Croatia

Zadar - Kvarner Gulf - South Istria (Self Drive)

13 Nights from $3,004*

* Sample price: priced within the past 7 days for a 5/24/2026 arrival, departing New York City NYC (All Airports) (NY), US. Choose departure city, cabin and dates.

Customize and Book

Add Outbound & Return Flights

Yes No

›

Leaving from location_on

Arrival date on your first city today

›

No of nights schedule

›

No of nights schedule

›

No of nights schedule

›

No of nights schedule

›

No of nights schedule

›

No of nights schedule

›

Guest: hotel

›

This 13 night sample itinerary includes:

Flight into Zadar and out of Pula
Rental Car for 14 days
Pick Up: Zadar Airport/Drop Off: Pula Airport
Hotel for 3 nights in Zadar
Hotel for 2 nights in Pag Island
Hotel for 2 nights in Krk Island
Hotel for 2 nights in Rijeka
Hotel for 2 nights in Opatija
Hotel for 2 nights in South Istria Coast
Driving Time
Zadar - Pag Island: 1 hr. approx.
Pag Island - Krk Island: 3 hrs. approx.
Krk Island - Rijeka: 50 mins. approx.
Rijeka - Opatija: 25 mins. approx.
Opatija - South Istria Coast Area: 1 hr. approx.
South Istria Coast Area - Pula Airport: 30 - 50 mins. approx.

Lovelies cities across the coasts of Croatia with a Car!. Base yourself in Zadar (one of the most popular Croatian tourist destinations, named "entertainment center of the Adriatic), next, steel away in Kvarner Gulf (amazing islands, old cities full of stories, beautiful nature, culture, gastronomy, or adventure). Continue to The Kvarner Gulf (with its long seaside promenade, from Volosko in the east to Lovran in the west, passing though Opatija and Rijeka. Hugging the coast, passing pretty coves and stunning fin-de-siècle villas, reminiscent of the Austrian Riviera), and ending your stay in South Istria (exceptional food and wine, particularly its olive oil, truffles, and local wines like Malvasia and Teran).

What Makes Tripmasters Vacation Packages Different?
Unique, fully custom approach to vacation planning
Choose your preferred flight cabin class
Select up to 14 nights in each city during your stay
Pick from a wide selection of accommodation types (hotels, apartments, B&Bs, Guesthouses, and more)
Add transfers, activities and experiences, and more services to enhance your vacation
Live phone and chat support

Map-Zadar-KvarnerGulf-SouthIstria-Self-Drive

Croatia

Croatia is a fast-growing European travel destination, as Americans are discovering a destination that Europeans have visited for decades. It has some of the most popular beaches in Europe, with the numerous islands offshore considered to have the best beaches. Croatia is also known for its history and natural beauty, offering opportunities for outdoor activities such as hiking, kayaking, and mountain climbing at its many national parks such as Plitvice Lakes. It also offers the chance to learn about Croatian history by visiting its many walled cities (such as Dubrovnik, Trogir, and Korcula), Roman-era buildings (of which Diocletian's Palace is perhaps the best known), and religious buildings such as Zagreb Cathedral in the country's exquisite capital.

Customer Reviews

Share your thoughts with other travelers

Write a Review

Share your thoughts with other travelers

Write a Review

Customer Reviews

You can now

Stagger

your payment!

Zadar

Zadar, the fifth largest city in Croatia, boasts a long tradition and a rich cultural heritage. The town is fortified with thick walls, renowned for their impressive ports, such as the Harbor Port and the Mainland Port, which date back to the sixteenth century. Zadar's most impressive sight is the pre-Romanesque Church of St. Donatus. The town is also famous for having the most beautiful Romanesque churches in Croatia, such as the Cathedral of St. Anastasia, the Church of St. Chrysogonus and the Bell-tower of St. Mary.

Visit and discover the great Zadar's Old Town, Puntamika Beach, Kolovare Beach, Borik Beach, The Marinas, Zadar Cathedral, the Roman Forum of Iadera, Church of St. Donatus, St. Mary's Church, Zadar's Venetian defensive system, Church of St. Chrysogonus, and so much more.

