Twin-Centre Holidays in Croatia: One Trip, Two Unforgettable Experiences

Time Short? Discover Two Sides of Croatia in One Unforgettable Holiday

Croatia is a holiday star, one of the most sought-after destinations in Europe.  

In 2025 there were 21 million people who chose Croatia for their holiday. Many fall in love with the country and return again and again. 

You may have read about and heard about many places and would like to see them, combining perhaps a city or town with some culture, dining and shopping AND the coast or an island… yet simply don’t have the time. 

Take a look at our ideas for one trip combining two places: 

Zagreb the capital with Opatija or Rovinj on the coast

The Croatian capital is an easy two hour flight from London and around 15 minutes more from Manchester. Completely manageable on foot for exploring the stunning Upper and Lower Towns, the glorious green parks in the centre, the short, 48 second funicular ride, galleries, quirky museums (Museum of Broken Relationships for one !) and some good shopping, international brands usually around 25% cheaper than UK. Stay a few nights then travel to the coast, to Opatija in the Kvarner Region, two hours drive.  Opatija is stylish with exquisite architecture, something of a film star often standing in for Nice on the French Riviera in movies, pebble and stone beaches, promenade walks, concerts and Kvarner Region is European Region of Gastronomy for 2026 – the excellent gastronomy has been noticed!

Or Zagreb with Rovinj in the Istria Region, a three hour drive fromZagreb. Perfectly formed with tiny, narrow streets of the old town leading up to the cathedral on the hill. Once an island, the sea is on several sides with beautiful waterfronts and a great bar and dining scene including tables on the rocks by the water. Lots of small galleries and artisan shops. Good summer festival.

Split with the island of Hvar  

There are flights from many UK airports to Split in around 2 hours 30 minutes, a little more from Northern UK airports. Split is Croatia’s second city with a rich Roman history including the famous Diocletian’s Palace built between 295-305 AD by Emperor Diocletian as his retirement home. Today the palace and the old core of Split are UNESCO listed heritage sights.

There is a really long Riva waterfront (the seafront promenade in any place in Croatia is called “riva”) lined with palm trees, it’s a wide area full of bars and restaurants with wonderful views of arriving and departing catamarans and ferries. A perfect “people watching” spot too.  Split Summer Festival mid July-mid August is not to be missed, everything from open-air opera to rock. Some great beaches including the newly refurbished Znjan city pebble-stone beach and the famous Bacvice sandy beach (sand beaches are rare in Croatia). Leave the seaside city for Hvar island further south.  Take the catamaran to Hvar Town or the ferry (also takes cars) to Stari Grad (25 minutes by road between Hvar Town and Stari Grad). Hvar Town is set around a beautiful harbour with Europe’s oldest functioning public theatre (since 1612), church spires, marble squares and a very chic feel.  Famous for a bar and clubbing scene in July and August which has now been reduced due to new noise restrictions.  For a quieter vibe, visit in June, September, October.  Some nice pebble beaches, walks including seaside promenades and uphill to Spanish Fortress for perfect views. Water taxis to Pakleni islands in 10-15 minutes for secluded bathing. Stari Grad on the north coast of Hvar island is completely different, much more green, laid back where locals gather at café terraces. The old town is compact and a warren of narrow stone streets with lovely hidden terraces and patios on almost every corner. A visit to Petar Hektarovic’s house-fortress is worth doing . This was the holiday home of the famous poet , built in Renaissance style with a unique Roman-style, open fish pond in the centre. Great bars and restaurants and some interesting, little wine bars that offer tastings.

Zadar with the island of Rab  

Zadar is a town located on the coast in the North Dalmatia Region, it is just under two hours drive north of Split. Zadar has its own airport with flights from London in around 2 hours 15  minutes, a little more from Northern UK airports. Zadar was known as Zara when it was part of the Venetian empire and there are resemblances to Venice. Earlier it was a Roman colony in 48BC.  Interesting and varied architecture with the famous ones on the Riva from modern times.  The Sea Organ was built in 2005 and is a sound and art installation, the creation of local architect Nikola Basic.  Pipes were built into the sea and the waves produce mesmerising “musical notes”.  Greeting to the Sun is from the same architect and is  a 22-metre wide, disc-circle on the ground with 300 solar panels which absorb sunlight during the day and result in a vibrant dancing light show from dusk. Both on the Riva (seafront)

Some fine pebble beaches and good bar-restaurant scene.  Many boat trips and regular ferries  to unspoilt islands across the Zadar channel make a great day trip out.

