Croatia Travel Guide for a Perfect Mix of Relaxation & Adventure
Croatia Overview
I'm so excited to bring you my Croatia Travel Guide! Croatia should be on everyone's bucket list. It is full of Instagrammable places, amazing natural beauty, and great food. Keep reading to get inspired to plan your own trip to Croatia!Croatia is a country in Central-Southern Europe full of beaches, interesting history, amazing natural beauty, and some of the best cheese I have ever eaten. It was a part of Yugoslavia before it broke up in the 1990s. Croatia has over 1200 islands, but only about 50 are inhabited. If you are a dog lover, the Dalmatians breed is from here!The Balkan peninsula is one of my favorite places in the world because of how many cultures traveled through and left their influence on the region. Today you can see the many architectural influences in each city you visit. It was my first introduction to Europe, and the warm Mediterranean air, amazing food, and breathtaking landscapes did not disappoint.The three largest airports in Croatia are in Zagrab, Split, and Dubrovnik. Because we stayed in Split the whole time, we flew in and out from there. Luckily there is Uber in Croatia, so we were able to use that to get from the airport to our hotel and around Split as well.I have so many tips for you in this Croatia Travel Guide, so let's get started.
Places to Travel in Croatia
Cities to Visit
ZagrebZagreb is the capital of Croatia, close to the border with Slovenia. It is less touristy than the coastal cities, so if you are looking for an off-the-beaten-path stop on your Croatia trip, Zagreb would be a great choice. It is a city full of rich history, beautiful architecture, and an amazing blend of culture.Croatia is known for its beautiful coast, and no trip would be complete without visiting at least one of these cities.Southern Coastal Cities
Northern Coastal Cities
There are so many cities outside of the ones listed here, but you really can't go wrong with any coastal city. There are some amazing islands, like Hvar, easily accessible from Split.
Things to Do
The absolute must-sees in Croatia are:
- Krka National Park
- Plitvice Lakes National Park
- Blue Grotto (Blue Cave)
- Diocletian's Place in Split
- King's Landing From Game of Thrones in Dubrovnik (Old Town of Dubrovnik)
Plitvice Lakes National Park and Diolectian's Palace are UNESCO World Heritage Sites, and the whole Old Town of Dubrovnik is as well.Some other UNESCO World Heritage Sties in Croatia are:
- Euphrasian Basilica in Poreč
- Historic City of Trogir
- Cathedral of St James in Šibenik
- Stari Grad Plain
- Stecci Medieval Tombstone Graveyards
If you want to see all the highlights of Croatia without renting a car, you can stay in Split and take day trips from there. If you want some additional information about what to do in Split, check out my post on Five Fun Things to Do in Split!
When to Travel to Croatia
Croatia has a long tourist season, especially along the coast. Tourist season generally runs from May through September. If you are a fan of shoulder seasons, April and October are good times to go. The Dalmatian coast has lots of sunshine, and Hvar averages over 120 days of sun per year! No matter when you go, you are sure to have a few sunny days. If you want to see a breakdown of the weather by month, check out this site.During the winter, you are like to experience the Bora, which is a strong wind that comes down from the mountains and over many of the southern Adriatic islands. The Bora actually blows minerals down from the mountains and spreads them over Pag Island where the best cheese I have ever tasted is made!
What to Expect to Spend in Croatia
Croatia is not as expensive as other parts of Europe, so if you are looking for a most budget-friendly European destination, Croatia is a good option. July/August are peak tourist season in Croatia, so if you are looking to save more money, other months might be better.We stayed at the Adriatic Queen Villa in Split, which was about a 15-20 minute walk from the Old City and about 5 minutes down to the beach. Our flights plus hotel was about $1800 USD per person. We spent around $5 USD per Uber we took, but Split has a bus system that is free.Food costs were as expected for a touristy area. There are many high-end restaurants as well as cheaper street foods, so you can really eat on any budget.Excursions are another cost to consider, and many of the national parks have an entrance fee. You can check prices on their websites, but if you go with a guided tour they sometimes include the cost of the entrance fee. We paid on average about $100 USD per person for each of our excursions. You can check prices on sites like Expedia, Viator, or TripAdvisor to plan ahead. Day trips are definitiely a must and I cover the ones we did below in the Croatia Travel Guide Itinerary.
Croatia Travel Guide Itinerary
This was Andrew and I's first trip together and we were both very excited to go. We did a lot of research into what we wanted to do/where we wanted to go while we were there. We found that pretty much everything we wanted to do was accessible via tours from Split, so we decided to make that our "home base" while in Croatia. My top tip for a less stress vacation is to pick a spot for a "home base."We did four full-day trips and spent the rest of the time exploring Split and going to the beach. It was the perfect mix of relaxation and exploration.We went for a total of 10 days (8 full days if you exclude travel days) and it was the perfect amount of time. If you are interested in also going to Zagreb or other parts of northern Croatia, you could drive to Plitvice Lakes National Park and then on to your next destination.We went in July and it was pretty hot and crowded since summer is Croatia’s busiest tourist season. The peak of the season is July/August, so if you wanted less people and cooler weather, you want to go another time.
