14 days Grand Tour of Croatia: Zagreb, Istria, Plitvice, Dalmatia, Dubrovnik

Trip map

Click each numbered marker to see the corresponding day.

Day by day

1. 1

   Day 1

   Arrival Zagreb

   Direct flight Paris-Zagreb (2h, daily Croatia Airlines, €180-380 round-trip). Franjo Tuđman airport 17 km from centre — Pleso bus (€8, 30-35 min) to the bus station (Autobusni kolodvor) or taxi/Bolt (€25-35). Not to be confused with old Pleso airport, closed since 2017.

   Settle in Donji Grad (lower town, Austro-Hungarian urbanism) — pedestrian district between the station and Ban Jelačić square, ideal to do everything on foot. Apartmans €60-110/night, boutique hotels Esplanade Zagreb (Art Deco 1925, €180-260/night) or Canopy by Hilton (€140-200/night). For tight budgets: Mosaic Hostel or Hostel Bureau (dorm beds €25-40/night).

   First evening Tkalčićeva street (Tkalča) — pedestrian cobbled lane on a hillside, string of bars and open-air terraces, Zagreb nightlife in its authentic form. Traditional dinner: zagrebački odrezak (Viennese schnitzel stuffed with ham and cheese, €15-22) at Stari Fijaker (1925, institution) or Kerempuh (above Dolac market, rooftop view). Evening drink at Cogito Coffee or Vinyl (vinyl selection).

   Tips

   • · Pleso airport bus: departures every 30 min from 4:30am to 10pm. Off-hours: taxi/Bolt around €25-35.
   • · Donji Grad recommended for first contact (on foot to everything). Gornji Grad for medieval atmosphere but steep stairs with luggage.
   • · Multimodal card ZET (€10/24h or €4/day) covers tram, bus, Gornji Grad funicular — handy for 2-3 days.
   • · Zagreb is significantly cheaper than the coast (Split, Dubrovnik): use the chance for good restaurants at reasonable prices (€25-35/pers. for main + wine).
   Zagreb →
2. 2

   Day 2

   Zagreb: Gornji Grad + Dolac market

   Morning Dolac market (open 7am-3pm, closed Sunday afternoon and Monday) — Zagreb's "belly", open-air market and covered hall, fresh produce, cheeses, honey, fish in basement. Terrace coffee above at Kerempuh or Amélie.

   Climb to Gornji Grad (medieval upper town) via the world's shortest funicular (66m, €0.80) — world length record, operating since 1890. Arrive at Strossmayerovo Šetalište (panoramic promenade) for views over the lower town's red roofs. Saint Mark's Church (free, interior closed outside services) with its colourful tiled roof forming the coats of arms of Croatia, Dalmatia, Slavonia and Zagreb — the city's iconic photo. Cathedral of the Assumption (free, under restoration after 2020 earthquake), 105m spires visible from anywhere in town.

   Lunch Pod Gričkim Topom (terrace city view, €25-35/pers.) or Pingvin (gourmet sandwiches, €8-12). Afternoon Museum of Broken Relationships (Muzej Prekinutih Veza, €7) — original world-famous concept, objects and letters from ex-couples, European Museum of the Year 2011 winner. Short (1-1.5h) but emotionally powerful. Round out with Mimara Museum (€10) for classical art or MSU Contemporary Art Museum (€8, Novi Zagreb) if curious about design.

   Evening jazz/cocktail: BP Club (live jazz nightly, €5-10 cover), Bullshit (creative cocktails, €8-12) or Mali Medo (local craft beer bar).

