Having started to become quite popular a few years ago (perhaps due to Game of Thrones being filmed in several cities in the country), I had the idea to visit Croatia for a long time.

Not because I’m a fan of the series (at all!), but because the photos of the crystal clear water, the stunningly beautiful lakes, and the quaint, medieval-looking towns were calling me.

Croatia is one of the Balkan countries that probably attracts the most tourists and you can easily understand why. It is a country that, despite its size, has a lot to offer us 😊 We easily fall in love with Croatia!

The weather in Croatia, especially in the coastal area, is quite nice. If you are not interested in going to the beach, then the best months to visit Croatia are April, May, September and October. The temperatures are already quite pleasant at this time of year and there are also fewer crowds.

However, the truth is that one of Croatia’s main tourist attractions is its extensive coastline on the Adriatic Sea and its islands, with water that is very inviting for swimming. In this case, June to September are the best months to visit Croatia. The days are warmer and the water temperature much higher.

For example, I visited the country in early June and despite high temperatures night and day, the seawater was still a bit cold.

Despite not being a huge country, Croatia has many points of interest and most of them are still quite far away from each other. So, for a first visit to Croatia, I suggest at least 7 days. However, if you can extend your itinerary to 10 days, I’m sure you won’t regret it 😉

You will be able to enjoy the trip more calmly, visit a few more beaches and, who knows, even a few more islands. However, this itinerary assumes only 7 days, as you can see on the map:

Since I only had 7 days, I opted not to visit Dubrovnik. However, if Dubrovnik is one of the places you are most interested in visiting in Croatia, I suggest you skip the first day in Rijeka, Pula and Rovinj and use that time to visit Dubrovnik after returning from Hvar and before returning to Zagreb!

The easiest way to reach Croatia is by plane, landing at one of the country’s several international airports: Zagreb | Pula | Split | Dubrovnik | Zadar.

In my case, I ended up arriving and departing via Zagreb, which is “far away” from all the other points I visited on this itinerary.

If it pays off in terms of money (because often dropping the car off at another location than the one where you pick it up does not pay off), I suggest you land at one airport (e.g. Zagreb) and depart from another (e.g. Split or Dubrovnik). You will save a few hours on the road, which can certainly be used to visit this amazing country more calmly.

Having said that, you should definitely simulate different prices and dates, taking into account the dates you have available!

Undoubtedly the most agile way to visit Croatia is by car. I chose to rent a car with OK Mobility! with a pick-up and drop-off point at Zagreb airport. A large part of the Croatian coastal area has motorways in great condition, making it easy to get from one town to another.

💡 EXTRA TIP: Most motorway journeys involve paying tolls, but the process is quite simple. Simply collect your ticket at the entrance toll and pay further on with card or cash.

However, for those looking for a more low-cost trip (or for those travelling in the high season when car prices can be prohibitive), it is also relatively easy to move around by bus in Croatia and at much more affordable prices. One of the companies that has several routes between various points of interest in Croatia is Flixbus 😊

• In 2023, the official currency of Croatia will become the Euro. However, until then the official currency remains the kuna and therefore I recommend using a Revolut card to avoid paying additional fees for making payments and withdrawals in a different currency. Anyway, in many places in Croatia they accept payments in euros. However, beware that you will hardly benefit from these payments in euros. Generally, the exchange rate is not so favourable and the change is usually given in kuna.
• If you intend to go to the beach in Croatia, I recommend wearing proper water shoes as most of the Croatian beaches are pebbly and not sandy.

Probably if you are reading this itinerary it is because you intend to visit several cities in Croatia. The truth is that the different points of interest in the country are still a few hours away from each other, so to save time in travel, I suggest alternating between accommodations.

Accommodation prices depend a lot on the type of accommodation you choose, but also on the time of year you visit. For example, although I visited Croatia at the beginning of June (already considered high season), I managed to save some money because I preferred local accommodations.

Throughout this post, I will give several tips on accommodation, but if you want to go ahead you can already search for some accommodation options.

