Plan The Perfect Croatian Holiday

When I started my sabbatical, Croatia wasn’t a country that was high on my must-see list. After 10 glorious days (road-tripping with my brother and his finance), I was shocked to discover that Croatia had completely stolen my heart. I was left wanting more. I yearned to spend more time basking under her warm sun. I longed to get lost in her incredible nature. I ached to sample more of her heavenly food. This was love at first sight.

The great joy and challenge of Croatia is the distance you’ll travel from one scenic town to the next. To be honest, I didn’t mind it. Those road trips and ferry rides were some of the most beautiful I’ve ever experienced.

To help you make the most of your time in Croatia, I’ve prepared a 10 day itinerary featuring some of my favorite highlights from my trip here.

Note: You can use this itinerary as is (starting from Dubrovnik) or flip it in reverse and start from either Zadar or Rovinj and travel downwards towards Dubrovnik.

Explore the Dalmatia Region ( 4 – 6 days )

A great place to start your tour of Croatia, is by exploring its insanely beautiful southern Dalmatia region. In my mind, Croatia has the best coastlines and islands in Europe. Many islands aren’t inhabited, some are designated parks and others have thriving industries of wine, olive oil or lavender production. As you traverse these beautiful isles, you’ll come across stunning ancient towns boasting vivid examples of Greek, Roman, Venetian, and Slavic architecture. Best of all, you’ll have access to the freshest seafood you could ever ask for. Trust me, it’s TO-DIE-FOR.

Your entry point to this coastal paradise is the seaport city of Dubrovnik.

Discover Dubrovnik ( 2 – 3 days )

This is the most popular tourist attraction in Croatia, and you’ll understand why the second you step into this stunning walled city. George Bernard Shaw was so taken by it that he said “those who seek paradise on Earth should come to Dubrovnik”. He also famously dubbed it as “the pearl of the Adriatic”. A couple of days here is more than enough to enjoy this beautiful town. Some key attractions you shouldn’t miss include:

Dubrovnik - Img Pixabay

The City Walls of Dubrovnik

The first thing you’ll see as you approach Dubrovnik from the sky or sea is the city walls. These ancient fortifications were built in the 13th, 14th and 15th centuries, to protect against the Turkish invaders. At some points, the walls are almost 20 feet thick and 82 feet high.
For about 50 Kuna (or about $9 USD), you can patrol the walls from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and until 7 p.m. in the summer.

Img From Pixabay

The Dubrovnik Cable Car

On a clear day, you’ll get best views of Dubrovnik and the surrounding area from the top of the Srd Hill.
If you’re looking to save a little money on the ride, then buy a one-way ticket (for about 60% of the cost of a round trip). Take the cable car up the mountain and then enjoy the fabulous views as you walk back down at your leisure.
A round-trip ticket cost about 73 kuna (or about $14 USD).

Old Town – Dubrovnik’s old town is pretty and hosts some interesting historic sites including: the Franciscan Monastery, Rector’s Palace and Dubrovnik Cathedral. There’s plenty of shopping opportunities and some fantastic little cafes along with picturesque alleyways.

Img From Pixabay

Day Tripping To Nearby Islands – While in Dubrovnik, an island tour is a must-do activity. There are number of islands you can visit including:

Lokrum – This pine covered island is only 600 meters from Dubrovnik. It has a nice beach, cafes, restaurants, a Benedictine monastery, museums, arboretum, fortress and beautiful nature.
The Elafiti Islands – This small group of islands, offers a beautiful escape from the crowds in Dubrovnik. The main islands are Sipan (the largest of the group), Lopud and Kolocep. There’s plenty of tours that run daily to these islands where you can enjoy small villages, beaches and few architectural sights.

Lokrum Island

Island Life In Bol ( 2 – 3 days )

Grab a ferry from Dubrovnik to Bol on Brac Island (tickets should be around 190 Kuna / $25). You’ll also need to arrange for transport from the ferry port to Bol (I think it was about 40 minute drive, but I don’t remember how much the fare was).

This is Croatia’s 3rd largest island and (in my opinion) offers the best island experience on the Dalmatia. Bol is a picturesque town, with gorgeous buildings, sparkling sea, beautiful beaches and lots of water activities. Additionally, it’s centrally located making it the perfect base to do some island hopping. During your visit make sure you check out:

Bol Boat Pier

Zlatni Rat Beach – This is probably the most famous beach in all of Croatia. This iconic pebble beach is a great place to lay back and enjoy the sun, sea and do some people watching.

