Croatia captivates visitors with its stunning Adriatic coastline, over 1,000 islands, and remarkably preserved medieval cities. From the ancient walls of Dubrovnik to the cascading waterfalls of Plitvice Lakes, this Mediterranean gem offers crystal-clear waters, rich history, and exceptional cuisine at surprisingly affordable prices.
Top day trips
Handpicked excursions within easy reach.
Plitvice Lakes National Park
Sixteen terraced lakes connected by waterfalls, linked by wooden footbridges and boardwalks through beech and fir forest. The water's turquoise and green color comes from mineral deposits and algae that vary with light and season. It takes most of a day to walk any of the longer routes, since the park spaces boat and bus shuttles between the Upper and Lower Lakes sections.
Highlights: 16 terraced turquoise lakes connected by waterfalls · Veliki Slap - Croatia's tallest waterfall at 78m · Wooden boardwalk trails through canyon and forest · Electric boat across Lower Lake
Trogir UNESCO Old Town
A small stone-walled island town connected to the mainland by a causeway, with a medieval core narrow enough to cross on foot in twenty minutes. Its Cathedral of St. Lawrence, with its carved Romanesque portal by Radovan, is the main reason the whole town is UNESCO-listed rather than any single building. Because it's so compact, most visitors pair it with Split rather than treating it as a full separate destination.
Highlights: Cathedral of St Lawrence with 13th-century Radovan portal · Kamerlengo Fortress with sea views · Island old town connected by two stone bridges · Waterfront Riva promenade lined with cafes
Korčula Island
A walled old town on a small peninsula, laid out in a herringbone street pattern designed to funnel sea breeze through the summer heat while blocking direct wind off the water. It's the island Marco Polo is locally claimed to have been born on, though the connection is more civic pride than settled history. Because the catamaran crossing from Dubrovnik takes over two hours each way, this is a long day rather than a quick add-on.
Highlights: Korčula Town - claimed birthplace of Marco Polo · Medieval old town on a dramatic narrow peninsula · Moreška sword dance performances (summer evenings) · Local Grk and Pošip white wines unique to the island
Zadar Old Town & Sea Organ
A peninsula old town built on Roman and Venetian foundations, best known now for the Sea Organ, a set of stone steps with pipes underneath that turn wave motion into ambient tones. Next to it, the Sun Salutation is a circle of solar panels that lights up after dark in patterns synced to the day's sunset. The old town itself mixes a Roman forum with a distinctive round pre-Romanesque church.
Highlights: Sea Organ - unique musical instrument powered by Adriatic waves · Greeting to the Sun solar light installation · Roman Forum ruins in city center · 9th-century Church of St Donatus · Sunsets described by Hitchcock as the most beautiful in the world
Krka National Park & Šibenik Old Town
A park of travertine waterfalls along the Krka River, most famously Skradinski Buk, a wide cascading falls that used to be swimmable until the park restricted access to protect the formations. It pairs naturally with nearby Šibenik, a Croatian (not Venetian-founded) old town built around a UNESCO-listed cathedral. Together they make a fuller day than Krka alone, since the park's boardwalk loop can be covered in a couple of hours.
Highlights: Skradinski Buk waterfall cascade - swimming allowed in the pools · Boat trip to Visovac island monastery · Roski Slap upper waterfalls and mills · Šibenik's UNESCO Cathedral of St James (15th century)
Rovinj & Istrian Peninsula
A former island fishing town in Istria, now joined to the mainland, with pastel houses stacked up a hill to the Church of St. Euphemia and its landmark bell tower visible from boats far out at sea. The old town's narrow lanes, like Grisia street, wind up from the harbor and are lined with small galleries and studios. Its Istrian setting and Venetian-influenced architecture give it a noticeably different feel from the Dalmatian towns further south.
Highlights: Colorful Venetian-style harbor and terracotta rooftops · Church of St Euphemia on the hilltop above town · Truffle products, olive oil, and Malvazija wine tasting · Rovinj old town maze of cobblestone streets · Lim Fjord nearby for oyster tasting
Trips by distance
How far you can go in a day.
Getting there
Transport options for day trips.
- Tours
- Organized tours from Split to Plitvice Lakes €55-80 including transport and entrance. Dubrovnik to Montenegro day tours €50-70. Mostar day trips from Split or Dubrovnik €35-55.
- Private
- Private drivers Zagreb-Plitvice-Zadar €250-300/car. Split to Plitvice €180-200/car. Many private drivers offer English commentary and flexible itineraries.
- Public
- Croatian buses serve most day trip destinations reliably. GetByBus.com aggregates all companies. Ferry services to islands via Jadrolinija frequent daily.
- Rental
- Car rental from €30/day economy for independent exploration. Istria and Dalmatian hinterland especially rewarding by car. Parking challenging in old towns — leave cars at edge.
Multi-day tours from Croatia
If you have longer than a day, these are organised multi-day trips that start here.
Browse multi-day tours from CroatiaWe may earn a commission from bookings made through this link.
Day trip tips
Make the most of your excursions.
Start early for Plitvice Lakes — arrive before 9 AM in summer to beat crowds and get best parking (or take organized bus tour)
The Dubrovnik-Montenegro border crossing can be slow in peak season — add 1-2 hours to Montenegro day trip estimates
Ferries to Hvar and Brač from Split run hourly in summer — no advance booking needed for foot passengers