Island hopping holiday in Croatia
Description of Island hopping holiday in Croatia
Explore the Adriatic in Style – Mljet, Korcula & Hvar by Catamaran fast ferries
Embark on an effortlessly elegant island-hopping journey through Croatia’s sparkling Adriatic, travelling from Dubrovnik to Split via the lush landscapes and historic towns of Mljet, Korcula and Hvar. This bespoke itinerary, crafted for the discerning traveller, combines seamless fast ferry transfers with hand-picked boutique stays and immersive cultural experiences—offering the perfect balance of exploration and relaxation.
Your holiday begins in Dubrovnik, the iconic walled city of marble streets and terracotta rooftops. Enjoy a private walking tour of the UNESCO-listed Old Town, dine in exceptional waterside restaurants, and stay in a refined hotel with views over the Adriatic.
From Dubrovnik, board a comfortable high-speed catamaran to Mljet, one of Croatia’s greenest and most tranquil islands. Discover the pristine beauty of Mljet National Park, where saltwater lakes, pine forests and a 12th-century monastery create an atmosphere of serene seclusion. Stay in an elegant island retreat and enjoy guided walks or leisurely cycling through the park.
Next, continue by fast ferry to Korcula, a captivating island of vineyards, olive groves and mediaeval charm. Often referred to as “Little Dubrovnik”, Korcula Town offers a delightful blend of Gothic and Renaissance architecture and is rumoured to be the birthplace of Marco Polo. Stay in a characterful boutique hotel within the old walls and savour expertly paired wine tastings with traditional Dalmatian cuisine.
Your journey then takes you to Hvar, the most elegant of Croatia’s islands, known for its crystalline waters, lavender fields and vibrant yet sophisticated atmosphere. Explore Hvar Town’s Venetian heritage, hidden coves and hilltop fortresses, with opportunities for private boat excursions or guided hikes through the island’s fragrant interior. Accommodation here is stylish and contemporary, with sea views and luxurious touches throughout.
The holiday concludes in Split, where ancient meets modern in the buzzing heart of Dalmatia. Explore the UNESCO-listed Diocletian’s Palace with a private guide, unwind in waterfront cafés, and spend your final evening in a boutique hotel that blends history with contemporary elegance.
As you’ll be travelling from one island or mainland city to the next by fast-ferry catamarans you’ll become immersed in local lifestyles with the chance to stay overnight in smaller, independent, family-run accommodation definitely deepening your travel experiences as a whole.
In the main, this Croatia island hopping holiday involves very little in the way of overland travel with the included airport transfers pretty much the only time you’ll be travelling by road, so there’s no need to hire a car or spend time behind the wheel. Free days are built into the itinerary for you to go hiking in Mljet National Park or sightseeing in Korcula Old Town or a full day spent exploring the walled city of Dubrovnik or making the most of optional excursions in Hvar Town. This Croatia island hopping itinerary allows you to rest, relax and really maximise your time away from home without the hassle of driving.
NB. for a 10 day trip we recommend two islands, this can be increased to three with a two week holiday.
Thanks to a tried and tested recommended route plan you’ll be able to benefit from local knowledge and expert advice with a final documents package which includes: pre-booked ferry tickets, island sightseeing suggestions and local activity information, ensuring you certainly won’t be left all at sea.
