Plitvice Inland Croatia
5
Day Itinerary •
Croatia
Five days across Plitvice and Inland Croatia give you the complete extraordinary sweep from Zagreb's remarkable Habsburg capital through the UNESCO Plitvice Lakes to the Dalmatian coast, combining the finest inland natural wonders with the remarkable Mediterranean heritage of Split and Trogir. This is the finest Croatia itinerary for those wanting both the extraordinary waterfall landscapes and the Adriatic in a single journey. This route connects inland Croatia to the Dalmatian coast. Zagreb's extraordinary Upper Town and markets, the remarkable Plitvice Lakes UNESCO boardwalk waterfalls, the extraordinary Rastoke waterfall village, the Barac caves and Krka National Park, the fine Sibenik UNESCO cathedral and Split's extraordinary Diocletian's Palace.
Best Time To Visit
Apr to Jun and Sep to Oct. Plitvice least crowded and waterfalls full.
Getting There
Fly to Zagreb (ZAG). Fly or drive out from Split (SPU).
Getting Around
Car essential throughout. Zagreb to Split via Plitvice and coast.
Budget Per Day
Approx EUR 90 to EUR 200 per person per day
Difficulity
Easy to moderate. Plitvice boardwalks easy. Some hill walking.
DAY 1
ZAGREB
MORNING
ZAGREB UPPER TOWN HERITAGE WALK
Zagreb's extraordinary Upper Town on the Gradec hill above the modern city gives the finest historic urban morning in Croatia, the remarkable St Mark's Church with its extraordinary 14th-century tiled roof showing the Croatian coat of arms in vivid Zsolnay tiles, the fine Lotrscak Tower and the remarkable noon cannon fired daily since 1877, the extraordinary Croatian Museum of Naive Art and the fine Stone Gate with its beloved Madonna icon giving the finest heritage walk in Zagreb. Travel: 15 min walk
MIDDAY
ZAGREB DOLAC MARKET AND LOWER TOWN
The Dolac market below the Upper Town is the most extraordinary open-air market in Croatia, the remarkable red umbrella-covered stalls of the finest local produce, flowers, cheeses and meats giving the finest single market experience in continental Croatia. The remarkable Lower Town's Ban Jelacic Square and the extraordinary Lenuzzi Horseshoe of parks and museums including the fine Mimara Museum and the extraordinary Museum of Arts and Crafts give the finest urban afternoon in Zagreb. Travel: 20 min tram
AFTERNOON
MUSEUM OF BROKEN RELATIONSHIPS AND ZAGREB EVENING
Zagreb's extraordinary Museum of Broken Relationships in the Upper Town is the most remarkable concept museum in Croatia, the fine collection of objects from broken relationships worldwide donated with extraordinary personal stories giving the most moving museum afternoon in the Croatian capital. The remarkable Zagreb Cathedral with its extraordinary twin neo-Gothic spires visible from across the city and the fine evening on Tkalciceva Street with its outdoor cafes are outstanding.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The Zagreb Funicular is the shortest public funicular railway in the world at 66 metres, connecting the Lower Town to the Upper Town since 1890. Ticket approx EUR 1. Ride it for the extraordinary miniature engineering experience and the fine view over the Lower Town roofscape.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Cafe on Ban Jelacic Square Outstanding Zagreb coffee on the finest city square in Croatia. | Lunch: Trilogija, Zagreb Outstanding Zagreb restaurant. Local Croatian cuisine and continental wine. | Dinner: Bistro Apetit, Zagreb Outstanding Zagreb dining. Local truffle pasta and Slavonian sausage.
