10 Days in Croatia Itinerary | How to plan your next trip to Croatia

So often Croatia is considered one of the best destinations in Europe. You can roam around easily and with a mid-range budget, making Croatia perfect for a 10-day itinerary in Eastern Europe.

Before our extended 10 day trip to Croatia, we also thought it was cheap; however, reality doesn’t always match your expectations. This guide about 10 day Croatia itinerary will walk you through the best destinations to explore in the eastern country. We will get in deep into the ways to lower the costs and still have fun.

Make yourself comfortable, as the long trip to Croatia will prepare you for one of the most amazing experiences in life. Croatia has been increasing in popularity recently, attracting tourists to the prominent landmarks. The white walls of Dubrovnik, the roman features of Split, and the Venetian architectonic details of Hvar are well known; however, we will also suggest you go off the beaten path and make the most of your time, seeing as much of this beautiful country as you can.

The map itinerary of Croatia is an essential feature of our guide. Save locally on your device our detailed 10 days Croatia itinerary to use offline and tour the county even if you don’t have a network. Personalise the map with our “other suggestions” that will take you off the beaten path in Croatia.

Many people love to travel to Croatia in summer; however, this might not work out as the cheapest period to explore the country. That said, of course, you are making an excellent choice to visit Croatia in summer, as it is one of the most incredible locations to explore in Europe.

However, we suggest you discover Croatia during the shoulder season. The main reason is that Croatia becomes really packed when the good season starts. Tourists overcrowd the beaches and main touristic places, making your 10 days in Croatia less enjoyable.

Alternatively, we suggest April and May (better the beginning) enjoy the sunshine and the beaches heading south. This period of the year offers reasonable prices almost everywhere. Also, consider September and October for your next trip to Croatia. The country is in a strategic location in Europe, which gives you still wonderful sunshine days at the end of summer and the beginning of October. The temperatures and incredible natural resources make Croatia a perfect location to explore in Europe in Autumn and winter.

However, consider that transport (mainly ferries) works at a slower pace in winter in Croatia. But check down below for a breakdown of Croatia in every season.

Winter in Croatia

A winter trip to Croatia can be a fantastic way to save money and enjoy some sun during the northern hemisphere’s harshest months. Still, it will surely be a different sort of Croatian trip.

Visiting significant cities like Split and Dubrovnik, you will feel the Christmas atmosphere in Croatia; this time of the year is unbelievable everywhere. The winter is mild on the coast, but with high chances of rain, and very cold in the internal part of the country.

Spring in Croatia

If you want a classic Croatian holiday with plenty of sun and maybe some beach days (if you are lucky and visit at the end of the season), late spring can work. The sea is still a bit cooler to swim; however, there is plenty of sunshine and sunny days ideal for exploring the islands. This is the perfect time to plan an itinerary around the Dalmatian islands and see places like Korcula, Hvar, and Brac.

Summer in Croatia

With the best weather in Croatia comes a little down point as well. Summer means high prices. However, you can’t get wrong about planning a 10-day itinerary in Croatia in the summer. The country is blessed with good weather throughout the whole period and, of course, is the best season to enjoy the beaches. If this is the only time you can go on a vacation in Croatia, plan an off the beaten path itinerary to skip the crowds and don’t get disappointed.

If you are willing to explore Croatia in the summer, we suggest basing yourself in Split and touring around the central coastal city. We wrote a compelling guide about three days in Split and a few days’ trips around.

Autumn in Croatia

Even though Europe in autumn is wet, Croatia still benefits from warm temperatures, especially on the coastal side. Central Croatia has more precipitation compared to the Adriatic cities, making Croatia in Autumn the best combination weather-wise and beating the crowds.

Croatia in the shoulder season is also perfect for saving some money, with hotels offering the best-discounted rates, even booking next to the arrival date. Check the best hotels in Croatia.

You can plan a short itinerary through Croatia in 7 days, but it will be short and around a few strategic locations. Therefore, you must plan a perfect road trip for at least 10 days in Croatia. If you can stay a bit longer, anything between 12 days and 2 weeks is ideal; visiting Croatia in Spring or late summer, when it is less crowded but still has pleasant weather.

