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The Best Croatia Itinerary: Dubrovnik to Zagreb

If you are planning a trip to Croatia this post will provide you with a comprehensive itinerary including places to visit, what to see, where to stay and recommended tours to ensure you make the most of your time in this beautiful European destination.

A 7 to 15 day Croatia Itinerary

Wonderful, beautiful, gorgeous…just 3 adjectives to describe a country that is rapidly growing in popularity as a destination of choice for holiday makers from all over the world.

The first decision to make when planning a trip to Croatia is where to actually go. The choices are numerous when designing your Croatia itinerary – the wonderful cities of Split and Dubrovnik, the beautiful islands of Hvar, Brač and Korčula (to name just 3 of the many islands off Croatia) or the gorgeous National Parks.

You will also find information about some of the best places to visit on day trips from Croatia. This Croatia itinerary therefore not only includes information about Croatia but also day trips into neighbouring Montenegro and Bosnia-Herzegovina.

This is a pretty packed itinerary – we like to be busy, to explore and to discover! We also completed most of this Croatia itinerary using public transport (though there are some exceptions as you will see!)

We didn’t end our holiday in Croatia but travelled on into Slovenia, Austria and Switzerland before flying home. Altogether we took 3 weeks to complete this trip but obviously it can be shortened or extended depending on you own requirements.

The first 7 days in Croatia provides a perfect Dubrovnik itinerary whilst days 8 -15 detail an itinerary for Split. Combine the two and you have a fantastic 2 week holiday.

Map of Croatia

A short history of Croatia

11th century BC – 5th century AD: The Romans lived in what was then called Dalmatia. Find amazing Roman ruins in Split and Pula (Diocletian’s Palace and a Roman ampitheater respectively)

7th century : At this time historians believe Croat tribes moved into Dalmatia.

8th century:  Spread of Christianity (90% of Croats are Catholic)

10th century: King Tomislav creates the Kingdom of Croatia when he unites Dalmatia and Pannonia.

11th century: Hungary take over Croatia. Over the next few hundred years Croatia resists attempts to conquer it by the Ottoman Empire and joins the Hapsburgs and eventually the Austro-Hungarian Empire.

1918:  After WW1 and the break up of the Austro-Hungarian Empire Croatia descends into civil war.

1945: Tito takes over as leader and Yugoslavia is born out of Bosnia, Croatia, Macedonia, Montenegro, Slovenia and Serbia.

1991:  Croatia declares its independence from Yugoslavia.

1992/5 : The Bosnian War. It is estimated that over 100,000 people died in what was the most horrific war in Europe since WW2. The murder of numerous civilians characterised this brutal and bloody war. Since the end of the war in 1995 many of the leaders have been tried and found guilty of war crimes at the International Criminal Court at The Hague.

2018 :  20 plus year after  the end of the war Croatia is a safe and independent country with a strong economy and a stable government. It is growing in popularity every year with an estimated  18.5 million tourists visiting the country in 2017.

Fast facts about Croatia

Croatia itinerary – Week One Dubrovnik

We decided to start our Croatia itinerary in the south of the country and flew into Dubrovnik.

It is just one of the many destinations in Croatia which has attracted a huge amount of attention since it was revealed that it was the main filming location in Croatia for King’s Landing a city from the hugely successful television series “Game of Thrones.”

Day 1 – Arriving in Dubrovnik

Transfer from the airport to the hotel

After exploring the options of how to get to our hotel from the airport we found it was best to pre-book a transfer. If you have reserved accommodation in Dubrovnik Old Town a taxi has to drop you off at the main Pile Gate as it is pedestrian only so be aware of this especially if you have lots of luggage.

The airport is about 20 km south of Dubrovnik and you will enjoy superb views as you drive towards the city.

Where to stay in Dubrovnik

We decided not to actually stay in the Old Town itself.  It can become incredibly busy especially in summer (and even worse when the cruise ships dock). We decided to stay in an area called Babin Kuk which is at the northern end of the Lapad peninsula and only around 4 km from the Old Town.