DAY 2
PLITVICE LAKES
MORNING
DRIVE TO PLITVICE AND UPPER LAKES
Plitvice Lakes National Park is the most extraordinary UNESCO natural heritage in Croatia, the remarkable 16 terraced lakes connected by 92 waterfalls in extraordinary turquoise-green travertine water giving the finest single natural landscape in the country. The Upper Lakes Programme gives the finest introduction, the remarkable Proš n ansko jezero at the top, the extraordinary Galovacki Buk cascade and the fine electric boat crossing of Kozjak Lake outstanding. Entry approx EUR 20 to EUR 40 by season. Travel: 30 min walk
MIDDAY
PLITVICE LOWER LAKES BOARDWALK
The Lower Lakes boardwalk at Plitvice gives the most extraordinary close-up waterfall experience in Europe, the remarkable wooden paths running directly over and through the extraordinary cascading travertine falls and vivid turquoise pools with the fine Veliki Slap at 78 metres the highest waterfall in Croatia visible from the viewpoint above. The extraordinary clarity of the lake water, the remarkable endemic trout and the fine Novakovi n a Brod lake boat are outstanding. Travel: 20 min drive
AFTERNOON
RASTOKE WATERFALL VILLAGE
Rastoke at Slunj is the most extraordinary natural village in inland Croatia, the remarkable settlement where the Slunjcica River cascades over extraordinary travertine waterfalls directly between and through the old stone mill buildings giving the finest waterfall village in Croatia. The remarkable swimming in the natural pools, the extraordinary working watermills and the fine konobas in the mill buildings give the finest afternoon stop between Plitvice and the coast.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The Ozalj Castle above the Kupa River between Zagreb and Karlovac is the most extraordinary hidden medieval fortress in inland Croatia, the remarkable 13th-century castle with extraordinary views over the Kupa gorge accessible on a short walk from the town. Entry approx EUR 4. The finest hidden castle in northern Croatia.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Hotel breakfast near Zagreb Before the Plitvice drive. | Lunch: Restaurant near Plitvice Outstanding local Lika region food. Local lamb and freshwater fish. | Dinner: Konoba in Rastoke Outstanding mill-house konoba. Local Lika lamb and freshwater crayfish.
DAY 3
RASTOKE
MORNING
BARAC CAVES NEAR PLITVICE
The Barac Caves near Rakovica south of Plitvice are the most extraordinary accessible cave system in inland Croatia, the remarkable two connected cave chambers with extraordinary stalactite and stalagmite formations, the fine cave bear fossil site and the remarkable underground lake giving the finest cave experience in the Croatian interior. The extraordinary cave temperature of 10 degrees provides a remarkable cool escape in summer. Entry approx EUR 10. Travel: 1.5 hour drive
MIDDAY
KRKA NATIONAL PARK SKRADINSKI BUK
The Krka National Park's extraordinary Skradinski Buk waterfall series gives the finest waterfall landscape in Dalmatia, the remarkable 17 connected travertine falls and pools with a total drop of 46 metres and the extraordinary turquoise-green water giving the finest national park afternoon in Croatia. The remarkable boardwalk through and over the falls, the extraordinary old mill buildings on the islands in the falls and the fine panoramic viewpoints above are outstanding. Entry approx EUR 30 in summer. Travel: 30 min drive
AFTERNOON
SIBENIK GATEWAY AND THE CATHEDRAL
Sibenik's extraordinary UNESCO Cathedral of St James built entirely without mortar between 1431 and 1535 is the most remarkable Renaissance building in Croatia, the fine frieze of 74 stone portrait heads around the exterior apse and the extraordinary interior ribbed ceiling of interlocking stone slabs giving the finest single Renaissance monument on the Adriatic. The remarkable old town and the fine St Michael's Fortress are outstanding. Cathedral entry approx EUR 5.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The Visovac island monastery on Lake Visovac within Krka National Park is the most extraordinary island monastery in Dalmatia, the remarkable 15th-century Franciscan friary on a tiny lake island accessible by boat from Skradinski Buk. Included in Krka park entry. The finest hidden monastery in Krka National Park.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Hotel breakfast near Plitvice or Rastoke Before the cave visit. | Lunch: Restaurant in Skradin near Krka Outstanding gateway town to Krka. Local freshwater fish. | Dinner: Restaurant in Sibenik Outstanding Dalmatian dinner on the way to Split.
