Croatia has more than a thousand islands, which is roughly 990 more than anyone can visit in a week. The good news is that the best of them sit in a tidy line down the Dalmatian coast between Split and Dubrovnik, linked by ferries, catamarans and the kind of small ships that can slip into a harbour town at teatime and leave after dinner. The question isn’t really where to go. It’s how: on a ship, on a bike, on a catamaran with a rucksack, or in a boutique hotel with someone else carrying the bags.
We’ve compared every tour on our Croatia tours page, from a seven-day island hop to month-long overland journeys that happen to finish in Dubrovnik, with who each one suits and the honest drawback nobody puts in the brochure.
The quick answer
- If you want to unpack once and wake up somewhere new, pick the Dalmatian Elegance small-ship cruise.
- If you are travelling alone and want a cabin of your own, pick a solo yacht cruise.
- If you would rather earn your dinner, pick Cycle Croatia.
- If you want islands, swimming and a sensible price, pick Explore Croatia.
- If you want Plitvice Lakes and Slovenia too, pick Croatia & Slovenia.
Every Croatia tour compared
| Tour | Days | Price from | Physical rating | Group size | Flights included | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| By sea | ||||||
| Dalmatian Elegance: Small-Ship Cruise from Split – 9 Days | 9 | £3,195 pp | Low | Max 40 | No | Unpack once, sail the south |
| Solo Croatian Island Explorer Cruise with Flights – 8 Days | 8 | £3,539 pp | Low | Max 27 | Yes | Solo travellers, with flights |
| Solo Yacht Cruise: Dubrovnik, Split & the Dalmatian Islands – 8 Days | 8 | £3,199 pp incl. flights | Low | Max 19 | Yes | Solo travellers, small yacht |
| Solo Yacht Cruise: Split, Zadar & the Kornati Islands – 8 Days | 8 | £3,299 pp incl. flights | Low | Not stated | Yes | Solo, the quieter north |
| Islands and coast on land | ||||||
| Cycle Croatia: Split, Hvar, Korčula & Dubrovnik – 7 Days | 7 | £2,095 pp | Medium | Max 16 | No | Keen cyclists |
| Explore Croatia: Dubrovnik, Hvar, Vis & Split – 7 Days | 7 | £1,995 pp | Low | Max 12 | No | Island-hoppers on a budget |
| Luxury Split to Dubrovnik: Korcula & the Dalmatian Coast – 8 Days | 8 | £2,980 pp | Low | Max 12 | No | Comfort, food and wine |
| Luxury Venice to Split: Slovenia, Istria & Croatia – 9 Days | 9 | £4,161 pp | Low | Max 12 | No | Boutique hotels, Venice to Split |
| Lakes, capitals and coach touring | ||||||
| Croatia & Slovenia: Split to Ljubljana – 8 Days | 8 | £1,455 pp | Low | Max 12 | No | Plitvice and Slovenia in a week |
| Eastern Capitals & Dalmatian Riviera: Vienna to Dubrovnik – 14 Days | 14 | £4,073 pp | Low | Max 40 | No | Coach touring, Vienna to Dubrovnik |
| Christmas | ||||||
| Christmas Markets of Croatia, Slovenia & Austria – 8 Days | 8 | £2,225 pp | Low | Max 40 | No | Advent by coach |
| Christmas Markets by Train: Budapest to Zagreb – 8 Days | 8 | £1,264 pp | Low | Max 12 | No | Advent by train, on a budget |
| Croatia and beyond | ||||||
| Budapest to Venice: Balkans & Adriatic Coast – 19 Days | 19 | £2,485 pp | Low | Max 16 | No | Overland, Budapest to Venice |
| Vienna to Dubrovnik: Central Europe & the Balkans – 29 Days | 29 | £5,330 pp | Medium | Max 15 | No | Nine countries, 29 days |
| Balkans by Rail: Ljubljana to Pristina, 7 Countries – 16 Days | 16 | £3,295 pp | Medium | Max 18 | No | Seven countries by train |
| Dubrovnik to Athens: Balkans Overland via Albania & Ohrid – 15 Days | 15 | £2,775 pp | Medium | Max 12 | No | Dubrovnik to Athens |
| Albania & Montenegro in Style: Dubrovnik to Tirana – 10 Days | 10 | £4,195 pp | Low | Max 12 | No | Montenegro and Albania in style |
Prices are per person, twin share, live from our tour pages (updated October 2026). The lowest price can apply to a later departure, so check the dates you want on each tour page.
