Highlights
- Savor the fresh seafood in the Roman fortress of Split, Diocletian's Palace
- Visit the incredible Krka Waterfalls before touring a nearby vineyard
- Sail to the island of Korcula for some of Croatia's best wine and tapas
- Walk through the old streets of Dubrovnik, tasting local specialties as you go
Brief Itinerary
| Day | Highlights | Overnight |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Arrive in Split, Walking Food Tour | Split |
| Day 2 | Culinary Workshop in Omiš: Learn To Make Soparnik | Split |
| Day 3 | Day Trip to Krka National Park, Gastro Experience at Local Winery | Split |
| Day 4 | Transfer to Korčula, Lumbarda Wine Tour & Konoba Dinner | Korčula |
| Day 5 | Transfer to Dubrovnik via Ston Oysters Experience & Wine Tasting | Dubrovnik |
| Day 6 | Walking Tour of Dubrovnik, Konavle Region Culinary Experience | Dubrovnik |
| Day 7 | Depart Dubrovnik |
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive in Split, Walking Food Tour
Welcome to Croatia! After you arrive at Split International Airport, your driver will be waiting to transfer you to the city of Split. Settle in and use the rest of the day and evening to explore its UNESCO-listed Old Town. Croatia's second-largest city, this ancient Adriatic port is known for its Roman ruins, fantastic seafood, historic streets, and lovely beaches.
Start your discovery at Split's most famous site, Diocletian's Palace, a former Roman complex built around 300 CE, with medieval streets winding through its pedestrian-only center. Once you've explored the cobblestone avenues of the palace, explore the surrounding streets of Old Town, climb the bell tower of the Cathedral of St. Domnius, stroll the Riva promenade along the harbor, or make the trek up to Klis Fortress for panoramic views of the city and the coast.
In the afternoon, join a guided walking and food tour through the center of the palace to local restaurants with various culinary specialties. Try handmade makaruni pasta, accompanied by typical Dalmatian wine like plavac mali, a cousin of zinfandel. Sample Croatia's finest seafood, like an octopus salad or black risotto, then end the tour with traditional desserts from ancient secret recipes, such as fritule (Croatian doughnuts), rafioli (almond shortbread), or smokvenjak (fig and grain tart).Day 2: Culinary Workshop in Omiš: Learn To Make Soparnik
Meet your driver this morning and set off 35 minutes south along the coast to Omiš, a charming spot at the mouth of the Cetina River. This small fortified town's name means "Big Beach" in Croatian, but beyond it's idyllic stretches of sand, it's known for its rich pirate history, several fortresses with stellar views, the Cetina Canyon (home to the most famous zipline in Croatia), and its annual klapa (Croatian a cappella singing) festival. Today, you're heading there for a culinary workshop. An expert local chef will teach you to make the Croatian specialty, soparnik, a Swiss-chard-filled pie and Croatia's answer to pizza.
Soparnik, an official Intangible Cultural Heritage of Croatia, is traditionally prepared on a komuna, a stone baking oven, and bakes under coals. Made with local ingredients, such as flour, onion, and sometimes garlic, this ancient dish was once known as "poor dry food" but is now considered more of a delicacy. Your chef will demonstrate the typical steps, introduce the history, and provide a side of rakija, a fruit brandy of the region. At the end of the experience, you'll take home a priceless souvenir: an authentic soparnik recipe so you can recreate this dish any time you like.
Day 3: Day Trip to Krka National Park, Gastro Experience at Local Winery
Today takes you on a day trip outside of Split to the famous Krka National Park. Krka is known for it's network of impressive waterfalls, including the iconic Skradinski Buk, a series of 17 falls spread over 2,600 feet (800 m). You'll also find the picturesque Krka River, which creates a spectacular limestone canyon within the park. In addition to the natural beauty, explore the Roman ruins at the Burnum Amphitheater and the 13th-century Krka Monastery on the riverbank.
After touring Krka, continue to a nearby family-owned winery for a delicious food and wine pairing. Tour the vineyard and taste exclusive wines from the native skradin grape, along with wine varieties such as debit, an intriguing, saltier white, or the silky-smooth lasina red. Alongside the wine sampling, taste local specialties such as Dalmatinski pršut (cured ham), dinarski sir (a hard cheese variety), or the famous local dessert, Skradinska torta.
Day 4: Transfer to Korčula, Lumbarda Wine Tour & Konoba Dinner
Chat with a local specialist who can help organize your trip.
Check out your Split hotel and hop aboard a catamaran for a scenic ferry ride to Korčula. This island is known for its beaches, the picturesque Old Town known as a "little Dubrovnik," ancient wineries, and as the birthplace of the famous explorer Marco Polo (according to legend, at least).
After you settle in, meet your guide for a wine-tasting tour of Lumbarda, a region on the southeastern tip of Korčula. En route, you'll pass through fields, villages, and wineries, with sweeping views toward the Adriatic. The short drive passes historic sites of the island's eastern side until you reach the sprawling town of Lumbarda. Boasting beautiful beaches and centuries-old winemaking traditions, Lumbarda is home to grk, the famous white grape that produces some of Croatia's best wines.
Visit a family-run winery to learn about the native grk varietal and more about plavac mali, the red grape grown across southern Dalmatia that acts as a pollinator for grk vines. Following dinner at a local konoba (tavern) with a view of the setting sun, return to your hotel to relax and savor the twilight views across Luka Korculanska Bay.
Day 5: Transfer to Dubrovnik via Ston Oysters Experience & Wine Tasting
Say your goodbyes to Korčula this morning as you hop a ferry from the port of Dominče to Dubrovnik via the Pelješac peninsula. This mountainous finger of land is home to some of Croatia's finest wines, tastiest oysters, and best sand beaches. You'll stop in Ston, a small town known for its ancient walls and salt flats, to meet an oyster farmer. Learn about the local history of oysters, then taste some fresh catch of the day. Explore the charming alleyways or walk along Ston's fortified walls before heading to a nearby wine tasting for some of Croatia's best reds.
You'll end the day in the city of Dubrovnik, the "Pearl of the Adriatic," known for its high city walls, fantastic cuisine, incredible sea views, rich history, and as the filming location of several hit shows, like "Game of Thrones." Check into your hotel and rest up for tomorrow's adventures!
Day 6: Walking Tour of Dubrovnik, Konavle Region Culinary Experience
Set out this morning to see more of Dubrovnik on a guided walking tour. Enter the medieval Old Town through the 16th-century Pile Gate, listening to stories of the city's rich history and local legends. Notable stops throughout the city include Onofrio's Fountain, a reminder of the aqueducts that brought fresh water into the city during the 15th century, the stately Rector's Palace, now a museum, and Luza Square, the heart of the city. Pop into cafés or restaurants on the lively Brsalje Street, or discover the Baroque masterpiece of St. Blaise's Church.
Later in the day, you'll be transferred to a small family-run farm in the countryside for your final evening in Dubrovnik. Your hosts will teach you about regional gastronomy, Croatian culture, and history. Pick fresh vegetables and help prepare the four-course dinner made with locally sourced ingredients. When it comes time to sit down and taste your efforts, enjoy samples of wine made right on-site.
Day 7: Depart Dubrovnik
It's time to say goodbye to Croatia! Your private driver will pick you up from your hotel in Dubrovnik and transfer you to Dubrovnik International Airport. Safe travels!
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