Split + Dalmatian Islands + Dubrovnik 7-Day

Activities

1. 09:00 Arrive + check in near the old town 1h30

   From Split Airport (SPU, near Trogir, ~25 km), take bus #37 (€5, ~50 min), the Pleso airport shuttle (€8, 30-40 min), or a taxi/Bolt (€25-35, 25-30 min) to the center. Drop bags at accommodation in or beside the palace.

   Cost: Transfer €5-35 TIP: Don't bring a rental car into the old town — it's pedestrianized with no parking. Withdraw euros from a bank ATM (Erste, PBZ, OTP), not a yellow Euronet machine, and decline the machine's currency conversion. Veli Varoš and Bačvice are quieter, cheaper bases a few minutes from the palace.
2. 11:00 Diocletian's Palace — Peristyle & the old town 1h30

   Enter the 4th-century Roman palace (built around 305 AD as Emperor Diocletian's retirement home) — now a living old town. Walking the gates, alleys, and the central Peristyle square is free.

   Cost: Free to walk TIP: Start at the Peristyle, the colonnaded heart of the palace, then wander out through the Golden, Silver, Iron, and Bronze gates. It's a working neighborhood, not a museum behind glass. Mornings are far less crowded than midday, when cruise groups arrive.
3. 12:30 Lunch — Villa Spiza (old-town konoba) 1h

   A few lanes north of the Peristyle, Villa Spiza is a tiny counter cooking a daily chalkboard menu — grilled fish, black risotto, beef stew — that locals and chefs love. Plates around €10-15.

   Cost: €12-25 TIP: There's no fixed menu — order from the board. Just a few seats, so arrive around noon to avoid a wait; cash is handy. Closed Sundays — Konoba Fetivi in Veli Varoš (a Michelin Bib Gourmand) is the backup.
4. 14:00 Cathedral of St Domnius + bell tower + cellars 1h30

   The cathedral, built inside Diocletian's mausoleum, plus its climbable Romanesque bell tower for old-town views, and the atmospheric palace cellars (substructures) below. Each part has a small separate ticket (a few euros).

   Cost: Cathedral/tower/cellars a few € each TIP: The bell tower climb is steep and narrow but the views over the red roofs and harbor are the best in the old town. The cellars stood in for Daenerys's Meereen in Game of Thrones. Combo tickets cover the cathedral, tower, crypt, and treasury.
5. 16:00 The Riva waterfront promenade 1h

   Split's palm-lined seafront promenade along the south wall of the palace — cafés, the harbor, and the ferry port. The city's social heart and the place for a slow coffee.

   Cost: Coffee €2-3.50 TIP: Do as locals do: order a slow espresso and watch the harbor. The Riva is also where you'll check ferry departures for tomorrow's island trip — the port is right here. Prime waterfront tables carry a small premium.
6. 17:30 Marjan Hill sunset walk 2h

   Climb the stairs from Veli Varoš up the pine-forested Marjan Hill to the Telegrin viewpoint for a sweeping panorama over the palace, harbor, and islands. The best free thing to do in Split.

   Cost: Free TIP: The climb takes 20-30 minutes; bring water, especially in summer heat. Sunset light over the islands is the reward. The Vidilica café partway up is a good rest stop. Rocky swimming coves sit below the hill if you want a dip first.
7. 20:00 Dinner — Dalmatian konoba 2h

   A back-street konoba (Konoba Matejuška by the fishing harbor, or Konoba Varoš) for grilled fish, black risotto, or pašticada with a glass of Plavac Mali.

   Cost: €20-40 per person TIP: Reserve in peak season — the good konobas are small. If ordering whole fish (priced per kilo), confirm the weight and total before it's grilled. Black risotto and pašticada are fixed-price safe bets. Finish with a rakija, often offered on the house.

Meal Recommendations

Activities

1. 08:00 Morning catamaran from Split port 1h30

   Walk to the central ferry port on the Riva and board a catamaran to Hvar Town (~1 hour, from €25) or Brač/Bol (~1 hour, from €20). Operators include Jadrolinija, Kapetan Luka/Krilo, and TP Line.

