Get the appSign inSign up
Trip ideas  /  Europe  /  Croatia  /  Dubrovnik, Dubrovnik-Neretva  /  3-day itinerary
Archie
Celebration
Dubrovnik, Dubrovnik-Neretva: 3 days on the Croatian coast: Dubrovnik, Split and HvarPhoto by Spencer Davis on Unsplash
Romance CherishCelebration ToastTrip idea · Dubrovnik, Dubrovnik-Neretva

3 days on the Croatian coast: Dubrovnik, Split and Hvar

The 6-day plan, rearranged for 3 days: the best-ranked places stay, and each day keeps to one part of town.

3 daysAnyoneEarly June12 places
Copy this plan to your own trips, then change anything you like.
Dubrovnik: aerial photo of city
Photo by Matthias Mullie on Unsplash
Dubrovnik: aerial view of city buildings near body of water during daytime
Photo by Geio Tischler on Unsplash
How many days?Pick yours and the plan rearranges.
Rearranged from the 6 day plan. See it as written

Best time to go

June to September are the best months for a beach trip.
  1. Jan
  2. Feb
  3. Mar
  4. Apr
  5. May
  6. Jun
  7. Jul
  8. Aug
  9. Sep
  10. Oct
  11. Nov
  12. Dec

Arrival day

Before Day 1. The trip runs south to north, so land in Dubrovnik and leave from Split, and sort the transfers early.Details
Getting here
Fly into Dubrovnik and out of Split, which are different airports, so check ahead on the connection and the price of a one-way ticket. A shuttle or taxi links Dubrovnik airport to the old town.
Getting around
Buses run between Dubrovnik and Split along the coast, and a rental car makes Day 3 easy. Check ahead on timetables, since the coast road can cross a short strip of Bosnia and Herzegovina, so carry your passport.
Boats and weather
The boats to Hvar run mostly in the warm months and strong wind can cancel them, so check ahead and keep a spare day in mind. Streets in the old towns are polished stone and slick when wet, so bring shoes with grip.
First evening
Day 1 starts on the main street of the old town, so stay close to it. Walk the stone streets once the day groups have gone, and eat early.

Day 1. Dubrovnik

4 stops · 2.3 km

Built from the plan’s must-sees, grouped so each day stays close together and ordered by time of day.

  1. 1
    MorningWorth the time

    Stradun

    The polished limestone main street of the old town, running between the two gates and lined with stone houses and small side lanes. Come early, before the day visitors arrive.

    Go when Morning, before the day groups arrive.

    Local tip The stone is polished smooth and slick, especially when wet. Duck into a side lane when it gets crowded, since the quiet streets are a few steps away.

    Stradun, Dubrovnik
    Photo: dronepicr, CC BY 2.0 on Wikimedia Commons
    About 14 min walk1.1 km
  2. 2
    MiddayA half day away

    Lokrum

    A wooded island a short boat ride from the old port, with a botanical garden, the ruins of a monastery and peacocks that wander free. A good escape from the heat, and the boats run seasonally, so check ahead.

    Go when Midday, to escape the heat of the town.

    Local tip The last boat back leaves early, so check the timetable before you cross. Bring water, because there is little to buy, and take care on the rocks if you swim.

    Lokrum, Dubrovnik
    Photo: Ponor, CC BY-SA 4.0 on Wikimedia Commons
  3. Lunch

    Black risotto and a salad

    Black risotto, dark with cuttlefish ink, with a plate of local greens. A coastal classic and a cool lunch in the shade.

    Local tip Black risotto stains the teeth, so order it with a smile.

    About 11 min walk0.9 km
  4. 3
    MiddayWorth the time

    Rector's Palace

    A Gothic and Renaissance palace that was once the seat of the rulers of the old republic of Ragusa, with a courtyard and a museum. A cool and quiet stop at the hottest hour.

    Go when Midday, when the stone courtyard is cool.

    Local tip A small museum in an old palace, so allow an hour or less. Check ahead on opening, which can change by season.

    Rector's Palace, Dubrovnik
    Photo: Américo Toledano, CC BY-SA 4.0 on Wikimedia Commons
    About 3 min walk0.2 km
  5. 4
    AfternoonWorth the time, go late

    Walls of Dubrovnik

    Stone walls that run all the way round the old town, with towers and views over red roofs and the sea. The walk is exposed and the steps are steep, so go late in the day, bring water and check ahead on timed entry.