   Tips

   • · Dolac: go early (7-9am) for real producers and best produce. After 11am, more touristy.
   • · Gornji Grad funicular: 66m but avoids steep stairs. Free alternative: Strossmayerovo steps (5 min walk).
   • · Museum of Broken Relationships: unmissable concept, you leave moved. Audioguide included in €7 ticket.
   • · Noon cannon shot from Lotrščak Tower (Gornji Grad) — tradition since 1877. Short but authentic spectacle.
   Zagreb →
3. 3

   Day 3

   Zagreb → Rovinj (car rental, 4h)

   Morning car rental (Sixt, Europcar, Avis — €40-60/day for category B, drop-off in Zadar or Split possible with €50-80 supplement). Prefer airport or central station (Glavni kolodvor) agencies, book 2 months ahead for May-October.

   Drive Zagreb → Rovinj, 270 km, 3.5-4h via A1 motorway then A8 to Rijeka and Pula (cumulative tolls €18-22). Fuel up before leaving (5 cents/L cheaper in suburbs than coastal tourist zone). Lunch stop Rijeka (halfway, country's 3rd city): walk Korzo (pedestrian street), central market (fish and fruit), coffee Caffe Atrij. It's also the European Capital of Culture 2020, industrial port urbanism loaded with Mitteleuropean history.

   Arrive Rovinj late afternoon (5-6pm). Park at Valdibora car park (€1.5/h, €12/24h) or Concetta — cars banned intra-muros. Settle old-town apartman (€80-150/night, port view extra +€30-50) or hotel Lone (design, €180-280/night). Mythical sunset from Spagnola (northwest cape) or Aldo Rismondo promenade — one of the Adriatic's finest. Dinner Konoba Veli Jože (Istrian cuisine, €30-40/pers.) or La Puntulina (rock view, €60-80/pers., book 1 week ahead).

   Tips

   • · Car rental drop-off in Zadar/Split: €50-80 supplement but avoids return to Zagreb (saves 5h drive + 1 day).
   • · Rijeka worth 1-2h lunch stop: Korzo + market cover the essentials. If more time, Trsat Castle (panorama).
   • · Rovinj: inner-town apartmans accessible with mini-trolleys via Booking (host collects bags at car park, free or €5-10).
   • · Malvazija istarska wine: local white variety. Estates to visit en route: Kozlović, Matošević, Coronica (€5-15 tasting).
   Rovinj →
4. 4

   Day 4

   Inland Istria: Motovun, Grožnjan, truffles

   Day in inland Istria (50-70 km loop, 1.5-2h driving). First stop: Motovun (277m, 500 inhabitants) — fortified medieval village above the Motovun truffle forest (world's largest white truffle, 1.31 kg, was found there in 1999, Guinness record). Park at lower car park (€3), walk up (15 min) to free ramparts. Terrace coffee at Mondo Konoba or Hotel Kaštel.

   Drive to Grožnjan (15 km, artists' village, 30 open studios) — high point of the Bijela Cesta (white road), former railway converted into a cycle path. Aperitif at La Parenzana (malvazija €3-4 a glass).

   Detour to Hum (world's smallest village, 30 inhabitants) — miniature medieval village, open 24/7, lunch biska (mistletoe brandy, local speciality, €2-3 a shot) at Humska Konoba.

   The headline experience in the afternoon: truffle hunt with truffle dog (€60-100/pers., 2-3h) via Karlić Tartufi (Paladini) or Zigante (Livade). The guide leads with their dog (lagotto romagnolo), explains geology/season, ends with truffle oil tasting and truffle omelette.

   Dinner fuži with truffles (white Oct-Dec season ~€45, black year-round ~€30) at Zigante (Livade) or Konoba Mondo (Motovun)__. Night Rovinj.

