If you are planning to visit Croatia and don’t know where to start from, stay with us and find out what to visit, what to do and what to expect! In 7 days in Croatia itinerary is guaranteed to raise your wanderlust and appetite for travel. Even though Croatia is a small country it has plenty to offer.
Croatia Itinerary 7 Days
If you are visiting Croatia for the first time, then this one week in Croatia itinerary you should follow. There are so many ways to plan for the arrival to Croatia. You can arrive by plane, by bus, by boat or by your private vehicle. Croatia is ”meka” for low budget airline companies, so we’d recommend checking the flights first because you can get some good deals if you book it in advance. If you decide to arrive by plane, rent a car and start your 7 days in Croatia adventure.
Here is the 7 days itinerary in Croatia, starting from center of Dalmatia – Split.
- Day 1: Split
- Day 2: Plitvice Lakes Day Trip
- Day 3: Five Islands & Blue Cave Day Trip
- Day 4: Krka National Park Day Trip
- Day 5: Travel to Dubrovnik
- Day 6: Dubrovnik
- Day 7: Elafite Islands
Day 1: Split
Split is Croatia’s second largest city and the largest city in the Dalmatia region. It’s a city with a blend of modern living and historic sights – and is one of the most popular places to visit in Croatia.
When in Split, you must visit: Diocletian’s Palace, The Old Town and Riva, and Marjan Park. Have a walk around Diocletian’s Palace, stroll along the seaside promenade, enjoy a glass of Croatian wine at an outdoor cafe, or take a hike up Marjan hill.
After your visit to Split you could head to day trip to Šibenik or Trogir, visit the beautiful Krka National Park, or even make a trip to islands: Hvar where you can enjoy the lavender field or visit the laid back nature of Brač island for a day!
Day 2: Plitvice Lakes Day Trip
NP Plitvice Lakes, are the most visited part of Croatia and may be one of Croatia’s most popular tourist destinations. It takes around 2.5 hours to drive there so you’ll need to get up early. Remember to book your tickets for the park at least 48 hours before your visit because of how busy it can get. When at Plitvice, don’t forget to visit nearby Rastoke Waterfalls too.
Day 3: Five Islands & Blue Cave Day Trip
From the port of Split, in just one day, you can see several islands including Hvar, Biševo, Vis, Ravnik and Budikovac by boat. Whether you like swimming and snorkelling or eating ice cream and lazing on the beach, you’ll love to spend this day out!
Blue Cave on the island of Biševo – Tiny island of Biševo would hardly be noticed at all except for its remarkable Blue Grotto (Modra Špilja) or Blue Cave that strongly suggests the famous Grotto of Capri. On sunny days, the sunlight passes through an underwater opening inside the cave, creating a luminous silver-blue light. This stunning natural phenomenon was once only accessible through scuba diving, but since 1884, it can now be accessed by a small boat.
Day 4: Krka National Park Day Trip
Another of Croatia’s most famous sights is Krka National Park. This natural beauty jewel is only about an hour away from Split. We would recommend choosing the entrance at Lozovac because it has the largest car park. Swimming in the river is not allowed anymore, but still you can admire the natural beauty of the Krka river and its waterfalls.
Day 5: Travel to Dubrovnik
On your 5th day of the 7 days Croatia itinerary, you should drive more to the south, to Dubrovnik. From Split to Dubrovnik you will need about 3-5 hours driving. You should know that there is a brief border crossing through Bosnia and Herzegovina so you should keep your passport in your hand. On your way to Dubrovnik you can make a stop at Trsteno. With its natural beauty it is the home of Trsteno Arboretum. Trsteno boasts the 15th century renaissance summer residence of Gučetić-Gozze family, with its garden which has been cultivated from the 15th century to the present day. The garden encompassing the summer residence, aqueduct, mill, the fountain with Neptune and nymphs and the belvedere pavilion overlooking the sea and islands is the finest example of Dubrovnik summer residence garden architecture.