   Cost: Ferry €20-25 each way TIP: Book foot-passenger catamaran tickets online a day or two ahead in July-August — popular crossings sell out. Catamarans are faster than car ferries. Check the return schedule before you sail so you don't get stranded on a thinning afternoon timetable.
2. 10:00 Explore the island town 2h30

   On Hvar: the harbor, the main square, and the Spanish Fortress (Fortica) above town for panoramic views over the Pakleni Islands. On Brač: Bol village and the famous Zlatni Rat ('Golden Horn') shingle beach.

   Cost: Fortress ~€10 (Hvar) TIP: Hvar is the livelier, glitzier island (and pricier); Brač/Bol is more beach-focused and relaxed. The Hvar fortress climb is hot at midday — go earlier or take water. On Brač, Zlatni Rat is a 20-30 min walk or short shuttle from Bol's harbor.
3. 13:00 Lunch + swimming 2h30

   A seafood lunch at an island konoba, then swim — the Pakleni Islands off Hvar (water taxi) or Zlatni Rat on Brač. The Adriatic is warmest June-September.

   Cost: Lunch €15-30; water taxi €10-15 TIP: Bring reef shoes for pebble beaches and the rocks. From Hvar Town, a short water taxi reaches the clear, quiet Pakleni Islands for the best swimming. Confirm the per-kilo price on whole fish at lunch.
4. 16:00 Island time + return catamaran 2h

   More beach, a wander through the old streets, or a drink by the harbor before the afternoon/evening catamaran back to Split (~1 hour).

   Cost: Return fare (see morning) TIP: Don't miss the last fast catamaran (schedules thin out late afternoon, especially in shoulder season). If you fall for an island, you can also stay 1-2 nights and continue — but for a day trip, watch the clock.
5. 19:00 Back in Split — Riva sunset + dinner 2h30

   Arrive back at the Split port, walk the Riva at golden hour, and have dinner at an Adriatic seafood spot (Ma:Toni near Bačvice, or Konoba Fetivi).

   Cost: €20-50 per person TIP: Reserve dinner ahead in summer. Buzara (shellfish in wine and garlic) or black risotto pair well with a crisp Pošip white. Bačvice beach nearby is the spot for late-evening drinks and the local picigin ball game.

Meal Recommendations

Activities

1. 08:30 Travel to Krka National Park 2h

   Head ~85 km (1.5h) northwest to Krka — by guided day tour (from ~$60 with transport) or by intercity bus to Skradin or Lozovac, then the park's boat/shuttle into the falls area.

   Cost: Tour ~$60 / bus + park transport TIP: A tour removes the logistics of connecting buses and park boats. From Skradin, a scenic boat ride takes you up the river into the park. Bring water, sun protection, and good shoes for the boardwalks.
2. 10:30 Skradinski Buk cascades + boardwalks 3h

   Walk the wooden boardwalks weaving over and around the Skradinski Buk, Krka's signature multi-tiered cascade, through lush river scenery. Park entry is €30-40 depending on season.

   Cost: Entry €30-40 TIP: Swimming inside the park has been banned since 2021, so this is about walking and photography, not a dip. Go early to beat tour-bus crowds at the main cascade. The full boardwalk loop is a couple of relaxed hours.
3. 14:00 Lunch in Skradin 1h30

   A riverside lunch in the pretty town of Skradin at the park's edge — Dalmatian seafood, the local Skradinski rižot, and a glass of wine by the marina.

   Cost: €15-30 TIP: Skradin is calmer and more characterful than the busy park entrance. Skradinski rižot is a slow-cooked local risotto worth trying. A relaxed stop before the ride back.
4. 16:30 Return to Split + evening at leisure 2h

   Head back to Split (1.5h). Evening at leisure on the Riva or Bačvice — a swim, drinks, and a relaxed dinner.

   Cost: Transport (tour/bus) TIP: After a long day outdoors, an easy Riva dinner is ideal. Bačvice beach is the spot for an evening swim and the local picigin ball game. Save a sit-down konoba feast for tomorrow.
5. 20:00 Dinner — Dalmatian wine bar 2h

   Zinfandel or Uje Oil Bar in the old town for Dalmatian classics with a strong Croatian wine list — pašticada, black risotto, or sharing plates of pršut and Pag cheese.

   Cost: €20-50 per person TIP: Reserve in summer. Ask for Plavac Mali (red) or Pošip (white) to pair. Uje is the more veg-friendly, sharing-plate option; Zinfandel is the wine-led dinner.

