The Excellent 7-Day Croatia Itinerary (Up to date 2024)

Posted: 5/13/2024 | Could thirteenth, 2024

Croatia has been a bustling vacationer sizzling spot for six or seven years now. Formed like a boomerang and bordering Bosnia, Montenegro, Serbia, and Slovenia, this small nation of 4 million folks punches properly above its weight. You may spend time enjoyable on the sunny Adriatic Sea, hop between a whole lot of rugged and distant islands, feast on Italian-esque delicacies, or journey inland and go to gorgeous waterfalls and luxurious nationwide parks.

Whereas there’s lots to see and do right here, most vacationers confine their go to to Dubrovnik or Break up. And positive, these are cool cities. However Croatia has rather more to supply.

However whenever you solely have every week and also you need the solar, I perceive why you’d need to concentrate on that a part of Croatia. (Professional tip: Like plenty of Southern Europe, it’s greatest to keep away from Croatia in the course of the warm-weather summer time months. Along with the excessive temperatures and excessive costs, you’re going to be sharing the nation with a military of vacationers. When you go in winter, the climate is cooler and the costs are a lot gentler, however many vacationer cities, resembling Dubrovnik, virtually shut down from late October till mid-April. Your greatest wager is April-Could and early September till early November. Crowds can be smaller and costs received’t be by means of the roof.)

So, that will help you plan your journey, I’ve created this preferrred seven-day itinerary for southern Croatia. It covers the highlights whereas additionally getting you off the crushed path. You’ll see cities, seashores, villages, and have loads of time to take in the native tempo of life.

Days 1 & 2: Dubrovnik

Dubrovnik is a seaside city of simply 40,000 folks, however based mostly on its recognition, you’d suppose it was a lot greater. It’s the preferred vacation spot within the nation, due to its medieval walled Previous City, or Stari Grad, which might get filled with vacationers, particularly in the course of the peak summer time season.

Whereas most of Croatia is reasonably priced, Dubrovnik is now not low cost. Quite a lot of cruises cease right here now and costs have skyrocketed in recent times. That mentioned, there are some things right here which can be price forking out outrageous charges for:

Stroll the Previous City Partitions
Strolling the medieval partitions is a should if it’s your first time visiting. The doorway payment isn’t low cost at 35 EUR, however the stroll presents unimaginable views of the Previous City and the glowing Adriatic Sea. It’s 60-90 minutes of awe and completely well worth the price ticket.

Summit Mr. Srd
Take the cable automobile as much as the highest of Mt. Srd. It towers over the Previous City, and whereas it prices 27 EUR, as soon as you are taking the trip and see the view you’ll understand it was properly price the fee. When you’re on a price range, you can even hike to the highest. There’s a dust path that may take you to peak, but it surely’s a difficult hike. Give your self about an hour every manner. As soon as on the high, you possibly can sit down on the restaurant and nurse an overpriced beverage whereas taking within the jaw-dropping view.

Go to the Battle Photograph Ltd. Museum
There aren’t plenty of nice museums in Dubrovnik, however be sure you go to Battle Photograph Ltd., a gallery began by New Zealand-born Wade Goddard, a former warfare photographer. The everlasting exhibition on the Balkan wars of the Nineteen Nineties will assist you to get a greater understanding of what went on right here 30 years in the past. It’s sobering, however eye-opening. Admission is 10 EUR.

Discover Gruž
If you wish to escape the vacationer crowds, particularly when there’s a cruise ship in port, head to Gruž, a once-gritty neighborhood on the marina that now boasts a number of nice eating places and cafés. It’s additionally dwelling to Dubrovnik Beer Firm, the town’s first and solely brewery. The cavernous taproom is a stunning place to sip an area beer after a day of exploring.

If you get hungry in Gruž, try Kiosk, an out of doors informal spot that serves up Dalmatian Coast fare with some international twists. Or for one thing actually memorable and really Dalmatian, e-book a spot at Marija’s Home, the place chef Marija Papak opens her dwelling to guests in the course of the warm-weather months and cooks up a nightly feast of peka delicacies — lamb, pork, and/or octopus slow-cooked below a bell-like lid on the grill that renders the meat impossibly tender and scrumptious.
 

Day 3: Break up

About 240 kilometers (150 miles) up the coast is Break up, Croatia’s second largest metropolis. This lovely metropolis was comparatively ignored by vacationers till lately. However there are just a few good causes to spend at the very least someday and evening right here.

