The Ultimate Croatia Itinerary

It’s hard to resist the orange rooftops reflected in the crystal clear blue waters of the Adriatic Sea along the Croatian coast. Last summer, I had the pleasure of visiting Croatia after my trip to Sweden and I fell head over heels for the country. My sister and I flew into Croatia from Stockholm and met the rest of our family for the start of our multigenerational trip — across the ten of us we represented four generations!

If you’re thinking about taking to your own trip to Croatia, I encourage you to do so earlier rather than later as it’s becoming a more popular (and crowded) destination every year. To help you get started, I’ve outlined the Croatia itinerary I took for my trip. Check out the full Lonely Planet Croatia guide to take with you (and get 10% off when you use the code LITTLETHINGS10)! Want a more personalized itinerary? Check out my travel planning services!

Day 1 – 2: Zagreb

View overlooking Zagreb.

As the capital of Croatia, Zagreb tends to be an easier (and generally more affordable) destination to fly into from most places. While Zagreb tends to get overlooked because it’s not on the coast, it has a rich culture and history and is easily walkable.

Read More: Weekend Travel Guide to Zagreb

Day 3 – 4: Marina

The small town of Marina that we made our home base for a week in Croatia while we explored the Dalmatian coast. Not bad, huh?

From Zagreb we flew into Split and got a ride to Marina, a small town just outside of Trogir, where we rented a house for all ten of us to use as our home base for the week. A quiet town with few tourists, this was the perfect place to relax by the beach or to come back to at the end of a long day.

Day 5: Trogir

Trogir Central Square.

A quick drive from Marina, we visited the charming historical town of Trogir, which is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The towering medieval walls of the city house over 2,000 years of history, and it’s the best-preserved Romanesque-Gothic complex in all of Central Europe.

Day 6: Krka National Park, Šibenik, and Primošten

Šibenik’s Square of the Republic of Croatia.

One of my favorite day trips was to Krka National Park, with stops in Šibenik and Primošten on the way. Krka National Park is Croatia’s lesser known but no less beautiful gem of a park, complete with turquoise waters and stunning natural waterfalls. Our next stop on the Croatia itinerary was Šibenik, a town that is similar in size to Dubrovnik but less popular that turned out to be one of my favorite Croatian cities. Finally, our last stop was in Primošten, known for its medieval churches and famous Babić red wine.

Read More: A Visit to Krka National Park in Photos
Šibenik: My Favorite Not So Hidden Gem in Croatia

Day 7: Croatian Cooking Class

Croatian cooking class. Making peka, fish, and stew (from left to right).

Learning about and tasting the food that is unique to a specific region or culture is one of my favorite ways to get to know a place and adds an even deeper appreciation of their culinary customs. Up in the mountains of Vrsine, Croatia is a quaint restaurant named Donja Banda where we learned all about Croatian cooking.

Read More: Learning to Cook Croatian Style

Day 8: Sinj and Kotlenice

Sunset over the mountains of Kotlenice. The same sunset my great grandfather grew up seeing every day.

This one was a very special day of our Croatia trip. It was the day where we met our Croatian relatives and had the opportunity to learn about our heritage firsthand. In the small village of Kotlenice just outside of Sinj, we were embraced with hospitality from family we had never met before, some we never even knew existed. To make this heritage exploration complete, I got to see the homes where my great grandparents grew up. It was a truly memorable moment that I will never forget.

Read More: Heritage Travel: Connecting With My Croatian Roots

Day 9: Zadar and Nin

Five Wells Square in Zadar. This photo shows two of the five wells that are lined up in a row.

This was as far north as we traveled during this Croatia trip, as I decided to save Istria for my next visit so I could spend more time there. The three thousand year old city of Zadar is full of history and is the second largest city in Dalmatia. It is full of interesting stories and unique attractions, like its very own sea organ built into the wall along the water and many historical monuments.

Make sure to take home or at least try some Maraschino. Previously considered to be a medicinal potion, Maraschino is a liqueur made from the maraska cherry fruits pulp and the stem and leaves from young and tender branches of the maraska tree.

Walking through town in Nin, Croatia.

Nin is the oldest royal town in Croatia and it’s located on an island that is connected to the mainland by two bridges. Known for its medicinal mud, you can visit Queen’s Beach to try it out for yourself. If you remember the large statue of Grgur Ninski from Split, you can also find a smaller version of the statue in Nin where you can again touch his big toe for good luck.

