Croatia is one of the most visited European destinations famous for its history, beautiful nature, clean Adriatic Sea, authentic islands, and much more. In this article, we bring you our idea for a 9 day Croatia Itinerary. This journey will start in Zagreb, the capital of Croatia, and end in Dubrovnik, the most visited destination of this country. It will be 9 days full of adventure and great places. For each day, we’re going to recommend you a particular tour you can add to your schedule for an even better experience of the location.
This itinerary for 9 days in Croatia can be easily reversed too, you can start in Dubrovnik and end in Zagreb, whichever is more convenient for you in terms of the flights and other arrangements. Traveling between these 2 destinations will cover most of Croatia and its most famous places. We excluded the famous Plitvice Lakes National Park from this list, but included somewhat similar Krka National Park. Read our comparison of both and decide which one you would like to visit.
Ready for a journey of a lifetime? Here we go.
Day 1: Arrival in Zagreb On the first day you’re arriving in Zagreb. Its airport is well-connected with many other airports in Europe, so you won’t have any trouble reaching it. Once you arrive in Zagreb, head to your accommodation which we suggest to be somewhere in the city centre because of the easier exploration.
Once you arrive in Zagreb, take some time to accommodate yourself, drink a warm coffee, and we’re going to start exploring this city. We have spent 10 years of our lives in Zagreb and it has become our second home in Croatia. You won’t need much time to explore some of the best and most famous places to visit in Zagreb.
Explore the historic Upper Town (Gornji Grad) , Zagreb Cathedral, and St. Mark’s Church.
Walk through Tkalčićeva Street and enjoy your drink at one of the cafes.
Tour Suggestion:
Zagreb Walking Tour with Funicular Ride and City Highlights
Day 2: Istrian Peninsula We were thinking of including Plitvice Lakes instead of Istria on a second day, but since we already included Krka on day 4 of this 9 day Croatia itinerary, we thought it’s better to exclude one of the national parks and make a trip to Istria instead. We love Istria. It’s the largest peninsula in Croatia, and it’s famous for its gastronomy, hilltop towns, and picturesque seaside towns.
A day in Istria will be enough to explore a few of the most famous places. We suggest starting the journey from Zagreb early in the morning so you have more time in Istria. You’ll see that Istria is somewhat different than the rest of Croatia and a lot of Roman and Italian influence can be seen in this region.
Take a day trip to Istria , known as the food and wine paradise of Croatia.
Explore the hilltop towns like Motovun, Grožnjan, or Višnjan .Visit Rovinj , one of the most picturesque coastal towns in Croatia.
Consider stopping in Pula to see the well-preserved Roman amphitheater.
Tour Suggestion:
Full-Day Istria Tour from Zagreb with Visits to Rovinj, Motovun, and Pula
Day 3: Zadar and Sunset Magic On day 3 ouf our journey through Croatia, we visit Zadar, famous historical city located on the northern border of Dalmatia region. When traveling from Istria to Zadar, you have 2 options. You can either use the Croatian Motorway or the coastal scenic road. Zadar is considered as a place with the best sunsets in Croatia and we don’t want to miss that. It also has a beautiful old part of the town with a lot of Roman influence as well as some unique installations like the famous Zadar sea organ and the Greeting to the Sun.
Drive to Zadar on the coast.
Visit the Sea Organ and Greeting to the Sun installations located one next to other.
Explore Roman ruins and medieval churches in Zadar.
Tour Suggestion:
Zadar Sunset Kayaking Adventure with Sea Organ Views
Day 4: Krka National Park and Šibenik We had a lot of driving in previous days of this 9 day Croatia itinerary and we won’t drive as much today since we’re visiting places that are relatively close to Zadar. First place we’re going to explore is Krka National Park, one of the most famous national parks in Croatia with a lot of waterfalls and wooden pathways.
After the visit to Krka, we’re going to head toward nearby Šibenik and explore this picturesque town on Dalmatian coast.
Head south of Zadar and explore Krka Waterfalls .
Stop in Šibenik to visit St. James Cathedral its old town.
Tour Suggestion:
Krka National Park and Šibenik Day Tour from Zadar or Split
Day 5: Split – History and Riva Vibe After we have spent a night in Šibenik (or you can arrive late in Split and stay there too), we’re going to Split, the second-largest city in Croatia and one of its most famous tourist destinations. We are going to spend 2 days in Split since it’s a great hub for the exploration of the islands near Split, such as Hvar, Brač, Vis, and Šolta. We’re even going to visit some of them in the next days of this 9 days in Croatia itinerary.
Arrive in Split and visit and explore Diocletian’s Palace .
Walk through the old town, climb the bell tower of St. Domnius Cathedral, and relax on the Riva promenade .
Tour Suggestion:
Walking Tour of Diocletian’s Palace and Old Town Split
Day 6: Blue Cave & Island Hopping Our first day in Split was all about exploring this Mediterranean oasis. Now it’s time to explore beyond Split so we’re going to explore some of the most famous islands that are located close to Split. We’re also going to visit Blue Cave, the most famous natural wonder of the islands in Croatia.
Spend the day on a speedboat tour to Blue Cave , Hvar , Vis , explore the coastline of these islands, and relax on the secluded beaches.
Tour Suggestion:
Day 7: Hvar Island – Explore and Relax on The Most Famous Island In Croatia From the second-largest city in Croatia we head straight to one of the most famous islands in Croatia. There are many ways you can go to Hvar from Split, depending on whether you travel in Croatia by car or you rely on public transport.
Take the car ferry (stops at Stari Grad Port) or catamaran (stops at Hvar Town) to Hvar Island .
Visit Fortica Fortress for the best views of Hvar, explore Hvar Town, and relax on nearby beaches or visit Pakleni Islands.
Tour Suggestion:
Guided Hvar Island E-Bike or Wine Tasting Tour
Day 8: Dubrovnik – The Most Romantic City In Croatia We’re reaching near the end of our 9 day Croatia itinerary, and the last 2 days in our country will be reserved for the most visited destination in Croatia. You can travel from Hvar to Dubrovnik in a few ways, and a catamaran or ferry+scenic coastal ride are among the most used options.
Travel to Dubrovnik (via ferry or transfer).
Visit and walk the city walls , explore the Old Town , and see Rector’s Palace .
Tour Suggestion:
Dubrovnik City Walls Walking Tour with Local Guide
Day 9: Elaphiti Islands Day Trip or Game of Thrones Finale Our final day in Croatia will be for relaxation and reflecting on all the experiences we had in the previous 8 days. And what better place to do it than Elaphiti Islands, a peaceful oasis near Dubrovnik?
Spend your last day on a boat tour to the Elaphiti Islands and visit some of the most famous places of this archipelago.
Tour Suggestion:
Full-Day Elaphiti Islands Cruise from Dubrovnik
Before You Experience 9 days in Croatia We hope this 9-day itinerary in Croatia gave you an idea about how your vacation in Croatia might look. Of course, this is a suggestion and you can play with it as much as you like. However, we included the most famous locations in Croatia and some of the best activities to try at these. Croatia is a beautiful country, and we believe you’ll enjoy your time in it. Nine days is a perfectly balanced period in which you can see a lot without the overwhelming feeling or race against the time.
Enjoy your Croatia travels and adventures!
