Romantic Croatia Itinerary: Beaches, City, Culture, History

Walk along the waterfront and paradise streets of the charming town of Hvar in Croatia

What to expect on this itinerary

Croatia is a captivating country that is perfectly catered to couples. Whether the two of you are looking to reignite your romance, get to know one another better in a more intimate and dynamic setting, or simply enjoy spending quality time together while exploring a unique and idyllic locale, this 12-day excursion will introduce you to the most awe-inspiring and beautiful attractions for a bliss-filled couple’s getaway. From the shores of Dubrovnik to pristine Plitvice National Park in addition to stops by Split, Zadar, and Zagreb, you will spend your days exploring, swimming, sailing, hiking and much more as you become intimately acquainted with Croatia, and each other.

Countries Visited

Croatia

Places Visited

Dubrovnik, Plitvice National Park, Rastoke, Zagreb, Kolocep Island, Hvar, Split, Samobor, Pula, Porec, Rovinj, Zadar, Ugljan Island

Suggested Duration

12 Days

Customizable Itinerary

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Day 1

Dubrovnik – Arrive in Dubrovnik for an Introductory Tour

The moment you and you land in Dubrovnik, your private driver will be waiting to whisk you away to your luxury accommodations. An exciting evening awaits as you will then venture to the Old City, where you will spend the evening, strolling down the cobblestone side streets of one of the world’s most well-preserved and completely walled cities.

After perusing your ways through this pedestrian-only paradise that is surrounded by centuries of fascinating history, this private tour will take you to sample some of the most amazing Croatian wines, and as you savor some accompanying authentic tapas, you will bid farewell to your very first evening in Croatia beneath a sky full of stars. Your private driver will pick you up and return the two of you to your hotel.

What's Included:

Transfer
Accommodation
Tour
Breakfast
Day 2

Dubrovnik – Discover Kolocep Island and an Exciting Couple’s Photoshoot

Day 3

Dubrovnik – Saddle Up on a Horseback Ride in the Croatian Countryside

Day 4

Split – Stroll Around Split Together Before Taking a Sunset Cruise

Day 5

Split – Escape for a Private Island Tour of Hvar, the Blue Cave, and More

Day 6

Zadar – Head to Zadar Before Setting Sail on a Private Boat Tour Beneath the Stars

Day 7

Zadar – Experience an Awe-Inspiring Day on a Bike Tour of Ugljan Island

Day 8

Plitvice National Park – Stroll Along the Enchanted Forest Paths of Plitvice National Park

Day 9

Zagreb – Get Lost Together in the Storybook Setting of Rastoke Village

Day 10

Zagreb – Enjoy Biking through the Countryside, Cooking with a Master Chef, and Discovering Samobor

Day 11

Zagreb – Embrace the Romance of the Istria Region, Visiting Pula, Porec, and Rovinj

Day 12

Zagreb – Delight a Brunch for Two Before Your Departure

Trip Highlights

  • Discover Dubrovnik’s Old City on an evening stroll under the stars
  • Delight in a gourmet picnic for two, overlooking the awe-inspiring Adriatic
  • Become the prince and princesses of your own fairytale at the pristine Plitvice Park
  • Wander down the magical and charming main street of Rastoke Village
  • Saddle up and enjoy a horseback ride in the countryside
  • Escape the manic mainland pace, spending an entire day on captivating Kolocep Island
  • Soak in the stunning Croatian scenery on a bicycle tour for two
  • Sightsee with your special someone as you stroll through idyllic Samobor
  • Sail Off into the Sunset on a Dazzling Sea Tour in Zadar
  • Embrace the beauty and one another as you explore the ethereal Istria region, including Pula, Porec, and Rovinj

Detailed Description

Croatia is the home to known gems that rival the likes of even Paris and Rome in the realm of romance, as the scenic cities of Croatia offer an abundance of nearly endless opportunities to fan the flames of your relationship, ensuring that the sparks keep flying through every experience. Croatia has truly got it all. In fact, this charming country has so many options that narrowing down the best among them is an almost impossible endeavor. Luckily, this 12-day itinerary features many of the essential attractions, allowing you to enjoy every day one moment at a time.

Dubrovnik will dazzle you with its Old City, where you will wander among its completely walled alleyways on a private, evening walking tour. You will also have the opportunity to hike and swim on idyllic Kolocep Island, smile for the camera during a professional couple’s photoshoot, and trot together around the stunning Croatian countryside on two trusty steeds.

Split will then welcome you to wonder at its spectacular scenery as you embark on a magical, multi-island adventure that includes stops at Hvar, the Blue Caves, and more. You will then take two days in Zadar, which will woo you with a jaunt to its nearby Ugljan Island and a sunset sailing experience. Your incredible experience continues in the storybook settings of Plitvice National Park and Rastoke Village as you roam to your hearts’ content among cascading waterfalls, crystalline lakes, and winding footpaths.

