Epic Croatia Road Trip: 7 & 14 Day Itinerary [+ Local Tips]
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After a few Croatia road trips, I started thinking about how to break this stunning country down into manageable chunks so that it’s enjoyable for the amount of time you have and for the vibe you’re going for.
In this post, I want to help you avoid rushing through a vacation or check-boxing a few highlighted sights without truly experiencing the Croatian pomalo spirit of taking it easy.
Because what’s worse than needing a vacation from your vacation!? So let’s start thinking through this.
How Long Do You Have?
7 DAYS
This is probably the minimum time for a road trip in Croatia. I recommend considering the vibe you want and focusing your energy on one region that gives you that.
If you’re into wine and a more luxurious getaway, stick to Northern Croatia.
If you want a cultural experience with more history, go for Southern Croatia.
A week is also a great amount of time for a few island excursions. I love keeping one weekend free for a trip to the Island of Hvar or the little Island of Vis, my favorite island on the coast of Split.
14 DAYS
Jackpot! This is an ideal time for a Croatia Road Trip because you can do a little bit of everything without feeling rushed.
TRAVEL TIP: My favorite road trip through Croatia was this 2 weeks from Pula to Dubrovnik Like a Local – take what you need from it and explore at your leisure.
And with a little bit of logistical planning around car rental, ferry rides, and strategically placed tours, you can minimize the time on the road and maximize the time sipping wine, eating your way through truffle pasta, and sunbathing on the Dalmatian coast!
14-Day Croatia Road Trip Itinerary
This is the Croatia road trip I’ve done, and the one where I fell in love with this incredibly culture-rich and beautiful country. Here is the quick itinerary of the trip, with highlights and lodging tips.
Day 1 – 2: Rovinj
You’ll likely be landing in Pula by way of Zagreb. When you get to Pula, rent a car and head the short distance up to the special town of Rovinj. Get ready for an overload of winding cobblestone streets, cute bars and restaurants, and charming little houses.
- La Grisia – This is the most popular (and biggest) street in Rovinj.
- The Church of St. Euphemia – Great for sunset views!
- The Old Town – Explore inside the city walls, no cars allowed!
- Punta Corrente Forest – Great park for a leisurely walk in a forest by the sea.
Where To Stay
I recommend booking lodging south of the Old Town so you will have the advantage of being in a picturesque area within walking distance of the town. As you may imagine, the Old Town itself is a car-free area.
📍 Mid-Range: Room & Apartments Antea – More spacious and more adorable than the pictures give it credit for. I also loved the light in the space!
📍 Luxury: Hotel Casa Garzotto – While this little boutique is in the Old Town center, I recommend it because they do take care of your parking (it’s included), and it is SO cute and cozy to be right in the middle of everything!
Day 3: Motovun
This is all wine country. Here are a few of my favorite spots:
- Tomaz Winery: A little outside of town, my favorites were their Rose’s.
- Fakin Winery: Great tour of the cellars and delicious aged Malvasia. Pairs splendidly with their meat and cheese boards!
- ROSSI Winery & Distillery: Beautiful views, good wine selection, and even better gin cocktails!
This was my favorite all-inclusive tour:
➡️ Flavours of Istria Tasting Experience from Rovinj ⬅️
Day 4: Plitvice Lakes National Park
Just a 3-hour drive from Rovinj is Plitvice Lakes National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a collection of stunning green & blue pools, over 90 waterfalls, and tons of caves. This will be a welcome change from the first few days of eating, drinking, and small-town life.
Where to Stay
I recommend the local bed & breakfasts around Plitvice Lake National Park.
📍 Mid-Range: B&B Villa Sumrak – Think gorgeous sunsets and welcome drinks!
📍 Luxury: Ethno Houses Plitvice Lakes Hotel – You’ll notice this hotel as you head down to the dock to start your trail around the lakes. They gave me Colorado winter cabin vibes!
Day 5: Zadar
This is actually a lesser-known hidden gem of a town in Croatia. Once you get to Zadar, there are a few places to explore:
- Sea Organ – An organ mounted underneath a staircase, played by the waves of the sea.
- The Land Gate – The main entrance to the city.
- The Park of Vladimir Nazor – At night, there is a magical little bar that opens up – Ledana Lounge Bar & Club.
- Narodni Trg (People’s Square) – Yes, the Croats need more vowels in their lives!
Where to Stay
I loved the lodging selection inside the Old Town of Zadar.
📍 Mid-Range: Sweet Studio MARE – This is a great studio apartment in the city center – clean, bright, and priced at around $30 when I stayed.
📍 Luxury: DeZign Superior Apartments – These apartments are great for one-night stays, especially great bang for your buck!
Day 6: Krka National Park
More fun with waterfalls today! I plan to spend half a day here before heading south to Split for the next few days. Because this is a road trip, pack a lunch and a wine, have a picnic in the park, and enjoy some light hiking!