Babin Kuk itself is a lovely.  It has a long pedestrianised street with lots of cafes and restaurants which is great in the evenings and was ideal for us as we had chosen a self-catering option.

Babin Kuk is a perfect area for families with numerous hotels to suit all budgets. There are lots of walking paths in Babin Kuk as well as Copacobana beach which is the longest beach in Dubrovnik.

We stayed at the Villa Antea Apartments which has an 8.3 rating on booking.com. The apartments were great value and the swimming pool, though small, had the most spectacular outlook!

A view from the swimming pool of the Villa Antea Apartments in Babin Kuk Dubrovnik
View from the swimming pool at Villa Antea

FOR BUDGET CONSCIOUS FAMILIES AND COUPLES LOOKING FOR AN APARTMENT IN AN IDEAL LOCATION NEAR DUBROVNIK

Day 2/3  – Exploring Dubrovnik Old Town

We spent a couple of days exploring Dubrovnik Old Town. To get to the Pile Gate (entrance to the city) from Babin Kuk catch the number 5/6 bus. Buy your tickets on the bus as you get on.

The buses do get very busy at times so try to go earlier in the day or later afternoon. If you are planning to walk the walls I would highly recommend doing this early in the day if you are there in summer. It is incredibly hot and there is no shade. Also make sure you are wearing comfortable flat shoes, put on plenty of sun screen, take a hat and a bottle of water!

You can read more about what there is to do and see in Dubrovnik in my guide to the city.

The roofs of Dubrovnik
No Croatia itinerary would be complete without a walk around the walls of Dubrovnik

If you are in the Old City catch a ferry across to the island of Lokrum. The island is only 600 metres from the city. No-one lives on the island and there are no cars so it is an idyllic location to relax for an afternoon.

If you enjoy kayaking I would highly recommend taking a kayaking tour of the walls of Dubrovnik (seeing them from the water – wow!) and Lokrum Island – you can book that tour via this link!

We didn’t spend more than a few hours at a time in the city as it was very hot (late August) Staying in Babin Kuk we had access to some lovely walks later in the afternoons.

On one of these walks we discovered the Cave Bar at the Hotel More which I would highly recommend. The views were beautiful at sunset. We also booked an evening meal one night. It was a most wonderful place to enjoy a romantic dinner with my husband.

The Hotel More in Dubrovnik has a fantastic view over the Adriatic sea
View from the Hotel More in Dubrovnik

Days 4/5 – Day trips from Dubrovnik

We decided to take a couple of day trips from Dubrovnik to two of the surrounding countries – Montenegro and Bosnia Herzegovina. There are a large number of tour companies offering day trips to Kotor Bay and Kotor in Montenegro and Mostar in Bosnia Herzegovina.

I did a lot of research as I didn’t want to be part of a large tour. I was looking for something more personal. And I found that with Cheap Dubrovnik Tours. 

They offer bespoke tours with your own guide/driver for the day. Tell them what you want to see and they will give you options for your day’s itinerary. You are picked up and dropped back off at your hotel. As neither myself nor my husband is fond of driving this seemed like an excellent and affordable option.

We had 2 fantastic and informative days out with the company and we cannot recommend them highly enough.

A VIEW OF KOTOR BAY IN MONTENEGRO
Beautiful Kotor Bay – you can easily add visits to neighbouring countries into your Croatia itinerary

Day 6 – Sail the Elafiti Islands

With so many wonderful islands to visit by yacht in Croatia you just have to include a trip in your itinerary.

As a special treat for my husband I hired a boat for the day to take us sailing around the Elafiti Islands. The islands are a short boat ride to the north-west of Dubrovnik. We had a fantastic day and visited 2 out of the 3 inhabited islands. Being skippered for the day in a boat all to ourselves was a wonderful experience.

