14-day Dubrovnik, Split, Zadar Workation Package

Dubrovnik is a fantasy of medieval architecture come to life. Narrow streets paved with cobblestone weave between antique buildings wedged between foothills and the Adriatic Sea. You can land at the airport and travel to your centrally located accommodations with the ease and luxury of a private transfer. 

Your accommodations have been pre-examined to ensure you have the amenities you need to balance work and touring. Whether you choose to walk around the neighborhood to get your bearings or have time to take the cable car to Mt Srd, you have arrived in the city and can define your speed.

Focus
Arrive in Dubrovnik and practice mindful observation in your new space. Visually explore every corner of the accommodation. Do not judge, only notice what is and is not present.

Suggestion
Introduce yourself to Dubrovnik with a plate of black risotto, a seafood dish made with velvety squid ink.

Take the day to explore the fascinating city that overflows with medieval atmosphere and seaside charm. You may find stories fit for fantasy that relate to the city acting as the location for many scenes in the Game of Thrones series. 

Explore the Baroque buildings, find views that open to the glistening Adriatic, and walk down the Stradun where cafes provide the aromas of pastries and coffee throughout the day. The cathedral’s Romanesque style dates back to the 12th century adding antique opulence to the skyline.

Focus
Take two minutes in quiet to notice the ambiance of the city. How does it sound, feel, and smell? 

Suggestion
Visit the City Walls and take in the view, either in the morning or around sunset, for fewer crowds and a fantastic panorama.

Set your routine in motion in the morning to find your new work groove during your time in Croatia. At the end of the workday, set out on the Lapad Coastal Trail for a walking adventure that rounds the peninsula. You can pass beneath shading trees, listen for birdsongs, and take in the scent of Aleppo pine. 

Stop for a breather during your walk to enjoy the view of Gruz, the Dubrovnik neighborhood defined by the harbor. From spring to early fall, you can relax on the beach and really soak in the remote ambiance while still being close to the main city. 

Focus
Choose an object on your walk in your immediate environment, a flower, an insect, or the water. Stare at the object for as long as your concentration allows.

Suggestion
For a great view over the pine trees, brush, and bay, trek to the top of Veliki Petka hill. 

Ston and Mali Ston are gorgeous places and are under-visited by international travelers. After work, set out to uncover the Peljesac Peninsula absent of the large resorts or luxury hotels that populate the coastline around Dubrovnik. 

Instead, dive into the ambiance of small towns and local flavor punctuated by the traditional salt harvesting methods still in place. At Mali Ston, you can visit the fortress of Koruna for an empowering view over the village. Ancient streets bisect the port and lead to the round tower that once bolstered the gate. When in Ston, travel the length of the wall to experience the longest fortress system in Europe. 

Focus
Try something new by tasting the local oysters in a traditional way. Notice the similarities and differences to what you are used to. How does it taste? What’s its texture?

Suggestion
Follow the trail that connects Ston to Mali Ston for an incredible view of historic towns and the colorful Adriatic. 

Travel to Cavtat after work today for an easy getaway that highlights the charm of a medieval town and the grandeur of the Adriatic Sea. Cavtat can feel like a smaller, lesser-known Dubrovnik, especially as you walk along the gorgeous waterfront promenade.

While in town, you could visit the House of Vlaho Bukovac, a Croatian painter who helped shape a generation of national artists. Frescoes decorate the home while the Konavle County Museum features ethnocentric artifacts like women’s costumes, jewelry, and handicrafts.

Focus
When you arrive in Cavtat, turn your phone off. How long can you last without being connected? Take note of how often you reach for your phone. What does it stir up in you?

Suggestion
If you have the time and are Workationing from April to November, you can arrive in Cavtat by boat for an added scenic cruise.

Start work early so you can travel to Split in the afternoon. Once in the city, you can relax at your authenticated accommodations that allow you to work from the gorgeous location at your pace. 

Split can feel lively around dusk, when locals walk along the open lanes shaped by Diocletian’s Palace or visit the boutique shops among the Marmontova Ulica in the Old City. For a sample of the city, you can try gourmet chocolate that has a wide range of textures with a dark bitter bite or a creamy milky texture.

Focus
Don’t rush your time between Dubrovnik and Split. Pay attention to the drive between cities. If you have time, stop at Bacina lakes to simply enjoy the view.

Suggestion
Take a culinary tour of Split on your arrival to experience the multitude of traditions that have created the local culture.

The Salona Ruins are very close to Split making them an easy visit after work. When you enter the archeological park, you can travel the path of the emperors, gladiators, and martyrs. On the edge of the ancient city stands the 2nd-century BC necropolis. Engraved sarcophagus represent angels, wings, and cherubs. 

The city walls weave beneath towering cypress trees and follow the edges of the original city’s foundations where 90 towers once protected the population. Check out the museum or spend time walking around the amphitheater where gladiators would battle. 

Focus
Tour the Tusculum Museum and pick an artifact. What about that artifact drew your attention? Tell a story about it.

Suggestion
Enjoy the sunset from Klis Fortress but also take time to visit the museum that displays swords and costumes through history.

