Perfect 7 Day Croatia Itinerary For First Timers
Are you planning an upcoming weeklong trip to Croatia? You’ve landed on the right article.
Croatia is an idyllic European country tucked along the Adriatic coast, with ancient cities, stunning islands, and beautiful natural attractions. I spent 7 days traveling solo in Croatia, and visited all of the tourist hotspots, from Split to Plitvice Lakes and Dubrovnik.
After jam packing my itinerary, I know what places are worth visiting, and am going to recommend a more relaxed itinerary. This article will cover all of the best areas to stay, how to get around, and things you won’t want to miss in this beautiful country.
Ready to plan an unforgettable vacation to Croatia? Let’s dive in!
This article contains affiliate links. This means that if you choose to purchase through these links we may earn a commission. This helps keep our content free, at no additional cost to you.
7 Day Croatia Itinerary At A Glance
- Highlights: Split, Zadar, Plitvice Lakes, Island-Hopping, Dubrovnik
- Where to stay: 4-5 nights in Split, 1 in Plitvice, 1 in Dubrovnik, and 1 in Zadar or Hvar Island
- Airports to fly into/out of: Split (SPU) or Dubrovnik (DBV)
- Planning tip: Book inbound and outbound flights in alternate airports to avoid backtracking
This itinerary will include all of the places to see if you’re flying into Split or Dubrovnik airport, including the national parks, islands, and charming nearby cities.
For this itinerary, I recommend booking flights into Split, and flights out of Dubrovnik.
Where To Stay In Croatia
Croatia’s three main airports are located in the northern capital city Zagreb, central port city of Split, and southern medieval city of Dubrovnik. Split is the best place to fly into, and is the closest to all of the tourist hotspots.
From Split, you can easily go on a day trip to Krka National Park, Plitvice Lakes, and hop on a ferry from the marina to visit popular islands off the coast. It’s the second largest city in Croatia, and home to the ancient Roman ruins of Diocletian’s Palace (built in the 3rd and 4th century).
There’s many interesting things to see in the city, and it’s well connected by bus/group tours to all of the nearby attractions.
I flew into Split (SPU), and flew out of Dubrovnik on the southern coast. Dubrovnik is a medieval city famous for being a Game of Thrones filming location, protected by these massive ancient stone walls.
It’s one of the most picturesque cities in all of Croatia, but it’s small, and you only need a day to see it. Split is a 3 hour drive (4 hour bus ride) from Dubrovnik, so it’s best to book your inbound and outbound flights in alternate airports so you don’t have to backtrack.
Beyond the tourist hotspots, there are some lesser known places to stay if you prefer a lowkey vacation. Pula is a charming port city at the southern tip of the Istrian peninsula, with some of the most extensive ancient Roman ruins in the country.
It straddles the border between Croatia and Slovenia, and is a 3 hour drive from Zagreb, or 8 hour drive from Split. This is the coastal city to stay at if you plan on flying into Zagreb, but I unfortunately wasn’t able to visit it on this trip.
How To Get Around Croatia
Croatia is very easy to get around by public transportation, and I got everywhere I needed by bus. However, buses are relatively expensive (during peak season), and in many cases it would be cheaper to rent a car.
Renting a car will give you the most flexibility, and allow you to book hotels outside of the larger cities.
Beyond renting a car, there are group tours available from the large cities to all of the natural attractions.
If you want the most relaxed experience, I highly recommend booking all of your hotels in a touristy city, and going on group tours to the nearby attractions. The group tours are reasonably priced, and often cheaper than booking a roundtrip bus ride.
Croatia 7 Day Itinerary
Day 1: Split
Spend your first day in Split, the second largest city in the country. Its old town is built on the ancient ruins of Diocletian’s palace, and it has a lively beachfront promenade lined with restaurants and gelato shops.
In the old town, you can wander around the ruins and join a free walking tour to learn about its fascinating history.
Other fun things to do are checking out the daily green market (6am-2pm) in old town, strolling along the Riva promenade, and hiking Forest Park Marjan around sunset.