   Tips

   • · Hum: 30 inhabitants, open 24/7 (no ticket office). One street, one church, one konoba. Worth it for the record.
   • · Biska: mistletoe brandy, 6 local herbs infused. Possible souvenir (€8-15 a bottle at Humska Konoba).
   • · Karlić Tartufi (Paladini): 4-generation family farm, the oldest. Zigante (Livade): more commercial but more accessible. Pick based on style.
   • · Cycling along the Bijela Cesta: bike rental possible in Buzet or Grožnjan (€15-20/day). 30 km from Buzet to Trieste on the old railway.
   Rovinj →
5. 5

   Day 5

   Rovinj → Pula → Plitvice (4h drive)

   Morning Pula (40 min from Rovinj): interior visit of the Roman amphitheatre (€10, 8am-9pm in season) — one of the 6 best-preserved in the world (1st century, 23,000 seats), still used for Pula Film Festival in July. Allow 1-1.5h in arenas, tiers and basement (olive oil and antique wine exhibit). Walk Roman forum (free) with Temple of Augustus (1st century) and Arch of the Sergii. Coffee at Cvajner Caffè (terrace facing the temple).

   Depart for Plitvice (280 km, 3h30 via A8 + A6 motorway + Plitvice exit). Cumulative tolls €15-20. Lunch stop Rijeka (halfway) or Karlovac (just before Plitvice, fortified town 1579, good family restaurants €15-25/pers.).

   Arrive Plitvice late afternoon. Settle in official park hotel (Jezero, Plitvice, Bellevue — €100-150/night with entry ticket included, saves €35/pers.) or private Mukinje apartman (€60-100/night). Late afternoon: free walk around Lake Kozjak and sunset on Veliki Slap (78m, Croatia's tallest waterfall) from the free viewpoint. Dinner local trout caught fresh at the guesthouse (€15-25/pers.). Early curfew: 7am opening tomorrow.

   Tips

   • · Pula amphitheatre: online ticket (visitpula.eu) skip-the-line, saves 30 min in high season.
   • · Fuel up in Karlovac: few pumps in the park, prices 5-10 cents/L higher in tourist area.
   • · Plitvice official hotels: ticket included in room. Saves €35-40/pers. in July-August, €24/pers. off-season.
   • · Pula Film Festival: 21st century, open-air films in the amphitheatre. Programme on pulafilmfestival.hr, tickets €8-15.
   Pula →Plitvice Lakes →
6. 6

   Day 6

   Plitvice: national park day

   Plitvice National Park (UNESCO since 1979) at opening (7am in summer, 8am off-season). Variable prices by season: €40 in July-August, €23.90 in May-June and September, €10 in winter. Tickets online at np-plitvicka-jezera.hr with slot to choose (mandatory in high season).

   The park protects 16 stepped turquoise lakes (133m altitude difference between highest and lowest), connected by 92 waterfalls formed by tufa limestone deposits (geological process still active). Trails exclusively in wood (to avoid damaging the tufa), sometimes at water level. Two main loops: Loop K (8h, 18 km, complete) — passes Veliki Slap, boat shuttle on Kozjak, upper lakes; Loop H (4-5h, 9 km, condensed) — best time/discovery ratio if only one day. Internal bus (free, included) and electric boat shuttle (free, 20 min on Kozjak) connect sections.

   Lunch packed picnic (banned in some zones, eat on provided benches) or stop at Lički Kuhar restaurant (entrance 1). Back to hotel late afternoon. Relax evening, ličko prosciutto (smoked ham from Velebit massif, €12-18) and paški cheese (Pag island, €15-25).

   Tips

   • · Tufa photos: turquoise colour is more vibrant under cloudy skies than direct sun. Overcast days are often the most photogenic.
   • · Essential footwear: wet wooden boardwalks are slippery. Walking trainers or low hiking shoes, never flip-flops.
   • · Swimming banned in all the lakes (protected zone). Korana river at the south park exit allows free swimming.
   • · Book the morning slot (7-9am) — cruise bus influx arrives at 10am.
   Plitvice Lakes →
7. 7

   Day 7

   Plitvice → Zadar (1h30) → Krka

   Morning drive Plitvice → Zadar (130 km, 1h30, A1 motorway toll €8-10). Arrive old town mid-morning. Zadar old town (800m peninsula, ringed by Venetian walls): Saint Donatus Church (9th century, Byzantine rotunda, €3.50, exceptional acoustics), Roman Forum (free, 1st century), Saint Anastasia Cathedral (bell tower €3, panoramic view). Walk Kalelarga (main pedestrian street).

