CROATIA 7-DAY ITINERARY: A MAGICAL WEEK ON THE COAST

Planning your Croatia 7-day itinerary? Let me help you out as a local who’s planned countless trips!

Croatia has become an incredibly popular destination, so it was probably on your bucket list long before you started planning this trip. While you’d need months to see everything Croatia has to offer, that’s not realistic for most people. That’s why I’ve put together my top destinations for a perfect 7-day Croatia itinerary.

Seven days won’t be enough to see it all, but it’s a great starting point to experience the country’s highlights and come back for more if you fall in love with it. As a local Croatian, I’ll show you which places are absolute must-visits and why they deserve a spot on your 7-day itinerary.

BASIC INFO ABOUT CROATIA

WHERE IS CROATIA?

Croatia is a small country in the southeastern part of Europe. It is often connected to the Balkans due to its proximity to the area, but the country also has close ties to the countries of central Europe. Today, Croatia is among the most visited European countries due to its beautiful Adriatic Sea, gorgeous old towns, and the popularity that came as a result of Game of Thrones.

WHAT TO BRING TO CROATIA?

CURRENCY

Croatia uses Euro as their main currency, and that’s the only currency you can pay in. At most places you can pay with cards so there’s no need for big amounts of cash, but still have some around for restaurant tips, streets vendors and some coffee shops which don’t take cards.

ELECTRICITY OUTLETS

Same as most of European countries, in Croatia you need a Type-C electrical outlet in order to charge your gadgets. Buy a travel plug adapter and make your life easier!

WHAT TO PACK FOR YOUR TRIP?

Croatia is a classic summer destination, so if you’re visiting in summer, packing is fairly simple. Light, breathable clothes, swimwear, comfortable shoes, and good sun protection. However, if you’re coming during the shoulder season or off-season, you’ll need to be a bit more prepared. Make sure to check out my Croatia Packing Guide to help you pack everything you’ll need for your trip!

TRANSPORT IN CROATIA

Transport is really easy in Croatia, since you have many options. It really depends on whether you want to drive or be driven. The most comfortable and the easiest option is to rent a car. There are several rental companies on each airport and in each city, so renting a car won’t be a problem if you’re of age and have a credit card. Depending on your home country, check if you need an international driving permit. If you’re unsure if you want to rent a car and drive, read my pros and cons list on renting a car and my Croatia driving guide!

If you don’t want to drive you can easily get around by bus since the coast is very well connected, or you can also use ferries. I have a 7-day Croatia itinerary without a car, which can be perfect for you if you choose to do the trip by public transport!

7-DAY ITINERARY

This is a detailed 7-day Croatia itinerary designed to help you make the most of the southern Croatian coast, from Split to Dubrovnik. If you’re looking for a shorter, longer, or slightly different itinerary, check out my other itineraries below, I’m sure you’ll find one that suits your travel style.

2 DAYS IN SPLIT

Split is the second biggest city in Croatia and the second most popular tourist destination on the Croatian coast. It’s popular for its beautiful old town and incredible night life. You need 2 days in Split to explore and enjoy it properly!

I recommend flying into Split and flying out of Dubrovnik. This way, you’ll use your time as efficiently as possible and avoid unnecessary backtracking. Split Airport is quite close to the city, and you can reach the center easily by shuttle bus, public bus number 37, or Uber/taxi.

Where to stay in Split

Split is a huge city so there’s a number of beautiful and comfortable accommodations available. Here’s a short list of lovely stays in different price ranges, but I also have a guide on 15 best hotels in Split for every budget which you can check out!

Where to eat in Split

Split has some great food places and here’s some you should definitely check out:

What to do and see in 2 days in Split

If you need more information read the full 2-day itinerary for Split, but here are the absolute musts:

Old town

Split’s old town is the most magical part of the city, and it’s a must once you’re there. One afternoon will be more then enough to explore the cobbled old town, and here are some of the landmarks you must see:

Diocletian’s Palace is a UNESCO World Heritage site, one of many in Croatia. Built by Roman Emperor Diocletian, today the palace is Split’s number one visited landmark. The entrance is free since the palace is part of the old town, but if you want to visit the rooms underneath you have to pay.

