Adriatic Highway
The D8 road runs about 643 km along the Dalmatian coast of Croatia, linking Zadar, Šibenik, Split and Dubrovnik.
The Adriatic Highway (D8) was built in the 1950s and 1960s. It follows Croatia's Adriatic coast from near Rijeka to the Montenegrin border, covering about 643 km. It runs almost entirely along the sea, with limestone mountains on one side and an open sea dotted with islands on the other. The northern section passes Kvarner Bay and Senj, runs along the foot of the Velebit Mountains to Zadar, where you can see the Sea Organ and the sunset. The middle section goes via Šibenik (with a side trip to Krka National Park), Primošten and Trogir to Diocletian's Palace in Split. The southern section passes Omiš and the Makarska Riviera. After crossing the Neretva River delta, it follows the Pelješac Bridge, opened in 2022, which means you no longer need to pass through the Neum corridor in Bosnia and Herzegovina. You can make a detour to the Ston Walls before reaching Dubrovnik, and Cavtat lies farther south. Driving the full route without stopping takes about 10 hours. 5–10 days is recommended, combined with island ferries. The parallel A1 motorway is faster, while the D8 offers better scenery but has many bends and difficult overtaking. Strong bora winds can cause temporary restrictions on high-sided vehicles in the northern section. In summer, towns along the route have tight parking and high fees.