It is important to note that this itinerary does not include the arrival and departure days from Zagreb. In fact, it assumes arrival in Zagreb on the day before day 1 of the itinerary and departure from Zagreb on the day after day 7 of this itinerary.

This first day will be spent exploring the Istria region and does not include the drive from Zagreb to Rijeka the previous day (2h). Although the itinerary starts in Rijeka (a good option for an overnight stay the night before), the first day only includes a visit to Rovinj and Pula.

Leaving Rijeka, we arrived in Rovinj 1h30 later! Rovinj is a small coastal town and probably one of the loveliest in Croatia 🥰 Not the most obvious spot, but well worth adding to your list of places to visit in Croatia!

💡 EXTRA TIP: The historic centre area is entirely pedestrianised so if you are travelling by car, you should leave it outside the historic centre. There are several car parks available.

We start our walk along Carrera street (one of the main streets in town) while admiring the colourful facades of the houses. From this street to the port of Rovinj it is only a few meters walking!

From there you can head towards another cute street (Grisia Street), passing by the Balbi Arch. This was undoubtedly my favourite street in the city.

We continue the route towards the Cathedral of St Euphemia, where it is possible to climb the bell tower. From there, we return to the starting point by passing another must-see street in Rovinj – Bregovita Street.

💡 EXTRA TIP: If you have some extra time, you can also choose to visit Monte beach (one of the closest to the historic centre) or the Punta Corrente forest park.

Next is a visit to what is probably the most well-known town in the Istria region – Pula. Like Rovinj, Pula is also relatively small with only a few points of interest to visit.

The ex-libris of Pula is its Arena, which is probably the most interesting part of the city. Although it is possible to visit inside, in my opinion, it is not worth it, because we can see the inside of the arena quite well even without going inside.

Pula is a port town and I don’t know if, for that reason or any other, it was not one of my favourite places in Croatia.

Anyway, apart from the Arena, Pula’s main points of interest include:

• Hercules Gate
• Arch of Sergii
• Forum (main square) and Temple of Augustus
• Monastery of St Francis
• Fort Kaštel
• Town Hall

We start the second day of this Croatia tour visiting yet another small town in Northern Croatia – Rijeka. Besides the mandatory passage through the city’s main street (Korzo), you cannot miss these other points of interest:

• St Vitus Cathedral
• World War I Pedestrian Tunnel (free visit)
• Roman Arch
• Central Market
• Capuchin Church
• Croatian National Theatre Ivan Zajc

Rijeka surprised me very much on the positive side. Despite its small size, the streets were full of life. Also, the architecture and buildings’ colours reminded me of my time in Budapest (which I loved so much!) 😊

Another must-see place in Rijeka is the Trsat castle, as well as the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Trsat. Visiting the castle is free and from there you can get one of the best views of the city. Although it is possible to walk to the castle (the 538-step staircase that makes up the route is even a place of pilgrimage), I recommend using a car or public transport to get there.

📝 USEFUL INFORMATION: Both bus no. 2 and no. 8 take about 20 minutes from the centre of Rijeka to Trsat castle.

My choice of accommodation in Rijeka was Teatro Suite & Rooms. With an exceptional location (near the Croatian National Theatre Ivan Zajc), the attention to detail of this accommodation was absolutely incredible.

The flats are located in a historical building and are very spacious and comfortable. The decoration of the space is modern and welcoming. In addition, the room had a privileged view of the famous Theatre 😊

Underneath the building, we also find a lounge bar which is open all day and where we can have breakfast. Breakfast includes an extra creamy cappuccino, natural orange juice and mini puffy croissants.

I only had the opportunity to try one restaurant in Rijeka – Mornar (€€). With a very pleasant outdoor space for the Croatian summer nights, we tried a cuttlefish risotto and a plate with several fried fish. Everything was very tasty and the portions were quite generous 😉 Although the service wasn’t that great at the beginning, it turned out to be friendly at the end of the day and so I can confidently recommend the restaurant!

