Best ever Croatia 7 or 10 day Itinerary

Planning trip to Croatia was on my mind from the time I saw a few pics of Plitvice Lakes National Park. This place captured me so much that I started to plan my Croatia itinerary even before I booked my flights to Croatia. I always wanted to visit Croatia on my first Europe trip, and I’m so glad that I could accomplish my goal. As I read more about Croatia, I was convinced that my decision to visit Croatia was a wise one. But, somewhere during my itinerary research phase, I got a little confused about places to see in Croatia, as I was overwhelmed with the information on the internet. With just a few days in hand, I had to devise a best itinerary that covers all major sightseeing places in Croatia. For that matter, this Croatia itinerary 7 days or 10 days isn’t actually enough to cover the beauty of entire Croatia, so I had to leave out some places in the itinerary – after all, I need some reason to visit Croatia again! Hope you like our Croatia 7 day itinerary which can be easily made into a 10 day itinerary too!

As I mentioned, what I saw on the internet was overwhelming – sometimes, I found less information about some places, otherwise, I found so much info that I had a difficult time to zero it down to a single itinerary. So, I decided to pen down this post which will give an overview of what you can see on your Croatia trip with this ‘Ultimate 7 and 10 day Croatia vacation itinerary’.

Overview of 7 or 10 days in Croatia

Here, I shall layout how you can spend your 7 or 10 days in Croatia as a overview. If you are a first time visitor to Croatia, and wondering why you need to visit it, what is the currency and modes of transport in Croatia, then you can scroll down and read all that information. But if you are already aware of these and just want to know how you can spend your 7 or 10 days in Croatia, then you can jump to those sections which I will link below.

Why do you need to visit Croatia?

First off, a pivotal question – Why do you need to visit Croatia? Well, the reasons are many. To start off with, abundance of pure natural sights and raw landscapes, lovely people, beautiful and umpteen accommodation options, thrilling adventure activities, surreal Dalmatian coast, exciting sailing holidays with hundreds of islands to cruise to, the rustic old world medieval charm, lip smacking local delicacies and yes, how can we forget the Game of Thrones connection – after all, Kings Landing is where it was all started!

Croatia itinerary

When is the best time to visit Croatia?

Like all destinations, Croatia too has a high season, low and a shoulder season. While July and August are high seasons, May/June and September is the shoulder season and the remaining months make the low season.

In the high season, i.e. July and August are the warmest months in Croatia and temperatures just about right to take a plunge in the gorgeous beaches of Croatia. But, that said, expect crowds in this season as the Summer holidays for most of European schools fall in these months and people just load their cars with luggage and set off on cross country drives!

According to me, the best time to travel in Croatia is the shoulder season of May until mid-June and September. In these months, temperatures are warm and not too hot and the crowds are comparatively less too. In May until mid-June, the water is still cold and might not be suitable enough to swim. But in first half of September, the sea is warm and that makes it a perfect time to dunk in the warmth of Adriatic Sea. The prices of the accommodation are also a little lesser than the high season.

The remaining months are the low season in Croatia where there is little sun and daylight is less compared to the sunnier months where we can have 10-12 hours of good day light. The temperatures can go really low and it might snow in winters too. I have a strong urge to visit Croatia in this season, just to see the frozen Plitvice Lake National Park!

Visa requirements for Croatia:

If you are visiting Croatia, then you will require a valid visa to enter the country. Go through this article for Visa requirements for Croatia. If you are an Indian national and hold a valid Multiple Entry Schengen Visa, then, you can enter Croatia with that visa. We entered Croatia with a valid Schengen Visa from Italy. Read about our Italian self drive trip here.

Travel inside Croatia

Fine, you have decided to holiday in Croatia and are looking to plan the best itinerary, but how do you go about traveling inside Croatia?? Well, we’ll tell you all the available options and you take a call on what suits your traveling style better. The primary modes of tourist transport in Croatia are trains, buses, ferries and self-drive rental cars.

Trains in Croatia:

Croatia is well connected through trains and has an efficient train system. There are many train connections to interiors of Croatia than the coastal towns. Most of the train connections originate from the capital city, Zagreb. There are many connections to Rijeka and Split from Zagreb. With the advent of a good and modern road network, the travel time between major cities in Croatia has reduced immensely and so has the demand for train travel which takes slightly longer time to reach a particular destination. This brings us to our next topic, travel in Croatia through bus.