Don’t leave Nin without taking home some salt! Nin has been producing sea salt at their rare saltworks since the time of the Roman Empire. For the most high quality salt, take home the Nin Flower of Salt that is rich in natural minerals providing additional nutrients and digestive regulation.

Day 10 – 12: Split

Boats lined up along the Riva in Split.

After Marina, we made the short journey to Split where we spent a few more days. This was another highlight of the Croatia trip, despite being a more popular tourist destination. We spent plenty of time exploring Diocletian’s Palace, learning about the history of the city, and indulging in the delicious food throughout Split.

Read More: 9 Handpicked Things To Do In Split, Croatia

Day 13 – 15: Dubrovnik

The view from Dubrovnik’s city walls.

The rest of my family flew back home from Split, and I continued my Croatia itinerary on my own taking the bus down to Dubrovnik. Known as the “Pearl of the Adriatic”, Dubrovnik is the most popular tourist destination in all of Croatia, and the city is also a UNESCO World Heritage site. While I don’t think you need more than a few days in Dubrovnik, it is a good location to take advantage of the different day trip options in the area.

Read More: The Budget Traveler’s Guide to Dubrovnik
How I Visited Dubrovnik, Mostar, and Kotor for Under $600 (And How I Could Have Done It For Less)

Day 16: Island of Lokrum

The idyllic Island of Lokrum, just off the coast of Dubrovnik.

Just a quick 15-minue ferry ride from Dubrovnik’s Old Town you will find the charming Island of Lokrum, measuring less than one mile wide. It’s a serene place to spend the day with plenty to see across the island, including peacocks, nude beaches, and a chance to sit on the Iron Throne for those Game of Throne fans, and it even has a well-known legend that involves being cursed by Benedictine monks. The Island of Lokrum was the perfect quiet getaway after being in the crowded streets of Dubrovnik.

Read More: A Secret Getaway on the Island of Lokrum

Day 17: Bosnia & Herzegovina

Stari Most (Old Bridge) in Mostar.

While this is outside of Croatia, I knew when I was staying in Dubrovnik I wanted to do more than just stay in one city, so a day trip to a neighboring country was definitely worth a visit. I booked this tour with Adriatic Explore. They picked up from Dubrovnik and the tour included a mix of free time on your own and guided portions with a tour guide. We stopped at Pocitelj, a small town that is a beautiful medieval UNESCO World Heritage site before continuing on to Mostar.

Read More: First Impressions of Bosnia and Herzegovina

Day 18: Montenegro

View of Budva in Montenegro.

Another perfect border crossing day trip from Dubrovnik, my visit to the gem of Montenegro was too short a stay in my opinion. I would have loved to spend more than a day there. I enjoyed every moment of walking around Budva and Kotor, with the rugged mountains contrasted by the clear, blue waters.

Read More: How Montenegro Enchanted Me Into Returning

Day 19: Island Hopping Tour of the Elaphites

View from Šipan, the longest of all the Elaphite Islands.

After a lot of time on the road with multi-country day trips, an island hopping tour off the coast of Dubrovnik was just what I needed at this point in the Croatia itinerary. The boat stopped at Koločep, Šipan, and Lopud, the only three inhabited islands that are a part of the Elaphite Islands. It was just what I needed to wind down from being on the go the last two days.

Read More: A Day of Island Hopping From Dubrovnik

Day 20: Cavtat

Watching the sunset in Cavtat during my last night in Croatia.

My final stop was in the small town of Cavtat, only about 30 minutes from Dubrovnik. I had wanted to spend more time outside of the busy streets of Dubrovnik, so Cavtat seemed like the natural fit for my last day being closer to the airport.

If having a very lively party scene is important to you, Cavtat will not be a good fit. But for those traveling with family or for anyone who prefers a more quiet and relaxed destination, you will be in exactly the right place. Cavtat was a much cheaper alternative to staying in Dubrovnik, while also being able to easily access the more popular nearby cities.

Read More: Cavtat: Your Dubrovnik Alternative

Once you nail down your trip plans, I’d advise packing light and even pack in just a backpack if you can. This Croatia itinerary may seem like a lot, especially looking at all the stops on the map, but the whole trip was really a good pace. Keep in mind that I didn’t include any of the Istria region of Croatia, which I decided to save for my next trip when I have more time. We were able to see a lot on this trip, but still managed to have enough down time that we didn’t feel rushed.

If you enjoyed this Croatia itinerary, make sure to take advantage of my travel planning services for your next trip and remember to sign up for my newsletter to receive exclusive Little Things Travel content and sneak peaks of my upcoming trips!