11-Day Croatia Itinerary: Zagreb, Plitvice, Zadar, Split & Dubrovnik
- Anju Chandna
- Jun 12, 2022
- 9 min read
A narrow strip of land tucked away in one corner of the European mainland and a cluster of small islands littered along the Adriatic Sea are hardly likely to catch your attention on the World map, but a visit to the beautiful country of Croatia will make you reminisce about your trip with fondness forever.
Croatia is one of Europe's most captivating destinations, known for its Adriatic coastline, historic cities, crystal-clear waters, and breathtaking national parks.
If you love the Sun and beach combo, then Croatia can be the vacation of your dreams. There are over a thousand islands, each one more enchanting than the next.
This 11-day Croatia itinerary takes you through the country's most memorable destinations. We went to Croatia from India, changing flights from Frankfurt on a Croatian Airlines Boeing to Zagreb, the capital city of Croatia.
Your vacation starts the moment you board this plane. One can get a beautiful bird's eye view of the Dinaric Alps with their snow-laden peaks.
Croatia in 11 Days: Detailed Itinerary
2 Days in Zagreb
The capital of Croatia is not your typical touristy European city, but it has a charm that is hard to miss. Most tourists overlook this quaint town and head straight to the coast, but the Croatian capital offers a delightful mix of history, culture, and a relaxed cafe vibe.
Must-see attractions in Zagreb are
St. Mark's Church
Zagreb Cathedral in the Upper Town
Saint Mark Church, with its impressive colourful coat of Arms of Croatia on its rooftop and the Zagreb Cathedral, a massive Gothic building with its tall twin spires, will instantly catch your attention as you reach the Upper Town.
The Upper Town can easily be accessed by a funicular, with the journey lasting barely 5 mins.
My Tip for You
One can opt for a conducted walking tour to get a better understanding of the history of this place.
Coming down from the upper town, one can see a variety of cafes and eateries lining both sides of the street. It is a pedestrian-friendly area with no dearth of places to sit and munch, and watch the crowds go by.
2 Days in Plitvice
After a comfortable bus journey of around 2 hours from Zagreb, we reached Plitvice around noon.
Plitvice National Park is every traveller's dream destination. Its beauty has to be seen to be believed. We spent two full days in this park and spent the rest of time in the nearby village of Mukinje.
1 Day in Zadar
We packed our bags for the third destination on our itinerary, Zadar.
Early the next morning, we took the bus from Plitvice to Zadar. The journey is only 1 hour and 30 minutes. The scenery en route is breathtakingly beautiful.
Zadar is a charming seaside town on Croatia's Dalmatian Coast, that combines Roman ruins, medieval churches and a relaxed waterfront atmosphere. Most of the touristy activities happen along the sea coast, the most popular among them being the Sea Organ.
Must-see attractions in Zadar are
Sea Organ
Zadar Old Town
Greetings to the Sun
St. Donatus Church and the Roman Forum
Sunset on the Waterfront
We had only one day in Zadar, so we started our sightseeing from Zadar's Old Town.
The Old Town is a lively place with loads of eateries and small shops, and paved, narrow streets. Trinkets, souvenirs, clothes, etc., on both sides beckon tourists.
These narrow streets lead to an open courtyard, called the Roman Forum and an old, charming church, St. Donatus Church.
This church was built in the 9th century, and its circular design immediately draws your attention. It's not a place of active worship, and the interiors are quite simple, yet fascinating.
‘Greeting to the Sun’, next to the sea organ on the seafront, is equally intriguing. This spherical glass bottom has 300 glass plates, all placed at the same level as the pavement. These solar plates get activated at night and produce a light show. Around the Sun, there are also planets made in proportion to the Sun.
The highlight of this evening outing is the Sea Organ, of course.
Huge metallic plates have been installed under the sea along the seashore. As water strikes against these wind pipes, a sound of mouth organs emanates out of nowhere. One can sit here for hours on end and listen to this melodious syncing motion of water.