Ask us which Croatia tour fits →
By sea: the small ships
Let’s start with the honest truth about the Dalmatian coast: it was designed for boats. The old towns face the water, the best swimming is in coves you can’t drive to, and the ferry timetable has a sense of humour. A small ship solves all of that. You unpack once, the coast comes to you, and the swim stop becomes a daily ritual.
Dalmatian Elegance: the classic small-ship cruise
Dalmatian Elegance: Small-Ship Cruise from Split – 9 Days
- 9 days
- From £3,195 per person
- Max 40 people
- Starts and ends in Split, Croatia
- Physical rating: low
- Flights not included
- Departures in April, May, June, July, August, September, October
Nine days from Split with no more than 40 guests and a cruise manager on board: Diocletian’s Palace with a local expert, then Hvar, a farm-to-table dinner at a family wine estate on the Pelješac peninsula, the saltwater lakes of Mljet National Park, Dubrovnik’s old town and the cable car up Mount Srđ, then north again via Korčula, Brač and Trogir. You get eight breakfasts, six lunches and three dinners, including the Captain’s dinner, which is the one night everybody suddenly owns a shirt with buttons.
Suits: couples, food lovers and anyone who wants the highlights without packing a bag every morning. The honest drawback: cabins on a small ship are compact, and if you dislike being on the water, seven nights of it will feel long.
Travelling alone? Three cruises with a cabin of your own
Solo travellers usually pay a small fortune for the privilege of an empty second bed. These three cruises are built for people on their own, with a cabin to yourself, a tour director or holiday director, and flights included. The Dubrovnik, Split & Dalmatian Islands yacht cruise carries just 19 guests, from Dubrovnik to Korčula, the stone-carving village of Pučišća on Brač, Split, Stari Grad and Hvar, and Mljet. The Croatian Island Explorer runs from Split to the Krka waterfalls, Šibenik, Zadar and Primošten, then back via Hvar, Brač’s Zlatni Rat beach and Trogir, in a group of 15 to 27. Split, Zadar & the Kornati Islands heads for the quieter north, with Krka, the stark, beautiful Kornati archipelago and Zadar’s Sea Organ, which plays itself whenever the waves feel like it.
Suits: sociable solo travellers who want company at dinner and their own space at bedtime. The honest drawback: departures are few, so the dates you want can go early, and couples need not apply.
Island-hopping on land (and in the saddle)
Cycle Croatia: islands by bike and ferry
Cycle Croatia: Split, Hvar, Korčula & Dubrovnik – 7 Days
- 7 days
- From £2,095 per person
- Max 16 people
- Split, Croatia to Dubrovnik, Croatia
- Physical rating: medium
- Flights not included
- Departures in April, May, June, July, August, September, October
Seven days with a tour leader, a support vehicle and up to 16 riders. From Split you take the ferry to Brač and ride past olive groves and stone villages, cross to Hvar for its lavender and its harbour, spend two nights on Korčula to explore the medieval old town and cycle the island, then pedal through the vineyards of the Pelješac peninsula to Dubrovnik. Bike hire and the ferries are included, with breakfast daily and one dinner.
Suits: fit, keen cyclists who like a glass of local red as a reward. The honest drawback: Dalmatia is hilly and hot, the rating is medium for a reason, and the Dubrovnik city walls are not included.
