10 Days In Croatia: The Best 10-Day Croatia Itinerary

Croatia is becoming an increasingly popular tourist destination, and it’s easy to see why.

On a trip to Croatia you can relax on beautiful white beaches with sapphire waters, walk around ancient walled towns or explore lush green valleys dotted around with waterfalls.

But how long do you need to see it all you may ask? I spent 10 days in Croatia in September and while no trip ever seems long enough, we found it was a good amount of time to see Croatia and enjoy it.

This detailed Croatia 10-day itinerary will give you an idea of what you can do on each day of your trip, to maximise your time and see as much of this beautiful country as possible. 

This complete travel guide covers everything you need to know; from the average prices of food, accommodation, transport and activities to travel times between locations; highlighting all the best places to visit during ten days in Croatia.

So what are you waiting for? Find out how to spend 10 days in Croatia!

Useful information about visiting Croatia

Before we jump straight into the detailed Croatia 10-day itinerary and must-see highlights of Croatia, here are some useful things you should before travelling to Croatia.

Currency

The currency in Croatia is the Croatian kuna (HRK). At the time of writing 1 EUR was approximately 7.5 HRK.

Estimated cost for 10 days in Croatia

On a trip to Croatia you can expect to spend anywhere between 30 to 150 EUR a day, depending on your travel style and interests.

Last time I was there (September 2017) we spent on average anywhere between 100 to 250 HRK for a nice sit down meal of at least two courses with alcohol, depending on the restaurant location and menu.

If you want to save money on food there are lots of bakeries in Croatia, where you can grab local sandwiches, wraps, pizza and more for 20 – 50 HRK.

Accommodation ranges from 20 – 30 EUR per night for a bed in a hostel dorm, or between 50 and 100 EUR for an apartment, and can go over 100 EUR for a nice hotel.

When it comes to activities it will vary massively depending on what you choose to do. Some activities (eg. a city walking tour) you can do alone for free, whilst others (eg. zipline or island hopping) are worth paying for to ensure you have a relaxing time.

Do you need travel insurance for 10 days in Croatia?

After my personal experience spending two nights in a private hospital in Tenerife, and having to pay for it out of pocket (it wasn’t cheap), I always recommend getting travel insurance.

You might not end up needing it, but for a small fee you can travel without worries. Personally, I suggest getting your travel insurance with  Heymondo.

Heymondo offers tailor made travel insurance, providing the best value for money for your specific trip. You can also buy it once you’re already abroad and have forgotten about it before flying (which, if you’re anything like me, is quite likely).

Besides the usual cancellation, medical expenses, luggage coverage and general travel insurance services, Heymondo also has a 24/7 doctor chat and instant assistance through their app.

Plus, as a Greta’s Travels reader, you get 5% off your Heymondo travel insurance!

Click here to get your 5% off Heymondo travel insurance!

How to get around Croatia in 10 days

For this Croatia 10-day itinerary, you won’t need a car. You will be based mostly in Split and Dubrovnik, going on day tours from these two iconic cities, so a car won’t be necessary.

To travel from Dubrovnik to Split we took a FlixBus, which is a very cheap and fairly efficient bus service. The bus journey took around 3.5 hours, not much longer than a car journey.

However if you don’t want to join tours and want to have more independence, then renting a car will give you the most flexibility, both over your itinerary and timings.

There isn’t one single best way to travel around Croatia. It ultimately depends on your travel preference and itinerary. If you want to go beyond the cities listed in this itinerary, a car might be handy.

Personally we only rented a car once we reached Hvar, so that we could freely drive around the island and explore all the hidden beaches. 

Click here to rent a car for your Croatia trip!

Some Croatia packing essentials

While you won’t need much beyond your usual travel essentials and normal outfits, I wanted to list below some items I believe you absolutely can’t forget on a trip to Croatia.

Power bank – you don’t want your phone to run out of battery while you’re busy capturing the beauty of Croatia!

