A relaxed 7-day Croatia itinerary: 2 days in Zagreb, 1 day at Plitvice Lakes, then 4 days on Island Rab for sandy bays, sunsets, and easy swims—perfect for families and beach lovers.

Some Croatia trips are made for movement. This one is made for breathing. It starts with Zagreb’s café rhythm, pauses for a day inside the emerald world of Plitvice Lakes, then melts into the kind of coastal summer that feels effortless: Island Rab — sandy shallows, old-town sunsets, and long days that don’t need an agenda.

Why Rab? Because it’s one of Croatia’s easiest islands to truly relax on. Rab has that rare mix: real sandy beaches (especially around Lopar), calm shallow bays that are perfect for families, and an old town that’s made for slow evenings — stone lanes, a waterfront promenade, and sunsets that make you forget the time. It’s classic Adriatic summer, but softer: less rushing, more stay a little longer.

7-Day Zagreb–Plitvice–Rab 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 Rab the same evening (3h), but staying overnight is calmer.

Day 4: Plitvice → Island Rab — ferries, views, and your first sunset in Rab Town

Today is a transition day, but it doesn’t have to feel like “just travel.” The route toward the coast is beautiful — and the ferry moment is a real little reset.

Suggested flow:

• Morning: breakfast + short drive breaks (don’t rush)
• Ferry to Rab
• Check-in in Rab Town
• Evening: your first old-town wander + seaside sunset

Rab Town first-night ritual:

• Walk the harbor promenade slowly
• Let the skyline and bell towers do their thing
• Pick a terrace for dinner and stay longer than you planned

Days 5–7: Island Rab — beaches, easy exploring, and slow summer perfection

These are the days you came for: simple swims, warm sand, pine shade, and the kind of evenings where the only plan is “find a good view.”

Rab is small enough to feel easy, but varied enough to stay interesting. Rab Town is the postcard moment — an old stone skyline crowned by four elegant bell towers, best enjoyed at golden hour from the waterfront. Beyond the town, the island shifts moods: the western side hides forested, pine-scented coves and deeper, quieter swim spots; inland you’ll find a gentler grassy plateau; and the side facing the mainland turns more raw and dramatic — barren slopes and cliffy edges that catch the wind and the light. And then there’s the island’s sweetest surprise: the Lopar peninsula, where Rab becomes a true sandy paradise with shallow bays made for long, lazy summer days.

Choose your base: Rab Town (best all-rounder)

Rab Town is ideal because it gives you:

• a gorgeous old town for evenings
• easy boat trips
• quick access to several beaches
• that feeling of being “on an island holiday” without being isolated

Day 5: Rab Town + nearby swims (soft start)

Morning: explore Rab Town properly — lanes, viewpoints, quiet corners.
Afternoon: easy beach close to town (perfect first swim).
Evening: sunset from the old town walls / waterfront promenade.

Family-friendly note: start with beaches that are closest + easiest — save Lopar for a full beach day.

Day 6: Lopar sandy day (the classic Rab beach mood)

If your vibe is sandy bays and shallow water, Lopar is the day.

What makes it special:

• wide sandy stretches (rare in Croatia)
• shallow entry (great for kids + non-swimmers)
• full “beach day” infrastructure when you want it

Bring shade, water, and snacks — then stay as long as you like.

Day 7: Choose-your-own Rab day (two perfect options)

Option A: Frkanj Peninsula + pine shade + quieter coves

Frkanj (Kalifront Peninsula) is the calmer, greener side of Rab — a beach day that feels more like nature than “tourism.” This peninsula is covered in deep holm oak forest, one of the best-preserved oak woods on the entire Adriatic, and it creates that perfect summer mix: cool shade, pine-and-oak air, and quiet coves tucked into the coastline. Expect pebble beaches and a few sandy patches, with a generally calm, clear sea that’s ideal for long, unhurried swims.

If you want comfort and easy access, Suha Punta is the more developed area (beach bars, rentals, facilities). If you want it wilder, head to Ćifutna — completely natural, no fuss, just forest and sea. And between the two are plenty of other little coves and swim spots, perfect for anyone who loves exploring slowly and finding their own corner of shade.

Option B: Boat day (Rab from the sea)

A simple boat trip turns Rab into something else — tiny bays, swimming stops, and that sleepy Mediterranean feeling.