Dalmatian Islands Island-Hop: Dubrovnik to Korčula, Brač, Split, Hvar & Mljet (Self-Launched)

Fly into Dubrovnik (Čilipi) and take the Atlas shuttle bus or local Libertas bus 11/27 into town (~£5) rather than a private transfer. Check into a hostel or guesthouse in Gruž or Lapad — cheaper than inside the Old Town walls — then walk the harbour where the cruise ships moor. Spend the late afternoon wandering the Stradun and the side alleys of Dubrovnik Old Town for free, grab a 'marenda' (budget lunch/dinner) of grilled fish or pašticada at a konoba away from the main street, and pick up your ferry tickets for tomorrow online if you haven't already. Optional: buy the Dubrovnik Pass (from ~£30, includes City Walls + several museums) if you plan to do the walls and sights tomorrow rather than Day 7.

🚌Airport shuttle bus to Dubrovnik (~£5); walking in town

🛏Hostel/guesthouse in Gruž or Lapad, private or dorm room (£20–30)

• →Dubrovnik Old Town & Stradun stroll
• →Gruž Harbour
• →Konoba dinner in Lapad/Gruž

Take an early Krilo or Jadrolinija catamaran from Dubrovnik to Korčula (roughly 2–2.5 hrs, ~£20–28 booked online). On arrival drop bags at your guesthouse in Korčula Old Town or near Lumbarda, then head to a pebble beach such as Punta Jurana or Vela Pržina for the swim stop the cruise would have done in a bay. In the late afternoon join a Korčula Old Town walking tour (GetYourGuide/local guides ~£15–20, or self-guide with the free map: Marco Polo House, St Mark's Cathedral, the fishbone street plan). Evening: mljet-style seafood at a konoba in the old town, or a cheap pizza slice and local wine by the water.

🚌Dubrovnik–Korčula catamaran (~£20–28); walking + local bus to beaches (~£2)

🛏Guesthouse/Sobe room in Korčula Old Town (£25–35)

• →Catamaran to Korčula
• →Swim at Vela Pržina / Punta Jurana
• →Korčula Old Town guided or self-guided walk
• →St Mark's Cathedral

Local ferry/catamaran from Korčula to Brač (via Split or direct seasonal catamaran depending on month, ~£12–20; check Jadrolinija and Krilo timetables the night before), then a local bus or shared taxi from Supetar/Bol to Pučišća (~£4–6). Pučišća is a honey-stone harbour village famous for its stonemasonry — visit the Klesarska škola (Stonemason School) gallery, which is free or a few euros. Swim in the coves around the harbour (beaches like Sveti Rok), and in the evening eat at a family-run konoba — often the cheapest and best-value meal on Brač (lamb peka needs ordering ahead; grilled fish and local wine are easy). Note: Pučišća has limited beds, so book ahead or base yourself in nearby Postira and bus over.

🚌Ferry/catamaran Korčula–Brač (~£12–20); local bus/shared taxi to Pučišća (~£5)

🛏Sobe/apartment or small guesthouse in Pučišća or Postira (£28–38)

• →Harbour swim & coves
• →Stonemason School (Klesarska škola) Pučišća
• →Brač stonework village walk

Bus from Pučišća to Supetar (~£4) and take the frequent Jadrolinija car ferry Supetar–Split (~1 hr, foot passenger ~£5–7). Check into a hostel in Split Old Town or near Bačvice beach (dorms from ~£18–25, private rooms ~£35–45). Join a free/cheap guided walking tour of Diocletian's Palace and the Old Town (tip-based free tours or ~£15 GetYourGuide tour), which covers the cellars, the Peristyle, and the Riva promenade. If you want the swim stop, head to Bačvice or Firule beach for a late-afternoon dip. Evening: cheap Croatian street food (burek, ćevapi) plus a drink on the Riva, or a hostel-cooked dinner from the green market (Pazar).