Stainless steel water bottle – Save money and reduce plastic consumption by bringing your own water bottle and refilling it.

Sunscreen – I was there in September, and the sun was still really hot! Don’t ruin your trip by getting sunburnt.

International adapter – Depending on where you’re travelling from you might need an adapter to charge your electronics.

Fast drying towel – Whether it’s for the shower of your hostel dorm, after a a kayak tour or to lie on the beach, you’ll need one of these. I love them because they dry quickly and don’t take up much space.

How to spend 10 days in Croatia

This 10-day itinerary is the one I have followed myself on my recent trip to Croatia. It is meant to be used as an indication of a route that will allow you to maximise your days and see all of the main highlights in one trip.

I have also included travel times and costs of each transport mode and activity, to give you an idea of how much time and money the trip would take.

You can obviously change it up to fit your personal travel interests and times, it’s just intended as guidance.

Day 1: Arrive in Dubrovnik & kayak at sunset!

This itinerary starts from Dubrovnik, a beautiful city in the Southern most point of Croatia. There are lots of things that you can do in Dubrovnik, which will suit the interests and preferences of most travellers.

It’s a city with a rich history for those that love visiting museums when travelling, it has beautiful beaches for the beach lovers, and lots of active opportunities for outdoors lovers like kayaking tours.

The next two days will be packed of activities in this city, but depending on the time of arrival, day 1 is a good time to just relax from the flight and enjoy some down time exploring the town centre.

READ MORE: HOW TO SPEND 3 DAYS IN DUBROVNIK!

If you have time and are feeling adventurous, you could also join a kayak sunset tour! The tour we joined lasted about 3 hours, setting off at 4pm and returning after 7pm.

During the tour they take you kayaking around the island of Lokrum, just in front of the Dubrovnik harbour, and then cliff diving in a beach in a secret cave.

They usually also provide a sandwich and drinks. On the way back you can admire the sunset over Dubrovnik from the sea.

Seeing the old town walls from this perspective is an amazing experience, especially with the golden light.

Check out prices & availability for your kayak sunset tour in Dubrovnik below!

 

Prices for a kayak tour in Dubrovnik are around 200 – 250 HRK, depending on whether you want a day tour or a sunset tour with wine.

If you prefer to relax on your first day in Dubrovnik, just wander around the town, and maybe head to Lady Pipi for an amazing barbecue dinner.

This restaurant was recommended to us by both our AirBnb host our tour guide as a place where “the locals go”. They do fantastic fish and meat grills, and have a rooftop dining area with views over the red roofs of Dubrovnik.

Click here to book your kayak sunset tour in Dubrovnik on GetYourGuide or Viator!

Where to stay in Dubrovnik

The best places to stay in Dubrovnik are those within the walls of the Old Town, or just outside.

These will obviously be a little more expensive than accommodation further out, but you will be so close to all the main attractions that it will be worth it. I’ve listed below some options for every budget.

Budget: Hostel Angelina – This lovely hostel is right in the Old Town. It has spacious dorms and a fun sociable atmosphere.

Click here to book your stay at Hostel Angelina!

Mid-range: Buza Apartment – This hotel has awesome views over the Dubrovnik Old Town, as well as being just 30m from the nearest beach, while still offering an affordable price.

Click here to see the latest prices and availability at Buza Apartment!

Luxury: The Pucic Palace – If you’re looking to treat yourself, this is the perfect place to do so. Located right in the heart of the Old Town, this beautiful hotel has great views over the rooftops of Dubrovnik.

Click here to book your stay at The Pucic Palace!

Day 2: Explore the Old Town of Dubrovnik

Walk on the Old Town Walls

The one thing that is a must see for everyone, regardless of your travelling preferences, are the walls of the Old Town.

The Old Town of Dubrovnik is surrounded by tall walls, which are open to the public for walking all around and admiring the views over the red roofs of Dubrovnik.