Useful websites: Croatian Railways

Other necessary info:

  • Luggage isn’t charged extra and is free to carry inside the train
  • On some train routes, bicycles are also allowed with no extra charge.

Bus travel in Croatia:

Bus travel in Croatia is one of the extensively used mode of transport. There is a well-developed network of roads inside Croatia and there are state of the art motorways built to connect major cities and in turn, there are good roads that take you to any part of Croatia from these major cities.

There are many licensed buses that ply from one city to another. Buses are clean, tidy and well maintained. If you are lucky, you might get free Wi-Fi while traveling in some buses. We took the bus from our hotel to Plitvice Lakes National Park and we did get to experience the bus travel in Croatia for a short distance and we were impressed with Free Wi-Fi and the clean bus 🙂

Useful websites:

Bus Croatia

Get by bus

Other necessary info:

  • Luggage is charged extra and is not free to carry inside the bus.
  • Bicycles and pets are not also allowed inside the bus.

Ferries in Croatia:

Croatia is a paradise for islands hoppers and ferries are only mode of transport between Croatian islands. There are many ferry companies that operate in Croatia. Jadrolinija is one of known names in the Croatian ferry industry and operates ferries between major islands and coastal towns. Read my review of Jadrolinija ferry in which we traveled from Bari, Italy to Dubrovnik, Croatia.

Useful websites:

Croatia Ferries 

Jadrolinija

Rental Cars in Croatia:

Apart from the above public transport options, one of the most comfortable and convenient ways to travel around Croatia is by hiring a rental car. There are many companies that provide rental car services in Croatia. And the process of renting a car in Croatia isn’t complicated at all. There are many websites which compare available cars and offers given by different service providers. We can check and compare the prices and services all at one place and then book the one that suits our taste. One such website is Rentalcars.com. We booked our rental car through this website. Its hassle free and has free cancellations too. Compare prices below now!

 

Where to stay in Croatia? (Accommodation options)

Croatia has a wide range of accommodation options varying from luxury resorts to simple and beautiful apartments, farm stays, home stays and hostels. Honestly speaking, the accommodation options in Croatia is so much more affordable than countries in Western Europe. Tourism is one of the main sources of income in Croatia and the people here are warm and tourist friendly. So, it really isn’t difficult to find clean and cheap places to stay across Croatia. In the itinerary I present below, I shall add the best places to stay in that town/city, so you can choose the one that suits your taste best.

Main Regions of Croatia

While planning a trip to any country, it is important to know the main regions of that location. Croatia is divided into mainly into four regions – Central Croatia, Slavonia, Dalmatia and Istria.

The main city in Central Croatia is the capital city of Croatia, Zagreb. Zagreb is a potpourri of culture with a historical and archaeological significance, as well as a bustling town with a vibrant nightlife. Another significant place in Central Croatia is the Plitvice Lakes National Park – the pride of Croatia. Its natural beauty, lush green landscapes, roaring waterfalls – all make it a must visit place in one’s lifetime!

While Slavonia region in Croatia isn’t that much popular as a tourist destination, it is a coveted place for Croatians as Slavonia is known for its rich agricultural plains. Located along the Danube River, Slavonia is often called ‘The Golden Land’ due to its vast corn plains and Graševina vineyards, one of the most appreciated white wines of the region. Do not confuse Slavonia to Slovenia and Slovakia, while the latter two are European countries, the former one is a region in Croatia.

Dalmatia is undoubtedly one of the most visited regions of Croatia. After all, major tourist attractions lie by the Dalmatian coast. Split is the biggest city in Dalmatia region and known for its beaches and forts. Outskirts of Split town is a little more modernized than Dubrovnik. Still basking in the medieval old world charm is Dubrovnik, with its orange tiled houses overlooking the deep blue Adriatic Sea bringing in that nostalgic feeling.

Amazing adventure activities, scenic wineries, rolling hills and spectacular beaches, all this and much more awaits you in Istria. This heart shaped Croatian peninsula is often known as little Italy due to its obvious influence from its neighbor – Italy. As I said earlier, I couldn’t squeeze Istria in my itinerary this time, so another trip to Croatia is on the cards! 🙂

Currency of Croatia

The official currency of Croatia is Kuna. Though Euros are widely accepted in Croatia, some hotels and apartment owners, ask specifically for Kuna. Our apartment owner in Dubrovnik accepted only Kuna so we had to rush to a nearby ATM to pay her.

