Carved by Romans and polished by the Adriatic, Croatia’s Dalmatian Coast blends dazzling islands, Venetian lanes, and salt-kissed seafood. In one compact week, you’ll wander Diocletian’s Palace in Split, swim coves that glow electric-blue, and toast golden sunsets on Dubrovnik’s walls.

For centuries, this coastline was the maritime frontier of empires—Illyrian, Roman, Venetian, Ragusan—each leaving marble, fortifications, and a fierce love of the sea. Today, ferries thread through islands like pearls: Hvar, Vis, and the Elaphiti archipelago, where pine forests meet translucent coves.

Practical notes: summer brings warm seas and lively nightlife; spring and fall are quieter with mild weather and great value. Expect steps in old towns (pack comfortable shoes), strong sun (reef-safe sunscreen), and occasional bora winds. Seafood, peka (slow-cooked meat or octopus), and local wines like Pošip and Plavac Mali star on menus.

Split

Split is not a museum—it’s a living Roman palace by the sea. Within Emperor Diocletian’s 1,700-year-old walls, laundry flaps above marble streets, espresso culture hums, and the Riva promenade glows at dusk. Beaches arc west toward piney Marjan Hill for swims with city views.

• Top sights: Diocletian’s Palace cellars, Peristyle, St. Domnius Bell Tower, Marjan Hill viewpoints, and nearby Trogir (another UNESCO gem).
• Island access: Fast boats reach Hvar, Vis, Blue Cave, and the Stiniva amphitheater bay.
• Food and drink: Dalmatian konobas serve grilled fish, black risotto, and olive oil-rich tapas; local gelato is excellent.
• Fun fact: Much of Diocletian’s Palace survives because medieval Split simply moved in, re-using the imperial complex as a city core.

Where to stay: Browse curated stays near the Old Town and the Riva on VRBO Split or compare hotels on Hotels.com Split. Stay inside or just outside the palace for atmosphere without the steps to hilltop neighborhoods.

How to arrive: Fly into Split (SPU) from European hubs; search routes and fares on Omio Flights (typical 2–3 hours from major cities, ~$70–200 one way in shoulder season). If coming via Zagreb, trains take ~6 hours and buses ~5 hours—check Omio Trains and Omio Buses (often $20–35).

Day 1: Arrive in Split, the Roman-by-the-Sea

Morning: Travel to Split.

Afternoon: Check in and stretch your legs on the Riva promenade with a macchiato at D16 Coffee or Kavana Procaffe. Enter Diocletian’s Palace via the Bronze Gate and explore the atmospheric cellars, then step into the Peristyle where sphinxes glow in late light.

Evening: Dinner picks: Villa Spiza (tiny, daily-changing Dalmatian dishes), Uje Oil Bar (olive-oil flights, anchovies, and octopus salad), or Bokeria Kitchen & Wine (Dalmatian-Med fusion in a lofty former hardware shop). For a nightcap, try Marvlvs Library Jazz Bar tucked in a Renaissance townhouse.

Day 2: Blue Cave and Hvar – 5 Islands Adventure

Morning: Board a speedboat for a full-day island-hopping excursion to the Blue Cave, Vis, Stiniva Bay, the Pakleni Islands, and Hvar Town. Expect swims in gin-clear coves, cliff-ringed bays, and time to wander Hvar’s stone lanes and Venetian loggia.

Book: Blue Cave and Hvar Tour - 5 Islands Tour from Split and Trogir. Note: Blue Cave entry depends on sea conditions; if closed, boats pivot to extra bays and tunnels around Vis.

Evening: Back in Split, sunset on the Riva, then grilled fish and black risotto at Konoba Fetivi. Gelato at Luka Ice Cream & Cakes—try fig or lavender.

Day 3: Old Stones, Marjan Pines, and Split Food Stories

Morning: Climb St. Domnius Bell Tower early for crowd-free city-and-sea views. Wander to the Golden Gate and statue of Grgur Ninski, then walk or e-bike into Marjan Park for panoramic lookouts and a swim at Kašjuni or Ježinac Beach.

Afternoon: Join a guided tasting stroll that threads through the palace and open-air markets, sampling prosciutto, local cheeses, olive oil, pastries, and Dalmatian sweets while hearing culinary lore.

Book: Split Food Tour: Discover Split One Bite At A Time.

Evening: For a seaside splurge, Zrno Soli in the marina pairs modern Dalmatian plates with Pošip and Debit. Prefer casual? Šug offers comforting pasticada and handmade pasta. Finish with a stroll past the seafront palm trees.

Travel to Dubrovnik (tomorrow morning): In-season catamarans take ~4–5 hours along the islands (scenic, $45–65)—search Omio Ferries. Buses run ~4–5 hours year-round via the Pelješac Bridge (generally $25–35)—compare on Omio Buses. Morning departures are best for maximizing your day.

