And when you depart from Croatia on a Sunday, you will land back in North America Sunday afternoon or evening. It's a bit inconvenient to get there, but that keeps crowds low and makes it a quieter, more tranquil experience than Split or Dubrovnik. Croatia is blessed with so many wonderful places suitable for sunbathing and Bavice Beach is no exception. Do sit down on one of the many benches, have a chat and admire the beautiful Adriatic Sea. We love being sunkissed so we decided to abandon our initial shopping plans and head for yet another secluded beach. Thank you for such a detailed post. 2 Weeks in Croatia - 5 Unique Itinerary Ideas. Was it for more or less than one week? . Whether you opt for a frequent airport bus (the cheapest option), grab a taxi or drive your own rental car, it wont take long at all to get from the airport to the centre of Split. The vistas are incredible and well worth your time. Great motorways as well. As it took us around 4-5 hours to drive from Split to Plitvice Lakes, we spent our afternoon enjoying the trail C. The trail took about 3 hours including the short electric boat ride. Thanks! Once you've arrived at the airport, there is an airport > city bus for 30 kuna per person, or , a taxi or Uber will set you back 250-300 kuna. Highlights include Onofrio's Fountain, the 15th century Rector's Palace, Luza Square, the Church of St. Blaise (St. Vlaho), and the caf-lined streets of Brsalje Street. It used to be the seat of the Republic of Dubrovnik, and is a phenomenal city that is easy to fall in love with. I did this type of tour on my first trip to Croatia, and it was my top favorite thing of my trip. 10 Days in Croatia - 5 Unique Itinerary Ideas. Depending on your departure details you may have time to visit one of Dubrovnik's museums, like the Franciscan Monastery and Museum. The new and renovated apartments offer luxury with a traditional feel. Thats why I put together this one week Croatia itinerary. Prices here start at 96 per night. It was a super easy and user-friendly platform and way of commu", Traveled to Croatia as a family in June, 2023, "We had a fantastic time filled with extremely positive experiences. Perhaps best to swing by and book a table, or avoid lunch hours. Private Rental This can be a great option in Split if you would rather stay in your own private apartment. As already mentioned, the Islands will be very quiet in October with some restaurants/shops closing for the season. We purchased fresh fruit and veg and made a beautiful vegan bowl accompanied by local wine. The journey by ferry takes approximately 2 hours. Split is a 1700-year-old city and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and is simply stunning in its beauty. Whether your trip is a couple days or a couple weeks, you'll have a good time. So please remember this before booking a table for Matoni. Entering Old Town, you'll uncover centuries of the city's rich history as you listen to stories of local life and legends and of the importance Dubrovnik once held in the era of the Republic. Dubrovnik is a much smaller city than Split, however, that doesnt necessarily mean that there is less to do in the city centre. There are countless day trip options from the city and you can easily fill a bit more time there than you can in Dubrovnik. The tour will start in the morning by taking a ferry or catamaran to Stari Grad, or Hvar town. Ten days is a solid duration for an introductory trip to Croatia. But if flying into Croatia from abroad, the capital city of Zagreb will likely be your first point of entry. The Ultimate Eritrea Travel Guide: Everything You Need to Know, The Perfect Genoa Two Day Itinerary: Top Things to Do in Genoa, https://yachting.com/en-gb/croatia-yacht-charter, San Francisco Itinerary: One, Two, or Three Days (by a Local), The Best of Italy: Ultimate Two Week Italy Itinerary (14 Days), How to Plan the Perfect Vacation: 10 Step Guide, The Beginners Guide to Traveling New Zealand on a Budget, How to Travel Cheaper: A Beginners Guide to Budget Travel. We love walking places and Split seemed to have many promenade trails, including its beautiful large park called Marjan Forest Park which offers amazing views of the sea. Among the fine historical sites that you will visit here are the Diocletian's Palace, Peristyle, St. Doimus's Cathedral, and the Piazza. But for many years, it was not in the Eurozone or the Schengen area. Zagreb is home to many museums, shopping malls, and cafes, but you should focus on the key highlights with just one day here. Our local travel specialists have been recommended by. Though its located on the coast, there arent a lot of sandy beaches in Split (or, really, in much of Croatia at all), but there are plenty of pebble and rock beaches to enjoy that