Planning a trip to Croatia? Only got a week spare to do it? No problem! Here is how to spend 7 days road-tripping through Croatia.
A 7-day road trip that gives you a real taste of what the country has to offer. From beautiful towns to incredible cities to breathtaking waterfalls! If this is your first visit to Croatia, this is the road trip to do!
This guide includes everything you need to know to make your trip a memorable one!
Transport
The best way to do a road trip through Croatia is by your own private transport. Either by car or by campervan. You bring your own vehicle into the country, or you can hire one.
If you do not fancy driving in Croatia, there are buses which go all over the country. Some of the main bus operators are Arriva, Flixbus, Croatia Bus, and Cazmatrans.
Driving In Croatia
Driving in Croatia is easy! We took our campervan across into Croatia and had no problems driving on the roads. We found all the main roads were in great condition. They do have toll roads, however, they are not expensive. You can pay by cash or with your bank card at the toll gate.
Vanlife In Croatia
In my opinion, there’s no better way to explore Croatia, than in a campervan! There are plenty of campsites all across the country to choose from! Some have their own beach, some have a pool, and some a pretty basic!
Here are a few things to note if you are road-tripping around Croatia:
- Wild camping is illegal!
- If you are travelling during the high season (June to September), you will need to book campsites in popular areas. If you are travelling out of season, you should be fine just turning up.
- To find somewhere to park your van when visiting the cities/towns, use the app: https://park4night.com/en It will show you suitable places to park.
- If you are bringing your own campervan from the UK, be aware of the amount of gas you have/use. You will not be able to replace any of your gas bottles in Croatia, as they have different connectors.
- If you use an electric hook-up, and you are bringing your own campervan from the UK, you will need an EU plug adapter.
- If you are visiting Croatia in the hot summer months, I recommend fly screens and some kind of air conditioning to keep your van cool.
- If you are bringing your own campervan from the UK, check your van insurance, and breakdown cover is covered in Croatia.
Best Time Of The Year To Visit
Depending on what type of holiday you are looking for, depends on what time of year is best to visit!
Sightseeing/budget trip/less busy – October to May
Hot weather/beaches/warm sea – June to September
Hot weather/warm sea/less busy – September
What Is There To Do
Croatia has so much to offer! In fact, it’s a country that has something for everyone, including you! From sightseeing to hiking to beaches to boat trips. A country full of magnificent waterfalls, big rocky mountains, beautiful coastlines, and very blue waters.
Here is your 7-day itinerary:
Each place I cover in this itinerary is marked up on the map, including the campsites we stayed at with our campervan: https://goo.gl/maps/835ru2KU2imszRty8
Please note: the 7-day itinerary only includes 6 places to visit, as the 7th day will be your travelling home day. The first day you arrive, aim to get to Rovinj for lunchtime. You then can have a full afternoon exploring Rovinj. I felt an afternoon is enough time to explore the small city.
Day 1 – Rovinj
Rovinj is a beautiful fishing port located in the north of Croatia. Classed as a small city, you won’t need more than a day to explore! If you are a big fan of Italian cities and love Venice then you will love Rovinj too. The city was once governed by the Republic of Venice, and today it still holds a lot of Vinictian charm.
Here are some of the things you can do in Rovinj:
- Get lost down the narrow streets in the Old Town.
- For a small fee, head to the top of the campanile (Italian Bellt Tower) for great views.
- Visit St. Euphemia Cathedral which resembles St Mark’s in Venice.
- Look out for Balbi’s Arch guarding the entrance to Grisia Street. The arch replaced what was once the old town gate.
Where to stay the night with your campervan:
Campsite: Mediteran Kamp Porton Biondi
(20-minute walk from the campsite into Old Town Rovinj.)
Day 2 – Pula
Pula is a beautiful city! A city full of Roman architecture, independent shops, and cute little cafes. If that wasn’t enough, it’s home to the only reminding complete amphitheater in the world! Honestly, it is pretty impressive to see!
Here are some of the things you can do in Pula:
- Visit the Roman Amphitheater – Pula Arena.
- Visit the Forum, the main town square, and see the Temple of Augustus.
- Arch of the Sergii – once acted as the city gate leading up from the naval port.
- The Gate of Hercules – one of the earliest pieces of Roman heritage still standing in Pula!