Itinerary
| Day 1: | Welcome to Dubrovnik. Private transfer from the airport to your small hotel in the town; after settling in it's time to get orientated and enjoy some sightseeing. |
| Day 2&3: | Your first couple of full days in Dubrovnik are yours to enjoy at your leisure with a great choice of local transport and full range of optional excursions and activities adding to the value of free time in one of the world's most iconic cities. |
| Day 4&5: | Bid goodbye to the mediaeval walls of Dubrovnik as you journey by catamaran to either Korcula Island or Mljet Island. The next two days can be spent exploring in either the old town of Korcula or perhaps in Pomena on the island of Mljet (in the national park). Overnight stay for the next two nights on either island. |
| Day 6&7: | Today you'll set sail by catamaran to the island of Hvar or Brac which are situated just off the mainland within the county of Split-Dalmatia. The next two days will be spent in Hvar Town or the resort of Bol with a good choice of optional excursions adding to the laid back island ambience. A walk up to the castle which overlooks Hvar Harbour is definitely recommended as is a visit to the stunning beach of Zlatni Rat in Bol. Overnight stay for the next two nights on either island. |
| Day 8&9: | Set sail this morning for the mainland and the world-famous city of Split. This is your chance to spend the next two days exploring Split with the old town district, which features Diocletian's Palace, a real treat for the cultural senses. An optional ferry ride across the bay to Trogir is also a great idea if you're still keen to explore as is a day trip to the Krka National Park. Overnight stay for the next two nights in Split city centre. Explore further with an extra night. |
| Day 10: | Transfer from your city hotel to Split international airport in order to catch your flight home. |
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Reviews
17 Reviews of Island hopping holiday in Croatia
Reviewed on 30 Jul 2025 by Elaine Doyle
Swimming in the national park in Mljet was the highlight of the trip. Read full reviewReviewed on 25 Aug 2023 by Mike Kent
Fabulous. We thoroughly enjoyed our first visit to Croatia and island hopping is a great way to discover the country. Read full reviewReviewed on 28 Oct 2022 by Laura Wacker
I would rate our trip a #10 out of 10. It could not have been better. Read full reviewReviewed on 29 Aug 2022 by Pamela Watson
It was really fabulous. It was one of the best holidays I've enjoyed. Read full reviewReviewed on 02 Oct 2019 by Kath Nolan
Excellent - a fabulous way of holidaying and we will definitely return in the future. Read full reviewReviewed on 12 Aug 2019 by Elizabeth Johnson
The most memorable part of the trip was getting the chance to see so many different parts of Croatia, it was all beautiful and so different. We wouldn't have known where to start if we'd booked it direct, by ourselves. Read full reviewReviewed on 31 May 2019 by Frank Brett
The most memorable part was watching Dolphins in a glassy smooth sea in the early evening sun. Read full reviewReviewed on 07 Aug 2018 by Beverley Rider
The most memorable part of the holiday was...Visiting the old cities and also the caves by boat Read full reviewReviewed on 30 Aug 2017 by Cecily Hobbs
The sea water was crystal clear and lovely to swim in. Read full reviewReviewed on 20 May 2017 by Alison Date
Most memorable was seeing the well preserved old towns and the kind people. Read full reviewReviewed on 25 Sep 2016 by Lois Coomber
Excellent. It was a good way to get to see some of the coastline, islands and old towns of Croatia. Read full reviewReviewed on 20 Aug 2016 by Muriel Miles
Best bits: Sea kayaking in Dubrovnik, rafting and zip wire in Omis, and motorboat trip from Hvar Read full reviewResponsible Travel
Planet
We have chosen to offer a choice of routes and places to stay where public transport is more than adequate for to travel between and for sightseeing so that the car is not used except for the short airport transfers. In towns, on islands or at the national parks the use of a variety of transport enables you to interact more fully with the locals, to practice your language and to minimise your carbon footprint somewhat. Public buses are excellent in Dubrovnik and Split and on some islands; there is also a cable car to take you up the mountain behind Dubrovnik and, of course, the old towns are perfect for exploring on foot.We encourage travellers to be responsible with water use particularly on islands and in high season but also careful regarding water waste which can affect fragile ecosystems. The same applies, of course, to packaging and litter waste, buying local produce such as from small stores and markets will usually be packaging-free; recycle or reuse as much as possible - your example may well encourage others to be equally responsible and avoid negative consequences at all levels and in all ecosystem.
As a company we employ responsible policies such as recycling paper, ink cartridges, glass and cardboard; we minimise the use of electricity and conducting the vast majority of our correspondence and promotion via the internet and email, minimizing the amount of paper used for our activities. We also compost waste in our company garden.
People
Accommodation on this holiday is in, primarily, family run, small hotels. The food in the hotels is primarily sourced locally and a large number of dishes on the menus are home made. We encourage you to engage local guides in places where their expertise and local knowledge will enhance your experience and understanding of the historical context and on the environmental impact of your visit. In Dubrovnik in particular you will see the evidence for and read about the impact of the war on this UNESCO protected location; the cost of rebuilding and repairing the historic centre has been enormous and every contribution made by visitors will help.As well as supporting the local community and economy directly our holidays also encourage support indirectly. The latter because more interaction with local people and local tourist service providers engenders greater understanding and respect which almost always leads to larger and more careful spending by visitors.
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