At a glance

  • In Dubrovnik, split your walk along the city walls and through the Old Town into morning and evening visits to avoid the biggest crowds.
  • In Split, the Roman palace remains part of everyday city life, making the Old Town a good place for a leisurely half-day or longer.
  • Weather, entry time, and where you stay all affect a visit to Plitvice Lakes.
  • If you’re connecting the whole country in one trip, first compare open-jaw flights arriving in Zagreb and departing from Dubrovnik. If you apply the 7-night, 8-day inland itinerary to round-trip flights to Dubrovnik, you’ll face a long return journey. In that case, change your final city or allow an extra day for the return trip.

Day by day

Suggested itinerary

See each day's route, highlights, background and stay together in one place.

4 Nights, 5 Days: Two Coastal Cities

Plan for 2 nights in Dubrovnik and 2 in Split. Day 1: arrive in Dubrovnik and see the Old Town. Day 2: walk the city walls and visit a viewpoint. Day 3: travel to Split by bus. Day 4: visit Diocletian’s Palace and the Old Town. Day 5: depart. This itinerary works for flights arriving in Dubrovnik and departing from Split. If you’re flying round trip from the same airport, you’ll need time to return; drop one city or add a day. Don’t include Plitvice in this short itinerary.

7 Nights, 8 Days: Including Plitvice

Plan for 1 night in Zagreb, 2 nights near Plitvice, 2 nights in Split, and 2 nights in Dubrovnik. Day 1: stay in Zagreb. Day 2: take a bus to Plitvice. Day 3: visit the park. Day 4: take a bus to Split. Day 5: stay in Split. Day 6: take a bus to Dubrovnik. Day 7: stay in Dubrovnik. Day 8: depart from Dubrovnik. This order assumes you arrive in Zagreb and depart from Dubrovnik. If you’re flying round trip from Zagreb, travel from Dubrovnik to Zagreb on Day 7 and spend your final night in Zagreb. In that case, shorten your Dubrovnik stay by one day and check the bus for that date first.

History and context

Maritime City of Ragusa

Dubrovnik’s walls and harbor preserve traces of its past as a medieval maritime republic.

A Roman Emperor’s Palace

Split’s Old Town is a distinctive example of a modern city built into Diocletian’s Palace.

Crossroads of the Balkans

Croatia has a borderland feel where Mediterranean, Central European, and Balkan cultures meet.

Places and meals

Dubrovnik City Walls

A key route for seeing the Old Town and Adriatic Sea together.

Google Maps
Diocletian’s Palace

The heart of Split, where Roman heritage is part of everyday life.

Google Maps
Plitvice Lakes National Park

Plan your entry time and route for a more predictable walk around the lakes.

Google Maps

Food and restaurants

  • Build coastal meals around seafood, olive oil, and Dalmatian wine.
  • Old Town restaurants can be expensive in peak season, so also look at options on side streets.
  • Dining options in and around Plitvice are limited, so bring snacks.
Nautika

A scenic dining option in Dubrovnik. Check prices and reservations.

Dubrovnik Google Maps
Bokeria Kitchen & Wine

A good option for a meal in Split’s Old Town.

Split Google Maps
Lička Kuća

A local dining option near Plitvice Lakes. Check whether it’s open for the season.

Plitvice Google Maps

How to fit it in

To reduce travel fatigue, decide first whether you’re visiting only coastal cities or adding Plitvice Lakes.

Reality check

Transport

Allow one day for bus travel between Dubrovnik and Split. Search Arriva Croatia for departures and seats by date. If you choose a ferry, check the actual ports and sailing dates on Jadrolinija. If you include Plitvice, book the bus legs from Zagreb to the park and from the park to Split separately.

Time

Plan your walk on the city walls and your visit to the palace and Old Town for the morning, before it gets crowded. Set aside a full day for Plitvice, based on its opening hours and your booked entry time.

Cost

For the coastal route, total 2 nights in Dubrovnik, 2 in Split, one intercity bus ride, the city walls ticket, 5 days of meals, and airport transfers. For the lakes route, use 7 nights, 3 bus rides, city walls and park tickets, and 8 days of meals. Check fares and luggage costs for your travel dates on Arriva, and select the season, entry time, and age category for official park tickets. The city walls and park require separate tickets; island ferry tickets are not included in the base budget.

Safety

There’s little shade on the city walls and around the harbor. Take care in the heat and on slippery stone, and reserve ferry and bus seats in advance during peak season.

If plans change

Alternative if island ferry services are reduced

This basic itinerary doesn’t include an overnight stay on an island. If you planned to visit one and there’s no ferry, keep your accommodation in Split and protect your bus reservation to the next city.

Alternative if the park closes or limits entry

If you confirm a closure while still in Zagreb, change your park accommodation and bus booking and spend an extra day in that city. If you’re already near the park, don’t enter closed boardwalks; keep your booked transport and accommodation in Split.

Small tip

To avoid peak-season accommodation prices and cruise crowds in Dubrovnik, prioritize an early morning walk along the city walls.

Final check before departure

  • Choose your arrival and departure airports first. If you’re flying round trip from the same airport, include the return trip and an overnight stay the day before departure.
  • Search Arriva Croatia for routes between Zagreb, Plitvice, Split, and Dubrovnik using your travel dates. Also allow time to travel between the terminals and your lodging.
  • When choosing a Plitvice ticket, match the entrance, entry time, and route you plan to visit with your bus arrival time. Bus stops in the park are near both entrances.
  • If you want to take a ferry between Split and Dubrovnik, search Jadrolinija for the route and date you need. If the sailing doesn’t work, book a bus.

Your Plitvice ticket must match the entrance and entry time you selected when purchasing it. Bus seats and schedules vary by date, and traffic can be heavy in summer. Arrange your bus and lodging before choosing your park visit day, and check the official website for tickets and closure notices.

Information checked: 2026-10-04