Self-Launched Dalmatian Island Hopper: Dubrovnik to Trogir

Settle into a hostel or guesthouse in the Old Town or Lapad. Walk the Stradun and the narrow lanes of the walled city, then ride the cable car from just outside the north wall up to Mount Srđ for sunset views over the Elaphiti Islands. In the evening, join a small-group Old Town walking tour (bookable via GetYourGuide or Klook, ~£18) or simply self-guide with a free map from the tourist office. Buy groceries or eat at a konoba off Stradun for a cheaper dinner.

🚌Public bus from Dubrovnik Airport (Libertas, ~£8) or airport shuttle to town

🛏Hostel dorm or guesthouse double in Old Town/Lapad area (£20–32 pp)

• →Dubrovnik Old Town self-guided wander
• →Srđ cable car (£23 return, book online to skip queues)
• →Optional small-group Old Town walking tour (~£18)
• →Sunset drinks on the Buža cliff bar

Take a local bus from Dubrovnik's main bus station to Ston (~£7, about 1 hour). Walk a section of the medieval Ston city walls (the longest fortified wall system in Europe), then visit the Solana saltworks museum. For oyster tasting, head to the small shellfish farms at Mali Ston — the boats at Bistrina run short tasting trips (~£20–25 including oysters and a glass of wine) or simply eat at a Mali Ston oyster restaurant. Overnight in Ston or push on by bus to Slano for a quieter base.

🚌Local bus Dubrovnik → Ston (~£7); short taxi or bus to Mali Ston

🛏Guesthouse room in Ston or Slano (£22–35 pp)

• →Walk the Ston city walls (~£8 entry)
• →Solana Ston salt pans museum (~£6)
• →Oyster farm tasting boat trip at Bistrina (~£22)
• →Seafood lunch at Mali Ston

Catch the morning bus or ferry connection from Ston/Slano area via Prapratno to Sobra on Mljet (Jadrolinija car ferry from Prapratno, ~£6–8, around 45 minutes), then a local bus or hitch to Pomena at the edge of the national park. Buy the park ticket (~£18) and walk or cycle to the Great Lake, then take the small shuttle boat (~£3 extra) across to St Mary Isle to see the 12th-century Benedictine monastery and church. Optional kayak or bike rental (~£12–18) around the lakes. Overnight in Pomena or Polače.

🚌Bus Ston → Prapratno ferry port (~£3); Jadrolinija ferry Prapratno → Sobra (~£7); local bus to Pomena (~£3)

🛏Guesthouse room in Pomena or Polače (£25–38 pp)

• →Mljet National Park entrance (~£18)
• →Walk the salt lakes to Veliko Jezero
• →Shuttle boat to St Mary Isle and Benedictine monastery
• →Optional kayak or bike rental (~£15)

Morning ferry or catamaran from Sobra to Korčula town (Jadrolinija or Kapetan Luka, ~£6–10, around 45–60 minutes). Check into a hostel or soba (private room) inside or just outside the walls. Spend the afternoon on a self-guided walk of Korčula's herringbone streets — the cathedral of St Mark, the Marco Polo house, and the sea-facing loggia. In the evening, book the traditional Dalmatian village dinner near Korčula town (~£37, optional) with folk history and local dishes, or eat simply at a konoba.

🚌Jadrolinija ferry Sobra → Korčula (~£8)

🛏Hostel dorm or private soba in Korčula town (£22–35 pp)

• →Self-guided Korčula Old Town walk
• →Cathedral of St Mark and city museum (~£5)
• →Swim at the beaches east of town
• →Optional Dalmatian village dinner experience (~£37)

Take the daytime catamaran or ferry from Korčula to Vis (Kapetan Luka/Jadrolinija via Hvar, ~£13–18, roughly 2–2.5 hours — check seasonal schedules). Vis was a closed military island until 1989, so it feels unspoilt. Rent a scooter or bike (~£18–25) or use the local bus to reach the Roman baths and Villae Rusticae at the bay near Vis town, and visit a family winery in the WWII tunnels (many run tastings ~£12–18). Overnight in Vis town or Komiža.

🚌Catamaran Korčula → Vis (~£15); scooter rental on Vis

🛏Guesthouse or hostel room in Vis town/Komiža (£25–40 pp)

• →Roman thermal baths and Villae Rusticae walk
• →Wine tasting at a Vis cellar in former military tunnels (~£15)
• →Waterfront stroll and Fishermen's Museum (~£4)
• →Scooter or bike rental (~£20)

Book a small-boat excursion from Komiža to the Blue Cave on Biševo (boat plus cave entrance typically £28–38 total; the cave entrance itself is ~£10–12 and weather-dependent, so go early morning when the light is best). Many trips also stop at Stiniva cove and the Green Cave. In the afternoon take the catamaran from Vis to Hvar (~£10–14, about 1 hour). On arrival, climb to the Spanish Fortress above Hvar town for sunset, and pass the oldest community theatre in Europe (1612) and the Renaissance cathedral.

🚌Catamaran Vis → Hvar (~£12)

🛏Hostel or guesthouse in Hvar town (£30–45 pp in season)

• →Blue Cave boat trip from Komiža with cave entrance (~£32)
• →Stiniva cove and Green Cave swim stop
• →Hvar town: cathedral, theatre and fortress hike (~£5 fortress entry)

Morning catamaran or ferry from Hvar to Bol on Brač (~£8–12, 30–50 minutes). Walk to Zlatni Rat beach — the shifting golden pebble spit — for a swim, then wander Bol village for lunch. In the afternoon take the catamaran from Bol to Split (~£8–12), then a local bus from Split to Trogir (~£3, 45 minutes). Evening self-guided stroll around UNESCO-listed Trogir's Romanesque-Gothic old town, ending with dinner in the small squares. Note: ferry times from Bol are limited — check schedules in advance and have a Split-via-Supetar fallback.

🚌Catamaran Hvar → Bol (~£10); catamaran Bol → Split (~£10); local bus Split → Trogir (~£3)

🛏Guesthouse or hostel in Trogir old town (£25–38 pp)

• →Swim at Zlatni Rat beach, Bol
• →Bol village wander
• →Self-guided Trogir old town walk (cathedral, Kamerlengo castle exterior)

A last morning coffee in Trogir's old town or a climb up the cathedral bell tower (~£4) before heading out. Local bus from Trogir to Split (or direct to Split Airport on the Promet bus, ~£3–4) for onward flights or a ferry up the coast. If you have time, Split's Diocletian's Palace is 45 minutes away and worth an afternoon.

🚌Local bus Trogir → Split Airport or Split bus/ferry terminal (~£4)

🛏—

• →Trogir cathedral bell tower climb (~£4)
• →Optional stop at Diocletian's Palace, Split