If you’ve always dreamed of exploring Central and Eastern Europe, Croatia is the perfect country to start. English is widely spoken, especially compared to other Balkan countries, making it easy to get around and chat with the locals. The landscape is diverse, with Mediterranean beaches, historic Roman architecture, fascinating islands, stunning national parks, and cosmopolitan cities. The food is incredibly underrated, and the weather is wonderful for much of the year.
Did I mention that Croatia also has over 1,000 beaches?
If you plan to visit Croatia, this is what you need to know.
Capital: Zagreb
Language: Croatian
Currency: Croatian Kuna
Religion: Roman Catholic
Time zone: UTC + 1
Get a Croatian visa
Croatia is not yet part of the Schengen zone, but citizens of the United States can still enter with ease. You will be issued a visa upon arrival when you land, which is valid for 90 days.
Visiting Dubrovnik
Known as the ‘Pearl of the Adriatic’, Dubrovnik is one of the main tourist destinations in Croatia. Unfortunately, this also makes it one of the busiest and most expensive cities to visit.
Still, it is worth spending a few days in this beautiful walled city. Take the opportunity to walk along the old city walls, spend the day sunbathing on the rocky but beautiful Lapad Beach, take a boat to Lokrum Island, and get lost while exploring the old town maze. There is a reason why Dubrovnik is so popular, so be sure to add it to your itinerary. Tip: aim to go to Dubrovnik as the first destination of your trip. The crowd can be overwhelming, so getting it out of the way first makes all parts of the country feel much calmer.
Visiting Zadar
Zadar is said to have some of the best sunsets in the world. Head to the ocean each night and watch the spectacular display of color as the sun sinks below the horizon. The Salute to the Sun is definitely worth it too. As darkness falls, the ground is illuminated, thanks to solar energy that now powers an incredible light show that lasts all night. Near the Salute to the Sun is the Sea Organ, a series of tubes that reproduce music using the energy of the ocean waves; once again it is definitely worth a visit.
Be sure to visit the old town of Zadar, where you can scale the city walls like you can in Dubrovnik. There are dozens of churches to explore (don’t miss San Simeon, the oldest in the city), ruins of a Roman forum to photograph, and there’s even a beach for sunbathing!
Visiting Zagreb
Zagreb is the capital of Croatia and is a bustling and cosmopolitan city, full of world-class bars, cafes and museums. It’s one of the most underrated cities in Europe, and it’s definitely worth taking the time to explore for several days.
Any highlight of a trip to Zagreb would have to be the Museum of Broken Relationships. The museum is dedicated to failed relationships and displays hundreds of donated personal possessions left over from breakups. The exhibits are fun, heartbreaking, thoughtful, and surprisingly inspiring. Put this museum at the top of your list and aim to spend at least an hour there.
Otherwise, spend your time in Zagreb absorbing the atmosphere of this wonderful city! Get lost in the alleys, stroll through the markets, have a coffee and hike in the nearby mountains.
Visiting the Plitvice lakes
If you’re only going to one place in Croatia, make it Plitvice Lakes. This national park is one of the most beautiful places you have ever seen and it is beautiful no matter what time of year you visit. Try to spend at least a full day walking the different trails that will take you past waterfalls and sparkling turquoise lakes.
The best way to get there is via a bus that goes to / from Zagreb and Zadar. Plan to spend a night there so you’re not in a rush for time, and give yourself space on your SD card to take hundreds of photos. Plitvice rarely disappoints.
Visiting Brac
While most people head to Hvar when island hopping in Croatia, try taking the ferry to Brac. It is much cheaper, not as crowded, and it has much better beaches.
You’ll want to spend most of your time in the beautiful seaside town of Bol. There, the main attraction is Zlatni Rat beach, which stretches for half a kilometer to the Adriatic Sea, is one of the best sunbathing spots in the Island. A little known fact about this beach is that the White House was actually built from the white rock found in Zlatni Rat.
Visitation
For a place a bit off the beaten path, head to Pag, a beautiful island that not many tourists have heard of (or decide to visit!). It is known for having lunar landscapes, which definitely make an interesting contrast against the bright blue seas. It is also the home of Pag cheese, one of the most expensive cheeses in the world. If you have a little extra cash, it is worth investing in trying some of this island’s famous exports, as it is absolutely delicious.
When to go to Croatia
Croatia is best viewed with bright blue skies, so don’t miss out on winter when you’re planning to go there. Summer is best avoided as well, as the beaches get crowded to the point where you can’t find a lounger, and cruise ships dock even more tourists. Also, during the summer months, many of the locals go on vacation and close their shops and restaurants when they leave.
The best time to visit, then, is during shoulder season. That means April to June and September to November. Everywhere it will be open, there will be very few crowds, prices will be cheaper than during the summer months, and the weather will still be warm enough for sunbathing, but not so hot that it ends with a heatstroke.
How long to spend there
Allot a minimum of two weeks to explore Croatia. Doing so will give you time to visit a city, an island, a beach town and the Plitvice lakes. If you have a full month, you can add a few more towns that are further inland, explore the ruins of Pula, or just spend your time on the islands going up and down the rugged coastline.
How much budget for a trip to Croatia
Croatia is the most expensive country in the Balkans, but it is not as expensive as Western Europe. These are the typical prices you can expect to pay.
Accommodation: Accommodation in Dubrovnik is where you will spend most of your money. I couldn’t find a dorm for less than $ 35 a night there! Elsewhere, you can reserve a bedroom for around $ 15 a night. In the colder months, expect to find places for half of that.
If you’re an Airbnb fan, decent apartments cost around $ 50 a night in Zagreb and $ 70 a night in more touristy areas. However, you can always find shared rooms starting at $ 20 a night.
You can expect an average of around $ 20 a night if you are a budget traveler.
Transportation: Transportation in Croatia is reasonably affordable, and buses are the main method of getting around. For buses, expect to pay around $ 20 to get through the cities, paying an extra couple of bucks if you have a backpack to store.
Food: Food is cheap in Croatia. Expect to spend $ 10 on a large dinner that will satisfy you. Most restaurants also offer free bread and olive oil at the table.
