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Étaperia

Complete Croatia itinerary: 66 days, hotels and bookings

66 days sequenced Morning / Afternoon / Evening / Hotel.

Compiled by Kylian, updated on Oct 5, 2026

The old town of Dubrovnik and its walls on the Adriatic, seen from above
  • 66 days
  • 236 places
  • 65 nights
  • fast pace
Start
Zagreb
End
Dubrovnik Airport (Čilipi)
Main transport
One-way rental car from Zagreb to Dubrovnik airport, twenty-two ferry crossings, most of them with the car, and boat trips to the Brijuni, the Kornati, Biševo and the Elaphiti Islands
Recommended season
High season, June to September: the only period when the ferry crossings, the boat trips and the mountain huts are all running, and the Zavižan track, on days 23 and 24, is only safe in summer

What you get

  • The complete itinerary: 66 days sequenced Morning / Afternoon / Evening / Hotel
  • The card of every hotel, with the address and a direct booking link
  • Quota tickets, fixed-date tickets and surcharges flagged in advance
  • The country quick guide: weather, transport, formalities, budget
  • A PDF file of 153 pages

What the price does not include

  • Flights
  • Hotel nights
  • Tickets and admission fees
  • Travel insurance
  • On-the-ground assistance during your trip

The itinerary preview

The free day in full, with its hotel card. This is the sample.

Day 43

Diocletian's Palace

Morning

Peristyle, Cathedral of St Domnius and Temple of Jupiter

Diocletian had his retirement residence built around 305, three hectares (7.4 acres) halfway between a villa and a military camp; Split's old town still lives inside it, houses set into the Roman walls. The peristyle, lined with columns of Egyptian granite and a sphinx brought back from the Nile, has served as a public square for seventeen centuries. The emperor's mausoleum became the Cathedral of St Domnius, dedicated to a bishop he had had executed, and the Temple of Jupiter a baptistery.

Palace cellars, Golden Gate and Silver Gate

The substructures, long filled with the city's refuse, trace the exact plan of the vanished imperial apartments above: today this is the busiest covered gallery in Split. The Golden Gate opened onto the road to Salona, with Meštrović's monumental statue of Gregory of Nin in front; the Silver Gate leads to the market.

Afternoon

Archaeological Museum, Riva and Prokurative

The Archaeological Museum of Split, founded in 1820, is the oldest in Croatia: it brings together most of the sculptures and inscriptions from Salona, and its lapidarium fills the whole garden. The Riva runs along the seafront to the Prokurative, a neo-Renaissance square arcaded on three sides and open to the sea, and the Pazar market, against the palace walls, sells fruit, vegetables and cheeses from the hinterland.

Good to know

Archaeological Museum of Split (armus.hr): from June to September, Monday to Saturday from 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM and from 3:00 PM to 8:00 PM, closed on Sundays and public holidays. The combined ticket bought the day before at Salona remains valid. Cathedral of St Domnius: tickets at the Peristyle ticket office, single (crypt, baptistery, cathedral, treasury, bell tower) or combined; the day's opening hours and prices to be checked on site. Free entry during Mass. Shoulders and knees covered.

Hotel · Night 43

Radisson Blu Resort & Spa, Split

A seafront resort on the eastern coast of Split, with a private beach and spa. Five nights, the longest base of the trip: Salona, Klis, Diocletian's Palace, Marjan and the island of Šolta.

Address
· Put Trstenika 19, 21000 Split
Website
· radissonhotels.com (new tab)
Check-in
from 3:00 PM · Check-out before 12:00 noon
Book this hotel (new tab) affiliate link

Buy this itinerary

€119 incl. tax

that is €1.80 per day of travel

Billed in euros. If your card is in another currency, your bank converts at its own rate.

  • Secure payment through Stripe, bank card, Apple Pay and Google Pay
  • Available immediately in your customer account: online reading with clickable booking links, downloadable PDF for offline use
  • Method: what is checked, and when

A hotel in the itinerary closed or impossible to find, a place to visit permanently closed?

Within 12 months of purchase, email contact@etaperia.com

Itinerary corrected within 7 days, or refunded in full. Terms in article 12 of the terms of sale, on top of the legal warranty (new tab)

€119 incl. tax · 66 days

Buy

A question before buying? Email Kylian, reply within 2 business days.