FYI:

1 Croatian Kuna = 10.76 Indian Rupee

1 Croatian Kuna = 0.17 USD

What is the Best Croatia Itinerary for 7 days and 10 Days?

Here, I shall let you know the answer for the above question by taking you from South to North Croatia, narrating about places to see in that city and many that come on the way.

Places to visit on your Croatia 10 day itinerary

  1. Dubrovnik

It wouldn’t be an exaggeration if I call Dubrovnik a fantasy land – it has all the characteristics to be called so. A walled town guarded by strong, centuries old rugged city walls inside the old town, shades of magnificent forts reflecting upon the mesmerizing blue of the Adriatic which is dotted by pebble beaches – well, is this not the stuff which fantasies are made of? That’s Dubrovnik for you! Most of the town lives off tourism and rightly so. There are hordes of people who visit Dubrovnik every day, out of which Cruise ship day trippers are a big chunk. This ‘Pearl of Adriatic’ deserves so much attention for its rustic medieval charm and obviously the ‘Game of Thrones’ connection.

Points of Interest in Dubrovnik and some things to do!

Some places to look out for in Dubrovnik’s Old town are listed below.

  • Old Town : Dubrovnik’s Old Town is one of the revered in history as it was a strong competitor to Venice as a trading port. An earthquake shook Dubrovnik in early 17th century and since then, much of the damaged old town was reconstructed to bring back that old world charm. Much of old cities’ flooring is made of Marble, hence giving it the name, ‘Pearl of Adriatic’.
  • Pile Gate : This huge gate forms the main entrance to Dubrovnik’s old town.
  • Stradun: This is Dubrovnik Old Town’s one of the famous and  main streets. The view of Stradun from the City walls is spectacular. Dotting either side of Stradun are numerous souvenir shops, galleries, coffee bars and restaurants.
  • City Walls: This two km long and sturdy city walls offers some of the best views of Dubrovnik city. Walking along these city walls, once can find numerous towers, fortress and some absolutely stunning views of the deep blue Adriatic Sea.
  • Onophrian Fountain: This is one of Dubrovnik’s oldest fountains, which now works as a drinkable water fountain that aids tourists in quenching their thirsts with its icy cold water.
  • Bell Tower: One of the most photogenic spots while walking along the city walls is when we come across the Bell Tower. This structure looms in a distance and offers a lovely view of the Dubrovnik old town and city walls together with the Bell Tower.
  • Fort Lovrijenac : An interesting story behind the construction of this fort is that Croatians built this fort in just 3 months when they got the information that Venetians wanted to build a port here to conquer the existing trade business that was trending in those days. When Venetians finally arrived with all the construction material, they were told to return home.

 If that made fort Lovrijenac a famous one in those days, then what’s making it famous now is its Game of Thrones connection. Many scenes in this epic television series has been shot in Fort Lovrijenac. While I walked along the aisles of the fortress, I could picture Cersei plotting against enemies, Little Finger and Tywin discussing war strategies, Myrcella being sent to Dorne and many more scenes. If you are a GOT fan, then don’t you ever dare missing this place in your itinerary.

  • Banje beach : Just five minute walk from the City walls of Old town is Banje Beach, which is one of the popular beaches in Dubrovnik. This pebble beach, though a little uncomfortable with tiny pebbles lying amidst the sand, is very inviting with its stunning and sparking water.

Croatia itinerary

One half of the beach has free access to public while the other half belongs to the private restaurant and club, which offers sunbeds for steep prices. You can go ahead with those if you are looking for a relaxing time under the shade.

  • Walk around the City Wall

Call it touristy, but not the one you can skip – walking around the Dubrovnik city walls has its own appeal. I don’t know if it was the breathtaking views of the Adriatic Sea or the view of houses in the old town or a panoramic view of both in the same frame – this walk had me captivated. Some stretches pass between those areas of the old town where people still reside in lovely orange roofed houses. Plump cats and Mandarin fruit trees are frequented throughout the walk. Check the ‘Tips’ section below to get escape the crowds on your visit to the City walls in Old town Dubrovnik.

  • Sunset watching from Dubrovnik Cable car

Folks back in 19th century, realized the potential of how beautiful the views of Dubrovnik would be when seen from an elevated place, so they built the Imperial Fortress to enjoy this enchanting view. But, people of 21st century were smarter and built a really easy and convenient cable car, an expensive restaurant and a few souvenir shops for people who’d like to get some of the best views of Dubrovnik, thus saving some effort to climb a fortress. Especially in the evening, where the sun paints the sky orange and the Adriatic gleams and glistens in glory of sunset. Sweeping views of Dubrovnik old town with the vast sea stretching until the eyes can see, dotted with numerous islands makes it one of the best things to do in Dubrovnik!

