There’s a place I know that looks like a little piece of paradise. I don’t think I have to do any marketing for Croatia—it’s already a hotspot on many travel bucket lists. But have you considered venturing into its neighbor, Bosnia and Herzegovina? Combining these two destinations creates the perfect recipe for a well-rounded trip. Imagine a dash of adventure (let’s try rafting!), a sprinkle of chill (let’s walk along the promenade or enjoy the views from a ship’s sun deck), stunning nature (let’s visit Krka and Plitvice), and a ton of history and culture to explore in towns like Split, Sarajevo, Mostar, and more.
We were lucky to go on a 12 day road trip in Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina in end of May – beginning of June. But planning a trip like that takes a lot of time and effort, so I am sharing our itinerary and experiences, to help you plan your dream trip as well. You’re welcome!
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Why Travel to Croatia?
One goes to Croatia for its breathtaking nature. The water is as clear and blue as you’ve imagined—you don’t even need snorkelling gear to spot sea urchins lounging on the seafloor. The waterfalls are as dreamy as rumoured, and the old towns along the Dalmatian coast have even more intriguing details and charming streets than in pictures. Sure, it gets crowded, but that’s a small price to pay for paradise, right?
Why Travel to Bosnia and Herzegovina?
One goes to Bosnia and Herzegovina to immerse in its rich and complex culture. The blend of beauty and history here can make your head spin. One moment, you’re having the time of your life window shopping for cezvas and baklava in vibrant markets and wandering by old Ottoman houses. The next, you’re moved to tears by a building still scarred with bullet holes, a stark reminder of the horrors of the war that occurred just 30 years ago.
12 Day Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina Road Trip
Length: 12 days
When our trip took place: Tail end of May – beginning of June 2024
PS – this is an active “wake up at 7am spend the whole day exploring come to accommodation by 9pm” type of an itinerary as we are that type of travelers. But if you want a bit more relaxed schedule you can still use this as an inspiration and swap / exclude the things that don’t speak to you
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Day 1 of Croatia and Bosnia Road Trip
Split (Croatia)
Arriving in Split airport (in the morning).
Itinerary:
A place that is both in ruins and alive at the same time.
For some good luck.
A little peace of palm-lined paradise.
A challenge with an amazing view as a reward.
Food to try on your Croatia trip:
Croatian Burek.
The original one has a meat filling, but there are also vegetarian options e.g. with cheese and spinach.
Walking: ~37,184 steps a day in total (from my Garmin, includes all activities during the day e.g. airport, walking to diner etc.
Day 2 of Croatia and Bosnia Road Trip
Split: Part 2
Itinerary:
One of Splits beaches
Sun-soaked serenity before a big adventure
Rafting on Cetina river
Let’s conquer some rapids, swim through the cave and maybe even try some cliff jumping. Do you dare?
Food to try on your Croatia trip:
Pasticada (Baby beef stew with gnocchi)
Walking: ~17,057 steps a day in total
Day 3 of Croatia and Bosnia Road Trip
From Split to Mostar (Bosnia and Herzegovina)
(with stops along the way)
Itinerary:
Picking up the rental car for the road trip.
Place to dip your toes in unbelievably blue (but cold) fairy tail waterfall. This is the one you’re still allowed to swim in.
A beautiful half-abandoned Ottoman style village which seems to be slowly overtaken by plants.
Monastery in a place that is so photogenic that it is worth making a d-tour.
Note: On our roadtrip we ended up going there the next day, because we wasted a bit too much time in some shops. But due to location it better fits in this days agenda, so I would recommend trying to visit it after Počiteli if possible.
Tip: If you haven’t already exchanged your money to Bosnia-Herzegovina Convertible marks do it in Split, as there didn’t seem to be a place to do it in Bosnia on the stops listed. Although some places like souvenir shops may accept euros, I would not rely on it.
Food to try on your Bosnia and Herzegovina trip:
Stuffed vegetables.
They are stuffed with meat. I would say 90% of dishes in Bosnia and Herzegovina are meat based.
Walking: ~19,083 steps a day in total
Drive: ~193 km
Day 4 of Croatia and Bosnia road trip
Mostar and Drive to Sarajevo (Bosnia and Herzegovina)
Itinerary:
Have we been teleported to Turkey? Walk by the beautiful old Ottoman buildings while listening to Adhan (call to prayer in Islam religion).
The more you learn about the divers jumping from the bridge the more impressive their performance gets.
It’s full of handmade jewellery, sweets, cezves and other colourful tidbits. The window shopping experience here is on steroids.
A beautiful example of Islamic architecture. It will be especially interesting if you (same as I) haven’t been to any mosques before.
A flame that will forever burn in a memory of those who lost their lives during the war
Food to try on your Bosnia and Herzegovina trip:
Smokvara (Fig cake)
Walking: ~19,645 steps a day in total
Drive: ~125km
Day 5 of Croatia and Bosnia road trip
Sarajevo and Drive to Konjic (Bosnia and Herzegovina)
Itinerary:
Food and Crafts tour
The best way to learn about Bosnia’s traditions and culture is from the local.
