A lot can be seen in Croatia in 10 days. We believe that this period offers the perfect balance between relaxation and exploring. Ten days is a rounded number and it’s usually the amount of days to spend in a particular country before it feels like too much. Especially if you’re staying at one place. This Croatia 10-day itinerary will cover some of the most popular places in our country that we believe should be on the list of anyone visiting Croatia for 10 days.
This Croatia 10-day itinerary will be a balanced mix of historical and natural places, island hopping, and relaxation. We will start the journey in Dubrovnik, a famous destination located in southern Croatia, and end it in Zagreb, the capital of Croatia. If you plan to have a different schedule, you can still use this itinerary as the general list of places to visit in Croatia and plan your stay accordingly. The only thing we suggest when coming to Croatia is not staying in one place, but rather spending your holidays in discovering and exploration.
Day 1-2: Dubrovnik – The capital of History in Croatia We are starting this Croatia 10-day itinerary in the most visited destination in Croatia – Dubrovnik. Dubrovnik Airport has a good connection with many other airports from all around the world and you shouldn’t have any troubles of reaching this gem of the Croatian south. We are going to spend 2 days in Dubrovnik before we start traveling to other parts of Croatia.
Day 1: Explore Dubrovnik’s Old Town First day in Dubrovnik is reserved for reaching your accommodation and a relaxed exploration of the Old Town.
Dubrovnik City Walls Visit places like Stradun, Rector’s Palace, and Sponza Palace . Consider buying a Dubrovnik Pass so you can visit many different locations in Dubrovnik for one unique price.
Take a cable car to Srđ Hill for a panoramic sunset or a dinner with the view.
Enjoy a seafood dinner with the view of the Adriatic.
Day 2: Day Trip to Lokrum Island or Elaphiti Islands We are going to spend a second day in Dubrovnik on the islands near Dubrovnik. So far, we have explored the most famous places in Dubrovnik and it’s time to enjoy the Adriatic Sea. You have 2 options when it comes to this:
Option 1: Go to Lokrum Island , swim in the Dead Sea Lagoon, and explore the monastery located on this island.Option 2: Take a boat trip from Dubrovnik to the Elaphiti Islands . Explore Lopud, Koločep, and Šipan and enjoy swimming and snorkeling.
Day 3-4: Split and Surroundings After 2 days in Dubrovnik, we are ready to move on and travel to Split. On this day, we will also pass through some beautiful parts of Croatia and have a chance to explore it.
Day 3: Travel to Split and Explore
Take a scenic coastal drive or ferry from Dubrovnik to Split. If you drive from Dubrovnik to Split, consider stopping at some of the beautiful places of this part of Croatia – Ston, Makarska Riviera, Biokovo Nature Park and Skywalk Biokovo, Baćina Lakes, Omiš,…
Once you arrive in Split, explore Diocletian’s Palace , a UNESCO-listed Roman ruin in Croatia.
Visit Peristyle Square, Jupiter’s Temple, and the Cathedral of Saint Domnius .
Take some time off and relax at Bačvice Beach or walk along the Riva Promenade .
Day 4: Day Trip to Hvar or Blue Cave Split is also a great base for exploring some of the most famous islands in Croatia and places located on them. For this occasion, we’ll take one of 2 options for a day trip from Split:
Day 5: Krka National Park and Šibenik Day five of our Croatia 10-day itinerary is reserved for the first national park we’re going to visit on this trip. We leave Split and head to Krka National Park first. After Krka, we’ll explore Šibenik, another famous city in Croatia. Finally, we’ll end day 5 in nearby Zadar.
Visit Krka National Park and swim near the magnificent waterfalls of this park.Explore Šibenik’s Old Town and visit St. James Cathedral .
Spend the evening in Zadar , one of our most favorite cities in Croatia.
Day 6: Zadar and Plitvice Lakes National Park We love Zadar. It offers the perfect balance of all the things that make the city loveable. We are going to spend a day in it before we head to Plitvice Lakes in the afternoon.
Morning: Explore Zadar
Visit the Sea Organ and Greeting to the Sun . Both of these installations are located in the same place, on the Zadar sea promenade.