8 Day Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive in Split, Croatia
We got to our hotel mid-afternoon, so we walked around the Old City in Split and got some dinner. The Old City and surrounding streets have plenty of restaurants and cafes to choose from. Most have their menu with prices listed out front so you can check out what they are serving and prices.Our hotel was right on the water, so we also went for an evening walk on the beach and watched the sun set over the water.
Day 2: Trogir + Krka National Park
Our guide told us that 2019 was the last year they were going to allow people to swim in the waterfalls at Krka because sunscreen was killing the biodiversity in the water. We are very lucky we went when we did! The waterfalls were beautiful and the water was cool and refreshing.We had a short stop in Trogir, one of Croatia's UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Trogir has a high concentration of historical buildings along with a harbor full of sailboats. We wanted to go in to the Cathedral of St. Lawrence, but because we were wearing tank tops we could not go in. Many churches in Europe have this rule, so wear or carry appropriate clothing!
Day 3: Cooking Class in Split, Croatia
We had so much fun doing this! First we went to the fresh market with the Head Chef to pick out our food. Then we headed to the professional kitchen where we started cooking. I volunteered Andrew to gut the fish, and in return he volunteered me to pop the eyeballs out of the squid (SO gross). We love doing small group activities like this to meet people because having others there makes it even more fun.
Day 4: Day Trip to Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina
I HIGHLY recommend taking a day trip to Mostar. This was definitely my favorite day of the trip! We will definitely be going to Bosnia and Herzegovina on another trip in the future. The landscape was so beautiful there.We made a stop in this tiny town along the highway to stretch our legs and get something to eat/drink. We spent our time heading up to an ancient fort on top of the hill to take a look. It was totally worth it because the views from the top were breathtaking.When we got to Mostar, our tour guide walked us through the city and up to the famous Mostar bridge. The view from the bridge is just as incredible as the bridge itself. We had lunch and wandered around the city until it was time to head back. We even got to see someone jump from the bridge!
Day 5: Split Old City + Marjan Hill
I needed a rest day, so we stayed local and wandered around the Old City. By this time we had wandered around enough that we weren't getting as lost among the high walls. We also toured Diocletian's Palace, the Cathedral of Saint Domnius, and the Temple of Jupiter this day. It was interesting to wander the substructures of the Palace and imagine what it was like to live there over 1000 years ago.At the end of the day, we decided to watch the sunset from Marjan Hill. Because it was so close to sunset already, we ran up the hill! But we made it just in time. The view of the city and the sea bathed in the warm glow of the setting sun was worth the panicked race to get there!
Day 6: Plitvice Lakes
We almost didn’t go to Plitvice Lakes National Park and I am so glad we changed our minds! The pictures you see on Instagram don’t do this place justice. Our tour guide was fantastic and he took us to all the highlights. He was even our own personal photographer! Because we were coming from Split, it was a very long bus ride and I definitely recommend going with a tour guide unless you have all day to spend there.
Day 7: Six Island Tour + Blue Cave
Boats and Lacey are usually not a good mix. But I push myself to do the things that scare me anyways, so off we went on a boat tour!Our captain was really cool and knowledgeable. He took us to the Blue Cave first because it gets busier later in the day, then we were off to the islands. We went to some amazing caves and swimming holes on the islands before we stopping in Hvar late in the afternoon.I wish we had had one more day to go check out Hvar, but that will be a trip for another time! It was definitely a full-day excursion, and we were ready for bed when we got back to our hotel.
Day 8: Klis Fortress, Split
We took an Uber from our hotel out to Klis Fortress and saw where they filmed some of Game of Thrones. The view from here was incredible! Honestly, I liked it better than Marjan Hill, especially because you could see the local’s houses and vineyards and olive trees just down the hill.We went down to the beach again after we got back and jumped off the huge rocks along the beach into the water. The water is actually pretty chilly, but when it is super hot outside it feels amazing.Our flight was early the next morning, so we packed up and went to bed, sad to be leaving such a beautiful country.
Practical Croatia Travel Tips
Packing List
Here are some things I recommend packing for your trip to Croatia:
- Water shoes
- Water bottle (save money and use less plastic!)
- Multiple swimsuits
- Sunscreen
- Comfortable shoes for walking
- Backpack for day trips
Safety
Croatia is fairly safe. Split felt very safe to me, but always be mindful of pickpockets. Keep your phones, cameras, money, and other valuables close. A sturdy, anti-theft backpack is always a good choice no matter where you travel. Remember, common sense goes a long way!
Croatia Travel Guide Final Thoughts
I hope you enjoyed this Croatia Travel Guide and that it has inspired you to travel to Croatia. It is a beautiful country with so many Instagrammable spots. You can't go wrong with anywhere you go. If you want any additional info not listed on my Croatia Travel Guide check out my Instagram or send me an email :)