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Croatia has so much to offer visitors! From the mesmerizing national parks and stunning coast to the historical cities and delicious cuisine, I’m sure you’ll fall in love with the country as I did. I’m not going to pretend that seven days is enough time to explore this incredible country, but sometimes you have to make do with the time you have. That is precisely why I created and experienced the best 7-day Croatia road trip itinerary: to see as much of the country (and a bonus country) as possible in a short time.
This itinerary does not dive deep into the country like I usually aim for my itineraries to do. Rather, it scratches the surface, giving you a taste of some of the country’s most popular spots. So, let’s get to it!
Croatia Road Trip Day 0: Arrival + Renting a Car
We started our trip by flight to Zagreb Airport, so this itinerary will have us traveling South from Zagreb to explore the country. There is always the option to start in the south in Dubrovnik if you prefer. If that’s the case, work this itinerary backward.
Upon arriving in Zagreb, we picked up a rental car from the airport and started the first leg of our road trip. We arrived late at night, so we have claimed this day as “Day 0”. We took the < 2-hour drive to the charming town of Rastoke (only 30 minutes away from our first trip destination).
I read online that Rastoke is a neat spot to stop in for views of the scenic waterfall or to have a pit stop at a café. We stayed next door to Rastoke (a 2-minute drive) in a town called Slunj. Our guesthouse for the night was tucked perfectly into a peaceful neighborhood, and we had a beautiful view of the landscape.
After checking into our guesthouse, we rested for our first full day of adventure.
Croatia Road Trip Day 1: Plitvice National Park
See Rastoke and Prepare for the Day:
The following day, we woke up, took a quick detour to see the Rastoke waterfall, fueled up on coffee, and stopped by the market to pack snacks.
Head to Plitvice and hike route C:
Then we headed out for Plitvice National Park! Plitvice is famous for its rushing waterfalls and boardwalks weaving through pristine, blue waters. It is as picture-perfect as the images you see on Instagram.
There are some technical things to remember when visiting Plitvice, so I wrote a separate post with must-have information and Q&As. Basically, be sure to book ahead of time, plan which walking route you’ll take, and pick the correct entrance.
Plenty of parking is usually available, and getting in with tickets on your phone is easy. We started at entrance one and took the C route, which I recommend everyone do if they have the time. It’s estimated to take 4-6 hours, but you only walk 5 miles throughout the route. You spend the rest of the time on a boat or bus (or waiting for the boat or bus).
While this is a touristy park, I still enjoyed it; everyone should experience it!
Head to Skradin and have dinner:
After a day in the park, it’s time to head towards our second destination. Guesthouse Ivan is the perfect place to spend the night in the town of Skradin to prepare for day 2 of your Croatia itinerary. After arriving and checking in, wander the cobblestoned streets and grab dinner at Kala Food and Bar.
Croatia Road Trip Day 2: Krka National Park
Breakfast in town:
I recommend grabbing a hearty breakfast in town before a full day of adventure. We ate at a place called Karlovačko Bar and Bistro. It’s not too far from the Krka visitor center, has cheap breakfast options, and seems to be frequented by locals.
Take the boat to Krka National Park and enjoy:
Krka National Park is another popular park in Croatia. Many people debate whether Plitvice or Krka is better to visit. Of course, it’s up to personal opinion! Obviously, we did both, though!
Like Plitvice National Park, Krka has a boat ride, a waterfall, and wooden boardwalks for visitors to walk along. But it has an entirely different vibe! You should not go into day 2 expecting a park similar to the one you experienced on day 1.
You cannot drive into Krka National Park from Skradin. Instead, you’ll park in Skradin (there are both free and paid parking options) and take a boat into the park. During summer, the boat departs about every hour, but check with the visitor center for the current schedule.
When you arrive at the park, you’ll follow the path to the right to get into the heart of this park section. You’ll notice right away how developed this park is. There are plenty of options to grab food and souvenirs (although I wouldn’t recommend it if you’re trying to save money). Walking a little into the park, you’ll come across Krka’s crowning jewel, Skradinski. This part of the park is also where you will experience the most crowds! Don’t let it discourage you.
Once you pass the boardwalk to the right of the waterfall, the park opens up further, giving you more options to walk the trails and experience nature.
Explore other parts of the park:
Krka National Park is a lot larger than most tourists realize. Many visitors, like us, mistakenly only visit the most popular part of the park (like from the Skradin entrance). There are several entrances to the park that you can access by car that are less touristy. We did not get to explore these other areas, but I recommend doing so if you have the time. There are even some sections of the park you can swim in during certain seasons. Check the Krka National Park website or ask at the visitor center for more information.
