Croatia in 9 days, itinerary suggestions!
 

Hello! I am planning a girls trip in October (we are in our 40s) and I would love any and all itinerary recommendations. We love parks, hiking as well as food, museums, architecture, and relaxation. I have read a lot of contradictory reviews about Split- I think we might avoid due to the crowds. Any recs on which city to fly into during that time would be great too. Thank you!!!

I'm a great fan of Split, and if you love architecture, you might want to spend at least some time there ... but NOT on a day when there are cruise ships in port. Split's cathedral is quite unusual and to my eye, glorious.

For parks, look at the Plitvice Lakes and Krka National Parks.

IMO, the best museums in Croatia are in Zagreb, Split, and Varazdin.

One of the interesting things about Croatia is its diversity -- architectural styles include medieval, Renaissance, Austro-Hungarian, Italian, and Art Nouveau, not to mention some fascinating traditional farmstead styles. Food also varies from place to place, with regional cuisines showing distinct influences of Byzantine, Venetian, Austrian, Italian, and other cultures.

With 9 days, you will need to be very selective. Your choice(s) of airport really depends on your itinerary.

If you don't already have it, I strongly recommend the Rough Guide for Croatia. And FWIW, I found the Rick Steves guide to Croatia useless.

Have fun with your planning!

9 days is not a lot of time, so you will have to be selective. It is also easier to plan by nights so that you know how many nights for each hotel. Also, please remember that 2 nights gives you one full day in a place, 3 nights gives you 2 full days, etc.

I agree with KJA that Split has some wonderful architecture, not to mention history (Diocletian's Palace) and a very pretty location on the Adriatic. I would spend at least 3 nights here. From Split, you can also take a boat to visit Hvar for a day.

Plitvice Lakes NP is pretty with its waterfalls, lakes, and boardwalks. It's best to spend one night here if you can to avoid the daytrippers.

We love Dubrovnik, too. The walk along the walls is a highlight; you should visit the War Photo Limited to learn about the Bosnian War; and take the cable car to the top of Mt. Srd for views and drinks.

You could end in Zagreb which is very interesting, too, and very different architecturally from Dubrovnik and Split.

I suggest multi-city or open-jaw tickets. Fly into Dubrovnik and fly home from Zagreb.

When in October? One thing I will caution you about is what is open on the islands should you wish to visit an island, even for a day, such as Hvar. And the weather might be less pleasant in October, especially later in October.

Advice
 

Hi there! October is a fantastic time to visit Croatia—milder weather, fewer crowds, and everything’s still beautiful. If you're skipping Split (personally the best option for a base) , Dubrovnik is also a great option to fly into—lots of charm, history, and great food right on the coast. For parks and hiking, Plitvice and Krka are absolute musts—Plitvice especially is magical in the fall with the changing colors. You can mix those with some foodie stops and wine tasting in nearby regions too!

In October, it might be difficult to find crowds at Split.

Some things to keep in mind with your itinerary is that some places start to "shut down" in September until April. Restaurants sometimes close and even lodging might as well. Catamaran and ferries do continue, but albeit at reduced frequency in some cases.

You won't necessarily have this in some cities with year round presence like Dubrovnik or Split, but you could in areas like Korčula and Rovinj, for example. Something to keep in mind.

While October does have reduced crowds, it is still very popular and you could still be competing with tourists - and cruise traffic - in October. This can still impact national parks, too. Also, even if there is not a cruise in port, coach tours can still be popular at Krka and Plitvice.

Thank you
 

Thank you all for the wonderful advice!!