How do I plan an itinerary for Croatia?
The best way to start planning an itinerary for any trip is by researching the area for things to do and places to see. Once you have a feel for what is a “must” versus a “may” to see or do, you can start planning out your itinerary.
Over the years, we have planned a lot of trips. Some with the help of a travel agency and others without. Most have been without because we love the research and planning stage. We often let our vacation time dictate how many days we will be in a country and then figure out where we want to fly into. Of course, we have usually already done the initial research and know why we want to travel there, so picking the initial stop is usually easy.
Croatia is a large country. When planning an itinerary, you should look at doing the coastal areas of the south, the north or the coastal areas of the north. Without extensive vacation days, your itinerary is probably going to be limited to one of those regions. If this is your first trip to Croatia, you will most likely want to start your trip in one of the iconic locations like Dubrovnik.
What is the best way to explore Croatia
Exploring Croatia by boat is the best way to see multiple cities on land and the islands. There are numerous ways to sail around Croatia including everything from private boats to larger cruise ships.
We were lucky that we were able to explore Croatia both by sea and by land during our time there. We spent half the trip on land and half on a sailboat hopping from island to island. Both were fantastic, but we enjoyed the week on the sailboat the most. We were able to access remote islands and villages making that time feel much more authentic in terms of getting to experience local culture.
Many of the larger cruise ships and boats make specific stops at Dubrovnik and Split. We toured those cities with a rental car and remained on land. The islands have so much to offer that a boat that allows stopping at the bigger ports and smaller ports allows you to catch all of the major tourist highlights while taking in some smaller, more relaxed cities. There are numerous alternatives while sailing in Croatia including smaller cruise ships that sail with as few as 40 passengers.
How many days can Americans stay in Croatia
Americans can stay up to 90 days in Croatia without a Visa. You will need at least six months of validity remaining on your passport at the time of entry.
At the time we traveled to Croatia, the Shengen Agreement was not effective. Travelers should be aware of the requirements of that agreement when traveling to Europe. More information can be found on the US State Department website.
We had no trouble entering or exiting Croatia (except for our lost luggage both ways). The most current information on entering and exiting Croatia may be found at the US Embassy website.
How many days is enough for Croatia?
Twelve is our suggested minimum time period for visiting Croatia. Twelve to Fourteen days is enough time to visit the southern and central portions of Croatia.
There is so much to see in Croatia that we found it necessary to do twelve days. This allowed us to visit some islands and to travel by land as far as Zadar. It is certainly possible to do less days; however, it would be difficult to combine anything inland and the islands with less time.
What is the best itinerary for 12 days in Croatia?
The best twelve day itinerary includes both Dubrovnik and Split and then schedule a visit to several islands. This requires both a vehicle and the use of ferries to travel to the islands. A boat allows you to visit numerous islands that are relatively close to each other.
During our travels, we rented a car for portions of the trip and were on a catamaran for portions of the trip. We started in Split and spent a few days traveling to visit Hvar, Brac, and Vis by boat. On our return from the islands, we traveled by car to Sibnek and Zadar. Both are further north, but contain a lot of sites not to be missed. Sibnek has some Game of Thrones sites for fans and Zadar is well known for its famous Sea Organ. We were also able to tour the Unesco world heritage site Saint Nicholas Fortress outside of Sibnek.
We ended our trip in Dubrovnik. Dubrovnik is full of history and Games of Thrones sites. It is not to be missed. We were also able to visit Plitvice Lakes National Park. The lakes are a must see if you have time. Below is a suggested schedule. This schedule does require a car and use of ferries. You can find information on the ferry routes at https://www.croatiaferries.com
Day One: Dubrovnik – Ston – Split
Arrive in Dubrovnik and rent a car at the airport, then start the 4.5 hour drive to Split, Croatia. Schedule a pit stop along the drive and make a reservation at Winery Vina Vukas in Ston, Croatia. Enjoy a wine tasting of Croatian wines and snack on a charcuterie board. Croatia has a famous wine called Plavac Mali, which is the parent grape of the well known Zinfandel variety, which is also known as Primitivo.
When you resume your drive, stop at one of many roadside produce stands. We loved the figs and apricots which were in season in September. In Split, we recommend getting a hotel room (or air BnB) near Diocletian’s Palace. This is a beautiful neighborhood that is very walkable. Park near the ferry terminal and walk to the hotel. Spend the evening exploring ancient Split, walking through the narrow cobblestone pedestrian only roads. Enjoy a well deserved night of rest as you have a busy day ahead touring Split.
Day Two: Split all Day
On this full day in Split, we recommend you hire a private tour guide for Diocletian’s Palace and the Saint Domus Cathedral in Split. You will see plenty of tour guides standing in front of Diocletian’s Palace, which are available for hire. Our tour guide was an amazing story teller, and it really added to the tour experience. There is also a tourism office along the waterfront in Split, where you can get information on how to book a tour guide. The tour was about 2 hours and was worth every penny. Then take a lunch break and pick one of the many outdoor seating restaurants.
We took a deeper dive into the neighborhood near the city center of Split. Just a 5 minute walk visit Monika’s Wine Bar & Cellar for a great wine tasting of Croatian wines. The wine tasting even includes a farm to table lunch or dinner depending upon the time of day that you book the tasting. The Croatian wines were poured and described by the owner, Monika, who was very charming and a wine expert. We had such a great time, we even visited her family’s winery on our drive back to Dubrovnik.