After a quick lunch in Rijeka, we made our way to Zadar. Zadar is a much bigger city than all the others we have visited so far on this Croatia itinerary.

The best way to explore Zadar is to get lost in its ancient streets. However, there are places that are a must stop in Zadar, such as:

• Santa Anastasia Cathedral
• San Donatus Church
• Sea Organ
• Roman Forum

But the list of what to visit in Zadar is far from exhausted here! I loved Zadar so much that I dedicated an entire blog post to it with the best tips for visiting this Croatian city. Take a look at the blog post here to better plan your visit to Zadar.

In Zadar, I opted to stay a bit further from the city centre at Demar Residence. Located in a much quieter part of town, Demar Residence offers a more luxurious set of flats.

Apart from the spacious rooms with wonderful views over the historical centre and the Adriatic Sea, we also find an outdoor space with swimming pool!

Day three of this itinerary is going to be one of the most memorable days of this Croatia itinerary. Wake up early to make sure you make the most of it 😊

Split is probably one of the most famous cities in Croatia, along with Zagreb, Dubrovnik and Zadar. Like Zadar, the city streets here also take us back in time.

I suggest starting your Split visit on its promenade (riva), even before entering the real historic centre that has made the city a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

From there, you should head to Braće Radić square (Fruit Square) and Peristil Square. Be prepared for the crowds at this square as this is one of the main points of interest in Split.

At Peristil Square you will find other points of interest in the city, such as the Saint Domnius Cathedral, or the Diocletian’s Palace.

💡 EXTRA TIP: It is possible to climb to the top of the cathedral’s bell tower, from where we get one of the best views in Split. The ticket costs about 5€.

Leaving through the Golden Gate of the walled city, we find the giant statue of Grgur Ninski and the Arnir bell tower and chapel.

The next point on the itinerary through Split is People’s Square (Pjaca), where you can find the Town Hall building. Finally, I also recommend a walk along Marmontova Street and Republic Square.

However, although these are the main points of interest in Split’s historic centre, there are still two additional places worth visiting in Split. They are:

• Mount Marjan viewpoint, from where we get some of the best views over Split
• Fort Klis – especially magical at sunset

💡 EXTRA TIP: Split is incredibly framed by mountains, making it a very photogenic town (see photo!). For this perspective of Split, you have to walk to the port of Split, where boats leave for various islands.

Finally, we should also mention Split’s beaches. Although the most popular is Bacvice beach (because of its proximity to the historic centre), there are many others that you can visit:

• Trstenik
• Kaštelet
• Kašjuni
• Bene
• Ovčice

I confess that I did not love the accommodation I stayed at in Split – Marana Rooms. However, we got there so late and left so early that it served perfectly the purpose of sleeping a few hours. Also, the price was quite nice for its central location and this was one of the factors that made us choose this accommodation.

However, there are other very interesting options for accommodation in Split:

• Borna and Frank Rooms | PLR Luxury Rooms: Unbeatable location right in the heart of the historical centre of Split and affordable prices for those just looking for a comfortable place to rest
• Ziggy Star | Jupiter Luxury Hotel: slightly more expensive option, but still very central and with breakfast included
• Heritage Hotel 19: more luxurious accommodation for those seeking a more special stay, with breakfast included and an excellent location

• Sexy Cow (€): For a quicker and cheaper option in town, the wraps at Sexy Cow are quite tasty. However, the seating space at this restaurant is limited, which might make this a good option if you’re looking for lunch on the go
• Trattoria Tavulin (€€): Very pleasant outdoor space, attentive service and very well-prepared food. I especially recommend the prawn risotto.

The afternoon of this third day in Croatia will be dedicated entirely to a tour of the Blue Lagoon. I recommend buying the tour at Get Your Guide! This was the tour I chose and I loved it, so I’ll tell you about my experience 🥰

The meeting point was by Split’s promenade and there we boarded a small boat carrying about 20 people. Split was left behind and the boat made its first stop at Šolta, where it was possible to have a few dips in the sea.

