One-Week Croatia Road Trip from Rijeka to Zadar, Lika-Senj County, and Zagreb
Description
Summary
Description
Have the adventure of a lifetime with this 8-day road trip through Croatia.
This incredible self-drive vacation package will take you through the best destinations in Croatia. With this perfectly planned travel package, you will stay 3 nights in Rijeka, 2 nights in Zadar, 1 night in Gospić, and 1 night in Zagreb, experiencing the ultimate road trip in Croatia. Your road trip will enable you to discover the country's most popular attractions and restaurants in Rijeka, Zadar, Gospić, and Zagreb. We'll help you experience the best 8 days in Croatia you can imagine so you can leave happy and inspired.
Upon arriving in Rijeka, you'll collect the rental vehicle of your choice. From there, you'll be off to discover some of the most popular attractions in Croatia, including the stunning Sea organ and Park Maksimir.
You'll have an extensive selection of accommodations to choose from throughout your road trip. We have handpicked the best hotels and places to stay across the country, catering to all budgets. Whether you're in the mood for luxurious five-star hotels or cozy, budget-friendly accommodations, we've got you covered.
Your road trip will bring you close to the best attractions and most incredible sights in Croatia. From the magnificent Ban Josip Jelačić Statue to the breathtaking Zagreb Cathedral and Bundek, your journey will take you on a thrilling adventure through some of the most iconic travel destinations in the country. Your discovery doesn't end there. As you hit the open road and drive through Rijeka, Zadar, Gospić, and Zagreb, you'll also have plenty of opportunities to uncover hidden gems and experience the authentic charm of Croatia. Whether you're exploring enchanting small towns, discovering scenic routes, or indulging in local cuisine, there's always something new and exciting to experience in Croatia.
Add tours and tickets to each day of your trip to make the most of your time in Croatia. You'll have the opportunity to choose from the best tours and activities that your travel destinations have to offer, meaning you'll never have a boring moment on your road trip through Croatia.
Your travel plan itinerary also gives you multiple opportunities to look for souvenirs to memorialize your road trip in Croatia.
You'll return home having experienced the very best of everything Croatia has to offer. Each twist and turn of the journey adds a unique charm to your travel tales.
You can customize each day of your road trip vacation itinerary with flexible trip planning before and after booking. Enjoy the benefits of exploring all these great attractions at your own speed.
Your travel plan includes everything you need to experience the best of Croatia. You'll be booked at the best hotels for 7 nights, with plenty of top-rated breakfast and restaurant options nearby. We'll provide you with the best car rental for 7 days during your self-drive road trip, including CDW insurance.
You'll have access to 24/7 travel support, a personal travel agent, and a step-by-step guide via our flexible mobile app. You can choose and add your flight preferences as needed. Make your vacation in Croatia extra special by adding tours and tickets to each day of your itinerary.
The best services in Croatia fill up quickly, so book your spot early. Select a date and start planning your self-drive road trip in Croatia today!
Included
Destinations
Map
Attractions
FlightsYesNo
Travel details
Flights
CarYesNo
Car
Small car
Medium car
Premium car
Hotels
Personalize your itinerary
Day 1 – Rijeka - arrival day
Day 1 – Rijeka - arrival day
- Primorje-Gorski Kotar County - Arrival day
- More
- City Clock Tower
- More
Your road trip adventure in Croatia begins as soon as you reach the incredible city of Rijeka. You’ll stay in Rijeka for 3 nights, experiencing all the best things to do and see in the city.
Rijeka has many popular destinations you can explore. You could visit attractions like the incredible City Clock Tower. This attraction is a best-rated sightseeing destination and has an average rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars by 1,339 visitors.
When you're done sightseeing for the day, you'll check in at one of the best hotels or places to stay in the city. Your stay promises to be a delightful continuation of your exploration, providing comfort and tranquility to recharge for the adventures that lie ahead.
When you’re ready for dinner, we recommend you try one of the best restaurants in the city of Rijeka, Konoba Tarsa. The restaurant is rated an average of 4.7 out of 5 stars by 2,076 customers.