you can spend some time soaking up the sun and swimming in the Adriatic. Ultimate 10 Day Croatia Itinerary from Split to Dubrovnik For more information, see our privacy policy. Add that to all the cruise ships that stop here, and youve got yourself a very crowded little town in the summer. Also, a plus side of traveling Croatia without a car rental is no looking for parking and no filling up gas. Now that weve determined how accessible Split is from other cities and countries, we need to discuss how easy it is to get around in the city itself. It is also in the EU. Guide services must be reserved in advance. Sequoia Capital's decision this week to split off its China operations showed the impact of growing tensions between Washington and Beijing. Because of Dubrovniks location, it isnt as well situated as Split as a base to explore the Dalmatian coast or beyond. You do not have to go back through Stari Grad. Prices start at 43 per night. As of 2023, Croatia uses the euro as its currency. For other options, there are other pizza places all around, as well as several luxury hotels which serve lunch. Dive into the coastal culture of Croatia's Dalmatia region with this 7-day journey beginning in Split. Not only is this a far more sustainable way to visit Dubrovnik (as the city is really struggling under the effects of overtourism), but you will find things to be significantly discounted in youre visiting in the winter months. It will be midafternoon by the time you finish with Ston, and youll want to visit some of Peljeacs wineries, which are scattered all over the peninsula. Split, Hvar, Korcula Dubrovnik How much time at each? Tchaikovsky Hostel If youre travelling solo or on a budget, then this centrally-located hostel is a great choice for you. Do not attempt this trail if you are not good with long walks and narrow, challenging trails. Book now Croatia - Dubrovnik route Balanced route Adventure. Croatia is best known for its coastline, after all! How to split time between Dubrovnik and Split? The air-conditioned Gajeta apartments are located in various buildings within a 50 m radius in the centre of Split. Car rentals in Croatia are actually quite affordable, but only if renting a manual transmission (i.e. If youre wondering where to stay in Dubrovnik, then have a look at these top recommendations: Boutique Hotel Porto Centrally located in the old town, this is an excellent place to stay if your budget affords more than a hostel and youre looking for a chic and romantic place to stay in Dubrovnik. Absolutely top-notch customer service, great communication, beautiful hotels, and excellent restaur", "We had a fantastic 9 day trip to Croatia. In fact, you could easily fill a day or two exploring the main sites of Dubrovnik just as you could in Split. Pomena (island of Mljet) Day 6. Surrounded by its sturdy walls, this fortified city is home to an array of tourist attractions, beautiful sights as well as shops, bars and restaurants. Also, I spent 3 days in Hvar and loved each one of them! As mentioned earlier, Dubrovnik is one of the most popular places to visit in all of Croatia and, therefore, there are countless accommodation options to choose from throughout the town. Sveti Jakov beach is located just over an hour away from the Old Town so it's not close to the usual amenities. Our Croatia itinerary was perfect for our needs, and just about the right length. To get from ZAG airport to the city center, you have two options. HELP! It really is something special which managed to withstand the test of time so well. The entire Marjan Peninsula is dotted with tiny churches many centuries old, large black pine trees, Mediterranean plants and herbs and the most beautiful beaches. Loved all of the pics! Thank you so ", "Sarah was exceptional! The promenade itself can take a couple of hours or more, depending on your speed. Click here to browse other options in Dubrovnik. The sites of Dubrovnik can be seen in about a day. On this free day in Dubrovnik, stroll through the narrow streets of the old town, or walk the city walls; spend the day at one of the beaches or take an optional excursion to the islands facing Dubrovnik. Once you arrive at the park, expect an entry fee of around 40 ($47) from June to September. For a better accommodation than in Dubrovnik, we paid less and stayed one extra night. If you are okay with a few quiet nights you could consider a night in Korcula Town and another in Hvar Town (or choose 1 Island for 2 nights) Could distribute something like this. Day 1 - 3: Start in Dubrovnik, Makarska, Split. It's been a while since we took a proper holiday with no digital distractions around in fact, our last time we visited a place purely was pleasure was during our honeymoon in Seychelles. Sveti Jakov