Zagreb walking tour
A 2 to 3 hour walk through the Upper and Lower Town with a local guide.
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Croatia in 7 days
A relaxed route from Zagreb to Dubrovnik, with the Plitvice Lakes and Split on the way, explained day by day.
For your first trip
A calm first week in Croatia
This route visits Zagreb, the Plitvice Lakes, Split and Dubrovnik in an order that makes sense. You travel by bus, by boat and on foot.
Treat it as a friendly plan, not a strict timetable. Check current departure times before you travel, especially on days when you change towns.
Overview
The route at a glance
- Day 1: Arrive in Zagreb. The airport is about 30 to 45 minutes from the centre.
- Day 2: Explore Zagreb on foot.
- Day 3: Day trip to the Plitvice Lakes, about 2 to 2½ hours each way by bus.
- Day 4: Bus from Zagreb to Split, about 5 hours.
- Day 5: Split, Trogir or Hvar. Choose one.
- Day 6: Bus from Split to Dubrovnik, about 4½ hours.
- Day 7: Dubrovnik Old Town and city walls.
Where to sleep: 3 nights in Zagreb, 2 in Split and 2 in Dubrovnik. Fewer hotel changes make the week more relaxing.
Day 1
Arrive in Zagreb
Settle in and take a first walk through the centre.
Morning: Land at Zagreb Airport and head into the city. Check in, or leave your bags if your room is not ready yet.
Afternoon: Walk across Ban Jelačić Square to the historic Upper Town and see St Mark's Church with its colourful tiled roof. Stop for a coffee.
Evening: Stroll along Tkalčićeva Street and enjoy a relaxed Croatian dinner.
Day 2
Zagreb at an easy pace
A relaxed day of markets, old streets, parks and squares.
Morning: Start at Dolac Market with its red umbrellas, then choose one museum that really interests you.
Afternoon: Explore the Lower Town and walk part of the Green Horseshoe, a chain of squares and gardens.
Evening: Have an early dinner and check your bus to the Plitvice Lakes for tomorrow.
Day 3
Plitvice Lakes
A day trip from Zagreb with a full day of walking around the lakes.
Morning: Take an early bus from Zagreb's main bus station. Start walking as early as you can, before the crowds.
Afternoon: Take breaks, stay on the marked paths and wooden walkways, and leave plenty of time to get back to the bus stop.
Evening: Return to Zagreb for a simple dinner and rest before tomorrow's journey.
Day 4
On to Split
Travel south and spend the evening in Split's old town.
Morning: Check out after breakfast and take the bus from Zagreb to Split. Bring water and a light snack.
Afternoon: Check in, then walk to Diocletian's Palace and the Peristyle, its main square. Stroll along the Riva, the seafront promenade.
Evening: Have dinner in the old town. If you plan to visit Hvar tomorrow, check the boat times tonight.
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Day 5
Split, Trogir or Hvar
Choose one relaxed option. Do not try to fit all three into the same day.
Stay in Split: See more of the palace and the market, then walk towards Marjan Hill for views and a quieter side of the city.
Half a day in Trogir: The bus takes about 30 to 60 minutes. Walk around the small historic centre on its little island, then return to Split.
A day on Hvar: From spring to autumn, the fast catamaran to Hvar Town takes about 1 hour. The slower car ferry goes to Stari Grad, not Hvar Town.
Day 6
Split to Dubrovnik
Travel to Dubrovnik and take a gentle first walk through the Old Town.
Morning: Take the direct bus to Dubrovnik. Keep your passport or ID card at hand, because some buses cross a short stretch of Bosnia and Herzegovina at Neum.
Afternoon: The bus station is in Gruž, a few kilometres from the Old Town, so take a city bus or a taxi. Walk along the Stradun, the Old Town's main street.
Evening: Explore the quieter side streets after the day visitors leave, and save the city walls for tomorrow.
Day 7
Dubrovnik Old Town and city walls
Spend your last day slowly in the Old Town and on the walls.
Morning: Start early if you want to walk the city walls. There is very little shade and there are many steps, so bring water, sun protection and comfortable shoes.
Afternoon: Visit the streets, squares and churches that interest you most, and walk around the Old Port.
Evening: Enjoy a last dinner in Dubrovnik and check how you will get to the airport the next day.
Guided tours
Tours along the route
Tours that fit this plan. You book and pay on Viator.
Plitvice Lakes & Rastoke day trip from Zagreb
A guided day from Zagreb with transport and your park ticket included, about 10 hours. A long day with walking in the park, but no bus timetables to worry about.
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Split & Diocletian's Palace walking tour
A guided walk through the Roman palace and the old streets around it.
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Krka waterfalls with food & wine
A day trip from Split to the Krka waterfalls with a local food and wine tasting. Best from spring to autumn.
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Dubrovnik Old Town walking tour
About 1½ hours through the Old Town with a local guide. A gentle start on your arrival afternoon.
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Dubrovnik Old Town & city walls
The Old Town and the city walls with a guide. Expect many steps on the walls.
See tours & bookTours are booked on Viator. We may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. How this works.
Good to know
Short tips
- Buy your Plitvice ticket online in advance. Tickets are for a set day and entry time, and in summer they can sell out.
- Croatia uses the euro. You can pay by card in most places, but keep a little cash for cafés, bakeries and small shops.
- Split and Dubrovnik have stone streets and many steps, so travel as light as you can.
- Do not book an important flight straight after a long bus or boat journey.
- From November to March there are fewer boats, and some seasonal sights, restaurants and tours close.
Get our free 7-day Croatia plan by email
Send me the free plan
Free PDF to download right away, plus a copy by email. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.