Croatia is a wonder on the Med, a beauty full of unspoiled scenic scenery where you can get lost. We create a perfect 10-day itinerary of Croatia to give insights about the most incredible locations in the East Europe country. A 10-day trip is the perfect amount of time to explore, get lost and be amused by the many sights and cities. Check out our blog post about the best places to visit in Croatia.

However, don’t take just our advice for staying 10 days as the perfect length to explore the country entirely. We also suggest most of the time to plan a longer trip. In our opinion, Croatia is also a good location for a perfect workation in Europe.

• Travel by bus during the night for long distances (It’s cheaper and you save on the night stay)
• Take the ferry and stay overnight on the islands
• Avoid passing the border with Bosnia will take you sometime
• Base yourself in Split to take advantage of a few day trips nearby (Trogir, Sibenik, Krka National Park, Hvar)
• Take the ferry from Hvar to Dubrovnik to enjoy the Dalmatian Islands
• Book your tours in advance

Below are a few extra tips necessary to know before travelling to Croatia.

Travel Insurance | We love two insurance companies and always suggest them. Safety Wings and Hey Mondo. Our digital whole-year insurance is with the second, and it covers everything, including the expensive equipment we carry with us. Check out both of them, and you will help us run this blog gaining a commission at no extra cost to you.

Language | The official and most extensively used language is Croatian. However, we had no problem speaking English. Croatia is a destination well known by tourists and locals. We had just a few problems while exploring the countryside, but with some creativity and gestures, we made our point of contact. In Istria, instead, the northern part of Croatia is widely spoken Italian, and it was no trouble for us to chat with locals.

Currency | In Croatia, you pay in Kunas. However, while on our trip, we found that some shops also allow paying in Euro. Visa and Mastercard are widely accepted, especially in large cities. Amex and other credit cards are accepted just in a few restaurants.

Safety | We felt safe in Croatia for the whole trip. However, you have to use common sense at all time, especially in crowded places where tourists gather or on public transport, there are always pickpocketing around. So take care of your belongings.

We have done the whole 10-day Croatia itinerary using public transport. Our journey was through flixbus, trains, regular buses and ferries. However, we had to rent a car to explore Istria, but this was just because we extended our trip, even though there were fewer modes of transport between the northern cities. If you are short on days, we suggest booking tours in advance and enjoying multiple locations in a single day.

If you keep your itinerary simple, you need just to take buses between the main cities. However, you might have multiple options to reach some locations, like Split to Dubrovnik. Of course, the ideal plan is to do island hopping from Split, passing by Hvar and Korcula, but if you don’t want to waste days, you can just pass by the island for a day trip and ride Flixbus for a 3.5 hours journey from Split to Dubrovnik.

As said, if you aim for freedom, renting a car is the perfect plan. Having your own method of transport allows you to reach places quickly, and gas is less expensive compared to other Western European Countries.

Don’t forget to bring with you some essential items to rent a car in Croatia:

• Credit Card (They don’t accept debit cards)
• International Driving Permit
• Check your journey before travelling (download the map offline and save on data)

We thought Croatia was more affordable; however, it didn’t work out as cheap as many think. I visited Croatia previously around 2010, and that was a very reasonable time. Unfortunately, in 2022 Croatia wasn’t the same, prices soared up, and costs may be comparable to those in Western Europe. In some tourist cities like Dubrovnik, prices were high, especially for suitable accommodations. However, the more inland you travel, such as to Zagreb, the cheaper your lodging, meals, and transportation will be.

How much will it cost to travel to Croatia?

We estimated that our trip cost about €120 per day for two people, booking in advance and with a few restaurants, local food for dinner, and primary sandwiches for lunch. Summer in Croatia will make your trip costly, and you should add about 30% more to the budget.

However, if you book your accommodations and tours in advance, you can get back the 30%. For a two-person trip, you should budget around €600 per person for a 10-day trip to Croatia.

