Why You Should Choose a Cruise & Land Tour in Croatia

A cruise and land tour combines the cruising experience with the exploration of various destinations on land. For example, many small ship Croatia cruises sail between Dubrovnik and Split visiting several islands in between. You’ll be able to soak up the views while relaxing onboard and stay in the same room without having to constantly unpack and pack again while visiting multiple places along the mainland coast and throughout the islands. Then, at the end of your cruise, your land tour begins. You’ll be picked up upon disembarkation to kick off the next leg of your journey, perhaps visiting national parks, enjoying scenic drives through the countryside, visits to wineries, and much more, for a well-rounded, personalized vacation experience.

Flexibility & Variety

A cruise and land tour provides unmatched flexibility and variety for those seeking a diverse vacation experience. On your cruise, you’ll effortlessly navigate between island gems like Hvar and Vis where you can spend time on idyllic beaches, swim in crystal-clear blue waters, and gaze out at breathtaking coastal scenery. While Croatia cruises usually include time to explore some of the mainland coastal cities, once you embark on your land tour you can go well beyond, perhaps visiting national parks or heading to one of the neighboring countries like Montenegro or Slovenia. The options are nearly endless as these tours can be personalized to your own particular interests, whether it’s natural beauty, historic landmarks, food, or something else.

Convenient & Time-efficient Travel

You’ll see more in less time with the combination of a cruise and land tour bringing the chance to enjoy a myriad of experiences from exploring the islands and swimming in the Adriatic to visiting historic landmarks. You can cover extensive distances without the inconvenience of navigating public transport or having to unpack and pack at various hotels. Instead of the stress of how to get from point A to point B, you can relax on the ship while surrounded by the breathtaking scenery. After disembarking, you can enjoy excursions that complement the cruise experience. Perhaps you’ll join your expert local guide to explore villages in the countryside, visit national parks like Plitvice, or even Montenegro with its fjord-like inlets and dramatic mountains.

Immersive Local Experiences

If you book a small ship Croatia cruise and land tour, you can be sure there will be immersive, local experiences. Compared to a massive cruise ship where hundreds of passengers file out for a brief look at historical landmarks, excursions are designed for more authentic interactions. You might enjoy a cooking class in a local family’s home, and travel back in time through the ancient streets of Diocletian’s Palace with a local expert who brings its history to life. Perhaps you’ll meet a Croatian producer, such as the owner of a family-run winery, to chat about the winemaking process and enjoy a variety of tastings. With smaller groups, guests can also take tours to attractions during off-peak hours to avoid the crowds.

Access to Hidden Gems

A small ship cruise in Croatia is focused more on the destinations. Routes typically include the popular spots like Dubrovnik and Hvar but due to the sleeker size of the vessel, you’ll be able to reach more hidden gems with smaller ports that those big ships can’t get to. You might wind through the beautiful Kornati Islands, a sailing paradise off the coast between Sibenik and Zadar. Or, perhaps you’ll visit tiny Susak, which consists almost entirely of golden sands, with no roads, only trails, while locals still don traditional costumes. After cruising, your land tour can be personalized to include off-the-beaten locations that most outside of the country don’t know about such as fairytale-like Zagorje with thermal springs, forests, vineyards, and castles. 

Perfect Balance of Relaxation & Exploration

A cruise and land tour offers the perfect balance of relaxation and exploration as you’ll have time in between visiting the destinations to simply unwind on a comfy lounger, perhaps with a drink in hand, while gazing out at the incredible passing scenery. Your ship might have a Jacuzzi to soak in and perhaps even a massage therapist on board for a little extra pampering. Typically, you’ll be able to spend time on beautiful beaches soaking up the sun too. When on land, you can explore everything from ancient walled towns to historic castles on foot with your own private guide, or take a cycling excursion following back roads and then return to your luxury hotel to take advantage of facilities like pools or spas.

There are many cruising routes for exploring Croatia that will allow you to see more with less transit time. The Dubrovnik the Split route, and vice versa, will allow you to explore both cities and their popular attractions like the walled Old City of Dubrovnik featured as “King’s Landing” in “Game of Thrones” and Roman Emperor Diocletian’s Palace with some of the world’s most well-preserved Roman architecture. In between you might discover one of Europe’s most photogenic beaches on Brac Island, wander through Korcula’s storybook Old Town, and enjoy world-famous dining and nightlife on Hvar. The popular northern route might take you from Opatija in the north to Split, discovering Zadar, the waterfalls of Krka National Park, and ancient Sibenik.

There are many inland destinations in Croatia you can visit after your cruise, including medieval hilltop towns on the Istrian Peninsula like Motovun with dense forest at its base home to rare truffles featured in many restaurant dishes and shops selling items like truffle sea salt. As noted, national parks like Plitvice Lakes are among the most popular destinations to explore following a cruise, but you might visit Konvale in the Dubrovnik countryside to take an interactive cooking class in a family’s home. Or, explore another country with Croatia’s neighbors within easy reach. Slovenia lies to the north, Italy to the west, Bosnia and Herzegovina to the east, and Montenegro to the southeast. You’re really only limited by the time you have.