Walk through Zadar’s Roman Forum and St. Donatus Church .
Afternoon: Travel to Plitvice Lakes Plitvice Lakes is the most famous national park in Croatia and we have to include it in this Croatia 10-day itinerary. It’s somewhat similar to Krka, but still enough different so it won’t feel like you’re visiting the same place twice.
Walk on the wooden boardwalks , immerse in cascading waterfalls , and take a scenic boat ride across Kozjak Lake .
Stay overnight near Plitvice.
If you are into urban exploration, there is a great place to visit near the Plitvice Lakes. It’s the abandoned underground airport in Croatia called Željava Airbase and it’s located just 20 minutes away from Plitvice.
Day 7-8: Istria – Wine, Truffles, and Coastal Towns After the Plitvice Lakes, it’s time to head toward the largest peninsula in Croatia – Istria. It’s the place full of great places and famous for its gastronomy, hilltop towns, wines and great outdoor adventures. We are going to spend 2 days in Istria and visit a few of the most famous places of this peninsula.
Day 7: Rovinj and Pula We’re going to spend our first day on the western part of Istria and explore 2 famous coastal cities – Rovinj and Pula. Both of them are places you must visit when visiting Istria and they are completely different from one another.
Walk through Rovinj’s picturesque Old Town .
Visit Roman Amphitheater in Pula . It’s one of the best-preserved such buildings in the world.
Enjoy Istrian cuisine, including truffles, wines, and seafood.
Day 8: Motovun and Wine Tasting The second day in Istria is reserved for hilltop towns and truffles. We have included Motovun in this list, but any hilltop town is equally beautiful and these are one of our most favorite things about Istria.
Drive to the hilltop town of Motovun , famous for its truffles.
Visit a local vineyard for wine and olive oil tasting .
Spend the night in one of the hilltop towns like Motovun, Grožnjan, or Višnjan.
Day 9-10: Zagreb – The Capital of Croatia Last two days of this Croatia 10-day itinerary are for exploring the capital of Croatia and the region of Zagorje located north of Zagreb. This region has a completely different vibe than the coastal part of Croatia and you might feel like you are in a different country.
Day 9: Discover Zagreb
Explore Upper Town (Gornji Grad) , and places like St. Mark’s Church and Lotrščak Tower that are part of it.
Visit the Museum of Broken Relationships , one of the most unique museums in Croatia.
Walk through Tkalčićeva Street , a vibrant street famous for its cafes and restaurants.
Day 10: Day Trip to Trakošćan Castle or Varaždin Zagorje is the land of castles and magic. We don’t travel to it often, but love every occasion that takes us there.
Option 1: Visit the Trakošćan Castle , the most famous castle in Croatia. Visit the Neanderthal museum along the way.Option 2: Explore Varaždin , baroque capital of Croatia.Fly out of Zagreb International Airport in the evening.
Additional Tips for Your 10-Day Croatia Trip And that would be our Croatia 10-day itinerary. We covered pretty much all the things worth visiting. Here are some final tips when it comes to visiting Croatia:
Best Time to Visit: Late spring (May-June) and early autumn (September-October) are the best periods if you want to enjoy Croatia with mild weather and fewer visitors. Summer is the best time of the year for beach and sun combination and all that comes with it.Getting Around: Renting a car in Croatia is something we would suggest since it will give you utmost freedom and a chance to explore at your own pace.Currency: Croatia uses the Euro (EUR) . Always have some cash with you.Food to Try: Peka (slow-cooked meat and vegetables), Black Risotto, Soparnik, Ston Oysters,.. .
Before You Venture for 10 days in Croatia You’ll love Croatia . It’s a small country packed with all kinds of natural wonders and historical places. After all, it’s one of the most visited destinations in Europe. Being smaller than some other similar countries is a great thing because 10 days in Croatia will be enough to really experience the best this country has to offer, while 10 days in some other European countries might be just enough to scratch the surface. We hope this Croatia 10-day itinerary was useful for you in planning your own trip to Croatia.
Have a great time in our country!
