Honeymoon in Croatia

Really any of them will be great but I would recommend picking what will enable you to stay in just two places, so either Dubrovnik plus an island or Split plus an island. I would look at the airfare options and see where you could get the earliest arrival, and you can go to the island the day you arrive, stay at least three nights, then come back to the mainland, just maximizing your time and fewer hotel changes.
I honeymooned in Croatia and returned three times so I think it’s a great destination! It’s great for nature lovers: a day out hiking/biking/swimming and a seafood dinner is the vibe on the islands, plus more sporty stuff if you are game.

So add what month, as that can affect suggestions.

Thank you! Around Aug 30-Sept 6/7!

Having been to all four places and thinking about where I would go for a honeymoon, I would have to say Hvar. And I would also include Dubrovnik over Split. It’s just more relaxing and intriguing than Split which is pretty much a big city on the beach although the palace is awesome.

Okay that is a bit tricky because August is really slammed. If you can postpone a couple weeks (I did that and it was nice to decompress after the wedding and get all the thank you cards done), then you would remove that issue. If that is not possible, then I would make sure your chosen island is not one of the most famous ones. It will still be crowded, but perhaps not as much as the others. For sample tiny Lastovo is beautiful and we saw barely any other tourists when we were there one May, I have always heard that it fills in August, frankly I would not set foot on Hvar in August, as it will be mobbed.

I wouldn’t go near Dubrovnik that time of year. I mean, it’s going to be quite hot and crowded everywhere, but Dubrovnik will be ground zero.

Time is a little limited, so focusing down as you are is the right move. Hvar is a fine pick, and prime as it is you should still be able to find some quiet beach space, take some local excursions and enjoy some good living. Try to get yourselves at least 4 nights there (finding accommodations for less might prove difficult anyways.) Split will be jammed, but it’s still worth a night or two on your way in/out. It also has nearby beaches, which you can count on being more crowded and social (which can be fun too.) Plitvice, as much as I love it, would be a rough fit here. You really need a night there, especially that time of year. 1000% do not day trip it. I would just leave it out for a future trip.

If you’re planning for 2026, don’t dally. These are extremely popular destinations and you’ll be there at peak season. Book now and fast.

Dubrovnik and one of the islands - like Korcula?
Plitvice is really spectacular but it gets crowded so you really need to stay close and get there early to avoid getting caught behind massive crowds. It might not work well with your schedule but that's your call.
Rovinj is pretty cool but it might be a mob scene in August.

Alternatively you might want to check out Montenegro?

If it were me, I would spend that time in Dubrovnik, Mljet, and Korcula. I wouldn't want to go all the way to Croatia and miss Dubrovnik, regardless of how busy it was. Korcula has some nice beaches and one of the best old towns in my opinion. Mljet is mostly a nature reserve where you can cycle, swim, hike, etc. We visited at a similar time of year to you (late August) and it certainly wasn't empty but the crowds were ok. If you stay overnight in Dubrovnik you can experience it after the cruise ships leave when it's much quieter. And if you need to get away from the crowds during the day you can go to Lokrum.

So Split is cool, but if you want the best coastal beaches and vibes you should take a ferry to one of the islands! Like VIS!! its about a 2 hour ferry ride away. most beautiful place i have ever been. All pebble beaches, so you will need water shoes, but it is literally paradise.

Also in order to do, Plitvice Lakes National Park, all you need to do is plan to fly out of Zagreb. You can take a bus or plan to roadtrip from the south, but then just continue up to Zagreb, the capital and fly out of there. I lived in Zagreb for awhile, people think there's not much to it, but it is truly one of my favorites. Its so charming. Grab a coffee and literally any cafe, go on a free walking tour to understand the super fascinating history and old town, and then get dinner at La Struk, for authentic Strukli a very zagreb croatian dish. You wont regret it :)