My Tip for You
If you have time, just hang around a bit late till the crowds dissipate. You will be able to hear the sea organ more clearly. An overnight stay is enough in Zadar unless you want to come back to the Sea Organ the next day too. We’re tempted to do the same, but we have our bookings in place for our next halt in Split.
3 Days in Split
Split needs at least two full days of your itinerary. It is Croatia's second-largest city and one of the most vibrant destinations on the Adriatic coast.
Must-see attractions in Split are
Diocletian Palace
Gregory of Nin Statue
Riva Promenade
Marjan Hill Viewpoint
The most talked about attraction in Split is the 4th-century Diocletian Palace, built by the Roman Emperor Diocletian.
Standing just outside the Golden Gate of Diocletian Palace is the mammoth structure of Bishop Gregory of Nin, one of Split's most photographed monuments. Gregory of Nin was a 10th-century bishop who advocated the use of the Croatian language in religious services, thus allowing common people to understand the Mass rather than relying on Latin.
Rubbing the toe of the statue of Gregory of Nin is believed to bring good luck, so tourists visiting the palace line up in front of the statue to rub its toe. As did I....
What makes this palace unique is that it's not one building but a living part of the city, filled with homes, shops, restaurants, and alleyways. There are eateries and shops in every nook and corner, and the palace has also been converted into a hotel in some parts. It's lively and buzzing with activity.
Inside the palace is the Cathedral of St Domnius, housing the crypt and the Temple of Jupiter. My word of advice, peep into the temple, don’t buy the ticket, the temple is small, only as far as the eye can see from outside.
The lively Riva waterfront promenade is the perfect place to spend an evening in Split. Lined with palm trees and cafes, the promenade comes alive in the evening as locals and tourists gather here. We had dinner at Café Fife just along the sea shore, the taste of their fish delicacy is still making me salivate. Total value for money!
Marjan Hill offers walking trails and beautiful viewpoints, and a peaceful escape from the city centre.
My Tip for You
The Diocletian Palace can easily be a full-day outing, with the last leg of the day at the seafront. Luka Split or the port of Split is at its liveliest best all day long!
There are a lot of day trips from Split to many small islands in the Adriatic, the Blue caves and wine-tasting tours, you can pick your choice if you have a day to spare.
3 Days in Dubrovnik
Dubrovnik was our last destination in Croatia, and we’d allocated four days to this city called the ‘Pearl of the Adriatic’. The scenic route on the entire stretch from Split to Dubrovnik can actually make one envious of the people who reside here.
The Adriatic Sea has been almost ‘customised’ to suit the needs of the local people; there are play areas for children, lounge chairs for the elderly, all kinds of boats, and personal swimming areas. Every nook and corner of the sea is being put to optimum use, and the water is really clean.
The moment we set foot in Dubrovnik, the touristy air of the place hits us. The air is moist and warm, people are swarming everywhere, and the town is buzzing with activity.
We moved into a beautiful apartment just facing the sea. Anything less than that would be a shame.
Must-see attractions in Dubrovnik are
Dubrovnik City Walls
Old Town and Stradun
Fort Lovrjenac
Dubrovnik Cable Car to Mount Srd
Surrounded by impressive stone fortifications, Dubrovnik Old Town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site that attracts visitors from around the world.
The highlight of the city is a walk along the walls of Dubrovnik. The walls stretch for nearly 2 kilometres around the Old Town and offer refreshing views of the Adriatic Sea and nearby islands.
If you’re a Game of Thrones fan, then you will be able to identify some familiar sites along the wall, too.
One can easily spend at least 2 days just wandering and idling around in the old city, soaking in the history or just doing some monument gazing.
‘Stradun’ is Dubrovnik's main street and the lively centre of Old Town. It’s always crowded with tourists and connects the entire old city with lanes and by-lanes.
Scores of shops and restaurants are lined up along the street that serve local Croatian fish delicacies apart from conventional cuisines.