DAY 4
SPLIT GATEWAY
MORNING
SPLIT DIOCLETIAN'S PALACE ARRIVAL
Split's extraordinary Diocletian's Palace is the most remarkable living Roman monument in the world, the 4th-century imperial complex within whose extraordinary walls an entire city has grown over 1,700 years. The remarkable underground cellars giving the finest impression of the original palace scale, the extraordinary Peristyle courtyard, the fine Cathedral of St Domnius within the imperial mausoleum and the remarkable Golden Gate give the finest Roman heritage morning in Croatia. Cathedral entry approx EUR 5. Travel: 15 min walk
MIDDAY
SPLIT OLD TOWN AND THE GREEN MARKET
Split's extraordinary old town beyond Diocletian's Palace walls gives the finest layered medieval and Baroque city in Dalmatia, the remarkable Vestibule above the cellars, the fine People's Square with its extraordinary 15th-century clock tower and the remarkable Green Market at the eastern palace gate with its extraordinary fresh produce and local specialities giving the finest market stop in Central Dalmatia. Travel: 20 min walk
AFTERNOON
MEŠTROVI n GALLERY AND MARJAN HILL
The Meštrovi n Gallery in Split is the most extraordinary single-artist museum in Croatia, the remarkable villa of sculptor Ivan Meštrovi n with its extraordinary collection of monumental works and the fine Crikvine chapel with carved reliefs giving the finest sculpture afternoon in Dalmatia. The remarkable Marjan Hill forest park above Split gives the finest panorama over the city, the Adriatic and the Dalmatian islands.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The Salona archaeological site 5km north of Split is the most extraordinary undiscovered Roman city in Croatia, the former capital of Roman Dalmatia with vast amphitheatre remains, forum ruins and early Christian basilicas explored by almost no visitors. Entry approx EUR 5. The finest hidden Roman site near Split.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Cafe in Sibenik before drive Before the Split drive. | Lunch: Konoba Matoni, Split Outstanding Split konoba. Local Dalmatian lamb peka and wine. | Dinner: Dvor, Split Outstanding Split restaurant. Fresh Adriatic fish and Dalmatian wine.
DAY 5
KRKA FALLS
MORNING
TROGIR UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE
Trogir is the most extraordinary UNESCO medieval island city in Croatia, the remarkable intact Romanesque-Gothic old town on a tiny island containing the finest collection of medieval monuments in Dalmatia. The extraordinary Cathedral of St Lawrence with its remarkable Radovan Portal of 1240 the finest Romanesque sculpture in Croatia, the fine Kamerlengo fortress and the remarkable 3rd-century Greek relief of Kairos in the Benedictine convent give the finest single UNESCO morning on the Adriatic coast. Travel: 30 min drive
MIDDAY
OMIS CANYON AND THE CETINA RIVER
Omis south of Split is the most extraordinary pirate fortress town on the Dalmatian coast, its remarkable position at the mouth of the extraordinary Cetina River canyon giving the finest combination of medieval history and dramatic gorge in Dalmatia. The fine Mirabella fortress, the remarkable Cetina river clarity and the extraordinary local fish konobas with freshwater trout give the finest inland canyon afternoon near the coast. Travel: 30 min drive back
AFTERNOON
SPLIT RIVA AND FAREWELL DALMATIA
Split's extraordinary Riva promenade along the harbour waterfront gives the finest farewell to Croatia, the remarkable palm-lined promenade with the extraordinary view back to Diocletian's Palace walls, the fine open-air cafes and the remarkable sunset over the Adriatic and the silhouetted island of Brac giving the finest final afternoon in Central Dalmatia.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The Cetina River canyon walk from Omis gives the most extraordinary inland gorge afternoon near the Dalmatian coast, the remarkable crystal-clear river between extraordinary limestone walls with fine trout konobas accessible by a short riverside path. Entirely free to walk. The finest hidden afternoon near Omis and Split.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Hotel breakfast in Split Before the Trogir drive. | Lunch: Konoba in Omis Outstanding Cetina river trout and local lamb peka. | Dinner: Farewell dinner on the Split Riva Outstanding final Croatia dinner. Local Adriatic fish and Posip wine.
Where To Stay
Zagreb, Night 1 Hotel Esplanade or Palace Hotel Zagreb. City centre. Approx EUR 100 to EUR 280. Plitvice area, Night 2 Hotel Jezero or Plitvice Holiday Resort. Park entrance. Approx EUR 80 to EUR 180. Split, Nights 3 to 5 Hotel Vestibul Palace or Cornaro Hotel. Old town. Approx EUR 100 to EUR 300.
Top Tips
1. Book Plitvice tickets online well in advance. The park sells out in July and August.
2. Arrive at Plitvice at 8am opening. The boardwalks become extremely busy after 10am.
3. The Rastoke waterfall village between Plitvice and the coast is free and extraordinary. Don't skip it.
4. Book Krka National Park tickets online at np-krka.hr. Entry fills quickly in summer.
5. Diocletian's Palace underground cellars are the finest hidden experience in Split. Entry approx EUR
8.
6. One-way car hire Zagreb to Split is available from most major rental companies. Ask specifically.
Total Budget
Approx EUR 90 to EUR 200 per person per day