The Best of Croatia in 8 Days

Arrive midday/evening into Zagreb Franjo Tudman Airport (ZAG).

Check into hotel in the city center. Relax and freshen up.

Evening

Dinner at Maredo Grill. This restaurant was superb! It is a Michelin-guided restaurant with amazing ambiance, food, cocktails, and wine selections. The decor was beautiful.

I would highly recommend trying the Wagyu lasagna—it was delicious and very filling! I also recommend trying Teranino (a unique Croatian liqueur). It was sweet and yummy! The waiter treated us to this as it was a welcome gift.

For dessert: Chocolate Sphere!

• Morning pastries at Pekara Dubarika Bakery! Delicious treats and sandwiches. Great to grab and go! Try the burek!

• Visit the Zagreb Botanical Garden—great for a stroll or a picnic. Very pretty gardens.

• Explore the Ban Jelačić Square. This square has many shops, cafes and is the central square of Zagreb. Great for some retail shopping or just taking in the busy square.

• Have lunch at La Štruk. Great restaurant that offers traditional, authentic food from the Zagreb region. Very small with garden terrace seating.

• Explore the vibrant Tkalciceva Street in the evening. This street has so many options of shops, fun bars, nightlife, and amazing restaurants!

• Enjoy dinner at Batak Tkalčićeva. This restaurant was my favorite while visiting Zagreb! I recommend ordering the Vješalica in kajmak sauce: two pieces of pork chop stuffed with cheese and wrapped in pancetta. It was delicious!

• End the night enjoying cocktails at Bar 45! The cocktail names are very unique and fun, and the music is great!

Take a day trip to Plitvice Lakes National Park!

This is a must when visiting Croatia! It is a UNESCO site that is absolutely stunning! It has 16 lakes and waterfalls with beautiful crystal-clear, turquoise-colored waters.

Our Fora-booked tour activity included transportation to and from Zagreb, admission tickets to the national park, a relaxing boat ride, and a visit to one of the nearby villages. Very nice experience to explore the nature that Croatia has to offer!

You will return back to Zagreb just in time for dinner.

Morning departure from Zagreb, Croatia to Split, Croatia. (Just a short 45 minute airplane ride.)

Once you arrive in Split, you will go directly to the port, which takes about 30 minutes by car. Once you arrive at the port, you will board the ferry to Hvar Island. The ferry to Hvar Island takes approximately one hour.

On board you can relax, enjoy the scenery of the Adriatic Sea, and also enjoy the snack and drink bar.

Midday

Arrive in Hvar Island/check into hotel.

Relax by the hotel pool and enjoy the cocktails offered at the hotel bar

Dinner & drinks

Enjoy dinner at Don Quijote Steakhouse—an oceanfront rooftop restaurant offering exquisite meat and seafood dishes. The lamb chops and truffle mashed potatoes were to die for!

Enjoy late-night drinks at Carpe Diem Bar.

Nice outdoor and indoor bar with DJ and amazing drinks! Their menu separates the cocktails by liquor base, which was a great detail. Must try the mojito and “A Kiss” cocktail!

• Explore downtown Hvar. Stroll the cobblestone alleys, visit the chic boutiques, and enjoy the oceanside views.

• Visit the Španjola Fortress, Hvar. You can hike to the top or you can take a cab, if you are not able to hike. You can take a tour of the fortress or simply just enjoy the wonderful views!

• Enjoy wine tasting at Lacman Family Winery! A two-hour wine tasting tour with transportation to and from downtown Hvar that takes you through the beautiful mountainside of Hvar Island. This winery offers white and red wine tasting with spectacular views!

• Dinner and drinks at Passarola Restaurant. If you are a sushi lover, a must-try is the Passarola Roll!

• Late-night dancing at Pink Champagne nightclub! This underground nightclub has amazing music and is a great space to unwind and dance the night away! If looking for a late-night party, then this is the place!

This day will be a fun-filled boat/beach day!

You will take a boat tour to:

• Blue Cave

• Green Cave

• Stiniva Beach

• Blue Lagoon

• Pakleni Islands

Arrival back at Hvar Town around 5–6 pm.

Evening at Carpe Diem Beach Club

Enjoy evening/sunset dinner and drinks at Carpe Diem Beach Club.

Must-try: The Margherita pizza and sushi, of course! There is a live DJ and a beautiful sunset view.

You must take a boat from Hvar Island to get to the beach club. Takes about 10 minutes each way.

On this day, you will depart Hvar via ferry to Dubrovnik. It takes 3.5 hours as the ferry makes a few stops on other islands prior to arriving in Dubrovnik.

Arrive in Dubrovnik and check in early to your hotel.

Explore Old Town Dubrovnik

Check out:

• The Jesuit Stairs (Game of Thrones filming location)

• Clock Tower of Dubrovnik

• Rector's Palace

Old Town is a must when visiting this city because it has so much history and it is very charming/has a real royal feeling to it. There are so many restaurants, shops, cafes, and bars.

Dinner at Restaurant & Bar Rudjer

This restaurant has a courtyard or terrace seating. We sat on the back terrace and it was splendid! I do recommend making reservations as it does get crowded. The pork chops and roasted potatoes were a great dish to order. Very relaxing setting with a live violinist.

Then, enjoy after-dinner drinks at The Bar - Old Town. The cocktails here were crafty and colorful!

Start your day with brunch at Arka Dubrovnik.

Afternoon: Walk the Old Town walls

A ticket entrance fee is required, but you will get to walk the entire surrounding walls of Dubrovnik’s Old Town. You can see the spectacular views of the city from different viewpoints.

After walking the walls, reward yourself with some gelato from Mostro Gelato! The watermelon flavor was so good and refreshing!

Evening

Enjoy evening drinks or dinner with a spectacular view overlooking the entire city of Dubrovnik at Panorama Restaurant. I suggest making reservations in advance.

You will need to take a cable car or you can get there by car as well. If you are not afraid of heights, you will not want to miss this experience! The views are breathtaking.

Enjoy late-night dancing at Culture Club Revelin—inside a castle! Very large club with great lighting and music!