You can read more about our visit to the Elaphiti Islands in this article – “A day sailing the Elaphiti Island by private boat”

A boat moored on one of the Elaphiti Islands in Croatia

Day 7 – Arboretum Trsteno

When I was researching and planning our holiday I came across a stunning photograph which had been taken at Arboretum Trsteno. It was also I found out later another location used during the making of Game of Thrones. 

Arboretum Trsteno is a short bus or taxi ride from Dubrovnik. We enjoyed a few hours wandering the gardens and enjoying the rather spectacular view.

I have noticed mixed reviews from visitors to Arboretum Trsteno on Trip Advisor but we enjoyed our visit.If you have the time I would certainly consider adding it into your Croatia itinerary.

Read more about visiting Arboretum Trsteno 

Alternatively you can also visit Arboretum Trsteno during a 6 hour tour of Game of Thrones locations from Dubrovnik with Get Your Guide. You can book that tour via this link.

Arboretum Trsetno | The Ultimate Croatia itinerary featured by top international travel blogger, Tracy's Travels in Time
I am glad I added Arboretum Trsteno into our Croatia itinerary – the views were spectacular

Croatia Itinerary week 2 – Split

Day 8 – Sail to Split

We caught the catamaran from Dubrovnik to Split. This service takes approximately 4 hours and operates between April and October every year. There are no car ferries between the 2 cities. Other options to travel between Dubrovnik and Split include taking a bus or hiring a car and taking a road trip.

The ferry stops in Korcula, Hvar and Brac. We found it to be a pleasant journey and I would add a stay in Hvar to our itinerary if we take this trip again. The islands looked incredibly beautiful.

To book the trip (which I did as soon as I had organised our itinerary) you have a choice between 2 companies sailing this route. 

Kapetan Luka Catamarans is a private company while Jadrolinija is the state run company.

You may like to read this article to find out more about booking ferries and catamarans in Croatia 

Choosing your accommodation in Split

One tip when booking your accommodation in Split is to look for hotels or apartments within the walls of the Diocletian’s Palace. It is an experience not to miss and unlike anywhere I have ever stayed in the world.

We chose a lovely apartment called Apartment Kaleta which was perfect. Beautifully furnished, well equipped, and in a wonderful part of the Old Town I would highly recommend it. With a 9.5 rating these apartments are popular and book up well in advance.

FOR COUPLES LOOKING FOR AN IDEAL LOCATION IN SPLIT – Click to book a stay at the Apartments Kaleta

Split Croatia the perfect destination for your Croatian itinerary

Day 9/10 Split

Split took me by surprise. I unexpectedly and unequivocally fell head over heels in love.

While I had been expecting the beauty of Dubrovnik, for me Split outshone it in every way. With the Dalmatian mountains behind and the Adriatic at its shores it is easy to understand why, 1700 years ago, a retiring Roman emperor chose it as the site on which to build his palace.

Diocletian’s Palace takes up about half of Split’s Old Town. Entering through one of its 4 impressive gates will lead you into a living museum. It is in my view the most impressive Roman building left on earth. Today people still live in the Old Town – within the walls of this great palace.

There is so much to do and see in the Old Town. At night wander the streets, have a meal or drink in one of its many restaurants, cafes and bars or just soak in the ambiance. Stroll the Riva, the palm tree lined promenade in front of the Palace and watch the sun go down with a cocktail.

There are many tours available in Split. I would highly recommend learning more about the history of this city and Diocletian’s Palace and a tour is a great way of doing this.

If you are a fan of Game of Thrones there are tours which will take you to the areas used in the filming of the series.

These are my recommended tour options

Walking Tour of Split

A great way to learn about Split is to take a walking tour. This tour take approximately 90 minutes and is a perfect way to become acquainted with the city.

Split: Diocletian’s Palace Walking Tour

If you have a particular interest in learning more about Diocletian’s Palace I would recommend this 45 minute tour. It is fascinating to learn all about the history of the buildings as you walk through.

