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Itineraries/Europe/Croatia

12 Days in Croatia

Dubrovnik's Old Town walls, island hopping by ferry to Hvar, Split's Diocletian's Palace, the turquoise waterfalls of Plitvice Lakes, and Zagreb's Upper Town cobblestones. Twelve nights along the Dalmatian Coast and inland — the trending "affordable Europe" alternative that pairs Game of Thrones filming locations with some of the Adriatic's best family swimming.

12 nights
Family of 4
~A$16,340
5 stops
Dubrovnik3n
Split3n
Hvar3n
Plitvice Lakes1n
Zagreb2n
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Your stop-by-stop itinerary

5 stops across 12 nights. Each one chosen so you experience a different side of Croatia.

1

Dubrovnik

3 nights
Fly into Dubrovnik Airport (DBV) via a Middle East or European hub — no direct flights from Australia. Emirates via Dubai or Qatar via Doha are the most common routings (~22-24h total). Airport shuttle bus to Pile Gate (Old Town) is EUR 10 pp, 30 min.

Highlights

  • Walk the Old Town walls — the full 2 km circuit takes 90 min and gives panoramic views of terracotta rooftops and the Adriatic
  • Banje Beach — the main swimming beach just outside the Old Town walls, clear Adriatic water
  • Cable car to Mount Srd — 360-degree views of the city, Lokrum Island, and the Elafiti Islands
  • Lokrum Island day trip — 15 min ferry from Old Port, botanical gardens, Dead Sea salt lake for swimming, peacocks everywhere
  • Game of Thrones filming locations — Fort Lovrijenac (Red Keep), Pile Gate, Jesuit Stairs (walk of shame)
  • Stradun evening passeggiata — the main limestone street glows at sunset, gelato in hand

Local tips

  • 💡Croatia joined the Eurozone in 2023 — EUR is the currency everywhere. No need to exchange kuna anymore.
  • 💡The Old Town walls open at 8am — go at opening to avoid the cruise-ship crowds that flood in by 10am. Afternoon heat on the walls is brutal in summer.
  • 💡Shoulder season (May, Sep-Oct) is ideal for Aussie families — aligns with school holidays, 25-28C, cheaper accommodation, and far fewer cruise ships than July-August.
Suggested stay: Family apartment in the Old Town or Lapad area
2

Split

3 nights
Jadrolinija catamaran ferry from Dubrovnik to Split — 4h 30m, EUR 45-55 pp. Book online 2+ weeks ahead in summer. Alternative: rent a car and drive the coastal road via Makarska (4h, stunning but winding — not great with car-sick kids).

Highlights

  • Diocletian's Palace — a Roman emperor's retirement home that's now a living neighbourhood, UNESCO World Heritage
  • Bacvice Beach — shallow sandy beach in town, the local favourite for families
  • Marjan Hill forest park — hiking trails, viewpoints, and a small zoo with a cafe at the base
  • Riva waterfront promenade — evening stroll, ice cream, and people-watching
  • Split green market (Pazar) — fresh fruit, lavender sachets, local olive oil
  • Day trip to Trogir — a perfectly preserved medieval island town 30 min by bus

Local tips

  • 💡Split is the ferry hub for the Croatian islands — if you're doing Hvar next, you catch the ferry from Split's main port. Walk-on passengers don't need to pre-book but do arrive 30 min early in summer.
  • 💡Diocletian's Palace is best explored early morning or at sunset — midday is hot and packed with tour groups. The basement halls (underground of the palace) are cool and kid-interesting.
  • 💡Konoba (traditional tavern) meals in the backstreets behind the palace are half the price of the waterfront restaurants and usually better.
Suggested stay: Family apartment near Diocletian's Palace or Bacvice Beach
3

Hvar

3 nights
Jadrolinija or Krilo catamaran ferry from Split to Hvar Town — 1h, EUR 15-25 pp. Runs 3-5x daily in summer. Car ferries go to Stari Grad (2h) if you have a hire car.

