Sample Itinerary · Croatia

Island Hopping the Dalmatian Coast

Split · Brač · Hvar · Dubrovnik

Duration
8 Days · 7 Nights
Accommodations
4-Star or Higher
Transport
Ferries + Private Transfers
Best For
Island Hopping · Beach · Culture

Plan a Similar Trip



← All Croatia Itineraries

This is a sample itinerary — for inspiration only. Every Juniper trip is designed from scratch around you. Many clients travel a very similar route — if this resonates, book a free consultation and a specialist will build something just like it (or better) specifically for your travel style, dates, and group.

1
Day One

Arrive in Split

Split

Welcome to Croatia. Your driver meets you at Split Airport (SPU) and transfers you into the city. Check in to your hotel — ideally within walking distance of the Riva waterfront and Diocletian’s Palace.

Afternoon at leisure. Split’s old town is literally built inside the ruins of a Roman emperor’s palace — Diocletian’s Palace (UNESCO) is not a museum you visit but a living neighborhood with restaurants, shops, and apartments within the 1,700-year-old walls. Walk the Peristyle (the central courtyard), the Cathedral of Saint Domnius (built inside Diocletian’s mausoleum), and the Riva waterfront promenade. Welcome dinner at a specialist-selected konoba.

Arrive Split
Diocletian’s Palace UNESCO
Welcome dinner

Overnight: Split

2
Day Two

Split + Ferry to Brač

Brač

Morning: guided walking tour of Split — the palace basement halls (the vaulted Roman substructure that gives the true scale of the original palace), the Peristyle, the Jupiter’s Temple, and Marjan Hill (the forested peninsula with panoramic views over the city, the islands, and the Adriatic).

Afternoon: ferry from Split to Supetar on Brač (approximately 50 minutes). Brač is the largest island in central Dalmatia — known for the white Brač stone (the same stone used to build Diocletian’s Palace and, reputedly, the White House). Check in to your Brač hotel. Evening: first island dinner — grilled fresh fish, olive oil, and local Bolač wine.

Split walking tour + Marjan Hill
Ferry Split → Brač · 50 min
Arrive Brač

Overnight: Brač

3
Day Three

Brač → Hvar

Hvar

Morning: Zlatni Rat (Golden Horn) — Croatia’s most famous beach, a white-pebble spit that extends into the turquoise Adriatic and shifts shape with the wind and current. Swimming and relaxation. Optional: hike to Vidova Gora (2,552 feet, the highest point on any Adriatic island) for the panoramic view down to Zlatni Rat and across to Hvar.

Afternoon: catamaran from Bol (Brač) to Hvar Town (approximately 1 hour). Hvar Town is the glamour stop of the Dalmatian Coast — a Venetian-era harbor town with a fortress above, yacht-filled marina below, and lavender-scented hills behind. Check in to your Hvar hotel. Evening: harborside dinner.

Zlatni Rat golden beach
Catamaran Brač → Hvar
Hvar Town harbor

Overnight: Hvar

4
Day Four

Hvar Island Day

Hvar

Morning: Hvar Town exploration — the Fortica (Spanish Fortress) above the town for panoramic views, the Renaissance-era main square (Trg Svetog Stjepana, the largest piazza in Dalmatia), the 15th-century Arsenal theater, and the Franciscan monastery with its cypress-garden cloister.

Afternoon: Pakleni Islands — a small archipelago of pine-covered islands just offshore from Hvar Town, reached by water taxi (10 minutes). Palmizana has the beach clubs and restaurants; Jerolim and Stipanska have quieter coves for swimming. Your specialist recommends the island and timing based on your preference. Evening at leisure in Hvar Town — the nightlife here is the most vibrant on the Dalmatian Coast.

Fortica fortress views
Pakleni Islands boat
Hvar nightlife

Overnight: Hvar

5
Day Five

Hvar → Korčula

Korčula

Morning at leisure on Hvar — a visit to the Stari Grad Plain (UNESCO, the oldest continuously cultivated agricultural landscape in the Mediterranean, divided into stone-walled plots by Greek colonists in the 4th century BC) or the lavender fields in the island’s interior (June–July peak bloom).

