Itinerary
7 Day Croatia Itinerary
From Dubrovnik to Split — a perfect week on the Dalmatian Coast
A Meticulously Paced Week on the Dalmatian Coast
This is the itinerary we’d actually plan for a friend visiting Croatia for the first time — a week from Dubrovnik to Split that combines the country’s two iconic walled cities with the wine country of the Pelješac peninsula, the medieval streets of Korčula, the lavender fields and Pakleni Islands of Hvar, and a single quiet beach day on Brač. It moves at a pace that rewards a slower traveler: never two cities in one day, every dinner reservation made in advance, and one full day for the best beach in the country.
You’ll need a private boat for one leg, a rental car or driver for two, and the catamaran for one. Each night is in a different bed; this is a moving itinerary, but at a humane pace.
Day 1 — Dubrovnik
Land at Dubrovnik airport and head straight to your hotel inside or just outside the old-town walls. Villa Dubrovnik or The Pucić Palace are our two favorites. Spend the afternoon walking the marble Stradun, ducking into the Franciscan Monastery cloister, and watching the harbor from a quiet café on Gundulićeva poljana. Dinner at Restaurant 360° on the city walls (book three weeks ahead in summer) or Pantarul for something more relaxed.
Day 2 — Dubrovnik (City Walls + Lokrum)
Walk the 1,940-metre Dubrovnik city walls at the 8am opening before the cruise crowds arrive — this is one of the great experiences in Europe. Late morning, take the cable car up Mount Srđ for the postcard view. After lunch, the 15-minute boat ride to Lokrum Island: a botanical garden of cypress and pine, peacocks, and the Dead Sea saltwater lake. Sunset back in town, dinner at Nautika above Pile Gate.
Day 3 — Pelješac & Drive to Korčula
Pick up your rental car (or hire a driver) and drive north along the coastal road for about two hours, crossing onto the Pelješac peninsula at Ston — stop for the famous Ston oysters at Bota Šare, then visit the Dingač and Postup vineyards, where Croatia’s most prestigious red wines are made. Continue to Oŕebić and take the 15-minute car ferry to Korčula. Check in at Lesić Dimitri Palace in the old town. Dinner at LD Restaurant on the sea front. (Alternative: spend the night on Pelješac at Korta Katarina at Orebić — the Relais & Châteaux estate at the western tip of the peninsula, with eight villa suites, the new Hotel Katarina opening 2026, the Captain’s Terrace, and a working winery on Dingač and Postup; cross to Korčula on the morning ferry.)
Day 4 — Korčula & Lumbarda Wine Country
Morning walking the medieval old town — the herringbone street plan, the cathedral of St Mark, the alleged Marco Polo house, the city walls. Lunch at the seaside village of Lumbarda, then visit Bire and Popić wineries to taste the indigenous Grk — a white grape grown nowhere else. Late afternoon at the sandy Pržina beach. Evening konoba dinner at the legendary Konoba Mate in the inland village of Pupnat (book a day ahead).
Day 5 — Hvar by Private Boat
Charter a private boat (about 4 hours direct, or all day with stops) from Korčula to Hvar Town, swimming en route in the coves of Lastovo or Sćedro. Check in at Hotel Adriana on Hvar harbor or Maslina Resort at Maslinica bay. Climb to the Spanish Fortress at sunset for the postcard view of the harbor and the Pakleni Islands. Dinner at Giaxa in a 15th-century palazzo or Konoba Menego for the traditional version.
Day 6 — Brač & Zlatni Rat
Catamaran or private boat to Brač — about an hour. Spend the day at Zlatni Rat beach (the famous shape-shifting white pebble spit), the most photographed beach in Croatia. Lunch at Taverna Riva in Bol. Late afternoon ferry from Supetar to Split (1 hour). Check in at Heritage Hotel 19 or Vestibul Palace inside Diocletian’s Palace. Dinner at Dužet Restaurant at Hotel Park.
Day 7 — Split & Diocletian’s Palace
Last day: Diocletian’s Palace, the Substructures, climb the bell tower of Saint Domnius for the panoramic view, hike Marjan Hill before the heat, and a long late lunch on the Riva. If you have an evening flight, you’ll fly home from Split airport (which is 25 km west, near Trogir). For a sweeter ending, add an extra night at Le Méridien Lav south of town and fly out the next morning.
How to Use This Itinerary
Direction matters. Dubrovnik to Split (south to north) is our preferred direction — it gets the most logistically tricky stop (Dubrovnik) out of the way first, the islands flow naturally with the prevailing winds, and Split’s larger international airport makes outbound flights easier. Reverse if you must.
Book early. The fine-dining restaurants and the best hotels (Villa Dubrovnik, Lesić Dimitri Palace, Maslina Resort) sell out 2–3 months ahead in peak summer. The fast catamarans (Krilo, Jadrolinija) sell out 1–2 days ahead in July and August.
When to go. Late May, early June, and September are the perfect months. July and August are spectacular but very busy and significantly hotter. See our Best Time to Visit Croatia guide for month-by-month notes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 7 days enough for Croatia?
7 days is enough for a focused Dalmatian coast trip from Dubrovnik to Split (or vice versa) with one or two island days. To add Istria or the inland national parks meaningfully, you’d want 10–14 days. To experience all of Croatia properly, plan two weeks minimum.
Should I start in Dubrovnik or Split?
Most travelers start in Dubrovnik and end in Split because Split has the larger international airport with more direct flight options for the return. Dubrovnik to Split also flows with the prevailing winds (relevant if you’ll be sailing) and gets the logistically trickiest stop out of the way first.
Do I need a rental car for this Croatia itinerary?
For Days 3 (Pelješac wine drive to Korčula) and 7 (Split airport), yes — a rental car or private driver is essential. The rest of the trip uses ferries, a chartered boat, and walking. Many travelers hire a driver for the wine country day rather than driving themselves so they can taste freely.
What private aviation and yacht options should I arrange for this itinerary?
Dubrovnik (DBV) and Split (SPU) both have dedicated FBO terminals that handle private-jet arrivals — NetJets, VistaJet, Flexjet, and most major operators serve both airports. For the Hvar–Korčula sail leg, charter a 50–70-foot motor yacht with full crew (we recommend Goolets, BlueAdriatic, or Sunseeker Croatia for the standard you’ll expect). Helicopter transfers between Dubrovnik, Split, Hvar, and Plitvice are operated by HeliCroatia. Your hotel concierge or a luxury DMC such as Adriatic DMC or Original Travel arranges the entire ground experience — chauffeured Mercedes, private guides, and restaurant priority bookings.
When is the best time to do this Croatia itinerary?
Late May, June, and September are the sweet spots — warm sea, long evenings, manageable crowds, and full restaurant calendars. July and August are spectacular but very busy. April and October are quieter shoulder months but the sea is cool for swimming.
Plan Your Croatia Trip
Start with the destination guides for the cities and islands on this route: Dubrovnik, Pelješac, Korčula, Hvar, Brač, and Split. For travellers extending the route, see Vis (a day’s sail beyond Hvar) and Mljet (the green island between Pelješac and Korčula). See the Best Time to Visit Croatia guide for month-by-month planning, the Ferry Guide for inter-island logistics, and the main Croatia Travel Guide for everything else.