Zlatni Rat Beach

Visit Hvar – When visiting Bol, a daytrip to Hvar is mandatory. This monied seaside resort town has attracted many famous jet-setters including: Prince Harry, Beyonce and Eva Longoria. Majestically beautiful, Hvar has gorgeous architecture, hip restaurants and cafes. This was easily one of my favorite daytrips in the Dalmatia.

Hvar is must do day trip from Bol

Vidova Gora – Head up Vidova Gora to get fantastic views of Zlatni Beach and nearby islands (including Hvar). Be warned this can be a tough hike, so if you’re not in shape then I’d recommend taking a car or bus to the peak.

View from Vidova Gora

Water Activities – There’s lots of activities to choose from including renting kayaks, boats, sailing and diving. There’s also windsurfing schools that teach at affordable prices.

Check out my video from when we rented a boat for the day. Whenever we found a secluded beach or beautiful spot we’d anchor the boat and jump into the waters to enjoy our own private heaven.

Hike Through National Parks ( 2 days )

After Bol, grab a ferry to Split (check the following link for ferry information). If you wish you can spend a couple of hours exploring Split before taking a bus (or car) to Zadar.

This is a sleepy quaint town that we passed through while traveling through Croatia. Its biggest attraction is the “Sea Organ”, which is an experimental musical instrument. It plays music by way of sea waves and tubes located underneath a set of large marble steps.

Zadar’s true attraction is its location. It’s centrally located to explore Croatia’s amazing National Parks. From here you can easily get to:

Plitvice National Park,
Krka National Park (where you can swim in the waterfalls),
Kornati Island National Park or
Paklencia National Park.

What ever you do, you MUST go to Plitvice National Park. There are no words to describe how pretty it is. See my video from our daytrip to Plitvice.

Pamper Yourself In Rovinj ( 1 – 2 days )

Our next stop (Rovinj) offers some serious pampering. You can get to this town by driving, bus or catamaran.

Rovinj is perched on the sea and its buildings, which hark to older times, have a worn charm to them. The sunsets here are stunning. As the sun dips into the sea, the sky and surrounding landscape is coated with a warm amber color. Along the coastline fishing boats (tied to the pier) bob in the water, children play near the beach and fruit stalls fill an open-air market in the center of town. Standing high above the other buildings is a lovely church steeple. Below it, narrow winding streets are filled with shops and cafes that try their best to lure customers in.

If you have the budget, then I strongly recommend you stay at The Lone Hotel. This is a design hotel and one of the best luxury properties I’ve every stayed at. It was unbridled decadence. They have an incredible spa, pool, beach and alfresco dining options.

Check out my video on our stay in Rovinj and Lone hotel.

Unwind In Zagreb ( 1 day )

Our final destination is the capital of Croatia, Zagreb. To get to Zagreb from Rovinj you can either drive or take the bus.

Zagreb is the perfect way to unwind after the over stimulation experienced so far on the tour. Here you’ll get a chance to catch your breath and unfurl into the slower pace of living. Walking around the city, you’ll be taken by its beautiful architecture, historic center, museums and enjoy its many cafes and pubs. Must see attractions include:

Upper Town – Along with Kaptol, this is the oldest part of the town. You’ll find the remains of medieval walls and towers in the surrounding area. This is a great place to explore, it’s full of historical landmarks, small museums, art galleries, cafes and bars.

Gornji Grad, Upper Town

Zagreb Cathedral (aka The Cathedral of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary) – This is the tallest building in Croatia. It is dedicated to the Assumption of Mary and to kings Saint Stephen and Saint Ladislaus. The cathedral is built in typically Gothic style. Its spires can be seen from many locations in the city.

Zagreb Cathedral

Mirogoj – This is a cemetery and popular tourist destination in Zagreb. Mirogoj is famous for its arcades, pavilions and monuments like tombs that give it and open-air art gallery feel. Also, interestingly, there are people from all three religions buried here.

Mirogoj

Museum of Broken Relationships – I have to admit, when I travel, I generally avoid museums like the plague. But this is an interesting little museum that enshrines the remains of broken relationships. Very unique.