Travel to Croatia: 5 Days on the Dalmatian Coast

Looking for a travel experience that pleases everyone? Think seriously about the Dalmatian Coast in Croatia. My sons are  grown and in their 20s but we decided to head to Europe together in late August for some grownup gallivanting. As a professional travel blogger, you’d think they’d give me carte blanche on deciding on the trip. Nope, not my sons. And often it’s this way with grownups of all genders trying to plan a trip together. 

So after many weeks of debate, anger, discussion, and finally negotiation, we decided on the Dalmatian Coast of Croatia in the Adriatic Sea for a fun filled and cultural trip that complimented everyone’s personal agenda. Truly, it had all the things we were looking for. Sun, fun, history, a more foreign feel with a language barrier, and natural beauty. 

History, Culture, & Natural Elements

The Dalmatian Coast in Croatia has a rich history dating back to ancient times, with influences from various civilizations. It was inhabited by Illyrians, Greeks, and Romans before becoming part of the Byzantine Empire. In the Middle Ages, it experienced Venetian rule and later became part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, until Croatia gained independence in the 1990s. When you visit, you will see the evidence of these influences, giving it an ancient and charming character. 

The stunning natural beauty is shaped by its geology. The coast features rugged limestone cliffs, picturesque islands, and secluded bays. The region enjoys a Mediterranean climate, with hot, dry summers and mild, wet winters, making it a popular destination for sun-seekers and sailors alike.

The Dalmatian Coast offers a blend of architectural styles, from ancient Roman, Venetian, and Ottoman periods, which can be seen in the charming stone buildings, narrow streets, and historic city walls, creating a captivating atmosphere for visitors to explore.

Starting in Dubrovnik

Flying into Dubrovnik is typically on a smaller plane to a smaller airport by the bigger European countries. It was quaint and you got off the plane the old-fashioned way: walk down stairs and load into buses. 

Our Airbnb was up on the hill above the old town — about 120 steps — but well worth the views of Dubrovnik and its Adriatic bay. I have other friends who have stayed in town, and while it ’s super convenient and less arduous, it can be quite noisy. Meanwhile, we had a deck that looked out at the view where we’d have wine each night.

If you are more of a hotel type of person, check out these hotels in what I call the “hotel section” of Dubrovnik where there are several big hotels. Dubrovnik President Valamar is a 5-star hotel with a unique beachfront location and only few minutes from the Old Town of Dubrovnik. There is also what I call the big pink hotel, Hilton Imperial Dubrovnik overlooking the ancient walls and historic red roof tops of the cities palaces.

We got in fairly late the first night. We dropped our bags at the apartment, walked down the stairs, and headed into old town. It was surreal to walk though the towering gates and walls into this beautiful ancient city. The harbor was calling us so we headed that way and found some dinner at Restaurant Nautika overlooking the water. We were so excited, we could barely contain ourselves. 

We woke up early the next day and got to immediately exploring Dubrovnik. Walking the old town walls is a must do, no matter how crowded it might be. As is customary advice, get up early and tour before it gets too hot or crowded. However, I recommend you do a sunset walk. There is a bar on the southwest side of the wall that has the most spectacular view of the sunset. I highly recommend the Game of Thrones tour, if you are a fan, that give you an insider local guide perspective.

The next thing we did was charter a boat to take us out to the nearby islands and blue and green caves in the Adriatic Sea. All of the guides offer this excursion so it’s not a big deal who you choose. They pick you up in the morning and take you along the walls out into the Adriatic. The waters are beautiful and the snorkeling around the caves are top notch. Our guide also took us to an island beach to relax for the afternoon.

When we got back, we visited the unmarked bar that hangs off the side of the cliff. Ask anyone around and you will be directed to it, or search Instagram Reels or Tik Tok for the location. My sons immediately took to jumping off the cliffs with the rest of the young adults. As the sun went down further, we grabbed some Ožujsko beers and hiked out across the cliffs to watch the sunset. It was a perfect day!

It’s a splurge but I highly recommend you eat at 360 Dubrovnik. We literally ate on the walls of the town that jutted out over the harbor waters. It was such a highlight! Otherwise, we ate in town at the local restaurants to taste Croatian food. 

Our last day in Croatia, we booked another Game of Thrones Tour (obviously we are huge fans) that took us out of the city and down the coast. As huge fans, we geeked out at all the spots, particularly the Trsteno Arboretum, that doubled as the gardens in Kings Landing. The other GoT highlight was the Pike Gate and the Jesuit stairs (shame, shame scene). 

Ferrying to Hvar

We chose not to rent a car while in Dalmatia because you can boat most places. We took a big ferry down the Adriatic Sea to Hvar, an island about half way to Split. Other islands to explore if you have time is Korchula and Brac. They are on my must see list for next time. 

Here was touted as a lively island, especially in Hvar (pronounced Var, H is silent) Town. It did not disappoint. It’s a beautiful town with limestone and marble streets and buildings, making it a bright whitewash. It was my husband’s favorite place. To this day, he talks about spending a summer there. Here’s hoping!

I really like the Adriana Hvar Spa Hotel right on the other side of the promenade with a spectacular panoramic view of the town and the marina. It has a a year-round rooftop seawater swimming pool, a restaurant, a lounge, and multi-level garden terraces with stunning views over the sea.

We walked this 13^th century town and ate a fabulous dinner at Passarola on their rooftop terrace. Our sons went off to a private island across the way to party the night away at Carpe Diem, and we found a bar set along side the famous stairs in the middle of town. We each had our own brand of fun that evening.

The next day, we took a bus to the other side of the island to a town called Stari Grad. It was an ancient Greek outpost and is quieter and even quainter than Hvar Town. We walked around town and swam in the sea. I prefer Hvar Town, but Stari Grad was a very close second, especially if you want a quieter scene.

Off to Split

In Split, we found a more booming, modern city surrounding Diocletian’s Palace, which is mostly now an old but small walled city that still functions.

Hotels I can recommend are the Splendida Palace, a small family boutique hotel built in the 1800s but remodeled in 2015 consisting of ten luxury rooms. Another great choice is Hotel Luxe, a modern and fashionable boutique hotel just steps away from the old city of Split.

We toured the palace city and learned much about this old Roman Emperor who was born near Split. He built his fortress as a summer palace but died shortly after it was completed. We took a local tour to see all the main areas of the Palace and ate lunch in the old town. There are several quaint cafes and restaurants inside. 

That night we ate on the River (the waterfront) which was pumping. However, the food was not very good and it was fairly touristy. There is another restaurant along the Palace walls that was surely better. And the restaurants inside the palace are top notch. 

The next day, we headed to the beach for some more Adriatic swimming. We toyed with ferrying over to Brac but we would have had to miss our reservations at the restaurant I was excited to visit — so we decided to stay in Split. 

Caffe-Restoran Dvor lived up to its hype. It was located less than 2 miles from the Split center and palace, but we felt like we were in a neighborhood in Split. We ate in a shaded garden with its open grill and fine views — the main attraction at this beautiful restaurant on the coast overlooking the sea. It’s fairly high end but worth every penny. It was another beautiful night in Croatia. 

It was finally time to leave and were very sad to bid adieu. We wished we spent more than 5 days as there was so much more to explore. Rest assured, we will go back.

Overview

Towns in Croatia: Dubrovnik, Hvar, and Split

Restaurants: Restaurant Nautika (Dubrovnik), 360 Dubrovnik (Dubrovnik), Passarola (Hvar), Cafe-Restoran Dvor (Split)