   Lunch Pet Bunara (modern Mediterranean, €25-35/pers.) or Konoba Stomorica (fish, €30-40/pers.).

   Afternoon Riva for the two iconic works by Nikola Bašić: the Sea Organ (Morske orgulje, 2005) — marble staircase carved with 35 pipes that waves make sound, free, ever-changing sound; the Greeting to the Sun (Pozdrav Suncu, 2008) — 22m circle of multicoloured solar panels, lights up at sunset. The Zadar sunset, called "the most beautiful in the world" by Alfred Hitchcock in 1964, sets the Kornati horizon ablaze.

   Alternative Krka National Park (if you skip Zadar): Skradin entrance (€15-40 depending on season), free boat to Skradinski Buk (3 km, 25 min), 17 waterfalls, swimming allowed until 2021 then restricted (check np-krka.hr).

   Dinner Maraschino cocktail (Zadar's signature cherry liqueur) at Garden Lounge. Return car in Zadar or Split as planned (supplement €50-80).

   Tips

   • · Krka vs Zadar: Krka = nature, waterfalls, swimming (if allowed); Zadar = heritage, design, sunset. Hard to do both in a day.
   • · Maraschino Maraska: souvenir €8-15 a bottle, buy at Konzum or local pastry shops (not duty-free).
   • · Sea Organ/Greeting to the Sun: free 24/7. Arrive 1h before sunset for golden light + panel light show.
   • · Car return in Zadar: downtown agency walking-accessible. €50-80 supplement if picked up in Zagreb.
   Zadar →
8. 8

   Day 8

   Zadar → Split (bus 2h30) + Trogir

   Morning bus Zadar → Split (2h30, €15-20, FlixBus or Arriva, departures every 1-2h) — scenic A1 motorway, view of the Kornati on the right. Arrive at Split bus station (5 min walk to the palace). Drop bags at inner-palace apartman (booking essential, €90-160/night in May-June, €180-280 in July-August).

   Lunch Bokeria (Fruit Square, €25-35/pers., modern cuisine in a refurbished hall) or Brasserie on 7 (Riva view, €30-40/pers.). Then bus n°37 or Promet Split → Trogir (25 min, €4, departs Sukoišanska).

   Trogir is a medieval islet between coast and Čiovo, UNESCO since 1997, fortified 13th century, human-scale (complete visit 2-3h). Saint Lawrence Cathedral (€5) with Radovan portal (1240), Croatia's Romanesque masterpiece (Adam and Eve statues, Genesis scenes). Climb the bell tower (€5, narrow floors) for 360° view over the marina and Čiovo island. Walk Riva, Kamerlengo fortress (€5, Venetian legacy).

   Return to Split by bus late afternoon. Evening on Riva: sunset walk, aperitif at Charlie's Bar or Bobis (historic terrace). Dinner at an inner-palace konoba: Konoba Marjan (fish, €35-50/pers.) or Villa Spiza (lamb leg, peka, €30-45/pers., no reservation, queue).

   Tips

   • · FlixBus Zadar-Split: tickets from €8-12 booked 1 week ahead, up to €20-25 at counter in summer. Book online.
   • · Inner-palace apartman Split: prefer those with lift or ground floor (palace stone stairs hard with luggage).
   • · Trogir: alternative to bus = water taxi from Split marina (€15, 1h) — more scenic, Adriatic coast view.
   • · Konoba Marjan, Villa Spiza, Konoba Hvaranin: book 2-3 days ahead in July-August or wait 1h.
   Split →
9. 9

   Day 9

   Split: Diocletian's Palace

   Full day in Split. Morning Diocletian's Palace (305 AD, UNESCO since 1979) — Emperor Diocletian's retirement residence, became the heart of the medieval then modern city (3,000 people live in its walls). Enter via the Golden Gate (Zlatna Vrata, Grgur Ninski statue — rub his left foot for luck). Descend into the basement (substructures, €7, 9am-8pm in season) — intact vault labyrinth used as Game of Thrones backdrop (seasons 4-5: Meereen Queen's Palace). The peristyle (central columned square) hosts summer concerts.

