I’ve been exploring Croatia extensively for more than a decade and even won Croatia’s top travel writing award for foreigners, the Golden Pen Grand Prix, in 2021. This is a country that has meant a lot to me for a long time, and I love helping my readers plan Croatia trips.
So you want to plan a trip to Croatia! Great! This itinerary is structured as a two-week Croatia trip, but I also include information on cutting it down to 10 days or 7 days, plus some additional 3- or 4-day itineraries for Istria and Montenegro that you can easily add on to the 7-day itinerary for something different.
You can download this as a printable itinerary here!
This post was published in June 2023.
Table of Contents
Two Weeks In Croatia Itinerary Two-Week Croatia Itinerary, Day by Day Days 1-2: Zagreb Where to Stay in Zagreb Where to Stay Near the Plitvice Lakes Day 3: Plitvice Lakes National Park Day 4: Drive to Split via Zadar, Krka National Park, and/or Šibenik Where to Stay in Split Day 5: Split Days 6-8: Hvar Where to Stay in Hvar Days 9-11: Korčula Where to Stay in Korčula Day 12: Korčula to Pelješac to Dubrovnik Where to Stay in Dubrovnik Days 13 and 14: Dubrovnik 10-Day Croatia Itinerary 7-Day Croatia Itinerary Three Days in Istria Itinerary Day 1: Best of Rovinj Where to Stay in Rovinj Day 2: Motovun and Grožnjan Day 3: Bale, Vodnjan, Kamenjak, and Pula Getting from Istria to Dalmatia Three Days in Montenegro Itinerary Day 1: Dubrovnik to Kotor Where to Stay in Kotor Day 2: Rafting Trip to Tara Canyon Day 3: Explore Montenegro’s Coastal Towns Other Croatia Itinerary Options Best Time to Visit Croatia How to Get to Croatia Is Croatia Safe? What to Pack for a Croatia Trip Croatia is waiting for you!
Two Weeks In Croatia Itinerary
My ultimate two weeks in Croatia itinerary is done as a road trip. Croatia is one of my favorite countries in the world for a road trip! Roads are in excellent condition, drivers are far more sane than elsewhere in the Balkans, signage is easy to follow, the scenery is breathtaking, and there are tons of interesting places to stop and explore.
Can you do this two-week Croatia itinerary by public transportation? You can — primarily by bus on land and ferry by sea. Buses are much better than trains in Croatia (trains don’t even run further south than Split).
Keep in mind that without a car, you can take passenger-only catamarans rather than car ferries, which are faster and give you more options. (For example, passenger ferries to Hvar Town, rather than Stari Grad, saving you time.)
This itinerary also gives you a lot of freedom to do what you want. If you want to spend your time taking lots of tours and visiting all the spots, go ahead! If you want to chill out and lie on the beach, that’s cool, too. Most people lie somewhere in between.
I definitely recommend prioritizing one day in the middle to chill out without any plans. You’ll need it about a week into your trip.
And finally, one of my big pet peeves is changing accommodation every day (or when someone publishes an itinerary that has you changing accommodation every day), so I tried to keep hotel switching minimal. One night in Zagreb, two in the Plitvice Lakes, two in Split, three in Hvar, three in Korčula, and three in Dubrovnik.
And if you want to see more, just take day trips! You can easily visit Vis from Hvar, Mljet from Korčula, and the Elafiti Islands from Dubrovnik — without having to lug your bags to yet another hotel.
Two-Week Croatia Itinerary, Day by Day
This itinerary is ideal for first-time Croatia visitors, who want to see the islands of the Dalmatian Coast, the waterfalls of the Plitvice Lakes, the dynamic capital of Zagreb, and plenty of other cool spots. But this also gives you enough freedom to do your own thing, whatever that may be.
