Discover Destinations When to Travel How to get around Visa Food Other Tips
Discover Croatia
Croatia is a glorious crescent-shaped country that bridges the central European and Mediterranean worlds. Sat alongside neighbours like Hungary and Slovenia, you’ll find that Croatia’s borders are very different and less distinguishable compared to only 20 years ago.
Across its deep and dramatic history, the country has been occupied by the Illyrians, Romans, Slavs, Austro-Hungarians and Venetians, to mention a few. As a result, its history is now a melting pot of brilliant culture, cuisines and rich architecture.
Croatia’s distinctive orange-tiled roof cities start to tell this story as you wander through the maze of streets.
We’ve created this ultimate guide to Croatia to share with you everything that this stunning country has to offer. Decided that Croatia is somewhere you HAVE to visit?
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Is Croatia worth visiting?
Beyond its history, Croatia has so much to offer. There are thousands of miles of glimmering coastline, gateways to the vast number of islands scattered in the Adriatic Sea just waiting to be hopped.
Alternatively, you can head inland to one of Croatia’s 8 national parks. These parks are filled with adventure, whether it be hiking 1,528m to Risnjak Peak or exploring Plitvice Lakes National Park. Considered THE National Park of Croatia, hours can be spent admiring its 16 inter-connecting lakes, numerous waterfalls, gorgeous nature and thriving wildlife.
Is Croatia safe?
Croatia is regarded as an extremely safe country. In fact, it ranked the 12th safest out of 142 countries on the Crime Index 2023.
As with every country, it’s always good to practise common sense and keep an eye on your belongings.
Best destinations in Croatia
Top 3 places to visit in Croatia
It’s no wonder Croatia has become such a popular destination for travellers from all over the world. This is especially true for the 3 places below that have been firmly put on the map:
Dubrovnik — famous for red rooftops, Game of Thrones and rich history
Dubrovnik is the famous destination in Croatia where Game of Thrones was filmed. Once you visit this city it will become very clear why they choose Dubrovnik as the perfect film setting.
The well-preserved Medieval city walls, churches, monasteries and palaces are just beyond stunning. A walking tour here is a must to appreciate Dubrovnik’s beauty, as well as its history.
Check out this page to find out how to travel from Split to Dubrovnik.
Hvar — Croatia’s most popular island
With an average of 7.7 hours of sunshine a day, holidaymakers flock to the island of Hvar and the surrounding islands, making it a world-famous destination for sailing boats to dock at the harbour of Hvar.
Besides the gorgeous harbour filled with luxury yachts, you’ll find delicious seafood restaurants, cocktail bars and clubs that go on until sunrise.
Taking the ferry from Split to Hvar only takes about 1 hour.
Split — a city rich with history and culture on the Adriatic Sea
Split is the most popular gateway to many of Croatia’s islands, but that’s not all the city has to offer. It’s the largest city on the Dalmatian coast and boasts the title of a UNESCO World Heritage Site due to its history-rich Old Town.
Aside from enjoying the city itself, Split is perfect for day trips, whether it’s exploring national parks or heading to the open sea on a boat trip.
Find out how to get from Dubrovnik to Split.
When is the best time to travel to Croatia?
Instinctively you’re probably thinking the best time to travel to Croatia is when the weather is at its best. The sun shining, not a cloud in the sky, making that dip in the sea that bit more refreshing.
Well, you along with millions of other tourists have both had the same thought.
The saying ‘packed like sardines’ comes to mind when we think of Croatia in July/August. Okay, it’s not that bad, but it is busy! The streets are packed, the beaches rammed and prices are hiked up too.
Visit in the shoulder months
If you have the chance, we recommend travelling in the shoulder months instead – May (~21°C), June (~25°C), September (~23°C), October (~18°C). These months may not be as hot, but your experience of Croatia will be so much better! Also for those on a tight budget, with lower prices during these months, it should make travelling a bit easier on your wallet.
Croatia in the winter
Winter-time in Croatia offers a very different experience. For most people, Croatia is a flurry of waterfalls and dips in the glorious sea, but at temperatures between 5 and 10°C, it’s unlikely you’ll be doing either of those.
With fewer tourists, a lot of businesses decide to close up for the winter, limiting your choice of restaurants, bars and things to do. Also if you’re a solo traveller, it may make meeting new people slightly harder.
The plus side? You get to experience a Croatia that most tourists miss, a Croatia that is usually just reserved for locals.
How to get around in Croatia
Your budget, the number of people you’re travelling with, and whether you have a driver’s license or not, are all factors that will influence how you decide to travel around Croatia.
Here are the best ways to get around Croatia:
By car
Hiring a car offers you ultimate convenience, comfort and privacy. It means you can explore wherever you like in Croatia, whenever you like.
In the low season, you can rent a car for very affordable prices. Check Skyscanner Car Rental to find the best rental prices.
By bus
The Croatian bus network is extensive and should be your go-to public transport when travelling around the country. FlixBus and Croatia Bus are two of the most popular bus companies operating in Croatia. The neon green Flixbuses are hard to miss!
Bus tickets are fairly cheap and can be bought either online via Bookaway or directly at the bus station.
