8 Days in Croatia

Arrive at Dubrovnik airport, where your driver will be waiting for you. It is approximately 30 minutes from the airport to the city center. We stayed at Hotel Bellevue, which is an amazing 5-star boutique hotel set on a steep cliff with the most amazing views of Miramare Bay. It is about a 10–15 minute walk to Dubrovnik’s Old Town. We spent the afternoon settling in and walked to Old Town to have a fabulous dinner. Of course, we had to stop and have a beer at the famous Buza Bar on the way back to the hotel.

On day two, we did an oysters and wine half-day experience. We were picked up from our hotel in the morning and visited an oyster farm, a winery, and old town Ston. On our first stop, we tasted the most delicious, salty oysters that were just shucked, paired with a lovely bottle of sparkling wine. We then visited a local winery and tasted four different wines and some homemade grappa. On the way back, we stopped and strolled in the historic town of Ston. This was such a lovely excursion! When we arrived back at the hotel, we relaxed a bit on the beach. We then walked to Old Town and had the most amazing dinner at Taj Mahal. I highly recommend this Bosnian Cuisine restaurant!

On day three, we went to the Elaphiti Islands. We went on a traditional Karaka boat group cruise, but I highly suggest a private boat tour if the budget allows. We went to Kolocep, Sipan, and Lopud islands. The water was absolutely gorgeous! We enjoyed a wine tasting, walking around each unique island and a fabulous lunch right on the water with the most amazing fresh seafood. This was an eight-hour tour so we rested a bit when we arrived back at the hotel. We then walked to Old Town to have our last dinner in Dubrovnik!

On day four, we took the ferry to Hvar. Hvar is known for its beautiful nature, numerous beaches, and clear blue waters. We stayed at Beach Bay Hvar, which was in a fabulous location! Another great recommendation here is Hotel Maslina. We settled in, walked around the beautiful island, and went to dinner at Stajun. I highly recommend this amazing restaurant.

On day five, we woke up and walked to Fortica Fortress, which is the highest point on the island. The views of the island were amazing! After enjoying an amazing lunch, we went to the picturesque countryside of Hvar Island for a wine tour. We visited two local wineries and had the pleasure of trying wines traditionally produced on the island. We were exhausted when we arrived back at the hotel, so enjoyed dinner at a nice restaurant close by the hotel.

On day six, we took a ferry to Split. Here we stayed at Piazza Heritage Hotel, which was a lovely hotel in a wonderful location in the middle of town. Split is a larger city and is very historical. You can still see the Roman walls, squares, and temples. Central Spit is quite compact and most sights can be easily seen and experienced by foot. We had a lovely olive oil and wine pairing tour here where we were able to taste top-quality Dalmation olive oil and wine. We followed it up with a fabulous sushi dinner!

On day seven, we went to Krka Waterfalls, which is the most beautiful national park. The drive was around one hour from our hotel. Krka Waterfalls are a breathtaking series of cascades, where turquoise pools and lush greenery create the most beautiful setting. We strolled along the wooden walkways and truly enjoyed this serene experience. You cannot miss this if going to Split! We enjoyed our final dinner at Chops Grill, reminiscing over the best week we experienced in Croatia.