Dalmatia

Croatia's southern Adriatic coast, linking Zadar, Split, the island of Hvar and the old city of Dubrovnik.

Dalmatia is the historic region along the southern Adriatic coast of Croatia, stretching from near Zadar in the north to Dubrovnik and the border near the Bay of Kotor in the south, and including over a thousand islands. It is now divided among four counties and has no unified administrative region. Highlights: Zadar's Sea Organ and Greeting to the Sun; Šibenik's Cathedral of St. James, the Kornati Islands and the waterfalls of Krka National Park; Trogir's Old Town; Split's Diocletian's Palace (World Heritage, an ancient Roman palace fused with the living city); lavender and nightlife on the island of Hvar; the Golden Horn beach on Brač; the islands of Korčula and Mljet; and Dubrovnik's city walls, the 'Pearl of the Adriatic' and the filming location for King's Landing in Game of Thrones. Classic route: Zadar (1–2 days, or including Plitvice Lakes) – Šibenik/Krka (1 day) – Split (2 days) – island-hopping to Hvar/Brač (2 days) – Dubrovnik (2–3 days), 8–10 days in total, and it can be extended to Kotor in Montenegro. On transport: the coastal A1 motorway and the D8 coastal road suit drivers; Jadrolinija and Krilo ferries link the islands; both Split and Dubrovnik have international airports. Getting to Dubrovnik by road used to require crossing a short stretch of Bosnia and Herzegovina near Neum, or using the newly built Pelješac Bridge (opened in 2022, so no border crossing is needed).

Destinations

• Split
• Dubrovnik
• Zadar
• Plitvice Lakes

Itineraries

• Classic Croatia: Zagreb to Dubrovnik – A classic first-time route from the capital via Plitvice Lakes, Zadar, and Split to Hvar and Dubrovnik.
• Slovenia & Croatia Grand Tour – From Lake Bled to Dubrovnik, this route connects the Alps, Karst landscapes, Istria, lakes, and Adriatic islands.
• Dalmatian Island Hopping: Split to Dubrovnik – No driving required. Take catamarans to connect Hvar, Korčula, and Mljet, heading south all the way to Dubrovnik.
• Zagreb to Dubrovnik via Bosnia and Herzegovina – An in-depth, one-way self-drive route from inland Croatia through Bosnia and Herzegovina to the Adriatic Coast
• Northern Dalmatia: Zadar to Split – Use Zadar as a base to sail the Kornati Islands, then head south via Šibenik and Krka to Trogir.
• Split, Mostar & Bay of Kotor: 3-Country – Travel from Split into Bosnia and Herzegovina to Mostar, head south to Dubrovnik, and continue to Montenegro's Bay of K…
• Kvarner Coast, Krk & Pag Islands – An island-hopping self-drive route heading south from Opatija along the coast, via Krk and Pag islands, to Zadar.
• Slovenia & Northern Croatia – From Ljubljana to Zagreb, connecting the Lake District, Piran, Istria, and Plitvice Lakes.
• Dubrovnik to Sarajevo Three-Country – Travel through Croatia, Montenegro, and Bosnia and Herzegovina to see red-roofed old towns, fjord-like bays, and Ottoma…
• Four-Country Balkan Loop: Serbia, Bosnia, Croatia & Montenegro – Travel from Belgrade through Sarajevo and Mostar to the coast, then cross Durmitor back to Serbia.