🚌Local bus Pučišća–Supetar (~£4); ferry Supetar–Split (~£6)

🛏Hostel in Split Old Town or Bačvice (dorm £18–25 / private £35–45)

• →Diocletian's Palace & cellars
• →Split Old Town walking tour
• →Riva promenade
• →Bačvice swim

Take the morning catamaran or car ferry Split–Hvar (fast catamaran ~1 hr, ~£12–16; car ferry to Stari Grad is cheaper but slower). Base yourself in Hvar Town hostel/guesthouse (£25–40) or — much cheaper — in Stari Grad. Explore Hvar Town on foot: climb to the Spanish Fortress for the view (£8 entry, optional), see the Franciscan Monastery with its old paintings and the Arsenal with the historic theatre (Europe's first public theatre, small entry fee), then swim off Pokonji Dol or Mekićevica beach. Note Hvar is Croatia's most expensive island — eat at a konoba one street back from the harbour and buy picnic supplies at the Studenac supermarket.

🚌Split–Hvar catamaran (~£12–16); local bus to beaches (~£2)

🛏Hostel/guesthouse in Hvar Town or Stari Grad (£25–40)

• →Franciscan Monastery, Hvar
• →Hvar Theatre in the Arsenal
• →Spanish Fortress viewpoint
• →Pokonji Dol beach swim

Bus across Hvar to Stari Grad (15 mins, ~£2) to see the UNESCO-listed Stari Grad Plain and its tiny old town, then ferry/catamaran onward toward Mljet (usually via Split or Korčula depending on season — check the Jadrolinija/Krilo timetable in advance and allow a full travel day, ~£15–22). Settle into a soba in Pomena or Polače right by the national park. Buy a Mljet National Park ticket (~£20–25 including the boat to St Mary's Island) and walk the forested trail around Veliko Jezero and Malo Jezero (Big and Small Lakes), then take the little boat to the Benedictine monastery on Sveta Marija. Rent a bike (~£8/day) if you'd rather cycle the lakes circuit. Dinner of local Mljet lamb or seafood in Polače.

🚌Bus to Stari Grad (~£2); catamaran/ferry to Mljet via Split or Korčula (~£15–22); park bike rental ~£8

🛏Sobe/guesthouse in Pomena or Polače, Mljet (£25–35)

• →Stari Grad Plain & old town
• →Mljet National Park
• →Big Lake & Small Lake walk
• →St Mary's Island boat trip

Ferry and/or bus-and-ferry back to Dubrovnik (Mljet–Dubrovnik catamaran ~2 hrs in season ~£15–20, otherwise ferry to Prapratno + bus, ~£15 total). Dump bags at the hostel and do the Dubrovnik sights the cruise includes: walk the City Walls (Dubrovnik Pass ~£30 or single ticket ~£30, best early or late to dodge crowds), see the Franciscan Monastery with Europe's second-oldest pharmacy, the Rector's Palace and the Cathedral, then ride the cable car to Mount Srđ for sunset (£10 return, or hike up free via the 'zig-zag' path). Optional late-afternoon boat to Lokrum Island (~£12 return) for a swim if time allows. Final-night dinner in Gruž where it's cheaper than the walled city.

🚌Mljet–Dubrovnik catamaran or ferry+bus (~£15–20); cable car ~£10; Lokrum boat ~£12 optional

🛏Hostel/guesthouse in Gruž or Lapad (£20–30)

• →Dubrovnik City Walls
• →Franciscan Monastery & Old Pharmacy
• →Rector's Palace & Cathedral
• →Mount Srđ cable car / sunset
• →Optional Lokrum Island

Breakfast at the hostel, a last swim at Banje beach or a coffee on the Stradun, then take the shuttle bus back to Dubrovnik Airport (~£5). If your flight is late, leave luggage at the hostel and do one more cheap sight — or add an extra night in Dubrovnik, which is easy to arrange independently and often cheaper than a cruise extension package.

🚌Airport shuttle bus (~£5)

🛏—

• →Banje beach
• →Stradun coffee
• →Optional extra night in Dubrovnik