Coastal Drive to Split + 2 stops:
After leaving Krka, you could drive the most direct route to Split. However, you can add a little more time to your route and drive along the Croatian coast. We opted for the small detour, and we loved it. I recommend making two stops on your way to split if you have the time.
Dinner in Primosten:
First, stop in Primosten for dinner. Primosten is a quaint walled city with plenty of options for dinner. Parking can be a pain, but once you find parking, head towards the entrance of the walled city. When entering, we turned left to go to Jopa Klopa, a reasonably priced restaurant on the water. We opted for sharing calamari, a pizza, and a liter of wine! After dinner, continue walking in the same direction to circle the whole old town along the coast (it’s a shorter walk than you’d think).
Dessert in Trogir:
After a forty-minute drive from Primosten, you’ll come across Trogir, giving you just enough time to be ready for dessert! Trogir is a small island with weaving pedestrian-only streets. Spend some time strolling around the area and stop for some gelato. We enjoyed delicious gelato at Gelateria Riviera.
Drive to Split + check-in:
We stayed in Apartment Devivi Adris, which is a 10-minute walk outside the city center and reasonably priced.
Croatia Road Trip Day 3: Explore Split
Slow morning + brunch:
After your busy day 2, take some time to have a slow morning in the beautiful city of Split. Stroll the streets and find a local café to enjoy brunch and coffee.
Take a free walking tour:
Split is a beautiful, unique city on the Croatian coast. A free walking tour is the best way to get to know a city! The tour will take you around Diocletian’s Palace, the walled old town of Split.
Explore the city on your own:
The tour will show you the city’s main highlights, but it will also leave you plenty to explore on your own. Use the afternoon to visit any of the spots that piqued your interest.
Dinner at Konoba Varos:
Konoba Varos offers local Croatian dishes to help you get a taste of the country’s culinary scene. Top dishes include black risotto with cuttlefish, cevapi, and pašticada (stewed beef with gnocchi). All these meals are delectable and worth trying on your Croatian adventure. As always, wine is an excellent complement to these dishes if you enjoy wine.
Watch the sunset:
If you’re up for a little walk after dinner, head up to the top of Marjan Hill to get an incredible view. If you’d rather take it easy, find a spot anywhere along the water to enjoy a relaxing sunset.
Croatia Road Trip Day 4: Spend time on the water and islands
Full-day boat tour:
Of course, one of the top things to do in Split is spending time on the water and visiting some of the islands off the coast. While some visitors will spend days exploring the islands, a full-day boat tour is the best option to see the most during your short time in Split. This Split boat tour will take visitors to the Blue Cave, Vis Island, Hvar Island, and more.
Vis Island:
You may recognize Vis Island as the iconic setting from Mamma Mia. And if you’re anything like me, you’ll have the Mamma Mia song stuck in your head the whole time you’re there. While visiting, I recommend you grab a bite to eat at Restaurant & Bar Dal Mare and wander the streets to explore independently.
Hvar Island:
Hvar Island is one of the most famous Croatian islands, and for good reason. As cliché as it sounds, the narrow, cobblestoned alleys full of local (and touristy) shops charm and welcome visitors. Spend time visiting the central square and browsing the shops filled with hand-made art and souvenirs. If you want a relaxing time and a good view to go along with it, be sure to make your way up to the Adriana Rooftop Bar.
Croatia Road Trip Day 5: Day trip to Bosnia and Herzegovina
Croatia is a beautiful country with plenty to do to last longer than a week. BUT if you want to see a neighboring country, Bosnia and Herzegovina is the perfect one to dip into.
Kravica Waterfall:
Just a little over the Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina border is one of Bosnia and Herzegovina’s top attractions. Kravica Waterfall is a beautiful spot to watch the rushing waterfall and swim in the waters below. It gets crowded, but there is plenty of space to grab a seat, enjoy a beer, and go for a swim. The water is quite cold but refreshing on a hot day. Entry tickets are 10 Euros for adults and 5 Euros for youth. Be prepared for many stairs to reach the falls, but there is also a little train (for a small fee) that can take visitors if the walk is too much.
Drive to Mostar:
Mostar ranks as the most picturesque city in Bosnia and Herzegovina. It is also home to the top attraction in the country, Old Bridge Mostar. Consequently, it’s a destination frequented by tourists. While I wouldn’t recommend spending much time in the city, it is worth stopping to see for yourself. Check out the bridge, try local cuisine, and maybe even stop at the small but impactful Museum of War and Genocide. It may be challenging to decipher between quality restaurants and tourist traps, so find your way to the edges of the central Old Town. I recommend either Food House Mostar or Vrata Orijenta (my favorite) for meals, depending on which side of the river you’re on. We stayed the night at Apartment Mejdan on the outer edge of the old city.
