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8 Day itinerary in Croatia, Europe

Hot Spots of Croatia, Zagreb to Dubrovnik

This road trip takes you south through Croatia, taking in many of the popular highlights in a short period of time. Begin in the capital city Zagreb before working your way down to the coast, the beautiful cities of Šibenik and Split, explore the islands of southern Dalmatia before ending your trip ... Read More

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Tina

By Tina

Overview

Physical Difficulty

Easy
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Recommended Age

Everyone

Operated in

English

GUIDANCE

On Some Day Trips

starting point

Zagreb

trip type

Private

trip attributes

Hiking

Meet local people

Historic & cultural landmarks

Outdoors & Nature

Beach & Sea

Start

Night

End

Highlights

1

Explore the waterfalls, lakes, and rivers of Krka and Plitvice national parks

2

Marvel at the remains of Diocletian’s Palace in the coastal city of Split

3

Visit Korčula and find out where the famous explorer Marco Polo came from

4

Dive into history with a tour of Dubrovnik's medieval Old Town and city walls

Itinerary

4- star and 5- star hotels expand_more

Day 1

place Arrival in Zagreb

Arrival at Zagreb airport where you will be picked up and taken to your accommodation. Once you've settled in, you will have time to relax and freshen up. After that, we suggest you take a walk around Zagreb. The Croatian capital is in many ways an exceptional city. Zagreb offers its guests the Baroque atmosphere of the Upper Town, a picturesque open market, green parks, and promenades, but also superb culinary delights and an exciting nightlife. It has managed to preserve its distinctive beauty and relaxed atmosphere and is the perfect blend of a Central European metropolis and the relaxed tempo of the Mediterranean. Overnight.

Accommodation:

  • 4- star and 5- star hotels: DoubleTree by Hilton Zagreb or similar
Day 2

place From Zagreb to Split through Plitvice Lakes National Park

After a buffet breakfast at the hotel and check-out, you will pick up your rental car and depart for the Plitvice Lakes National Park, registered on UNESCO's List of World Heritage Sites. The park is a magical world of lakes, waterfalls, moss, and forests. Nestled in the embrace of the surrounding wooded mountains are sixteen smaller and larger crystal turquoise lakes, interconnected by foaming cascades and deep falls. The park includes the headwaters of the Korana River in an area surrounded by dense forests and is additionally ornamented by several caves, springs and flower-filled meadows, which show the vast diversity of flora and fauna in the park. A sightseeing walking tour of the National Park, which includes a boat ride, allows you to experience first-hand the magical beauty of the lakes and waterfalls, each spectacular in its own right. Lunch at a local restaurant features a delicious array of local specialties. After visiting the park, you will continue towards Split where you will return the car and spend the night.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Accommodation:

  • 4- star and 5- star hotels: Heritage Hotel Fermai Split MGallery or similar
Day 3

place Brač Island From Split Tour

After breakfast, meet your guide at the designated location for your full-day visit of the Island Brač. The Split to Brač ferry journey offers breath-taking views of the mountains, the City of Split and Brač island. You might even be lucky and catch sight of the many Adriatic dolphins on the way! This Split to Brač day trip is shown by a local guide who has spent his life exploring Brač island and who gives great insights into the local culture – all in a fantastic vintage Land Rover – ideal for the rough Brač terrain. On this tour, you will visit an unmarked gem in the village of Skript, Brač, the olive oil museum – where you can taste the local produce and learn all about olive growing and oil production – new and old. You will also visit a local stone quarry – it’s what Brač is best known for – its famous white stone which was used for Diocletian’s Palace, the White House and Liverpool Cathedral high alter no less! A great lunch will be served in a local vineyard near Bol and followed by a visit to the famous Zlatni Rat beach or Golden Horn, perhaps the most photographed beach in all of Croatia where you can take a swim if you fancy. This whole-day tour then visits Vidova Gora, the highest point on the entire island, with spectacular ethereal views across the Adriatic Sea to the island of Hvar – your photos from this viewpoint out to the island of Hvar will be memorable. Then you will wander back to Supetar though Brač’s numerous quaint fishing villages for your ferry back to Split.

Guide: Included for the day

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Accommodation:

  • 4- star and 5- star hotels: Heritage Hotel Fermai Split MGallery or similar
Day 4

place Ferry from Split to Hvar

After an easy morning in Split, catch the ferry to the island of Hvar and check into your hotel. A Croatian island in the Adriatic Sea, Hvar is a popular destination with tourists due to its natural setting, mild climate, and its historic port town of the same name. Highlights of Hvar Town include its 13th-century walls, a hilltop fortress, and the main square anchored by the Renaissance-era Cathedral. For some of the best views of the island, Hvar Town, and the nearby Pakleni Islands take a short walk up to the 16th-century Španjola Fortress. Or, join a kayaking tour and head out on the Adriatic to discover the many secluded coves that outline the islands. To cover some ground and appreciate the variation in island landscape: from lavender plantations and olive groves to vineyards and pine woods, you may like to join a (wine tasting) cycling or hiking tour. The less active might opt to rent a scooter for faster coverage of the local scenery. After an easy day, treat yourself to a drink in the ancient piazza of Hvar overlooking the Venetian loggia, 7th-century fortification walls, and the oldest municipal theatre in Europe. Overnight Hvar.