Explore Croatia: catamarans, coves and Vis
Explore Croatia: Dubrovnik, Hvar, Vis & Split – 7 Days
- 7 days
- From £1,995 per person
- Max 12 people
- Dubrovnik, Croatia to Split, Croatia
- Physical rating: low
- Flights not included
- Departures in April, May, June, July, August, September, October
Seven days from Dubrovnik to Split by catamaran with a local leader and no more than 12. You walk Dubrovnik’s city walls early, before the cruise-ship crowds have finished breakfast, spend two nights on Hvar, then two on Vis, a former military island that stayed closed to visitors for decades and is all the better for it. There’s a military history tour, a tasting of local produce and a full-day boat trip to the Blue Cave, the Green Cave and the cove of Stiniva, before a guided walk round Diocletian’s Palace in Split.
Suits: swimmers, island lovers and solo travellers who want a lively, good-value week. The honest drawback: the first night is in a hostel and Hvar is in apartments, and only breakfasts are included.
Croatia in comfort
Luxury Split to Dubrovnik: three nights on Korčula
Luxury Split to Dubrovnik: Korcula & the Dalmatian Coast – 8 Days
- 8 days
- From £2,980 per person
- Max 12 people
- Split, Croatia to Dubrovnik, Croatia
- Physical rating: low
- Flights not included
- Departures in April, May, June, July, August, September, October
Eight days in upscale hotels with a tour leader and up to 12, by private vehicle and ferry. Split with a heritage guide, then three unhurried nights on Korčula with a winery lunch, a mosaic workshop in Vela Luka and a free day for the beach. On the way to Dubrovnik you stop at the Renaissance arboretum at Trsteno and an olive farm for a tasting brunch, then walk the city walls and finish with a sunset boat trip along the coast.
Suits: couples and food lovers who want the coast slowly and stylishly. The honest drawback: it costs considerably more than the small-group trips, and it’s a gentle holiday, not an active one.
Luxury Venice to Split: Slovenia, Istria and Plitvice
Luxury Venice to Split: Slovenia, Istria & Croatia – 9 Days
- 9 days
- From £4,161 per person
- Max 12 people
- Venice, Italy to Split, Croatia
- Physical rating: low
- Flights not included
- Departures in April, May, June, July, August, September, October
Nine days in boutique and heritage hotels with a local leader and no more than 12: Venice, Ljubljana and its castle, two nights at Lake Bled with a pletna boat and a cable car up Mount Vogel above Lake Bohinj, the Postojna Caves, truffles in the Istrian hill town of Motovun, the waterfalls of Rastoke and a hike at Plitvice Lakes, then Zadar and Šibenik before Split.
Suits: food lovers and nature lovers who want three countries in comfort. The honest drawback: it is a moving feast with few two-night stops, and it is not a beach trip.
Plitvice, capitals and coach touring
Croatia & Slovenia: Split to Ljubljana
Croatia & Slovenia: Split to Ljubljana – 8 Days
- 8 days
- From £1,455 per person
- Max 12 people
- Split, Croatia to Ljubljana, Slovenia
- Physical rating: low
- Flights not included
- Departures in March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November
Eight days north from the coast by local bus and train with a local leader and up to 12: Zadar with a winery visit and food tasting, the boardwalks and waterfalls of Plitvice Lakes National Park with a night in a guesthouse and a community project nearby, Zagreb on foot, then the train to Ljubljana, its castle funicular and a day at Lake Bled.
Suits: first-timers, solo travellers and anyone after two countries in a week at a fair price. The honest drawback: you use public transport with your own bags, airport transfers are extra, and there’s very little beach time.
Eastern Capitals & Dalmatian Riviera by coach
Eastern Capitals & Dalmatian Riviera: Vienna to Dubrovnik – 14 Days
- 14 days
- From £4,073 per person
- Max 40 people
- Vienna, Austria to Dubrovnik, Croatia
- Physical rating: low
- Flights not included
- Departures in April, May, June, July, August, September
Fourteen days by comfortable coach with a tour director, from Schönbrunn Palace in Vienna to Maribor, Ljubljana, Zagreb, a night beside Plitvice Lakes, Trogir and Split, then inland to Mostar’s Old Bridge and Sarajevo, with the War Tunnels Museum and a home-hosted dinner, before the finale in Dubrovnik. Thirteen breakfasts and six dinners are included, and several mornings start late.