Another of the best restaurants in the city of Rijeka is Barbacoa. This restaurant is rated an average of 4.7 out of 5 stars by 1,487 customers.
Locals recommend Konoba Fiume as one of the best restaurants in the city of Rijeka. This restaurant has an average rating of 4.7 out of 5 stars by 933 customers.
Rijeka also has several great bars that will fit all travel budgets. One of the best bars in the city of Rijeka is The Beertija Klub. This bar has an average rating of 4.7 out of 5 stars by 1,087 customers.
Enjoy toasting the start of your 8-day vacation in Croatia!
Experiences
Day 2 – Rijeka
Day 2 – Rijeka
- Primorje-Gorski Kotar County
- More
Drive 16 km, 1 hour 26 min
- Trsat Castle
- Church of Mary of God of Trsat
- Maritime and History Museum of the Croatian Coast
- Islamic Center of Rijeka
- More
Day 2 of your road trip will take you to the best attractions Rijeka has to offer. Cherish the 2 nights you have left in Rijeka by discovering the best things there are to see and do in the city.
There are plenty of attractions, markets, and restaurants for you to experience today in the city of Rijeka. Your accommodation will be conveniently located close to several of the best attractions you won't want to miss.
You'll be able to visit more of the best travel destinations in the city of Rijeka, like the extraordinary Trsat Castle. This attraction is a castle and has an average rating of 4.7 out of 5 stars by 11,516 visitors.
Another of the best travel destinations in Rijeka is the spectacular Church of Mary of God of Trsat. This attraction is a church and is rated an average of 4.8 out of 5 stars by 2,485 visitors.
You could then travel to the amazing Maritime and History Museum of the Croatian Coast. This museum has an average rating of 4.6 out of 5 stars by 1,043 visitors.
Islamic Center of Rijeka is another stop you might want to add to your itinerary. This mosque is a popular destination among visitors in Rijeka. Rated at an average of 4.7 out of 5 stars by 952 visitors, it’s one many travelers find worthy a visit.
Your discovery of Rijeka does not have to stop there. Check out the fantastic selection of tours and tickets offered in Rijeka on this day of your trip.
After a long day of exploring some of the most popular attractions in Croatia, be sure to eat at Boonker, which is considered one of the best restaurants in the city of Rijeka. This restaurant is a local favorite and has an average rating of 4.3 out of 5 stars by 3,735 customers.
Alternatively, another of the top restaurants in the city of Rijeka is the popular Bistro Mornar. This restaurant is rated an average of 4.4 out of 5 stars by 3,156 customers.
When you’ve finished your meal, River is one of the best bars in the city of Rijeka for an after-dinner drink. This bar has an average rating of 4.6 out of 5 stars by 1,197 customers.
Pet Jedan Tapas Bar is another of the most popular bars in the city of Rijeka. This bar is rated an average of 4.6 out of 5 stars by 898 customers.
Alternatively, a great bar that locals enjoy in the city of Rijeka is Pub "Bačva". Pub "Bačva" has an average rating of 4.6 out of 5 stars by 781 customers.
Stopping at one of these popular bars is the perfect way to celebrate another incredible day in the magical city of Rijeka!
Experiences
Day 3 – Lika-Senj County and Zadar
Day 3 – Lika-Senj County and Zadar
- Zadar
- More
Drive 288 km, 4 hours 42 min
- Plaža Prva Draga
- Nehaj Fortress
- Northern Velebit National Park
- More
Day 3 of your road trip through Croatia gives you the opportunity to experience two places in one day. You will stay in Zadar for 2 nights. Have a hearty breakfast and get excited for a wonderful day ahead!
One of the best places to visit today in Lika-Senj County is the amazing Plaža Prva Draga. This attraction is a best-rated sightseeing destination that is rated an average of 4.5 out of 5 stars by 1,077 visitors.