This itinerary doesn’t include the region of Istria — but further down I have information on how to add a few days in Istria to a Croatia itinerary! Let’s take a look:
Day 1: Zagreb
Day 2: Zagreb, drive to Plitvice Lakes
Day 3: Plitvice Lakes
Day 4: Drive to Split via Krka or Zadar
Day 5: Split
Day 6: Ferry to Hvar
Days 7-8: Hvar
Day 9: Ferry to Korčula
Days 10-11: Korčula
Days 12: Drive to Dubrovnik via Pelješac
Days 13-14: Dubrovnik
Zagreb on market day, via Shutterstock
Days 1-2: Zagreb
Welcome to Croatia — you’re starting in Zagreb ! This small capital city has quite a lot to offer, even as it’s lived in the shadow of Europe’s most popular capitals. You’re especially going to love the cafe scene and parks here.
More than anything, prioritize visiting the Museum of Broken Relationships , my favorite museum on the PLANET, which will deeply move you. I also recommend exploring both the Upper Town and Lower Town, dining outdoors on Tkalčićeva Street, visiting the Botanical Garden, and hitting up the many cool third-wave coffee cafes in the city center.
If you’re looking to do something more active, you can explore Zagreb by bike or take a Croatian cooking class .
Where to Stay in Zagreb
Top-Rated Luxury Hotel in Zagreb: Hotel Le Premier
Top-Rated Mid-Range Hotel in Zagreb: Manda Heritage Hotel
Top-Rated Budget Hotel in Zagreb: National Plus
Find more places to stay in Zagreb here.
Read More: Complete Guide to Zagreb, Croatia’s Hopping Capital
In the afternoon of Day 2, drive down to the Plitvice Lakes National Park. It’s about a two-hour drive from Zagreb. I recommend arriving in time for dinner, as you won’t be exploring the lakes until the following morning.
Where to Stay Near the Plitvice Lakes
Top-Rated Luxury Hotel Near the Plitvice Lakes: Boutique Villa Pearl of Plitvice
Top-Rated Mid-Range Hotel Near the Plitvice Lakes: House Zupan
Top-Rated Budget Hotel Near the Plitvice Lakes: Guesthouse Bubalo
Find more places to stay near the Plitvice Lakes here.
Plitvice Lakes, via Shutterstock
Day 3: Plitvice Lakes National Park
This is your full day at the Plitvice Lakes! Here’s your chance to live in everyone’s screensaver or calendar for a few hours! (I kid, I kid, but it really is that beautiful.) This is the only thing on your Croatia itinerary today, so take your time and make it count.
Book your park ticket ahead of time if exploring independently, or you can book a guided tour if you’d like.
Upon entry, you’ll get access to several walking trails ranging from 3 km (2 miles) to 18 km (11 miles).
Either way, make time for both the wild, thundering waterfalls of the Upper Lakes, and the Instagram-famous Lower Lakes with their platforms taking you through smaller waterfalls. There is a boat connecting the two of them.
After an active day, grab dinner nearby and get ready for an early night — the earlier you start tomorrow, the more you can see.
People walking through Zadar’s famous Sun Salutation.
Day 4: Drive to Split via Zadar, Krka National Park, and/or Šibenik
Today, set off for Split in the morning and enjoy one of my favorite parts of driving in Croatia — going through a big, long tunnel underneath the mountains, and emerging into sunshine! The mountains hold back the clouds, so you’ll instantly know you’ve made it to Dalmatia!
You have a few different options here. The drive from Plitvice Lakes National Park to Split takes about 2.5 hours, and you could drive straight there, or you could take a few detours along the way.
You can visit Zadar . Zadar is one of my favorite places in Croatia — a beautiful and pleasant seaside city that doesn’t get as many tourists as Split, with Roman ruins and quirky elements like a sea-powered organ. If you’re there for lunch, I love the squid ink gnocchi at Restaurant Bruschetta .
Adding Zadar to your Croatia itinerary will add an extra 30 minutes of driving to your day.