Your final destination of Zagreb is no less of a fantasy land, and amid the pastel-colored architecture of the quaint Upper Town and lovely landmarks like Zagreb Cathedral, you will stroll and marvel with awe. While here, you will also enjoy partaking in a private biking tour, exploring Samobor, and even embracing your inner chefs during a private Croatian cooking class. Each night, you will stay in luxury accommodations, be absolutely cared for with private transfers to and from specified destinations and airports, and will have every detail of this deluxe tour catered with you in mind. Learn more about how the luxury Croatia tour companies we work with can personalize the vacation of your dreams.

Starting Price

$3,900 per person (excluding international flights)

Your Zicasso trip is fully customizable, and this sample itinerary is a starting place for your travel plans. Actual costs are dynamic, and your selection of accommodations and activities, your season of travel, and other such variables will bring this budget guideline up or down. Throughout your planning experience with your Zicasso specialist, your itinerary is designed around your budget. You can book your trip when you are satisfied with every detail. Planning your trip with a Zicasso travel specialist is a free service.

What's Included

  • Accommodations
  • In-country transportation
  • Some or all activities and tours
  • Expert trip planning
  • 24x7 support during your trip

Your final trip cost will vary based on your selected accommodations, activities, meals, and other trip elements that you opt to include.

5.0

Verified Traveler Reviews

Based on 193 reviews

Croatia Tour Review: Zagreb, Zadar, Split, Hvar, Dubrovnik, Mostar, Plitvice Lakes, Krka National Park, Elaphiti Islands, 10 Days

We are a couple in our upper seventies who recently returned from a fabulous 10-day private tour of Croatia. Of the many places we have visited around the globe, Croatia is among our favorites. The country offers extraordinary national parks, a gorgeous, dramatic coastline, warm, friendly people, great food, and a cosmopolitan culture with a rich history. The weather was splendid in late May.

Zicasso's travel specialist worked closely with us to put together an itinerary that was truly perfect in terms of the pace and the types of activities we like to do. She is a great listener and truly understood our concerns as senior travelers. We were very pleased to meet her for breakfast at the end of our trip. Although we had not been directly in touch earlier during the tour, we had the sense that she was checking in with our guides along the way, just to make sure every detail was attended to. When the Meštrović Museum in Split was closed while we were there, she arranged for us to have a private tour, just one example of her thoughtfulness.

At every phase of the tour, we had wonderful drivers and guides. All were extraordinarily interesting individuals, willing to share their personal experiences and opinions about the complicated and painful history of recent decades. We feel we learned a great deal and came to admire the resilience of these remarkable people. Despite great hardship, they remain positive and optimistic, and are very proud to introduce their culture to visitors.

We visited Zagreb, Zadar, Split, Hvar, Dubrovnik, and Mostar, and had walking tours of each. Truly every place we visited offered highlights. Among our favorites: Plitvice Lakes and Krka National Parks (the two are quite different and both are worth seeing); the Meštrović Museum in Split; walking the walls of Dubrovnik; an incredible Middle Eastern lunch following a trek to the historic bridge in Mostar; the Sea Organ and Greeting to the Sun in Zadar; lunch featuring prawns buzara at a harborside restaurant on a glistening day in the Elaphiti Islands. Indeed, too many fine restaurants to mention!

In sum, Zicasso's travel company created a superlative tour for us, for which we thank our travel specialist and her marvelous team.

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Croatia Vacation Review: Dubrovnik, Hvar, Split, Rovinj, Zagreb, Plitvice Lakes National Park, Wine, Cuisine, 10 Nights

We just returned home from a very memorable trip to Croatia. Thanks to Zicasso's travel expert and her company for the terrific itinerary. Dubrovnik, Hvar, Split, Rovinj, and Zagreb were all toured with knowledgeable guides and experienced drivers to get us there!

There were many highlights, including the beautiful Adriatic countryside, Plitvice Lakes National Park, and a dinner with wine pairing. Of course, there were many more delightful experiences, but too many to include all of them!

We received top-shelf transportation, well thought out itineraries, and first-rate services. I would highly recommend this travel company!

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Croatia Honeymoon Review: Dubrovnik, Hvar, Split, Hiking, Snorkeling, Caves, Local Cuisine, 1 Week

Zicasso’s travel specialist was very attentive to our personal preferences in planning an unforgettable honeymoon. Her knowledge of the area allowed us to have a diverse itinerary, which included city and hiking tours with personable local guides, a flexible skipper trip with options to snorkel and visit islands and caves, and a chef's table to sample local cuisine with a personal chef. We had the opportunity to stay in Dubrovnik, Hvar, and Split at high-quality hotels in convenient locations.

She was very responsive and connected us with drivers, our skipper, and guides to assist with coordination. Overall, the trip was made stress-free thanks to the personalized itinerary, recommendations, bookings, and ferry/park tickets provided ahead of time.

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Croatia Family Trip Review: Split, Hvar, Korčula, Dubrovnik, 9 Nights

This was the perfect family vacation! We started in Split and ended in Dubrovnik, with stops in Hvar and Korčula. Zicasso's travel specialists planned the perfect trip and when we ran into a few hiccups with our flights being canceled, they were accessible and helped change our plans.