After about 30 minutes in Šolta, we headed towards the Blue Lagoon. The colour of the water is as beautiful as in the photos! This is really a place you have to visit in Croatia. Several dips in the sea followed until it was time to head to the next and last stop – Trogir.

Trogir is a small town, also considered a UNESCO World Heritage Site. We only had 45 minutes to explore the historic centre, but the town is rather small and so you can easily visit the main points of interest in a short time.

Some of the must-visit spots in Trogir are:

• St Lawrence Cathedral and bell tower (possible to climb to the top)
• John Paul II Square
• Kamerlengo Castle
• Tower of St Mark
• St Peter’s Church
• Marina

From Trogir, we returned to Split marina in the same good mood that accompanied us the whole trip 😊

If you are travelling with a group of friends, for example, you can opt to hire a boat and a skipper for a few hours. However, the cheapest way to visit the Blue Lagoon is through these organized tours. There are several tours available and with different durations, but in my opinion, half a day is enough to visit the Blue Lagoon. You can see some of the options available here:

Day 4 of our Croatia itinerary will be entirely dedicated to exploring one of Croatia’s most worthwhile islands – Hvar! Hvar is quite a big island and 1 day on the island is not enough to get to know it well 😞 However, it gives you a taste of what Hvar is all about and makes you want to come back 🥰

Therefore, I recommend at least two days on the island to have the opportunity to explore it in greater detail. However, if you don’t have much time available (as it happened to me!), I think it’s worth going there even for 1 day.

The most visited side of the island is its left side, where the towns of Stari Grad and Hvar are located. One of the most convenient and fastest ways is to go by boat from Split to Stari Grad with the company Jadrolinija. The trip takes about 2 hours. 

Alternatively, you can also take a ferry in Drvenik (1h40 drive from Split) to Sućuraj, which is at the other end of the island of Hvar. The drive is long, but the ferry trip is much shorter (30 minutes only).

The price of the ferry ticket depends on the time of year you travel, the route you choose and whether you travel by foot, car, bicycle, etc. For example, in June 2022, I paid 58€/pax to travel by car from Split to Stari Grad.

However, the price without a car is much lower 😉 I suggest you check the most up-to-date prices directly on the Jadrolinija website.

Tickets must be purchased in advance directly on Jadrolinija’s website.

There are several options throughout the day, with more ferries per day in the high season. Again, here I also recommend you check the most up-to-date timetables on the Jadrolinija website according to the date of your trip. In my case, I chose to leave for Hvar on the 8:30 ferry and returned the next day on the 7:45 ferry.

💡 EXTRA TIP: You must ensure that you arrive at the port at least 45 minutes before the time of departure if you’re travelling with a car.

If you really want to explore the island, I think it makes sense to bring a car with you, even though it will make the ferry trip more expensive. You will have much more flexibility to visit the main points of interest on the island (Stari Grad, the historic centre of Hvar, Jelsa and many of the island’s beautiful beaches).

In case you are travelling without a car or do not intend to take the car to Hvar, there are some alternatives to visit the historical centre of Hvar:

• Take the Jadrolinija ferry from Split to Stari Grad and there take a bus (the bus schedule is coordinated with the ferry’s arrival) in the direction of Hvar’s historical centre.
• Renting a car in Hvar
• Choose another company with transport services between Split and the historical centre of Hvar (see this company for example)
• See one of several available day trip tours to Hvar

Apart from the wonderful beaches scattered around the island (I especially recommend Pokonji Dol beach and the more “natural” Malo Zaraće beach), there are many other things to visit/do in Hvar:

• Stari Grad (truly lovely!): Škor Square | St Stephen’s Church | Marina | Castle
• Hvar historical centre: Clock Tower | St Stephen’s Square and Cathedral | Franciscan Monastery
• Spanish fortress: incredible views over the historical centre of Hvar and the Pakleni islands

• Beach hopping on Pakleni islands
• Visit the famous Carpe Diem club
• Have a sunset drink at the famous Hula Hula beach club

I know it can be a little confusing when it comes to choosing which of Croatia’s islands to visit. If you can’t decide and want to visit more than one island in the short time you have, I suggest you check out one of the many tours available that include visits to more than one island:

Admittedly, the experience probably won’t be the most authentic, but this is a great way to maximise your time.