Things to do in Zagreb

• St. Marks Church
• Zagreb Cathedral
• Ben Jelai Square
• The shortest Funicular in the World

Check out more things to do in Zagreb in our guide.

Where to stay in Zagreb

Bumblebee Luxury Apartments

Day 2 | Explore Plitvice Lakes

On the second day of exploring Croatia is time to discover Plitvice Lakes National Park, a Unesco World Heritage Site.

A lush wonderland with lovely waterfalls and pure blue lakes, secluded in a flowery paradise large enough to make you busy for at least half-day. Plitvice Lakes is about 2 hours away from Zagreb, passing through a dreamy scenery and Rastoke, a charming Croatian Village included in our guide of the most hidden gems.

Because of the journey, we suggest you book this tour for the entrance and this other tour if you want to include Restoke and a skip-the-line ticket.

Day 3 | From Zagreb to Split

It’s the first day of actual travelling through Croatia. Start your journey from Zagreb to reach the Dalmatia Coast. We suggest you book the trip with Flixbus, the best and cheapest way to reach the coastal city.

Split is an excellent location to base yourself for a few days exploring the surrounding without the hassle of changing accommodations daily, carrying your luggage and switching routines over and over. You might recognise Split from the popular TV show “Game of Thrones” and “House of Dragon”. 

The city that overlooks the beautiful Dalmatian islands was a Roman city, fully developed under Emperor Diocletian, which built his retirement home palace right in the centre. The incredible sightseeing of Split is today one of the major attractions. Another great way to enjoy Split is to hike Marjan Hill and enjoy the unspoiled view. We also loved our walk on the lovely Riva Promenade. Split is perfect, and we might go back one day for a workationary period in Europe.

Stay in Split for 3 days and explore the surrounding, with a few days trips to Krka National Park, Trogir, Sibenik and Hvar.

Things to do in Split

• Diocletian’s Palace
• Roam around the Old Town
• Walk on the Promenade
• Hike up Park Marjan
• Enjoy the local food

Where to stay in Split

LIVO DISNO 12

Day 4 | Day Trip to Krka National Park

That was one of the best highlights of backpacking in Croatia. Krka National Park is often overshadowed by the famous Plitvice Lakes but is worth the trip. Easy to reach from the coast, Krka National Park is the ideal day trip from Split.

You can either visit Krka National Park on your own, get a bus at the Split bus station in front of the port, or go on a guided tour. To be honest, the price-wise it doesn’t change that much, but a guided tour allows you to have a local explaining everything, and a bus picking you up from the hotel.

Check the bus on your own or the guided tour through Get Your Guide.

Krka National Park offers incredible scenery, unspoiled natural pools where you can swim, and lushes forests to walk through well-designed paths. We took the boat from Skradin, which costs 2€ extra on your entrance ticket but is worth the trip. On the return, we preferred the hike to enjoy the scenery, but carry water with you, as there is just a dirt path for about 2 miles.

Best tours from Split and Krka National Park

Day 5 | Sibenik and Trogir

Another incredible day trip from Split is to visit Sibenik and Trogir. You can have the best of the two towns in just a full day exploring and using public transport you can do on your own.

Trogir is a little, old-world city with winding streets leading to a sizable dock and a fairytale castle. Visiting Croatia in summer, you can take advantage of Trogir beaches, which tend to be quieter compared to those in Split, and perfect for unwinding. The town was named the best city island in the world in 2015 by National Geographic.

Things to do on Hvar Island

• Explore the old town
• Stroll around the seaside
• Discover hidden beaches in Hvar
• Hike up the Fortress
• Day trip to Stari Grad
• Check the lavender fields

Where to stay in Hvar

APARTMENT BUTKOVIC

Check out also suggestions for island hopping in Croatia

To see the islands off Croatia’s Dalmatian coast, allow at least a full day. The simplest way to fit island hopping into a 10-day schedule is to book a trip in advance. We have highlighted many possible options from Hvar. So go island hopping, enjoy a perfect sunset swim, and discover inlets and hidden caves.