The day-by-day rundown

Days 1–10 Zagreb, Slavonia and Zagorje · 10 days
  1. Day 1 Zagreb, the Upper Town and the historic heart Day reserved for buyers, unlocked in the PDF
  2. Day 2 Museums, Mirogoj and Zagreb's mountain Day reserved for buyers, unlocked in the PDF
  3. Day 3 Papuk, the UNESCO geopark of Slavonia Day reserved for buyers, unlocked in the PDF
  4. Day 4 Osijek, the Baroque citadel on the Drava Day reserved for buyers, unlocked in the PDF
  5. Day 5 Kopački Rit, then the memory of Vukovar Day reserved for buyers, unlocked in the PDF
  6. Day 6 Ilok, the country's eastern tip Day reserved for buyers, unlocked in the PDF
  7. Day 7 Đakovo and the crossing to Varaždin Day reserved for buyers, unlocked in the PDF
  8. Day 8 Varaždin's Old Castle, then Trakošćan Day reserved for buyers, unlocked in the PDF
  9. Day 9 Veliki Tabor, Krapina and Samobor Day reserved for buyers, unlocked in the PDF
  10. Day 10 Underground, and into the Gorski Kotar Day reserved for buyers, unlocked in the PDF
Days 11–20 Kvarner and Istria · 10 days
  1. Day 11 Risnjak, then the descent to Rijeka Day reserved for buyers, unlocked in the PDF
  2. Day 12 Rijeka the port city and Učka Nature Park Day reserved for buyers, unlocked in the PDF
  3. Day 13 Opatija, Lovran and into inland Istria Day reserved for buyers, unlocked in the PDF
  4. Day 14 Motovun, Grožnjan and the Pazin chasm Day reserved for buyers, unlocked in the PDF
  5. Day 15 Poreč, Baredine and the Lim Fjord Day reserved for buyers, unlocked in the PDF
  6. Day 16 Rovinj, the old town and its archipelago Day reserved for buyers, unlocked in the PDF
  7. Day 17 Vodnjan, the mummies, and Roman Pula Day reserved for buyers, unlocked in the PDF
  8. Day 18 The Brijuni Islands Day reserved for buyers, unlocked in the PDF
  9. Day 19 Cape Kamenjak, then the crossing to Cres Day reserved for buyers, unlocked in the PDF
  10. Day 20 The island of Cres, from Valun to Osor Day reserved for buyers, unlocked in the PDF
Days 21–31 Krk, Rab, Velebit, Plitvice and Pag · 11 days
  1. Day 21 Across Krk, then the sands of Lopar Day reserved for buyers, unlocked in the PDF
  2. Day 22 Goli Otok, then the town of Rab Day reserved for buyers, unlocked in the PDF
  3. Day 23 Senj, the Uskoks, and the climb to Zavižan Day reserved for buyers, unlocked in the PDF
  4. Day 24 The Premužić Trail, on the Velebit ridge Day reserved for buyers, unlocked in the PDF
  5. Day 25 Plitvice, the Lower and Upper Lakes Day reserved for buyers, unlocked in the PDF
  6. Day 26 Plitvice by its deserted trails Day reserved for buyers, unlocked in the PDF
  7. Day 27 Željava under the mountain, and the Cerovac Caves Day reserved for buyers, unlocked in the PDF
  8. Day 28 Velika Paklenica and Manita peć cave Day reserved for buyers, unlocked in the PDF
  9. Day 29 Mala Paklenica, the bunkers and the great wall Day reserved for buyers, unlocked in the PDF
  10. Day 30 Modrič Cave, then the town of Pag Day reserved for buyers, unlocked in the PDF
  11. Day 31 Northern Pag, then Nin and its salt pans Day reserved for buyers, unlocked in the PDF
Days 32–45 Zadar, the Kornati, Šibenik and Split · 14 days
