14 Days in Croatia: The Complete Itinerary

Written By Kalyn Salinas
 

Here is the beauty of traveling within Croatia…you literally can’t f*ck it up. Beautiful coastal roads, ancient cities, historic sites, tiny stretches of beach and rural towns are tucked away in every corner of the country so you can’t go wrong no matter which Croatian road you choose to travel.

Our job here at The CC is to share what we think is the perfect Croatia itinerary and this two-week itinerary will allow you to explore the country's main attractions as well as this beautiful country's lesser known back roads.

This itinerary does not include extensive team at sea but if you’re interested in spending seven days on a privately chartered catamaran with a crew to cut down on logistics and amp up the luxe factor, you an read about chartering a catamaran in our article Charter a Luxury Yacht in Croatia: Everything You Need to Know

PLANNING A TRIP TO CROATIA?

We have Local Tastemakers in Croatia that have amazing taste, know the country inside and out and are ready to help you plan your trip. Check out our Services as well as our Croatia Tastemakers to learn more!

In this itinerary you will hit the major cities of Dubrovnik and Split, use Hvar as a home base to explore some of the Dalmatian islands and then embark on a Croatia road trip up to Istria, a lush and unique part of Croatia not often traveled by Americans.

You will stay busy seeing the main highlights of Dubrovnik and Split since you are there for short periods of time but your days on the Adriatic and in Istria can be modified to omit any activities or day trips depending on how much time you have. This is your Croatia vacation so take that R&R whenever you need it!

FOURTEEN DAY CROATIA ITINERARY

  • DAY ONE Dubrovnik

  • DAY TWO: Dubrovnik

  • DAYS THREE: Hvar Town

  • DAY FOUR: Hvar Town

  • DAY FIVE: Korčula

  • DAY SIX: Hvar Villages

  • DAY SEVEN: Brač

  • DAY EIGHT: Split

  • DAY NINE: Rovinj

  • DAY TEN: Rovinj

  • DAY ELEVEN: Rovinj + Surrounding Villages

  • DAY TWELVE: Motovun

  • DAY THIRTEEN: Motovun

  • DAY FOURTEEN: Zagreb

ITINERARY DETAIL

DAY ONE: DUBROVNIK

  • Logistics: Fly one way to Dubrovnik and arrange car transfer with your Airbnb host or hotel to your accommodations near Old Town

  • Accommodations (2 nights):

  • Must do: Get acquainted with the charming Old Town, where Game of Thrones vibes abound

  • Must eat: Plavac mali wine flight at D’Vino Bar. Croatia consumes almost all of the wine it produces, meaning it’s difficult to find in the US so get your fill of Croatia’s amazing varietals while there

DAY TWO: DUBROVNIK

  • Logistics: You can walk everywhere in the old city so you most likely won't use public transportation; if you opt for a beach club, you’ll want to Uber

  • Must Do: Walk the ancient city walls. Get an early start to buy tickets, beat the crowds and avoid the sun as it can get hot; the walk will take you anywhere from 1.5 to 3 hours depending on how compulsive you are about taking pictures. Lokrum Island is also worth visiting if you have enough time.

  • Must Eat: Fresh seafood from the Adriatic Sea. Here are some fantastic options:

    • Nautika: Amazing ancient fort views and service at this Michelin restaurant (but prepare to drop coin)

    • Panorama: Also part of the Nautika group, this restaurant is located on Srđ hill with epic views of Old Town. Only accessible by cable car, this can’t be missed!

    • Restaurant 360: Another fantastic Michelin restaurant with exquisite cuisine and some of the best views of old town

DAY THREE: HVAR TOWN

  • Logistics: Ferry from Dubrovnik to Hvar (approx 3 hours) - Jadrolinija and Kapetan Luka are the biggest ferry lines and your fastest options

  • Accommodations (3 nights):

  • Must do: Explore the harbor of Hvar, known as the “St Tropez of Croatia”

  • Must eat: Have a mean cocktail at Hula Hula Beach Bar, where the party doesn’t stop day or night

DAY FOUR: HVAR TOWN

  • Logistics: Exploration on foot

  • Must do: Hvar has some fabulous and beautiful beaches and is filled with ocean watering holes to take a dip, post up and enjoy the Adriatic. Pokonji dol Beach is a favorite!

  • Must eat: Hvar also has some amazing restaurants, here are the top picks:

    DAY FIVE: DAY TOUR TO KORCULA

  • Logistics: In high season, you can take a ferry direct from the port in Hvar to the port in Korčula (1.5 hours each way)

  • Must do: Stroll around the Korčula island’s ancient old town, complete with a maze of cobblestone alleys

  • Must eat: Dining at an authentic konoba (roughly translated as tavern) is an absolute must traveling in Croatia. Just an 8-minute taxi outside of town, Konoba Škafetin is family run and set in a intimate olive tree-filled garden with picturesq

DAY SIX: HVAR VILLAGES

  • Logistics: Take a 20-minute taxi to your new accommodations in a quiet corner of Hvar island. Exploration the rest of the day will be on scooter!