Meal Recommendations

Activities

1. 08:00 Catamaran to Brač (Bol) or Vis 1h30

   From the Split port, take a catamaran to Bol on Brač (~1h, from €20) for the famous Zlatni Rat beach, or to Vis (~2h) for the quietest, most remote island and the Blue Cave excursion.

   Cost: Ferry €20-25 each way TIP: Bol/Brač is the easy choice for the iconic beach; Vis suits travelers wanting somewhere wilder and less developed. Book ahead in peak season and check the return catamaran times before you sail.
2. 10:00 Zlatni Rat beach (Brač) / island exploring (Vis) 3h

   On Brač: the Zlatni Rat 'Golden Horn', a shifting shingle spit that's Croatia's most photographed beach, with clear water and windsurfing. On Vis: the harbor town, Stiniva cove, and Blue Cave boat trips.

   Cost: Beach free; water sports extra TIP: Zlatni Rat is a 20-30 min walk or short shuttle from Bol's harbor — reef shoes help on the shingle. Brač is a windsurfing hotspot (the maestral wind). On Vis, the Blue Cave is a separate boat excursion best booked ahead.
3. 13:30 Island lunch + more beach time 2h30

   A seafood lunch at a Bol or Vis konoba, then more swimming and sun before the return crossing.

   Cost: €15-30 TIP: Confirm per-kilo fish prices. Vis is known for excellent, less touristy konobas and its own wine (Vugava white, Plavac red). Watch the clock for the last fast catamaran back.
4. 17:00 Return to Split 2h

   Afternoon/evening catamaran back to Split (~1h from Brač, ~2h from Vis). Freshen up before dinner.

   Cost: Return fare (see morning) TIP: From Vis, leave more buffer — it's the longer crossing and the schedule is thinner. Back on the Riva, a sunset stroll is the perfect wind-down.
5. 20:00 Dinner — back-street konoba 2h

   Konoba Korta or Konoba Marjan for a peka feast (order ahead earlier in the day) or pašticada, with Plavac Mali wine.

   Cost: €20-45 per person TIP: Peka must be ordered hours in advance and is usually for two — call ahead in the morning if you want it tonight. Otherwise pašticada or grilled fish. A rakija nightcap is the traditional finish.

Meal Recommendations

Activities

1. 07:30 Vis catamaran or Blue Cave tour 2h30

   Either take the catamaran to Vis (~2h) for Croatia's quietest island, or join a 5-island speedboat tour from Split (~$130) that bundles the Blue Cave (Biševo), Stiniva, Hvar, and the Pakleni Islands.

   Cost: Vis ferry ~€20 / tour ~$130 TIP: The 5-island tour is the efficient way to see the Blue Cave (its glowing blue light peaks late morning on calm, sunny days). Independent Vis is cheaper and more relaxed but needs the longer ferry. Book either ahead in summer.
2. 11:00 Blue Cave + Stiniva cove 2h30

   The Blue Cave on Biševo (off Vis) glows electric blue when sunlight refracts through the water; Stiniva is a near-enclosed pebble cove rated among Europe's finest beaches. Swimming and snorkeling stops.

   Cost: Included in tour / Vis logistics TIP: The Blue Cave can close in choppy seas — tours have backup plans. Stiniva is reached by boat or a steep path; reef shoes help. Bring a dry bag for valuables on boat tours.
3. 14:00 Lunch + Vis town / island wine 2h

   Lunch at a Vis konoba — the island is known for excellent, low-key seafood and its own wines (Vugava white, Plavac red). Wander Vis town or Komiža harbor.

   Cost: €15-35 TIP: Vis's konobas are some of Dalmatia's best-kept secrets. Try the island wine. If on a group tour, lunch is usually a fixed island stop. Confirm per-kilo fish prices.
4. 17:00 Return to Split + last-night dinner 3h

   Return catamaran/tour to Split. A final Split dinner — Bokeria for a lively night, or a quiet konoba — before tomorrow's transfer south.

   Cost: Dinner €20-50 TIP: Pack tonight for an early start to Dubrovnik. Reserve dinner in summer. A last Riva walk and a rakija is the classic send-off from Split.

