Zagreb to Split: Plitvice Lakes Self-Launched
4 days · Croatia
On The Go Tours charges £820
No-markup version: ~£222 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched 4-day version of On The Go Tours' Zagreb to Split trip: two nights in Zagreb, a waterfall day at Plitvice Lakes National Park, and a finish in Split's Diocletian's Palace. You book your own hostel or guesthouse, join pay-as-you-go walking tours, and travel by intercity bus — the same sights the group tour covers, at a fraction of the $1,060 (~£820) per-person asking price.
Day-by-day
Arrive Zagreb — old town at your own pace
Zagreb
Land or arrive by bus/train (there are direct trains and buses from Budapest, Ljubljana and Vienna) and check into a hostel or guesthouse in the Lower Town, 10-15 minutes' walk from Ban Jelačić Square. Zagreb Airport is linked to the main bus station by the ZET shuttle (~€8) or local bus 290 via Kvaternikov trg (~€1). Spend the late afternoon wandering the Lower Town's Austro-Hungarian squares and grab a cheap dinner of štrukli (cheese pastry) and grilled ćevapi in the Dolac market area — expect £10-12 with a drink.
🚌Airport shuttle bus or public bus into the city centre (~£1-7); on foot for the rest of the day
🛏Hostel or guesthouse in Zagreb Lower Town, dorm bed or private budget room (£15-25)
- →Ban Jelačić Square and the Lower Town on foot
- →Dolac Market (morning is best, but the surrounding eateries stay open)
- →Štrukli dinner in the old town
Zagreb walking tour — Upper Town and Stone Gate
Zagreb
Do the guided walking tour the operator includes, but book it yourself. Free walking tours (tip-based, ~£8-10 tip) leave from Ban Jelačić Square most mornings and cover the exact same ground: the Upper Town, St. Mark's Church with its tiled roof, Government Palace (Banski dvori), Lotrščak Tower, Zagreb Cathedral and the Stone Gate shrine. Alternatively, pay for a small-group GetYourGuide tour (~£18-22) if you want a fixed price. Keep the afternoon free: ride the 66-metre funicular (€0.66) up to the Upper Town, walk the Strossmayer promenade, and visit the Museum of Broken Relationships (~£6) if it appeals. Evening: cheap craft beer and pizza in the Tkalčićeva street area (~£12).
🚌All on foot; funicular €0.66 each way
🛏Same Zagreb hostel or guesthouse (£15-25)
- →Tip-based free walking tour of Upper and Lower Town (~£8-10 tip)
- →St. Mark's Church, Government Palace, Lotrščak Tower, Cathedral, Stone Gate
- →Zagreb funicular and Strossmayer promenade
- →Optional Museum of Broken Relationships (~£6)
Zagreb to Plitvice Lakes to Split — the long waterfall day
Plitvice Lakes National Park / Split
This is the big logistics day, and it's very doable independently. Take the earliest direct bus from Zagreb's main bus station to Plitvice Lakes (Entrance 1), roughly 2h15, ~€15-17 one way — book on Flixbus, Arriva or the Croatia Bus network a few days ahead. Buy your park ticket online in advance (peak season ~€40, shoulder ~€25-30, includes the boat and shuttle trains inside the park); you'll walk the same Lower Lakes boardwalks and viewpoints the guided tour covers. Allow 4-5 hours in the park, then catch a mid-afternoon bus onward to Split — either direct from Plitvice (summer services run, ~3h30, ~€20-25) or by connecting through Karlovac/Gospić. You arrive in Split in the evening; check into a guesthouse or hostel in the old town or Bačvice and eat grilled fish or a budget pizza by the Riva (~£12).
