7 Perfect Days on Croatia’s Dalmatian Coast: Dubrovnik, Ston, Split & Hvar

Arrive in Dubrovnik and settle into a sea-facing room at the Valamar Collection Dubrovnik President Hotel or similar, where every room opens onto a balcony overlooking the Adriatic.

After a long travel day, keep things easy: a walk around the hotel’s waterfront, a cappuccino or cocktail with a view, and time to freshen up.

In the evening, enjoy a multi-course dinner on property that takes Croatian comfort dishes and elevates them into a refined tasting experience. It’s the perfect “soft landing”—you get a memorable first meal without having to leave the hotel.

Start the morning with a relaxed breakfast overlooking the sea, then transfer into Dubrovnik’s Old Town for a private walking tour. With a local guide, you’ll weave through narrow alleys, quieter side streets, and hidden staircases, learning how to move through the city around the crowds instead of with them.

If you’d like to walk the city walls, I’ll help you time it to avoid peak sun and cruise ship arrivals, so it feels more like a peaceful photo walk than a congested attraction.

After an upscale lunch in the Old Town, spend the afternoon wandering at your own pace—maybe a gelato stop, a quick drink at a cliffside bar, or a quiet detour down a side street you might have missed on your own.

Today is all about getting out on the water. You’ll board a private boat from Dubrovnik’s port and cruise north along the coast toward a tiny island village accessible only by boat and local ferries. Your captain will time the ride so you can enjoy calm conditions and coastal views before docking at a quiet marina.

From there, you’ll visit a local host’s home for a tasting of white, rosé, and red wines, plus house-made olive oil and seasonal fruits from the garden. Expect stories of life at sea, village traditions, and what it’s like to live in a 400-person community with just one small school—it feels like being welcomed into someone’s life, not just their living room.

Return to Dubrovnik in the late afternoon with time for a cocktail at the hotel and an easy, light dinner.

After breakfast, you’ll check out and head north along the coast with a private driver, breaking up the drive with a stop in Ston for a truly special oyster experience.

At a family-run farm, you’ll taste oysters fresh from the bay—both raw with a squeeze of lemon and broiled with garlic and herbs—plus local wine and, if you’d like, a glass of champagne.

Then you’ll head out on a small boat to see how the oysters are cultivated on vertical nets suspended from long horizontal lines, learning why this bay produces such distinctive flavor. Lunch might feature sea bream and roasted vegetables from the family’s garden, simple and exceptionally fresh.

From there, continue by car to Split, arriving in time to check into your hotel, freshen up, and enjoy sunset cocktails at a rooftop bar before a relaxed dinner.

Start the day with a guided walking tour of Split’s Old Town and Diocletian’s Palace, where a knowledgeable guide will bring the city’s Roman roots and modern life together. You’ll wander through narrow lanes, pop into courtyards, and pause to take in the energy of the markets and marina.

After a three-course lunch at a marina-side restaurant serving Croatian specialties, return to your hotel for a short rest.

In the late afternoon, head to a local chef’s home for an intimate cooking class: picture a beautiful, lived-in kitchen with vintage glassware, eclectic art, and doors open to a small balcony with herbs. You’ll snack on seasonal bites like bacon-wrapped figs and marinated anchovies while learning how to turn fresh market ingredients into dishes you can bring home—and then sit down together to enjoy the meal with wine and conversation.

This morning, you’ll board a boat (or scheduled ferry, depending on preference) from Split to Hvar, gliding past dramatic coastline and mountain views. Upon arrival, your luggage will be whisked to your resort while you head by private transfer into the hills to a family home that now hosts guests for immersive, heritage-style experiences.

Here, you might prepare potato gnocchi by hand, help assemble a braised main in a traditional kitchen, and decorate cookies in a style passed down through generations. The lunch is hearty and homey—I’ll help you choose the right pacing so it suits your group’s preferences.

Afterward, you’ll transfer to your resort, such as Maslina, where you’ll settle into a villa or pool suite with a private plunge pool, heated year-round when the resort is open.

Spend the rest of the afternoon unwinding by your private pool or at the spa before an easy dinner on property.

Your final full day is all about savoring the coast. Begin with a leisurely breakfast in your villa, perhaps prepared by staff or enjoyed on your terrace overlooking the sea.

Late morning, you’ll head up to a mountaintop olive orchard and event space for a “secret lunch” style experience—a small kitchen, a bar area, and a long table looking out over the sea. A multi-course meal, often paired with local wines, is served in different corners of the orchard or terrace, giving you space to wander, chat, and take photos between courses.

After lunch, head down into Hvar Town for a private walking tour and time to explore on your own.

Finish the day with a casual cocktail at a flower-framed bar on the waterfront before returning to your resort to pack, take one last dip in the hot tub, and enjoy a relaxed final evening.

Departure can be scheduled for the following morning via ferry and private transfer.