We truly enjoyed every activity they planned for our family. The hotels they picked were perfect. I would definitely use this travel company again to plan another Croatian trip. My kids said it was their favorite family vacation.

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Croatia, Montenegro Travel Review: Split, Hvar, Dubrovnik, Krka National Park, Sibenik, Diocletian's Palace, Blue Cave, Vis, Mount Srd, Elaphiti Islands, Food Tour, Winery, Boat Ride, 9 Days

This is a summary of our thoughts on our recent trip to Croatia that was created by Zicasso's travel specialist. Overall, we had a really great time.

The hotels that the travel specialist chose for us were terrific. The rooms in our hotels in Split and Dubrovnik were spacious and very comfortable. In fact, the location for all three hotels was excellent. In Split, our hotel was right where the action was. It was a great location. The hotel rooms at our hotel in Hvar were small, but otherwise very comfortable, and the location was fantastic. The travel specialist correctly chose our hotel in Dubrovnik outside of the Old Town. It was not within walking distance of the Old Town, but travel by cab or Uber was very easy and our hotel was beautiful. The breakfast spots in each hotel were beautiful, which was a lovely way to start each day.

At each point in the trip, the arranged rides were right on time and very helpful. The vehicles were all excellent. We had a variety of excursions and the quality was variable. Our first full day in Split we had a food tour mid-morning after we had had a full breakfast. That kind of tour would have been much better in the afternoon. Our guide did not give us very much history of Diocletian's Palace, which we would have enjoyed, but touring the palace was still a delight.

The trip to Krka National Park was beautiful, as well as the brief walk in Šibenik on the way back to Split. Our guide was very knowledgeable and pleasant.

The ferry rides from Split to Hvar and then Hvar to Dubrovnik were uneventful. Transfers to and from the hotels also were smooth.

The tour of Hvar was interesting, although it seemed to be stretched out to get us to our dinner destination at a set time. That particular meal was mediocre and the subsequent trip to a small winery was also not a highlight. That trip could have been done in a shorter period of time and we would have been happy to pick our own dining location. The itinerary read, "Enjoy your authentic Mediterranean meal," but it really was not special.

We were disappointed that we could not see the Blue Cave or the island of Vis, but the weather really did not permit it. The itinerary was clear that weather conditions might affect the itinerary, which they did, but the skipper did his best to keep us relatively close to shore. We were still able to go swimming at a protected cove and had a nice stop at a beautiful winery, which made up for not getting to the cave and Vis. Unfortunately, at one point two of us got seasick and after lunch those two went home to Hvar by taxi. The other two of us had a great afternoon boat ride back to Hvar.

In Dubrovnik we had an excellent guide who showed us the Old Town and guided us to the cable car ride to Mount Srđ. We had a one-day Dubrovnik Pass, which, frankly, was a waste of money. We had toured with our guide and then did the cable car, so there really was not any time to avail ourselves of the things that the Dubrovnik Pass would have given us. If it helps for future planning, we really did not need the pass.

We, as a group, had different feelings about the trip to Montenegro. We did not realize how long the trip actually took. It's a long drive there and back. One of us thought it was worth the effort; the others did not. Our guide was very good. If we had understood what was involved in traveling back and forth, I suspect we would not have pursued the trip. It was relatively late in our tour and a day of rest or a trip back to Dubrovnik would have been a better use of time (and then we would have used the Dubrovnik Pass!)

The last day touring the Elaphiti Islands was also affected by rough seas. Again, it was no one's fault, but we did not get to see everything we had hoped for. That said, our skipper was excellent. We learned quite a bit about Croatia and Croatian life from him, and we had a nice lunch on a beautiful island.

One recommendation that we would like to make relates to tipping. We were very happy to tip everyone along the way, but we had not planned for this, so we were a bit short on the euros that we had brought with us. We would recommend that the travel company include an approximate total of the tips for the trip. That would have been very valuable.

All told, it was an excellent trip, our second Zicasso trip in two years. Thanks!

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Croatia Tour Review: Split, Hvar, Ston, Oyster Experience, Cooking Class, Snorkeling, Boat Ride, Hiking, Biking, Wine Tasting, Local Cuisine, 7 Nights

Zicasso's tour company is fantastic. They designed a perfect custom itinerary for us that included boating, hiking, biking, wine tasting, and much more. Our days were filled with interesting activities and meeting some of the most lovely people as our guides.

Though there were too many highlights to list them all, a few unexpected ones were a cooking class near Split that included shopping for fresh ingredients, snorkeling, lunching off a luxury boat near Hvar, and lunch at an oyster farm.

We had the most lovely guide in Dubrovnik who works for the tourist board and gave us the insider's guide to places in the old town. We even had an authentic meal, one that takes days to prepare, outside of Hvar. There is so much to love about Croatia. This tour company will help you find it.

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Customizable Itinerary

This is a sample itinerary to inspire a personalized trip designed with your travel specialist.

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