    Go when Late afternoon, when the heat eases and the light turns gold (about 8:26 PM).

    Local tip There is almost no shade on the walk, so bring water and a hat. Tickets are often timed in summer, so check ahead.

    Walls of Dubrovnik, Dubrovnik: aerial photo of city
    Photo by Matthias Mullie on Unsplash
  6. Dinner

    Grilled fish by the sea

    Fresh fish grilled whole, with olive oil, garlic and blitva (chard with potatoes), at a table near the water.

    Local tip Fish is sold by weight, so ask before you order.

    Grilled fish by the sea
    Photo: www.elbpresse.de, CC BY-SA 4.0 on Wikimedia Commons
If it rains. Rector's Palace is covered, so keep it. Move Stradun, Lokrum and Walls of Dubrovnik to a dry day if you can.

Day 2. Split and Dubrovnik

4 stops · 500.6 kmAbout 7 h 9 min driving

Built from the plan’s must-sees, grouped so each day stays close together and ordered by time of day.

  1. Drive from Walls of DubrovnikAbout 2 h 23 min by car166.4 km
    Where Day 1 ended.
  2. 1
    MiddayWorth the time, go early

    Diocletian's Palace

    A late Roman palace built for an emperor, whose walls and halls have become the center of Split, with homes, shops and lanes inside. Wander its streets and cellars early, before the heat and the crowds.

    Go when Morning, before the heat and the crowds.

    Local tip It is not a museum but a living quarter, so be quiet in the lanes. Walk down into the cellars, which are cool even on a hot day.

    Diocletian's Palace, Dubrovnik
    Photo: Dennis G. Jarvis, CC BY-SA 2.0 on Wikimedia Commons
    About 2 h 23 min by car165.8 km
  3. 2
    MiddayWorth the time

    Srđ

    The hill above Dubrovnik, with a wide view over the old town, the islands and the coast. A cable car climbs it, but check ahead on whether it is running, and walk down if you are fit. A museum in the fort tells of the siege of the city in 1991.

    Go when Morning, when the air is clear and the light is soft.

    Local tip The cable car may be closed in strong wind, and the road up is steep. Check ahead, bring a layer for the breeze and go down on foot only if you are used to steep paths.

    Srđ, Dubrovnik
    Photo: Richard Mortel, CC BY 2.0 on Wikimedia Commons
  4. Lunch

    A picnic of cheese and olives

    Local cheese, olives, tomatoes and bread, packed for the island. There is little to buy there.

    Local tip Take your rubbish back with you.

    About 2 h 23 min by car165.8 km
  5. 3
    MiddayWorth the time

    Cathedral of Saint Domnius

    A cathedral built as the emperor's own mausoleum, with a bell tower that is open to climb. Check ahead on opening, and take care on the steep tower stairs.

    Go when Midday, when the tower is quiet.

    Local tip The tower stairs are steep and open to the air, so climb only if you are steady. Check ahead on opening.

    Cathedral of Saint Domnius, Dubrovnik
    Photo: Berthold Werner, CC BY-SA 4.0 on Wikimedia Commons
    About 10 min by car or transit2.6 km
  6. 4
    AfternoonA good walk

    Marjan

    A wooded hill park on the western edge of the city, with trails, small chapels and a view over the old town and the islands. A shady break from the heat, and a good walk for late afternoon.

    Go when Late afternoon, with the light on the old town.

    Local tip Wear comfortable shoes, because the paths are rough in places. The view from the top covers the city, the islands and the sea.

    Marjan, Dubrovnik
    Photo: dronepicr, CC BY 2.0 on Wikimedia Commons
  7. Dinner

    Pasta and fish in Split

    A plate of fresh pasta with seafood, then fish grilled over a wood fire, in a lane inside the palace walls.

    Local tip Walk a few lanes away from the Riva for quieter tables.

If it rains. Cathedral of Saint Domnius is covered, so keep it. Move Diocletian's Palace, Srđ and Marjan to a dry day if you can.

Day 3. The island of Hvar

4 stops · 60.1 km

Built from the plan’s must-sees, grouped so each day stays close together and ordered by time of day.

  1. Drive from MarjanAbout 50 min by car40.8 km
    Where Day 2 ended.
  2. 1
    MorningWorth the time

    Stari Grad Plain

    A flat plain of stone walls, olive groves and vineyards, laid out by Greek settlers more than two thousand years ago and still farmed. Walk or cycle a short stretch between the walls.