The walk can take up to two hours and it’s a great way to spend the morning of your first full day in Dubrovnik. Access to the walls costs 100 HRK.

Make sure to go very early in the morning, as the walls can get very busy. Some parts are also quite narrow, so if you visit when they’re busy you’ll have to wait behind people or squeeze past them.

Do a Game of Thrones walking tour

As passionate Game of Thrones fans, we couldn’t help but spend an afternoon doing a Game of Thrones walking tour. Besides showing you the filming spots, they also share lots of fun facts about the filming of the show.

This lasts around 2 hours and they take you all over the Old Town to see the locations of Dubrovnik that have been used in the filming of the TV show.

These tours usually cost around 150 HRK, plus 50 HRK to get access to Fort Lovrijenac, where most of the Red Keep scenes have been filmed.

If you don’t want to spend the money for the tour, you can follow this Game of Thrones filming locations guide I put together and do your own walking tour of the filming locations.

Click here to book your Game of Thrones walking tour on GetYourGuide or Viator, or check out prices & availability below!

 

Or discover the Old Town

If Game of Thrones isn’t your cup of tea, don’t worry! You can also spend the afternoon simply discovering more of the Old Town.

Walking down the streets of Dubrovnik Old Town will feel like stepping back in time. The Old Town of Dubrovnik is incredibly well preserved, and discovering the cobbled side streets is magical.

There are also many popular Dubrovnik tours that you can join, so that you will have a local guide showing you around and teaching you the history of this beautiful city. I have listed below some of the most popular.

Dubrovnik Old Town Walking Tour – This is one of the most popular Dubrovnik tours around. You’ll be able to see all of the best Old Town highlights, including the Franciscan Monastery, D’Onofrio’s Fountain, and Orlando’s Column.

Click here to book your walking tour of Dubrovnik Old Town on GetYourGuide or Viator!

Dubrovnik Old Town Private Walking Tour – If you’re the kind of traveller that likes to have a tour guide specifically for your group, you can consider booking this private walking tour of Old Town instead.

Check out prices and availability for a private tour of Dubrovnik Old Town here!

 

Take the cable car at sunset

Once you have finished discovering the Old Town, another must do activity for anyone visiting Dubrovnik is taking the cable car to the top of the hill that overlooks Dubrovnik.

You can also walk up if you’re feeling very sporty and have the time for it, otherwise you can do a round trip with the cable car for 140 HRK.

I recommend going just before sunset, since the light will really bring out the beauty of the red roofs and the Old Town.

There is also a restaurant at the top of the hill. While the views are incredbily, as you can imagine it is very overpriced compared to the restaurants in town.

Day 3: Go island hopping

Having seen the main attractions and points of interest within Dubrovnik, it’s time to venture to some of the beautiful islands close to Dubrovnik.

With picture-perfect beaches, adorable fishing villages, and historic churches, a trip to the Elafiti Islands is a must on any Croatia bucket list.

You can snorkel at Sipan Island, dine on fresh seafood, pop into the Franciscan Monastery, and tan on the sandy shores of Sunj Beach.

And while the islands are absolutely beautiful, the boat ride there is also incredibly scenic. Not only will you get to enjoy views of the Adriatic Sea, you’ll also get to admire the storybook-worthy town of Dubrovnik from afar.

You can book an island hopping tour from the stalls in the harbour of the Old Town, with prices varying from 250 – 500 HRK, depending on how many stops the boat trip does and if food and drink are included.

However if you’re visiting during busy season, it’s better to book your island hopping tour beforehand, to ensure you have a spot confirmed. I listed below some of the most popular Dubrovnik boat trips.

Full-Day Elafiti Islands Tour from Dubrovnik – This is undoubtedly one of the best Dubrovnik island tours. You’ll get to visit three of the 13 Elafiti Islands! Along the way, you can suntan on sandy beaches, visit old fortresses, and pop by fantastic local vineyards.