Speaking of islands, a two hour drive northwards brings you to the little port of Stinica. From there it is just a 15 minute ferry ride to the glorious island of Rab which the Romans called “the happy island”. It is small, the drive from south to north takes 30 minutes, with Rab Town full of glistening white stone, four,tall church spires, pedestrian streets on three levels and seaside on two sides. Stunning. Unusual to find  in Croatia yet Rab has some 25 sandy beaches, from smaller coves like Pudarica (one of our favourites) to the large 2 km long golden sand Paradise Beach on the north of the island, a 20 minute bus ride from Rab Town. The Rapska Fjera takes place during the third weekend of July and is a medieval festival that is mind-blowing. Hard to imagine that a small island can produce a three day event like this with witches and shepherds, pop bands and artists, crossbowmen and mermaids along with a complete medieval fishermen’s village constructed on the town beach serving everything fresh from the sea! Great cycling paths and boat trips, some include a stop in neighbouring Krk island.

Dubrovnik with the island of Sipan

Locted in the very south of Croatia, Dubrovnik is much smaller than many people think and is not even in the top 10 of Croatian cities in terms of size.  Yet it is the most famous place, known and loved for the walled old town, traffic free with almost 2 kms of protective stone ramparts (do walk them, allow 2 hours). The old town is all shining cobblestones, tiny alleyways, palaces, churches and monuments (many palaces are now museums). The cable car takes visitors up to Srdj Hill for fantastic views of the old city – note that the Panorama restaurant must be booked months in advance for a table with old town views. Lots of traditional musical performances in summer and an excellent summer festival from 10 July – 25  August, mostly in outdoor venues  and historic buildings.   Fans of Game of Thrones will recognise many locations.

As the most sought after place on the coast, inevitably the old town is often crowded. Take the local bus, 15 minutes ride to Lapad Bay for a slightly slower feel and nice pebble beaches. Then, after Dubrovnik, escape to one of the prettiest of the nearby Elafiti islands, the island of Sipan, connected by catamaran in an hour and between 1-2 hours by regular ferry depending on the route. -.

Sipan is about relaxation with just two villages, each with a hotel, a few bars and restaurants and shops and there are a couple of cool beach clubs. Pretty pebble beaches, perfect for swimming,

This is one of the places where Dubrovnik noble families chose to build their summer homes, more like small palaces and they can still be seen. It takes just 15 minutes to drive across the island and there is a local bus.

Wake up to the sound of birdsong, lapping waves and the smell of oranges and lemons being pressed into fresh juice. A perfect escape after the buzz of Dubrovnik.

Boat trips and connections to the nearby islands of Lopud and Kolocep (both car-free) 

Zagreb with the island of Brac  

If you want to visit both the capital city and an island in the famous Dalmatia region, this is the one. It may be the thought of the V shaped beach at Bol or the mix of fabulous water sports and serene villages. What would take close to 10 hours from Zagreb by road and ferry takes far less using the direct Zagreb to Bol flight in just 55 minutes (aircraft with approximately 75 seats), Yes, Brac is the only island in southern Croatia with its own international airport. Even in summer there is just a handful of flights daily from nearby countries.

Start in the Croatian capital, an easy two hour flight from London and around 15 minutes more from Manchester. Completely manageable on foot for exploring the stunning Upper and Lower Towns, the glorious green parks in the centre, the 48 second funicular ride, galleries, quirky museums (Museum of Broken Relationships for one !) and some good shopping, usually around 25% cheaper than UK. Stay a few nights then fly to Bol airport on the island of Brac in under an hour, a small airport, we guarantee you will be out in around 15 minutes. A taxi /private transfer brings you to Bol on the island’s southern tip in 20 minutes and to Supetar on the northern coast in around 35 minutes. We suggest staying in Bol, a glorious former fishing village with hotels set among pine trees and a lovely walk on the seaside promenade to the famous Zlatni Rat beach, whose tip changes shape according to wind direction.  From the centre of Bol, it’s around 15 minutes walk, car-free for most of it. In summer a little boat makes the journey from Bol centre to the famous beach.  

A stunning place with a huge tennis centre behind the pine wood. Bus service across the island to visit Supetar and other spots.  

Good restaurant and bar scene both in the old streets in the centre of Bol and by the water’s edge. With this holiday combination, you fly from the UK to Zagreb and back to the UK from Split. 

In summary 

All of the above work well with a 10 night stay, divided as you wish, perhaps 3 nights in the larger spot and then  7 nights on the coast or  an island.  We can arrange longer stays and even three places in 14 nights. 

Other combinations worth thinking about:

The city of Pula with Fazana, a former fishing village, just 20 minutes away and a visit to Brijuni National Park from there, 15 minutes by boat from Fazana

The city of Rijeka or the town of Opatija with the island of Rab (catamaran takes 1 hour 40 minutes)

The city of Zadar with the island of Ugljan (25 minutes crossing)

The city of Dubrovnik with the island of Korcula (time varies, usually 2 hours by catamaran)

 There are many more – ideas for “one trip and two holidays” 

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