Day 7: Split
My favorite city in Croatia. The old town of Split is very walkable, and that’s what you should do!
➡️ I booked this Small-Group Walking Tour of Split because the guides are history professors!
This is also when you return your rental car, as you will not need it for the next week as you’re exploring the Islands and Dubrovnik.
Where to Stay
The best places to stay in Split is inside or just outside the Diocletian Palace.
📍 Mid-Range: Stara Kala Varos Apartment – Think old-world charm with brick walls, but with new appliances and a comfy bed, remodeled and cozy, right outside the Diocletian Palace and walking distance to everything.
📍 Luxury: Luxury Residence Mareta – In the heart of the Diocletian palace. While it is snazzy and well decorated, it’s a great value for your money because it’s Croatia!
Day 8: The Island of Mljet
Grab a quick morning ferry from Split to one of the largest islands off the Dalmatian Coast, the Island of Mljet (pronounced Mil-yet). I like this island because it’s off the beaten path when it comes to the usual Croatia road trip things to see, and has remained largely unspoiled, covered in forests, and surrounded by the sea.
PRO TIP: Check ferry times here. Don’t miss the boat back to Split for the night, there are not a lot of options off this island.
Day 9 – 10: The Island of Vis
Take the ferry from Split to Vis (2.5 hours) and explore the old town in the afternoon. I rented a scooter for the 2 days I was on the island and it was well worth it. This is where you can visit the famous Blue Cave in Croatia. A few other local recommendations:
- Lola Konoba & Bar – The perfect dinner date and atmosphere!
- Restaurant Vatrica – Great for a seafood lunch by the sea!
Where to Stay
📍 Mid-Range: House Bava – A 2-minute walk from the ferry port, this place is cozy and quaint.
📍 Luxury: Heritage Apartment Lilly – Highly recommend it if it’s available, it’s super reasonable for the luxury it offers, and the views are stunning!
Day 11: The Island of Hvar
Grab the morning ferry from Vis to Hvar and settle into the city. This island is known for its party scene and is both a port and resort town. As you only have one night, I recommend enjoying the city, sampling the foods in the local Konobas, and getting lost.
Where to Stay
Book ahead of time, as this is a popular spot on our Croatia road trip!
📍 Mid-Range: Mar e Sol Apartments – You will 100% want to book early to grab this.
📍 Luxury: Heritage Hotel Park Hvar – In the heart of the city, this is one of those well-done remodels of a heritage stone hotel from way back when.
Day 12 – 14: Dubrovnik
Today is another ferry ride, this time from the Island of Hvar to Dubrovnik.
Dubrovnik is the last stop on this Croatia road trip itinerary. Jump right into it with a Walking Tour of Dubrovnik to get a better sense of what you’re looking at and the history inside the city walls – the real history, not Game of Thrones history.
You can also take a boat out to Lokrum, a small island with tons of rabbits and peacocks, and a little museum area with an iron throne. Lastly, don’t miss the cable car up ot the top of the big mountain to get a good view of the entire city from Mount Srdj. The war museum is supposed to be excellent – the history of the region and politics is fascinating.
Fly out of Dubrovnik on the last day!
Where to Stay
Staying in Dubrovnik is a bit tricky, as the town is very condensed and old.
📍 Mid-Range: Eddie’s Sea View Rooms – Right in the old town, but not breaking the budget, this is a bright little spot to park your butt at the end of your trip!
📍 Luxury: Royal Princess Hotel – I stayed here (in a suite with two big balconies overlooking the Adriatic!). It takes about 15 minutes to take the bus into the walled city.
7-Day Croatia Road Trip Itinerary
Below are 3 options for a 7-day Croatia road trip, so pick and choose how you want to build your own itinerary based on what you are into.
- Northern Croatia: Best for foodies, wine & dine vibes, waterfalls & hiking
- Southern Croatia: Best for culture, ancient cities, and island life vibes
- Islands of Croatia: Best for party life, taking it easy, and romantic getaways.
Northern Croatia Road Trip
For Foodies & Wine
If you really want to dive into your foodie nature, the best region for Croatian wines, truffles, and meats is the Northern region of Istria. This area is influenced by its Venetian and Roman past and offers wineries, boutique restaurants, and growing culture of unique gins.
There are also 2 wonderful National Parks in Croatia, both promising incredible waterfalls and windy hiking trails through the woods. Both of these parks are also on the Northern side of the country.
Day 1 & 2: Zagreb
Zagreb is the capital city of Croatia and is known for its food scene and wines. This beautiful city is also home to a few cultural sites, including a unique museum that I love, The Museum of Broken Relationships. This is likely where you will fly in and rent a car for your road trip through northern Croatia.