You can visit Krka National Park and/or Šibenik. Krka National Park is often compared to the Plitvice Lakes, with its waterfalls and bright green rivers, but it’s much lower-key and a pleasant place to enjoy nature. The town of Šibenik is just outside Krka, making it an easy add-on, and is home to a UNESCO World Heritage-listed cathedral.
Adding Krka and Šibenik to your Croatia itinerary will add another 30 minutes of driving to your day.
Make it to Split by evening, check into your accommodation, and take a walk along the Riva while enjoying the sunset.
Where to Stay in Split
Top-Rated Luxury Hotel in Split: Judita Palace Heritage Hotel
Top-Rated Mid-Range Hotel in Split: Hotel Peristil
Top-Rated Budget Hotel in Split: Hotel Villa Diana
Find more places to stay in Split here.
Split and the surrounding mountains, via Shutterstock.
Day 5: Split
This is your full day in the Dalmatian city of Split — and there’s so much to do in Split ! You may have heard of Diocletian’s Palace — Split’s UNESCO World Heritage Site — but you might not know that the palace is more like a neighborhood, with tons of shops and restaurants and hotels that are part of the palace!
One of the best things to do is climb the bell tower for outstanding views over Split. If you want to enjoy more of the outdoors, hike Marjan Hill or visit Klis Fortress. I love getting a coffee on blood-red Republic Square, and hitting up some of the wine bars for a glass of red and some Pag cheese from the nearby island of Pag.
And if you want to be more active, take a sunset yoga class or go on a bike tour !
For dinner, if you’re getting a bit bored of Croatian food, I recommend To Je Jako , a Honduran-Mexican restaurant that makes a lovely change of pace. Ever had Honduran food before? Try the baleadas!
Read More: Complete Guide to Split, Sunny City on the Adriatic
Hvar has so many cool beaches!
Days 6-8: Hvar
Take the car ferry to Hvar on the morning of Day 6, and know that the car ferry docks in the town of Stari Grad, not Hvar Town. From here, head to your accommodation (you will soon realize just how big of an island this is!) and spend time chilling out, exploring your surroundings, and taking your first dip in the Adriatic Sea! This is Hvar , baby!
If you want a place to visit, FALKO Beach Bar is a great place to chill and a short walk from Hvar Town, while Hula Hula Bar has more of a party vibe as the sun goes down.
For Day 7, I recommend exploring Hvar Town, including climbing up to the Spanish Fortress for the best view. You can add to your day with a short boat tour — either romantic sunset sail from Hvar , or go on a kayaking adventure from Hvar Town to the Pakleni Islands.
For Day 8, I recommend driving around and exploring the island of Hvar in depth. There are so many cool beaches to explore, little towns like canal-filled Vrboska, as well as Jelsa and Stari Grad. You can even go wine tasting or visit lavender fields.
Alternatively, you can take a day trip from Hvar. If you’re keen on visiting the Blue Cave on the island of Vis, it makes the most sense to visit from Hvar, as it’s closest. This day trip by speedboat is highly rated.
Where to Stay in Hvar
Kate’s favorite: Maslina Resort (amazing, incredible mindful luxury property with wonderful staff near Stari Grad)
Top-Rated Luxury Hotel in Hvar: Palace Elisabeth Hvar Heritage Hotel
Top-Rated Mid-Range Hotel in Hvar: Guest House Kokolo
Top-Rated Budget Hotel in Hvar: Guesthouse Bracanović
Find more places to stay in Hvar here.
Read More: Complete Guide to Hvar, Croatia’s Sunniest Island
Beaches and vineyards — that’s what Korčula does!
Days 9-11: Korčula
Start your next day by taking the ferry from Hvar to Korčula . The car ferry will take you from Stari Grad on Hvar to Vela Luka in Korčula (KOR-chu-la), which happens to be a 40-minute drive from popular Korčula Town. Take advantage and take a few hours of exploring the island from end to end.