  • Game of Thrones tour

Well, you are in Kings Landing and don’t explore more of it – not possible for a Game of Thrones fan right? Apart from Fort Lovrijenac, there are many places in Dubrovnik where scenes from GOT are shot. The best way to relive GOT again is to be a part of a guided GOT tour in Dubrovnik. Click here to book one of the economical and best GOT guided tours in town.

  • Lokrum Island

A rustic island which makes a quick and one of the best day trips in Dubrovnik is a visit to Lokrum Island. Half a day can be kept aside for Lokrum Island. Again, this too has a GOT connection – this island was the City of Qarth, visited by Daenerys in season two and here you can get to see the Iron Throne too! Apart from that, many scenes were shot in the Benedictine monastery and the Botanical Garden in Lokrum Island. Even if you aren’t a GOT fan, you can visit the Benedictine monastery and the Botanical Garden which is a part of Lokrum Island’s history. If you like to take a dip, there are many beautiful spots in Lokrum Island where you can swim when the water is warm. Another interesting part of Lokrum Island is the fact there are many peacocks that can be spotted lazing, dancing or even giving you some company near the beach! 😀

  • Kayaking in the Adriatic

While walking around the city walls of the old town, I was mesmerized with a scene where people kayaked in the sea below. They looked super small from above and the whole thing looked kickass! Try this tour if you are an adventure junkie!

  • Visit nearby islands – Mljet and Eliphati

This is one tour I regret not doing. While I planned my trip to Croatia, I was very much impressed with the azure waters of Mljet National Park and Eliphati islands, but sadly, I could not accommodate this day trip in our itinerary. How I wish I had done those. Don’t be a jerk like me, book your tour right away! Check prices of Mljet day dour from Dubrovnik.

  • Where to stay?

Luxury : Hotel Bellevue Dubrovnik | Hilton Imperial Dubrovnik | The Pucic Palace

Mid Range : Guesthouse S&L | Apartments Maria | Bellissima vista

Budget : Guesthouse Horizont | Hotel Adria | Guest House Letizia

Tips:

  • Please do yourself a favour and visit the Old City walls early in the morning before hundreds of Cruise day trippers arrive. It takes 1-2 hours to explore the city walls by foot. So try to be there max by 8 AM. The earlier the better. If you can’t do it in the morning, keep aside an evening for it when all the day trippers have departed.
  • If you ask me, I’d say, visit the City walls in the morning, and spend the evening in Mt.Srd with a stunning cable car ride and experience one of the best sunsets in your life!
  • While in Dubrovnik, don’t miss out on some amazing day trips mentioned above. Try doing at least 2-3 of those.
  • Drinks are expensive in Banje beach restaurant. So to make the most of your beach time, grab some of your favourite drinks at the supermarket nearby before heading to the beach!
  • You need at least 3 days in Dubrovnik. So budget your time in your Croatian itinerary accordingly.

2. Split

Split is the second largest city in Croatia (first being Zagreb), and the largest in Dalmatia, is also one of the must visits in Croatia. And I say that is because, Split makes a good base to explore some of the best islands in Croatia and also not to forget to explore the beautiful Old town of Split. Though the modern day Split has embraced industrialization, so we can spot a lot of tall buildings and huge apartment complexes, which is quite a change of scene for someone who has just arrived to Split after spending a few days in Dubrovnik.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BP9FK25BtFa/?taken-by=hopping_miles

Dubrovnik has no signs of industrialization and is closer to nature. I’m by no means saying that Dubrovnik isn’t touristy, it is very much so. But it has a laid back feel and carries its own charm. Due to the lack of industrial production in Dubrovnik, things are a little expensive as they have to be brought in from other cities.

Split is huge and has lots of accommodation options and there is no dearth of apartments here. We stayed in a beach side apartment and we couldn’t have asked for a better place to stay 🙂

Points of Interest in Split

  • Diocletian’s Palace

When Emperor Diocletian decided to retire by giving up the Roman throne, he settled in Split and built a sprawling palace with amazing architecture back in 4th Century AD. Diocletian’s Palace is one of the examples of brilliant Roman architecture and is aptly honored with a UNESCO World Heritage Site title too!