  • Accommodations (2 nights):

  • Must do: See the less traveled corners of Hvar on scooter. Suggested sights:

    • Stari Grad Plain, a UNESCO World Heritage site

    • Vrboska also known as “Little Italy”

    • Jelsa, a quaint village on a quiet part of the island

    • Dubovica Beach, one of the best on the island

    • Sveta Nedilja, a precious town precariously perched on a coastal cliff

  • Must eat: Octopus served charcoal grilled, marinated in a salad, carpaccio style - you can’t lose as long as it’s fresh from the Adriatic

*Maslina Resort is part of The Citrine Compass’s partner portfolio and we are often able to get members of our community VIP perks such as complimentary breakfast for two each morning, hotel credit, early check-in, late check-out and room upgrades, subject to availability. Reach out to us here to access our insider connections!

DAY SEVEN: HVAR VILLAGES -or- DAY TRIP TO BRAC

  • Logistics: Taxi or scooter if staying on Hvar; rent a small boat and take a boat ride with a captain if you plan to visit the nearby island of Brač

  • Must do: I’m always OTG so I vote you rent a boat and explore Brač. Highlights include:

    • Bol, a charming seaside town just a short ride from Hvar

    • Zlatni Rat, one of the most famous beaches in Croatia that juts out as a peninsula (which changes shape with the wind)

    • Stina Winery, where you can sip on the native white varietal Pošip and taste award-winning wine with grapes are grown exclusively on the island

    • Blaca Monastery, an ancient monastery hugging a seaside cliff

  • Must eat: Lamb on the spit - Brač is known for it

DAY EIGHT: SPLIT

  • Logistics: Hop on the ferry from Hvar to Split back to the mainland (1 hour)

  • Accommodations (1 night):

  • Must do: Explore Croatia's second-largest city with a beautiful old town, the highlight being Diocletian’s Palace. It's hard to miss as it’s near main square and port and is integrated with modern Split’s shopping and restaurant scene

  • Must eat: Bokeria Kitchen & Wine Bar for a chic eatery and great people watching

If you find yourself with more time to explore Croatia by sea, check out The Best Islands Near Splits to visit nearby islands on the Adriatic Sea!

DAY NINE: ROAD TRIP TO THE ISTRIAN PENINSULA

  • Logistics: Pick up your rental car in Split and embark on the 5-hour drive up the Adriatic coast to Rovinj. Coordinate parking outside of Rovinj’s old town with your hotel or Airbnb host.

  • Accommodations (3 nights):

  • Must do: Visit darling coastal towns as you drive up the Dalmatian Coast and see more of Croatian culture. Recommended stops:

    • Šibenik

    • Zadar

    • Krka National Park viewpoints

    • Pag Island

  • Must eat: Pag and the surrounding areas are known for their salt and hard, flavorful sheep’s milk cheese

*Meneghetti Wine Hotel is part of The Citrine Compass’s partner portfolio and we are often able to get members of our community VIP perks such as complimentary breakfast for two each morning, hotel credit, early check-in, late check-out and room upgrades, subject to availability. Reach out to us here to access our insider connections!

DAY TEN: ROVINJ

  • Logistics: Walking on foot

  • Must do: Rovinj has rightly earned its spot as one of the most popular destinations in Istria and is a colorful, beautiful city. Spend the day leisurely exploring the local shops and restaurants in the winding alleys near the port

  • Must eat: Locally pressed olive oil - as of 2021 Istrian olive oil has been awarded the best olive oil region in the world by Flos Olei for six straight years

DAY ELEVEN: ROVINJ + SURROUNDING VILLAGES

  • Logistics: Driving through the countryside

  • Must do: Istria is speckled with remote villages so my recommendations is to hop in the car and stop into any tiny towns or wineries that catch your eye. Popular towns nearby:

    • Bale

    • Svetvinčenat

    • Zminj

    • Poreč

    • Novigrad

  • Must eat: Crisp white malvazija, a delicious white varietal grown exclusively in Istria

DAY TWELVE: MOTOVUN

  • Logistics: Drive Rovinj to Motovun (1-hour drive)

  • Accommodations (2 nights):

  • Must do: Wine Tasting Tour & Truffle Hunt with Eat Istria to see the best that Istria has to offer with a local guide

  • Must eat: Truffles…enough said

DAY THIRTEEN: MOTOVUN

  • Logistics: Leisurely driving

  • Must do: Relax by the pool if you’ve had enough sight-seeing or explore Northern Istria. Popular towns:

    • Groznjan

    • Motovun, one of Istria’s oldest towns and a UNESCO site

    • Hum, the world’s smallest town

    • Buje

  • Must eat: Konoba Mondo, an old world establishment that has been popular since a rave review in a 2009 NYT article

DAY FOURTEEN: ZAGREB

  • Logistics: Drive to Zagreb (3 hours); fly home one way out of Zagreb *

  • Accommodations (1 night): Esplanade Zagreb Hotel*

  • Must do: Explore the capital city's Austro-Hungarian architecture, museums and narrow streets of Old Town

  • Must eat: Take a kava (coffee) at one of Zagreb’s hundreds of open air cafes

*San Canzian Village and Hotel and Esplanade Zagreb Hotel are part of The Citrine Compass’s partner portfolio and we are often able to get members of our community VIP perks such as complimentary breakfast for two each morning, hotel credit, early check-in, late check-out and room upgrades, subject to availability. Reach out to us here to access our insider connections!

 
Kalyn Salinas
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