Help Itinerary Suggestions 3 or 4 islands in 11 or so nights

Posted by cplaf11 on 09/19/25 05:40 PM

Hello:

My husband and I want to come early next September for approximately 11 nights and It looks like direct flights from NY Area go to Dubrovnik. (we prefer no layovers on either side). In my limited research it seems like Dubrovnik, Split, Hvar and Korcula are possibilities. Is that too many islands in 11 nights? Will we be too rushed? Should we narrow down to 3 and if so what islands would you recommend? We are not partiers we are in late 50s and early 60s. We like old towns, sites, great food, having a beer, etc. Maybe hit a beach if weather decent but not every day.

I was thinking fly into Dubrovnik and then jump on ferry to another island and then save Dubrovnik for last since we will fly to NY area from there. (I know day 1 will be tiring). It looks like ferry best way to get around without hassle of car. I would prefer not renting a car if possible.

Any advice would be appreciated

Thanks

Christine

Posted by joe32F

Edmonds, WA 🌨 ☂

09/19/25 06:25 PM

12924 posts

I was thinking fly into Dubrovnik and then jump on ferry to another island and then save Dubrovnik for last since we will fly to NY area from there. (I know day 1 will be tiring)

I concur with the idea to press on to your first island on arrival day and saving Dubrovnik for last.

I think 2 islands and Dubrovnik is as many places I would try to do with the time you have.

Have you researched how much time is involved in moving from island to island? ( I haven't)

Also suspect the first full day you are there will be more a 'recovery from roadkill' kind of day than 'bright and bushy-tailed' activity.

How much packing/unpacking do you want to do?

Posted by cplaf11 OP

09/19/25 06:31 PM

2 posts

Thanks Joe. Yes from Dubrovnik to Korcula is less then 2 hours. Then from Korcula to Hvar is like 75 minutes or so. Like you said day 1 will be exhausting with long flight and customs etc. Then Hvar to Split is quick. Longest will be when we leave Split to go to Dubrovnik that's 4.5 or so hours from what I read. IT will be nice to be in Dubrovnik last for the flight home. We did that recently on a trip to Spain where we made our 1st day the long day and the last day we were already in Madrid which is where we flew home from.

Posted by awrzesinski

09/19/25 07:20 PM

1247 posts

Ferries are definitely the way to go. It’s a couple hours between Dubrovnik>Korcula>Hvar>Split roughly even all the way. This is the ferry line route, which basically takes a day from start to finish. Unfortunately, while there’s usually a couple departures they are all in the morning. Taking a ferry onward to your next destination on arrival day would be difficult to impossible. Check the ferry schedules at croatiaferries.com.

So assume you’ll have to stay in Dubrovnik at least one night at the start. Based on your preferences, I’d go Dubrovnik 3 nights, 5 nights between Korcula and Hvar, 2 nights Split, then take the day ferry straight back from Split for the last night in Dubrovnik.

Hvar and Korcula are generally interchangeable and are a matter of preference. I’m not a fan of 2 nights stays, but given you’re not planning on a ton of beach time I don’t think it’s counter productive. You could also eliminate the two nights on one of the islands and put those elsewhere for a slower pace. Adding a night onto Dubrovnik or Split (especially Dubrovnik) is easy to justify because there are good day trips/excursions from either.

Posted by TravelBug79

Indiana

09/20/25 12:36 AM

1072 posts

We found Korcula to be thoroughly enjoyable during our 3 night stay. The apartment we rented was perfectly appointed; easy walk to Old Town and picturesque view of the harbor. One day could be spent traveling to Badija, Vrnik, Lumbarda, via the Hop-On-Hop-Off Water Taxi. If you are wine drinkers, you can walk to several wineries and enjoy a tasting from the dock in Lumbarda. The Moreska Sword Dance was quite entertaining if they happen to be performing one of the nights you are on the island.