As of today, in Diocletian’s Palace, there are cafes, souvenir shops and restaurants alongside the Roman ruins. A place with so much history deserved a guided tour, so we booked ours from this website.

  • Bacvice Beach

Bacvice is one of the famous beaches in Split due to its proximity to city center. The water is quite shallow here, so it is much suitable for children than for adults who look out for swimming opportunities. That said, this beach has a mix of people of all ages. It can get insanely crowded during summers, so be warned. But, it is a nice place to hang out with the clear water and fresh sand.

  • Riva Promenade

Again, Riva Promenade is one of the must visits while in Split. Riva Promenade overlooks the beautiful Split’s waterfront on one side and lined with shops selling scrumptious delicacies on another. We had some really tempting home-made ice creams and also sampled some exotic pastries. While you are in Split, don’t miss a visit to Riva Promenade.

Croatia itinerary

  • Cathedral and Bell Tower of St.Domnius

The Cathedral in Split is highly regarded among the European Cathedrals as is home to the Mausoleum of the Roman Emperor Diocletian. This turned into a cathedral in 7th century when altars with relics of St Domnius and St Anastasius were built here. The Bell Tower of St. Domnius was built in 13th century in Dalmatian Medieval architecture style. A climb to the top of Bell Tower of St.Domnius rewarded us with amazing views of Split, together with the beautiful Dalmatian Coastline.

  • Froggy land

If you are in a whacky mood and want to see something funny, interesting and well thought piece of art, then visit the Froggy Land in Split. The concept is unique and it totally cracks your mind to see scenes that have been set up to show how is it like when frogs do human like things. Say, a courtroom scene where the judge, accused, lawyer and audience – all are frogs! Or a bunch of frogs rowing the boat or playing in the park. What is to be appreciated is that this is around 100 years old and the one who created this had so much thought put into it – even before the advent of animations!

  • Klis Fortress

Klis Fortress was built in the medieval times and served as a guardian to its people. Situated in a village bearing the same name, Klis fortress is also a darling for GOT fans, because many scenes of the series were shot here. One also should visit Klis Fortress for its amazing views of the Split and the Adriatic. Also, the fort is impressive to see and walk around with its ruins and the vintage feel it eludes.

Tips for Klis Fortress:

  1. It might be hot during the day and there are no places to take shelter nor a roof over your head most of the times, so carry an umbrella or a hat.
  2. There are no restrooms inside the fort. Use the portable toilets near the parking lot.
  3. Also, carry your own food if you are visiting in the afternoon, there are no restaurants or snack shacks.
  4. Watch out for some dangerous unguarded spots while traveling with kids. It’s easy for the tiny tots to slip and fall at certain places.
  • Fruit square(Trg Brace Radic)

As the name says, it is Split’s favourite Fruit market. Fresh fruits and vegetables are sold here directly from the farm. Watermelons, cherries, berries, oranges, apples, bananas, tomatoes and many more fruits and vegetables. Did I tell you that we totally loved to binge on cherries while we were in Croatia? We bought like one kg for 20 kn or 200 INR – that’s such a bargain!!

Croatia itinerary

  • Grgur Ninski Statue

Grugur Ninski was the medieval Croatian bishop of Nin who is held in high regard by Croatians for his contribution in bringing up Croatian language and religion. The 8.5m statue of Grgur Ninski in Split is said to bring us good luck when we rub its toe. We too did that and hoped for good!

  • Where to stay?

Luxury : Radisson Blu ResortCornaro HotelAzur Palace Luxury Rooms

Mid Range : Hotel Jadran| Priuli Luxury Rooms | Residenza Apartments

Budget : Apartments Felix 1Apartment LidijaSky Split Apartment

3. Trogir

Trogir is so laid back and chilled that I loved it instantly within a few minutes of me being there. I’d like to call Trogir as the Split’s unspoiled version or simply put, Trogir is what Split would have looked like a hundred years back. The entire old town of Trogir is a UNESCO Heritage site and is well preserved. If you loved the Riva Promenade in Split, then you will love Trogir’s waterfront even more! Palm trees line the waterfront and nearby shacks serve some amazing Mandarin Juice. Apart from the lovely town Trogir is, I loved the drive to Trogir but the views while driving away from the town is what impressed me the most!

https://www.instagram.com/p/BP_phVph5XH/?taken-by=hopping_miles

Points of Interest in Trogir

  • Trogir Cathedral / St.Lawrence Cathedral

Beautiful sculptures inside this cathedral awaits you. A small walk inside the town leads to the cathedral and is easy to locate. While we were there, a mass was being held and it was very serene and soothing experience.

