Steal Our Croatia Itinerary: Dubrovnik, Hvar & Split + Game of Thrones Filming Locations!
For as long as we can remember, Croatia has been a destination we’ve dreamed of visiting. We always heard such great things about the old towns, fortified cities, beautiful landscapes, and crystal blue water. And as huge Game of Thrones fans, we really felt like we were in Westeros! We visited Croatia in September, and even though we thought it would be the shoulder season, it actually ended up being one of the more touristy places we’ve traveled to. But places are touristy for a reason, and Croatia is definitely worth the hype.
Our trip started in Dubrovnik, then we took a ferry to Hvar, another ferry to Split, and ended back in Dubrovnik. When planning, it was hard to figure out which route to go and which places/islands to visit. So we wanted to share our itinerary with you all so you can have the most epic Croatia trip!
Dubrovnik
Dubrovnik is one of the most popular cities to visit in Croatia, even though it’s not even in the top 5 of the countries biggest cities. It’s located along the Adriatic Sea and it famous for it’s Old Town (which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site) which is a fortified city with well preserved medieval architecture. If you’re a Game of Thrones fan, Dubrovnik is used as Kings Landing and there are tons of GoT filming locations across the city.
Where to stay in Dubrovnik
We recommend staying outside the Old Town, as it’s cheaper yet still easily accessible We stayed at two hotels in Dubrovnik — one at the beginning of our trip and one at the end (the ended up being right next to each other haha). The first one was City Hotel Dubrovnik in Montovjerna, modern 4-star hotel outside the Old Town. It was about a 25 minute walk to the Old Town and 15 minute walk to the ferry port which meant it was in the perfect location to everything.
The second hotel was Boutique Hotel Porto — a slightly more upscale hotel compared to City Hotel (and pricer), but still modern and trendy. Both were in a great location and we highly recommend either hotel for your Dubrovnik stay.
You can find more Dubrovnik hotels here on Expedia!
How to Get Around Dubrovnik
We pretty much walked everywhere once we got to the city center! Uber and Bolt both work in Dubrovnik (we recommend Bolt because it’s usually cheaper). But we don’t think it’s necessary to use it day to day. We used Bolt to get to/from the airport and to/from the ferry port.
To get around the country, we used the ferry or Flixbus. We booked our ferries from Dubrovnik to Hvar and Hvar to Split on Ferryhopper (we used them to book our ferries in Greece so knew they were reliable). And booked Flixbus from Split to Dubrovnik directly on the Flixbus website.
Best Things to do in Dubrovnik
Explore the Dubrovnik Old Town - walking around here never gets old! The medieval walls and architecure are stunning, and there are tons of shops, restaurants, cafes, markets, bars, etc. inside too (the main street is called Stradun). The Old Town is definitely one of the most beautiful places we’ve ever been on any of our travels. Make sure you check out Porat Dubrovnik (pier) for amazing views!
Grab a drink at Buza Bar - a bar located in the cliffs of the Old Town where you can jump into the sea! One of the highlights of our trip.
Visit Fort Lovrijenac - a beautiful fortress overlooking the Adriatic Sea just outside the city walls built in the 11th century. It costs about €10–€15 to enter.
Explore the Dubrovnik West Harbor - beautiful harbor along the sea with scenic views.
Beaches to Visit - Banje Beach, Betina Cave Beach, Plaža Sveti Jakov
Check out all the Game of Thrones Filming locations - if you’re a big GoT fan like us, then this might be the highlight of your Dubrovnik trip! Here’s all the Dubrovnik filming locations we came across:
Old Town - Kings Landing
Jesuit Staircase - Cersei “shame” steps
Rector Palace - Spice King’s Mansion
Dominican Monastery - Joffrey protest speech
West Harbor & Pile Gate- Blackwater Bay
Fort Lovrijenac - The Red Keep
Ethnographic Museum - Littlefinger’s brothel
Find other activities and tours to book in Dubrovnik here on Expedia!
One Thing We Think You Can Skip: the Ancient City Walls. It’s one of the most popular things to do in Dubrovnik, but it’s really expensive. It’s €40 per person to enter, and we think you can get just as epic views just roaming around.
Where to Eat & Drink in Dubrovnik
Cogito Coffee
Vege Dub
SILK
Soul Kitchen
Nishta
Vege Dub
Cogito Coffee - our favorite coffee in Dubrovnik!
Restaurant Sesame
SILK - Asian Fusion
aROMA Gelato
Mostro Gelato
Buza Bar - bar in the Old Town Cliffs
Bard (Mala Buza) - another cliff bar
Hvar
Hvar is one of Croatia’s most popular islands, known for it’s blue waters, nightlife, and historic charm. It’s also known as the sunniest places in Europe with over 2,700 hours of sunshine per year! Wine has also been produced in Hvar for over 2,400 years so make sure to try some local wine when you visit.
Hvar has gorgeous views of the sea and the town is so charming with it’s cobblestone streets (there are a lot of stairs so beware haha). Hvar is the perfect mix of sunny beaches, rich history, and vibrant nightlife—making it one of Croatia’s most unforgettable island destinations to explore. We only spent 2 days in Hvar, which is enough to see the main sights, but if you want to stay longer there is definitely more to see and do!