I stayed at Apartments Jakic, just a few minutes walk from the historical centre of Hvar. The facilities were very simple, but the space was cared for and clean. Moreover, it was a real bargain and, to help things along, I had a great view of the Spanish Fortress from my room.

However, there are several options available to suit every taste:

• Hotel Podstine | Hvar De Luxe Apartments | Pharia Hotel and Apartments: good value for money and located near the beach, despite the longer distance to the centre
• Heritage Hotel Dea Hvar | Amfora Hvar Grand Beach Resort | Riva Marian Hvar Hotel: luxury accommodation with an unbeatable location close to the beach and breakfast included

• La Bocca (€€): Italian restaurant with plenty of options available at affordable prices. I tried a pizza and the Caprese salad and everything was very good. Also, very nice outdoor space.
• Silk (€€): Asian restaurant with good value for money. However, the terrace is a bit impersonal and there is no table service.
• Hula Hula (€€€): the prices are exorbitant, but the atmosphere is really lively.

If you are following this itinerary, then on this 5th day in Croatia you should also wake up early. If you stayed overnight in Hvar, I suggest you take the 7:45 am ferry, arriving in Split before 10 am. From Split to Lozovac (the point where we will start the visit to Krka National Park) is about 1 hour by car.

The entrance to the Krka National Park can be pre-purchased online here. Both the opening hours of the park and the price of the tickets vary depending on the time of year, so I recommend consulting the most updated version of the tickets on the official website of the park. In June 2022, the entrance fee was around 27€/pax.

There are 5 entrances available in the park, and these include free parking. They are:

• Lozavac: larger entrance and with more parking spaces available. This is the entrance I recommend because it is also the closest to the main attraction of the Park – Skradinski Buk waterfall
• Skradin: more limited parking, but here it is possible to take a boat to the main waterfall (included in the ticket price)
• Puljane
• Roški Waterfall
• Krka Monastery

The various points of interest in the park are a bit scattered and, in my opinion, the most agile way to visit them is by car. I suggest starting at the Skradinski Buk waterfall, and parking the car in Lozovac.

When you buy your tickets, you can choose to include a short bus ride that takes you from the ticket office area in Lozovac to the start of the trail to the waterfall. Although the route is short, the truth is that it doesn’t add much to the visit to the park and the price to include the bus is really low, so I recommend this option 😊 In addition, on the way back you avoid a steep road!

The trail itself (assumes the use of a bus to its start) is about 2km long and circular. The whole route is truly idyllic, but nothing beats the moment when you see the size and strength of the waterfall!

💡 EXTRA TIP: Although in the past it was possible to bathe by the waterfall, this is no longer possible! So it’s not worth it to take a swimsuit with you.

From Lozovac, my recommendation is to make your way to the viewpoint over the island where the charismatic Visovac Monastery is located. The viewpoint in question is this one and you don’t need a Park ticket to visit it.

💡 EXTRA TIP: It is possible to visit the island by boat excursions that leave from the Skradinski waterfall. The trip takes 2 hours and the stop on the island is 30 minutes. You can find more information here.

Finally, the last stop in the National Park of Krka was the Roški waterfall. Unlike the previous viewpoint, here it is already necessary to present the park ticket again. Of course, after the Skradinski waterfall, this one will seem rather small. But, if you can, make sure to visit 😊

There are a few trails by the waterfall, including one that takes you to the Oziđana pećina cave. However, I found the cave uninteresting, and not worth the effort of climbing over 500 steps to get there. Still, I suggest climbing a few steps towards the cave to a first viewpoint where you can see the flowing water that forms the waterfall.