You could also stop at the incredible fortress, Nehaj Fortress. With an average rating of 4.6 out of 5 stars by 4,527 visitors, this attraction is one of the top sights in the area.
Another unforgettable travel destination in the Lika-Senj County is the outstanding Northern Velebit National Park. This popular park and travel destination has an average rating of 4.9 out of 5 stars by 1,504 visitors.
There are many top-rated experiences you can include in your travel plan to add flavor to your road trip in Croatia. Browse all of your options and reserve your slot before it's too late.
At the end of the day, you will drive to the city of Zadar, where you will access the best hotels and places to stay.
After a long day of driving and exploring, we recommend you try Restoran 4 Kantuna, one of the best restaurants in the city of Zadar. This restaurant has an average rating of 4.7 out of 5 stars by 3,300 customers.
Locals also recommend Konoba Rafaelo as one of the best restaurants in the city of Zadar. Konoba Rafaelo is rated an average of 4.7 out of 5 stars by 3,104 customers.
Another of the best restaurants in the city of Zadar is Pet Bunara Dine & Wine. This restaurant has been rated an average of 4.7 out of 5 stars by 1,856 customers.
After dinner, visit Deja Brew Pub Zadar, which is considered one of the best bars in the city of Zadar. This bar is rated an average of 4.7 out of 5 stars by 735 customers.
You can also enjoy drinks at a popular bar like BackStage Bar. This bar has an average rating of 4.7 out of 5 stars by 508 customers.
Alternatively, Harbor CookHouse & Club is one of the best bars that locals recommend in the city of Zadar. This bar is rated an average of 4.6 out of 5 stars by 3,272 customers.
Raise your glass in celebration of your incredible road trip adventure through Croatia!
Experiences
Day 4 – Zadar
Day 4 – Zadar
- Zadar
- More
Drive 4 km, 30 min
- Sea organ
- Roman Forum
- Church of St Donatus
- People's Square
- Market Zadar
- More
On day 4 of your road trip, you’ll start and end your day in Zadar, but spend part of the day exploring places of interest outside the immediate city. You still have 1 night left in Zadar.
Today you'll explore the city of Zadar. One of the best travel destinations you can make time for at the start of this day is Sea organ. This incredible attraction is a tide organ and has an average rating of 4.7 out of 5 stars from 56,635 visitors.
Roman Forum is another popular attraction you'll visit in the city of Zadar. This spectacular attraction is rated 4.7 out of 5 stars by 4,627 visitors.
Another of the best travel destinations you can visit in the city of Zadar is Church of St. Donatus. This amazing attraction is a church building and is rated an average of 4.7 out of 5 stars by 8,633 visitors.
Beyond the above-mentioned attractions, you also have the opportunity to visit the outstanding Narodni trg. This best-rated sightseeing destination and place of interest is rated an average of 4.7 out of 5 stars by 6,549 visitors.
If you’re keen to explore even more, then consider a visit to the fantastic Market Zadar. This must-see tourist destination is a popular attraction with an average rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars from 7,601 visitors.
To do something one-of-a-kind today, you can join a popular tour. Check out all the fun and eye-opening experiences you can try out in Croatia to make your travel experience in the country more memorable.
When you’re done exploring for the day, you’ll drive to your accommodation in the city of Zadar.
We recommend eating at one of the best restaurants in the city of Zadar, like Trattoria Mediterraneo. This restaurant has an average rating of 4.7 out of 5 stars by 762 customers.
Restoran Bruschetta is another of the best restaurant options in the city of Zadar. This restaurant is rated an average of 4.6 out of 5 stars by 4,370 customers.
After dinner, visit one of the best bars in the city of Zadar, Beach Bar Bamboo. This bar is rated an average of 4.6 out of 5 stars by 2,578 customers.
You can also enjoy drinks at a popular bar that locals recommend, like La Famiglia. This bar has an average rating of 4.6 out of 5 stars by 2,083 customers.
The Garden Lounge is another of the best bars in the city of Zadar. This bar is rated an average of 4.4 out of 5 stars by 1,269 customers.