You only need a few hours to enjoy Split’s Old Town, and it’s best to dedicate the rest of time to day trips. If you have more time on your first day, you can check out the Klis Fortress, or the historic city of Trogir.
Split’s main bus terminal is located in the marina, where you can hop on the bus to get anywhere you need to go. The city also has a fantastic public bus system, that you can use to get from the Old Town to your hotel if needed.
Where to stay in Split
- Hotel Split: Beachfront spa hotel with pools and free breakfast
- Radisson Blu Resort: Luxurious spa resort with pools and free breakfast
- Marvie Hotel: Wellness spa hotel with rooftop pools and free breakfast
Day 2: Split to Krka National Park
On your second day, head to Krka National Park. This stunning national park is less than an hour’s drive (1.5 hour bus ride) from Split, and it makes for the perfect half day trip.
You can book a bus ticket from Split to Skradin, which is where the park’s main ticket office is located. Once you arrive in Skradin, you can hop on a boat ride (included in entrance ticket) to reach the park.
The park has these gorgeous turquoise blue waterfalls, and easy hiking trails surrounded by nature. It only takes 2-3 hours to visit, and after visiting, you can stroll around the charming town of Skradin.
The town has a beach where you can swim in the Krka river, a vintage car museum, and a fortress you can hike up for a panoramic view of the city.
Although you can visit Krka national park by bus, I highly recommend joining a group tour from Split. These group tours are the same price (or cheaper) than a bus ticket to Skradin, and you’ll get to learn about the area from a local.
Day 3: Zadar
The next must-see ancient city in Croatia is Zadar, which is around a 3 hour drive (3.5 hour bus ride) from Split. Zadar has a charming Old Town with ancient ruins, churches, and a marina with this fascinating Sea Organ art installation.
The Sea Organ makes music from the waves crashing, and it’s a nice place to swim, or simply relax by the ocean.
Zadar had more affordable restaurants and cafes when I visited, and it was slightly more relaxed than Split. I recommend spending a night here, and enjoying the sunset with ocean music from the sea organ!
Where to stay in Zadar
- Hotel Delfein: Seafront spa resort with pools and free breakfast
- Bastion Heritage Hotel: Spa hotel in old town with free breakfast
- Falkensteiner Hotel: Luxurious seafront spa resort with large pools and free breakfast
Day 4: Zadar to Plitvice
Another reason to spend a night in Zadar is that it’s only a 2.5 hour drive from the famous Plitvice Lakes National Park. This is Croatia’s largest national park, and arguably the most beautiful place in the country.
From Zadar, there are direct buses to the main entrance (Entrance 1). There are also group tours available from both Zadar and Split. Entrance 1 is the most popular entrance of the park, and begins at the lower lakes, with easy access to the most scenic viewpoints.
I recommend hiking Route C from Entrance 1. This route will take you through the lower lakes, and then on a short boat ride to the upper lakes section. After seeing the upper lakes, there’s a convenient train you can ride to get back to Entrance 1.
It only takes 3-4 hours to hike the main trail (Route C), and it’s best to arrive early in the morning to enjoy hiking with lesser crowds.
It’s important to know that many of the hotels in Plitvice are relatively far from the entrance, or located near Entrance 2.
If you’re using public transportation, make sure to book a hotel near one of the two entrances, as taxis are very expensive in the area. From Entrance 2, you can hop on a train to get to and from Entrance 1.
Where to stay in Plitvice
- Hotel Jezero (near Entrance 2): Spa resort with free breakfast and a gym
- Plitvice Ethno House (near Entrance 2): Cabin style hotel with sauna and pools within a 30 minute walk from the entrance
- Plitvice Holiday Resort (not walking distance): Budget-friendly spa hotel nestled in the forest with a spa and pools
From Plitvice Lakes, it’s a 2.5 hour drive back to Zadar, or a 3 hour drive to Split. If you’re not staying at a hotel near the park, I recommend visiting the park early in the morning. It only takes 3-4 hours to see the entire park, and you’ll have enough time to return to the cities before sunset.
On your fourth night, you can catch a beautiful sunset from the Sea Organ in Zadar, or from Forest Park Marjan in Split!
