Dalmatian Coast Food & Wine Tour: Split, Hvar, Korčula & Dubrovnik - 9 Days

Day 1: Arrive in Split

Welcome to Croatia! Upon arrival at the airport, your driver will transfer you to your hotel in the ancient coastal city of Split. Founded 1,700 years ago by the Roman emperor Diocletian, Split's Old Town is teeming with historic sites, including the Peristyle, the Piazza, and Diocletian's Palace. Head to this former Roman palace complex to wander the pedestrian-only center, filled with galleries, boutiques, cafés, and bars. When evening falls, the UNESCO-listed site comes alive as the setting sun casts a glow over its maze of narrow cobbled streets. 

Experience the sights, sounds, and flavors of Split today on a private food tour. Snack your way through the city's historic streets and visit open-air markets, modest bakeries, and local bars while on the hunt for sweet and savory local delicacies. Meet your guide in the morning and meander over to Pazar, a lively outdoor fruit and vegetable market just east of Diocletian's Palace. See how the locals shop and sample prosciutto and cheese together with rakija, a typical fruit brandy of the region.

 

Step back in time as your guide escorts you underground to the palace's cellars while sharing intriguing accounts of its colorful history. End the tour with some savory soparnik—a type of Swiss-chard-filled pie thought to be the prototype of the Italian pizza.

Day 3: Day Trip to Krka National Park & Local Winery Visit 

Today, you'll head a few hours outside Split to explore Krka National Park on a private tour. One of Croatia's most beloved natural wonders, Krka is home to a network of striking waterfalls—the largest and most impressive being Skradinski Buk. The Krka River, another highlight of the park, carves through the limestone and creates a spectacular canyon on its 44-mile journey (70 km) from the foothills of the Dinaric Alps to Šibenik. 

After touring Krka, continue toward a family-owned winery for a delicious food and wine pairing. Taste the wines made exclusively from the native grape of the Skradin region, as well as liqueurs made with high-quality grape brandy and wild-foraged fruits and herbs. Alongside homemade dishes and a fine glass of wine, you'll learn firsthand about the vintner's fascinating winemaking philosophy.

Day 4: Transfer to Hvar, Afternoon Island Tour 

Leave the mainland behind today as you catch a catamaran ferry to the island of Hvar and check into your hotel. Renowned for its natural setting, mild climate, and historic town of the same name, Hvar's sunny, Mediterranean climate has attracted visitors for thousands of years. Highlights of Hvar Town include its 13th-century fortified walls, dramatic hilltop fortress, and the main square anchored by the Renaissance-era Cathedral of St. Stephen.

 

This afternoon you'll join your local guide and set out on a half-day adventure through the undulating island terrain, accented with vineyard-covered hills, thick olive groves, and fragrant fields full of rosemary. Make your way to the abandoned 16th-century village of Malo Grablje before carrying on to the slightly older Velo Grablje. Stop for an authentic dinner at a family-run konoba (tavern) for a traditionally prepared meal, and spend a little time visiting a family-owned vineyard or two, where you'll have the opportunity to try the finest local wines. 

Day 5: Explore Hvar Town, Traditional Peka Dinner 

This morning is free for you to explore more of Hvar Town at your leisure. Head to the beach to relax, swim in the crystal clear Adriatic, or stroll along the chic harborfront Riva and wander the historic center with its car-free marble streets. For some of the best views of the island, Hvar Town, and the nearby Pakleni Islands, take a short walk up to the 16th-century Španjola Fortress. Then treat yourself to a drink in the ancient piazza of Hvar overlooking the Venetian loggia, 7th-century fortification walls, and the oldest municipal theater in Europe.

As evening falls, you'll experience traditional Croatian cooking with a peka dinner at a family-owned restaurant. Created from a mix of basic ingredients (potatoes, meat, and various herbs), then baked under an iron lid covered in coal, this deceptively simple dish will surprise you with the depth of its flavors. Paired with local island wines, it's the perfect way to experience authentic Croatian gastronomy.

Day 6: Transfer to Korčula, Lumbarda Wine Tour & Konoba Dinner

Today, you'll pack up and catch a scenic catamaran ferry to the neighboring island of Korčula. Its eponymous town offers a maze of alleys, churches, and squares, with some of the finest examples of Venetian architecture on the Dalmatian coast. Visit the 14th-century Land Gate on top of an elegant staircase, or head to the Cathedral of St. Mark to admire its strange sculptures of beasts and people. Art enthusiasts will appreciate a visit to the Bishop's Treasury next door for a small but exquisite collection that includes works from Carpaccio, Bassano, and Tiepolo. 

In the afternoon, you'll meet your guide for a wine tasting tour of the Lumbarda region on Korčula's southeastern tip. Boasting beautiful beaches and centuries-old winemaking traditions, Lumbarda is home to Grk, a white grape variety that produces some of Croatia's best wines. Visit a family-run winery to learn more about this unique varietal that thrives in the region's sandy soil. Following dinner at a local konoba restaurant with a view of the setting sun, you'll return to your hotel to relax and savor twilight across Luka Korculanska Bay.

Day 7: Ston Oysters Experience & Wine Tasting, Transfer to Dubrovnik

Bid the islands farewell as you catch the ferry back to the mainland and meet your driver for the transfer to Dubrovnik. En route, you'll pass through the Pelješac Peninsula, a mountainous region home to Croatia's finest red wines, the tastiest oysters, and some of the best beaches in the country.

 

Stop in Ston, a small town known for its salt flats and fortified walls. Here you'll meet with a local oyster farmer to learn about the history of cultivation in the area and taste some day's freshest catch. Afterward, explore the charming streets of Ston before heading to a local winery for a tasting. Get back on the road in the afternoon and continue to Dubrovnik, where soaring city walls welcome you to the "Pearl of the Adriatic."

Day 8: Walking Tour of Dubrovnik, Konavle Region Culinary Experience 

Set out to explore your surroundings today on a private guided walking tour of Dubrovnik. Entering the medieval Old Town through the 16th-century Pile Gate, you'll uncover centuries of rich history as you listen to stories of local life and legends. Escape down atmospheric side streets as you learn about the city's importance in the heyday of the powerful Dubrovnik Republic. Other highlights you'll visit include Onofrio's Fountain, the 15th-century Rector's Palace, Luza Square, the Church of St. Blaise (St. Vlaho), and the café-lined streets of Brsalje Street. 

In the afternoon, a private transfer takes you into the surrounding countryside for an evening at a family farmhouse. Meet your hosts and learn about the regional gastronomy as well as Croatian culture and history. Help pick fresh vegetables from the garden and lend a hand in preparing a four-course dinner. When it comes time to sit down and taste your efforts, you'll have the added pleasure of sampling homemade wines.

Day 9: Depart Dubrovnik

Savor a final morning in Dubrovnik with a leisurely breakfast and a stroll around the Old Town. When the time comes, your driver will transfer you to the airport to catch your departing flight. Safe travels! 

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