Raise your glass and relax after another big day of your road trip adventure through Croatia!
Experiences
Day 5 – Šibenik and Lika-Senj County
Day 5 – Šibenik and Lika-Senj County
- Lika-Senj
- More
Drive 268 km, 3 hours 55 min
- Skradinski buk
- Krka National Park
- Roski waterfall
- More
Today, you'll hit the road once again, setting off on a journey towards the stunning city of Lika-Senj County. You’ll stay in Lika-Senj County for 1 night. But before you begin your drive, we recommend taking the time to explore some of Šibenik’s must-see attractions and local hotspots.
If you’re curious to see more of Šibenik, start your day with a visit to the amazing Skradinski buk. This much-appreciated waterfall and attraction is rated 4.6 out of 5 stars by 9,042 visitors.
You could also stop at another of the best local travel destinations in the area, the fascinating Krka National Park. This park and spectacular attraction has an average rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars from 58,359 visitors.
We also recommend you spend some time at the popular Roski waterfall to make the most of your road trip across Croatia. The spectacular Roski waterfall is a park that has been rated an average of 4.4 out of 5 stars by 3,525 visitors.
After soaking up all the sights and sounds that Šibenik has to offer, you'll be ready to hit the open road and continue your unforgettable road trip towards the city of Lika-Senj County. Lika-Senj County offers plenty of options for top-rated hotels and other places to stay that fit all travel budgets.
After you’ve settled into your accommodation, we recommend a dinner at the popular Bistro & Pizzeria Tomislav. This popular restaurant is one of the locals’ most recommended restaurants in the city, with ratings of 4.3 out of 5 stars in 1,954 reviews.
After your meal, we recommend you drink at one of the best bars in Lika-Senj County, the fantastic The Highlanders pub. This bar has an average rating of 4.8 out of 5 stars by 928 customers.
To end your night the best way possible, we recommend going to the wonderful Bistro @ izletište Travel. This bar offers a great variety of drinks and has been rated an average of 4.5 out of 5 stars by 175 customers.
Celebrate another amazing vacation day filled with adventure in Croatia!
Experiences
Day 6 – Zagreb
Day 6 – Zagreb
- Zagreb
- More
Drive 209 km, 2 hours 32 min
- Park Maksimir
- Zagreb Zoo
- Zagreb Cathedral
- Ban Josip Jelačić Statue
- More
Day 6 of your road trip through Croatia gives you the opportunity to experience two places in one day. You will stay in Zagreb for 1 night. Have a hearty breakfast and get excited for a wonderful day ahead!
One of the best places to visit today in Zagreb is the amazing Park Maksimir. This attraction is a park that is rated an average of 4.8 out of 5 stars by 19,174 visitors.
You could also stop at the incredible catholic cathedral, Zagreb Cathedral. With an average rating of 4.6 out of 5 stars by 16,381 visitors, this attraction is one of the top sights in the area.
Another unforgettable travel destination in the Zagreb is the outstanding Ban Josip Jelačić Statue. This popular must-see tourist destination and travel destination has an average rating of 4.7 out of 5 stars by 19,613 visitors.
There are many top-rated experiences you can include in your travel plan to add flavor to your road trip in Croatia. Browse all of your options and reserve your slot before it's too late.
At the end of the day, you will drive to the city of Zagreb, where you will access the best hotels and places to stay.
After a long day of driving and exploring, we recommend you try HERITAGE - Croatian Street Food & Shop, one of the best restaurants in the city of Zagreb. This restaurant has an average rating of 4.7 out of 5 stars by 1,369 customers.
After dinner, visit Vintage Industrial Bar, which is considered one of the best bars in the city of Zagreb. This bar is rated an average of 4.7 out of 5 stars by 4,500 customers.
You can also enjoy drinks at a popular bar like Hub Cooltura Pub. This bar has an average rating of 4.8 out of 5 stars by 2,249 customers.