Day 5: Split to Hvar
On your next day in Split, hop on an early morning ferry ride to the beautiful island of Hvar. Hvar is Croatia’s most popular island, and is easily accessible by a 1-2 hour ferry from the marina.
Ferry rides cost around 25€/adult one way, and they’re on comfortable large catamarans with restrooms. I bought the cheapest ferry ticket I could find on Jadrolinja’s website for 20€/adult roundtrip, which took me to Hvar’s second largest port in Stari Grad.
From Stari Grad, I hopped on a 30 minute bus ride (5€/one way) to get to Hvar’s town center. The ferry was comfortable, and had indoor cabin seating with cushioned seats, air conditioning, and a cafe.
For complete details on booking the ferry tickets, check out our Split to Hvar guide.
Hvar has a lively beachfront promenade dotted with restaurants and bars, and some of the country’s most idyllic turquoise blue beaches. In Hvar, you can relax, enjoy seafood and cocktails by the beach, and climb up the Spanjola fortress for an unbeatable sunset view.
It’s best to spend at least one night in Hvar, so you can wander around the island, and not be in a rush to get back to Split. While you’re on the island, you can hop on a 30 minute bus ride to Stari Grad, another small town on the same island.
Stari Grad is one of the oldest towns in Europe, and has ancient ruins, and an old town, with charming cobblestone streets, and historic Venetian and Renaissance villas. It has a variety of cozy cafes, nice restaurants, and a more laid back vibe than Hvar.
I strolled around the town before hopping on the ferry back to Split, and wished I had spent more time there! It’s around a 20 minute walk from Stari Grad’s marina/bus terminal to get to the Old Town.
The bus ride from Hvar to Stari Grad is 5€/adult one way, and there are taxis available at the marina that can take you to Old Town.
Where to stay on Hvar Island
- Amfora Hvar: Luxurious beachfront resort with large pools, gym, and free breakfast
- Pharos Hvar: Affordable hilltop hotel with free breakfast
- Hvar Places Hotel (Stari Grad): Beachfront spa hotel with pools and free breakfast
Day 6: Island-Hopping
One of the best things to do in Croatia is go island-hopping. There’s a few stunning islands, caves, and hidden coves offshore of Hvar that you can spend the day snorkeling at.
If you want the full European island-hopping experience, this is definitely something you won’t want to miss.
This Hvar speedboat tour will take you to the Blue Lagoon and Blue Caves for a day of snorkeling. They will provide you with snorkeling gear, and stop at Vis Island for lunch.
You can also book a tour directly from Hvar’s marina, where you’ll find a variety of boat and watersport rental companies.
After a long day of snorkeling in Hvar, head back to Split by ferry. The latest ferries depart around 5-7pm, so you won’t have to worry about missing a ferry on the way back.
If you don’t plan on staying in Hvar, they also have full-day island hopping tours from Split. This 5 island hopping-tour will take you to Hvar, the Blue Cave, Vis, and over 5 islands in a day from Split, with complimentary use of snorkeling gear.
Day 7: Dubrovnik
On your final day, head to Dubrovnik, the iconic medieval city tucked along the southern coast. Dubrovnik is around a 3 hour drive (4 hour bus ride) from Split, and you only need one full day to see the city’s top highlights.
Before arriving in the city, I recommend purchasing the Dubrovnik city pass. It’s the same price as the entrance to the City Walls (in peak season), and includes free use of the public buses, and entrance to a few other attractions.
Note: Once you activate the pass, it will be active for 24 hours, so you can visit sites in the afternoon and early morning!
The city’s protected by these massive ancient stone walls, and a must-do activity is walking the city walls. It only takes 1-2 hours to walk the city walls, and you’ll have an incredible view of the Adriatic Sea and the city’s red rooftops.
It looked straight out of a postcard when I visited, and there were amazing photo opportunities all around.
Dubrovnik’s Old Town has limestone streets lined with restaurants, gelato shops, and historic sites. If you have more time, it’s worth joining a free walking tour to learn about historic buildings like the Pile Gate and Rector’s Palace.