  1. Day 32 Zadar, the forum and the Sea Organ Day reserved for buyers, unlocked in the PDF
  2. Day 33 The Zrmanja canyon by canoe Day reserved for buyers, unlocked in the PDF
  3. Day 34 Ugljan and Pašman, the islands opposite Day reserved for buyers, unlocked in the PDF
  4. Day 35 Dugi Otok and Telašćica park Day reserved for buyers, unlocked in the PDF
  5. Day 36 Sakarun, Veli Rat and sea kayaking Day reserved for buyers, unlocked in the PDF
  6. Day 37 The Kornati by boat Day reserved for buyers, unlocked in the PDF
  7. Day 38 Šibenik and its three fortresses Day reserved for buyers, unlocked in the PDF
  8. Day 39 Krka National Park Day reserved for buyers, unlocked in the PDF
  9. Day 40 Bribirska Glavica and Primošten Day reserved for buyers, unlocked in the PDF
  10. Day 41 Trogir, the museum town Day reserved for buyers, unlocked in the PDF
  11. Day 42 Salona and Klis Fortress Day reserved for buyers, unlocked in the PDF
  12. Day 43 Diocletian's Palace Free
  13. Day 44 Marjan, Meštrović and island preparations Day reserved for buyers, unlocked in the PDF
  14. Day 45 Šolta by bike Day reserved for buyers, unlocked in the PDF
Days 46–55 Vis, Brač, Makarska and Hvar · 10 days
  1. Day 46 Crossing to Vis Day reserved for buyers, unlocked in the PDF
  2. Day 47 The Blue Cave of Biševo and the tunnels of Vis Day reserved for buyers, unlocked in the PDF
  3. Day 48 Vis, Split, Brač: two ferries Day reserved for buyers, unlocked in the PDF
  4. Day 49 The stone of Brač, Blaca and Vidova gora Day reserved for buyers, unlocked in the PDF
  5. Day 50 Zlatni rat, kitesurfing and crossing to the mainland Day reserved for buyers, unlocked in the PDF
  6. Day 51 Makarska and the Biokovo Skywalk Day reserved for buyers, unlocked in the PDF
  7. Day 52 The lakes of Imotski and Nugal beach Day reserved for buyers, unlocked in the PDF
  8. Day 53 Crossing to Hvar via Sućuraj Day reserved for buyers, unlocked in the PDF
  9. Day 54 The town of Hvar and the Pakleni Islands Day reserved for buyers, unlocked in the PDF
  10. Day 55 Stari Grad, the ancient plain and back to the mainland Day reserved for buyers, unlocked in the PDF
Days 56–66 Pelješac, Korčula, Mljet and Dubrovnik · 11 days
  1. Day 56 Ston, salt and oysters Day reserved for buyers, unlocked in the PDF
  2. Day 57 The Pelješac ridge and Sveti Ilija Day reserved for buyers, unlocked in the PDF
  3. Day 58 Korčula, the fishbone town Day reserved for buyers, unlocked in the PDF
  4. Day 59 Inland Korčula, from Pupnat to Blato Day reserved for buyers, unlocked in the PDF
  5. Day 60 Vela Spila and the island of Proizd Day reserved for buyers, unlocked in the PDF
  6. Day 61 Lastovo, the island at the end of the line Day reserved for buyers, unlocked in the PDF
  7. Day 62 Two ferries to Mljet Day reserved for buyers, unlocked in the PDF
  8. Day 63 Mljet National Park Day reserved for buyers, unlocked in the PDF
  9. Day 64 Trsteno and the arrival in Dubrovnik Day reserved for buyers, unlocked in the PDF
  10. Day 65 The Elaphiti Islands and the forts of Dubrovnik Day reserved for buyers, unlocked in the PDF
  11. Day 66 Return Day reserved for buyers, unlocked in the PDF