Meal Recommendations

Activities

1. 08:30 Check out + optional Trogir morning 2h

   Check out in Split. With an early start, squeeze in Trogir (bus #37, €5, 25-30 min) for its UNESCO old town and cathedral, or head straight to the bus station for Dubrovnik.

   Cost: Bus #37 €5 (optional) TIP: If you skipped Trogir earlier, this is the chance. Otherwise, get to Split's main bus station by the Riva for the Dubrovnik coach. Book the bus ticket in advance in peak season.
2. 11:00 Coastal bus Split → Dubrovnik 4h

   The intercity bus runs ~3-4.5 hours south along a spectacular Adriatic coast road (a short passport check at the Neum corridor through Bosnia, eased since Croatia joined Schengen/the Pelješac Bridge). Fare ~€15-25.

   Cost: Bus €15-25 TIP: Sit on the right (sea side) for the views. The Pelješac Bridge now bypasses much of the old Neum border friction. Buses are comfortable and frequent; book ahead in summer. A faster catamaran option also runs seasonally.
3. 15:30 Arrive Dubrovnik + check in 1h30

   Arrive in Dubrovnik and check in near the old town (or in Lapad/Ploče for value). Settle in before exploring.

   Cost: Local transfer €2-15 TIP: Dubrovnik is pricier than Split — staying just outside the walls (Ploče, Lapad) saves money and noise. The old town is car-free; local bus or taxi from the bus station.
4. 17:30 Dubrovnik old town evening walk 2h

   An evening stroll down the Stradun (the marble main street), Onofrio's Fountain, the cathedral, and the harbor — the old town is at its calmest after the cruise crowds leave.

   Cost: Free to walk TIP: Late afternoon/evening is the best time to wander, once day-trippers thin out. Save the city walls for tomorrow's cooler morning. A drink at the cliff-side Buža bar outside the walls is a sunset highlight.
5. 20:00 Dinner — Dubrovnik old town 2h

   Dinner at a Dubrovnik restaurant — fresh Adriatic seafood, black risotto, and southern Dalmatian wine in the old town or by the harbor.

   Cost: €30-60 per person TIP: Dubrovnik dining runs pricier than Split — head a few streets off the Stradun for better value. Reserve in summer. Pair with a southern Dalmatian red (Plavac Mali from Pelješac/Dingač).

Meal Recommendations

Activities

1. 08:00 Dubrovnik City Walls walk 2h

   Walk the 2 km of medieval city walls early, before the heat and crowds — sweeping views over the terracotta roofs, the Adriatic, and Lokrum island. Entry ~€35.

   Cost: City walls ~€35 TIP: Go right at opening (8:00) — the walls bake by midday and fill with cruise crowds. The full circuit takes 1.5-2 hours with photo stops. This is the famous Game of Thrones King's Landing. Bring water and sun protection.
2. 10:30 Lovrijenac fortress + Stradun 1h30

   The Lovrijenac fortress perched on a cliff outside the western wall (included with the walls ticket), then a final wander of the Stradun and the old town's side lanes.

   Cost: Included with walls TIP: Lovrijenac ("Dubrovnik's Gibraltar") offers a dramatic angle back at the walls and was also a GoT location. Combine with the walls ticket. The side streets off the Stradun are quieter for photos.
3. 12:30 Cable car viewpoint (optional) + last lunch 2h

   Optionally ride the cable car up Mount Srđ for the classic panorama over the walled city, then a last Dalmatian lunch in the old town or by the harbor.

   Cost: Cable car ~€27; lunch €15-35 TIP: The Srđ cable car view is the postcard shot of Dubrovnik — best in clear weather. If time is short before your flight, skip it and just enjoy a relaxed harbor lunch.
4. 15:00 Departure — Dubrovnik Airport (DBV) 1h30

   Head to Dubrovnik Airport (DBV, ~20 km southeast) by airport shuttle (~€10, 30-40 min) or taxi. An open-jaw trip ends here, having flown into Split.

   Cost: Shuttle ~€10 / taxi €35-40 TIP: Arrive ~2 hours before an international flight in summer (DBV gets busy). The airport shuttle leaves from near the old town and the bus station. Flying out of Dubrovnik (not back to Split) saves a long backtrack.

Meal Recommendations