Explore Pakleni Island from Hvar

Pakleni Island is a small archipelago away from Hvar, and there are many ways to reach the location. You can grab a taxi boat from Hvar Harbour or join one of the many tours departing every day. The roundtrip to Pakleni Island costs about 40 Kn per person for a roundtrip. On a boat trip instead, you will enjoy more unique spots and dive in crystal clear water.

Visit Mljet and explore Mljet National Park and saltwater lakes

Often left behind in Croatia travel guides, Mljet Island is the perfect location to stay away from the famous locations on the coast. The stunning national park is a paradise on a large island through the archipelago off of the coasts. You can organise an extra stop in Mljet while reaching Dubrovnik. The Island is an hour away by ferry from Hvar and already from the motor boat looks stunning and pristine.

Day 7 | Ferry to Korcula

On day seven through our 10-day Croatia Itinerary, we have included a full day in Korcula. You can work around your personal trip, depending on your travelling style. We love peaceful places where we can find cute photo spots and enjoy drinks and local food. Korcula was definitely all that and easy to reach within a 1-hour ferry from Hvar, mid-way from the last destination Dubrovnik.

Korcula might say nothing to you, and that’s why it’s on our list of hidden gems in Croatia, but worth to know that according to legend, Marco Polo was born in Korula in or around 1254. However, there is no proof apart that Marco Polo fought in the naval battle of Venice in 1298, at which point the Genoese army captured him, and he was imprisoned in Korcula.

Where to stay in Korcula

AMINESS KORCULA HERITAGE HOTEL

Things to do in Dubrovnik

• Go on a Game of Thrones walk
• Discover the old town
• Walk along the walls
• Explore the beaches of Dubrovnik
• Ride on the cable car
• Visit Fort Lovrijenac

Where to stay in Dubrovnik

SOLEIL LUXURY ROOMS – OLD TOWN

Day 9 | Kotor Day Trip | Discover Montenegro

As said, it’s not worth spending other than one to two days exploring Dubrovnik, so on day 9 will suggest taking a short trip to another country. Montenegro is close enough to make it a perfect day trip from Dubrovnik, so make sure you note down Kotor. The remarkable scenery inspired artists worldwide. In addition, Kotor features a fantastic bay, which alone is worth the trip. 

The gorgeous Bay of Kotor is a well-liked tourist destination and a protected UNESCO World Heritage Site. Roam around Stari Grad, Kotor’s Old Town, and walk through the cobblestone and charming narrow streets. Although Kotor is a trendy tourist destination is still worth the trip. You can even end your Balkan tour by staying around Kotor and flying back home from Podgorica, the country’s capital.

Day 10 | Stay in Dubrovnik and prepare for your return

If you are willing to spend your last day in Dubrovnik, without a doubt, you should hit the beaches if visiting Croatia in summer.

If not, prepare your luggage and walk around the town for the last glimpse of sunshine. It was so sad for us to leave Croatia as all the towns have their character.

If you have a late flight, you might get the local public transport at Pile Gate toward Cavtat, a cute village 40 minutes away from Dubrovnik. There is only one bus, the n.10, departing every hour. You can purchase the ticket on board or at the Kiosk. The price for the ticket on board is 25 Kn per person; at the Kiosk, it costs 3 Kn extra. You can roam around the promenade, go for a walk into the forest, or taste fresh local products at the restaurants on the seaside. Cavtat is fantastic and will leave good memories on your last day in Croatia.

We hope our suggestions for an epic Croatia itinerary for 10 days will satisfy your need to explore. The Balkan countries are lovely, and this Croatia travel guide should help you plan a great road trip.

You can do the exact itinerary or do it the other way around. If you organise a road trip, we always suggest landing in one city and departing from another; this will optimise the time frame and give you more freedom to explore. Also, consider mixing up the destinations as you please. For example, we decided to take the overnight bus from Zagreb to Dubrovnik, starting from the south and extending the trip to two weeks in Croatia, including the fantastic and underrated Istria. If you rent the car, it is possible to explore what we have done in two weeks in just 10 days in Croatia.

