Dreaming of crusing via the turquoise waters of the Adriatic, wandering historic cobblestone streets, or savoring the contemporary truffles in an area konobo? Croatia is as magical because it sounds—nevertheless it’s additionally stuffed with surprises that might throw a wrench in your plans in the event you’re not ready.
Do you know that almost all seashores are rocky, not sandy, or that “island hopping” may take a bit extra planning than anticipated? Whether or not you’re exploring Recreation of Thrones filming areas in Dubrovnik, navigating ferry schedules, or determining why the locals are so keen about rakija, these Croatia journey suggestions will enable you to keep away from rookie errors and journey like a professional. Get able to fall in love with Croatia—stress-free!
Croatia Journey Suggestions
Croatia is an unimaginable nation to go to. Not solely is it one of many most secure nations on this planet, however additionally it is extraordinarily clear, the persons are pleasant, and, as a part of the European Union, visiting from the USA is fairly simple. After visiting Croatia in late August via early September, that is what I discovered:
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Croatia is Costly!
Possibly 20 years in the past, Croatia was the cheaper different to the Amalfi Coast or Greek Islands, however no extra. You may definitely get off the crushed path and nonetheless discover bargains, or keep in trip rental flats versus inns, however in the event you plan on visiting the new spots corresponding to Dubrovnik, Hvar, and Break up, be ready for some sticker shock. We discovered Dubrovnik inns the costliest, however meals was expensive in every single place besides among the smaller cities in Istria.
You must ensure you price range appropriately so that you just aren’t stressing about how a lot you might be spending at each flip. To assist, I’ve put collectively a full Croatia price range breakdown.
Be Ready for Warmth and Humidity
Just about each vacation spot I’ve visited within the final 5 years has skilled the adverse impacts of local weather change. Croatia is not any totally different. If you’re visiting within the prime summer season season, you could be ready for top warmth (and humidity), particularly alongside the Dalmatian Coast. Croatia’s shoreline sees a median of over 2,500 hours of sunshine per yr, making it one in all Europe’s sunniest spots.
Individuals flock to Croatia for its Mediterranean local weather, however once we visited within the late summer season, most of our days have been over 90 levels and really humid. That may be high quality when you find yourself sitting in a shaded seashore chaise and taking frequent dips within the sea, however it’s downright suffocating when strolling via the slender streets of the walled cities that don’t get a lot of a breeze. If you would like cooler temperatures, you will want to move inland.
I extremely suggest planning any strolling excursions for the early morning or late afternoon. Make sure to pack a superb sunhat, sunscreen, and possibly even a handheld fan. You additionally must drink loads of water! Fortunately, there are public fountains with clear ingesting water in Dubrovnik and Break up, making it simple to refill your water bottle. In any other case, like many European nations, it may be difficult to ask at no cost faucet water at eating places versus paying for bottled water.
Watch out for Off-Season Journey
Shoulder season and low season journey will be a good way to keep away from the warmth. Nevertheless, you could bear in mind that in some areas, just like the Dalmatian Islands, many inns, eating places, and outlets shut down for the season. Many institutions start to shut by mid-October because the season winds down, with some staying open till the top of the month, relying on demand and climate circumstances. By late autumn and winter, choices for eating and lodging change into restricted on the islands.
Get Prepared for a Lot of Strolling (and Stairs!)
If you wish to discover the medieval walled cities in Istria, hike within the nationwide parks, or uncover the historical past of Croatia’s magnificent cities, you can be strolling quite a bit. Be sure to pack snug footwear that work properly for cobblestones, hills, and plenty and plenty of stairs. I noticed fairly a couple of ladies dressed for the membership, clinging to their boyfriends as they teetered via the cobblestone streets on stilettos.
These stairs and cobblestones can actually come into play when contemplating the place to remain.
Rethink Staying within the Previous Cities
I like staying within the historic middle of cities like Rome or Barcelona, the place the highest sights are only a quick stroll away and the lodging exude character. Nevertheless, there are some components to think about when selecting the place to remain in Croatia. To begin, lots of the outdated cities and cities are pedestrian-only zones. So you could take into account how far you will want to pull your baggage throughout cobblestones from the ferry port, taxi stand, or bus station.
Additionally, in cities corresponding to Dubrovnik, Korcula, or Hvar, you can find many stairs resulting in the smaller facet streets the place you can find lots of the inns, inns, or leases. Do you need to haul your baggage up these steep staircases?
It might be higher to remain simply exterior of city, shut sufficient which you can stroll, however far sufficient which you can have facilities corresponding to taxi service and possibly a pool to chill off in. When you keep additional out, you’ll get monetary savings on lodging however spend extra on cabs/Uber and/or a automobile rental and parking charges.
Go for Uber
Talking of cabs, the taxis in Croatia, particularly Dubrovnik, are way more costly than utilizing Uber. Uber isn’t out there in every single place (like Korcula as an illustration), however it’s a good possibility when you need to use it. We had a number of guides examine the taxis to the mafia or cartel when it comes to value management and scams. When you do take a taxi, negotiate the speed earlier than you begin the trip.
Know When Cruises are in Port
The cruise season in Croatia usually runs from spring via autumn, with peak months being June, July, and August. That is when the biggest variety of ships and passengers go to, benefiting from the Mediterranean’s heat and sunny local weather.
Dubrovnik, one of the well-liked locations, sees the best variety of cruise passengers, welcoming round 520,000 passengers yearly. Nevertheless, to protect the town’s historic attraction and keep away from overcrowding, there are limits on the variety of passengers that may be within the metropolis at any given time. Dubrovnik’s most each day restrict for cruise passengers is 8,000, though on sure peak days, this quantity can go as much as 10,000 passengers. Different cities and islands corresponding to Break up, Zadar, and Hvar are additionally well-liked cruise ports.
