Two Week Itinerary in Croatia with Kids

We had an amazing two week family friendly holiday in Croatia with our kids, 1 and 3 years old, in September 2013. It is a wonderfully family friendly country full of amazing views and amazing food. We were lucky enough to join a Croatia tour with my family while we were still living in London. My parents, sisters, and friends booked this Classic Croatia tour and when we found out, we tagged along. Just a two hour flight from Zürich, Croatia is such an easy short flight away!
Where we stayed:

We stayed in the seaside town of Brela for 2 weeks, just steps from a long beach with the clearest sea water. We should have brought water sandals to wear as the pebbles on the beach were a bit hard on our feet. Brela was the perfect place to stay as there was a great sea view from our accommodation, a wonderful beach promenade, playground, restaurants and grocery store. We loved going on walks along the beach every day and picking up fresh fruit from the local fruit stand.

Here is our two week itinerary:

Day 1: Arrive at Split Airport

Proceed by private van to Brela. Located on the Adriatic Sea, Brela was named by Forbes Magazine as The Most Beautiful Beach in Europe and one of the six most beautiful beaches in the world. In addition, Brela was awarded the prestigious Blue Flag Award by the European community the past dozen years for having one of the cleanest, most beautiful beaches in all of Europe. We will meet for dinner and review the schedule for the rest of your time.

Day 2: Makarska

This is the day to pamper yourself and sleep late after the long trip to Croatia. In the afternoon we will board our van and take the short ride to the town of Makarska, the largest down on the “Makarska Riviera.” Here you will have time to walk along the sea and visit the local sites. From there we will travel into the Biokovo mountains on our way to dinner. You will enjoy a spectacular dinner at an organic farm where you will dine on everything that is grown and prepared by our hosts. 

I need to revisit this place. The food was absolutely gorgeous, just look at this simple fruit bowl below. I still think about it. This was one of my favorite days of the tour. The girls loved this farm. They played with tiny kittens, we picked figs from trees, and the food was fantastic.Day 3: Mostar and Pocitelj

After breakfast, we will travel by van today to the country of Bosnia Herzegovina. Our first stop is Pocitelj, which is a small, fortified village dating back to Turkish occupation. Parts of the fortress date back to the 4th Century. The town also boasts a beautiful mosque dating back to the 16th Century. We will sample local cuisine for our lunch here.

We will then go on to Mostar, located on the Neretva River and known for its’ Turkish bazaar, cobbled-stoned streets, and its famous bridge. This is where the east meets the west. You will be able to tour a mosque, sip Turkish coffee, shop and have dinner along a picturesque river. Day 4: Biokovo

In the morning we will travel by van into the Biokovo Mountains to a local farmers market where you may buy anything from a goat to hand-made sickle. From there we will drive to Omis, a scenic town at the base of the Mosor Mountains. The salt water of the sea meets the fresh water of the river and was once a hiding place for pirates that would loot the ships that came from Venice. The river meanders through the base of the mountains and provides for a wonderful boat ride and a destination for a lovely lunch served by the river in a grove of trees. 

Day 5: Hvar

Steve Dougherty of the New York Times described Hvar as “…a mountainous, lavender-scented isle set in the blue, sun blasted Adriatic Sea of the Dalmatian coast of Croatia.” We will board the boat with our group to travel to this island that has become a haven for the rich and famous. When you arrive, you will know why. Stari Grad (Old Town) is brilliant in the sun with its polished white stones and wide square piazza. The walls of the city were built in the 13th century to protect against Turkish pirates. We will tour and taste the local wine, for which Hvar is well known.Day 6: Free day

Today you can relax on one of the most beautiful beaches in Europe or stroll along the promenade into town for a cappuccino and relaxation.

Day 7: Split

After breakfast we will travel by van to Split, an ancient walled city home to the emperor Diocletian’s Summer Palace, built between the 3rd and 4th centuries. The city is a UNESCO World Heritage site. You will have a guided tour of this incredible site and be able to meander the many small and narrow walkways. You may also want to view the green market where you can buy many local wares including: homemade cheese, olive oil, honey, lavender oil and hand embroidered linens. This is a wonderful opportunity to tour and shop. 

In addition, Split is the home to the Ivan Mestrovic gallery, home and chapel. Mestrovic is a renowned artist and sculptor. You will tour his villa, view his works of art and walk to his chapel. You will find this awe-inspiring. We will enjoy lunch at a charming konoba (an authentic Croatian family restaurant). Evening is free.

Day 8: Brac

In the morning we will boat to the island of Brac, known for its’ many quaint villages and its marble-like stone. We will stop in one of these villages that is representative of the many fishing villages on the islands of Croatia. You will have some free time to explore on your own before we will enjoy a fish picnic.

Day 9: Trogir

In the afternoon we will travel to Trogir; an ancient walled city known for its’ ship-building and a favorite harbor for mega yachts. You will have a guided tour of the many churches and palaces here, the most famous being the Cathedral of Saint Ivan. The cathedral took 300 years to build and was completed in the 16th century. You will have time to tour, shop or just sit at a café. We will have dinner before we return to Brela.

Day 10: Sibenik/Krka National Park/Skradin

Today is a full day starting in the picturesque town of Skradin, located at the mouth of the Krka River. We will have time to wander the small streets, sample the local cuisine of “borek” and board the boat to take us to the entrance of the national Krka park. The park boasts 17 waterfalls with beautiful flora and fauna.

After our visit to the park, we will proceed to the coastal town of Sibenik. We will walk the inner walls of this town, view the Renaissance and Gothic architecture and conclude with a walk on the harbor. From there we will proceed to a favorite local restaurant for a superb dinner of either roasted lamb or pork prepared over an open fire.

Day 11: Free Day

Today you can relax on one of the most beautiful beaches in Europe or stroll along the promenade into town for a cappuccino and relaxation.

Day 12: Dubrovnik

Early morning we will travel to Dubrovnik, the very famous walled city also recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This city is known as the Pearl of the Adriatic and was featured in the fall of 2005 on the “Today Show.” To say this walled city is magical is an understatement. You will have time to walk the wall and discover the many intriguing and narrow streets.

We will spend the day there, including an hour and a half with a professional Dubrovnik guide who will show us the highlights of this historic city. We will now proceed for dinner on to the small town of Ston, known for its salt fields and its extensive walled structure, said to be the second longest stone wall after the Great Wall of China. You will dine on local seafood specialties.

Day 13: Free Day

Time to rest, pack, swim or whatever is your desire. We will have dinner together to reflect on the time we shared and to say good bye to Croatia; a country with exceptional natural beauty, a rich culture, a coastline dotted with breathtaking coves, olive groves, century-old cypress trees, miles of grapes and of course, rosemary and lavender. We hope that you will come back again and again as some of our previous travelers have done to once again explore the culture of Croatia, the rich history and the magnificent natural beauty. This is a very packed itinerary for 2 weeks in Croatia. We saw so many amazing cities, ate many different types of local foods, drank all fantastic local wines, saw so many different landscapes, mountaintops, and islands. I am grateful we were able to tag along with my family on this tour. The tour involved a lot of driving, which is tough on little kids, especially ones that have gotten used to public transportation in London and Zürich. I would highly recommend this tour as it was absolutely well run, and organized.

Goodness it feels like a long time ago now when I look at the pictures of our tiny girls. Croatia tops the list as one of our favorite travel destinations. I would like to get back there soon, but this time without the tour. A more grass roots and relaxing version of our holiday. Our family, sitting on the beach in Brela for a week, sounds ideal.
Have you and your family been to Croatia?

Where would you like to visit in Croatia?