Croatia Express: Zagreb to Dubrovnik Self-Drive Tour
From the Croatian capital to the Adriatic coast, discover the country's most celebrated destinations at your own pace.
This Croatia self-drive tour traces a route from Zagreb through Plitvice Lakes, Zadar, Sibenik, Trogir, and Split before finishing in Dubrovnik, covering five days of cultural depth and coastal scenery. Each destination offers a distinct character, from mountain national parks to ancient walled cities on the Adriatic. The itinerary is rated very easy and designed to be comfortable for first-time visitors to Croatia.
Croatia's geography makes a self-drive format particularly rewarding. The route follows Croatia's western edge, passing through Dalmatia where limestone hills meet the sea, and the road itself delivers views that rival the destinations.
Optional guided tours, wine tastings, and folkloric experiences are available at multiple stops, giving you flexibility to deepen your visit where it interests you most. Accommodation is on a bed-and-breakfast basis throughout, keeping mornings structured while evenings remain free to explore.
The tour concludes with a car return at Dubrovnik Airport, making the logistics straightforward from arrival to departure. A local representative meets you in Zagreb to orient you for the journey ahead.
Tour Highlights
Zagreb's Gornji Grad (Upper Town) and Donji Grad (Lower Town) offer nine centuries of documented history expressed through Austro-Hungarian architecture and well-preserved public squares.
Plitvice Lakes National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, features 16 terraced lakes connected by cascading waterfalls set within forested mountain terrain rich in wildlife.
Zadar's old town peninsula holds Roman-era ruins alongside contemporary installations including the Sea Organ and the Greeting to the Sun, blending antiquity with modern architecture.
Trogir, another UNESCO World Heritage Site, is considered the best-preserved Romanesque-Gothic town in Central Europe, encircled by water and dense with palaces, churches, and ancient walls.
Split's old town has expanded well beyond the boundaries of Diocletian's Palace, a fourth-century Roman structure that today houses residents, restaurants, and museums within its ancient walls.
Dubrovnik's medieval fortifications — four gates, three forts, five bastions, and 14 square towers — enclose a compact old city that served as the capital of the historic Republic of Ragusa.
The coastal drive between Split and Dubrovnik passes through seaside towns including Omis, Makarska, and Ploce, as well as a brief crossing through Neum in Bosnia-Herzegovina.
Itinerary
Arrive at Zagreb Airport where a local representative assists with your car hire and departure briefing. Spend the day exploring Gornji Grad and Donji Grad, with optional extras including a two-hour guided city tour and a sommelier-led wine tasting session featuring Croatian wines, prosciutto, cheese, and bread.
Depart Zagreb and drive to Plitvice Lakes National Park, where 16 interconnected lakes and numerous waterfalls form one of Croatia's most visited natural sites. Continue to Zadar, check into your hotel, and explore the old town's Sea Organ and Greeting to the Sun installations in the evening. Overnight in Zadar on a bed-and-breakfast basis.
After breakfast, explore Zadar's old-town peninsula with its Roman ruins and gleaming stone streets, with an optional guided walk available. Drive south to Sibenik to visit St. Jacob's Cathedral, Croatia's most significant Renaissance monument, then continue to Trogir to discover its palaces, churches, and castle. Overnight in Trogir on a bed-and-breakfast basis.
Drive to Split and spend time in the historic centre, where Diocletian's Palace forms the backbone of a 1,700-year-old living city. Optional activities include a private guided tour and a wine and olive oil tasting experience. Continue south along the coast, passing Omis, Makarska, Ploce, and the Bosnian town of Neum before arriving in Dubrovnik. Overnight in Dubrovnik on a bed-and-breakfast basis.
Dedicate the morning to Dubrovnik, walking the city walls for panoramic views over the old town and the Adriatic. Optional tours include a two-hour walking tour, a three-hour Cilipi folklore excursion, and a Game of Thrones-themed tour covering Fortress Lovrijenac and a boat ride to the island of Lokrum. On the final morning, return the rental car at Dubrovnik Airport for your departure flight.
What Is Included
Included
- Car hire for the duration of the tour
- Meet and greet by a local representative at Zagreb Airport
- Hotel accommodation on a bed-and-breakfast basis in Zadar, Trogir, and Dubrovnik
- Assistance with itinerary logistics and departure briefing
Not Included
- Flights to Zagreb and from Dubrovnik
- Optional guided city tours in Zagreb, Zadar, Split, and Dubrovnik
- Optional wine tasting and food pairing experiences
- Optional Cilipi folklore tour and Game of Thrones tour in Dubrovnik
- Fuel and parking fees during the self-drive
- Travel insurance
- Meals not specified in the itinerary
Important Information
Ready to Explore Croatia?
Secure your place on this five-day self-drive route and travel from Zagreb to Dubrovnik through some of the most historically significant and scenically diverse cities on the Adriatic coast.
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