Highlights
- Sunbathe on the Zlatni Rat, a sandy cape in the Adriatic Sea
- Keep your eyes peeled for wolves, otters, and wildcats at Krka National Park
- Enter the naturally illuminated Blue Cave on a motorboat
- Have lunch on a private boat trip around the Elafiti archipelago
Brief Itinerary
| Day | Highlights | Overnight |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Arrive in Split | Split |
| Day 2 | Private Boating Excursion to Brač Island | Split |
| Day 3 | Krka National Park | Split |
| Day 4 | Ferry to Hvar Island | Hvar |
| Day 5 | Private Day Trip to the Green & Blue Caves | Hvar |
| Day 6 | Ferry to Korčula Island | Korčula |
| Day 7 | Korčula Kayaking Excursion | Korčula |
| Day 8 | Ferry to Dubrovnik, Walking Tour | Dubrovnik |
| Day 9 | Private Boating Excursion to the Elafiti Islands | Dubrovnik |
| Day 10 | Depart Dubrovnik |
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive in Split
Welcome to Croatia's second-largest city, Split! Sitting on the shores of the Adriatic Sea, Split offers a heady mixture of ancient ruins, bustling waterfronts, and seafood restaurants. Make your way to your city-center hotel, drop off your luggage, and stretch your legs on a walk around the city. Start at the marble-tiled Pjaca Square and wind your way to the Iron Gate, through which centuries of history have passed. On the other side of the gate, you will be entering Diocletian's Palace, built in 350 CE. If you're a family of "Game of Thrones" fans, visit the palace's cellar, where Daenerys kept her dragons.
Watch the sunset from the palm-lined waterfront before making your way to the quirky Konoba Dioklecijan restaurant. Located just to the left of the Bronze Gate, the restaurant's outdoor terrace is built into the walls of Diocletian's Palace and serves traditional Croatian dishes. Kick back and relax after your first day in Split at your hotel, and get ready for a day on the water tomorrow.
Day 2: Private Boating Excursion to Brač Island
Grab your swimwear, towels, and sunscreen, and head to Split's port, where you'll board a private boat. The perfect chance for parents to admire Croatia's natural beauty and teens to top up their tan, this leisurely boat tour will take you past quaint island towns and hidden coves on your way to the island of Brač. Your skipper will stop at ideal spots for you to jump into the crystal waters and do some snorkeling. Once you arrive at the town of Bol on Brač's southern coast, relax on the Zlatni Rat—a white sandy cape in the Adriatic Sea. As the sun goes down, board your boat and head back to Split for the evening.
Day 3: Krka National Park
Croatia is full of hidden natural beauty spots, and today you will be heading 1.5 hours northwest of Split to explore one of the best: Krka National Park. Encompassing over 39 square miles (100 sq km) of pristine terrain, young nature lovers will spot emerald lakes, scenic waterfalls, and—if they're lucky—wildlife such as otters, wolves, and wildcats. And don't miss the multi-cascade waterfall of Skradinski Buk. Now you've worked up an appetite, head for lunch at one of the local restaurants, where you can try a range of family-friendly Croatian delicacies, such as black rice, buzara (mussels), and fritules (fried pastries).
On your arrival back from Krka National Park, you may want to grab a souvenir or two before leaving Split tomorrow morning. Get your bargaining hats on and stroll to the east side of Diocletian's Palace, where you'll see aisles of clothes, soaps, lavender, local foods, and souvenirs. Usually, Split's markets stay open until 9 pm at night, so you should have time to browse Croatian goods after your day trip out in the wild.
Day 4: Ferry to Hvar Island
Bid farewell to Split and catch a two-hour ferry to the island of Hvar. After you've checked into your hotel, explore the town at your own pace. A Croatian island in the Adriatic Sea, Hvar is a popular destination with tourists due to its natural setting, mild climate, and historic port town of the same name. Whether you're a family of beach lovers, cyclists, or curious minds, there's something for everyone in Hvar.
