10-Day Itinerary Through Croatia from Dubrovnik to Zagreb

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In the past few years, Croatia gained incredible popularity among tourists who like Mediterranean vacations.

The country is known for its blue sea, numerous gorgeous waterfalls, Romanian ruins, beautiful islands with castles, and Game of Thrones that was filmed there.

It is absolutely impossible to miss this beautiful country.

If you don’t know where to start with, we’ve prepared for you a great 10-day trip through Croatia.

Day 1 And 2: Discovering Dubrovnik

Dubrovnik is a Croatian city that is located in the southernmost part of the country.

While being a pretty small town, Dubrovnik is very popular among tourists so it has a connection with various European airports.

Also, numerous cruises sail through this town.

 In fact, it is a perfect place to explore Croatia and start your vacations in this country.

As well as most cities in the country, Dubrovnik has a fortress in its heart that is surrounded by new buildings.

City walls remain almost intact and tourists can get there to enjoy a magnificent view so don’t miss the opportunity.

From the city walls, you can enjoy the views that you may have seen in Game of Thrones.

Behind the walls, there are steep stairs.

Actually, there are lots of stairs all over the town as it is located on a steep and rocky area.

Make sure to visit the main street of Dubrovnik – Stradun- that is full of great shops and restaurants.

There are so many souvenir shops that you’ll hardly be able to visit all of them.

Also, make sure to try some ice cream while staying in Dubrovnik.

On the one side of the street, there is the Onophrian Fountain, and the Sponza Palace and the Rector’s Palace on the other side.

Both mentioned palaces are incredibly beautiful and known for some incredible mixture of architectural styles.

Also, it is a great place to learn about the history of this city.

Behind the palaces, there is a tine harbor with sparkling azure water and boats that float through the area.

If you want to take some great photos, it is a great place for you.

The harbor is surrounded by rocks so you can climb on one of them and jump into the sea.

Also, there is a beautiful old lighthouse.

You need to know that swimming is allowed everywhere around the city.

Considering numerous great spots around the city, you can just take a free tour around Dubrovnik.

Make sure to try some local food as it is really delicious.

When the evening arrives, the best thing is to go to the harbor and enjoy an incredible sunset.

One of the places, you need to visit during your stay in Dubrovnik is Bellevue Beach.

Located outside the old town, this beach is covered with big round rocks and shaded most time of the day.

Among other must-visit options, there are Bokar-Festung (a beautiful old fortress) and Lovrijenac (another fortress now turned into a theater).

Finally, you need to climb the hill near the city so you can see a magnificent sunset as well as some surrounding islands.

Day 3 And 4: The Amazing Hvar And The Paklinski Islands

When the third day comes, early in the morning take a ferry to Hvar.

It is one of the most beautiful places in the country.

While being known for its numerous parties, Hvar also has an incredibly relaxing and peaceful vibe of the Mediterranean.

The first thing you see when coming to the island is a stunning white promenade.

On the left, there is the center of the city while on the right there is a beautiful tiny harbor full of boats.

The city looks really beautiful as all the buildings are made of white stone.

During sunny days, the whole city is sparkling blindingly.

White streets are richly decorated with various flowers and full of cozy restaurants and cafes.

In fact, Hvar can be called the cutest city in Croatia.

During your first day, you can just stroll through the city and experience the local culture.

Make sure to enjoy some great fish dishes in one of the local restaurants.

Also, you need to visit some of the local churches that are really beautiful.

When the sun starts going down, it is a great idea to visit the fortress.

Just make sure to wear comfy shoes as the area is pretty steep however, the view absolutely worth it.

Take a bottle of wine and enjoy it while observing one of the most incredible views in your life.

On your second day in Hvar, take a boat (about 60€) and go to the Paklinski Islands.

Hvar is surrounded by numerous small islands that are a part of a National park.

As a result, there are no buildings so you can experience an incredible raw nature.

All these islands are pretty deserted that makes them a great place to stay on your own.

The island has two official beaches including nudist one but you can take one of the trails and find some other great spots.

Just keep in mind that cruising is rathe common there so be ready to see some nacked people that walk around.

In the afternoon, return to the main island where you can visit the Falko Beach bar.

It is a perfect place to enjoy a beautiful sunset while drinking some cold beer.

Day 5: Enjoying The Roman Split

Early in the morning, take a ferry and head to Split.

The whole ride takes about two hours but it absolutely worth it as it is a very beautiful place.

You need to know that Split differs significantly from previous spots.

Considering its proximity to Italia, Split has a very strong Italian vibe.

There is a whole variety of great museums all over the city but it is better to start with the old town.

It can be explored just in half a day and numerous walking tours around the city are available there.

The city is surrounded by stones and a bunch of modern buildings.

During your stay there, make sure to visit Diocletian’s Palace that is the most popular place among tourists.

It was an ancient residence of a Roman emperor but know it is a part of a square.

Near the palace, there is the Cathedral of Saint Domnius that is absolutely stunning, especially its bell tower.