Perched on a rocky cliff just outside the city walls, Fort Lovrijenac offers magnificent views of the Dubrovnik coastline. You can also take a cable car to the top of Mount Srd to get panoramic views of the town and the Adriatic Sea.
Day cruises around Dubrovnik
Dubrovnik has a lot of islands all around that are favourites for snorkelers and water enthusiasts.
We took a one-day cruise to the Elaphiti Islands. The cruise offers beautiful views of the sea, some island-hopping, and a lot of opportunities for water sports since the sea is so calm and shallow. If you're not a water sports enthusiast, then just splashing in the water can be fun.
The highlight of the cruise is the seagull feeding done by the crew as they hold our little leftover grubs of food for the seagulls to devour. Out of nowhere, the birds flock to grab a bite. There is suddenly so much activity with all the cameras going into a frenzy to catch that moment. Amazing!
Yet another beautiful island that can be explored is ‘Lokrum’.
The main attraction is the freely roaming peacocks and bunnies all over the island.
The birds are so used to having humans around that they stay perched on
the rocks while everyone is clicking their pictures.
The island also has a monastery and a small salt lake aptly called ‘Dead Sea’.
Both locals and tourists throng to this lake to soak in the sun and splash around in this lake that is absolutely calm, hence the name.
The iconic ‘Iron Throne’ from ‘Game of Thrones’ is housed here in the museum, you can take pictures with yourself on the throne.
If you walk to the edge of the island to a rocky cliff, you can get mesmerising views of the sea.
Our Croatian vacation is all set to wrap up as we prepare to take a flight from Dubrovnik to Munich and back home. But this Croatia trip will be etched in my mind forever.
Helpful Tips for Visiting Croatia
Allow extra time for ferry and road travel
Distances on the map are only theoretical when the route one is taking is unimaginably scenic. Allow for extra time for small stops along the coastal route. If you’re planning to travel to other parts of Croatia as well, then roadways are your best bet. The journey is comfortable, buses are cheap and ply on time, and the icing on the cake is the scenic views that you start to get throughout the countryside, especially as you approach the sea.
The same goes for the ferry. They follow seasonal schedules, so find out the schedule for the season in question to fully enjoy your time aboard.
Book Dubrovnik accommodation and attractions early
Dubrovnik is Croatia's most famous destination. It can get very crowded, especially between June and September. Advance bookings can save you a lot of disappointment.
Stay at least one night in Plitvice
Many visitors to Plitvice Lakes do a day trip, but my advice to anyone visiting Plitvice is to spend at least one night in the village nearby. That way, you will be able to visit the park early in the day before crowds hit it. It's totally worth it.
Respect the old towns
The historic towns of Croatia are very touristy hotspots, but they are also living communities. Be a responsible traveller by adhering to the local rules to preserve the sanctity of these UNESCO-listed landmarks.
The situation of these small towns is quite similar to the fairytale town of Hallstatt in Austria. All these towns have to bear the brunt of being overtly touristy and crowded.
Carry cash for small purchases
Although credit cards are widely accepted everywhere in Croatia, in some local markets, small bakeries, and cafes still prefer cash as the mode of payment.
Try local cuisine and local merchandise
Croatia is a sparsely populated country with a total population of about 4.2 million, but this small country asserts its identity by way of its indigenous industry. Most prominent American/European brands for food chains, clothes, shoes, and bags are conspicuous by their absence.
After initially looking for familiar food chains, we decided to grub on the local cuisine, which is heavenly in terms of taste and cheaper in terms of price! Don't miss fresh seafood, black risotto and grilled fish.
The same applies to cosmetics, lifestyle products, and many other products found in supermarkets. They are cheaper than most known international brands and of very good quality.
The few things that stand out for me are the pristine beauty of this small country, the delicious local cuisine comprising local fish varieties, and lastly, the warmth that people show towards tourists in general.
After all, it’s the people who make all the difference!
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