7 days in Croatian Summer - Your Planning Guide - DirectAsia

When Singaporeans think about travelling to Europe, the usual suspects come up – France, Switzerland, Italy…etc. Croatia remains an undiscovered gem in this region of the world. Despite being a relatively small country, it’s actually a lovely travel destination with many sights and attractions that will feed your sense of wanderlust.

“Game of Thrones” fans would probably already know Dubrovnik Old Town in Croatia as the scenic setting used for some of the show’s scenes. Admittedly, the late-medieval walled city has an old-worldly charm that many can’t resist. But Croatia is more than that – lovely beaches, island and seafood also makes for a great summer holiday destination.

The great thing about making your Europe trip about Croatia is that you can see enough of the relatively-small country without a rush within 7 days. The country also has a good transport network, and makes for a great road trip if you prefer to rent a car. So if you are looking for a summer vacation in Europe, you aren’t too late! Our 7-day itinerary here will help you with your getaway to see the main sights of Croatia without taking too many days off your annual leave! Don’t forget to get your travel insurance from DirectAsia before you leave!
 

Basic Information about Croatia

The official language of Croatia is Croatian. The Croats are mostly warm and very welcoming to foreign visitors. The official currency of Croatia is the Kuna, not Euro. You may find some hotels and restaurants that accept euros, but it is still best to have enough Kuna.

From Singapore, there is no direct flight to Croatia but several airlines like Lufthansa, Turkish Airlines, Qatar and Emirates do offer connecting flights to Zagreb, the main international airport in Croatia.

There are many types of holiday accommodation in Croatia, spanning from luxury hotels to youth hostels and bed and breakfast. You can also find apartment rentals via Airbnb. Just remember that if you are renting a car, take note to find out about available parking spaces at your accommodation. You should also take up a rental car insurance while overseas for obvious safety reasons!
 

Croatia in one week – how to make the most of it

Day 1 – Zagreb

After your arrival at Franjo Tuđman International Airport in Zagreb, stay the night to soak up the atmosphere of your new holiday destination. The airport is about 17 kilometres away from the city centre and you can take the airport bus to Zagreb Bus Station and then take the tram to get to downtown or Central Square.

Places to visit/things to do in Zagreb:

• Zagreb Funicular
• Dolac Market
• Cathedral of Zagreb
• Explore Upper Town
• Relax with a cuppa along Tkalciceva Street, Bogoviceva Street, and Cvjetni Trg
   

Day 2 – Plitvice National Park

No doubt one of the highlights of Croatia, Plitvice National Park should be on your to-do list here. The National Park is one of the oldest and the largest national parks in Croatia and was added to the UNESCO World Heritage register in 1979. The highlight here is a chain of 16 terraced lakes joined by waterfalls, extending into a limestone canyon.

From Zagreb, you can either drive or take a bus which will take around 2h 30 mins. It is advised to spend the night somewhere nearby so that you can enjoy the peace and quiet in the countryside.
 

Day 3 – Zadar

Zadar is a small town but will help break up the long journey from Plitvice to Split (unless you are driving, then going straight to Split might be preferred). At Zadar, you can choose to spend a day at one of its lovely beaches, check out the Roman Ruins and enjoy fresh seafood before leaving for Split either in the evening or early next morning.
 

Day 4 and 5 – Split

Split is the second largest city in Croatia and offers a variety of experience. One of the top things to do is to visit the Diocletian’s Palace, a 1,700-year old Roman ruin that dominates the city. The city also includes markets to explore, waterfront strolls, historic cathedrals and plenty of opportunities for day trips to nearby islands. If you are into adventure activities, you can also check out the Omis Zipline, river rafting or even cliff jumping!
 

Day 6 and 7 – Dubrovnik

Start your day early and take a catamaran from Split to Dubrovnik. Travel time is about 4.5 hours. Once you’ve checked in to your accommodation, you can start your exploration with the City Wall of Dubrovnik, a series of defensive walls builts to protect its citizens before the 7th century. You should also not miss the Lovrijenac Fortress, the iconic setting that was chosen as the filming location of “King’s Landing” in “Game of Thrones”. Fans of the popular HBO series should definitely go on a tour of the various filming locations!  End the day by taking the cable car to the top of Mount Srd for stunning sunset views of Dubrovnik and the nearby Elafiti Islands.

After Mount Srđ, head to Lapad – a neighbourhood about three kilometres outside of Old Town with beautiful beaches and a promenade lined with cafes, gelato shops, restaurants and bars.

On day 7, visit the Gundulic Square market in the morning to buy some last minute souvenirs and gifts before you take a flight back from Dubrovnik, or take a domestic flight (1 hour) back to Zagreb to fly back to Singapore.

Offering a bit of everything – history, cathedrals, markets, beaches – Croatia is the perfect summer vacation destination for your holidays. Looking to travel there in the coming weeks? A one-time travel insurance plan for 7 days costs only $39 for an adult, whereas a family plan for 4 only costs $78.

What are you waiting for? Book your tickets now and get an instant quote from us before flying off to the dream summer holiday!