Many people coming from outside of Europe choose to spend 2 weeks in Croatia. If you’re one of those people and have this period for your vacation in Croatia, it’s more than enough to really experience the best of Croatia. In this Croatia 14-day itinerary, we’re going to start our journey in Dubrovnik, the most famous destination in Croatia and King’s Landing in the famous Game of Thrones series. After Dubrovnik, we’re going to travel north and explore the best places in Croatia along the way.
This two-week itinerary for Croatia will cover many places, and we designed it to be a mix of historical places, nature, and adventure. All the things Croatia is famous for. What a vacation this is going to be. Let’s start our Croatian adventure.
Day 1-2: Dubrovnik – the most famous destination in Croatia As already said, we’re going to start this two weeks in Croatia in Dubrovnik, a city located in the southern part of Croatia. It’s a place that doesn’t need much introduction since it’s one of the most preserved medieval cities in Europe. As such, it’s a great place to start our Croatia travel with it.
Day 1: Explore Dubrovnik’s Old Town
Walk on the Dubrovnik City Walls and enjoy stunning views of the Adriatic Sea and Dubrovnik rooftops.
Visit Stradun, the main street in Dubrovnik, and places like Rector’s Palace, and Sponza Palace . We suggest getting a Dubrovnik Pass so you can save some many and visit many locations within Dubrovnik with no need to wait in queues to buy tickets.
Take the cable car to Srđ Hill and enjoy a panoramic sunset or a dinner with the best view of Dubrovnik.
Enjoy fresh seafood at one of the waterfront restaurants in Dubrovnik.
Day 2: Day Trip to Lokrum Island or Elaphiti Islands In the first day, we have pretty much explored the old part of Dubrovnik, but we’re not done with this magical place yet. The second day is for relaxation and unwinding in the natural landscapes of the Dubrovnik islands.
Option 1: Visit Lokrum Island , explore its monastery, and swim in the Dead Sea Lagoon. Lokrum is just 15 15-minute boat ride away from Dubrovnik and you can see this island while walking the walls and from the Srđ Hill.Option 2: Take a boat tour from Dubrovnik to Elaphiti Islands , an archipelago near Dubrovnik. Explore the most famous islands – Lopud, Koločep, and Šipan, and spend your day swimming, snorkeling, and relaxing on the beach.
Day 3-4: Montenegro or Korčula On the third and fourth days of our Croatia 14-day itinerary, we’re going to visit either Montenegro or Korčula. Montenegro is a country located south of Dubrovnik and you’ll need to cross the border to get to it. Korčula, on the other hand, is one of the most famous islands in Croatia.
Day 3: Option 1 – Day Trip to Montenegro
Visit the stunning Bay of Kotor , a location that looks like a Norwegian fjord.
Visit Kotor’s medieval Old Town that is also under UNESCO protection.
Stop by Perast and Our Lady of the Rocks island .
Option 2 – Travel to Korčula
Take a passenger ferry from Dubrovnik to Korčula Island .
Explore Korčula Town , known as the birthplace of Marco Polo, and often nicknamed ‘Little Dubrovnik’.
Visit Lumbarda for wine tasting of the famous local Grk wine.
Enjoy some of the adventure activities such as kayaking or buggy rides on Korčula.
Day 5-6: Split – Ancient Roman Heritage The next 2 days are reserved for Split and its wider area. Split is the second largest city in Croatia and also a very popular tourist destination. As you travel from Dubrovnik to Split, there are some places worth visiting along the way and some of them are:
Town of Ston: famous for Ston oysters, ancient saltworks, and the second largest defence wall in the world.Neretva Valley and Baćina Lakes: Both of these landscapes are located near the city of Ploče and are one of the most beautiful natural landscapes in Croatia.Makarska Riviera: The place where Biokovo Mountain and Adriatic Sea meet. Some of the best beaches in Croatia are located on Makarska Riviera.Skywalk Biokovo and Biokovo Nature Park: Skywalk Biokovo is a glass walkway that stretches in front of the high cliffs and it’s the most visited place of Biokovo Nature Park.Omiš: Often considered to be an adventure capital of Croatia. Place for all kinds of adventure options such as rafting, ziplines, via ferrata trails, and more.
Day 5: Arrival and Exploring Split
Explore Diocletian’s Palace , a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Visit Peristyle Square, Riva promenade, and Jupiter’s Temple .
Enjoy an evening at Bačvice Beach .
Day 6: Day Trip to Hvar or Blue Cave Tour On the second day in Split, you have 2 most commonly chosen options for a day trip from Split. Both of these tours are great and it’s up to you to choose which one you would enjoy more.
Option 1: Visit Hvar Island , hike to Fortica Fortress , and explore nearby Pakleni Islands .Option 2: Take a speedboat tour to Blue Cave, Vis Island, and Stiniva Beach located on Vis.
Day 7: Krka National Park and Šibenik On day 7 of our Croatia 14-day itinerary, we’re going to visit Šibenik and Krka National Park. Both Krka and Šibenik are relatively close to Split and you won’t lose much time traveling from Split to these places and exploring them.