🚌Direct bus Zagreb–Plitvice (~£14-15), bus Plitvice–Split or via Karlovac (~£18-22)
🛏Hostel or guesthouse in Split's old town or Bačvice (£20-30)
- →Plitvice Lakes National Park boardwalks and viewpoints (ticket ~£22-35)
- →Boat crossing and panoramic shuttle inside the park (included in ticket)
- →Evening stroll along Split's Riva promenade
Split old town and Diocletian's Palace
Split
Finish with the same guided Split walk the tour includes — a tip-based free walking tour leaves from the Riva or Peristyle each morning and takes in Diocletian's Palace, the Peristyle, the Cathedral of St. Domnius, the cellars and the Golden Gate (~£8-10 tip), or a fixed-price GetYourGuide Palace tour (~£18). Climb the cathedral bell tower (~£5) for the best view over the harbour, then swim off Bačvice beach or take the cheap local bus to Marjan Hill for a free sunset walk. If you're continuing, Split is the ferry hub for Hvar, Brač and Korčula — book on Jadrolinija or Krilo a day or two ahead.
🚌On foot; local city bus to Marjan ~€1 if needed
🛏Same Split hostel or guesthouse (£20-30), or onward ferry
- →Free walking tour of Split and Diocletian's Palace (~£8-10 tip)
- →Cathedral of St. Domnius bell tower climb (~£5)
- →Bačvice beach swim or Marjan Hill sunset walk
Self-launched vs. On The Go Tours
| This itinerary (self-launched) | On The Go Tours | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£222 | £820 |
| Duration | 4 days | 4 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £598 per person (73%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more On The Go Tours-style trips? Check them out here.~£222
estimated per person
You never pay Travel Crew for this — you pay hostels, transport, and activity providers directly, the same as if you'd booked it all yourself.
This publishes your dates so other travellers can find and join you — no tour operator needed.
Customise with Tour BusterCreated by
Travel Crew
0 trips
Frequently asked questions
How much does Zagreb to Split: Plitvice Lakes Self-Launched cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £222 per person for 4 days in Croatia. This is an AI-generated estimate based on typical budget-traveller prices — actual costs will vary by season and how you book.
Is this cheaper than booking with On The Go Tours?+
Yes — On The Go Tours charges around £820 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £222 — a saving of roughly £598 (73%) per person.
How long is the Croatia trip?+
This itinerary runs 4 days, covering 4 day-by-day stops through Croatia.
How do I join this trip?+
You can join an existing open departure using this itinerary if one is scheduled, or launch your own departure with your own dates and invite other travellers to join you — no tour operator required.
Isn't it easier to just use a tour operator?+
Well, yes, a tour operator will book all the individual parts of your travel for you and provide a guide. That's obvious, but doing this has the potential to save the group thousands, which can in turn improve your itinerary substantially or save you huge amounts of money. Also, when you launch a departure, Travel Crew has tools in place to help you book the individual sections of the trip or make it easier for you to do this as a group. Really, you do not need a middle man. If you are more comfortable paying more and using a middle man, then you should certainly do this.
Is it safer to book through a tour operator?+
Arguably, there isn't much difference. A self-launched trip runs on the same principle as a group travel crew: collective responsibility, everyone looking out for each other, the same way it would if a group of friends organised the trip themselves — because that's exactly what's happening. You should always take out travel insurance before you go, self-launched or not; that doesn't change either way. Every open departure is published publicly with real dates and a real trip organiser, so it's never an anonymous arrangement, and our support team is reachable any time you need help, including in an emergency while you're away. Longer-term, we're building direct relationships with ground DMCs in popular destinations, offered as an optional paid add-on for extra on-the-ground support. Ultimately, though, the group is responsible for its own conduct and safety on a self-launched trip, same as on any trip you plan yourself.
What kind of trip is this?+
This is a culture, city-breaks, budget trip through Croatia, self-launched rather than run by a tour operator — you organise it with a group you find or bring yourself.
Would you like to name the operator, name the trip, or have any suggestions about how to improve this itinerary?
Drop your comment below — if you've done a similar route, tell us what worked, what you'd add, or what you'd skip.
No comments yet — be the first to share your take.
Sign in to leave a comment.