The Bell Tower of St. Domnius Cathedral is right next to the palace, and it’s stunning. You can climb it for around 10 euros and get an incredible view of the old town.

Once you’ve seen the old town, you exit on Split’s famous Riva. Riva is a beautiful promenade along the sea, with many bars, restaurants, street vendors and musicians there. Riva is always lively, so get there at sunset and enjoy the beautiful views and people watch!

Marjan Hill

Marjan Hill is the greenest part of Split and offers some of the best views of the city. At the end of the Riva, you’ll find a set of stairs that lead all the way up the hill to the viewpoints. There are two viewpoints, a lower, easier one and a higher one that requires a bit more effort. The view in the photo below is from the first, easier viewpoint.

Last year, Marjan Hill was heavily affected by a storm, and parts of the park were closed to the public. Some areas may still be inaccessible this year until it’s fully safe to explore, but the first viewpoint should be open and easy to reach.

Trogir

Trogir is only about a 30-minute drive from Split, so if you can spare a few hours, it’s absolutely worth visiting. You can take an Uber for around 30 euros or use public transport. Bus number 37 (the same one that runs from the airport) takes you from Split to Trogir in about an hour.Once there, you can explore the Old Town and enjoy a smaller, calmer atmosphere compared to busy Split.

Split beaches

While Split’s beaches aren’t really my favourite, you’ll probably want to enjoy at least one during your stay. The most popular beach is Bacvice, but it’s not my top choice. I’d much rather recommend Kasjuni or Jezinac beaches near Marjan Hill. Here’s my guide to the best beaches in Split to help you plan your visit!

1 DAY ON HVAR

Croatia’s most famous island is very close to Split, which makes it super easy to hop there for a day trip. You can reach Hvar by ferry from Split; the boat ride lasts for an hour and it costs from 20-30 euros, depending on the demand and ferry company that you choose. Here’s a detailed guide for a day trip from Split to Hvar!

What to do on Hvar in 1 day

Hvar old town

Croatia is known for gorgeous old towns, and Hvar’s old town is no different. Stunning cobbled streets will lead you to some of my favourite places in the old town, such as St. Stephen’s Square, the stunning Hvar Theatre with amazing views of the old town, Bishop’s Palace, Franciscan Monastery… There’s plenty you can see just by strolling around old town!

Spanish Fortress

This is one of the best viewpoints in Croatia! The old Spanish Fortress is situated on a hill above the old town and gives you the most incredible views of Hvar and Pakleni islands. You can reach it by hiking or by taxi, and the entrance ticket is 10 euros. If you don’t have the budget for it, you can still get an amazing view right next to the fortress without entering, so get up there anyway!

Beaches

Hvar has absolutely beautiful beaches, along with a few fancy beach clubs if that’s your thing. Here are some of the best beaches near Hvar Town that you can easily visit on a day trip.

You can also check out Carpe Diem, a luxury beach bar during the day and a club at night. It’s located on the Pakleni Islands, and you can get there by taxi boat from Hvar Town. The nightclub didn’t operate last year due to noise restrictions in Hvar, so we’ll have to see what happens this year.

1 DAY IN KRKA NATIONAL PARK

National Park Krka is an incredible day trip for anyone, but especially nature lovers. Only an hour away by car from Split, this NP should be on top of your Croatia bucketlist.

The tickets are 40 euros in high season and around 20 or less during off-season, but Krka is worth the price. There are several incredible stops in Krka NP but these locations are the ones you must visit: Skradinski Buk, Krka Monastery & Viskovac Monastery.

If you’re looking for a short stop at NP Krka, you’ll need around 2 hours to explore the most popular waterfalls around Skradinski Buk. However, you if have the whole day, you can easily explore the whole park. You can also stop for lunch at Seosko Domacinstvo Kristijan – this lovely family restaurant is situated IN a waterfall, so you can eat directly beside it! Here’s a detailed Krka NP guide to help you plan out your trip.

If you don’t have a car and are looking for excellent tours from Split to Krka, here are some of my favourites on GetYourGuide. I was never disappointed by a GYG tour!