Where to stay in Hvar
We stayed at Hertiage Hotel Dea Hvar located in the heart of the town and close to the port. To get to the hotel there is a decent amount of stairs so be warned! But this hotel was so charming and cute with breakfast included! We loved our stay here and thought the location was perfect for everything we wanted to do.
Browse other hotels in Hvar here on Expedia!
How to Get Around Hvar
Like in Dubrovnik, we walked everywhere in Hvar. A lot of things to do and see are close by the town and the port! But if you don’t want to walk, you can use Bolt to get around.
To get to Hvar, you can take the ferry from most major cities in Croatia. We took the ferry (booked on Ferryhopper) from Dubrovnik to Hvar, and when we it was time to leave we took another ferry from Hvar to Split. The ferry is the most efficient way to get around so we recommend taking them whenever you can.
Best Things to do in Hvar
Spanish Fortress
St. Stephen’s Cathedral
Pokonji Dol Beach
swimming hole
Walk around Hvar Town - the main hub of the island! The town is centered around the Pjaca (main square) and St. Stephen’s Cathedral, a stunning church withRenaissance architecture.
Visit the Spanish Fortress - sits above the town with panoramic views of the town and the nearby islands. It was built in the 1500s and cost to enter is about €10–€15 per person.
Check out Pokonji Dol Beach - beautiful beach with blue waters about a 25 minute walk from the town.
Day trip to the Pakleni Islands - a chain of about 20 small islands offt he coast of Hvar. They ar famous for their hidden coves, crystal-clear waters, and secluded beaches. Boats leave regularly from the port and the trip there takes about 20 minutes.
Browse other Hvar activities and tours here on Expedia!
Fun Fact: There are tons of swimming holes in Hvar — not necessarily beaches or cliffs, but just small entrances to swim in the water. We stopped at some on our walk from the town to Pokonji Dol Beach!
Where to Eat & Drink in Hvar
Vintage Bar
kava37
La Bocca
La Bocca
Vintage Bar
Backlane - cocktails with streetside seating
Kava37 - coffee
Glôd - coffee & pastries
Fig
Split
Split is Croatia’s second largest city, and sits right along the Adriatic Coast. Here you’ll find history, culture, and laid-back vibes. There is so much to do and see in Split, including UNESCO World Heritage Sites, ancient cities, harbors, and promenades. It’s also home to some very popular Game of Thrones filming locations too! Split is very easy to access via plane, bus, or ferry, and it’s a city you definitely shouldn’t skip on your Croatia trip.
Where to Stay in Split
We stayed directly in the Old Town, which was convenient for walking around but not totally necessary. It is cheaper to stay outside the Old Town (like in Dubrovnik) so we recommend doing that! We always book our accommodations on Expedia, so here are some options for your stay in Split.
How to Get Around Split
Like everywhere else we went on this trip, we mostly walked to get around Split. We used Bolt and Uber a few times, only to get to/from places that we weren’t able to walk to. To get to Split, you can fly, hop on a bus, to take the ferry. We took the ferry from Hvar to Split, and then took a Flixbus from Split back to Dubrovnik.
Best things to do in Split
Klis Fortress
Diocletian’s Palace & Cellars
view of Split from Majan Stairs
Klis Fortress
Visit Diocletian’s Palace - a UNESCO Worl Heritage site built by a Roman Emperor in the 4th century. It’s also a Game of Thrones filming location for Daenery’s Dragon’s dungeons!
Explore Klis Fortress - A medieval fortress on a hill located about 30 minutes outside the city. The fortress dates back to ancient Illyrian times, but most of the current structure was built during the Middle Ages. The fortress offers stunning panoramic views of Split, the Adriatic Sea, and the nearby mountains. It was also used as a Game of Thrones filming location as the city of Meereen! Entry tickets are typically around €5–€10.
Walk around the Old Town - Split’s Old Town is fortified and is centered around Diocletian’s Palace. Here you’ll find narrow cobblestone streets, ancient architecture, and plenty of shops, restaurants, markets, cafes, and bars.
Check out the Riva Promenade - a seaside walk along the harbor where you’ll find shops, cafes, bars, and restaurants
Walk up the Majan Hill Stairs - staircase with over 300 steps that offers epic views of the city
Find other activites and tours in Split here on Expedia!
Where to Eat & Drink in Split
Pandora Greenbox
Stowe Coffee
BARAKOKULA
Pandora Greenbox
BARAKOKULA
Focaccina Sandwich Bar - famous takeaway focaccia sandwiches
Stow Coffee Roasters
NOOR Find Spirits & Cocktails
Bigoli - takeaway pasta
If you want to see everything we did on our Croatia trip, make sure to check out our YouTube vlogs below! They have the best real-time tips and you can see it all first hand.
As always, all opinions are honest and our own. Some links on this post are affiliate links of which we receive a small commission, but the price is the same for you.