Zagreb Cathedral and Dolac market in Croatia's capital Colorful open-air market stalls with fresh produce and flowers Ancient Roman columns and archways of Diocletian's Palace in Split at golden hour Aerial view of Split Croatia waterfront and Diocletian Palace

Best 14 Days in Croatia — Slow Travel

Zagreb → Split → Dubrovnik

14 days · 3 cities · 13 activities · route optimized by distance

A mix of history, family friendly, and walking tours. A moderate mix of walking and active experiences, mostly at your own pace. Includes 4 must-see landmarks across Zagreb and Split and Dubrovnik.

Highlights: Dubrovnik Old Town City Walls, Diocletian's Palace Old Town, Plitvice Lakes Day Trip, Old Town Walk & Stradun

Arriving Wed, Jul 1 Change

Your Route — ordered to minimize backtracking

13+ activities scored and ranked · route optimized across 3 cities

Where you'll stay
Hotel in Zagreb · From $85/night +2 more
See lodging →
Trip cost
~$1,675 total · $120/day
See budget →
Top picks
Zagreb Upper Town & St. Mark's Church, Museum of Broken Relationships
See itinerary →

Day-by-Day Schedule — heavy and light days alternate so you don’t burn out

Zagreb

Zagreb 6 stops · Open in Google Maps ↗
Day 1 Wed, Jul 1 Full Zagreb
Morning
Zagreb Upper Town & St. Mark's Church$~2 hrs

Stroll the medieval Gornji Grad hilltop quarter, admire St. Mark's iconic tiled roof, and walk through Stone Gate (2h)

📍 Map
Afternoon

Free time to explore at your own pace

🏨 Hotel in Zagreb

Donji Grad / Kaptol / Gornji Grad

wifibreakfastair-conditioning
Travelers book: Esplanade Zagreb Hotel €180-350/nightHotel Dubrovnik Zagreb €120-200/nightHotel Jägerhorn €70-120/nightSwanky Mint Hostel €25-50/night
Book Hotel in Zagreb from $85/night Affiliate link — we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you
Day 2 Thu, Jul 2 Light Zagreb
Morning Intimate museum exhibit with personal objects and handwritten stories
Museum of Broken Relationships$~1h 30m

Visit this award-winning museum of donated objects from ended relationships — quirky, moving, and utterly original (1.5h)

$8 Verified Mar 2026 📍 Map
Afternoon

Free time to explore at your own pace

🏨 Hotel in Zagreb

Donji Grad / Kaptol / Gornji Grad

wifibreakfastair-conditioning
Travelers book: Esplanade Zagreb Hotel €180-350/nightHotel Dubrovnik Zagreb €120-200/nightHotel Jägerhorn €70-120/nightSwanky Mint Hostel €25-50/night
Book Hotel in Zagreb from $85/night Affiliate link — we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you
Day 3 Fri, Jul 3 Light Zagreb
Morning Colorful open-air market stalls with fresh produce and flowers
Dolac Market & Old Town Walk$~2 hrs

Browse Zagreb's beloved open-air market for local produce and island cheeses, then explore Ban Jelačić Square (2h)

📍 Map
Afternoon

Free time to explore at your own pace

🏨 Hotel in Zagreb

Donji Grad / Kaptol / Gornji Grad

wifibreakfastair-conditioning
Travelers book: Esplanade Zagreb Hotel €180-350/nightHotel Dubrovnik Zagreb €120-200/nightHotel Jägerhorn €70-120/nightSwanky Mint Hostel €25-50/night
Book Hotel in Zagreb from $85/night Affiliate link — we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you
Day 4 Sat, Jul 4 Light Zagreb
Morning Neo-Gothic twin spires of Zagreb Cathedral against a blue sky
Zagreb Cathedral$~1 hr

Marvel at the neo-Gothic twin spires of Croatia's tallest building and its medieval treasury and carved choir stalls (1h)

📍 Map
Afternoon

Free time to explore at your own pace

🏨 Hotel in Zagreb

Donji Grad / Kaptol / Gornji Grad

wifibreakfastair-conditioning
Travelers book: Esplanade Zagreb Hotel €180-350/nightHotel Dubrovnik Zagreb €120-200/nightHotel Jägerhorn €70-120/nightSwanky Mint Hostel €25-50/night
Book Hotel in Zagreb from $85/night Affiliate link — we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you
Day 5 Sun, Jul 5 Light Zagreb
Morning Zagreb Lower Town view from Lotrščak Tower hill
Funicular Ride & Lotrščak Tower$~1 hr

Ride one of the world's shortest public funiculars to the Upper Town and climb the 13th-century Lotrščak Tower for city panoramas (1h)