3 DAYS IN DUBROVNIK

Lastly, the perfect cherry on top is Dubrovnik. Croatia’s most beautiful and most well-known city deserves 3 days and you’ll see why. From the beautiful old town, crystal sea, and wonderful islands nearby, Dubrovnik deserves even more, but this is your best option if you have 3 days available in Dubrovnik.

Where to stay in Dubrovnik

Dubrovnik has an abundance of incredible hotels and apartments, so you won’t have any problems booking them if you start on time! The prices vary a lot, depending on where you want to stay, the closer to old town the bigger the price. Here’s my post on best areas to stay at in Dubrovnik and a list of my best Dubrovnik hotels for your budget.

Where to eat in Dubrovnik

Dubrovnik is a great place for foodies as it offers incredible food from various cuisines. You have all my best recommendations on my ultimate guide to Dubrovnik’s restaurants!

What to do and see in Dubrovnik in 3 days

Walk the city walls

Dubrovnik’s pride and joy are its well-preserved city walls surrounding the old town. It will take you around an hour and a half to walk the city walls, and the entry ticket is 40 euros during peak season. In the off season the tickets are cheaper. You’ll get incredible views of the Adriatic Sea, fort Lovrijenac, and the gorgeous red rooftops of Dubrovnik’s old town. Here’s my detailed guide to City Walls, and why you should get a Dubrovnik Pass before walking the walls!

Take a Game of Thrones tour

Dubrovnik has played the part of King’s Landing for many seasons, and today that’s one of the main reason a lot of people come to see Dubrovnik. There are many ways to visit all the GoT filming locations. You can do a self-guided tour or you can book a tour and have a guide show you around. Either option is great!

Climb or take the cable car to mount Srd

If you’ve seen those glorious shots of Dubrovnik from above, you’ve seen the viewpoint of mount Srd. The view is as heavenly as it looks on social media, and Srd during sunset is a place you cannot miss.

You can get to the top in many different ways but the main three are hiking up, going by car or taxi, or taking the cable car. If you want an especially memorable sunset, book a dinner at Panorama, restaurant on top of mount Srd with definitely the best view of Dubrovnik.

Visit Lokrum island

Lokrum island is a perfect afternoon activity if you like nature and swimming. Only 15 minutes away from Dubrovnik’s old town port, this wonderful green oasis will take you away from the bustling crowds of the old town. The ferry is 30 euros return trip and it covers the entrance to the island. On the island there’s a lovely botanical garden, several rocky beaches and Croatia’s very own Dead Sea. Here’s a guide to Lokrum Island!

Visit Elaphiti islands

One of the best day trips you could take is a tour of the Elaphiti islands. The three main islands are Kolocep, Sipan, and Lopud, and you can reach them by ferry or by booking a group or private tour of all three islands. Our absolute favourite is Lopud and it totally deserves a day for itself.

Visit the beaches

While Dubrovnik doesn’t have the best beaches in Croatia, there are several that are either really nice or iconic enough that you should visit at least once.Near the Old Town, Banje Beach and Sveti Jakov Beach are must-visits. Outside of Dubrovnik, Pasjaca Beach is the most popular and definitely worth seeing. Here’s my guide to the top 10 Dubrovnik beaches you can enjoy during your holiday.

MY PERSONAL TAKE ON THIS 7-DAY CROATIA ITINERARY

Many people try to pack way too much into a 7-day Croatia trip, thinking they can see the whole country, and that’s just not possible. Even this itinerary is already full, with four main locations in seven days.

If you have more time, you could add places like Plitvice Lakes, Korcula, Peljesac, or even day trips to nearby countries. But with just seven days, this itinerary is perfect: you’ll see a lot while still having time to relax and enjoy your holiday. As a local, I can tell you that you’ll enjoy Croatia much more if you take things a bit slower, instead of rushing around every single day.

CONCLUSION: CROATIA 7-DAY ITINERARY

If you have 7 days to explore Croatia, flying into Split and out of Dubrovnik is the best way to plan your trip. This lets you focus on Split and Dubrovnik, along with their surrounding areas, which is more than enough for a week. I promise, you’ll love it so much that you’ll want to come back, and then you can add more days to see the places you didn’t get to this time!