beach is relatively secluded and it features a fun little beach bar. Use of the content of this website for AI and ML training is prohibited. After a short kayaking safety introduction, paddle out from Hvar towards the Pakleni Islands. As this itinerary (and most every Croatia itinerary) focuses on the coast, the best time to visit Croatia is definitely during warmer weather. The walk itself is not protected from direct sunlight, so please make sure you bring sunscreen and plenty of water with you. Taste their homemade wine and join them in preparing dinner with fresh ingredients from their garden.Return to Dubrovnik with free time at leisure. Within Split, it is generally unnecessary to need your own car or to use public transport, however, if you plan to explore any of the surrounding areas or go on any of the numerous great day trips from Split, then having your own vehicle will prove to be the easiest option. Dubrovnik is located in the very south of Croatia and, in fact, it isnt even connected to the rest of the country due to the small bit of coastline the Bosnia & Herzegovina claims as their own. Are you struggling to choose between Dubrovnik or Split? If youre still set on visiting Dubrovnik but dont have a high budget to play around with, then I recommend trying to visit in the off-season. Everyone we spent time with was knowledgeable, charming, professional, and overwhelmingly", Traveled to Croatia as a couple in June, 2023, "Our agent Sarah organized this wonderful family trip for us and we are so thankful to her. For those who also want to party into the wee hours of the morning, you will find more nightlife options available in Split than in Dubrovnik and at more affordable prices. Whilst eating, we noticed people booking tables for the evening, so make sure you book your table in advance to avoid waiting. As always in Croatia, be sure to check the ferry schedule online before booking your trip. Get on a bus from Zagreb at Autobusni Kolodvor Zagreb to Plitvice Lakes National Park. Sailing Dalmatia: Vis, Korula, Hvar & Bra - 7 Days. Is that . As the second-largest city in Croatia, Split does operate as a transport hub and there are numerous direct bus connections to the city from most major cities in Croatia and even cities abroad, like Mostar, Bosnia & Herzegovina and Kotor, Montenegro. Absolutely delicious. Southern Dalmatia One Week Itinerary: Dubrovnik, Hvar & Split The sky looks amazing and the water transforms from its deep cobalt colours, into a fiery purple as the sun goes down. She did not miss a beat before and during our amazing vacation. I have this itinerary but I would like to ask for recommendations and also if you think this is just too much. This is not an easy climb (there are lots of stairs), and parts of the wall are still under renovation. "I haven't used a travel service before this trip-- and I couldn't be happier with the result. Doing the entire 2km (1 1/4-mile) circuit atop the walls is a nonnegotiable must-do if you are physically able. It is likewise a great option if you are a fan of Game of Thrones and you want to see the filming locations of the TV show. In the afternoon, take a taxi-boat to the tiny islet of Lokrum and have a swim, or ride the Dubrovnik Cable Car to the peak of Mount Srdj for amazing views down on the fortified Old Town. They both draw in a flock of migrating tourists in the high season of July and August. As you can tell, our Croatia itinerary is pretty chilled. There are a few things you need to know about that stretch of road, so here it goes. Leave a comment below. Dubrovnik is the most popular place to visit in Croatia and because of this, it has also been struggling under the strains of overtourism. Click here to see their latest prices, Not quite what youre looking for? Hike & Sail: Split, Bra, Hvar & Dubrovnik - 7 Days, Planning Your Perfect Honeymoon in Croatia, Guide to the Dalmatian Islands: 5 Best Places to Visit, Southern Dalmatia: Croatia's Best Region for Sailing. We particularly enjoyed Hotel ", "Both a fascinating and exciting journey through four Balkan nations, Serbia, Bosnia-Hercegovina , Croatia and Montenegro. Everyone sort of wants to do their own thing but we know we want to meet up in Dubrovnik. Enjoy having these beaches all to yourself for swimming, snorkeling, and relaxing. But in recent years, Croatia is becoming more and more popular to visit. By the time youve come down to earth, the promenade on the Stradun will have begun. If youre looking to get further afield, its also perfectly possible to visit Mostar, Bosnia & Herzegovina from Split or even head north to visit the incredible Plitvice Lakes National Park. Free cancellation. Ive got you covered! This is a popular beach in Dubrovnik so please note it can get really