Where to eat in Split

As we had an apartment we were able to save on costs by self-catering. The market is a great place to buy fresh fruit and vegetables and there is also a fish market to purchase some fresh catches brought in by the local fishermen from the Adriatic.

There are also some lovely restaurants in Split and we did try out a few!

Our favourite place for breakfast was Bepa which can be found in in the square at Narodni trg. For dinner I would recommend Chops Grill for great steaks and seafood.

Also buy a freshly made smoothie or ice cream and enjoy an evening stroll along the Riva!

Split in Croatia | The Ultimate Croatia itinerary featured by top international travel blogger, Tracy's Travels in Time
Split should be a must-visit for any Croatia itinerary in my view – it is a beautiful city

Day 11 Trogir and Šibenik

I try to visit UNESCO World Heritage Sites during our trips if possible. I had identified 2 sites in Croatia that were within a stone’s throw of Split – Trogir and Šibenik.

Although I booked tours to visit both it is possible to hire a car and drive, take a bus or take the hop-on- hop-off bus which travels between Split and Trogir. I don’t like large tours and I always look for companies which offer small group options. I chose tours with Get Your Guide as I find them affordable and generally well organised.

Trogir is a set within medieval walls on an island linked by bridges to the mainland. It is known for its mix of Renaissance, Baroque and Romanesque buildings.

Šibenik is the home of the 15th-century stone Cathedral of St. James which is decorated with 71 sculpted faces.

I would recommend visiting both Trogir and Šibenik if you have time. You can read more about these beautiful towns in my guide to Sibenik and Trogir.

Tours to the towns from Get Your Guide include:

Trogir Church and statue

 Day 12 Krka Waterfalls

KrKa National Park is 87 kms north of Split. Famous for its beautiful waterfalls is a popular day trip. We again booked our trip to KrKa with Get Your Guide which you can also book via this link.

If you can’t fit a visit to Plitvice into your travel plans (as we couldn’t) I would definitely head to KrKa. The waterfalls are stunningly beautiful – take your swimming gear as here you can actually swim in the gorgeous clear water!

Read more about visiting KrKa National Park

KrKa Waterfalls in Croatia

Day 13 Take the train from Split to Zagreb

My husband loves train journeys and so rather than taking a day tour to Plitivce Lakes and onto Zagreb (the capital of Croatia) which is offered by many of the tour companies he wanted to make the journey via train. This was a mistake.

The train line between Split and Zagreb was like a roller coaster. It took 6 hours and although the scenery was lovely the journey was uncomfortable. Luckily we took food and drinks with us as there were nothing available to purchase on the train. This is easily the worst train trip I have ever taken.

I would consider hiring a driver to take you between the 2 cities, catching a bus or taking one of the tours which starts in Split travels to Plitvice Lakes National Park and then onto Zagreb.

The best way to get from Split to Zagreb (DO NOT take the train!!) in my view is one that includes a trip to Plitvice such as this one from Get Your Guide which we WILL be doing next time!

Split to Zagreb: Private Transfer with Plitvice Lakes

Plitvice Lakes are a UNESCO World Heritage Site and Croatia’s most popular tourist attraction. I would highly recommend visiting them and they would certainly be on any future itinerary.

Day 14 Zagreb

We spent a day in Zagreb before catching our onward connection to Slovenia. The Croatian capital is served by many airlines so is an ideal place to end your Croatian holiday.

Alternatively, you could,  like us, continue on into Slovenia.

Or if you want to spend more time in Croatia why not head to Istria instead – this travel guide to Istria will certainly inspire you to visit!

zagreb | The Ultimate Croatia itinerary featured by top international travel blogger, Tracy's Travels in Time
Zagreb was the final destination in our Croatia itinerary

Final thoughts

Croatia is a beautiful country to visit and one of your favourites in Europe. My itinerary will have provided lots of inspiration and practical tips for your to make the most of your visit. You can read more about Croatia in these articles;