Click here to book your full day tour to the Elafiti Islands from Dubrovnik on GetYourGuide or Viator!

From Dubrovnik: 4-Hour Elafiti Islands Private Boat Tour – Discover the beautiful Elafiti Islands on board your very own private boat! Whether you’re a couple, family or group of friends, touring by private boat will make your Dubrovnik excursion special!

Check out prices and availability for a private Dubrovnik to Elafiti Islands boat tour!

 

Day 4: Travel from Dubrovnik to Split

The journey from Dubrovnik to Split takes around 4 hours, depending on traffic and costs around 125 HRK.

You can buy tickets at the bus station, but if you’re visiting in high season I recommend buying them online beforehand to make sure it’s not sold out.

Coaches run throughout the whole day so you can take it at whatever time suits you best, depending on whether you want to spend more time in Dubrovnik or Split.

You could spend the morning in Dubrovnik exploring the Rector’s Palace, then get a bus and arrive in Split by late afternoon, in time to enjoy the awesome restaurants and bustling nightlife of Split.

We had an amazing dinner at Bokeria in Split. They served one of the best burger I have had in a long time. While it may not be typically Croatian, they also had more local dishes.

Click here to purchase your Flixbus from Dubrovnik to Split!

Where to stay in Split

The best places to stay in Split are around Diocletian’s Palace and the Old Town centre. Being so central will allow you to easily walk to all the main attractions. I’ve listed below some options for every budget.

Budget: Old Town Hostel – this hostel is right in the centre of Split. Here you can find an affordable stay and friendly sociable environment.

Click here to book your stay at Old Town Hostel!

Mid-range: Hotel Bellevue – located in the heart of Split, this cosy hotel offers everything you need for a relaxing stay.

Click here to book your stay at Hotel Bellevue!

Luxury: Villa Split Heritage Hotel – if you want to treat yourself, this is the place to do so. In the heart of the Old Town this hotel has a very traditional feel, with its exposed brick walls and an outdoors courtyard.

Click here to book your stay at Villa Split Heritage Hotel!

Day 5: Discover Split

Diocletian’s Palace & the Old Town

Many travellers only use Split as a base for day trips and tours. While it’s true that the surroundings of Split are stunning, there are lots of amazing please to see also in Split.

Your first stop of the day should be Diocletian’s Palace. This is actually more of a fortress, composed by lots of different buildings, which form about half of the old town of Split.

The most iconic spot is the peristyle, the central square towards the entrance of Diocletian’s quarters.

READ MORE: THE ULTIMATE SPLIT ITINERARY!

From there you can also access the bell tower of the cathedral. Despite the very narrow staircase, up the views over the rooftops of the city are well worth it.

Access to the bell tower is around 20 HRK, as is access to the cathedral (two separate tickets). We personally only visited the bell tower as we wanted to see the view, but weren’t fussed about the cathedral.

The peristyle is also a fun area to visit in the evening, as the bar opposite the cathedral sets out pillows along the steps and usually has live musicians.

Enjoy the view from Park Marjan

Another must see spot in Split is Park Marjan and its viewpoint. The viewpoint is a short 15-minute walk from the harbour of Split.

The walk to the viewpoint is very scenic in itself, going all along the harbour and through the quaint cobbled streets of Split. If you’re into hiking and being outdoors, you will enjoy walking around Park Marjan.

Relax at Kasuni Beach

From Park Marjan you can also reach Kasuni beach.

There are two main beaches within walking distance of the Split centre. Kasuni is further away but it has been recommended to us by our AirBnb host as the best one since it’s less busy and touristy.

The other beach is called Bacvice and is the only sandy beach close to Split, which is why it’s more popular.

Day 6: Go on a day trip to Krka National Park

Krka National Park is one of the main attractions in this part of Croatia. You can get there either by renting a car and driving yourself or with an organised tour.

