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Shanghai to Croatia: Dubrovnik, Split, Plitvice Lakes and Zagreb

Shanghai → Dubrovnik → Split → Plitvice Lakes → Zagreb

Dubrovnik
"The_walls_of_the_fortress_and_View_of_the_old_city._panorama.jpg" by Zysko serhii, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons· licence
Zagreb (29255640143) (Zagreb)
Photo: Nick Savchenko from Kiev, Ukraine, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Croatia coast & lakes Best season (general guide): May–Jun, Sep

Croatia combines a long Adriatic coast with green inland parks, and this route travels from the far south to the capital. From Shanghai you'll connect via the Gulf, Istanbul or a European hub to Dubrovnik. The return is from Zagreb, so there's no backtracking. The itinerary spends three nights in Dubrovnik, two nights in Split, one night in Plitvice Lakes and two nights in Zagreb.

How to pace it: After the connecting flights from Shanghai, plan days one to three in Dubrovnik: first Stradun, then city walls early, Lokrum, and finally cable car. Next, plan days four and five in Split: first travel to Split, then Diocletian's Palace, and finally Hvar or Brač. Next, plan day six in the Plitvice Lakes: first travel inland to Plitvice, then lakes at opening. Next, plan days seven and eight in Zagreb: first travel to Zagreb, then upper town, and finally museums.

Dubrovnik's walled old town is the highlight of the south: walk the walls, see the Stradun, and take a boat to Lokrum island. The coast road or a catamaran brings you to Split, where people live, shop and drink coffee inside the walls of Diocletian's Palace. Island trips to Hvar or Brač are easy from here. Heading inland, Plitvice Lakes National Park has a chain of lakes linked by waterfalls, explored on boardwalks and by electric boat. Staying nearby lets you be at the gate when it opens. Zagreb finishes the trip with its upper town, St Mark's Church and the Museum of Broken Relationships.

May, June and September offer warm weather with fewer crowds and lower prices than high summer. The waterfalls at Plitvice are usually at their fullest in spring, while the sea is warmest for swimming from late June to September. July and August are very busy on the coast.

Buy Plitvice tickets online for a timed entry in busy months. Swimming isn't allowed in the Plitvice lakes.

For a different side of the coast, you can stop in Šibenik or visit Krka National Park between Split and Plitvice. Krka's waterfalls are another of Croatia's natural highlights, and the park is accessible from Split by a day trip.

Suggested outline

  1. Shanghai

    Start

  2. Dubrovnik

    By air · 3 nights suggested

    The walled old town on the Adriatic. Walk the city walls early and take the cable car up Mount Srđ.

  3. Split

    Overland · 2 nights suggested

    Reached by road or catamaran. The old town is built within the Roman emperor Diocletian's palace.

  4. Plitvice Lakes

    Overland · 1 night suggested

    A national park of terraced lakes joined by waterfalls, inland from the coast, with wooden boardwalks.

    Plitvice Lakes National Park
    "View_in_Plitvice_Lakes_National_Park.jpg" by Zysko serhii, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons· licence

  5. Zagreb

    Overland · 2 nights suggested

    Croatia's capital, with an upper town of churches and museums and a lively café culture.

    Zagreb
    "Zagreb_(29255640143).jpg" by Nick Savchenko from Kiev, Ukraine, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons· licence

Day by day

  1. Day 1 · Dubrovnik — Arrive; Stradun· Shanghai → Dubrovnik (by air) — long-haul; may arrive the next calendar day
  2. Day 2 · Dubrovnik — City walls early; Lokrum
  3. Day 3 · Dubrovnik — Cable car
  4. Day 4 · Split — To Split; Diocletian's Palace· Dubrovnik → Split (overland)
  5. Day 5 · Split — Hvar or Brač
  6. Day 6 · Plitvice Lakes — Inland to Plitvice; lakes at opening· Split → Plitvice Lakes (overland)
  7. Day 7 · Zagreb — To Zagreb; upper town· Plitvice Lakes → Zagreb (overland)
  8. Day 8 · Zagreb — Museums
  9. Day 9 · Zagreb — Travel home from Zagreb· Zagreb → Shanghai (by air)

A suggested pace only; expedition days are set by the operator.

Flights, leg by leg

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Dubrovnik

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Split

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Plitvice Lakes

Nearest airport: Zagreb

Zagreb

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