Day 1 - Split arrival
Fly into Split and walk the Diocletian's Palace old town. Climb the bell tower for views. Afternoon at the Riva promenade and Bacvice beach. Evening at a konoba for peka or grilled fish with a crisp white. Sleep in the center. Pick up your rental car the next morning and stock water for the coastal drives ahead.
Day 2 - Trogir and Sibenik
Drive north to Trogir, a small island town with a cathedral and marina. Afternoon in Sibenik at Saint James Cathedral and the waterfront. Stop at a beach on the way back. Evening in Split for a pizza or a seafood risotto. Sleep in the city again. These short hops keep the first long drive gentle and unhurried.
Day 3 - Makarska Riviera
Drive south along the coast to Makarska under the Biokovo massif. Morning swim at a pebble beach. Afternoon the Osejava cliff path or a winery tasting. Evening grilled squid and a Posip wine at a seaside tavern. Sleep in Makarska. The road here is scenic; pull over at viewpoints for the blue-green water below.
Day 4 - Mostar day trip
Cross into Bosnia to Mostar and its rebuilt Old Bridge. Wander the bazaar and the Koski Mehmed Pasha mosque. Lunch of cevapi and burek. Afternoon back to the coast via the Neretva delta fruit stands. Evening in a coastal town for a calm dinner. Sleep near Ston or the Peljesac wine road for tomorrow.
Day 5 - Ston and Korcula
Morning at Ston's walls and oyster beds; taste fresh shellfish. Ferry or bridge to the Peljesac peninsula for red wine tastings. Afternoon on Korcula old town, claimed as Marco Polo's birthplace. Evening at a harbor konoba with grilled catch. Sleep on Korcula or the peninsula. The slower pace suits the winding roads.
Day 6 - Dubrovnik
Drive to Dubrovnik and walk the full city walls at opening. Visit the Stradun and the cable car to Mount Srd. Afternoon at a beach below the cliffs. Evening in the old town for a final seafood feast and a local dessert wine. Sleep just outside the walls where hotels are cheaper and parking is easier than inside.
Day 7 - Islands and exit
Morning ferry to Lokrum or a nearby island for a swim and peacocks. Return for a last espresso on the Stradun. Afternoon drive back to Split or fly from Dubrovnik. Keep transit time loose. A final stop at a roadside stand for figs and olives. Evening departure lets you fit one more coastal viewpoint at sunset.
Daily food picks
Croatia is seafood and wine. Eat grilled fish, squid, and oyster tastings on the coast. Inland try peka, cevapi, and burek. Konobas are family taverns with the best value. Pair whites like Posip with fish and reds from Peljesac with lamb. Bakeries sell burek for breakfast. Olives, figs, and rakija appear at every roadside stand.
Getting around & budget
Rent a car and use ferries for islands. Budget 130 to 210 euros daily with guesthouses and konoba dinners; Dubrovnik costs more. Book the car and Dubrovnik lodging ahead in summer. Roads are good but slow with curves. Park outside old towns. Water and beaches are free; walls and museums are the main paid sights.