Visit Krka Waterfalls , one of the most visited national parks in Croatia.
After a visit to Krka, explore the historical town of Šibenik , including St. James Cathedral located in it.
Overnight either in Šibenik or Zadar .
Day 8-9: Zadar and Plitvice Lakes Zadar is one of our most favorite cities in Croatia. It’s located on the northern boundary of the Dalmatia region and, just as many other cities in Croatia, it’s a place of huge cultural significance and many places to visit. Some of the most beautiful natural wonders of Croatia are located near Zadar – Paklenica National Park, Zrmanja River, Tulove Grede…
Day 8: Exploring Zadar
Visit the famous Sea Organ and Greeting to the Sun that are located one next to another. These are best experienced at sunset.
Walk through the Zadar’s Old Town , exploring the Roman Forum and St. Donatus Church .
Watch a sunset at Zadar’s waterfront .
Day 9: Plitvice Lakes National Park How do you feel so far? After we’re done with Zadar, we have some more great places to visit in Croatia. The next one is the most famous national park in Croatia – Plitvice Lakes. If you’re looking for something different, we suggest you visit the Željava Airbase located just 20 minutes away from Plitvice. It’s a huge abandoned underground airport and a great place for urban explorers visiting Croatia.
Walk on Plitvice’s wooden trails , enjoy cascading waterfalls and beautiful lakes .
Take the boat ride across Kozjak Lake .
Stay overnight near the park or head directly toward Zagreb.
Day 10-11: Zagreb – The Capital of Croatia It’s time to explore the northern part of Croatia and its capital. You’ll see that this part of Croatia is quite different than the Dalmatian Coast. This part had a lot of Austro-Hungarian influence that you’ll easily notice in the architecture and castles located in Zagorje region north of Zagreb.
Day 10: Discover Zagreb
Explore Upper Town and places like St. Mark’s Church and Lotrščak Tower .
Visit the Museum of Broken Relationships .
Enjoy Zagreb’s vibrant cafes located in Tkalčićeva Street .
Day 11: Day Trip to Trakošćan Castle or Varaždin
Option 1: Visit the fairytale-like Trakošćan Castle .Option 2: Explore the baroque town of Varaždin .
Day 12-13: Istria – Wine, Truffles, and Coastal Towns This Croatia 14-day itinerary would be incomplete without the visit to the largest Croatian peninsula and place famous for picturesque towns and gastronomy. Istria is a part of Croatia we adore and enjoy our every stay at.
Day 12: Rovinj and Pula Rovinj and Pula are 2 coastal towns in Istria located in the western part of the peninsula. As you visit them, you’ll immediately notice a lot of Italian influence in architecture and culture.
Walk through the narrow streets of Rovinj .
Visit Pula’s Roman Amphitheater , one of the best-preserved in the whole world.
Enjoy Istrian cuisine and try truffle dishes and seafood.
Day 13: Motovun and Wine Tasting
Drive to the hilltop town of Motovun , famous for truffles and as one of the most beautiful hilltop towns in Istria.
Visit a local vineyard for wine and olive oil tasting .
Stay overnight in Rovinj or Pula.
Day 14: Return to Zagreb or Continue Exploring And that’s it, our 2 weeks in Croatia have gone by. But we had a great time, didn’t we? Just look at all the places we have visited. It sure was a great vacation. The last day in Croatia is best used in a relaxed walk and exploration, and buying a souvenir or two from the local markets.
If flying from Zagreb , return there for a final day of sightseeing and shopping.
If departing from Pula or Split , enjoy one last meal by the sea before heading to the airport.
Have a safe journey back home.
Additional Tips for Your 14-Day Croatia Trip Two weeks in Croatia can result in some great memories you’ll cherish for a long time. Here are a few other additional considerations before you pack your bags and leave for Croatia:
Best Time to Visit: Late spring (May-June) and early autumn (September-October) are periods with great weather and fewer tourists in Croatia. If you’re looking to spend a lot of time swimming and relaxing on the beach, then summer months are the best fit for you.Getting Around: Renting a car and driving in Croatia is our suggestion because it will give you the freedom to explore at your own pace. Using the public transport is also ok, but has some limitations compared to driving.Currency: Croatia uses the Euro (EUR) .Food to Try: Peka (slow-cooked meat and vegetables), Black Risotto, Pag Cheese, Soparnik, Gregada…
Before You Venture for 2 Weeks in Croatia We hope you found this 14-day Croatia itinerary useful when it comes to planning your visit to Croatia . You don’t need to follow it like it is, but we’re sure it’s going to give you a few ideas when making your own. Always adjust itinerary according to your preferences. If you’re more of an outdoor person, spend more time exploring the nature of Croatia than exploring its cities. Also, find some time for relaxation and enjoy every second of it. Finally, we hope you’re going to end your holidays in Croatia with a large smile on your face.