busy. Boasting perennially good weather, beautiful settings, and great transport links to explore much of what Croatia has to offer, Split is one of the best places to visit in Croatia and you're sure to have an excellent time in the country should you choose to base yourself here. Thus, it is travel-related costs are rising quickly relative to its neighboring Balkan countries. Learn how your comment data is processed. You will need to make your way out of Dubrovnik city center. Let us know your plans in the comments section below. Her communication was spot on. You'll explore the Croatian capital as well as Unesco World Heritage-listed old . Bavice Beach can be reached in a 15-minute walk. When we created our Croatia itinerary, we didn't realise we will exit Croatia after Dubrovnik, just so we re-enter the country en route to Split. browse schedules for many local bus companies here, good portion of the city itself in just a couple of days, visit Mostar, Bosnia & Herzegovina from Split, visit the incredible Plitvice Lakes National Park. This means that its easy to get from the airport to the city centre in a limited amount of time. 2. P.S. Now, don't get me wrong, the stretch is quite small, but you still need to queue for passport control at the border. I did a similar tour although in my case it was in the opposite direction. We are travelling down the coast of Croatia for a week over July but a little stuck over how much time to spend in each place. Because of its coastal location, it is also the ideal place to hit the beach, especially if youre visiting in the warmer months. The drive typically requires 45 minutes with normal traffic. There are many Game of Thrones filming locations in Split so if you are a fan, we recommend booking a tour in advance. * If you decide to stay the night in Hvar instead of Split, your only option will of course be to take a ferry from Hvar to Dubrovnik. Oh, and did we mention they sell pitchers for just 99 kunas? We really enjoyed the walk to the beach and walked back during sunset to capture some wonderful vanilla skies. Since it's so long it's also less popular which means that you can enjoy the Plitvice Lakes in silence. Bookmarking it for my reference , Hi, great post, it has really inspired me. A Week in Croatia Tour | EF Go Ahead Tours Have you been to Croatia? You may need to catch a connecting flight, as direct flights to Split are only available from certain European destinations. I am a fairly confident driver - but honestly how was it in Croatia? Click here to browse private rentals in Split. We took trail K which is 18.3 km long. You can walk the salt pans outside town to see how this ancient salt collection method works (youll probably have the place to yourself). Question: 1 week in Croatia/Dubrovnik area - Dubrovnik Forum We will also detail some of the hotels we recommend which have something unique to offer for each destination around the country. Just scroll back up to the itinerary summary at the top of this page if youre confused!). Should you visit Split or Dubrovnik on your trip to Croatia? Boasting perennially good weather, beautiful settings, and great transport links to explore much of what Croatia has to offer, Split is one of the best places to visit in Croatia and youre sure to have an excellent time in the country should you choose to base yourself here. However, these parameters are deceptive as Peljeac is quite mountainous, and the end-to-end drive usually takes more than 2 hours. Our tour group included two bay boats that could fit around 8 people each. Sail. One of the first things you need to consider when trying to choose whether to visit Split or Dubrovnik is how accessible the city is, both in terms of getting to the city and also getting around once there. I include all the details, such as bus and ferry stations, prices, and trip duration for each time youll use public transport to move around Croatia. Start the day with a visit around the Diocletian's Palace. Family Travel in Croatia: Kid-Friendly Activities & Trave Croatia Adventures: Hiking, Biking, and Climbing, Unique Ways to Experience Plitvice Lakes National Park, Unique Ways to Experience the Island of Hvar, Croatia in October: Travel Tips, Weather & More, Split, Dubrovnik & Korula: Best Itinerary Ideas, Split, Dubrovnik & Ston: Best Itinerary Ideas. Were Michael and Maggie, an Australian and American couple travelling the world. I was very reluctant about the price at first, especially because it was May. The platform aggregates available cars across many major car hire companies to ensure that you get a great deal. From the historic streets of Split to the culinary acumen of the Konavle region, you'll see and do many of the best activities the country has to offer in just one week.