Day 6: Dubrovnik
The most popular place to visit in Croatia thanks in no part to Game of Thrones, no 7 days Croatia itinerary that covers the tourist highlights of the country would be complete without including Dubrovnik. The centre of Dubrovnik is the best place to stay for convenience and sightseeing.
It is not only famous because of the Famous fortress walls and the view from here are just as incredible as the history of the place! There is alsoOld Town with impressive views of the Adriatic sea, the terracotta rooftops of medieval Dubrovnik are well worth wandering around and photographing.
Day 7: Elafite Islands
The Elafiti islands are an archipelago situated close to Dubrovnik. There are six islands in the archipelago, not including any small islets, although the three main ones to visit and stay on are Koločep, Lopud and Šipan. To give you an idea of just how small and quiet they are – in total, the three main islands have a population of less than 1,000 people. They’re easily reachable by public ferry – Jadrolinija has a daily ferry service that travels to each of the islands in turn. There is also a catamaran service from Dubrovnik to the island of Šipan where you can spend a day on the beach. Finish your 7 days Croatia itinerary with this beautiful island before returning back home.
One Week In Croatia
Before spending one week in Croatia you need to decide how to get to Croatia. You can easily come by air before or during high season. It is easy to buy one way flights and they’re not even that much expensive with more and more airlines flying to Croatia. Or you can get early low cost buses or overnight trains (from Zagreb to Split) and more you can spend your travelling time sleeping! If you’re travelling along the coast, travel by ferry. A really beautiful way of seeing the coast.
If you are looking for something a little different, why not try a sailing or an activity holiday, such as cycling or kayaking? It’s a great way of travelling around a little bit but won’t require much travel planning on your part. And it’s a great way of seeing Croatia’s top sight: its coastline!
Yacht Week Croatia Route
Croatia is worth visiting and its coastline on the Adriatic Sea is stunning! One fun thing to do in Croatia is to rent a boat and explore the country from a different perspective. There are 1 246 islands, of which 47 are permanently inhabited. Anyone who loves sailing, yachting or jet-skiing will enjoy their time in Croatia completely. Slow things down as you sail up and down the Dalmatian coast.
If you are considering exploring the coastline by boat, here is a 7 day Croatia itinerary, a short guide to sailing and the routes offered when you visit Croatia on one of our private yacht vacations. A boat week in Croatia is a must for all sailing enthusiasts.
First stop: Zadar. If you want to see “the most beautiful sunset in the world”, Zadar is the place to be. After a short stop in Zadar, we recommend heading to NP Kornati Islands. These islands are a real chance to eschew technology and truly get off the grid. Since some of the islands aren’t inhabited you may well feel like an explorer discovering a new world!
After the Kornati Islands sail to the island Zlarin at Šibenik archipelago. Zlarin offers an idyllic spot for relaxing and just soaking up the sun in peace with no cars allowed here. It is historically famous for harvesting and processing red coral, with both a small museum and jewellery shop dedicated to the island’s tradition.
Day 3 -4, your next sailing destination is Split, Croatia’s second-largest city. If you want to really immerse in the Dalmatian lifestyle, this is the place to be. After Split go to Bol, the oldest town on the island of Brač, off the coast of Split. Here you will find Zlatni Rat, a wide gravel and sand beach which expands over 10 km. Crystal clear waters, pristine nature, and beautiful, authentic island houses.
Next stop, island Hvar, probably the most famous Croatia’s islands, is undeniably beautiful.
Its coast hiddes numerous inlets and coves and its hinterland is dotted with olive groves, lavender fields and vineyards. The island’s main centre is Hvar Town. Hvar has a rich history, interesting culture and vibrant nightlife. Here you can find the best parties in Croatia.
Day 5-6 you can sail to Korčula Island.A beautiful small island with forests, sandy beaches, olive groves and vineyards. Often referred to as a “mini-Dubrovnik” , it’s said to be the birthplace of the famous international explorer Marco Polo. Your next stop is NP Mljet where you can experience the natural beauty. If you don’t want to swim and snorkel anymore, here you can cycle, walk or kayak around two saltwater lakes.