Day Three: Island of Hvar
On day 3, travel by ferry from Split to Hvar. Spend a day walking around the historic town of Hvar Old Town. This is a beautiful fishing village with nice architectural structures such as the St. Stephen’s Cathedral, the Arsenal, and the Spanish Fortress. The stone streets of Hvar Old Town offers a wide selection of great waterfront restaurants, bars, and shops. While in Hvar Old Town, we tasted wines at Vina Caic which offers indigenous varieties, such as Plavac Mali, Bogdanjusa, Kuc, Marastina, Darnekusa and Posi. We purchased two bottles and packed them away in our wine suitcase. They are still aging in our wine closet at home. Speaking of which, we need to cork one of those bottles on a specialist occasion. Hvar is notorious for having a thriving nightlife. If that peeks your interest, check out Carpe Diem Bar or Passarola.
Day Four: Hvar Island
On day two in Hvar, if you are a nature lover, look into booking a private tour to visit the Blue Cave and Green Caves. This tour does require access via a boat to reach the caves on the small close islands of Bisevo and Ravnik. The caves are notrorious for the beautiful reflecting sun off of the water. If you are a cycling fan, the Stari Grad Plain offers nice cycling tours through the agricultural zone, including opportunities to visit local wineries and olive groves. In the village of Velo Grablje, visit the popular lavender fields, which bloom in June and July annually.
Day Five: Vis Island
Wake up and take a ferry from Hvar to Vis. Spend the day checking out the archelogical museum in Vis Town and visiting Titos Cave. Vis offers all sorts of history including a military tour, which showcases underground tunnerls, submarine pens, and old military installations. Vis is known for some of the most exceptional wines in Croatia, so if you are a wine lover, take some time and learn about Croatian wines. Spend the night to enjoy the marvelous food at Komiza Village, a gorgeous fishing village.
Day Six: Brac Island
Travel by ferry from Vis to Brac and hike to the highest point in the Adriatic Islands, Vidova Gora. Consider a booking a sailing excursion around the island which can include snorkling and swimming in secluded bays. For those Dragon fans, take the Dragon’s Cave Tour near the village of Murvica, which has carvings dating back to the 15th century. For the beach lovers, visit Bol and Zlatni Rat Beach, one of the most famous beaches in Croatia.
Day Seven: Return to Split
Travel by ferry from Brac to Split. Drive from Split to Fortress Klis (A Game of Thrones site). Continue on to the city of Zadar. Spend the evening checking out Zadar’s sea organ and enjoying the local sites and people.
Day Eight: Plitvice Lakes National Park
Drive to Plitvice Lakes and spend the day enjoying this fantastic national park before traveling to Sibenik for the evening. This is a full day excursion. Plitvice Lakes National Park is absolutely stunning. Plitvice Lakes has series of stunning freshwater waterfalls. You can also swim at the largest waterfall area. Get there early in the morning, as you have to take a shuttle bus into the park. You can take a guided walking tour, or if you are an avid hiker, you can hit one of the longer hiking routes. Consider paying for an electric boat ride on Kozjak Lake, which will give you a unique perspective of the park’s waterfalls and surrounding mountains.
Day Nine: Sibenik
Explore Sibenik. Take a tour of the Cathedral (and Game of Thrones Site) Saint Michael’s fortress and load a boat to tour St. Nicholas fortress on the water. Sibenik has some amazing restaurants. We booked an unforgetable dinner reservation at Pelegrini which has been rated with one Michelin star. We did the wine pairing with the 18 course meal, and let’s just say, the evening got a little fuzzy after that. The waiters even offered to walk us back to our Air BnB to make sure we got home alright. We graciously declined, and had a very entertaining walk home that night. But check it out, the food was amazing. This was our big splurge meal of the trip, and it was very reasonably priced for a Michelin rated restaurant.
Day Ten: Krka National Park
Depart Sibenik but with a side stop at Krka National Park. Enjoy half a day or more in the park before traveling to Dubrovnik. The drive to Dubrovnik is about 3 and half hours, but allows you to enjoy the lovely countryside. If time allows, stop at a winery in route or along the road to sample figs or other local produce. Arrive at dusk in Dubrovnik. After check in and if time allows consider a trip on the cable car to see a stunning view of the city at night. Tip: make sure to stop at all checkpoints as you cross a very small sliver of Bosnia between Sibenik and Dubrovnik.
Day Eleven: Dubrovnik
Spend the day exploring Dubrovnik. Arrive early to walk the city walls before starting a tour of the city. Visit Fort Lovrijenac and the famous “Shame” stairs from the filming of Game of Thrones. Spend the evening shopping and dining in the old city.
Day Twelve:
An additional day to explore the history of Dubrovnik. Tour the Cathedral, the Franciscan Monastery and the Red History Museum.
Is Croatia expensive when there?
Croatia is a moderately priced place to visit. Estimates are that most visitors spend between $50 to $100 per day while visiting.
As of January 2023, Croatia officially utilizes the Euro. We were fortunate to have traveled there while the local currency, the Kuno, was still primarily utilized. The exchange rate of the dollar to the Kuno was advantageous. As of the writing of this article, the Euro and the dollar are close to equal with the Euro being worth slightly more in dollars. We recommended checking the exchange rate shortly before planning and committing to your trip. For more travel tips, view our Perfect 10 Day Greece Travel Itinerary.