The chief attraction in Break up is not possible to overlook. When Roman Emperor Diocletian determined to retire to the world the place he grew up — the central Dalmatian Coast — he had an enormous, lavish palace constructed proper on the seaside. He died just a few years after he moved in, and what occurred subsequent is kind of attention-grabbing: over the centuries, because the palace started to crumble and turn out to be a wreck, the town mainly moved in and made it a part of the material of the city.

As we speak, you possibly can stroll across the heart of Break up and immediately understand you’re really inside the palace. What was as soon as a hallway, for instance, is now a slender, limestone-clad lane. What might need been a bed room is now a seafood restaurant.

A lot of the palace is free to stroll round in. If you’d like an in-depth have a look at it, although, there are loads of guided excursions.

And whilst you’re in Break up, additionally don’t miss St. Duje’s Cathedral, Klis Fortress (featured in Sport of Thrones), and the Museum of Croatian Archaeological Monuments (dwelling to some 20,000 relics and artifacts).

The opposite predominant motive why Break up needs to be in your itinerary is that it’s the primary transportation hub for ferries to varied islands in central Dalmatia. After spending a night on the town, hop on a morning ferry to Hvar, one in every of Croatia’s coolest islands, a pleasing one hour and forty-five minutes. If you wish to get there extra rapidly, there’s additionally a catamaran.
 

Day 4: Hvar

The island of Hvar, recognized for its lavender manufacturing, is a enjoyable place to spend a day. The eponymous Hvar City is the primary attraction for most individuals. Full of centuries-old homes and slender alleyways, it’s an attention-grabbing place to get misplaced for some time.

It additionally has attracted a wild celebration scene. All of the boat excursions cease right here for his or her passengers to get wasted and go clubbing on the world-famous Carpe Diem so remember this island has a celebration scene – however there’s much more to the island!

For someplace extra laid-back, try Stari Grad, actually “Previous City,” situated on the other aspect of the island from Hvar City. Not too long ago added to the UNESCO World Heritage record, it boasts a warren of slender, stone-blanketed lanes. Remember to additionally take a hike by means of the island’s many olive groves and lavender fields.

When you don’t have your personal automobile, there’s a wine and olive oil tasting tour to this aspect of the island (you’ll make a cease on the lavender fields too).
 

Days 5 & 6: Sibenik and Krka Nationwide Park

About midway up the coast between Break up and Zadar is oft-overlooked Šibenik (pronounced “Shee-ben-eek”), a medieval city of about 35,000 folks that’s price spending a few days in. For starters, the St. James cathedral is a marvel to have a look at; it’s the world’s largest church made completely of stone. The fortress-topped city additionally boasts of a maze of limestone-topped alleyways. When you really feel like a splurge, Šibenik is dwelling to Pelegrini, a Michelin-starred restaurant that serves up artistic takes on Central Dalmatian fare.

Šibenik can also be the gateway for exploring close by Krka Nationwide Park and its gorgeous waterfalls. Be sure you additionally get there early to beat the vacationer buses to see 14th-century Visovac Monastery in the midst of an island on the Krka River. Park admission ranges from 7 EUR within the off-season (January-February) all the best way as much as a staggering 40 EUR throughout peak season (June-September).
 

Day 7: Zadar

Only one hour by automobile from Šibenik, Zadar has been getting plenty of consideration in the previous couple of years. Its limestone-blanketed historic heart juts out into the Adriatic and is filled with medieval church buildings (try the oddly round church of St. Donatus, the biggest church on the Dalmatian Coast).

The town additionally has a novel sea organ. Situated on a set of steps that descend into the ocean, the organ makes sounds because the waves crash by means of it, creating an odd however harmonious sound that appears like whale calls. The organ consists of 35 tubes and was designed by architect Nikola Primary. Come right here at sundown to soak within the picturesque views and hearken to the fascinating sounds of the ocean. In any case, Alfred Hitchcock mentioned Zadar has probably the most lovely sundown on this planet, making this a becoming vacation spot to finish your week-long journey alongside the coast.

With over a thousand islands, quite a few seashores, and numerous mountain climbing trails, you would simply spend months exploring Croatia and nonetheless solely scratch the floor. However, should you solely have every week, this itinerary will present you the highlights whereas whetting your urge for food for future visits. Whereas it’s not fairly as low cost because it was, the nation presents numerous worth and is tremendous straightforward to discover.

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