On your last day of your yacht week Croatia route, visit the island Šipan and Dubrovnik region. Šipan is an island with a true Mediterranean summer feel and perfectly surrounded by natural beauty like cypress, pine parks and citrus gardens. On Your last day at yacht you should enjoy a leisurely day on the way to the marina and sail by the magnificent fortress walls of Dubrovnik. Seems like one week in Croatia won’t be enough to explore it completely.
Holiday In Zadar
Zadar has a rich history and natural beauty, beautiful beaches and islands. It is well connected with the rest of Croatia and bigger European cities as well. It’s a base to Ryanair airline so you can easily fly to Zadar from most of the European countries for low cost.
If you decide to visit Zadar by boat or to book a sailing cruise you will enjoy the unique labyrinth of islands big and small, stretching across the Adriatic sea. Numerous islands are hiding beautiful bays, caves and beaches. If you can’t make up your mind whether to spend a couple of days or a one week in Zadar, maybe we can make up your mind with this itinerary. If you’re planning to come to Zadar without a car, we’d recommend you to rent a car. There are plenty of beautiful spots to visit in the Zadar region and a car would be a much better option rather than the bus.
For your first day in Zadar it would be nice to explore the city by walking tour. This way you can feel the city and the locals. Tour guide will show you all the sights and explain all important historical events of the city. This is the best way to get to know the city. After the walking tour you can have dinner in one of the numerous restaurants, taverns, charming bistros or street food vendors. Combination of good food, specialties, a good glass of wine and a host who will accommodate you with gusto presents Zadar’s gastronomic offer. Important to mention is that the Zadar region has awarded wineries and olive oil producers. You can find a lot of cheese, wine or olive oil routes along the Zadar region.
On your second day you can visit nearby Nin, Petrčane and Kožino. Nin is a small romantic city and the place where the Croatian state was born. Explore this small city and visit the smallest cathedral of the world, church of the Holy Cross, statue of Gregory of Nin, church of st. Anselm or museum of Nin Antiquities. If you are into water activities, then Nin’s beaches are for you. You can enjoy windsurfing and kitesurfing here since this is the region where windless days are rare. Here you can find one of the most famous sandy beaches in Croatia: Queens beach. It is also one of the most beautiful family-friendly beaches in Croatia.
Third and fourth day are reserved to explore the islands. If you want to swim in turquoise waters of serene coves then Zadar archipelago is for you. To visit mesmerized Kornati Island you have to rent a yacht or book one of the numerous group boat trips. You are gonna need one whole day to visit the Kornati Islands. Other day you can visit Dugi Otok or island Ugljan. Dugi otok hides one of the most beautiful beaches in Croatia – Sakarun Beach. It is also called ”Croatian Hawaii”. You can visit Park of Nature Telaščica too and its amazing cliffs. Don’t forget to climb the Veli Rat lighthouse where you have a breathtaking view over Adriatic Sea.
On your fifth day you can choose between hiking or light trekking. For hike lovers we recommend NP Paklenica, which is the most popular climbing spot in all of Southern Europe. For trekking and ornithology lovers we recommend Park of Nature Vransko Lake which is one of the top birdwatching spots in Croatia. Spending time at the lakes to view the birds won’t disappoint you no matter what time of year you choose. Head up to Kamenjak viewpoint for the most incredible views over the lake. It’s here that you will find a sightseeing point.
For your last two days in Zadar we would advise to slow down and spoil yourself. Explore the nearby beaches and enjoy local cuisine. Have a glass or two of local wine and try one of the most awarded cheeses in the world.
If you appreciate good wine, don’t miss out on the vineyards of this region. Spend the evening at wine tasting at the Škaulj Winery in Nadin and you’ll see why this winemaker is the recipient of numerous awards. If you don’t wanna leave the city, then you can pay a visit to Degarra Winery Zadar. Where you can taste wine, eat local specialties and enjoy good music.
Are you ready to create your own 7 days in Croatia itinerary? Once you visit Croatia you will want to extend your stay and to add even more impressive cities and sights to your itinerary in Croatia!