We went on an organised tour for approximately 200 HRK per person. The tour sets off early in the morning around 9am, so that you can arrive at Skradin where you then get the ferry to the waterfalls.

This is a scenic and peaceful boat trip, which when compared to the busy waterfalls was even better than the rest of the park.

I personally liked doing an organised tour since you get 5 hours of free time at the park, where you can either swim by the waterfalls or explore the nature.

It’s a very independent tour, which only really includes the transport. If, like me, you hate driving it’s perfect.

The tour doesn’t include food but there are cafes in the national park where you can eat. As you can imagine these are a bit overpriced, so we got sandwiches from a bakery in Split and brought them with us.

Access to the national park isn’t included in the tour price and costs an extra 150 HRK. The journey is about an hour coach drive depending on traffic, then a 20-minute ferry.

The tours usually return to Split around 5pm, leaving you with a free evening to enjoy dinner and the Split nightlife.

Click here to book your Krka National Park day trip on GetYourGuide or Viator, or check out prices & availability below!

 

Day 7: Do a day trip to Omis & the Cetina Canyon

Discover Omis

Omis is a small town just 30 minutes away from Split. You can get there with the public buses that run from the harbour, for about 25 HRK. The town is very picturesque, with its medieval old centre to walk around.

Just a short walk from the centre there is the Starigrad Fortress, a fort that you can climb up and enjoy the view over the town and sea.

In Omis there is also a lovely beach where you can sit, relax and soak in the sun. It has a very well preserved Old Town, but different from Dubrovnik and Split, it’s not yet overrun by tourists.

Walking through the streets of Omis feels like stepping back in time, and the views over the neighbouring canyon are simply stunning.

The town itself is very small, you can easily see the whole town in a few hours, then sit down for a nice lunch in the sun.

Go zip-lining in the Cetina Canyon

Omis is better known as a departure point to explore the beautiful Cetina Canyon, where you can do outdoors activities like zip lining and rafting. We went zip lining in the Cetina Canyon, and I can highly recommend it.

I had never zip lined before, but felt perfectly safe with the team and guides, plus the incredible views more than made up for it! Zip Lining cost around 400 HRK.

The zipline experience is composed of eight lines, for a total of 2,100 metres. The longest wire is 700 metres, it sits at 150 metres in height and is the most scenic.

It’s a great activity if you want to do a thrilling experience, while also enjoying the beautiful views of the Croatian countryside.

Click here to book your Cetina Canyon zip-line experience!

Or check out prices & availability for your chosen date below!

 

Day 8: Take the ferry from Split to Hvar

Croatia is well known for its coastline, islands and beaches. Amongst these, Hvar is one of the most well known for having the clearest waters and lively nightlife.

You can visit Hvar as a day trip from Split, however to really get the opportunity to explore the island, I recommend staying in Hvar for a couple nights.

There are ferries all throughout the day, which take about 1 hour to get to Hvar and cost around 80 HRK.

We bought the tickets at the harbour at least a day in advance, to make sure we got a spot on the ferry at the time we wanted.

This isn’t a must, but if you have issues with seasickness you might want to get a ferry earlier in the morning, as the waves are smaller.

Depending on your arrival time in Hvar a great way to spend your first day is exploring the old town centre, and walking up to the fort to enjoy the view over the harbour.

Where to stay in Hvar

IHere are some great accommodation options in Hvar for every budget.

Budget: Youth Hostel Marija – Hvar is known for being a bit of a party island. If you’re going for the nightlife, you will have an awesome time in a hostel! This one has a fun reputation, great location, spacious dorms and even a pool.

Click here to book your stay at Youth Hostel Marija!

Mid-range: Apartments Bocin Rosso – This lovely apartment has an incredible view over the rooftops and harbour of Hvar. It’s also in a great location.

Click here to book your stay at Apartments Bocin Rosso!