I recommend visiting the stunning bay at Zavalatica, which has restaurants overlooking the neon teal waters. If you’re up for some beach time, drop by Pupnatska Luka (fun and has a cafe) or Bačva Beach (quieter and tougher to reach). The inland towns of Smokvica and Pupnat have wineries and cafes.
Finish your first day in Korčula Town. For a treat, eat at LoLe Tapas Bar — the dishes here are the most inventive traditional Dalmatian food you’ll find! It’s very popular, so get there early.
Two full days in Korčula after this, believe me, is not excessive. On your first day, explore Korčula Town in depth — I recommend taking a 90-minute historic walking tour . You can also take a bike tour to wineries, experience a Moreška sword dance performance, or take the hop-on hop-off water taxi to the islands of Badija and Vrnik, followed by the chilled out town of Lumbarda.
On Day 11, if you’re ready for something new, you can take a day trip to beautiful Mljet. Mljet National Park is closest to Korčula Town, so I recommend doing a day trip from here if you’re going to do one. This one comes highly recommended ; you can also just take the ferry to Pomena and explore independently.
Where to Stay in Korčula
Top-Rated Luxury Hotel in Korčula: Aminess Korčula Heritage Hotel
Top-Rated Mid-Range Hotel in Korčula: M & J Central Suites
Top-Rated Budget Hotel in Korčula: Guesthouse Franica
Find more places to stay in Korčula here.
Read more: Complete Guide to Korčula, Croatia’s Coolest Island
A small farming village on the Pelješac Peninsula.
Day 12: Korčula to Pelješac to Dubrovnik
After checking out of your accommodation, take the car ferry from Korčula Town to Orebić on the mainland. From here you’ll be on the Pelješac Peninsula, one of the most underrated and beautiful drives in Croatia.
The drive from Orebić to Dubrovnik takes about two hours. You can power through if you want — but if you have time, I recommend exploring Pelješac a bit. Plaža Divna, northwest of Orebić, is one of my favorite beaches in Croatia. The town of Ston is famous for its oysters and one of the longest city walls in the world. And tiny family-owned wineries are everywhere, serving up that fantastic Dingač wine.
Closer to Dubrovnik, the town of Trsteno is home to Trsteno Arboretum, one of the prettiest gardens in Croatia that was featured on Game of Thrones .
Depending on when you get to Dubrovnik, I recommend taking the cable car up Mount Srd for sunset if you can. I highly recommend making a reservation at Panorama Restaurant in advance — the food is surprisingly great and the views are FABULOUS. Finish your evening at a bar or cafe in the Old City.
Where to Stay in Dubrovnik
Top-Rated Luxury Hotel in Dubrovnik: Hotel Excelsior (BEST VIEW IN TOWN and a great waterfront!)
Top-Rated Mid-Range Hotel in Dubrovnik: Guest House Libertas
Top-Rated Budget Hotel in Dubrovnik: Rooms Monika
Find more places to stay in Dubrovnik here.
Climb the city walls late in the day for the best views of Dubrovnik.
Days 13 and 14: Dubrovnik
Welcome to the Pearl of the Adriatic! There is so much to do in Dubrovnik and the surrounding area.
On your first day, my recommendation is to explore the Dubrovnik Old Town on foot, walk the city walls (ideally late afternoon or close to sunset for cooler temperatures), have a drink on the edge of the cliffs at Buža Bar , and have dinner at Dubrovnik Eat with Locals (most people who do this end up saying it’s their favorite thing they did in Croatia!).
On your second day, feel free to do your thing — relax on a beach or chill out at Buža Bar. Go kayaking around the city walls . Take a Game of Thrones tour if you’re a fan. Visit nearby Lopud Island for a few hours.
If you want more time on the water, take a boat trip to Mljet or the Elafiti Islands . Visit the fascinating Red History Museum if you love 60s and 70s style (and a great place to visit after a boat trip as it’s close to the port!).
And don’t forget my favorite Dubrovnik restaurants: Proto for seafood, Azur for Asian-Adriatic fusion fare, and Kopun for capon (a different kind of chicken).