Where we parked our campervan when visiting Pula: Emova ul. 36, 52100, Pula
(The car park is a 5-minute walk away from Pula Arena. There’s a small fee to park. You can pay either at the ticket machine or online using the app, Bmove.)
Here’s a link to the parking app Bmove: https://www.bmove.com/
Day 3 – Zagreb
Zagreb, the capital of Croatia is a city full of charm, history, and culture. Interestingly, it was once two separate towns! Two separate hilltop settlements side by side: Kaptol and Gradec. Kaptol was a religious centre, while Gradec was home to craftsmen and merchants. Today, they have combined as one, making up the city of Zagreb.
Here are some of the things you can do in Zagreb:
- Ride the world’s shortest funicular – 66 metres long and takes just 1 minute to get to the top.
- Go on a witch hunt (Zagreb is the city of the witches).
- St Mark’s Church – The roof has the emblem of Zagreb on its right side and the medieval coat of arms of Croatia, Slavonia, and Dalmatia on its left side. One of Zagreb’s most famous landmarks!
- Eat a Licitar – a delicious honey dough cookie.
- Jelačić Square, Zagreb’s main square. Apparently, the fountain has magic powers! Throw a coin in, make a wish, and see if it comes true.
- St Mark’s Square – lookout for the Croatian Parliament and Constitutional Court.
- Find the last reminding city gate down Radićeva Street.
- Kula Lotrscak Tower – you can climb to the top for great views of the city (Opening times are Tuesday to Sunday, 11 am to 8 pm. A ticket costs approximately 1.3 Euro at the time we visited.)
- If you enjoy visiting art galleys, the Art Pavilion Building, opened in 1898, is the oldest gallery in southeast Europe.
- Visit the Museum of Broken Relationships.
Where we parked our campervan when visiting Zagreb: Palmotićeva ul. 1, 10000, Zagreb
Campsite we stayed at the night before: Two Rivers Campsite
Day 4 – Plitvice Lakes National Park
Plitvice Lakes National Park is the place to go if you love waterfalls and spending time in nature! Home to 16 lakes and more than 90 waterfalls, it’s a park you can easily spend all day exploring!
I have written a full guide on Plitvice Lakes National Park on everything you need to know when visiting the park, including a great walk to do: A Full Guide To Plitvice Lakes National Park
Campsite we stayed at the night before: Camping Place Bear
Where we parked our campervan when visiting the park: Entrance 1: Plitvice Lakes National Park Parking Lot, 53231, Rastovača
Day 5 – Split
Split, is Croatia’s 2nd largest city and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It’s a beautiful city, but also one very busy city! With big cruiseliners turning up daily, it’s rare you get this place to yourself! One of my favourite things to do in the city, other than getting lost down the alleyways in the Old Town, is to do the walk up Marjan Hill. As you climb up Marjan Hill, you are greeted with some incredible views of Split!
For a full guide to the walk up Marjan Hill, check out my guide: Split’s Hidden Gem: Marjan Hill
Along with the walk up Marjan Hill, here are some other things to see and do in Split:
- Visit Diocletian’s Palace – for any Game of Thrones fans, they used the cellar as a filming location.
- St. Domnius Cathedral – climb to the top of the bell tower for great views of the city! It’s the oldest Catholic cathedral in the world!
- Get lost wandering around the Old Town.
- Catch a ferry to one of the neighboring islands.
- Lookout for the Old Town Clock.
Campsite we stayed at the night before: Camping Stobreč Split
Carpark we parked in with our campervan: Pojišanska ul. 3, 21000, Split
Day 6 – Dubrovnik
Dubrovnik is one beautiful city! In fact, it’s my favourite Croatian city! The walled city is full of so much character, history, and culture. Full of little alleyways to get lost down, independent shops to buy souvenirs from, and heart-warming cafes to try local dishes at. If there’s one ‘must-do’ on your visit to Dubrovnik, walk the city walls! The views you get up there are incredible!
For a full guide to Dubrovnik, with everything you need to know, please check out my guide: A Travel Guide To Dubrovnik
Campsite we stayed at: Solitude Sunny Camping
(It takes 1 hour to walk from the campsite into Old Town Dubrovnik. If the walk is too far, there are local buses you can catch!)
Want to see what other fun things there are to do in Croatia? Please check out some of my other blogs:
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