   Climb the Saint Domnius bell tower (€3, open 8am-8pm) — Diocletian's former mausoleum turned church, narrow stairs not recommended for claustrophobics but exceptional panorama over the bay and islands.

   Lunch Konoba Hvaranin (inner-palace, €25-35/pers., Hvar specialities) or picnic on Marjan. Afternoon Marjan hill (178m pinewood, 1h trail, free) with views over Hvar and Brač, chapels, hidden beaches (Bene, Kašjuni). Heat alternative: Bačvice beach for swimming.

   Evening peka ordered 24h ahead — absolute Dalmatian speciality: octopus or lamb cooked under a cast-iron bell for 2-3h, charcoal above and below. Restaurants: Konoba Fife (Matejuška, €30-45/pers.) or Trattoria Tinel. Evening drink Charlie's or Academia Ghetto Club (2000-year-old murals).

   Tips

   • · Guided palace tour: Free Walking Tour 10am or 12pm (2h, tip €10-15), meeting at Grgur Ninski statue.
   • · Diocletian's Wine House (inner-palace): tasting of 3-5 Dalmatian wines €15-25/pers., perfect pre-dinner.
   • · Marjan: marked trail from Saint Anne Church (Veli Varoš). Bring water (no fountain), start early or late afternoon.
   • · Peka: Konoba Fife, Trattoria Tinel, Apetit Split. Order 24h-48h ahead by phone or via the apartman.
   Split →
10. 10

    Day 10

    Split → Hvar (ferry 1h)

    Early start at Split port: Jadrolinija or Krilo passenger catamaran, Split → Hvar Town, 1h, €6-30 (Jadrolinija €6-12, Krilo €20-30, 4-6 daily crossings in summer). Booking essential in July-August (jadrolinija.hr, krilo.hr). For foot passengers: Hvar Town is fully pedestrian, scooters to rent on site (€20-30/day).

    Arrive Hvar Town around 10-11am. Drop bags Hvar Town apartman (€90-160/night, port view extra) or quieter alternative Pod Stine (15 min walk, hotel with pool, €130-200/night). Afternoon dedicated to the Pakleni Islands: taxi-boat from the quay (€50-100 for 6-8 pers., negotiate), swim stops at Palmižana or Jerolim (pebble beaches, turquoise water, beach restaurants like Toto's at €35-50/pers.).

    Back around 5-6pm. Mandatory sunset at Spanish Fortress (Fortica, €10, open until 9pm in summer) — 30 min walk up behind the cathedral, unbeatable panorama over Pakleni and Vis. Dinner Konoba Menego (traditional Dalmatian, €35-50/pers.) then drink at Hula Hula Beach Bar for Hvar's iconic nightlife.

    Tips

    • · Jadrolinija = cheap (€6-12) but standing room possible. Krilo = more expensive (€20-30) but guaranteed seats.
    • · Pakleni by taxi-boat: negotiate as a group of 4-6 (€50-80 total = €10-15/pers.) rather than per person.
    • · Hvar Town is pricey: €8 for a coffee facing the port, €12 for a mojito. Save at Konzum on Vela porta.
    • · Nightlife until 4-5am at Carpe Diem (private island, boat shuttle), Kiva Bar. Inner-town apartmans can be noisy.
    Hvar →
11. 11

    Day 11

    Hvar: Stari Grad UNESCO + lavender

    Bus Hvar Town → Stari Grad (25 min, €6) or scooter rented the day before (scenic road via Pitve pass, single-lane tunnel 1.4 km with traffic lights). Stari Grad is Hvar's other face — old town founded 4th c. BC by Greeks from Paros, pale stone alleys, intimate port, far less touristy than Hvar Town. Visit the Tvrdalj Palace (residence of poet Petar Hektorović, indoor fish pond, €3) and Saint Stephen's Church.