Day 3 & 4: Rovinj
Rovinj is just the most pleasant old town in Istria, straight out of a storybook. One of the days can be used to explore and eat your way through Rovinj, while the other can be used to take a little side trip to Pula just an hour south.
Day 5: Motovun
Motovun is about an hour north of Rovinj, sitting neatly on top of a mountain among many vineyards and gin distilleries. This is a wonderful place to get boozy and indulge in Croatian truffle pasta.
Day 6: Plitvice National Park
Plitvice National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a few hours’ drive from Rovinj. Take a picnic with you and spend the day exploring the trails and waterfalls.
Day 7: Krka National Park + Zadar
Krka National Park is about a half-day adventure and super close to another adorable Croatian city, Zadar. Both the old town and the waterfalls in the national park can be enjoyed in one day, and you can still call it a relaxing day.
Southern Croatia Road Trip
For Culture
For ancient cities’ iconic culture and stories, the south is where you need to go. To explore the Diocletian Palace in Split, the iconic town of Dubrovnik, and everything in between, you’re best served by the Southern coastal area of the country.
Day 1 & 2: Dubrovnik
The city of Dubrovnik needs no introduction, and the old town is exactly as you might imagine, but even better. The coolest part of the town is this massive wall they built to protect Dubrovnik from the Venetians in Split. That and the winding streets with tucked-in restaurants and bars, and a general vibe of a good time.
Day 3 & 4: Mostar
Mostar is technically located in Bosnia & Herzegovina, and it’s best to spend a couple of days in order to really enjoy the beauty of this town. A pro tip would be to stopover in the town of Ston on the way up from Dubrovnik – it is a village known for its oysters and salt.
Day 5 – 7: Split
My favorite city on this Croatian road trip! Split is equally as stunning as Dubrovnik, but a little less touristy. I would spend a day exploring the Diocletian Palace, in which you could spend a few days getting lost.
This is also the city where you can take a quick ferry to one or two islands for fun in the sun.
Islands of Croatia
For Party
There are about 1200 islands on the coast of Croatia (only about 60 of them inhabited) that will give you the fix you need – among them my favorites are Vis, Hvar, Brac, and Mljet.
Don’t forget that Croatian beaches are not sandy, but rather pebble-y and rocky. This only serves to increase the allure for me not only because the contrast of lush green forest spilling over a rocky edge to meet the ocean is breathtaking, but also because you don’t get sand in all the weird places.
Day 1: Split
This is likely where you’ll land and spend the day exploring the Diocletian Palace. You won’t need a car for this part of the road trip, just pay special attention to the Jadrolinea Ferry routes.
Day 2 & 3: Island of Vis
The Island of Vis is one of the smaller, less ‘party’ islands, and home to one of the Blue Caves. I loved spending a couple of days here exploring Komiza and the port of Vis. I will never forget a very special dinner date at the beautiful Lola Konoba & Bar.
Day 4 & 5: Island of Hvar
An island that needs no introduction, this is definitely a party island. Not only is the food scene and nightlife great, but exploring the town of Hvar during the day is just as pleasant.
Day 6: Mljet
This forest-covered island is best for hiking and swimming in its many salt-water lakes. Bring a packed lunch and wine, and unwind in nature.
Day 7: Island of Brac
A quick ferry ride from Split, this is one of the bigger islands off the coast of Croatia. You will need a scooter or car to explore this island properly. Alternatively, you can rent a boat for the day, sail around, and just play in the sea.
Croatia Road Trip Map
A quick visual of a few of the stops on the 14-day Itinerary around the Dalmatian Coast of Croatia.
Driving in Croatia
Here are a few tips and things to consider when driving in Croatia.
What to consider when renting a car?
Definitely go for a small car so that you can fit into some of the tiny parking spots in Rovinj or Split. Otherwise, find the best bang for your buck – I use Discover Cars to see my options.
Check Prices & Availability
▶️ DISCOVER CARS ◀️
Be careful of high fees when you rent the car in one city and want to return it in another – I almost got charged $100 and so had to switch rental car companies for something more reasonable.
How do you handle tolls in Croatia?
Croatia has a system of toll roads, which you can pay with cash or a card at the booth.
Is driving difficult in Croatia?
The highway systems along the coast are in very good condition. Apart from a few potholes and slight congestion in the old towns, it’s simple enough to road trip Croatia.
I used my Google Maps to navigate everywhere without a problem and even managed to pay a few parking tickets I got along the way with the assistance of Google Translate and a few kind local’s help!
All in all, it is not difficult to drive in Croatia, and it feels like driving in any other western European country or America.
Croatia Road Trip Advice
Before you get going, here are a few things to remember as you start planning your adventures.
Is Croatia safe?
The short answer is yes. Croatia is a super well-touristed country for many reasons, and one of them is safety.