Finish your trip with a flight out of Dubrovnik.
Read More: How to Spend Three Days in Dubrovnik
Waterfalls at Krka National Park
10-Day Croatia Itinerary
Don’t have quite enough time to do the full 14-day Croatia itinerary? You can absolutely shave off a few days to make the itinerary work. I generally recommend axing the destinations that you personally don’t feel as strongly about.
Here’s the Croatia itinerary that I would personally recommend for 10 days:
Day 1: Zagreb
Day 2: Zagreb, drive to Plitvice Lakes National Park
Day 3: Plitvice Lakes National Park
Day 4: Drive to Split via Zadar or Krka National Park
Day 5: Hvar
Days 6-7: Korčula
Day 8: Drive to Dubrovnik via Pelješac
Days 9-10: Dubrovnik
As you can see, it’s pretty similar to the original itinerary, just shaved some time off both Split and Hvar, which I think are some of the easier cuts to make. Just make sure to have a full afternoon in Split, and to get an early ferry to Hvar to maximize your time there.
If you’re intent on visiting more of Hvar than Korčula, feel free to spend two nights in Hvar and one in Korčula. This is your trip! Do what’s right for you!
It’s best to take Dubrovnik’s cable car just before sunset — for this reason.
7-Day Croatia Itinerary
Is it worth visiting Croatia if you only have seven days? Absolutely! You just need to be realistic about what you can accomplish in seven days.
And here’s one big difference — for this one week Croatia itinerary, I think it’s better to do it without a car. This is mainly ferry transportation and without a car, you’ll have more options. If you want to explore the islands of Hvar and Korčula in depth without a car, I recommend hiring a scooter.
Here’s the Croatia itinerary that I would personally recommend for 7 days:
Day 1: Split
Days 2-4: Hvar or Korčula (you choose one)
Days 5-7: Dubrovnik
Which island is better, Hvar or Korčula? Personally, I’m more of a Korčula fan, but either would make a great choice. Hvar tends to have more options for boat trips and tours, while Korčula tends to have more unique cultural things to do.
Because you won’t have a car, you can take the passenger-only catamaran ferries rather than the car ferries, which are faster and run to more convenient ports.
Vodnjan is like nowhere else in Croatia!
Three Days in Istria Itinerary
My two-week itinerary for Croatia doesn’t include any time in Istria , the Italian-flavored peninsula in northwest Croatia. I adore Istria, but it’s tough to fit it into the above two-week itinerary.
However, if you were set on visiting Istria, I’ve added on a three-day Istria itinerary, plus information on how to join Istria to Dalmatia! I recommend basing in the gorgeous town of Rovinj for your time here.
Rovinj at sunset in all its glory!
Day 1: Best of Rovinj
Rovinj is one of the most spectacularly beautiful places in Croatia, and I think this makes the best base for exploring Istria for a few days. This seaside city is arranged with rings and rings of streets edged with pastel-colored buildings, leading up to a church and bell tower on a hill.
Just wandering the streets of Rovinj is a good use of your day — but you can also explore Zlatni Rat Park and St. Katerina Island, rent a bike and explore, or relax on the surrounding beaches.
Don’t miss the technicolor sunsets here! And cocktails at waterside bar Valentino are a must. If you want to splurge on a meal, the tasting menu at Cap Aureo will blow your mind. (I’m still thinking about their squid cacio e pepe.)
Where to Stay in Rovinj
Top-Rated Luxury Hotel in Rovinj: Grand Park Hotel (the rooftop pool overlooking the city is the most Instagrammable pool I’ve ever been in!)
Top-Rated Mid-Range Hotel in Rovinj: Studio Biritin
Top-Rated Budget Hotel in Rovinj: Guest House Barocco
Find more places to stay in Rovinj here.
Read More: Ultimate Guide to Rovinj, Croatia’s Prettiest City