Among other great sights, there are the Temple of Jupiter, Gallery Kula, and the former town hall.

In the evening, visit the Marjan peninsula that has a few gorgeous beaches.

Also, there is a hill from the top of which you can enjoy one of the most incredible views.

Day 6: Day Trip To Trogir And Kliss Fortress

If you want to explore some surrounding areas, the best option is to rent a car.

Of course, there is a variety of public transportation options as well but the rented car will provide you with more freedom.

Located not far from Split, Trogir is a very beautiful town.

It has an amazing seaside promenade and beautiful walled old town.

Make sure to visit the local market that is full of strange and tasty delicacies.

In the center of the old town, there is a beautiful square where St Lawrence Cathedral is located.

Also, make sure to visit the Gates of Trogir and St Michael Bell Tower.

The city os very beautiful so even if you don’t know where to go, just walk through the city.

Have some lunch at a local cafe and head to Kliss Fortress where numerous scenes of Game of Thrones were filmed.

Also, it is a perfect option for those who want to enjoy some great views of the bay.

The castle itself has an incredible history that lasts for about 1000 years.

Numerous Croatian rulers including the Ottoman Emperor lived in this castle for many years.

As the day comes to its end, head back to Split.

Day 7: Visiting Krka Np And Arriving In Zadar

Get up early in the morning and head to Krka National Park that is known for its greenish rivers and waterfalls.

To walk through the park, you need to use floating platforms that are located all over the area.

While being not so famous as Plitvice lakes, Krka is no less beautiful and visitors can swim there.

It is an incredible experience as you can swim against the current.

After some relaxing time at the park, head to Zadar.

While being one of the cheapest places in the country, this town is unbelievably beautiful.

As well as all other cities mentioned above, the town has an old center that is surrounded by the wall.

There are numerous squares, restaurants, and cafes around the city center.

Food and accommodations there are pretty cheap so you don’t need to worry about your budget.

Among the most incredible spots, there are the Church of St Donatus and a set of old Roman ruins.

Also, make sure to visit the Sea Organ and the Monument to the Sun.

The first one is an organ that produces music because the sea pushes air through the tubes.

It is an incredible experience as you can hear the song of the ocean.

The second one is a circle of lights that is known as the Monument of the Sun.

These two monuments are a perfect end of your first week in this beautiful country.

Day 8: Grabovaca, Plitvice Np, And Rastoke

Your 8th day in Croatia will provide you with opportunities to see some of the most popular tourist spots in Croatia.

After breakfast in Zadar, take a guided tour of Grabovaca that starts at 10 am.

Grabovaca is located not far from Zadar and known as a park near the birthplace of Nikola Tesla.

Each day, there are four tours there available and each one lasts for an hour.

Also, the place is popular because of its magnificent caves with stunning rock formations.

Moreover, you can see some locations where concerts are held a few times a year.

Just make sure to bring some warm clothes as the temperature is about 10ºC there.

Less than an hour away from the park, there is the famous Plitvice National Park.

Usually, tourists prefer to spend a whole day there but if you are in a hurry half a day can be enough.

The Plitvice lakes are away from the coast so the weather there can be much colder than in Zadar.

The park is known for its magnificent waterfalls as well as some incredible trails.

The place itself is bigger than Krka but trails there are very small so be ready to wait while other tourists take photos and continue their walk.

One other point is swimming is forbidden in this place and the place looks less impressive if it is cloudy.

In other words, you need to make sure that the weather is great and you have enough time as tickets there are pretty expensive.

Next to Plitvice lakes, there is Rastoke that is a small town located on top of a set of waterfalls.

While the weather there is pretty cold, the town itself is very beautiful.

Also, you can find there some great restaurants as well as very cheap accommodations.

Day 9 And 10: Arriving At The Capital, Zagreb

The next day, head to the capital city of Croatia – Zagreb.

While the city lacks the coastal vibe, it can offer you an incredible cultural experience.

Take a walking tour to visit some of the greatest highlights of the capital.

After it, you can enjoy a peaceful stroll through the streets of the upper town.

Also, make sure to visit one of the local markets where you can find a variety of very delicious homemade cheese, cream, and cornbread.

One other great place to see in Zagreb is Medvenica Mountain from where you can enjoy a breathtaking view of the city.

When the day comes to its end, you can have an incredible dinner in one of the local restaurants.

The next day, make sure to visit the Museum of Broken Relationships where presented relationships’ mementos that tell sad stories.

There are numerous museums that you should visit during your last day in Croatia.

The list includes Tortureum (a museum about torture), Mestrovic’s Atelier (about the art of the famous Mestrovic) or the popular gallery Klovicevi Dvori.

Recap: Visiting Croatia In 10 Days

Following this guide, you can explore some of the greatest places in Croatia just in 10 days.

If you want to enjoy good weather and avoid crowds, it is better to visit this country in Spring and Fall.

In fact, May and October are the best options for great vacations.

Of course, you can visit it in Summer as the weather is great but most spots are packed with tourists.

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