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation:

  • 4- star and 5- star hotels: Amfora Hvar Grand Beach Resort or similar
Day 5

place Blue and Green Caves: Full-Day Speedboat Tour from Hvar, overnight Korčula

Today you'll set out on an exciting full-day organized excursion! After meeting your guides at a designated place, enjoy a full-day excursion on a speedboat off the coast of Hvar, with the first stop on your trip at the spectacular Blue Cave. The Blue Cave’s ethereal silvery blue colour is created by the sun as it bathes the cave’s interior through an opening in the roof and is reflected by the sandy surface below. Continue on the cruise to Stiniva Bay. Seeing it from the seaside, Stiniva is closed in by 2 high rocky cliffs which, at their closest point, are just 4 meters from each other. Between the cliffs you’ll see a pebble beach appear as you sail through the gateway, opening up the site like a Roman amphitheatre paved in stone. Continue to the Green Cave, where you'll have a chance to enjoy a swim, before heading to the little island of Budikovac, another ideal spot for a swim and a chance to relax. You’ll find a wonderful pebble beach, a small bay, protected from the open sea, and a beautiful lagoon for swimming on the southeastern side of the island of Vis. On the way back from Vis Island to the island of Hvar, you'll stop at Palmižana on Pakleni islands. After the day trip, you'll catch the evening ferry to Korčula. Overnight in Korčula.

Guide: Included for the day

Meals: Breakfast

Day 6

place Explore Korčula, overnight Dubrovnik

After breakfast at the hotel, you will meet your guide who will accompany you on a fun adventure buggy trip. The ride starts by driving out to the place called Medvidnjak, and from there going uphill to the viewpoint from where you can see the town of Korčula and the Pelješac-Korčula channel. Here you will take a short photo-break and enjoy the view. Next stop is the long sandy beach “Pržina” in Lumbarda, where you will spend some 45 minutes swimming and relaxing. The ride continues through the village of Lumbarda, which is full of small vineyards where the famous grape variety “Grk” is grown, as well as some other varieties. After that you will descend and drive for about 3 km along the coast. Then you will turn to the forest where you ride through the hills leading to the small village of Žrnovo, and after passing it you will arrive at Žrnovska Banja where you will visit a family estate. You are welcome to try some liquors and wines that are made according to old recipes that were passed on to younger generations for years, without artificial ingredients or additives and here you end your half-day buggy safari. If you want the afternoon to relax, grab the public transportation and head off to Lumbarda and the two beautiful sandy beaches there. Make sure you try some local Grk white wine. In the evening, you'll board the ferry to Dubrovnik, where you will check in the hotel.

Guide: Included for the day

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation:

  • 4- star and 5- star hotels: Hotel Korsal or similar
Day 7

place Dubrovnik Sightseeing

In the morning you will participate in the Dubrovnik Game of Thrones walking tour. On the GOT guided walking tour, you will be taken through all the parts of Dubrovnik Old Town where some of the most memorable scenes from the cultural phenomenon were filmed, including The Pile Gate where King Joffrey was faced with a citizens’ riot and pelted with dung, the Lovrijenac fort (menacing Red Keep), and the place where the unsuccessful attack on King's Landing - the Battle of Blackwater - took place. All Dubrovnik Game of Thrones filming locations, including ones from the final 8th season, are accompanied by commentary from a local guide with detailed scene descriptions and actual stills and images of scenes from the exact episodes they made an appearance on. Have a blast recollecting the best moments of the show and take home some unique memories with you! If you have watched the series and you are passionate about GOT, this is a perfect thing to do while visiting Dubrovnik. If you are not a Game of Thrones fan, please note that we can also organize a different kind of sightseeing tour according to your liking. You can also take an optional trip to the nearby islet of Lokrum. Just a boat ride from the port in the Old Town, it is great for a swimming break on a hot day and has loads of interesting legends about its history.

Guide: Included for the day

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation:

  • 4- star and 5- star hotels: Hotel Kompas Dubrovnik or similar
Day 8

place Departure Dubrovnik

Breakfast at the hotel and free time until transfer to Dubrovnik airport. If you have some spare time, buy some unique souvenirs or gifts: arancini (candied orange peel), sugared almonds or Konavle-style embroidered tablecloth.

Meals: Breakfast

What’s Included

Accommodation expand_less

  • DoubleTree by Hilton Zagreb or similar
  • Heritage Hotel Fermai Split MGallery or similar
  • Amfora Hvar Grand Beach Resort or similar
  • Hotel Korsal or similar
  • Hotel Kompas Dubrovnik or similar

Meals expand_less

  • Breakfast (7)
  • Lunch (2)

Transport expand_less

  • Private transfer from the airport on arrival day
  • Car rental on Day 2
  • Private transfer to the airport on departure day

Activities expand_less

  • Full-day guided group activity from Split to Brač with English-speaking guide, transfers and lunch
  • Full-day speedboat activity on Day 5 with English-speaking guide
  • Half-day island activity on Korčula on Day 6 with English-speaking guide
  • Half-day Dubrovnik themed sightseeing activity on Day 7 with professional English-speaking guide

Extras expand_less

  • Entrance fee to Plitvice National Park
  • Lunch at a local restaurant on the National Park grounds
  • Ferry ticket for passengers Split - Hvar
  • Ferry ticket Hvar - Korčula
  • Ferry ticket Korčula - Dubrovnik
  • Trip preparation fee
  • VAT

Not Included expand_less

  • International airfare to and from Croatia
  • Meals and services other than those specified in the itinerary
  • Gas expenses, highway tolls, parking fees
  • Personal expenses
  • Travel insurance
  • Gratuities (tips are always appreciated but not mandatory)

About Tina

TEAM LEAD

verified Baboo Certified

Expertise: 

Cycling

Hiking

Meet local people

Indigenous culture

Historic & cultural landmarks

Kayaking

Outdoors & Nature

Food & Drink

Beach & Sea

My love for nature and animals is growing every day, and caring for the environment has become an essential item of my nature trips. The simplicity of life is the key to his quality and overall happiness. I want to share that with my clients.

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FROM PRICE PER TRAVELER

$2,235.00 USD