AIBU to think this Croatia itinerary is doable without feeling too rushed?

[Tchmmkln]

Going to Croatia in June and would love some opinions from anyone who’s been 😊
This is our current itinerary:
Day 1 – Split

• Flight arrives at 12
• Check into hotel around 2pm
• Explore the old town alleys
• Diocletian’s Palace + cathedral
• Walk up Marjan Hill
• Swim at hotel pool in evening

Day 2 – Split

• Krka waterfalls day trip
• Rafting on the Cetina River

Day 3 – Split

• Plitvice Lakes National Park day trip

Day 4 – Split → Hvar

• Relaxed beach morning in Split
• Mid/late afternoon ferry to Hvar
• Pool + evening walk around Hvar marina

Day 5 – Hvar

• Pool/relaxing morning
• Pakleni Islands boat trip OR lavender fields
• Explore Hvar Town marina and restaurants
• Fortica Fortress at sunset

Day 6 – Hvar

• Day trip to Bol
• Zlatni Rat beach

Day 7 – Hvar → Dubrovnik

• Explore Hvar main square + St Stephen’s Cathedral
• Beach/swim before ferry
• Late afternoon ferry to Dubrovnik

Day 8 – Dubrovnik

• Walk the city walls early before crowds/heat
• Old Town, Stradun, Rector’s Palace
• War Photo Museum
• Cable car to Mount Srđ
• Evening kayaking

Day 9 – Dubrovnik Still deciding between:

• Mostar + Kravice waterfalls day trip
• OR
• Cavtat / Lokrum / Mljet National Park

Day 10 – Dubrovnik

• Fort Imperial
• Final swim at Lapad Beach
• Flight home at 2pm

Does this sound realistic/doable? Any amendments you’d make, places I’ve missed, or things that are overrated/not worth it? Thanks!

I've been to most of those places and think it looks doable but if it's really hot - which it could be - I'd be prepared to drop the odd plan here and there. But in terms of how long you've allocated to each place I think it looks fine.

I dont think its about the itinerary, its about the amount in it. I said right at the start of the thread I use intinaries myself but you need to build in reasonable time.

For a 10 day trip I'd drop dubrovnik and spread the rest Split/Hvar out. Don't do krka and rafting on the same day, it's trying to fit too much in. Split is beautiful and worth a couple of days ambling around before you dash off to do the other stuff in the area. Trogir is a short bus ride away and also beautiful

Clearly OP loves it.

When we went to Seville, I had on my itinerary to do the Alcazar and the Cathedral in the same day. It took us all day to go round the Alcazar and then the Cathedral took much longer than anticipated because it has 30 flights of steps to get to the bell tower and then you have to wait at the top for space to become clear so you can get to the edge to take pictures on all 4 sides. Takes ages

That is also without the hour it took us to queue up to get into the Alcazar

I don’t think you can do cetina rafting and Krka in same day as opposite directions from Split. We did Krka as a stop off on way to Plivice which definitely deserves a full day.
Dubrovnik is compact and city can be done in one full day but you can’t do evening walls walk as well as evening kayak on same day-you seem to have double booked that evening?

I loved Split more than Dubrovnik partly because of prior expectations. I loved the underground Roman buildings in Split. I also loved Trogir but it was so busy with cruise tourists.
We had planned to go to the national parks this year but after reading all the reviews etc decided it sounded too confusing and also busy so now have given up. Are you taking organised coach trips or driving?

Way too much packed in.

If you are going alone then fine. But if not.... This is far too much advance planning. Where is the down time? I would need a holiday after this holiday

We are in Croatia now. Might want to factor in extra time at the airport both ways with the new checks - took over an hour to get through passport control and we've been advised it is worse on the way back.

Day 1 - trying to see all of old Split on the first afternoon is too much and I don't think you will have time. The Diocletian's Palace etc will take a fair bit of time as there are several different things to go inside. You're forgetting that it will be very hot and tiring and that you will want to sit down and have drinks in the shade rather than rush about the whole time.

On the trip to Bol - I've been to Bol and not sure it's worth going there just for one day on a beach, even if it is Zlatni Rat. Brac however is interesting and does have a great tour of the island. But there wouldn't be time to do all that in one day.

Don't bother to go to Cavtat if staying in Dubrovnik. People stay in Cavtat because it's nice and close to Dubrovnik but there isn't much to do and there's no reason to bother for you.

Oh I’m a planner too and this is right up my street (One of my favourite holidays was when the country had just re-opened after Covid but there were still restrictions so everything had to be booked in advance.)

I’ve only been to Dubrovnik with small children so cant comment other than to say Mostar is a good trip, but you’ll be queuing at the border for ages. I think if you build in a bit of flex for each destination you’ll be good - so think about what sights / trips you can drop if you find you are short on time.

Hvar is not that exciting. I would do the five islands speedboat tour, takes you to the blue grotto island, the island where Mama Mia was filmed and also Hvar from Split harbour, and then and knock out your Hvar segment.

5 6 and 8 look a bit busy if you're tired in the evenings, but it sounds like a great holiday with lots of fab experiences. I like to alternate busy and restful days as I need to relax on holiday, but if you are happy with that much activity, enjoy.