After a full work day, it will be time to explore the historic edges of Split, starting with Diocletian’s Palace. The exceptional architecture dates back to the Roman Empire of the 4th century AD. Walk from the Golden Gate to the Iron gate and find the roads designed in Roman tradition but lined with contemporary shops and cafes around the central square. 

You can find a quiet moment near the cathedral, where the courtyard combines colorful flowers climbing the historic wall. The bell tower casts a remarkable shadow over the city rooftops with a height reaching nearly 200 feet tall.

Focus
When walking up to Klis Fortress, stop on every 10th step. Look in front of you, look behind you, and take a moment to appreciate where you are and where you are going. Do this until you reach the viewpoint.

Suggestion
Walk Diocletian’s Palace at night and enjoy the lively ambiance, especially on the weekend.

A full day of exploring can give you time to recuperate or give you the chance to visit Hvar Island. A boat to Hvar is scenic and calming as you reach the white-stoned Venetian Renaissance architecture overlooking the water. Lavender fields blanket the mountains among vineyards and citrus orchards. Gold-pebbled beaches glint in the sunlight. 

The cafes and lively atmosphere around St. Stephen’s Square capture the perfect snapshot of the island while in view of the 16th-century fountain. At Tvrdalj Castle, you can find an intimate combination of residence and preserved fortification inside Renaissance design. Once meant as a peaceful retreat, it also acted as a stronghold against the Turks.

Focus
Visit the lavender fields and take five deep breaths, each inhaling for four seconds, holding for seven seconds, and exhaling with a whoosh for eight seconds. Notice how your body is feeling, especially within your surroundings.

Suggestion
Sit in a local cafe or restaurant and order fresh seafood or a local craft beer. Enjoy the exceptional quality enhanced by your surroundings.

Step away from the city life after work and into a green space that feels like a touch of countryside accessible from Split. Winding trails twist around the wooded hills for great views of the nearby islands and neighboring mountains. 

The herbaceous scent of trees and open space can lead to the walled platform with a view out to the sea. You may even find the cave that hosts St Jeronimus on Marjan Chapel camouflaged by the surrounding nature.

Focus
Practice mindful listening by closing your eyes and hearing the sounds of the forest. What do you notice? Do not judge, only explore the variety of sounds, their layers, where they are coming from, and how your body and mind are interacting with each sound. 

Suggestion
Marjan Forest Park has hundreds of trails for hiking or cycling. You can choose which activity best suits your mood. 

Start work early once again to make traveling to Zadar easy in the afternoon. The city sits on the Adriatic Sea and possesses a mixture of contemporary bohemian artistry and Mediterranean history. If you make it before sunset, you can enjoy the colors as they dip behind the horizon. 

The music of the Sea Organ can create an atmospheric soundtrack as the tide pushes the water in and out of the unique instrument. When the weather is warm, you have plenty of opportunities to visit the clear, perfect water on Kolovare Beach or sit beneath the striking Romanesque facade of the Zadar cathedral.

Focus
Stare at the Sun Salutation art installation. Focus on a single point for as long as you can. 

Suggestion
Sit at a seaside cafe, order a drink, and enjoy the unique sounds of the Sea Organ.

Old Town Zadar is an exciting and immersive neighborhood in the cosmopolitan city. Near the collection of fine old churches, you can find the remains of the Roman Forum that date back to the 1st century BC. At night, the ruins light up for a more imaginative and ethereal ambiance. 

The Benedictine Church of St. Chrysogonus dates back to the 12th century and contains three aisles, including the main altar and preserved apse. But you will find the city walls the most atmospheric stop on your tour as you near the section built by the Romans and bolstered by the Venetians.  

Focus
Make a list of five buildings, businesses, or artworks you see. Take five minutes to appreciate each one. What did you notice about them individually? What do you remember about them? How did they catch your eye?

Suggestion
Visit the Church of St. Chrysogonus and look for the frescoes inside the apse.

Take a half day to visit the island of Dugi Otok where you can focus on nature. The small coves fringing the island allow you to get closer to the pristine landscape. A scenic salt lake glows turquoise and contrasts the cobalt colors of the bay.

A local tavern cooks Dalmatian specialties that fill the air with the scent of lemon juice or grilled fish. Explore Golubinka Cave on a scuba excursion or trek to the northern corner of the island to visit the tallest lighthouse in the Adriatic.

Focus
Pay attention to what you are eating. Notice its texture, weight, color, smell, etc. Take a bite and describe the taste to yourself.

Suggestion
Depending on the season, visit Saharun Beach or walk the trails of Telascica Nature Park for dolphin and falcon sightings.

Depending on your flight time, you could spend the day working before leaving for home or use some PTO to take a half-day excursion before heading to the airport. Sail around Heart Island to enjoy the last views of the crystal clear sea or cycle to Nin on a scenic path that touches the 9th-century Church of the Holy Cross. Travel to the airport by transfer to help bring an easy end to your Workation in Croatia. 

Focus
Take a body scan for 15 minutes by bringing awareness to your breathing, your rhythm, the texture of your clothing, the feeling of your skin, and more. Does your body feel light or heavy, warm or cold? 

Suggestion
The Zadar airport is small but services a large number of people each year. You should arrive at the airport approximately three hours before an international flight to move you through possible security lines.