Perfect 7-day Croatia itinerary (updated in 2025)

Croatia It has been a prosperous tourism hotspot for six to seven years. The small country is shaped like a boomerang, bordering Bosnia, Montenegro, Serbia and Slovenia, with a population of four million that is much higher than its weight. You can spend time relaxing on the sunny Adriatic Sea, jumping between hundreds of rugged and remote islands, feast on Italian-style cuisine, or travel inland to visit stunning waterfalls and Lush national park.

And there is Lots of places worth seeingmost travelers will visit Dubrovnik or split. Of course, these are cool cities. But Croatia has more to offer.

But when you only have a week and want sunshine, I understand why you are focusing on that part of Croatia. (Pro tip: Like many Southern Europe, it is best to avoid Croatia during the warm summer months. Apart from the high temperatures and high prices, you will share the country with a group of tourists. You go in the winter, the weather is cooler and the prices are higher, but many tourist towns Dubrovnik, for example, is actually closed from late October to mid-April. The crowds will be smaller and the prices will not pass through the roof.)

So to help you plan your trip, I created the ideal seven-day itinerary for southern Croatia. It covers the highlights while also getting you off the road off the beaten track. You will see cities, beaches, villages, and have plenty of time to absorb the speed of local life.

Day 1 and 2: Dubrovnik

Dubrovnik is a beachfront town with only 40,000 people, but depending on its popularity you would think it is bigger. This is the most popular destination in the country Its medieval walls of the old townOr Stari Grad, which can attract visitors, especially during peak summers.

Although it is affordable in most of Croatia, Dubrovnik is no longer cheap. Now, many parades are parked here, and prices have soared in recent years. That said, here are a few things worth the creepy expense:

Walking on the old city wall
Strolling through the medieval walls This is a must if you are visiting for the first time. Entrance is not cheap €35, but a walk offers incredible views of the Old Town and the glittering Adriatic Sea. It’s 60-90 minutes of awe, totally worth the price tag.

Mr. Summit
Take the cable car to the top of Mount Srd. It seats in the old town, although it costs 27 euros, once you take the ride and see you will realize it is worth the view. If you have a limited budget, you can also hike to the top. There is a dirt trail that will take you to the top, but it is a challenging hike. Give yourself about an hour each way. Once you reach the top, you can sit down in the restaurant and provide treatment for overpriced drinks while enjoying the coveted views.

Visit the War Photos Co., Ltd. Museum
There aren’t many great museums in Dubrovnik, but make sure you visit War Photo Ltd., a gallery founded by New Zealand-born Wade Goddard, a former war Photographer. A permanent exhibition about the Balkan War of the 1990s will help you better understand what happened 30 years ago. It’s sober, but eye-opening. The admission fee is EUR 10.

Explore Gruž
If you want to escape tourists, especially when there is a cruise ship at the port, head to the once fixed community of Gruž, which once had several great restaurants and cafés on the dock. It is also home to Dubrovnik Beer Company, the city’s first and only brewery. After a full day of exploration, the spongy dragon-cutting room is a lovely place to have a drink of local beer.

When you’re hungry in Gruž, check out Kiosk, an outdoor recreational place that offers some global twists and turns on the fares on the Dalmatian coast. Or really memorable Dalmatians, please book a chef Marija Papak in the house in Marija PEKA Food – Lamb, pork and/or octopus are slow-cooked on the grill like bells to make the meat tender and delicious.

Day 3: Split

About 240 kilometers (150 miles) above the coast, Croatia’s second largest city was split. Until recently, this beautiful city has been overlooked by tourists. But there are some good reasons to spend at least one day and night here.

The main attractions in the split cannot be missed. When Roman Emperor Diocletian decided to retire to the area where he grew up – the central Dalmatia coast – he built a huge luxury palace on the beach. He died a few years after he moved in, and what happened next was very interesting: Over the centuries, as the palace began to collapse and turn into destruction, the city basically moved in, making it part of the town’s fabric.

Today, you can stroll through the center of the split and suddenly realize that you are in palace. For example, it used to be a narrow limestone driveway. Now maybe the bedroom is a seafood restaurant.

Most palaces can be walked in at will. But, if you want to dig into it A large number of tour guides.

Don’t miss St. Duje Cathedral, Klis Fortress, when you break up (with Game of Thrones), and the Croatian Archaeological Monument Museum (with about 20,000 homes of artifacts and artifacts).

Another major reason for splitting on your itinerary is that it is the main transport center for the ferry to various islands in central Dalmatia. After spending a night in town, jump on the morning ferry to Hvar, one of Croatia’s coolest islands, for a pleasant hour and 45 minutes. There is also a catamaran if you want to get there faster.

Day 4: HVAR

Hvar Island is famous for its lavender production and is a fun place to spend the day. The HVAR town of the same name is the main attraction for most people. Crowded with century-old houses and narrow alleys, it’s a fun place to get lost for a while.

It also attracts a wild party scene. All boat trips are parked here for their passengers to waste and at the world-famous Carpe Diem Club Club, so remember that there is a party scene on this island – but there are many more on the island!

If you want to be in a more leisurely place, check out Stari Grad, located opposite the island of Hvar, which is actually the “old town”. Warren has recently added a narrow stone driveway to the UNESCO World Heritage List. Be sure to hike among the many olive trees and lavender fields on the island.

If you don’t have your own car, there is one Wine and olive oil tasting tour Go to this side of the island (you will also stop at the lavender field).

Days 5 and 6: Sibenik and Krka National Park

About half the coast between Split and Zadar, the often-covered šibenik (pronounced “Shee-Ben-Ek”), a medieval town with about 35,000 people, worth a few days. For the starter, St. James’ Cathedral is a miracle worth seeing; it is the largest church in the world, made entirely of stone. The fort town also boasts the maze of limestone top alleys. If you feel like a splurge, šibenik is home to Pelegrini, a Michelin-starred restaurant that provides creative ideas for the ticket prices in Central Dalmatia.

šibenik is also a portal to explore nearby KRKA National Park and its amazing waterfalls. Make sure you get there early, beat the tour bus and see the 14th-century Visovac monastery in the middle of an island on the Krka River. Admission fees for the park range from €7 in the low season (January to January) to an astonishing €40 in the peak season (June to September).

Day 7: Zadar

Zadar has been driving for an hour from Šibenik and has been receiving a lot of attention over the past few years. Its limestone takes the Adriatic Sea standard with the historical center and is stuffed with medieval churches (see the strange circular church in San Donatus, the largest church on the Dalmatia coast).

The city also has a unique sea organ. The organ is located on a set of steps descending to the sea, and as the waves hit, the sound makes a sound, creating a strange but harmonious sound that sounds like a whale’s call. The organ consists of 35 test tubes and is designed by architect Nikola Basic. Come here at sunset and soak in the picturesque scenery and listen to the charming sound of the ocean. After all, Alfred Hitchcock said Zadar has the most beautiful sunsets in the world, making it a suitable destination to end a week-long trip along the coast.

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With over a thousand islands, many beaches and countless hiking trails, you can easily spend months exploring Croatia And still only scratch the surface. However, if you only have one week, this itinerary will show you the highlights while you can access your future appetite. While it is not as cheap as it used to be, the country offers a lot of value and is very easy to explore.