    The main reason to come: the UNESCO Stari Grad Plain (Ager, listed 2008) — original 4th-century BC Greek land division, still farmed along the same lines (olives, vines, lavender). Allow 1-2h by car or bike to explore the hamlets of Vrboska, Dol, Velo Grablje (semi-abandoned stone village, sea view). In June (mid-June to mid-July), the lavender fields of Brusje and Velo Grablje are in bloom — intoxicating scent, striking photos, artisanal distillation to buy on site (essential oil €8-15, dried sachet €4-6).

    Lunch at Konoba Kokot (Vrboska) or Konoba Mate (Stari Grad) — octopus or lamb peka to order the day before. Back to Hvar Town late afternoon, quiet evening at apartman + Riva. Last evening on the island: dinner at Dalmatino (inner-town, €40-55/pers., noble fish) or more accessible Konoba Menego.

    Tips

    • · Lavender bloom mid-June to mid-July (varies by altitude). Late August = fields already cut. Check with hosts 1 week ahead.
    • · Hvar scooter: €20-30/day (Navigare, Pelegrini). B licence sufficient up to 50cc. Helmet mandatory and provided.
    • · Peka (cast-iron bell, 2-3h cooking): order 24h ahead (4-6 pers., €25-35/pers. octopus or lamb). ABSOLUTE speciality to try.
    • · Velo Grablje in June: photos at dawn (6-8am) or sunset (7-8:30pm) — golden light on purple fields.
    Hvar →
12. 12

    Day 12

    Hvar → Korčula → Dubrovnik (ferries)

    Strategic maritime transfer day: Krilo catamaran, Hvar → Korčula Town, 1h30, €35-50 (morning departure 8-9am, 1 daily rotation in May-June and September, 2 in July-August). Booking essential (krilo.hr) 2-3 weeks ahead in summer.

    Arrive Korčula around 10:30am. 3-4h to visit Korčula Town (tiny fortified peninsula nicknamed "little Dubrovnik"): Saint Mark's Cathedral (€3, view from tower), purported Marco Polo House (€3, memorial), walk the ramparts (free). Lunch at Konoba Mate or Filippi (fish, fuži with truffles, local grk wine — rare white variety grown only in Lumbarda).

    Resume Krilo Korčula → Dubrovnik catamaran, 2h15, €40-60 (departure around 2-3pm). Arrive Dubrovnik Gruž port around 5pm. Bus n°1A or 3 (€1.75, 15 min) to Pile Gate or Ploče. Settle hotel: intra-muros (€200-400/night, unique experience but luggage on stairs), Lapad (€80-150/night, beaches, quiet, bus n°6) or Ploče (€120-200/night, just outside east walls, 5 min from Pile Gate).

    First evening in Dubrovnik: walk on Stradun (main marble street, slightly undulating) at sunset, dinner Lady Pi-Pi (perched terrace, €35-50/pers., booking mandatory) or Konoba Dubrava (rooftop view).

    Tips

    • · Krilo Hvar-Korčula-Dubrovnik: single combined ticket (€75-100) via krilo.hr, handy to lock schedule and seat.
    • · If Krilo is full: alternative Jadrolinija ferry Hvar → Korčula (Vela Luka) then bus Korčula → Dubrovnik (3h, €20-25). Longer but doable.
    • · Gruž port: bus n°1A or 3 (€1.75, 15 min) to Pile Gate. Taxis ask €15-25 for the same trip.
    • · Korčula: grk wine at Bire Winery (Lumbarda) — €15-25/bottle, unavailable outside the island.
    Dubrovnik →
13. 13

    Day 13

    Dubrovnik: walls + Mount Srđ

    Walls opening at 8am is essential (€35 adult, €17 student/child, 2 km circuit, 1.5-2h) — heat after 11am is suffocating and cruise crowd arrives mid-morning (Dubrovnik receives up to 4 simultaneous cruise ships in July-August, i.e. 15,000 visitors/day for 1,200 inner-town residents). Mandatory anti-clockwise direction. 360° view of orange roofs, sea, Lokrum island, Mount Srđ. Three fortress waypoints: Minčeta (north high point), Bokar (Pile Gate guardian), Saint John (harbour).