Croatia Road Trip Day 6: Dubrovnik tour, monastery, and walls
Important Note on the Dubrovnik Pass:
Before I move along with your time in Dubrovnik, I need to tell you to buy the Dubrovnik pass to save you money on the upcoming activities. The Dubrovnik pass is a 35 Euro attraction pass that offers admission to several Dubrovnik attractions. This pass is definitely worth it if you plan to partake in the city’s most popular activity – walking the city walls. The ticket to walk the walls on its own is 35 Euros, so by getting the pass, anything besides the walls will essentially be free. The pass is good for 24 hours from the start of your first activity.
Holy Burek for breakfast:
Yes, it’s a touristy spot, as the line out the door will likely indicate. But it’s the perfect place to grab a delicious burek to start your day right.
Free walking tour:
Like your visit to Split, the best way to start exploring Dubrovnik is with a free walking tour. Learning about the history of the old, walled city will help you conceptualize the incredible destination.
Franciscan Monastery:
Now that I have informed you of the Dubrovnik pass, I recommend starting your pass by visiting the Franciscan Monastery. The fascinating museum and old pharmacy are small but worth a visit (especially with it included in the Dubrovnik Pass). Operating since 1317, the Small Friar’s Pharmacy is one of the oldest in Europe.
Walk the city walls:
You can’t visit Dubrovnik without walking the city walls. Yes, that statement sounds like a matter of opinion. Admittedly, I was not willing to spend the whopping 35 Euros to walk the walls at first. I caved, and I’m glad I did. Now, I’d recommend that everyone do it during their first visit to Dubrovnik. It helps put the walled city into perspective, and the views are incredible. I prefer walking the walls in the early evening to avoid crowds and have cooler temperatures if visiting in summer. Note: check the last entry into the walls during your visit; operating hours change based on the season.
Dinner at Republic Burger House:
You may wonder why I’m adding a burger restaurant to your Croatia itinerary. The fact is that, at this point, you’ve likely had lots of Croatian food. So, as a little break, I recommend the reasonably-priced Republic Burger House. Now, this isn’t just my recommendation but also a recommendation from Dubrovnik locals. They are known for their calamari burger if that’s your jam, but I preferred their Game of Thrones-inspired “Burger of Thrones”! After dinner, we returned to our centrally-located apartment, Apartments Saint Mary.
Croatia Road Trip Day 7: Dubrovnik palace, tour, and jazz bar
Rector Palace (or another museum that interests you):
In all transparency, I wasn’t impressed with the list of museums included in the Dubrovnik Pass. Yet, I didn’t give them a chance either (other than Rector Palace). With the pass, you can visit the Maritime Museum, Museum of Modern Art, Natural History Museum, Ethnographic Museum, and more. However, my walking tour guide advised that Rector Palace is the most note-worthy. I don’t have anything to compare it to, but it was interesting to see.
Game of Thrones tour OR boat tour:
If you are a Game of Thrones fan (and have watched the whole series), a Game of Thrones tour is a must. The tour guides will take you to some of the most recognizable settings from the show and discuss the scenes. That said, this tour is NOT for people who have yet to finish watching the show; there are spoilers!!
If Game of Thrones isn’t your thing or you don’t want spoilers for the show, a boat tour is a great alternative to get more time on the water before you leave Croatia. Boat tours can take you to the Elephite Islands or the Blue and Green Caves.
Dinner at Azur Restaurant:
As your last dinner of the trip, you may want to have a last meal of local food OR be tired of local food. As a compromise, try the Asian-Mediterranean fusion restaurant Azur. The restaurant is the perfect place to sample some seafood and enjoy your meal outside. This spot does get busy, so make a reservation in advance to secure your spot.
Troubadours Jazz bar:
Right in the center of town near Dubrovnik Cathedral, you’ll find a charming jazz bar called Troubadours. They have everything you could ask for a relaxing evening in the old town: classy drinks, live music, and tasty snacks. Side note: their salmon bruschetta is *chef’s kiss*
Wow, talk about a packed itinerary! I know this is a LOT, so use it as an outline to curate the perfect itinerary to match your interests. If you follow this 7-day Croatia road trip itinerary, you will hit the most popular and note-worthy attractions while still having time to explore on your own!
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