1 day is free to read above. The other 65 unlock when you buy. Buy the itinerary, €119

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Country quick guide and logistics

The essentials of the country, scannable in ten seconds.

Weather and when to go

  • The route is written for the high season, June to September, the only period when the ferry crossings, the boat trips and the mountain huts are all running. In July and August expect 30 to 34 °C (86 to 93 °F) in Dalmatia and a sea at 24 or 25 °C.
  • Inland the climate is continental: hot, heavy summers on the Slavonian plain, cool nights in Gorski Kotar and on the Velebit, where snow sometimes lingers in the sinkholes until June. Plitvice stays cool and damp even in August.
  • The bora can suspend a crossing without warning and cancel trips out to sea even in summer: keep a margin on island days. A rough sea cancels entry to the Blue Cave of Biševo, on day 47, with no fallback.

Transport and permits

  • One-way car rental from Zagreb to Dubrovnik airport, at Čilipi, where the car is handed back on day 66: 45 drives and twenty-two ferry crossings, the whole coast from north to south without doubling back.
  • Two ferry regimes: on some lines, such as Valbiska-Lopar on day 21 or Split-Vis on day 46, the ticket books a specific sailing; on others, such as Brestova-Porozina on day 19 or Drvenik-Sućuraj on day 53, cars board in order of arrival. In high season be at the port 45 minutes to an hour ahead, depending on the line.
  • The heaviest transfer days: two ferries on day 48, from Vis to Brač via Split, and two on day 62, from Korčula to Mljet via Orebić and Prapratno. Since the Pelješac bridge opened in 2022, the road south no longer crosses Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Formalities and safety

  • No visa: Croatia has been in the European Union since 2013 and in the Schengen area since January 1, 2023. EU citizens travel on an identity card or a passport. US and UK citizens need a passport valid three months after departure and may stay 90 days in any 180 across the Schengen area, which covers the full 66-day route; a UK passport must also be under 10 years old. The ETIAS authorization is planned: check travel-europe.europa.eu.
  • Your driving license is accepted (carry an international permit if the rental company asks for one). The UK GHIC covers state healthcare only and US visitors need medical insurance: take out travel insurance. There is no border crossing anywhere on the route; the Željava base, on day 27, lies against the Bosnian border: carry your papers, a guide is compulsory and the surroundings are mined.
  • Bookings to make before leaving: the Kopački Rit cruise (day 5, by phone), the Brijuni (day 18), the timed ticket for Plitvice (day 25), Željava (day 27), the Kornati from Sali (day 37), the Blue Cave of Biševo (day 47) and the Biokovo Skywalk (day 51).

Budget and meals

  • The euro has been the official currency since January 1, 2023. Cards are accepted everywhere in town; cash is useful in inland villages, on the islands, for taxi boats, at cave ticket desks and with small excursion operators.
  • In Dalmatia allow €12 to €18 for a dish of the day and €25 to €45 for a fish dinner by the sea, more on the harbor in Hvar and in Dubrovnik's old town. Slavonia and the konobas of Lika and the Velebit remain noticeably cheaper.
  • The items that come on top: fuel and tolls, the ferry crossings, national park entries, including Krka (€40 per adult from June to September, official 2026 rates) and Mljet (€25 from June 1 to September 30), and the guided excursions.

Frequently asked questions

What exactly do I receive?

Your Étaperia itinerary, available immediately in your customer account after payment: readable online with clickable booking links, and downloadable as a PDF for the trip. Every day is sequenced Morning / Afternoon / Evening and says where you spend the night, with the address and booking link for each place to stay. Timed-entry tickets are flagged in advance.

How is this better than what an AI gives me?

A generative AI composes a plausible list in seconds, without saying what was checked or when. At Étaperia, every itinerary is compiled day by day, with the booking constraints spotted before it is too late to get them. The Method page says what is checked, against which source and on what date.

Can I adapt it to my dates and my pace?

Yes. The days are self-contained blocks: you can shift the departure, stretch a stage or skip a day without breaking what follows. Only timed-entry tickets require adjusting the dates accordingly, and they are all flagged.

What if a hotel or a place in the itinerary has closed?

Email contact@etaperia.com within 12 months of your purchase. If a hotel in the itinerary is closed or can no longer be found, or a place to visit has closed permanently, the itinerary is corrected in your customer account within 7 days, or you are refunded in full. A hotel fully booked on your dates, a seasonal closure or a change in opening hours or prices is not covered. This guarantee comes on top of the legal warranty of conformity; details in article 12 of the terms and conditions of sale.

Module, classic or complete itinerary: which one should I choose?

A classic is a short trip built to stand on its own, designed for a first visit to the country. A module covers one region in depth. The complete itinerary crosses the whole country, and buying it also unlocks each of its modules in your customer account.

Can I get a refund if the itinerary doesn't suit me?

No. It is digital content delivered right away, and you waive your right of withdrawal at checkout. To judge before you pay, every product page gives one full day for free and the list of every stop. After purchase, the guarantee applies: a closed hotel or a permanently closed place is corrected within 7 days, otherwise you get a refund.

Who is selling you this itinerary

  • Consumer mediator: ANM Consommation
  • Payment handled by Stripe: Étaperia never sees your card number
  • Publisher, not a travel agency: you book flights, hotels and tickets yourself

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