Dubrovnik

Dubrovnik—Ragusa of old—rises from the sea in a crown of ramparts, baroque churches, and terracotta roofs. The stone shimmers, the water is impossibly blue, and history is layered: a merchant republic that rivaled Venice, a city reborn after the 1990s siege.

• Top sights: City Walls loop, Stradun, Rector’s Palace, Lovrijenac Fortress, cable car to Mount Srđ, and swims at Banje or Šulić Beach.
• Island time: The Elaphiti trio (Koločep, Lopud, Šipan) offer pine-shaded coves and a slower rhythm—perfect for a day cruise.
• Food and drink: Think fresh Adriatic fish, oysters from nearby Ston, and wines from Pelješac. Evenings bring clifftop bars and intimate wine cellars.
• Fun fact: Those gleaming streets? It’s polished limestone, worn glassy by centuries of footsteps.

Where to stay: Sleep within the walls for storybook mornings or just outside for easier access and fewer steps. Compare stays on VRBO Dubrovnik and Hotels.com Dubrovnik.

Day 4: Split → Dubrovnik, Walls at Golden Hour

Morning: Travel to Dubrovnik by catamaran (~4–5h; scenic coast-hopping) via Omio Ferries or by bus (~4–5h; often cheaper) via Omio Buses. Expect $25–65 depending on mode and season. Check in and refresh.

Afternoon: Walk the full circuit of the City Walls (60–90 minutes). Pause at Minčeta Tower for the best roofscape and Adriatic views. Pop into War Photo Limited for powerful context on the region’s recent history.

Evening: Sunset cable car up Mount Srđ for a coastline panorama and a toast. Dinner options: Proto (historic seafood house), Pantarul (inventive seasonal plates outside the walls), or Taj Mahal (Bosnian cuisine—order the somun bread and cevapi). Nightcap at Buža Bar, a cliffside perch over the sea.

Day 5: Dubrovnik Highlights—From Panoramas to Backstreets

Morning: A combined panorama drive and guided walk gives you city perspectives that big buses skip, plus a storytelling saunter through Old Town landmarks.

Book: Dubrovnik City Tour: Panorama Drive & Sightseeing Walk.

Afternoon: Explore Lovrijenac Fortress (the city’s “Gibraltar,” once a symbol of independence) and slip down to Šulić Beach for a refreshing swim beneath the battlements.

Evening: Wine flight at D’vino Wine Bar in a cozy lane; ask for Pelješac reds and a crisp Pošip. For dinner, Nautika (edge-of-the-sea fine dining by Pile Gate) or Kopun (heritage recipes; try the namesake capon).

Day 6: Elaphiti Islands Cruise—Swim, Stroll, Feast

Morning: Sail out to the Elaphiti Islands: Koločep’s coves, car-free Lopud’s sandy Šunj Beach, and Šipan’s sleepy stone villages. Expect time ashore for swims and relaxed walks beneath pines.

Book: Full-Day Dubrovnik Elaphite Islands Cruise with Lunch and Drinks. Lunch is typically grilled fish or chicken with Dalmatian sides, plus local wine.

Evening: Back in town, grab a casual bite at Barba (octopus burgers and seafood street food) or Lokanda Peskarija on the harbor. Gelato on the Stradun as the stone streets glow under lanterns.

Day 7: Markets, Last Dips, and Departure

Morning: Coffee at Cogito or Glam Café, then browse the morning market at Gundulić Square for lavender sachets, candied orange peel, and local olive oil to take home.

Afternoon: Squeeze in a final swim at Banje Beach or a kayak spin under the walls if time allows. Depart from Dubrovnik (DBV); compare flight options on Omio Flights (most EU hubs 2–3 hours). If you’re bus- or ferry-hopping onward along the coast, check Omio Buses and Omio Ferries.

Evening: If you have a late flight, early dinner at Gradska Kavana Arsenal by the old harbor—great for people-watching and a final sunset over the boats.

Optional swaps and add-ons: If seas are rough on Day 2, consider a day to Krka National Park (waterfalls plus wine tasting) from Split, or tack on a short hop to Trogir’s Romanesque core. In Dubrovnik, Game of Thrones enthusiasts can add a dedicated filming-locations walk or a quick E-tuk panoramic loop before dusk.

Another great option from Split: If you have extra time or want more history, add a small-group Split + Trogir tour:

Book: Split and Trogir Half Day Small Group Tour.

Across seven days, you’ve walked Roman corridors, sailed to pine-scented islands, and circled Dubrovnik’s storied walls as the Adriatic burned gold. Return for a slower fortnight—there are 1,000 islands to go—but you’ve captured the coast’s essence: stone, sea, and an easy rhythm that lingers.