Croatia itinerary

  • Michael Bell-tower

Adjacent to Trogir Cathedral is St. Michael Bell-tower. The climb up the Bell tower isn’t as steep and difficult as the one in Split and is quite OK. Again, the views from here are breathtakingly beautiful!

4. Plitvice Lakes National Park

Well, how do I even begin to describe Plitvice? It was nothing like I have ever seen before – so huge, so tranquil, so colorful and simply gorgeous. I have written an entire post dedicated to Plitvice Lakes National Park, see that here. For now, pictures will do 🙂

Book your guided tour of Plitvice Lakes National Park here.

Croatia itinerary

Read my experience in Plitvice here: Ultimate guide to Plitvice Lakes National Park.

  • Where to stay?

Luxury : Apartmani Burić | Estavela Holiday homeEtno Garden Exclusive Rooms

Mid Range : Grand Lakes Rooms| Villa Lika Annex | B&B Villa Nena

Budget : Rada Guest HousePlitvice House Pox |Guest House Nenad

5. Rastoke

On the way to Zadar from Plitvice, lies a fairy tale village Rastoke where naturally occurring small waterfalls decorate the gardens outside the houses and looks like a scene picked from a painting canvas. Rastoke is a MUST visit!

6. Zadar

After Dubrovnik, my second favorite city in Croatia is Zadar. It was named as the ‘European Best destination of the year 2016’ and it truly deserves all the attention. The streets of Zadar old town are cobbled with white marble which gives it a vintage feel and it matches perfectly with the Roman ruins at the center of old town. Zadar is a peninsula with water on three sides of the city.

Croatia itinerary

One part of the city near the old town is connected with the other end through a scenic bridge. We found a secret spot in Old town to get some cool shade to have a mini picnic for lunch and get some amazing views of the city. As soon as you enter the Old town, take the stairs to your left and voila, you are all alone in shade of umpteen trees and get ready to soak in some lovely views of Zadar.

Points of Interest in Zadar

  • Roman Ruins

Early Romans settled here in Zadar and since then many empires have come and gone. These ruins are an evidence of the hay days that Zadar had once seen. You can take a guided tour of Zadar old town to know more about its history and architecture.

  • Sea Organ

We all know about an Organ, the music instrument which is made of small pipes that produces sound when air is blown into it, right? But, Zadar’s Sea Organ is quite different – it isn’t a small instrument, but a huge structure that has been laid below the stairs next to the beach. So when the water goes inside these huge pipes, they make sounds – only that they are eerie! It has to be experienced to be understood!

  • Greeting to the sun

Just next to the giant Sea Organ is a huge discotheque floor like arrangement. During the day, it is a solar panel that gets charged with sun light and in the night, it turns into a disco with colorful lights emitted out of the disco floor. There is no DJ here though! But, the eerie sounds from the Sea Organ will be there with you for your company.

  • Zadar Cathedral

First built in 5th century, Zadar’s Cathedral was destroyed in 12th century when Venetians attacked it. The Cathedral was rebuilt in 14th century along with its Bell Tower. Cathedral is Zadar’s one of significant landmarks and is a difficult one to miss while roaming around the old town.

  • Zadar’s Waterfront

At the edge of Zadar’s Old Town is the beautiful waterfront which hosts a lovely garden with colorful flowers. Locals swim here often with their dogs and its so amazing to see how the dogs swim far and wide and to watch them play is even more wonderful.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BQCQRAxBQHp/?taken-by=hopping_miles

Just behind the gardens is a play area for kids with jumping castles and a joyful play pen which kids will enjoy. My son who was 3 then, loved this place and wasn’t ready to leave even after an hour!

  • Museum of Ancient Glass

If you are someone who is interested in ancient artifacts and curious how things were made and how it has evolved into, then you need to visit this museum. Glass artifacts in this museum dates back to as old as 2000 years back. There is also a place where we can see how glass is made and a woman makes beautiful jewelry from glass beads – live in front of you.

  • Where to Stay?

