Your Ultimate Guide To Croatia
Over the past few years, Croatia has become an immensely popular travel destination. This segment of coast perched on the edge of the Adriatic Sea is the most incredibly beautiful European destination; its historical architecture, white stone beaches and burnt orange rooftops are just the beginning of what Croatia has to offer. Follow this guide and make Croatia your next holiday destination!
Travel
The best way to travel around Croatia is undoubtedly by ferry. Jadrolinija is Croatia’s biggest and most popular ferry company and they are generally a quick, cheap and reliable way to get between the islands. You can book your tickets in advance, or at the last minute if your trip is a little more spontaneous, so ferries are also a flexible way to travel. It’s easy to get a seat on board, even in the peak season, and the journey is pretty comfortable (made even better with the on board air conditioning).
If you’re travelling longer distances on land, your best option is by bus. They are reasonably affordable and reliable but keep in mind that it won’t be the most straight forward journey. In many cases, the local buses also serve as the long distance buses so journeys are usually pretty long. Also, try to have a plan of your journey and be aware of the bus times before you leave as you won’t always find departure and arrival signs at the bus stations. However, people are usually quite friendly and are happy to help you navigate the system (another time when your AirBnb host will come in handy).
Within the cities, we even found that travelling by Uber is a good option for a quick and cheap journey.
Accommodation
Where you stay in Croatia is very much dependant on your group size. If you’re travelling alone, or in a pair, your best option is probably to stay in hostels. Hostel prices vary substantially throughout the year, becoming much more expensive during the summer months, corresponding to peak tourist season. In off-peak season you’ll be able to find a hostel for around £10 per night, but once summer hits you’re looking at around £20-£25 each.
In my experiences of travelling Croatia, AirBnb was the best way to go in terms of accommodation. As a group of four, we were able to find apartments or en-suite private rooms for £10-£15 each per night during the peak season, which made accommodation very affordable. Every AirBnb that we stayed in was perfectly located and the hosts were all welcoming, friendly and helpful – even arranging our transport to and from the airports or meeting us at the ferry port. For a group this size, AirBnbs in Croatia are definitely the way to go in terms of accommodation to get the most out of your stay whilst sticking to a budget.
Cities
Croatia’s most popular city for tourists is Dubrovnik. The city is absolutely beautiful with its glittering limestone pavements and burnt orange rooftops, which make up just half of your view. Dubrovnik sits just on the edge of Croatia’s coast, giving you incredibly vast ocean views onto the Adriatic Sea, which no picture can quite do justice. Your absolute essential activity in Dubrovnik is definitely the Old City Walls; entry is only 100Kn and it is the only way to appreciate the rooftop views of the city If you’re visiting in the summer months try to make it to this attraction early as the sun really beats down on the walls as it reaches midday.
If you’re a Game of Thrones fan, then Dubrovnik will be especially of interest for you, being the setting for the iconic King’s Landing. You’ll easily recognise the scenery from where the episodes were filmed, and there are plenty of walking tours and souvenir shops for you to experience.
Make sure to walk through Dubrovnik’s Old Town to explore the cobbled streets, squares, churches and markets to really get a taste of the city. Get away from the noise of the city on the cable car up to Sdr Hill, for a peaceful moment to admire the city from above.
If you’re not too tired from sightseeing, make your way to Culture Club Revelin in the evening; Dubrovnik’s best night club, located within the city ruins.
Croatia has more beauty and history to offer in the city of Split, where you can explore Diocletian’s Palace and the Cathedral of Saint, right on the water. Split isn’t quite as peaceful and serene as Dubrovnik, but if you’re looking for a city with some more night life, Split will be perfect. Check out the many pub crawls in the evening for a great night on a budget.
Be sure to make your way up to Marjan Hill for the best view in the whole city – it’s a lot of steps but definitely worth it.
Split has some beautiful beaches to offer, which you can get to by both bus or car easily from the city centre. However, if you’re interested in time on the beach it’s definitely worth travelling to one of the many nearby islands to get the best experience of Croatia’s idyllic coast.
Zagreb, Croatia’s capital, is another destination to try and fit into your visit. Also known as “The City Of A Million Hearts”, Zagreb is quite different to Dubrovnik and Split, but it is just as beautiful and vibrant.
Don’t miss out on Zagreb Cathedral and St Mark’s Church, before relaxing in one of the many green parks of the city. Zrinjevac Park between the main square and the railway station is a great place to sit back and observe the busy but serene city. Framed by incredible architecture and filled with pop up stalls during the summer, this is one of the best spots in Zagreb.
Islands
Croatia’s islands are my favourite part about this destination. The Croatian islands are small but they are home to some of the most beautiful beaches and landscapes in the world, with the incredible clear waters of the Adriatic sea. The Dalmatian Coast is a popular tourist spot, and it is easy to travel through by ferry. There are so many islands to choose from, but my favourites are Hvar and Korčula.
Hvar claims to have more sunny days than any other destination in Europe, which (among many other things), makes it the most popular of the islands. There is so much to do in Hvar, from nightclubs to private beaches, so whatever kind of trip you’re looking for, you can probably find it in Hvar.
This is one of the busier and louder islands, so if you’re looking for somewhere a bit more remote, Korčula is your destination.
Korčula is not only my favourite of the Croatian islands, but probably one of my favourite places in the world. Korčula is sometimes known as the ‘mini Dubrovnik’ because of its small inner town of cobbled streets and incredible Venetian architecture.
Your time in Korčula should be spent in complete relaxation, soaking up the Croatian sun on the island’s rocky shores, looking out onto the clear Adriatic waters. Spend your evenings wandering along the street of restaurants and bars that lines one side of the island, and enjoy your dinner looking out at the sea, listening to live music playing on the street corner.
Spend one of your days taking a boat trip to the tiny islands nearby (about a 20 minute trip) – you can get a boat taxi that will take you and pick you up at the end of the day. These islands are even more peaceful and tranquil than Korčula itself, if you’re really looking for somewhere to switch off and refresh.
Take in sunset at the island’s tiny turret bar, serving cocktails whilst the sun settles down into the sea.
Korčula is the place to go to slow down and enjoy the raw beauty and simplicity of the Dalmatian Coast; a destination that cannot be missed on any trip to Croatia.
National Parks
Croatia’s natural beauty extends beyond its cities and beaches, and you can find it in the national parks. The Plitvice Lakes are beyond spectacular, and the national park allows you to spend a day hiking around them, enjoying the natural beauty and the incredible scenery of the cascading lakes. You can travel here by bus, and despite the inevitable crowds of tourists, it is definitely worth the trip.
You can also visit the Krka, Paklenica and Kornati national parks to appreciate more of Croatia’s natural beauty.
Top Tips
- Stick to the ferries for travel when you can
- Get cash out from ATMs to get the best transfer rate
- If you’re going in peak season, get up early to avoid the crowds (and the heat)
- Never miss the sunset – they are so much more beautiful out across the Adriatic Sea, try to watch it every day
- Don’t just see the cities – the islands are the most beautiful parts of the country!
- If you have a student ID, carry it with you; a lot of attractions will offer discounted tickets to students.
