7 Day Zagreb – Plitvice – Pag Itinerary: Moonlike Landscapes, Salt & Pag Cheese

Plan the perfect 7 day Zagreb Plitvice Pag itinerary: two days in Zagreb, one day at Plitvice Lakes, then four dreamy days on Island Pag for lunar scenery, salt pans, beach-hopping freedom and Paški sir tastings.

This 7 day Zagreb Plitvice Pag itinerary is made for travellers who love contrast: Zagreb’s café rhythm, Plitvice’s waterfall wow, then Pag — a wind-carved island of pale stone, salt air and bold flavours. Base yourself in Novalja or Pag Town, chase viewpoints that look like another planet, dip into hidden coves, and end each day with Paški sir and something local in your glass.

7-Day Zagreb–Plitvice–Istria Itinerary: Day-by-Day Guide

Before diving into each day, here’s a clear look at how this 7-day journey unfolds. The route is designed to feel smooth and balanced, moving from Croatia’s vibrant capital to its most iconic national park and finally to the warm, colourful coast of Istria. Distances are manageable, the pace is intentionally relaxed, and every day includes a mix of highlights and quieter corners — the kind of flow that lets you actually experience a place rather than just pass through it. With two main bases and simple logistics, this itinerary gives you the best of Croatia’s culture, nature and food without the stress of constant packing and unpacking.

Day 1 — Welcome to Zagreb

Vibe: café culture, leafy streets, central Europe

City Guide

Curious about Croatia’s capital? From café culture and museums to neighbourhood walks and day trips — explore Zagreb beyond the highlights.

Explore Zagreb in more detail →

Morning

• Check in near Lower Town (Donji Grad) or Upper Town.
• Start with an easy intro walk through Zrinjevac, King Tomislav Square, and the Green Horseshoe.
• Coffee at Botaničar or Korica.

Afternoon

• Wander the charming streets of Upper Town:
  • St. Mark’s Church
  • Stone Gate
  • Lotrščak Tower
  • Radićeva + Tkalča Street
• Ride the funicular down to the Lower Town.

Dinner & Evening

• Cosy dinner at Agava or Pod Zidom.
• Craft beer at The Garden Brewery Taproom.

Day 2 — Zagreb Hidden Corners & Market Life

Vibe: green city pockets, markets, viewpoints.

Morning

• Visit the iconic Dolac Market — fruit, cheeses, bakeries.
• Walk to the Cathedral and the charming streets behind it.

Afternoon

Choose one mini-adventure:

• Maksimir Park & Zoo (classic Zagreb nature walk)
• Mirogoj Cemetery — architecture + serenity
• Museum of Broken Relationships if you prefer quirky culture

Evening

• Dinner in Vlaška or Martićeva — trendy, local, delicious
• Try Rožmarin for pasta or Lari & Penati for bistro style.

Read our full guide to Zagreb here.

Day 3 — Plitvice Lakes National Park

Travel: Zagreb → Plitvice (2h)
Vibe: waterfalls, emerald lakes, boardwalks.

Morning

• Arrive early — between 7:30–8:00 for best light and fewer crowds.
• Choose Route C or H (the classic full-day loop).

Read our full guide to the Plitvice Lakes here.

Afternoon

• Electric boat across Lake Kozjak
• Veliki Slap → panoramic viewpoints → upper lakes.
• Light lunch inside the park or nearby.

Evening

• Stay in Rastovača, Jezerce, or Plitvica Selo.
• Quiet dinner in Lička kuća restaurant or Lakeside Hotel Plitvice.

⏱️ If needed, you can drive to Rovinj the same evening (3h), but staying overnight is calmer.

