Croatia: The Perfect 7-Day Itinerary

Fly into Dubrovnik Airport (DBV). Take the airport bus (€8) or taxi (€35) to the Old Town.

Afternoon: Walk the City Walls (2km, €35 entry) — do this first for orientation. Then explore the limestone streets of the Old Town. Visit the Rector's Palace, Franciscan Monastery, and Onofrio's Fountain.

Evening: Catch the cable car to Mount Srđ for sunset over the Old Town and Adriatic. Dinner at a konoba (traditional tavern) in the old town.

Morning: Take the ferry to Lokrum Island (15 minutes, €15 round trip). Explore the botanical garden, Benedictine monastery ruins, and swim in the Dead Sea saltwater pool.

Afternoon: Relax at Banje Beach or take a kayaking tour around the city walls. Game of Thrones fans can do a filming locations tour.

Evening: Dinner in the Old Town — try fresh seafood at Proto or Nautika. Walk the Stradun (main street) after dark when the crowds thin out.

Drive or take a bus north (3 hours). Stop at Ston for fresh oysters — some of the best in the world. Walk the Ston Walls (5km, the longest fortification in Europe after the Great Wall).

Afternoon: Continue to Split and check in near the Old Town. Visit Diocletian's Palace — a 4th-century Roman palace that forms the heart of the city.

Evening: Walk the Riva (waterfront promenade), explore the Peristyle square, and climb the bell tower of St. Domnius Cathedral for views.

Morning: Explore Split's Old Town — the basement halls of Diocletian's Palace (Game of Thrones fans will recognize these), Jupiter's Temple, and the Green Market.

Afternoon: Take a 30-minute bus to Trogir, a UNESCO World Heritage town on a small island. Explore the Cathedral of St. Lawrence with its famous Radovan Portal.

Evening: Back in Split, enjoy the city's vibrant restaurant scene. Try local Dalmatian wine at a wine bar.

This is the highlight of Croatia. Drive 2.5 hours or take a tour from Split. Arrive by 8 AM to beat the crowds.

Follow the park's scenic route through 16 terraced lakes connected by waterfalls. Walk the wooden boardwalks, take the boat across Kozjak Lake, and see the spectacular Veliki Slap (78m waterfall). Allow 4-6 hours for the full circuit.

Tip: Stay overnight near the park entrance for early access. Hotel Plitvice or Hotel Jezero are right at the gate.

Morning: Drive to Zadar (1.5 hours). Visit the Sea Organ — an architectural sound installation that plays music from sea waves. Walk through the Roman Forum and see St. Donatus Church.

Afternoon: Continue to Šibenik and visit the stunning Cathedral of St. James, a UNESCO World Heritage site made entirely of stone.

Evening: Watch sunset at Zadar's Sea Organ — the show is timed by the tides.

If you have a full day, take a boat tour to the Kornati Islands National Park — a stunning archipelago of 89 islands. If flying out, drive to Zagreb or Split airport for departure.