Europe
Croatia
Adriatic coast road, island hops and Velebit ridges.
Why drive here
Driving in Croatia
Croatia's Adriatic Highway is one of Europe's great coast roads, tracing the mainland shore for hundreds of kilometres with the Dalmatian islands laid out across the water. It rewards patience rather than pace, with harbour towns, ferry glimpses and long views over turquoise channels at almost every turn.
Inland, the Ucka pass climbs quickly from the coast into cooler forest, and the Velebit massif offers a wilder, more remote alternative for drivers willing to leave the coast road behind for a day. Istria in the north brings a gentler, hill town character closer in spirit to Tuscany than to the rest of the Adriatic.
Traffic builds sharply in July and August, particularly around Split and Dubrovnik, so the shoulder months reward drivers with the same views and considerably less queueing at the ferry ports.
Regions
Where to drive in Croatia
Editors' picks
Top 5 roads in Croatia
Dalmatian Coast
Adriatic Highway, D8
The Magistrala hugs bare karst cliffs above island studded blue water for hours.
Senj to Zadar · 180 km · D8
Driving
9.1
Scenery
9.6
Istria
Ucka Pass Road
A hairpin climb over the Ucka massif with the whole Kvarner gulf laid out below.
Opatija to Lovran · 22 km · D64
Driving
9
Scenery
9.2
Velebit
Mali Alan Pass
A wild Velebit crossing of endless hairpins between the Zrmanja canyon and the sea.
Obrovac to Sveti Rok · 33 km · D523
Driving
9.2
Scenery
9.3
Dubrovnik region
Konavle Coast Road
Cliff terraces above the old city walls before dropping into the Konavle valley.
Dubrovnik to Cavtat · 22 km · D8
Driving
8.3
Scenery
9.2
Quick facts
Planning your trip
When to go
May, June and September for warm weather with far lighter coastal traffic than the peak summer months.
What to drive
A convertible or open topped GT suits the coast road perfectly, given the modest pace and constant sea views.
Sample itinerary
The Dalmatian Coast, Split to Dubrovnik
5 days
Follow the Adriatic Highway south from Split, with stops at Ploce and the Peljesac peninsula before the final run into Dubrovnik.
The library
Every great road we have mapped in Croatia
6 roads, scored for driving quality and scenery, with seasonal notes where they matter. Any of these can be threaded into a journey in the planner.
Biokovo, Dalmatia
Sveti Jure Road
Makarska to Sveti Jure summit · 23 km
A single track climb from sea level to 1762 metres above the Makarska Riviera.
Closed by snow and high wind in winter, narrow with a permit gate
Driving
9.4
Scenery
9.8
Peljesac, Dalmatia
Peljesac Ridge Road
Ston to Orebic · 65 km · D414
A ridgetop ribbon along a vineyard peninsula with sea on both sides most of the way.
Exposed to wind
Driving
8.9
Scenery
9.4
Lika
Plitvice Forest Road, D52
Ogulin to Plitvice Lakes · 70 km · D52
Deserted forest curves through the Lika highlands towards the famous lakes.
Snow between December and March
Driving
8.6
Scenery
9
Istria
Istrian Hill Town Road
Motovun to Groznjan · 18 km · D48
Vineyard ridges and truffle woods link two of Istria's medieval hill towns.
Driving
8.4
Scenery
8.9
Gorski Kotar
Gorski Kotar Forest Road
Delnice to Vrbovsko · 30 km · D3
Deep green fir forest and cool switchbacks in Croatia's most alpine corner.
Heavy snow in winter
Driving
8.5
Scenery
8.7
Sibenik hinterland
Krka Zagora Road
Skradin to Knin · 50 km · D33
Empty inland karst roads swing past waterfalls and abandoned stone hamlets.
Driving
8.2
Scenery
8.6