    Go when Morning, when the plain is cool and quiet.

    Local tip The paths between the walls are flat and shaded in patches. It is farmland, so keep to the tracks and leave gates as you find them.

    Stari Grad Plain, Dubrovnik
    Photo: Carsten Steger, CC BY-SA 4.0 on Wikimedia Commons
    About 31 min by car or transit15.9 km
  3. 2
    MorningWorth the time

    Hvar Cathedral

    A cathedral on the main square of Hvar Town, beside the stone harbor, in a town of Venetian houses and narrow lanes. Arrive by morning boat and begin here, when the square is quiet.

    Go when Morning, before the harbor wakes up.

    Local tip The stone square is the heart of the town and is quiet early. Check ahead on opening for the cathedral.

    Hvar Cathedral, Dubrovnik
    Photo: Tomeq183, CC BY-SA 3.0 on Wikimedia Commons
  4. Lunch

    Fresh seafood on the harbor

    A plate of fresh seafood or a simple pasta, eaten on the quay under a sunshade.

    Local tip The harbor tables are for visitors, so walk a street back for the places locals use.

    About 4 min walk0.3 km
  5. 3
    MiddayWorth the time

    Fortica

    A fortress high above Hvar Town, with a steep path up and a wide view of the harbor and the islands beyond. Go before the heat, bring water and check ahead on opening.

    Go when Morning, before the sun is high.

    Local tip The climb is steep and open to the sun. Bring water, wear good shoes and check ahead on opening.

    About 11 min by car or transit3.1 km
  6. 4
    AfternoonA half day by boat

    Pakleni Islands

    A chain of pine-covered islets just off Hvar Town, with rocky coves and clear water. Small boats cross from the harbor, so check ahead, and take care when swimming, since boats move fast here.

    Go when Afternoon, when the water is warm.

    Local tip Boats cross from the harbor, but sailings depend on the weather, so check ahead. Take water, shoes for the rocks and mind the boats if you swim.

    Pakleni Islands, Dubrovnik
    Photo: User: Stop_The_Lies on Wikimedia Commons
  7. Dinner

    Gregada, a fisherman's stew

    A traditional Hvar fish stew with potatoes and white wine, slow-cooked and rich. A classic of the island.

    Local tip Ask if the stew is made fresh that day.

If it rains. Hvar Cathedral is covered, so keep it. Move Stari Grad Plain, Fortica and Pakleni Islands to a dry day if you can.

Departure day

After the last day. You come back to Split by boat, so the last day is for the crossing, not for a long list.Details
The crossing back
The ferry from Stari Grad to Split is the simple way back, but check the timetable, and leave an hour of slack if you have a flight the same day. Strong wind can delay or cancel it.
To the airport
Split airport is a bus or taxi ride from town, and the old town of Trogir sits right beside it. Check ahead on how long the ride takes in summer traffic.
If you have a few hours
Walk the waterfront once more at Split, or take a short bus ride to Trogir for a last look at a stone island town before the flight.

Questions people ask

When is the best time to visit Dubrovnik?

By average weather from 2021 to 2025, June to September are the best months for a beach trip to Dubrovnik. This plan is built for early June, which is one of the best months. Crowds and prices change through the year, so check them before you book.

How many days does this plan cover?

It covers 3 days in Dubrovnik, planned for early June. Each day is built around a small number of stops, with room to rest.

Who is this plan for?

It was planned for most travelers. The pace and the places reflect that, so check it fits how you travel.

Is anything on this plan booked?

No. Places marked "book ahead" need a reservation. Hours, prices and availability change, so confirm before you go.

Can I plan my own days like this?

Yes. Archie drafts a day by day plan for your dates and takes your pace, the weather and who is travelling into account. You can start one from the Archie app.

Can I change this plan?

Yes. It is a starting point you can change to fit your own trip: swap a place, add a day or move the pace.

How much walking is there?

Each day has about 2.3 to 334.2 kilometers between its stops, and 355.8 kilometers in all across 3 days. A short hop is a walk and a longer one a ride. Distances are straight-line estimates, so allow extra for the streets.

Keep exploring

Nearby trips

More like this

More Romance trips ›

Make this plan yours

Make it yours in a minute, then move days around and add what you want.

A trip idea · Updated November 2026

Want your own days planned like this? Plan your own trip on the web or get the Archie app.