Additionally, Dubrovnik is famous for being a Games of Thrones filming location, and you can join a walking tour to see filming sites if you’re a fan of the show!
I walked the city walls in the afternoon, and visited Fort Lovrijenac the next morning, before heading to the airport. Fort Lovrijenac had equally stunning views as the city walls, and I was able to enjoy it with no crowds by visiting it in the morning!
Where to stay in Dubrovnik
- Royal Neptun: Bayfront hotel with pools and free breakfast (walking distance to Old Town)
- Hotel Lapad: Beachfront hotel with pools, and free breakfast and dinner (walking distance to Old Town)
- Sun Gardens Dubrovnik: Luxurious seaside spa resort with pools, hot tubs, gym, and tennis courts (20 min drive from Old Town)
From Dubrovnik, I used the Platanus shuttle to get back to the airport. This shuttle cost only 10€/adult for a ride to Dubrovnik’s airport, and it leaves from Dubrovnik’s bus terminal, as well as by the cable car in Old Town.
You can buy tickets from the small ticket office in front of the cable car in Old Town, and it leaves every 30-45 minutes for the entire day.
If you’re backtracking back to Split’s airport, there’s multiple regular buses that connect the cities. It’s a 4 hour bus ride, with the earliest buses leaving around 5-6am if needed.
Best Time To Visit Croatia
The best time to visit Croatia is in the spring or fall, for the least amount of crowds, best weather, and best prices. Summer (June-Sep) is peak season, with August being the most crowded month of the year.
I did what everybody told me not to and visited in August, and although it was crowded, I still had an amazing trip. The weather was sunny and perfect, but the prices for the attractions were at their highest.
If you plan on visiting in the summer, I recommend exploring lesser visited sites like the Istrian peninsula and Korcula island, and visiting the tourist hotspots early in the morning. Additionally, make sure to pack lots of sunscreen, and comfortable lightweight clothing!
Croatia Itinerary FAQs
Should I fly into Split Dubrovnik?
I recommend flying into Split, and flying out of Dubrovnik. Split is the ideal base for day trips, and is near more of the attractions.
But if you can’t find cheap flights into Split, you can fly into Dubrovnik, and hop on a 4 hour bus ride to Split. In my experience, you only really need one afternoon in Dubrovnik to walk the city walls, and see the sights in the Old Town.
What are the best day trips from Split?
The best day trips from Split are the national parks (Krka and Pltivice), ancient cities (Zadar and Trogir), islands like Hvar, and the nearby Klis fortress. Check out our article on the best Split day trips for more details on each!
What are the best day trips from Dubrovnik?
Some of the best day trips from Dubrovnik are the Old Town Mostar and the Kravica waterfalls in Bosnia, the Bay of Kotor in Montenegro, or the nearby islands (Lokrum, Lopud, Elaphiti Islands).
I took a bus from Split to Mostar, Bosnia, and then from Mostar to Dubrovnik. Exploring Mostar Bosnia was one of the highlights of my trip, and it’s well worth doing a day trip if you have the time!
Do you need to rent a car in Croatia?
No, you don’t need to rent a car in Croatia, with almost every city being well connected by bus.
You can book all of your hotels in a city like Split or Dubrovnik, and go on day trips to the nearby attractions via bus or group tour. However, renting a car is an amazing option if you want the most flexibility and convenience.
Does Croatia have Uber?
Yes, Croatia has Uber in all of the major cities. I had trouble finding an Uber at Plitvice Lakes National Park, so you may have to rely on taxis if you’re outside of the large cities.
Is Croatia expensive?
Yes, Croatia is one of the most expensive Balkan countries. It’s the most expensive if you’re visiting during the summer in peak season, but prices drop significantly in the off-season.
I was able to travel on budget by using public transportation, getting food at the grocery stores and bakeries (pekaras), and booking cheap guesthouses on booking.com.
Is Croatia safe for solo travelers?
Yes, Croatia is considered one of the safest countries in Europe, and the world. I felt very safe as a solo traveler, and I relied solely on public transportation and walking to get around.