Sebilj of Sarajevo and Pigeon square
I don’t think I have ever seen that many pigeons in one place. But the drinking fountain is still the star of the show.
If your head was already spinning in the colourful market, wait until you see the lavishly decorated stair hall of Sarajevo town hall. Wow.
A way to see the city from above without breaking the sweat climbing the Olympic mountain.
Have you ever stepped on an Olympic track? Although this one is just only a shadow of what it once was, the idea of touching something as grand and as important turns this into a special experience.
Walking: ~21,080 steps a day in total
Drive: ~56km
Day 6 of Croatia and Bosnia Road trip
From Konjic to Krka Nature Park (Croatia)
(with stops along the way)
Itinerary:
Tito’s nuclear bunker
Time portal hidden under the mountain
Marketed for Game of Thrones fans and history enthusiasts, but interesting for anyone who likes some panoramic views. However, if you have seen a lot of ancient fortresses already you may want to skip this one.
Walking: ~11,120 steps a day in total
Drive: ~264km
Day 7 of Croatia and Bosnia Road Trip
Krka National Park and Drive to Zadar (Croatia)
Itinerary:
Krka National park
There is much more to it than the main waterfall. Old mills, monastery so isolated you can access it only by boat & a creepy cave.
Food to try on your Croatia trip:
Seafood – Fried calamari
Walking: ~14km in Krka / ~27,625 steps a day in total
Drive: ~114km
Day 8 of Croatia and Bosnia Road Trip
Zadar and Nin (Croatia)
Itinerary:
Zadar Part 1
Zadar Old town
A quest to find all intriguing details.
Nin
Nin salt fields
A sneak peak in natural salt making from the sea water.
Nin old town
Charming old town with a beach on the horizon.
Zadar Part 2
Sunset on Zadar promenade
Rumoured to be one of the best sunsets in the world.
The Greeting to the Sun
A fun and cheerful installation of lights that comes alive after sun goes down.
Walking: ~7.4km in Zadar + Nin / ~ 25,629 steps a day in total
Drive: ~34km
Day 9 of Croatia and Bosnia Road Trip
Plitvice Lakes National Park (Croatia)
Itinerary:
The water is really that blue, no filters needed.
Walking: ~16km in Plitvice / ~25,644 steps a day total
Drive: ~268km
Day 10 of Croatia and Bosnia Road Trip
From Zadar to Split (Croatia)
(with stops along the way )
Itinerary:
Šibenik
Šibenik old town
Get lost between the narrow streets. They truly feel like a maze.
Walk by St. Michaels fortress
You could obviously pay the ticket to go in if you wished to do so, but you can also just walk by to see the massive walls and panoramic view on city rooftops
Šibenik mediaeval garden
When you see how dry and desert-like this town is you appreciate the little peace of greenery hidden away in a courtyard.
Šibenik St. James (also known as St. Jacob’s) cathedral
A gorgeous renaissance period religious building.
Trogir
Trogir old town
Walk by the most charming mediaeval architecture. In contrast to Šibeniks massive stone walls, this one has a lot of delicate detail.
Trogir promenade
Can one ever get bored of promenades of Croatia’s costal towns? Not a chance. And this one has an unique feature too.
Give back the rental car.
Food to try on your Croatia trip:
Seafood – grilled fish with swiss chard on the side
Walking: ~11km in Šibenik + Trogir / ~24,600 steps a day total
Drive: ~176km
Day 11 of Croatia and Bosnia Road Trip
Back in Split (Croatia)
Itinerary:
Snorkelling cruise to Blue Lagoon and Underwater museum
The underwater world is intriguing on its own, but someone had the brilliant idea to put some sculptures under the water for snorkelling enthusiasts to explore.
Shopping for souvenirs at the market
Although most of the fresh fruit stands are closed in the evening you can still grab some rakija, dried fig cakes and magnets to bring home with you.
Diocletian’s palace at night
No ghosts to be seen. Just marry people sitting on thousands of years old staircases and listening to an open air concert.
Walking: ~12,904 steps a day
Day 12 of Croatia and Bosnia Road Trip
Travelling Home
Flying home from Split airport.
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FAQ on Planing a Roadtrip to Croatia and Bosnia
How much (approximately) does Croatia – Bosnia road trip cost?
Here you can find a breakdown of how much our trip in May 2024 cost us (2 adults). But the prices vary by season.
What’s the best time for visiting Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina?
I truly believe that the tail end of may and the very beginning of June is the best time if you are looking for summer vibes. The weather is already warm, but the crowds are not unbearable yet and the prices haven’t reached their peak yet. The only thing we missed is that local fruits like figs and apricots were not in season yet.
For us it truly was an unforgettable journey in which we experienced a lot, learned a lot and walked a lot. I hope your travels to Croatia and Bosnia and Herzogvinea will be as magical as ours.