9-Day Croatian Itinerary: Dalmatian Coast

Hvar: Once you arrive into Dubrovnik or Split airport, I recommend taking the ferry to Hvar to settle in for your first evening. Once in Hvar, check into your hotel (I can source a few hotel options to meet your needs). Spend the evening stretching your legs and walking around Hvar's town. You can stop and enjoy some ice cream, some of the best restaurants, or take an evening walk along the water for miles.

Hvar Island Tour: To start your first full day of the 9-day Dalmatian Coast Croatia itinerary, I recommend doing a 6-hour Hvar island tour. This is a great way to see the whole island with a local as a guide. You will visit Stari Grad, the oldest town in all of Croatia. Walk through a small village and enjoy some lunch and wine without the stress of driving anywhere yourself.

To finish your day, I recommend grabbing dinner at Paradise Garden in Hvar Town for a quaint and romantic evening.

Hvar wines, Adriatic beaches and an abandoned village: Day three starts with a quiet and lazy morning. By 11 am, you will meet your guide for a small-group wine tasting excursion. Learn about local wine-making and taste one of the most iconic wineries on the island.

Spend the rest of your afternoon soaking in the sun along the Adriatic or swimming in the ocean if you need to cool off.

Spend your evening exploring and having dinner in an abandoned village on the island. I can help book all of this for you!

On day four, enjoy your breakfast before taking the ferry to Split.

Once in Split, you can drop your luggage at your hotel or a luggage storage facility. Enjoy some lunch along the boardwalk (take your pick!). After a leisurely lunch, meet your guide in the Diocletian Palace for a walking tour of one of the most beautiful old towns in Croatia!

After your walking tour, rest and rejuvenate in your hotel room before grabbing a local dinner.

On day five, wake up and enjoy some breakfast at your hotel. Meet your guide mid-morning for a Split electric bike tour. This is a great way to see more of Split. Split is one of the larger cities in Croatia and there is the beautiful Marjan Park. Marjan Park is a beautiful green oasis in the city. You will find people jogging, bicycling and swimming all around you.

For your last full day in Split, I recommend enjoying a Dalmatian food and wine flavors experience. You will explore a local market and head back to your local guide's home to cook local dishes (while enjoying some wine, of course!) This is a great way to immerse yourself in the local culture.

After a delicious afternoon, you may be inclined to head back to your hotel and enjoy the spa or beach access to rest for your last afternoon in Split.

Once you check out of your hotel on day seven, grab a rental car and head to Krka National Park. Krka National Park is one of the most beautiful national parks in the country, just about a 1-hour drive from Split.

Then enjoy a few-hour drive from Krka National Park to Dubrovnik (keep in mind there can be some waiting time involved crossing the border between Croatia/Bosnia & Herzegovina). I think a few hours driving along the Dalmatian Coast is a must! It's a different way to see the country's beauty than from a ferry.

Once in Dubrovnik, drop off your rental car, check into your hotel and grab some dinner at Gradska Kavana Arsenal Restaurant right in the old town.

Spend your first full day in Dubrovnik exploring the Old Town. I recommend having a leisurely morning to explore and get lost on your own. Find a cafe in a narrow alley, grab an espresso and sit and people-watch. I am a big believer that this is one of the best activities you can do during your travels (not to mention it's very affordable!).

This is one of the most iconic filming locations for Game of Thrones. Whether you're a GOT fan or not, what better way to learn about the area than to take a Game of Thrones Walking Tour. Alternatively -- you can just enjoy a walking tour.

To unwind for the evening, you may want to find a place to grab a drink. If you're feeling adventurous, head over to Buza Bar to enjoy a drink on the cliffside (you can even jump in the water!)

On your last day, explore the Gruz area of Dubrovnik. Gruz is not as old as the iconic Old Town area of Dubrovnik, but it's worth a visit! There are phenomenal views and great restaurants lining the boardwalk. Take your pick for lunch!

Spend the afternoon enjoying a Dubrovnik Food and Wine tasting. This will take you outside of the city to a local winery, where you'll be able to enjoy some of the most beautiful drives south of Dubrovnik. You can't miss it!

Enjoy the Taj Mahal for your final dinner in Dubrovnik. Taj Mahal is a Bosnian restaurant that comes highly recommended.