Afternoon: catamaran from Hvar to Korčula (approximately 1 hour). Korčula is the quieter, more intimate island — a fortified medieval old town on a peninsula that looks like a miniature Dubrovnik. The old town’s herringbone street pattern was designed to channel summer breezes and block winter wind. Check in. Evening: dinner in the old town — Korčula’s cuisine is more rustic than Hvar’s, built around fresh-caught fish and the island’s own Grk and Pošip wines.

Stari Grad Plain UNESCO
Catamaran Hvar → Korčula
Medieval old town dinner

Overnight: Korčula

6
Day Six

Korčula Island Day

Korčula

Morning: Korčula old town walking tour — the Marco Polo House (the Venetian explorer’s reputed birthplace, climb the tower for views over the terracotta rooftops), the Cathedral of St. Mark (with a Tintoretto altarpiece), and the fortified walls that ring the peninsula. The old town is small enough to explore in a morning but detailed enough to reward slow looking.

Afternoon: wine tasting — Korčula produces Grk (a white grape grown almost exclusively in the village of Lumbarda, the vineyards planted in sandy soil just yards from the sea) and Pošip (a fuller white from the Smokvica area). Your specialist has arranged a private tasting at a family winery. Optional: kayaking around the old town walls. Evening at leisure.

Marco Polo House + tower
Grk + Pošip wine tasting
Kayaking optional

Overnight: Korčula

7
Day Seven

Korčula → Dubrovnik

Dubrovnik

Morning: catamaran from Korčula to Dubrovnik (approximately 2 hours — the final island hop, with views of the Pelješac peninsula and the approach to Dubrovnik’s walls from the sea). Arrive Dubrovnik late morning.

Afternoon: Dubrovnik city walls walk — the complete 1.2 miles circuit of the medieval walls (your specialist times this for late afternoon when the cruise ships have departed and the light on the stone is golden). The views down into the Old Town’s terracotta rooftops, the harbor, and Lokrum Island are the single most iconic image of Croatia. Evening: farewell dinner in the Old Town — your specialist has the restaurant with the wall-view terrace.

Catamaran Korčula → Dubrovnik
City walls walk · 1.2 miles
Farewell dinner · wall view

Overnight: Dubrovnik

8
Day Eight

Dubrovnik + Depart

Dubrovnik

Morning: Lokrum Island (a 15-minute ferry from the Old Port) — a forested island nature reserve with a ruined Benedictine monastery, a botanical garden with peacocks, and a saltwater lake called the Dead Sea (sheltered, warm, swimmable). Or: cable car to Srđ hill for the definitive panoramic view of Dubrovnik, the walls, and the Adriatic.

Afternoon: transfer to Dubrovnik Airport (DBV) for your departure flight. Eight days across the Dalmatian Coast — Split’s Roman ruins, four Adriatic islands, and Dubrovnik’s walls at golden hour. Your Juniper specialist remains reachable throughout. Safe travels home.

Lokrum Island or Srđ cable car
Transfer to DBV
App support

Love this itinerary? Make it yours.

This is a sample luxury custom route — a starting point, not a fixed package. Many clients travel something very close to this, customized for their travel style, group, and dates. Book a free consultation and a specialist will build from here.

Accommodations
Boutique hotels, charming B&Bs, or historic castle stays — chosen based on your preferences and travel style.
Transportation
Private driver-guide, self-drive rental, or a mix of both — all transfers confirmed before you travel.
Experiences
Pre-arranged tours and activities built around your interests — entrance tickets sorted, no queuing.

Book a Free Consultation



See All Croatia Itineraries

Activities on this itinerary

Your specialist pre-arranges the right luxury experiences based on your interests and travel style. These are the custom experience types available on this route — specific choices are made with you, not for you.

Diocletian’s Palace Walking TourSplit · UNESCO · 1,700 years old

Zlatni Rat Golden BeachBrač · Croatia’s most famous beach

Hvar Fortress + Main SquareVenetian harbor town · panoramic views

Pakleni Islands Boat TripPine islands · beach clubs · swimming

Stari Grad Plain UNESCOOldest cultivated landscape · 4th century BC

Korčula Medieval Old TownMarco Polo’s birthplace · herringbone streets

Grk + Pošip Wine TastingKorčula island wines · family winery

Dubrovnik City Walls Walk1.2 miles circuit · golden-hour timing

Lokrum IslandMonastery ruins · Dead Sea lagoon

Adriatic Ferry CrossingsSplit → Brač → Hvar → Korčula → Dubrovnik

Marjan Hill SplitForested peninsula · panoramic views

Hvar Lavender FieldsInterior hills · June–July bloom

Activities are selected and pre-booked with your specialist based on your interests — not all activities are included in every trip version. Availability varies by season.