What does this imply for you? These cities can get extraordinarily crowded on the times that a number of cruise ships are in port. When you don’t like crowds (and who does?), use a website like CruiseMapper to see when cruise ships can be in port and plan your metropolis exploration round these instances.
Getting Round Croatia
If you are planning your journey, make sure to take a look at a map of Croatia. It is a lengthy, skinny nation with out a well-established practice system. Getting from place to put will seemingly take longer than you suppose. It’s a lot simpler to fly into one metropolis and out of the opposite. For instance, fly into Zagreb and work your means south to Dubrovnik or fly into Dubrovnik and head north in direction of Break up or Zagreb.
When you get into the southern Dalmatian Coast, there may be one principal street that may get fairly busy, particularly in the summertime. When you don’t need to drive between locations, you too can take busses.
Hire a Automobile or Rent a Driver?
I’ve associates who’ve visited Croatia and used personal drivers to switch from location to location. That may be an important answer in the event you don’t want the automobile whereas at a vacation spot otherwise you plan to take excursions for day journeys.
Nevertheless, Croatia has a contemporary freeway system (full with digital tolls and lots of, many tunnels via mountains.) Driving between locations is definitely fairly simple and I’ve actually by no means seen higher meals at freeway relaxation areas. Automobile rental costs are additionally fairly cheap (simply, as at all times, e book upfront if you’d like an computerized transmission.) The one instances it will get difficult is driving among the slender, winding roads in Istria or on the islands. If that sort of driving makes you nervous, you can be higher off hiring a driver.
Prebook Airport Transfers
Yet one more notice on transportation, if you’re arriving by air into Dubrovnik or Break up, I’d counsel pre-booking your airport transfers (I depend on Welcome Pickups.) On days when cruise ships are embarking or disembarking, the visitors to the airport will be atrocious. You’ll want to plan forward and provides your self time on departure days. However even on arrival, it might take a very long time to hail an Uber due to the visitors headed to the airport. Higher to have somebody who’s already there ready for you.
Ebook Your Ferries in Advance
I discovered the ferries in Croatia a bit simpler to navigate than in Greece, however you continue to must plan forward. Ferries do e book up and have a restricted variety of each day sailings. Spend a while researching the schedules and e book your tickets upfront. I exploit Ferry Hopper for this.
When you arrive on the ferry port, pay attention to the ferry line (firm identify), quantity, and different locations of your ticketed ferry. As in Greece, the show on the boat will present the top level vacation spot to your ferry. For instance, to get from Korcula to Break up, you’ll first cease in Hvar. As soon as on board, stow your bag rapidly and discover a seat (seats aren’t assigned like they’re on an airplane.) You’ll then want to observe/hear to your ferry cease and head over to the baggage space earlier than you dock because the loading and unloading course of occurs in a short time.
Carry Money
Euro is now the official foreign money of Croatia, making it a lot simpler for frequent European vacationers. You can find inns and most eating places and outlets take bank cards, together with Apple Pay, however some nonetheless depend on money. However much more than the few locations the place you want money, there are a lot of, many outlets and eating places preferring money and can give you a money low cost. Generally that’s to keep away from the costly bank card transaction charges the seller pays, however some shopkeepers have been fairly clear that they like money as a result of then the don’t must report the identical quantity on their taxes. So if you wish to purchase souvenirs like jewellery (coral is big in Croatia), money will get you a deal.
ATMs are plentiful if you could get Euros, however examine along with your financial institution about international transaction charges. I typically order some international foreign money from my native financial institution earlier than I make a journey.
Ought to You Tip?
Whereas not obligatory, tipping is certainly appreciated. Rounding up the invoice or leaving about 10% at eating places is a pleasant gesture and considerably anticipated for American vacationers. Simply allow them to know at eating places earlier than they run your bank card in order that they will add the tip to the invoice.
Pack Water Footwear
As I discussed above, the seashores in Croatia are usually reasonably rocky. To take pleasure in a dip, or perhaps a stroll, pack a set of water footwear or water socks to guard the bottoms of your toes.
Day Journey to One other Nation (or Not)?
Once you go to Dubrovnik or Break up, it is extremely tempting to tick off a few extra nations by way of day journeys to Montenegro or Bosnia. However, there are some things to remember. To begin with, Montenegro and Bosnia and Herzegovina will not be a part of the European Union. Which means it’s a must to cope with a border crossing in every course. This could take up hours of your day journey. If you’re planning to go to Montenegro, there may be one street via southern Croatia into Montenegro and the visitors will be horrible, particularly in August when Croatians and different Europeans head right down to the Balkans for trip.
Additionally, given its geography, Mostar, the favored Bosnian day journey from Croatia, is even hotter than Croatia in the summertime and colder within the winter. One thing to remember when planning your journey! Given these day journey drawbacks, possibly it’s higher simply so as to add on a couple of days in one in all these nations as an alternative of visiting for only a day.
Are you able to pack your suitcase? Make sure to take a look at our 10-day Croatia itinerary too!
Tamara Gruber is the Founder and Writer of We3Travel. A former advertising and marketing govt and journey advisor, Tamara is an award-winning journey author and acknowledged professional in household journey. Tamara is a member of SATW, NATJA, IFWTWA, and the Journey Journey Commerce Affiliation, and serves on the Board of the Household Journey Affiliation. She can also be the writer of YourTimetoFly.com and the co-host of the Trip Professionals journey podcast.