$1 Verified Mar 2026 📍 Map
Afternoon

Free time to explore at your own pace

🏨 Hotel in Zagreb

Donji Grad / Kaptol / Gornji Grad

wifibreakfastair-conditioning
Travelers book: Esplanade Zagreb Hotel €180-350/nightHotel Dubrovnik Zagreb €120-200/nightHotel Jägerhorn €70-120/nightSwanky Mint Hostel €25-50/night
Book Hotel in Zagreb from $85/night Affiliate link — we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you
Zagreb → Split
4h 30m ~$20 FlixBus or Croatian bus companies from Zagreb Main Bus Station to Split (~4.5h on A1 motorway)

Split

Split 5 stops · Open in Google Maps ↗
Day 6 Mon, Jul 6 Full Split
Morning Ancient Roman columns and archways of Diocletian's Palace in Split at golden hour
Diocletian's Palace Old Town$~2h 30m

Wander the living 4th-century Roman emperor's palace where 3,000 people reside within ancient UNESCO-listed walls (2.5h)

📍 Map
Afternoon

Free time to explore at your own pace

🏨 Hotel in Split

Diocletian's Palace / Riva Promenade / Meje

wifiair-conditioningbreakfast
Travelers book: Radisson Blu Resort Split €200-380/nightHotel Vestibul Palace €150-250/nightHotel Slavija €60-110/nightSplit Backpackers Hostel €20-45/night
Book Hotel in Split from $100/night Affiliate link — we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you
Day 7 Tue, Jul 7 Light Split
Morning Turquoise cascading waterfalls and lakes at Plitvice National Park Croatia
Plitvice Lakes Day Trip$$~10 hrs

Full-day excursion to Croatia's UNESCO World Heritage turquoise lakes and 92 cascading waterfalls (10h)

$43 Verified Mar 2026 Open year-round; spring and autumn offer fewer crowds, lower prices (€23), and vivid seasonal colour; summer requires advance booking weeks ahead 📍 Map
Afternoon

Free time to explore at your own pace

🏨 Hotel in Split

Diocletian's Palace / Riva Promenade / Meje

wifiair-conditioningbreakfast
Travelers book: Radisson Blu Resort Split €200-380/nightHotel Vestibul Palace €150-250/nightHotel Slavija €60-110/nightSplit Backpackers Hostel €20-45/night
Book Hotel in Split from $100/night Affiliate link — we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you
Day 8 Wed, Jul 8 Light Split
Morning
Klis Fortress Day Trip$~3 hrs

Visit the dramatic hilltop fortress 13km from Split — a Game of Thrones filming location with sweeping Adriatic views (3h)

$11 Verified Mar 2026 Visit spring or autumn for the clearest panoramic views and comfortable temperatures on the exposed ridge 📍 Map
Afternoon

Free time to explore at your own pace

🏨 Hotel in Split

Diocletian's Palace / Riva Promenade / Meje

wifiair-conditioningbreakfast
Travelers book: Radisson Blu Resort Split €200-380/nightHotel Vestibul Palace €150-250/nightHotel Slavija €60-110/nightSplit Backpackers Hostel €20-45/night
Book Hotel in Split from $100/night Affiliate link — we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you
Day 9 Thu, Jul 9 Light Split
Morning
Bačvice Beach & Picigin Game$~2 hrs

Relax on Split's beloved sandy beach and watch locals play picigin — the uniquely Dalmatian ball sport in ankle-deep water (2h)

Best for swimming June–September; picigin played year-round by dedicated locals even in winter 📍 Map
Afternoon

Free time to explore at your own pace

🏨 Hotel in Split

Diocletian's Palace / Riva Promenade / Meje

wifiair-conditioningbreakfast
Travelers book: Radisson Blu Resort Split €200-380/nightHotel Vestibul Palace €150-250/nightHotel Slavija €60-110/nightSplit Backpackers Hostel €20-45/night
Book Hotel in Split from $100/night Affiliate link — we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you
Split → Dubrovnik
4h 30m ~$22 Scenic coastal bus from Split to Dubrovnik along the Dalmatian coast and through Bosnia-Herzegovina (~4.5h)

Dubrovnik

Dubrovnik 5 stops · Open in Google Maps ↗
Day 10 Fri, Jul 10 Full Dubrovnik
Morning Dubrovnik city walls and old town with terracotta rooftops and Adriatic Sea backdrop
Dubrovnik Old Town City Walls$$~2 hrs

Walk the 2km medieval limestone walls encircling Dubrovnik's Old Town for panoramic Adriatic views (2h)

$43 Verified Mar 2026 Open year-round; summer peak (Jul–Aug) brings extreme crowds and heat — visit early morning or late afternoon 📍 Map
Afternoon

Free time to explore at your own pace

🏨 Hotel in Dubrovnik

Old Town / Pile Gate / Lapad Peninsula

wifipoolair-conditioningsea-view
Travelers book: Villa Orsula €400-800/nightHotel Stari Grad €200-380/nightHotel Lapad €90-160/nightHostel Angelina Old Town €30-55/night
Book Hotel in Dubrovnik from $160/night Affiliate link — we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you
Day 11 Sat, Jul 11 Light Dubrovnik
Morning The gleaming marble Stradun promenade of Dubrovnik Old Town at sunrise
Old Town Walk & Stradun$~2 hrs

