Dalmation Coast - A One Week Itinerary

6 Night / 7 Day Itinerary

Charming medieval towns surrounded by high fortress walls, the dazzling cerulean-blue Adriatic, impressive Roman ruins, stunning craggy coastline and over 1,100 islands are but a few of the highlights Croatia has to offer. This ancient country, originally part of the Roman Empire and inhabited as early as 1200 BC, is today a mélange in character and architecture, blending parts from many of its conquerors, including the Franks, Slavs, Hungarians, Venetians and Austrians.

Of the five major regions, Slavonia & Baranja, Central Croatia, the Northern Countries, Istria & the Kvarner Area, and Dalmatia, the latter two are the most visited. The Istrian Peninsula is fast becoming a gourmand’s destination, where local delicacies reveal a unique fusion of Roman, Austrian, Italian and Slavic traditions and ingredients. Add to that one of the best-preserved Roman coliseums in the world (Pula), a trail of medieval fortified towns high up on hilltops, a Byzantine basilica housing magnificent 6th century gilt mosaics (Porec) and a fashionable seaside resort town favored by the Hapsburgs in the late 19th century (Opatija) and it’s evident why this treasured area is being touted as the ‘new Tuscany’.

With only 1 week in Croatia, especially if it is your first visit (but hopefully not last!), I recommend focusing on the Dalmation Coast. Featuring pristine stone and red-roofed towns dating back to the Middle Ages, an island blanketed in lavender (Hvar), marvelous Roman ruins of Diocletian’s Palace (Split), a horn-shaped beach whose tip undulates with the tides (Bol on Brac) and a breathtaking shoreline speckled with beaches and mountains, this spectacular region of Croatia is sure to delight.

As glorious as Croatia is today, the picture becomes even more extraordinary when considering that the bloody Croatian War of Independence (1991–1995), which destroyed a thriving tourism industry, ended barely a decade ago. The country’s complete turnaround from a war-ravaged land to global hot-spot, celebrated by the estimated 12 million visitors to Croatia in 2006, is a true testament to what a distinctive nation you’re visiting.

Croatia is best visited May – September, when the days are sunny and water is warm enough to swim. May and September are much less crowded and quite pleaseant, while mid-July and August, especially on the Dalmation Coast, can be extremely crowded and reservations are essential.