Pag Island

If you are looking for an off-the-beaten-path travel destination in Europe, look no further than Pag Island, which boasts the longest coastline of any of the Croatian islands, clocking in at 167 miles. Looking at the hills above the island's settlements, you will notice a rocky landscape of karst and salt that looks not unlike the surface of the moon. In recent years, young travelers have flocked to Pag not only for its Instagram-worthy panoramas but also for its nightlife, most notably clustered around Zrce Beach near Novalja.

Discover and explore the incredible Pag cheese making experience in Kolan, Beriknica Beach, Rucica Beach, Zrce Beach, Pag Town, Novalja, Stara Novalja, Gajac, Pag's karst hills, and so much more.

Krk Island

Krk Island is one of the two largest islands off the coast of Croatia, exactly equal in size to nearby Cres Island. The islands sit in the Kvarner Gulf just southeast of Rijeka, and Krk Island is connected to the city of Rijeka by the Krk Bridge. With a population of 20,000, Krk is the most-populous island in the Adriatic Sea. The largest town on the island is Krk, on the southern coast. Krk flourished from the time of the Romans, when it was known as Curicum. Krk is home to the Baska tablet, one of the oldest written examples of the Croatian language, dating from 1100. In addition to Krk and Baska, other noteworthy towns and villages on Krk Island include Vrbnik, Malinska, and Omisalj.

Visit and explore the Biserujka Cave, Frankopan Castle, Kosljun, Baska's Vela Beach, Oprna Bay, Vrbnik, Malinska, Omisalj, Baška Tablet, and so much more.

Rijeka

The cityscape of Rijeka, located on Kvarner Gulf, comprises a variety of influences from Italian to Austrian, Hungarian, and finally Croatian. You can see this most on display along the waterfront (Riva) or on the pedestrianized main street called the Korzo, which runs parallel to the Riva. The Italian language is seeing a renaissance in Rijeka for the first time in three generations, as evidenced by bilingual Croatian and Italian street signs installed throughout downtown. Rijeka is home to the International Carnival, the largest pre-Lent Carnival in all of Croatia, which brings 120,000 visitors to view parades on the Korzo each winter.

Visit and explore the Trsat Castle, Korzo, Cathedral of St. Vitus (Rijeka Cathedral), The Computer Museum, City Clock Tower, Sanctuary of the Mother of God, Capuchin Church of Our Lady of Lourdes, Glavanovo Beach, Rijeka International Carnival, Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Natural History Museum, and so much more.

Opatija

Opatija was the site of the first luxury hotel on the eastern Adriatic, opening in 1884. In the decades afterward, Opatija grew to become the premier health spa for the Austrian imperial house and the kings and queens of Europe. Over 100 years later, Opatija is still recognized the world over for luxury, relaxation, and wellness. Stroll the Lungomare, the seaside promenade, and go back to a time and place where life was just a tad more gilded.

Visit and explore the Lungomare, St. Jacob's Church, Park Angiolina, Villa Angiolina, Croatian Walk of Fame, Croatian Museum of Tourism, Hotel Kvarner, Carmen Sylva Forest Path, Maiden with the Seagull statue, Madonna del Mare, Volosko, Icici, Ika, and so much more.

South Istria Coast

The southern Croatian Istrian coast is centered around Pula, Croatian Istria's largest city, and the seaside towns and villages along the 40-plus miles of coastline around it. Pula is well-known for its 2,000-year-old Roman buildings such as the Pula Arena and the Temple of Augustus. The towns along the coast are famous for their beaches and breathtaking landscapes.

Visit and explore Pula, Fazana, Medulin, Pjescana Uvala, Cape Kamenjak, Premantura, Pula Arena, Temple of Augustus, Arch of the Sergii, Brijuni National Park, and so much more.

Destinations

Most Popular Packages

Manage Bookings

Additional Information

Recently Viewed

Who We Are

Destinations

My Booking

About Us

Zadar - Kvarner Gulf - South Istria (Self Drive)

Customize and Book

This 13 night sample itinerary includes:

Croatia

Customer Reviews

Customer Reviews

Stagger

Zadar - Kvarner Gulf - South Istria (Self Drive)