The people who will design your Croatia trip

You work directly with a specialist who knows Croatia deeply — not a call center or booking agent. Every consultation is with someone who has been there, knows which Hvar restaurant has the grilled fish worth the harbor walk, which Dubrovnik wall-walk time avoids the cruise-ship crowds, and which Korčula wine bar pours the Grk white that doesn’t leave the island.

Ireland · Scotland · Iceland · Portugal · Croatia

Taryn Harrison

Juniper Tours’ most tenured specialist with 25 years of experience. CMSC certified and a former Peace Corps volunteer. Taryn brings the same detail-orientation to Portugal that she’s known for across Ireland and Iceland — she knows which Lisbon neighborhood hotel has the best terrace view, which Sintra entry time avoids the coach-tour peaks, and which Douro Valley quinta pours the reserve that doesn’t appear on the standard tasting menu.

25 Yrs
CMSC
Croatia & Adriatic

Book a Consultation




Italy · Portugal · Spain · Switzerland

Lexi Blade

Florence and Salzburg-based with 8 years of experience across Southern Europe. Lexi covers Portugal, Italy, Spain, and Switzerland with the same firsthand knowledge she brings to every destination — sourced from living there rather than visiting. Her Croatia itineraries are built around the konobas that require a local’s recommendation, the Dalmatian wine producers who don’t export, and the island beaches that haven’t been found by the yacht-charter crowd yet.

8 Yrs
Florence Based
Southern Europe

Book a Consultation

About this itinerary

When is the best time for Dalmatian Coast island hopping?


June through September for the warmest water and best ferry schedules. July and August are peak season with the busiest islands (especially Hvar) and highest prices. June and September are the sweet spots — warm enough for swimming, clear skies, and significantly fewer crowds on the ferries and in Dubrovnik. May and October are shoulder season — pleasant weather but some seasonal restaurants and beach clubs may be closed. Your specialist adjusts the island order and timing around your travel dates.

How do the ferries work between islands?


Jadrolinija operates the main ferry and catamaran routes between Split, Brac, Hvar, Korcula, and Dubrovnik. Catamaran crossings are typically 1 to 2 hours between islands. Your specialist pre-books all ferry tickets with confirmed seats — the popular routes sell out in peak season. The ferries are comfortable and the crossings are part of the experience — watching each island appear on the horizon as you approach. Private speedboat transfers are also available for more flexibility and privacy.

Can I combine island hopping with mainland Croatia?


Yes — our Highlights of Croatia itinerary combines Zagreb and Plitvice Lakes on the mainland with Split and Dubrovnik on the coast. You can also extend this island-hopping route by adding Zagreb (2 days) and Plitvice Lakes National Park (1 day) at the beginning, creating a 10 to 11-day comprehensive Croatia trip. Your specialist builds the combination that matches your available time.

Is Dubrovnik worth including or is it too touristy?


Dubrovnik is worth including — the city walls walk is one of the great experiences in Europe, and the Old Town is genuinely extraordinary. The crowds are real (especially during cruise ship hours, 10am to 4pm), but your specialist times your wall walk for early morning or late afternoon when the ships have departed. The Dubrovnik that exists before 9am and after 6pm is a different city from the midday version. Lokrum Island (a 15-minute ferry) is the local escape when the Old Town feels dense.

Other trips worth considering

10 Days

View Itinerary



8 Days

View Itinerary



13 Days

View Itinerary

“From start to finish, Juniper Tours handled everything for our honeymoon with professionalism, timeliness and great care! My wife and I truly did not have to worry about anything, and had the trip of a lifetime.”

Adam W.  ·  Croatia Island Hopping Tour  ·  Verified Google Review

Build your luxury custom Portugal trip with one of our top travel specialists.

30 minutes, completely free. Walk away with a clear picture of what your luxury custom Portugal trip could look like — dates, route, 4 and 5-star accommodations, and all.

Book a Consultation



See All Croatia Itineraries