Croatia Island Hopping Itinerary: Split to Hvar to Korcula to Dubrovnik (10 Days by Ferry)
- tailormadetravels
- May 16
- 7 min read
Updated: May 17
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If you're planning a Croatia trip and island hopping is somewhere on that list, this is the itinerary I'd hand you. My husband, my son and I did this exact route, Split to Hvar to Korcula to Dubrovnik, entirely by ferry. We'd do it again tomorrow if we could.
Here's everything you actually need to know to plan it yourself.
The Ferry System: What You Need to Know Before You Go
Let's talk logistics first because the ferry system is the backbone of this whole trip and honestly it's much easier than it sounds.
The main operator is Jadrolinija, Croatia's national ferry company. Think of it like BC Ferries on the Westcoast of Canada, scenic and genuinely well run. You can walk on as a foot passenger or drive your car onto the conventional car ferries if you want wheels when you get to each island. Just know that the high speed catamarans between islands are passenger only. No cars.
One thing I wish someone had told us before we went: book your ferry tickets in advance, especially in summer. The ferries get crowded and the absolute last thing you want is to be stuck on the wrong island because you couldn't get a spot on the next sailing. Walking on as a foot passenger gives you more flexibility but busy summer routes can fill up faster than you'd expect.
You can book directly through Jadrolinija's website to check schedules and reserve your spot before you go.
Days 1 and 2: Split
Start in Split and give it two full days before you head to the islands. It earns them.
Walk through Diocletian's Palace. A Roman emperor built this as his private retirement home in 305 AD and today an entire neighbourhood has grown up inside its ancient walls. Coffee shops, restaurants, residents drying their laundry from windows that look out over Roman columns. Someone's Tuesday morning happening inside a 1,700 year old imperial complex. Diocletian would have thoughts.
Don't walk past Gregory of Nin without stopping. He's the larger than life bronze statue outside the palace walls of a medieval bishop who fought for the right to hold church services in Croatian instead of Latin. Rub his big toe for good luck. Apparently it works. We did it. No comment on whether it helped.
Walk the marble promenade along the waterfront. Find a cafe. Watch the ferries come and go. That's your introduction to Split and honestly it's a pretty good one.
Want to explore Split with a local? Here are two great options:
Where to stay in Split: Search Split hotels on Booking.com
Days 3 to 5: Hvar
Catch the ferry from Split to Hvar. The crossing takes about an hour depending on which ferry you take and which port you arrive at on the island.
When you get there, rent a scooter. I'm going to be very direct about this. Rent. A. Scooter. The roads are quiet, the island is completely manageable from one end to the other and you will find things on a scooter that you would never find in a car or on a tour bus.
Drive the whole island. Stop at remote stone villages that look half abandoned. Find a small cove where there's nobody else and just jump in. The whole island smells like lavender. Not faintly. It hits you the moment you step off the ferry and it doesn't let go.
If you want a base beyond Hvar Town, check out Jelsa on the north side of the island or Stari Grad with its beautiful old town. Hvar Town itself is the busiest and most touristy hub but it has the best choice of restaurants and bars if that's what you're looking for. Three nights here minimum. You will not run out of things to do.
Want to see the best of Hvar from the water?
Where to stay in Hvar: Search Hvar hotels on Booking.com
Days 6 to 8: Korcula
Take the ferry from Hvar to Korcula. The crossing runs regularly and takes between one and one and a half hours depending on the service.
Korcula is, in my honest opinion, one of the most beautiful islands in Croatia. The old town sits on a small peninsula jutting out into the sea like a miniature Dubrovnik. Marco Polo was allegedly born here. The locals will tell you this with considerable pride. Whether it's actually true is still debated but that's a whole other story and one worth looking into.
Rent a car here rather than a scooter. Korcula is bigger than Hvar and the roads take you further inland through valleys and vineyards. It's worth having the extra space.
Consider staying in Lumbarda instead of the old town. It's five minutes away, right on the water, spectacular views and it feels like you're part of a local community rather than a tourist attraction. There are lovely little beaches there and the whole pace of the place is slower and more real.
Drink wine at the top of a turret in the old town. Go find the villages. Explore the southern end of the island where it gets quieter and more remote. Give it three nights.
Want a guided introduction to the old town?
Where to stay in Korcula: Search Korcula hotels on Booking.com
Days 9 and 10: Dubrovnik
Take the ferry from Korcula to Dubrovnik. It's a scenic journey along the coast and an honestly beautiful way to arrive into one of the most famous cities on the Adriatic.
Explore the old town. Obviously. But don't stop there. The new city has beautiful parks everywhere and it gives you a sense of the real Dubrovnik, the one locals actually live in, rather than the version that's been polished entirely for tourism.
Do the wall walk around the old town. About an hour, worth every minute. Go in the morning before the heat and the cruise ship crowds arrive.
And hike up Mount Srd, the mountain behind the old town. Yes, hike. It makes the drink at the top that much better and trust me you will want that drink. There's also a museum inside the fort that covers the wars fought in the region including the Croatian War of Independence in 1991. It's sobering and important and worth an hour of your time. Take the cable car back down. You earned the easy way down, and yes, it lets you off close to the old town gate.
From Dubrovnik you can catch a flight home or onward to your next destination. The airport is well connected to most European cities.
Want to explore Dubrovnik with a local guide?
Where to stay in Dubrovnik: Search Dubrovnik hotels on Booking.com
Practical Tips for This Route
Best time to go. May and early June for fewer crowds. July and August for guaranteed sunshine and the full ferry schedule but expect it to be busy. September is honestly the sweet spot. Warm water, thinning crowds and better prices.
Should you take a car on the ferry? If you want maximum flexibility and the ability to explore beyond the main towns, yes. Drive your car onto the conventional Jadrolinija car ferries at each stop. Just remember the high speed catamarans are passenger only so plan your crossings accordingly.
How far in advance should you book ferries? A few weeks ahead at minimum in summer, especially if you're taking a car. Foot passenger crossings have more flexibility but don't leave it to the last minute on busy routes.
Is this itinerary good for solo travellers? Yes. Croatia is extremely safe, the islands are easy to navigate independently and the ferry system is straightforward once you understand it. I would recommend this route to solo travellers without hesitation.
Planning to visit Europe this summer? The EU's new Entry Exit System is now fully operational at all Schengen borders. No pre-registration needed but budget extra time at border control on your first entry. Download the Travel to Europe app to pre-load your data before you go and save yourself some time in the queue.
The Honest Bottom Line
This is one of the most beautiful routes we have done in years of travel. The combination of Roman history, island life, lavender fields, turquoise water and genuinely warm people makes Croatia island hopping hard to beat as a holiday.
The ferry system is easy once you understand it. The islands are varied enough to stay interesting for the whole trip. Ten days is the right amount of time to do it without feeling rushed.
A little bit Greece, a little bit Italy, but completely its own. That's Croatia. And this particular corner of it will stay with you long after you get home.
Go. You won't regret a single day of it.
Have questions about planning your Croatia island hopping trip? Drop them in the comments below. I've done this route and I'm happy to answer everything I know.
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