Alternatively, Mr. Fogg is one of the best bars that locals recommend in the city of Zagreb. This bar is rated an average of 4.8 out of 5 stars by 2,233 customers.
Raise your glass in celebration of your incredible road trip adventure through Croatia!
Experiences
Day 7 – Zagreb and Rijeka
Day 7 – Zagreb and Rijeka
- Zagreb
- Primorje-Gorski Kotar County
- More
Drive 166 km, 2 hours 41 min
- Stone Gate
- Croatian National Theatre in Zagreb
- Botanical Garden of the Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb
- Technical Museum
- Bundek
- More
Today, you'll hit the road once again, setting off on a journey towards the stunning city of Rijeka. You’ll stay in Rijeka for 1 night. But before you begin your drive, we recommend taking the time to explore some of Zagreb’s must-see attractions and local hotspots.
If you’re curious to see more of Zagreb, start your day with a visit to the amazing Stone Gate. This much-appreciated city gate and attraction is rated 4.7 out of 5 stars by 5,601 visitors.
You could also stop at another of the best local travel destinations in the area, the fascinating Croatian National Theatre in Zagreb. This must-see tourist destination and spectacular attraction has an average rating of 4.7 out of 5 stars from 8,945 visitors.
We also recommend you spend some time at the popular Botanical Garden of the Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb to make the most of your road trip across Croatia. The spectacular Botanical Garden of the Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb is a park that has been rated an average of 4.6 out of 5 stars by 6,528 visitors.
The lovely Technical Museum is yet another attraction you could pay a visit. Around 6,180 visitors have left this museum average ratings of 4.6 out of 5 stars.
If you feel like visiting another type of sight or don’t want to jump into the car quite yet, spend some time at the spectacular Bundek. This attraction is a lake rated an average of 4.7 out of 5 stars in 15,180 reviews.
After soaking up all the sights and sounds that Zagreb has to offer, you'll be ready to hit the open road and continue your unforgettable road trip towards the city of Rijeka. Rijeka offers plenty of options for top-rated hotels and other places to stay that fit all travel budgets.
After you’ve settled into your accommodation, we recommend a dinner at the popular King’s Caffe food pub. This popular restaurant is one of the locals’ most recommended restaurants in the city, with ratings of 4.6 out of 5 stars in 1,389 reviews.
The remarkable Submarine Burger Rijeka is another top restaurant in Rijeka we recommend. This restaurant offers an unforgettable dining experience and is rated an average of 4.4 out of 5 stars by 1,653 customers.
After your meal, we recommend you drink at one of the best bars in Rijeka, the fantastic Phanas Pub Rijeka est.2001. This bar has an average rating of 4.4 out of 5 stars by 753 customers.
Celebrate another amazing vacation day filled with adventure in Croatia!
Experiences
Day 8 – Rijeka - departure day
Day 8 – Rijeka - departure day
- Primorje-Gorski Kotar County - Departure day
- More
- Kružna ulica
- More
Day 8 of your road trip in Croatia is your departure day. This is your chance to catch one last glimpse of Rijeka before saying goodbye to this wonderful destination. When you have time to explore the area before you make your way home, we recommend visiting some of the following attractions.
Kružna ulica is an extraordinary attraction you could visit to enjoy your last day in Rijeka. This top-tier point of interest and popular site of interest has an average rating of 5 out of 5 stars by 2 visitors.
Take a stroll along the main shopping streets of Rijeka and find some souvenirs to remind you of your road trip in Croatia.
You could then enjoy your last meal in the city of Rijeka at Maslina before you travel home. This popular restaurant is rated an average of 4.5 out of 5 stars by 1,219 customers.
You’ll then say farewell to Rijeka. We wish you a pleasant journey home, with many wonderful memories of your unforgettable vacation in Croatia!
Experiences
Similar travel packages
Download Europe’s biggest travel marketplace to your phone to manage your entire trip in one place
Scan this QR code with your phone camera and press the link that appears to add Europe’s biggest travel marketplace into your pocket. Enter your phone number or email address to receive an SMS or email with the download link.