Luxury : Urban Luxury ApartmentLuxury Penthouse ApartmentsLux Zadar No.6

Mid Range : Apartment Old Gold| Luxury rooms Kadena | Guest house Crisogono

Budget : Studio Apartment AntonioStudio apartment VisnjikApartmani Vanja

7. Zagreb

Zagreb is the capital city of Croatia and is the largest city in Croatia. Zagreb, as I would like to call it, a potpourri of cultures. There is the traditional part of Zagreb with historical buildings and immaculate architecture, while other part of Zagreb is so hip and modern with contemporary shopping malls and not to forget the amazing music festivals held here.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BQKCaBBBTFj/?taken-by=hopping_miles

Points of Interest in Zagreb

  • Maksimir Park

Maksmir Park is the biggest park in Zagreb. It has a zoo attached to it with a lot of animals too. It is perfect for people traveling with kids and really good for someone who wants to have a peaceful walk amidst lush green lawns and vibrant flowers.

  • Dolac Market

Call me a fanatic but I love to visit local markets in any city I go, so I had to visit the Dolac Market in Zagreb too! Seafood, fresh fruits, flowers, wooden and other handmade artifacts and everything under the roof was either exotic or tempting. And yes, we bought some cherries and peaches here too!

Croatia itinerary

  • Museum of broken relationships

Have you ever heard of a Museum dedicated to break-ups, well, Zagreb has one! Everything in this museum is related to broken relationships, while some are break-up stories, some arts on display are outright funny and is totally pun intended!

  • Jarun Lake

Jarun is a huge lake which is a short bus ride away from Zagreb’s city centre. You can go cycling, kayaking, swimming or even set up your own barbecue here. It’s quite a big lake and has something for everyone – if not anything, grab a coffee at a nearby restaurant and relax.

  • Zagreb Eye

Zagreb Eye or Zagreb 360 is an observation desk from where we can have some amazing 360 degree views of Zagreb city. Apart from sprawling views of Zagreb skyline, you have some great dining and drinks options here too.

  • Funicular Railway

As the name says, its funicular train – this ride takes you to the main tourist section in Zagreb where the main attractions, museums are located. There are stairs which we can take to get to this street, but hey, this ride is so much fun. It lasts like a minute and a half or two and is really cheap, 4kn for one side if I remember correctly. I’d say, go in the funicular while going up and walk down the street on the way back.

  • Botanical Garden Zagreb

This Botanical garden in Zagreb is in the heart of city with home to indigenous of species of plants and flowers. The pretty water ponds and colorful bridges on top is a treat to eyes. So green and welcoming – you will need at least an hour to explore this place.

  • Croatian national Theatre

Being one of the famous landmarks in Zagreb, Croatian National Theatre is famed to have had many renowned Croatian artists working here. It is a theatre, opera and ballet house in Zagreb’s Lower town. A visit here is mandatory not only for its artistic significance but also for its imposing architecture.

  • Where to Stay?

Luxury : Apartment LarinBonus ApartmentsEsplanade Zagreb Hotel

Mid Range : Livris Hotel| Garden Hotel | Main Square Residence

Budget : MZ ApartmentMulberry 44Apartment TONI I.

8. Istria

Istria is a Croatian peninsula which has rolling hills, vineyards, sunny beaches, roman ruins and much more! It neighbors Italy and we can see some Italian influence in some Istrian towns too. Istria deserves at least 3 days of attention and rushing by Istria is no means a wise thing to do!

Points of Interest in Istria

  • Rovinj

Rovinj is one of those towns in Croatia that brings back Nostalgia is absolutely gorgeous. Just looking at the pics makes me go gaga over Rovinj. The colorful houses, the beaches and just the view of the town by the waterfront is so captivating. You can go scuba diving or take a romantic walk in the old town or go beach hopping in Rovinj.

Pula is known for its historical significance in the medieval European history. And again Italy’s influence on Istria can be felt here too. A mini Colosseum in its entirety is present in Pula and is maintained well to retain its glory. In Pula, stare at the imposing structure of the Roman amphitheatre or indulge in some exotic wines from local vineyards or walk in the woods with a sweet scent of pine.

Apart from Rovinj and Pula, Opatija, Motovun, Porec are some beautiful towns to visit in Istria.

With this exhaustive list of places to add in your itinerary, hope your Croatian Itinerary for 7 days or 10 days is sorted. Croatia, according to me is one such country which must be seen in one’s lifetime. In fact, I have even decided upon a which countryside village in Croatia to retire 🙂 I can’t wait to get back there. When are you planning yours?

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Table Table
Table Table