Days 4–7: Island Pag (base in Novalja or Pag Town + day trips)

Pag Island

Island Pag is Croatia’s wild, wind-carved beauty — sculpted by the bura (the fierce northern wind), bleached by salt, and shaped into pale, moonlike hills that photographers can’t stop chasing. Between the stone and the sea you’ll find a whole edible story: famous Paški sir (Pag cheese), local lamb, and that salty air that somehow makes everything taste bolder. Add beach-hopping freedom, hidden coves, and wide-open viewpoints, and Pag becomes the perfect place to slow down… while still feeling adventurous. Explore Pag Island in our Travel Guide

Choose your base

• Novalja: easier for hopping between beaches + trailheads (and a livelier dinner scene). Read Novalja Guide
• Pag Town: prettier for evening strolls, history, and that “stone-and-salt” atmosphere.

Day 4 — Plitvice → Pag (arrival + first sunset)

Drive vibe: forest-to-moon in one day.

• On the way (pick 1 quick stop):
  • Zadar Old Town for a short stretch + sea air (perfect “reset” after Plitvice).
  • Nin for lagoon views + wide sandy shallows (soft contrast before Pag’s drama).
• Arrive via the bridge and slow down for your first wow moment: the landscape turns pale, rocky, and almost otherworldly.
• Golden hour mission: pull over at a safe viewpoint and shoot the first “Pag postcard” — bare hills, sharp shadows, silver sea.
• Evening: check-in, then go straight to cheese + wine.
  • Order Paški sir (Pag cheese), janjetina (lamb), and something simple like grilled fish — bold flavours, no fuss.

Day 5 — Salt + stone: Pag Town day (culture + flavours)

Even if you’re staying in Novalja, today is your Pag Town day.

Morning

• Old Town wander: tight stone lanes, small squares, a slow coffee.
• Pop into shops for Pag lace (Paška čipka) if you want a truly local souvenir.

Midday

• Salt story: Pag is salt and wind — lean into it.
  • Look for salt pans / salt products and do a mini tasting-buy (salt, flower of salt, salt scrubs).

Afternoon

• Viewpoint drive: take the road that gives you those wide, empty horizons (this is where Pag feels like a film set).
• Optional easy hike: St. Vid (Sveti Vid) area for a higher perspective (best in softer light).

Evening

• Dinner in Pag Town (or back in Novalja): go full foodie—cheese plates, lamb, local olive oil, and a glass of something crisp.

Photo mission: textures — salt crusts, stone walls, lace details, wind-shaped trees.

Day 6 — The “moonwalk” day: Metajna + Ručica Trail + wild beaches

This is the day Pag shows off.

Morning (start early)

• Drive to Metajna and hike the famous coastal stretch often called the Ručica Trail area.
• You’ll pass dramatic coves and pale rock that looks almost lunar.
• Swim stop(s): choose the beaches that call you most (the wilder ones feel like you earned them).

Midday

• Picnic-style lunch (bring water + snacks). Pag sun is not gentle.

Afternoon

• Beach hop near Novalja/Metajna depending on your energy:
  • Easy-access beach for recovery or
  • One more “hidden cove” mission if you’re still hungry for drama.

Evening

• Sunset somewhere quiet (or… if you’re based in Novalja and want a different vibe, do a quick look at Zrće just to see the contrast).

Couples vibe: this day feels private even when you’re not alone — just sea, rock, and long light.

Day 7 — North Pag road trip: ancient olives + last beach

A perfect “drive freedom” finale.

Morning

• Head north to Lun for the ancient olive groves vibe — gnarled trunks, soft greens, and a totally different mood than the bare south.

Midday

• Continue along the quiet northern coastline for small bays and simple seafood stops.
• Pick a last swim spot where the water is calm and clear.

Afternoon

• Back to base for packing + one final slow coffee.
• If you have time and want one last strong visual: return to a viewpoint you loved and reshoot it in different light.

Evening (farewell dinner)

• Order your “Pag greatest hits” one more time: Paški sir, lamb, local olive oil, and something sweet if you find it.

Photo mission: “two Pags” — raw lunar rock and the gentle olive-green north.

Quick packing/comfort notes for Pag days

• Water + hat + sunscreen (wind tricks you into forgetting the sun).
• Light hiking shoes for rocky trails.
• A small cooler bag if you’re doing cheese + picnic days.