If you buy a return ticket, the price can be discounted by up to 60% – a good tip to know!
By ferry
If one of Croatia’s islands is on your list, then the only way to reach them is by ferry. You can find ferries running from most major coastal cities, such as Dubrovnik, Split, and Zadar which provide access to picturesque islands like Hvar, Korčula, and Brač. Jadrolinija is the main ferry company in Croatia.
The price of ferries varies depending on your destination but is guaranteed to be a lot more expensive if you’re bringing your car with you.
If you’re travelling during the high season in Croatia, we recommend booking online via Bookaway in advance.
By taxi
Taxis are a pretty expensive form of transport in Croatia and most of the taxis are metered.
If you’re more of a fan of Uber, you’ll find that it operates in most of the major cities, but only between June and October in Dubrovnik.
By plane
A lot of the larger cities including Zagreb, Dubrovnik, and Split have airports. If you’re short on time and want to get from one end of the country to the other, you may consider flying.
However, flights aren’t cheap, especially during peak season. Do keep in mind that taking a short-haul flight can be up to ten times more polluting than taking a more environmentally-friendly option like the bus.
Entry requirements and visa for Croatia
All EU citizens are granted freedom of movement for tourism in Croatia. Around 95 countries are able to visit Croatia visa-free but for a maximum of 90 days.
All visa-exempt citizens need to make sure that their passport is valid for at least three months from the date of arrival in Croatia.
If you want to check whether you can enter Croatia visa-free, check out Handy Visas.
Must-try food in Croatia
The best way to truly get to know a country is through its food so here’s a list of foods you must try:
- Strukli – you’ll find strukli mainly in the northern regions of Croatia, particularly in the capital city of Zagreb. It’s a pastry filled with cottage cheese and sour cream that has been either boiled or baked.
- Black risotto – you’ll find black risotto in other countries around the world, especially those around the Mediterranean Sea, but it’s a particularly popular dish in Croatia. It’s risotto made with squid or cuttlefish ink, hence the black colour.
- Burek – goes by many names depending on the country that you’re in. You can find different variations of this dish throughout the Balkans, Middle East and Central Asia. Burek is a flaky pastry filled with meat, cheese or vegetables. A perfect snack to keep you going for the day!
Essential travel tips for Croatia
Here’s a selection of the best tips and pieces of information that may make your trip to Croatia that little bit easier:
Paying with Euros in Croatia
As of January 2023, Croatia has stopped using its old currency, Croatian Kuna, and now uses the Euro.
Most places in Croatia allow you to pay with a card, but it’s good to always have some cash on you just in case. If you’re in one of the big cities, you won’t have to walk far to find the next ATM.
ATMs
ATMs in Croatia like to charge you a significant amount to withdraw money. For example, the Raiffeisen Group ATMs will charge you just under €5 in fees. Also, make sure to avoid Euronet Banks, not just in Croatia, but all over Europe. They also charge extortionate fees.
When I was in Croatia September 2021, OTP Banks offered free withdrawals. I’m unable to confirm if this is still the case now, so if you’ve used an OTP Bank recently, please let us know.
Buying a sim card in Croatia
Great news! If you already have a sim card from another European country, you should be able to use your calls and data like you would at home. We recommend double-checking with your service provider, but you should be all good.
If you don’t have a sim card from a European country, then we suggest buying a local sim card. It’s a lot cheaper than paying roaming charges or adding bundles. Plus, the data is usually faster.
There are a number of mobile providers in Croatia to pick from — T-Mobile (Hrvatski Telekom), A1, Telemach. We recommend buying your sim from T-Mobile. They have some great deals such as unlimited data for 10 days for €10. It’s also the fastest network in Croatia.
Croatia’s language cheat sheet
Croatian is the official language that is spoken by around 95% of the population.
It’s always good to know a few essential words before travelling to a place, so here are a few to get you started:
- Hello – Bok
- Thank you – Hvala
- Please – Molim
- Sorry – Oprosti
- Beer – Pivo
The perfect packing list for Croatia
If you’re visiting Croatia during the summer, it’s going to be hot. Make sure to bring loose-fitting clothes and of course your swimwear. The shoulder months can start to get a bit colder during the evenings, so it’s a good shout to bring a light jacket or jumper.
Aside from the essential travel gear, here are some that have become permanent fixtures on our packing list:
- Reusable water bottle – they’re better for the environment and can save you money on water.
- A portable charger – there’s probably going to be a time when your phone’s battery is on red, at a time that you desperately need it.
- An adaptor – Croatia uses the same plugs as most of Europe (C&F). A universal travel adaptor is a great buy if you’re travelling between different continents.
- Suncream – The sun in Croatia can be extremely strong. Especially when spending a lot of time in or near the water, you won’t notice the burning sun until you arrive back at your hotel. Better take care of your skin and pack enough sun cream!
Kate is a writer, (ex)Management Consultant and avid traveller. She recently returned from a 2-year career break exploring the world and decided corporate life wasn’t for her. She’ll soon be testing life as a digital nomad. She’s visited over 40 countries and fell in love with Latin America in particular. Her travelling has inspired a passion for yoga, salsa, hiking and Spanish.