Suits: first-time visitors who like coach touring and having everything arranged. The honest drawback: groups can reach 40, and Lake Bled and Kotor are optional extras.
Croatia at Christmas
Zagreb’s Advent market has a habit of winning “best in Europe” polls, and two tours begin or end there. Christmas Markets of Croatia, Slovenia & Austria goes by coach from Zagreb to Ljubljana, Graz, Bratislava and Vienna in early December. Christmas Markets by Train runs the other way, from Budapest to Graz, Ljubljana and Zagreb, on trains and local transport in a small group, for a lot less. For more festive options, see our guide to Christmas market tours.
Croatia and beyond
Croatia is also the start or finish of several longer journeys. Budapest to Venice (19 days) and Vienna to Dubrovnik (29 days) are overland adventures on local trains and buses, with simple hotels and some hostels. Balkans by Rail goes from Ljubljana to Pristina, including a night on the sleeper train from the Montenegrin coast to Belgrade. Dubrovnik to Athens heads south through Montenegro, Albania and North Macedonia, and Albania & Montenegro in Style does a shorter version in stylish hotels. If Albania tempts you, our Albania tours guide compares them all, and train fans should read our guide to European rail tours.
How to choose
By time. One week: the cycling trip, Explore Croatia, Croatia & Slovenia, the solo cruises and the luxury coast trip. Nine days: the small-ship cruise and Venice to Split. Two weeks or more: the coach tour and the overland journeys.
By budget. Croatia & Slovenia and Explore Croatia are the best value. The cruises, the cycling trip and the luxury tours sit higher, though the solo cruises include flights. Live prices are in the table above.
By fitness. Everything here is rated low except the cycling trip, the 29-day overland and Balkans by Rail, which are rated medium.
By travel style. Small ships and yachts for unpacking once; catamarans and local buses for a sociable, independent feel; private vehicles on the luxury trips; a full-size coach on Eastern Capitals.
When to go
The sea-and-islands tours run from about April to October. May, June and September are the sweet spot: warm water, long evenings and Dubrovnik at a manageable volume. July and August are hot, busy and buzzing. The Christmas trips run in late November and December. The months for each tour are in its fact panel above.
Before you travel, check the FCDO travel advice for Croatia and any other country on your route.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best Croatia tour for first-time visitors?
For the coast and islands, the small-ship cruise from Split covers Hvar, Mljet, Dubrovnik and Korčula in nine days. For Plitvice and the capitals, try Croatia & Slovenia.
Is there a Croatia cruise for solo travellers?
Yes, three: the Dubrovnik and Dalmatian Islands yacht cruise, the Croatian Island Explorer and the Kornati Islands yacht cruise, each with a cabin of your own and flights included.
Can I cycle in Croatia?
Yes, Cycle Croatia rides Brač, Hvar, Korčula and Pelješac between Split and Dubrovnik, with a support vehicle. It is rated medium.
Which Croatia tours visit Plitvice Lakes?
Croatia & Slovenia, Luxury Venice to Split and the Eastern Capitals coach tour all include Plitvice Lakes National Park.
When is the best time to visit Croatia?
May, June and September for warm seas and fewer crowds. July and August are the hottest and busiest months.
Are flights included?
Flights are included on the three solo cruises. The other tours are land-only, and we can arrange flights.
Ready for Croatia?
Tell us whether you'd rather sail, cycle or swim your way down the coast, and a Travelisto specialist will compare the Croatia tours with you.
Keep planning
- All escorted tours in Croatia
- Escorted tours in Slovenia
- Escorted tours in Montenegro
- Albania tours compared
- Christmas market tours
- Croatia holidays
Prices are live from our tour pages (updated October 2026). Tour details and dates can change; your specialist will confirm everything before you book.
