Croatia's Dalmatian Coast: Zagreb to Dubrovnik

Arrival in Zagreb

Arrive at any time in Zagreb, Croatia's inland capital. The city's core is a study in contrasts, with grand Austro-Hungarian architecture in the Lower Town (Donji Grad) giving way to the medieval cobblestone alleys and red-tiled roofs of the Upper Town (Gornji Grad). An initial orientation walk is the best way to get your bearings.

Plitviče Lakes & the Dalmatian Coast

The day begins with an overland journey south to Plitviče Lakes National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site. The park protects a series of 16 terraced lakes connected by cascades and waterfalls. The distinctive turquoise color of the water is a result of dissolved calcium carbonate precipitating out onto the lakebeds, a process which forms the porous travertine rock that creates the natural dams.

A network of wooden boardwalks and footpaths allows for an extended walk through the heart of the park, crossing directly over the water in many sections. After exploring the lakes, the route continues south, descending from the Dinaric Alps to the Adriatic coast and the ancient port city of Split.

The Palace of Diocletian

Split's historic core is not just a site but a living city built within the walls of a Roman palace. A guided walk explores the immense Diocletian's Palace, constructed at the turn of the 4th century AD for the retiring emperor. Built from luminous white limestone quarried on the nearby island of Brač, the complex is a dense palimpsest of history, where Roman walls and courtyards are interwoven with Gothic and Renaissance buildings. The afternoon is free to explore the palace's subterranean cellars, climb the bell tower for a view over the city, or walk the modern Riva promenade. The nearby town of Trogir, another UNESCO site, is a feasible half-day trip.