four hours of driving. We will also stop for lunches, pictures, historic monuments, or just great views and there is no shortage of those in Croatia and Montenegro.
Ready? Here we go. This is the complete schedule for Gran Turismo Adriatica.
The starting point of the event is in the seaside town of Portoro and hotel Kempinski Palace, and check in to the event. At about 19:30 we have a welcome mingle in the bar, before heading for dinner right across the street an hour later.
14.00 - Check-in open in Kempinski Palace ***** in Portoro
19:30 - Welcome mingle & drivers' briefing in the bar
20:00 - Dinner in Paco 2
It will be a short drive out of Slovenia, before reaching the Croatian Istria peninsula. The nature and roads here are fantastic. We will have lunch in the historic town of Pula, which has that famous Roman-era Amphitheater.
In the afternoon, we arrive to Opatija, and Hotel Ambasador.
10.00 - Leaving Hotel
12.00 - Lunch in Bonaca
14.00 - Driving Istrian country roads continues
16.00 - Arrival at Ambasador ***** in Opatija
20.00 - Dinner in Molo
This is where the real fun starts. We drive one of the world's absolutely best driving roads. The epic E65 Adriatic Magistral. Joining the road just after Rijeka, the smooth twists never seem to end and you will not want them to end. The best part comes after our lunch stop, and it is magnificent. This is a truly spectacular driving experience. Once we reach the Maslenica motorway entry, we take the superfast highway system down to Zadar for about an hour and a half. Trogir awaits.
10.00 - Leaving hotel
13.00 - Lunch in Pizzeria uanj
14.30 - Driving continues
17.00 - Arrival at The Brown Beach House **** in Trogir
20.00 - Dinner in the hotel
The next day, we continue down the shoreline, towards Makarska, through all the coastal towns on the south Adriatic coast.
With a lunch stop in Makarska near the harbour, we get back on the road. On the way to Mostar, we drive up hill, taking an incredible climb on the Biokovo mountainside and a perfect resurfaced road to Ravča highway entrance, where we get on the motorway again, and continue into Bosnia. After a little bit of the super-fast Croatian motorway, we re-join the country road to Čapljina, and up the Neretva river into Mostar.
We will stay in the Hotel Mepas for the night.
10.00 - Leaving hotel
12.00 - Lunch in Makarska
14.00 - Driving continues
16.00 - Arrival at Hotel Mepas *****
17.00 - Red Carpet welcome ceremony in Mostar
20.00 - Dinner in Mostar old town by the famous bridge
Today, we leave towards Montenegro. We will drive through the town of Trebinje, from where we head directly towards the Montenegrin border. Shortly after the border, we have lunch at Restoran Grahovac 1858. Later, head to the Kotor Bay, where we drive the coastal road around this beautiful natural bay.
The next two nights, we stay in Hotel Regent Porto Montenegro *****
11.00 - Leaving hotel
12:30 - Border Crossing into Montenegro
13:00 - Lunch in Grahovac 1858
15:00 - Arrival at Porto Montenegro Hotel Regent *****
20:00 - Dinner in Roberto's Mare
We will have a late start, today. If you desire driving today, we have a fantastic road planned out. First we climb the hill overlooking Budva, and take the fast country road to Podgorica.
In Podgorica, we turn around directly, and take an alternative, but equally great road back down to the coast. Arrival to the historic town and city walls of Budva, we will have lunch at Old Fisherman's Pub. After this, Porto Montenegro is 15 minutes away.
If you prefer, you can stay at the hotel, and enjoy your afternoon by the poolside.
11.00 - Leaving hotel
13:00 - Lunch in Budva
14.30 - Driving continues
16.00 - Arrival at Porto Montenegro
20.00 - Dinner in Porto Montenegro/p>
Today we return North towards Croatia. On our way to Dubrovnik, we will take the ferry back across the Kotor bay, and continue towards the Croatian border.
Today, we stay in Hotel Palace in a more peaceful part of Dubrovnik. Brunch on arrival, after which you have a free afternoon until we have dinner in one of the best locations in town - by the old city walls, right next to the famous stairs from Game of Thrones.
11.00 - Leaving hotel
12.00 - Border crossing into Croatia
12.30 - Arrival at Hotel Palace *****
13.00 - Lunch in hotel
19:30 - Aperitivo in the hotel
20.00 - Dinner at Jezuite in Dubrovnik old town
We begin the final leg of our wonderful road trip heading up the Magistral. No more border crossings - as the fantastic new bridge connecting Croatia to the southern portion is finally built. We will have lunch in Baka Voda, shortly further up the Magistral.
From Baka Voda - we climb the mountain of Biokovo, and take the motorway all the way into Split, to finish on a relaxing drive. After arrival at Radisson Blu hotel & resort, you can relax by the pool, or the beach club close to the hotel.
11.00 - Leaving hotelThank you for joining us for this event. We hope you had a good time. If you opted for transportation of your car back home, your car will be picked up at the hotel.
Joining from the United States, South Africa or Asia? We have rental Ferrari and Lamborghini cars available for this event. Check the registration form below for all available cars and prices.
The event is 6 800 EUR and includes everything for a driver and co-driver sharing one car and hotel room:
Rental supercar: We have rental supercars available for this event. Check the registration form for available cars and prices.
Hotels: Seven nights in five-star hotels along the road with breakfast and safe parking for your car. All dinners and lunches included.
Also: Professional photos taken from the event. Our famous event polos, for both the driver and the co-driver. Welcome pack with roadbook, badges, and stickers for your car.
Trailer service option: We can transport your car from Scandinavia to Croatia for the event and back.
For questions regarding registration, please contact us on registry@granturismo.org.
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Beautiful road trips and famous racing tracks since 2002. Supercars only.
While our head offices are in Geneva, Switzerland, the team is spread throughout Europe: Sweden, Poland, Italy and Croatia. Please select the appropriate team member to contact below.
For general enquiries, you can always use info@granturismo.org. For event registrations, please use registry@granturismo.org.