Head to one of the local beaches, such as Dubovica on the south coast, a tranquil cove surrounded by the glassy Adriatic. On the west side of the bay is a picturesque hamlet framed by Aleppo pine-covered hills. If you're looking for views of Hvar Town and the nearby Pakleni Islands, take a walk up to the 16th-century Španjola Fortress. Or, for the active explorers, join a cycling tour and cruise past lavender fields, olive groves, and pine woods. After the day's adventures, treat yourself to a drink (and the kids to some famous Dalmatian orange soda) in the ancient piazza overlooking the Venetian Loggia and the Clock Tower.
Day 5: Private Day Trip to the Green & Blue Caves
Embark on a full-day, private excursion to see the uninhabited island of Vis and its famous Blue and Green Caves. Jump on your vehicle for the day—a motorboat—and enjoy the ride to the Green Cave on the island of Vis. Adventurous older kids will love jumping off the boat and snorkeling around this otherworldly cavern.
Your next stop is Stiniva Beach, considered one of the most beautiful beaches in Croatia, where you can unroll your beach towels and spend some time perfecting your sandcastle skills. Continue to the Blue Cave—named such due to how light illuminates the cave and its glowing, azure waters. Lastly, you'll stop at Palmižana Bay in the Pakleni Islands for lunch. After a few hours on the island, your motorboat will take you safely back to Hvar for the evening.
Chat with a local specialist who can help organize your trip.
Day 6: Ferry to Korčula Island
Spend a relaxed morning in Hvar before packing your bags and taking them to Hvar's ferry port. Here, you will board the ferry for a scenic two-hour crossing to Korčula—also known as the "Emerald Isle"—where you'll be staying for the next two nights. Get ready for a slower pace on this lesser-known Croatian island. Relax at one of the island's many beautiful beaches and dive into the irresistible Adriatic, or go for a hike in Žrnovo Nature Park. Visit the alleged birthplace of the 13th-century merchant and adventurer, Marco Polo, and decide for yourselves whether the myths are true.
Day 7: Korčula Kayaking Excursion
After your day of relaxation yesterday, you'll be ready for something a little more active today! Enjoy a family adventure at sea as you kayak along Korčula's coastline and through parts of its archipelago known as the Škoji Islets. This tour takes you around the islets of Badija and Vrnik, enabling you to enjoy different perspectives of the area. Badija also hosts a Franciscan monastery and church, while Vrnik is the only inhabited one of the 18 islets. As you kayak along the coast, you'll make a couple of stops for swimming and snorkeling, enjoying the crystal clear sea around you.
Day 8: Ferry to Dubrovnik, Walking Tour
Say farewell to Korčula as you catch a ferry to Dubrovnik—one of the most ancient fortress cities in Europe. After dropping your bags at your accommodations, get your bearings on the city through a private walking tour. Walk through the narrow streets of the Old Town and along Stradun, the main street that was formally a canal. Learn about the history surrounding Onofrio's Fountain, and see how Dubrovnik protected its citizens centuries ago with its own quarantine buildings to hold people coming from far away places.
In the evening, go for a drink at Buza Bar, a café bar that has been built into the rocks and the city walls with views overlooking the sea. Adults might want to try the national drink, rakija, a brandy made from plum, grapes, figs, and other fruits and aromatic spices. For the children, look out for sok od bazge—elderflower juice—and if that's not available, then try them on smrikva, a drink made from berries.Day 9: Private Boating Excursion to the Elafiti Islands
Today, you'll take a memorable private sailing excursion to the Elafiti Islands—complete with a fresh fish lunch prepared onboard. The Elafiti archipelago consists of three islands (Koločep, Lopud, and Šipan). You'll have time to swim and relax on the boat, visiting quiet bays, coves, and inlets. When ready, you'll enjoy a delicious lunch onboard the vessel, cooked by the boat's chef. Take your time exploring the islands as much as you wish before heading back to Dubrovnik in the early evening.
You could spend the evening wandering around the city, or, depending on the weather and time you arrive back in Dubrovnik after your boat trip, the kids might like the thrill of catching soaring views of the city via the cable car. If you're lucky, there may be live music at Lazareti, one of the old quarantine buildings, which would be an exciting way for all the family to spend their last evening together.
Day 10: Depart Dubrovnik
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