Highlights

  • Hvar Town harbour — the St Tropez of Croatia, people-watching from the harbour steps
  • Fortica fortress above Hvar Town — 20 min climb, best at sunset for panoramic island views
  • Pakleni Islands boat trip — rent a small boat or join a tour to swim in turquoise bays (Palmizana is the family favourite)
  • Stari Grad Plain — UNESCO-listed ancient Greek agricultural landscape, cycling or walking
  • Lavender fields (June-July) — Hvar is the lavender island, fields near Velo Grablje village
  • Snorkelling off the rocks at Dubovica Beach — 15 min drive from Hvar Town, crystal clear

Local tips

  • 💡Hvar Town nightlife is famous but family accommodation in Stari Grad is quieter and 30% cheaper. It's only 20 min by bus to Hvar Town for the harbour and restaurants.
  • 💡Small boat rental (no licence needed for boats under 5hp) is the best way to explore the Pakleni Islands — EUR 80-120/day from the harbour.
  • 💡The island has one main road — hire a scooter or car for a day to reach the south-coast beaches (Dubovica, Zarace) that you can't get to by bus.
Suggested stay: Family apartment in Hvar Town or Stari Grad
4

Plitvice Lakes

1 night
Fly or bus from Split to Zagreb, then bus south to Plitvice (2h 15m, EUR 12-15 pp on FlixBus). Or hire a car from Split — 4h drive via the A1 motorway. Plitvice is roughly halfway between Split and Zagreb.

Highlights

  • Upper Lakes boardwalk trail — wooden walkways over cascading turquoise lakes and waterfalls
  • Veliki Slap (Great Waterfall) — Croatia's tallest at 78m, accessible from the Lower Lakes circuit
  • Electric boat across Kozjak Lake — included with entry, 20 min scenic crossing
  • Programme H trail (4-6 hours) — the full upper and lower lakes loop, manageable for kids 6+

Local tips

  • 💡Buy tickets online in advance — Plitvice limits daily visitors and summer dates sell out weeks ahead. EUR 40 adult / EUR 15 child (7-17) in peak, cheaper in shoulder.
  • 💡Arrive at Entrance 1 at 7am opening — the first hour is magical with no crowds and morning mist on the lakes. By 10am the boardwalks are packed.
  • 💡Swimming is NOT allowed in any of the lakes (national park rules). The turquoise water is for looking, not jumping in.
Suggested stay: Family guesthouse near Entrance 1 or Entrance 2
5

Zagreb

2 nights
Bus from Plitvice to Zagreb (2h 15m, EUR 12-15 pp). Or drive if you have a hire car. Fly home from Zagreb Airport (ZAG) via the same hub as arrival.

Highlights

  • Upper Town (Gornji Grad) — cobblestone streets, St Mark's Church with its tiled roof, Stone Gate
  • Museum of Broken Relationships — quirky, thought-provoking, surprisingly kid-engaging
  • Dolac market — the 'Belly of Zagreb', fresh produce, flowers, and street food above Ban Jelacic Square
  • Zagreb funicular — the world's shortest public funicular at 66m, connects Lower and Upper Town
  • Maksimir Park — Zagreb's Central Park with lakes, playgrounds, and the city zoo

Local tips

  • 💡Zagreb is significantly cheaper than the coast — restaurant meals are 30-40% less than Dubrovnik or Hvar. Use the capital to stock up on souvenirs and eat well without guilt.
  • 💡The Zagreb Card (24hr or 72hr) includes free public transport and museum discounts — worth it if you're doing 3+ museums.
  • 💡If flying out of Zagreb, the airport is 17 km south — allow 40 min by bus (line 290) or 25 min by taxi (EUR 25-30).
Suggested stay: Family apartment in the Upper Town or near Ban Jelacic Square

Good to know

Estimated cost

The ~A$16,340 estimate covers accommodation across all 5 stops. Flights, daily spending, activities, and transport are additional — use SaveToRoam’s savings planner to track it all.

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