💡 EXTRA TIP: This waterfall can also be visited by boat excursions that depart from the Skradinski waterfall. The trip takes 4 hours and includes a 30-minute stop on the island of Visovac and a 1h30 stop at the Roški waterfall.

Of course, there are other interesting places to visit in the Krka National Park, such as the Manojlovački waterfall and the Krka Monastery. For this, I suggest you extend your stay in this park to a full day.

After visiting Krka National Park, drive to Plitvice Lakes National Park – a place to explore the next day. The drive takes about 2 hours. Upon arrival in Plitvice, take the opportunity to rest in your accommodation as the next day is likely to be one of your favourite days of this trip 😋

I stayed at Camping Plitvice, which is just a few minutes drive from either entrance to the Plitvice Lakes National Park. In addition to the mobile homes being very comfortable, the breakfast was very comforting for a day of walking.

Camping Plitvice is also an excellent option for those travelling by caravan as it has dedicated spaces for this type of travellers. If you want to know more about my stay, you can take a look at my full blog post about the Plitvice Lakes here.

The Plitvice Lakes National Park is one of Croatia’s ex-libris and therefore a must-visit in Croatia.

The park is still quite large, so I highly recommend dedicating 1 full day to it. It will be an amazing day, full of breathtaking landscapes. Get ready for majestic waterfalls, blue-green lakes that will be hard to forget and walkways in the middle of nature.

If I had to choose my favourite places in Croatia, the Plitvice Lakes would certainly be on top of the list. Although a visit to the lakes is relatively simple to organise, you should always plan ahead to ensure you get the most out of your day.

So I wrote a post with a complete guide with everything you need to know before visiting the Plitvice Lakes: where to park, which entrance to choose, the best route, where to stay, places to eat, etc. Click here to read more about one of the places you MUST visit in Croatia.

💡 EXTRA TIP: On the drive to Zagreb, if you have some time available, I suggest a short stop in the village of Rastoke, located a few kilometres from the Plitvice Lakes. This village looks like something out of a fairy tale, with its houses built over waterfalls.

Our time in Croatia is ending and we couldn’t leave without visiting its capital – Zagreb. Although many consider the city dull, I found it full of life and perfect for a farewell to Croatia.

💡 EXTRA TIP: I suggest you drop the car off the day before as for this last day in Zagreb you will not need a car. If you have to leave the car at the airport, you can easily get back to the city centre by bus. There is a shuttle option (Pleso prijevoz) to the Zagreb bus station (the journey takes about 30 minutes). Alternatively, there is the ZET 290 bus that goes to Kvaternik square and takes 1h15.

In my opinion, there are some places that cannot be missed on your Zagreb itinerary. These are Petar Preradović square, the Grič tunnel, the “secret” Oktogon passage, St Mark’s church, the Cathedral and Tkalčićeva street.

Also be sure to climb the Lotrščak tower, from where you get one of the best views of the Croatian capital, including St. Mark’s church.

However, Zagreb has even more places to visit. Find out the ideal 1-day itinerary in Zagreb and even more tips about the city with this blog post with all the Zagreb tips.

Since I no longer had a car in Zagreb, I opted for a very centrally located accommodation. I ended up choosing Smile&Love Republic Zagreb Center. Located inside an old building, the flats were comfortable and equipped with a kitchenette.

The check-in and check-out process was quite simple although the accommodation does not have a reception service. In addition, and despite not having a breakfast service, there is a Mlinar bakery right in front of the flats.

You know how much I love trying local food in the countries I visit. For that very reason, visiting Croatia meant trying some of its typical food:

• Black risotto: the black colour of the risotto comes from cuttlefish ink and it’s really tasty
• Fritule: some fried balls covered with sugar and cinnamon
• Pašticada: meat stewed for several hours and usually served with a thick red wine-based sauce
• Soparnik: a kind of pie made with swiss chard. It tastes a bit strange.
• Rožata: a kind of pudding made with a regional liqueur

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