We assure you that you will take back home crazy memories, from the fun nights in Split to the wonderful view from Dubrovnik’s city walls. The ferry through the Dalmatian Islands was insane, and we still couldn’t believe that the crystal-clear water of Hvar was real. We invite you to get lost, locals are friendly, and you will find a way after a lovely contact with the Croatian culture.

If you only have a week in Croatia, we recommend staying in at most three cities and organising day trips from there. The suggested hubs are Zagreb, Split and Dubrovnik.

If you have more than ten days in Croatia, consider visiting Istria to see great cities like Pula, Rovinj and Porec. If you rent a car in Istria, you will for sure pass by cute villages on the coastline. We did that and had one of Europe’s most epic road trips so far. We have already included Trogir and Sibenik in our Croatia Guide, but staying longer, you might enjoy them more.

A day excursion to another nation, such as Bosnia from Split or Montenegro from Dubrovnik, is an option if you want to explore more countries in a single trip.

Of course, if you have more than 10 days, one of the best things to do in Croatia is to simply take your time. This Croatia itinerary is packed with activities to ensure you see as much of the country as possible, but lounging for longer in or near Hvar, Dubrovnik, or Split is absolutely stunning. You might also include an extra island; if so, check out Pag.

Hiring a car in Croatia

10 Day Croatia Itinerary from Dubrovnik

If it works out cheaper to get a flight from Dubrovnik, you should consider starting your trip in the south, and heading to the north. The itinerary should be exactly as we have created above but in reverse. Check out the prices for the flight back, and you can land in Dubrovnik, fly out from Zagreb, or stop your trip at mid-way in Split.

It might not be the best itinerary for Croatia, but you will concentrate on a few locations instead of the whole country as we did. Exploring a few locations and basing yourself in Dubrovnik, Split and Hvar Town might let you gain time and energy.

10 Day Croatia and Montenegro

It is not difficult to visit two countries in a single trip. We did that many times, and once, we jumped into Austria, Hungary and Slovakia in 7 days.

Montenegro is a neighbouring Croatia, heading South, just an hour from Dubrovnik. If you plan to get the best of the two countries, we suggest landing in Split and spending at least 2 days exploring, moving to Hvar Island for a quick escape.

Afterwards, spend two days in Dubrovnik and head to Montenegro for the final part of your trip. There are many group tours that work cheaper and make your trip easier. The organised tours take care of everything for you, accommodations and transport. Check out our suggestions for this trip to Croatia.

Travel Insurance — We always recommend starting a trip by subscribing to travel insurance. Good insurance can save your AXX in some SXX situations, and you don’t want to pay a lot for unexpected expenses while travelling. Your 10 days in Croatia is a long time and better safe than sorry. We use Safety Wing and Hey Mondo, which are fantastic depending on your travelling style and needs.

Reusable Water Bottle | It will be warm in Croatia in summer, so it is better to carry a reusable bottle of water; you will be sustainable, impact the environment less and have fresh water at all times. 

Sunscreen | If visiting Croatia in Summer or even late spring, you need good suncream.

Travel Adaptors for Croatia | Travelling from outside of Europe, you should carry with you adaptors. Croatia has types C and F, which operates on a 230V supply voltage and 50Hz.

Dry Bag | We recently added a dry bag to our necessary items, which is a fantastic addition. A dry bag can protect your camera and phone on any 10-day Croatia holiday involving time on the water.

Water Shoes | We are not very fond of water shoes, which can add an extra item to your luggage, but the shoreline is full of pebble beaches.

Nevertheless, water shoes are a must-have if you feel you need and can’t supply with flip flops.

Q&A Croatia in 10 days

Are you planning to visit Croatia soon?

Before you travel to Croatia, we have some recommendations for you:

SEASIDE AND BEACHES

How to spend 3 days in Split
Things to do in Dubrovnik
Summer in Croatia, things to do and places to see
How to get from Split to Hvar by ferry
Split to Hvar day trip

ITINERARIES AND GUIDES

The most instagrammable places in Dubrovnik
Backpacking in Croatia Guide
Things to do in Zagreb
Discover the best-hidden gems in Croatia
Is Dubrovnik worth visiting?