The Best Croatia Road Trip Itinerary In 10 Days

A couple of years ago I embarked on an epic Croatia road trip. Croatia is one of the most underrated countries in my opinion. Sure, the popular city Dubrovnik gets quite a bit of love internationally but there is so much more of the country to explore.

We did the entire trip in 10 days and it was just enough. Because we travelled in November the weather wasn’t ideal for island hopping which means we missed out on a few key spots. However, in the 10 days we travelled the country and saw a few of the key spots.

I’ve put together a list below on how to see Croatia in just over a week:

Getting There:

Flying into Zagreb happened to be the cheapest for us flying from Toronto. It’s one of the bigger airports in Croatia and a likely place you’ll fly into if you’re coming from North America. Upon landing we rented a car and were very quickly on the road.

Driving in Croatia is very similar to driving in North America. We drive on the same side of the road and the rules aren’t all that different. The one thing to note though is the amount of toll roads in Croatia. I think every major highway (while well kept) cost us money. Make sure to budget that into your trip.

Rijeka:

As the first place we stopped at during our Croatia road trip, Rijeka didn’t disappoint. It’s the third largest city in Croatia and the closest to the Zagreb airport. Like most major cities in Croatia, Rijeka is set along the waterfront which makes for some beautiful views.

In terms of aesthetics, Rijeka is more of a modern city compared to some of the others we visited. I wouldn’t give yourself more than a day in this city, and if you’re strapped for time you really could skip it. However there are a few key tourist sights to see if you want to stick around.

*Click here for hotels in Rijeka

Can’t Miss:

National Theatre
St. Vitus’ Church
Trsat Castle
Korzo

Plitvice Lakes:

This large national park is not one to miss. It’s made up of a series of 16 lakes and a lot bigger than I thought it was going to be. There are so many different paths, hikes and trails for you to explore you could easily spend a couple of days in this area. We spent a day and a half on our road trip. Because we travelled in the off-season there weren’t too many other people that joined us on our trek around the park which was nice. If you do happen to be travelling in the summer make sure to get a good head start on the day because it can get really busy.

*Click here for hotels in Plitvice Lakes

Can’t Miss:

Big waterfall – the highest in Croatia that flows into the Black and White River
Upper Lakes – 12 different lakes separated by travertine barriers
Lower Lakes – 4 lakes located in the limestone canyon

Zadar:

This is one of my favourite cities in Europe. Zadar is so beautiful. The architecture pretty much everywhere in the major parts of the city is so glamorous. They are a mix between Venetian and Roman ruins. It’s very tiny and easily done in a day.

I would recommend walking around the city during the day and at night so you can really experience the different aspects of the city (especially where the sea organ is). Of course you’ll find the infamous orange Croatian roofs here as you wander through the streets.

*Click here for hotels in Zadar

Can’t Miss:

Church of St. Donatus
Sea Organ (first in the world)
Greeting to the Sun (see this at night)
Shop at the market (daily)
Zadar Cathedral
Walk the city walls and gates
Roman Forum
The People’s Square

Split:

Split is a gorgeous place to stop on your Croatia road trip. The small city is best known for its beaches and Diocletian’s Palace. The white stone walls of the city provide an air of glamour and luxury. For those who love history this is a good city to be in; they have deep Roman roots (easily seen from the architecture).

Even though Split is Croatia’s second largest city, you can pretty much do everything in a day. However, it could be worth spending a day sightseeing through the city and another spent soaking the sun on a beach.

*Click here for hotels in Split

Can’t Miss:

Diocletian’s Palace
Cathedral of St. Duje
Peristyle Square
Statue of Grgur Ninski (make sure to rub his big toe)
Riva waterfront
Cindro Palace
Marjan Hill

Dubrovnik:

This city doesn’t really need much introduction. This was definitely the highlight on my Croatia road trip. There is so much to do in this historical city centre I would recommending setting aside at least two days. Getting here from Split you actually have to drive through Bosnia and Herzegovina, don’t worry though it’s a quick and easy drive through the borders.

One of the best things you can do is get lost here. There’s nothing better than getting lost in these narrow ancient streets. After getting lost for a few hours you should absolutely wander the city walls. There are some absolutely incredible views and photo-ops.

*Click here for hotels in Dubrovnik

Can’t Miss:

Walls of Dubrovnik
Strdun
Cliff Bar (definitely have a drink)
Take the cable car to Mount SRD
Wander through old town
Fort Lovrijenac
Banje Beach

Zagreb:

As your Croatia road trip comes to an end you may or may not end up back in Zagreb. Whether you start and/or finish here you should give the city a little love because it has a lot to offer. This is one of the places I actually regret not spending more time in. We only gave ourselves half a day before heading back home.

Touring around this seaport city you’ll find the architecture to be rather gothic. This is in large part to the Austro-Hungarian influence in the 18th century. Zagreb is also surprisingly the capital of Croatia (one might expect it to be Dubrovnik).

*Click here for hotels in Zagreb

Can’t Miss:

Zagreb farmers market
Ban Jelacic Square
St. Mark’s Church
Lotrscak Tower
Museum of Broken Relationships (yeah it’s as weird as it sounds)

Of course this itinerary will be a little different if you decide to travel in the summer or for the infamous yacht week. For those who prefer architecture, history, cityscapes and landscapes this Croatia road trip should be perfect for you.

Additional Notes

ACCOMMODATION

Airbnb stays are quite easy to find in most areas in Dubrovnik so you shouldn’t have too much trouble finding something within your budget. For tips about booking Airbnb check out my post here.
*Click here to get $40CAD off your first stay
Booking.com is another great resource if you’re looking to book a hotel instead of an apartment. Most of our stays in Croatia were booked through Booking.com and I couldn’t have been more pleased.

CAR RENTAL

Hotwire is my go-to source when booking car rentals. I always find the best rates with them and it’s so easy to use. Most of the time I just use their app when travelling because it’s so convenient.