Croatia Road Trip makes for the perfect holiday

A Croatia road trip is one that should be on everyone’s bucket list. You will have an experience of a lifetime, no matter which island or national park you visit along this coastal country. Each part of Croatia is filled with fairy tale villages, wild hinterlands and heritage sites.

Best Road Trip Options for the holidays in Croatia

Here’s a list of routes that take you to the most beautiful Croatia for the holidays, these are some incredible routes and places to see. If you have any questions at the end, be sure to leave a comment.

Croatia road trip down the Dalmatian coast

The Dalmatian region is spread across the islands along the Adriatic coastline of Croatia. Summers on the coastline offer pleasing sunsets and emerald seawater. You can sunbathe on the beach or indulge in water activities like snorkeling. It is a less crowded than other coastal areas with some hidden gems that you can explore.

Sibenik is one such hidden gem that has an architectural feel similar  to that in Game of Thrones. Next on the list is Odysseus cave which is the most striking swimming cave in the world. A trip around the Dalmatian Coast rewards travelers with a sense of serenity.

Split to Krka National Park

Krka National Park is famous for its lush forest canopy and beautiful cascading waterfalls, all fringed by pristine woodlands. However, it is a wilderness area; it’s relatively easy to get here due to its connectivity to two major towns. The best scenic route is from Split to Krka national park. It’s recommended to fly into Split and take a night or two to soak up this wonderful city, staying in one of the many fantastic modern Split villas, before acquiring a road trip worthy car and heading to Krka.

This park also has a wide variety of flora and fauna with 800 different types of plants and 18 types of bats. The best way to experience the area is to go off-trail and hike through the lush green forest.

Brac to Dubrovnik

Brac is the closest island to Split with ferry connectivity to Dubrovnik. You can also choose the leisurely cruise taking you through Croatia’s idyllic islands and finishing off at Dubrovnik. You can begin by renting a car and spend your day exploring the streets of Zadar, which will immerse you into the 16th century vibe.

As the day ends, take the cruise and enjoy a lovely dinner sailing through the islands till you finally reach your destination, Dubrovnik. It is one of the best getaways to rejuvenate yourself.

Zaagreb to Plitvice

A scenic road trip around 2 to 3 hours offers gorgeous countryside views and serene rivers as you pass by. Many buses run this route, but self-driving is a better option as it lets you stop wherever you want and soak the views in. Also, Plitvice Lakes National Park is a UNESCO world heritage site consisting of 16 terraced lakes with 90 waterfalls.

On your way to Plitvice Lakes, don’t forget to visit Rastoke village, which is also called little Plitvice, as it offers a picturesque waterfall. The best way is to get the A1 motorway from Zagreb towards Karlovac.

Plitvice to Zadar

Visiting Zadar from Plitvice or vice versa is very convenient. Some companies organize day tours and rental cars are available to self-drive, which is the best option. If you are not comfortable driving yourself, but still want to experience a road trip, rental taxis are also available.

On this journey, you will get a glimpse of the unspoiled and unusual road trip holiday beauty of the Croatian countryside. The drive will take you through the stretches of agricultural fields, innumerable slanting roofs with billows of smoke coming through the chimneys.

Whenever you go on a Croatia road trip, make sure to relish the local Croatian cuisine. The flavors are influenced by the Slavic people and the highlight should always be their desserts. There are plenty of apartment rentals, hotels and resorts for your accommodation needs. We recommend staying in a rental apartment because you must live like a local and explore at your leisure.