Luxury: Apartments Frane – If you’re looking for something a bit fancy, this apartment has a big outdoor space where you can relax and enjoy the view over Hvar.

Click here to see the latest prices and availability at Apartments Frane!

Some popular Hvar tours

There’s been a lot of moving around on this itinerary, so if you don’t feel like changing hotels for just one night, I get it. In that case, you can join a Hvar day trip from Split instead.

That way, instead of the ferry, you will cruise in a comfortable catamaran or speed boat, and have a local guide take you to all the highlights of this beautiful island. Here are some of the most popular tours you can join.

Hvar 5 Islands & Blue Cave Tour – If you want to go beyond just Hvar Island, then this tour is a great choice. You will see part of Hvar, but they’ll also take you to see the famous Blue Cave as well as beautiful coves in the islands of Vis, Ravnik, Budikovac and Bisevo.

Click here to book your Hvar 5 Islands & Blue Cave tour on GetYourGuide or Viator!

Hvar Nightlife Tour For Party Lovers – A bit of an unconventional tour but it can be a fun choice for a group of friends!

Click here to book your Hvar Nightlife Tour For Party Lovers!

Full-Day Catamaran Cruise to Hvar & Pakleni – This tour also goes beyond just Hvar Island, taking you also to Solta and Pakleni islands. It gives you the opportunity to sail in a comfortable catamaran, see Hvar town, swim in crystal clear bays and enjoy a beautiful sunset cruise back to Split.

Click here to book your Hvar & Pakleni tour on GetYourGuide or Viator!

 

Day 9: Explore the island of Hvar

So Hvar is actually both the name of the main town where the ferries dock, but also of the island. Confusing, I know. The island itself is quite big, with other smaller towns dotted along its coast.

The easiest way to explore it and see as much as possible of the island is to rent a car for the day, and drive along the coast.

However beware of car rental scams that go on in Hvar. We were scammed by the company we rented the car with, you can read about my experience here.

Once you have a car (hopefully scam free!) you can drive around the whole island in 3 hours.

After driving around aimlessly for a bit, we stopped at a restaurant right on the beach for lunch, where we had some of the freshest fish of our entire trip.

There were few other people there at that time, and we were the only tourists eating there. That’s when you know a place is good!

The owner was then kind enough to recommend us a lovely beach close by that would be more sheltered from the wind.

After a long day of driving and exploring Hvar island I recommend going to Hula Hula Beach Bar for the last night of your trip.

The food isn’t as amazing as some of the other places in town, but you get to eat at a relatively cheap price sat on sunbathing decks with an amazing sunset view.

Day 10: Travel from Hvar to Split & Trogir

The last day of the trip is sadly here! You will want to get a ferry depending on what time your flight is. If you get the opportunity, try to fly late in the evening to make the most of your day.

I recommend getting an early morning ferry, so that you can spend some time exploring Trogir before flying. Trogir is another small medieval town close to Split airport.

It’s considered one of the best hidden gems in Europe, and it’s easy to see why!

It’s about a half hour journey, and you can get there by public bus from the Split harbour, just outside from where you will get off the ferry for about 20 HRK.

It’s a small and quaint little town, which you will be able to see in just a few hours. Similarly to Split, there is a cathedral and bell tower that you can visit and walk to the top of for 25 HRK.

The view is well worth it, and will be something to remember as you then head to the airport and back home.

Final thoughts on how to spend 10 days in Croatia

There you have it, the ultimate Croatia 10-day itinerary! Have you been to Croatia before? How did you find it? Did your Croatia itinerary look something like this? Let me know in the comments below!

Personally, I love Croatia, it’s a country I always find myself returning to. With its huge variety of natural landscapes, stunning beaches and unique history, there’s something for everyone.

This is obviously just a sample itinerary of how to spend 10 days in Croatia, but I hope you will find it useful when you plan your own trip to this beautiful country.

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