    Post-walls brunch on Stradun (Gradska Kavana, Festival Café) or picnic from Gundulić market (fruits, cheeses, local prosciutto). Afternoon: Rector's Palace (€15) with Renaissance courtyard, Franciscan Monastery (€6, Europe's 3rd-oldest still-active pharmacy, 1317), Cathedral of the Assumption (€5 for the treasury). If the heat is intense, escape to Lokrum island (ferry €27 round-trip, 15 min) — pines, wild peacocks, Benedictine monastery, swimming.

    Late afternoon: Mount Srđ cable car (€27 round-trip, 4 min) for sunset — panorama over old town, islands, Adriatic. Panorama Restaurant at the top for a drink (pricey, €10-15 cocktail but unmatched view). Free alternative: Mount Srđ trail (1-1.5h up, 5 km, 400 m elevation). Dinner Pantarul (Lapad, €45-60/pers., booking essential).

    Tips

    • · Dubrovnik Pass (€35/day, €45/3-day, €55/7-day): includes walls + 9 museums + city bus. Pays off from day 1.
    • · Cruise calendar at cruisetimetables.com: pick a 0-1 ship day. Monday-Tuesday statistically calmer.
    • · Mount Srđ cable car: last departure 10pm in summer. Book sunset slot online — 1h queue in high season.
    • · Free alternative to cable car: Mount Srđ trail (Way of the Cross), set off early or late afternoon.
    Dubrovnik →
14. 14

    Day 14

    Dubrovnik: Elafiti + departure

    Elafiti Islands day boat excursion (€40-70/pers., 8:30am-5pm) — archipelago of 13 islands of which 3 are inhabited (Šipan the largest and wine-growing, Lopud pedestrian with Šunj beach, Koločep the closest). Departure from Gruž port or old harbour (check on the ticket). Most excursions include onboard fish lunch and 1-2h on each island. This is the real taste of Dalmatia away from cruise ships: no cars, pine forests, crystalline water, family-run restaurants. Independent alternative: Jadrolinija line 9807, Gruž → Koločep → Lopud → Šipan, €4-7 one-way, 4-5 daily rotations, more freedom.

    Back to Dubrovnik around 5pm. If evening flight: last walk on Stradun, souvenir shopping at Gundulić market or Konzum supermarket in Gruž — pošip or plavac mali (wines, €12-25), olive oil (€15-25 for 0.5 L), vacuum-packed Dalmatian prosciutto (vidaccia, €8-15), Pag island salt (€3-5). Avoid Stradun shops (prices x2-3).

    Airport transfer: Platanus bus n°11 or Atlas (€8, 30 min) from Pile Gate or Gruž port, or taxi €25-40 (Bolt also works in Dubrovnik). Allow 2.5h before an intercontinental flight — DBV is small but controls can be slow at peaks. Flight Dubrovnik-Paris 2h15 (Croatia Airlines, easyJet, Air France, €120-280). End of the grand tour.

    Tips

    • · Elafiti independently (no guided tour): Jadrolinija line 9807, more freedom to stay longer on your favourite island.
    • · Lopud: rent an e-bike (€15-20/day) to cross to Šunj beach (exceptional sand beach) without the 30-min walk.
    • · DBV airport: no public night transport — if flight after 10pm, plan taxi/Bolt (€35-50).
    • · Pošip to bring back: Korta Katarina, Stina, Saints Hills are recognised producers, €18-30 a bottle. Avoid €6-8 supermarket bottles.
    Dubrovnik →

Other durations

Frequently asked questions