Stroll the gleaming marble Stradun and explore Dubrovnik's UNESCO Old Town — churches, fountains, and side-lane discoveries (2h)

📍 Map
Afternoon

Free time to explore at your own pace

🏨 Hotel in Dubrovnik

Old Town / Pile Gate / Lapad Peninsula

wifipoolair-conditioningsea-view
Travelers book: Villa Orsula €400-800/nightHotel Stari Grad €200-380/nightHotel Lapad €90-160/nightHostel Angelina Old Town €30-55/night
Book Hotel in Dubrovnik from $160/night Affiliate link — we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you
Day 12 Sun, Jul 12 Light Dubrovnik
Morning Aerial panoramic view of Dubrovnik Old Town and Adriatic Sea from Mount Srđ
Dubrovnik Cable Car to Mount Srđ$$~1h 30m

Ride the cable car 405m above the Old Town to Mount Srđ for breathtaking panoramic views of Dubrovnik and the islands (1.5h)

$30 Verified Mar 2026 Closed for annual maintenance until 1 April each year; sunset visits most rewarding in shoulder season 📍 Map
Afternoon

Free time to explore at your own pace

🏨 Hotel in Dubrovnik

Old Town / Pile Gate / Lapad Peninsula

wifipoolair-conditioningsea-view
Travelers book: Villa Orsula €400-800/nightHotel Stari Grad €200-380/nightHotel Lapad €90-160/nightHostel Angelina Old Town €30-55/night
Book Hotel in Dubrovnik from $160/night Affiliate link — we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you
Day 13 Mon, Jul 13 Light Dubrovnik
Morning Lush green island with turquoise water near Dubrovnik Croatia
Lokrum Island Day Trip$$~4 hrs

Ferry to the lush botanical island of Lokrum for peacock spotting, a Dead Sea salt lake swim, and monastery ruins (4h)

$32 Verified Mar 2026 Ferries run April–October only; peak season Jul–Aug ferries depart every 30 minutes 📍 Map
Afternoon

Free time to explore at your own pace

🏨 Hotel in Dubrovnik

Old Town / Pile Gate / Lapad Peninsula

wifipoolair-conditioningsea-view
Travelers book: Villa Orsula €400-800/nightHotel Stari Grad €200-380/nightHotel Lapad €90-160/nightHostel Angelina Old Town €30-55/night
Book Hotel in Dubrovnik from $160/night Affiliate link — we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you
Day 14 Tue, Jul 14 Dubrovnik
Checkout & Depart

Check out of your hotel, grab a final breakfast, and head to the airport. Safe travels from Dubrovnik!

Where You’ll Stay

Estimated total: $1,172–$1,758

Trip Budget Estimate

$1,675 estimated total per person
$120 per day
Lodging $1,465
Activities $168
Transport $42

Estimates based on listed activity prices and hotel rates. Actual costs vary by season, availability, and personal spending.

Typical range for Croatia

$980 – $5,600 per person for 14 days

Budget: $70/day — Hostels, konobas, buses Mid-range: $180/day — Apartments, restaurants, ferries Luxury: $400/day — Boutique hotels, fine dining, private yacht

Similar Destinations

Similar vibes, fewer crowds — destinations our algorithm rates as close matches to Croatia.

🧳 Practical Info for Croatia

📄 Visa
Schengen Area (since 2023) — visa-free for up to 90 days for US, UK, CA, AU citizens. EU/EEA nationals have freedom of movement.
💵 Tipping
Round up or leave 10% at restaurants. Not expected but appreciated.
💱 Currency
Euro (€ EUR, adopted 2023). Cards accepted in cities and tourist areas; carry cash for smaller islands and rural areas.
🔌 Power
230V, Type C/F plugs. US travelers need an adapter.
📶 Connectivity
SIM cards at airports and shops (A1, T-Mobile HR, Telemach). Good coverage along the coast; islands may vary.
🚨 Emergency
112 (general emergency)

🚌 Getting Around Croatia

🚌 Bus

FlixBus and local operators connect Zagreb, Split, and Dubrovnik. Coastal routes are scenic but winding.

⛴️ Ferry

Jadrolinija ferries connect Split and Dubrovnik to the islands (Hvar, Korčula, Brač). Book summer sailings early.

🚗 Car

Car rental ideal for Istria and Dalmatian coast. Highways have tolls (accept cards and cash).

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does a week in Croatia cost?

Budget: $70-100/day. Mid-range: $150-250/day. Luxury: $400+/day. Dubrovnik is the most expensive city; Split and the islands are more affordable.

What is the best time to visit Croatia?

May-June and September for warm weather and fewer crowds. July-August is peak season — Dubrovnik can feel overwhelmed with cruise ship visitors.

How do I travel between Croatian cities?

Catamaran ferries connect coastal cities and islands (Jadrolinija, Krilo). Buses are the main intercity transport on the mainland. No high-speed trains.

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