I’m so excited to write about Croatia! It has to be one of the most beautiful countries I’ve visited. Are you looking for things to do in Croatia? I’ve put together this 7 days in Croatia itinerary just for you.

Croatia isn’t usually the first place you think of when booking a European vacation. Italy, Spain, or France usually take the top spots for European vacations by Americans. However, even if this is your first trip to Europe, I would highly recommend considering Croatia. The entire country is breathtaking and worth exploring.

This one week itinerary is packed with towns, cities, beaches, and island hopping. If you like to see a little bit of everything and are a beach lover, this itinerary is for you. While it’s a jam packed week, it was worth it because it allows you to see as much as possible. If you’re looking to have a slower paced trip, I would say to remove one of the locations and simply stay in one place a day longer. Since I only had a week, I decided to rent a car and drive up the coast. There are also public transportation options like buses and trams to get around Croatia if you’re looking for a more affordable option.

Since this is a busy week, make sure you’re well prepared for your international trip. Read my 10 tips on how to plan an international trip to make sure you’re ready to go once you land in Croatia!

7 days in Croatia itinerary:

Day 1 & 2 in Croatia: Dubrovnik

I arrived in Dubrovnik and I was immediately in awe of the beauty of this city! The Airbnb was located in Old Town, Dubrovnik and the views going into town were just amazing. The orange tiled roofs set along the border of the Adriatic Sea, this city is definitely one to see.

Things to do in Dubrovnik:

• Walk the medieval city walls – a must and the views from here are amazing.
• Take the Dubrovnik cable car – another way to get a great view of Dubrovik is to take the cable car.
• Sunset tuk tuk tour  – I highly recommend this tour. My Airbnb host suggested it and I’m so glad I did this. The tuk tuk takes you through Dubrovnik, stopping in different areas such as Franjo Tudjman bridge to take in the views and finally goes up to Mount Srd for stunning views of Old Town. The tuk tuk tour I took also included wine while we sat watching the sunset. It was so peaceful taking in the view over the city of Dubrovnik.
• Walk around Old Town – Old Town is such a magical town. Walk around, eat, drink and take in all the views.
• Spend the afternoon on a beach – Banje Beach or Sveti Jakov Beach are a short walk from Old Town. Keep in mind very few of Croatia’s beaches are sandy. They are pebble beaches but it makes for a unique experience. It’s not as uncomfortable as it sounds – the pebbles are usually small and smooth and overall isn’t an issue when you’re on the beach.

Day 3 in Croatia– Makarska Riviera, Brela

If you’re a beach person, make sure you leave a day to visit the stunning beaches of Croatia. Drive up the coast to Makarska Rivera and you will run into many beaches along the coast. The views during the drive are amazing and make sure you stop at one of the many fruit/juice stands on the way. The juice is so fresh and amazing.

Keep in mind you will also need to drive through Bosnia-Herzegovina borders so make sure you have your passport on hand. It should only take you a few minutes. I traveled during shoulder season in September so there weren’t long lines going through the border. If you’re spending more time in Bosnia Herzegovina, consider this Mostar guide and itinerary.

I stayed in the town of Brela and loved it. I only spent one night here but wish I would have had another day to explore the town. Brela is a quiet town at night so don’t expect any crazy nightlife here. If you’re looking to relax and get some beach time in, this is the town for you.

Things to do in Brela

• Beach! Some of the best beaches in Makarska Riviera are Plaza Beach Jadran Tucepi, Punta Rata Beach, Nugal Beach, Brela beach, Makarska beach.
• Walk along the Adriatic shoreline to take in views of the beaches and off shore islands.

Day 4 in Croatia: Split

Start your day early and drive up to Split. The drive is only an hour from Makarska Riviera. There is lots to see in Split so you’ll want to make sure you get there early.

Things to do in Split:

• Walk around Old Town
• Visit Diocletian’s Palace
• Climb the Bell Tower of St. Domnius Cathedral for a great 360 view of the city
• Walk the Riva Promenade
• See the viewpoint at Marjan Hill. The viewpoint is called Prva Vidilica Na Marjanu in case you need to put it into Google maps.
• Eat gelato at Gelateria Emiliana – honestly one of the best gelato I’ve ever had.

Day 5 in Croatia: Island Hopping & Blue Cave

Book a tour to island hop and visit the blue cave. The tour I took visited the famous blue cave, and the islands of Ravnik, Budikovac, Bisevo, Vis and Hvar. There were some where we walked around cute towns and others were we were able to get some beach time in. This is a great way to see the islands. It definitely made me feel like I could have spent more time in some of those areas.

Day 6 in Croatia: Plitvice Lakes National Park

Start your day early and drive to Plitvice Lakes National Park. The drive from Split is about 2 ½ hours. I would suggest getting to the park early if you can so that you have the chance to spend the day at the park. The park is beautiful and there are different routes you can take to either make the day shorter or longer. I would suggest doing the longest route which is Route C and takes 4-6 hours. If you prefer a shorter route, you can do Route A (2-3 hours) or B (3-4 hours). If you have the time and energy for it, I would suggest Route C because you’ll be able to see the entirety of the park.

The other option if you have the time is to opt to do Plitvice Lakes National Park in two days. If you have the time, you might want to go at a slower pace to see the park. The area around Plitvice Lakes is surrounded by nature and overall very peaceful so if you’re looking for some down time and connecting in nature, that could be a good option.

I stayed in the town of Korenica in an Airbnb/guest house. It was so quiet, overlooking the mountains. I only stayed a night there but could have definitely stayed an extra night there to take in the peaceful scenery.

Day 7 in Croatia: Zagreb

Start your day early and drive to the capital and largest city of Croatia, Zagreb. This is a 2 hour drive from the Plitvice Lakes National Park area.

Things to do in Zagreb:

• Dolac Market – a vibrant daily market selling fresh fruits, vegetables, cheeses. This is a great way to get a local feel for the city of Zagreb.
  • Explore Zagreb’s Upper and Lower Towns
  • Zagreb City Viewpoint –located on top of the upper town of Zagreb’s Old Town
  • Ban Jelacic Square – central square in Zagreb. There are also markets here in the summer time where you can buy fruits, vegetables, honey.
  • Cathedral of Zagreb
  • Tkalciceva Street – vibrant street in Zagreb with restaurants, cafes, boutiques and shops.
  • Zrinjevac Park – the oldest park in the Lower Town of Zagreb. This is a small park but nice to stroll through to see the flowers, fountains and buildings.

There you have it – my recommendation for 7 days in Croatia itinerary! If you’re looking for more things to do in Croatia, check out the post here on best things to do while you’re in Croatia.

Enjoy Croatia!