Croatia’s Adriatic coast has hundreds of islands and dozens of historic port towns. On a small ship cruise, you’ll typically visit five or six of them across a week. Here are the five stops that show up on almost every Croatian small ship cruise itinerary, and why they’re worth the time.
- Split — the largest city on the Dalmatian coast and the most common starting port for Croatian cruises. The historic centre is built inside the walls of Diocletian’s Palace, a Roman imperial residence dating to the 4th century. The port is a short walk from the old town, so you can step off the ship and into 1,700 years of history.
- Dubrovnik — the most famous walled city on the Adriatic, recognisable from Game of Thrones and a UNESCO World Heritage site. Cruise ships dock at Port Gruž, about 1.5 km from the historic Old Town. Walking the city walls is the must-do activity — allow around two hours.
- Hvar — Croatia’s sunniest island, famous for lavender fields, a 13th-century fortress overlooking the harbour, and one of the liveliest summer scenes on the Adriatic. The marble-paved main square is the largest in Dalmatia.
- Korčula — a fortified medieval town built on a small peninsula, often called “little Dubrovnik”. Reputedly the birthplace of Marco Polo. The town’s herringbone street layout was designed to catch sea breezes while blocking strong winds.
- Mljet — the greenest of the major Croatian islands and home to Mljet National Park, which covers the western third of the island. The park’s two interconnected saltwater lakes contain a small islet with a 12th-century Benedictine monastery. According to legend, this is where Odysseus was held captive by the nymph Calypso for seven years.
Other Stops You Might See
Depending on your specific itinerary, your cruise may also visit Trogir (a tiny UNESCO-listed town near Split), Vis (the most remote inhabited Croatian island, with a military history dating back to WWI), Šibenik (gateway to Krka National Park’s waterfalls), Opatija (a 19th-century Austro-Hungarian seaside resort), or the Elaphiti Islands (a small archipelago just north of Dubrovnik).
For a complete list of ports our cruises visit, see our Croatia Cruise Port Info page.
How to Get to These Ports
Almost all Croatian small ship cruises start in either Split or Dubrovnik, with the other ports visited along the way. One-way cruises (Split to Dubrovnik or vice versa) generally cover more ground than return loops from a single port. Browse our Croatia cruises to see specific itineraries.
To book or to ask about a specific itinerary, call or WhatsApp +61 2 9212 1507, or get in touch.