Despite the scary’ish history of being part of the former Soviet Union umbrella, Croatia is a beautiful country with good people. The towns are quaint, the pickpocketing is definitely less of a worry compared to Italy, and in general, most people speak English and are very helpful to tourists.
Regarding driving, the roads are in good condition and Croatian drivers are rule-abiding. That said, it’s important to be aware of safety before you hit the open road. If you’re traveling from the USA, you can review this FAQ on Travel Medical Insurance for any eventuality – I recommend this one because it’s inexpensive (around $40 a month).
This is what I use:
▶️ SAFETYWING: Nomad Travel Insurance ◀️
When is the best time for a Croatia road trip?
Summer or fall is the best time to visit Croatia, no matter what you do. High seasons are between the month of July and August, so if you want to avoid increased prices and decreased availability, shoot for a time slightly before or after.
Where should I start my Croatia road trip?
It really depends on how much time you have and which region you are sticking to. If you’re focusing on the North, then Zagreb is your airport. If you’re focusing on the Islands or the South, then Split or Dubrovnik is your hub.
Flights in and out of Zagreb and Split are the cheapest. That said, local flights go north to Pula and south to Dubrovnik for minimal cost.
Where should I book lodging?
Airbnb is your friend in Croatia, as most places are renovated and well-kept. The best location to book for someone on a road trip is slightly outside of the old towns.
This will give you a walking distance proximity to the restaurants and old town, allow you a place to park your car as you cannot drive into most old town streets, and help out on the budget side as lodging tends to be a little cheaper.
How Much Does a Road Trip in Croatia Cost?
Croatia is more affordable than most countries in Europe. And as of 2023, it will start adopting and using the Euro as its currency. That said, credit cards are widely used, and ATMs are everywhere.
A few tips to stay within your budget would be to avoid high season, choose to lodge outside of the old towns (it will still be within walking distance to everything you want), shop at the farmer’s markets outside of the old towns and cook at home if you can along your road trip.
Here are the average costs:
- Car Rental: $30-50 a day
- Lodging: $50-70 a night
- Meals: $10 for lunch, $20 for dinner
- Drinks: $5 a cocktail
Conclusion: Croatia Road Trip
These 7-day and 14-day Croatia road trips are great for visiting some of the best places in the country. Here’s the list of my favorite spots:
✅ Diocletian Palace in Split
The Diocletian Palace is a palace built for the Roman Emperor Diocletian in Split, and is not a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Palace is now part of the city of Split and home to more than 3,000 people. It is also one of the best-preserved examples of Roman architecture in the world.
✅ Dubrovnik
Dubrovnik is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Croatia. The city is known for its stunning architecture, medieval walls, and turquoise waters. Dubrovnik is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site, making it a must-see for history buffs and culture lovers alike.
✅ Rovinj
Located on the Istrian Peninsula in Croatia, Rovinj is a picturesque fishing town that is known for its Venetian-style architecture and Mediterranean atmosphere. The town’s vibrant Old Town is situated on a small peninsula and is home to a number of historic churches, including the Church of St. Euphemia, which overlooks the Adriatic Sea.
✅ Krk National Park
Krk National Park is an absolute gem! It is well known for its beautiful scenery and diverse wildlife and is a popular destination for hikers and nature lovers worldwide.
✅ Plitvice National Park
Located in central Croatia, Plitvice National Park is one of the country’s most popular natural destinations. The park is home to a series of 16 cascading lakes and numerous waterfalls and hiking trails. Visitors can explore the park on foot or take a boat ride across one of the lakes.
✅ Island of Vis
The Island of Vis is one of Croatia’s smaller islands. Situated in the Adriatic Sea, Vis is known for its dramatic cliffs, crystal-clear water, and the famous Blue Cave.
✅ Island of Hvar
The Island of Hvar is equally as pretty and is known for being a party island. Full of cute restaurants on white cobblestone streets and chic nightclubs, this is Croatia’s answer to Mykonos.
✅ Zadar
Zadar is located on Croatia’s Dalmatian Coast and is a city with a long history dating back to Roman times. But Zadar isn’t all about history – there’s also a lively nightlife scene and plenty of opportunities to enjoy the outdoors. Whether you’re taking a dip in the sea or hiking up one of the nearby hills, this is a Croatian gem.
✅ Motovun
The ancient town of Motovun in Croatia is one of the most picturesque and charming places in the country. Nestled atop a hill in Istria, the town offers stunning views of the surrounding countryside and great wineries to partake in.
✅ Capital of Zagreb
Quickly becoming a foodie hub, the capital of Croatia should not be missed. Zagreb is known for its beautiful architecture, ranging from Baroque churches to Art Nouveau buildings. It is also home to numerous museums and galleries, as well as a lively nightlife scene.
