CROATIA TOUR HIGHLIGHTS
- Go chasing waterfalls at Plitvice Lakes National park.
- Explore King’s Landing in Dubrovnik’s old town.
- Walk the old town walls.
- Explore another famous Game of Thrones filming location at the Diocletian’s Palace in Split.
- Get lost in narrow alleys in a palace complex.
- Sail the beautiful Adriatic Sea and island-hop.
- Listen to the Sea Organ in Zadar and watch a light show at the Sun Salutation.
CROATIA VACATION TIPS
- Croatia uses its own currency called Kuna.
- Try to find restaurants that locals love and eat local!
- If you have extra free time, busses, trains, and boats are a great way to travel. Taxis are expensive!
- Nature buffs will love Croatia and should enjoy the vast outdoor scenery and hikes.
- As a region famous for its natural sites, try to be mindful of your environmental impact – don’t leave trash around and stick to the hiking paths when out on trails.
- Try to learn some of the local language, the locals will surely appreciate it!
THINGS TO DO CROATIA
1. PLITVICE LAKES NATIONAL PARK
Take a hike in this famous national park where 16 lakes roll into each other to create a paradise with multiple waterfalls. The full trail can take up to 6 hours to complete with over 11 miles of the wooden walkway, or you can opt for the shorter version of about 4 hours where you’ll skip portions using free boats.
YOU SHOULD KNOW
If you don’t want to hike the full trail and even 4 hours is too much, you can hike just the top portion in about 2 hours. Bring comfortable walking shoes and maybe a poncho if you want to get the best view of the large waterfall. The summer season is the best time to visit as the weather will be the most cooperative and getting wet from the splashing waterfalls will be refreshing.
2. DUBROVNIK WALLS
It would be a huge missed opportunity to visit Dubrovnik and not walk the old city walls and forts. You can purchase a ticket and climb up some steps and begin your one way – from any of two entrances – and walk off the 2-mile wall in a counterclockwise direction. There’s no rush to finish in any amount of time, so take your time and fully enjoy the views of the Adriatic sea and the iconic orange tiled roofs.
BEST TIME TO GO
In terms of weather, the summer or spring will be the best time to do this walk. Summer will be the hottest as you’ll be about over 80ft above the city, but any other season and you may encounter rain during your stroll. As you walk, there will be little places to sit and enjoy a drink to rest before continuing.
3. OLD TOWN – DUBROVNIK
When you’re done with your self guided tour on the city walls and have taken all the selfies of you with the beautiful Adriatic sea in the background, make sure to explore every little corner of the old town. The old town is basically the biggest attraction here and is still a fully functioning city with local residents living within the old walls. Chances are high that you’ll find a cute, charming little cafe or pub that feels like your own little secret spot.
YOU SHOULD KNOW
Dubrovnik has become even more famous in recent years due to HBO’s hit show Game of Thrones. A lot of major places within the show were filmed here in Dubrovnik spawning a side industry of Game of Thrones tours.
4. SRD MOUNTAIN – DUBROVNIK CABLE CAR
When you’re done exploring the inner workings of the old town confined in the city walls and fortress, take a cable car ride up for the most iconic view of Dubrovnik. A quick ride up Srd Mountain – running every 3 minutes – you’ll be treated to the best view of the Adriatic and the old town. Once you’ve taken it all in, reflect on your time there at the restaurant up at the top.
YOU SHOULD KNOW
The entrance to the cable car is right outside the old city walls. Running every 3 minutes, you won’t have to rush or walk far to catch a ride.
5. ZADAR SEA ORGAN
Designed by local architect Nikola Basic, Zadar’s Sea Organ is a masterpiece in its own right. The structure is built into stone stairs that dip right into the sea and is a system of pipes that whistles and creates soothing sounds reminiscent of an organ as the waves push air through the pipes.
YOU SHOULD KNOW
If you have time, you can do as the locals do and spend some time here on the steps, maybe enjoying a small little picnic as you reflect on your incredible time in Croatia. This is also a great spot to catch the sunset with the “organ” piping in the background.
6. SUN SALUTATION
Right next to the Organ is another installation by Nikola Basic. The Sun Salutation is a 72ft wide circular piece filled with 300 glass plates that collect solar energy during the day. The result is a really fun light show from sunset to sunrise that attracts lots of tourists and families where kids like to enjoy the light show.
BEST TIME TO VISIT
The best time to be here is right before sunset to stake out your spot to enjoy the illuminating light show beaming onto the floor. It can get crowded with kids and families so your view may not be guaranteed.
7. KRKA NATIONAL PARK
Krka National Park is made up of the 45 mile long Krka River and is defined by its beautiful waterfalls. Over a millennia of river water has created a bit of a phenomenon – the water has carved a canyon about 650ft deep into hills made out of limestone. It’s truly a sight to behold and a must-see destination for any visit to Croatia.
8. DIOCLETIAN’S PALACE
Right along the main harbor in Split is a towering palace complex from ancient Roman times. However, this is no regular palace, this is essentially what makes up the city of Split. You’ll find all types of restaurants, bars, shops, and even residences here. Even more amazing? This structure was built in the 4th century and took 10 years to finish.
YOU SHOULD KNOW
Most of your time in Split will be spent here. Navigating the palace is a labyrinth of narrow alleys, secret corridors, and yes, more Game of Thrones filming locations. Fans of the show will be happy to know a scene involving dragons was filmed in the basement of the complex.
9. KLIS FORTRESS
The imposing Klis fortress controls the narrow valley leading into Split. Built by Illyrians in the 2nd century BC, this fortress has a long history of being attacked and taken control of by different groups. In the end, the Venetians took control of it in 1648. Just northwest of the center of Split, this is a short journey and a good option for a day trip.
YOU SHOULD KNOW
Our last Game of Thrones reference, fans will be delighted to know Klis fortress served as the setting of Mereen in the show.
10. ISLAND HOPPING
With over 1200 beautiful islands, no trip to Croatia is complete without getting on a boat and exploring some. Croatia’s islands and islets make up about 3700 miles of coastline. Some notable stops are at Hvar, Trogir, Split, and Dubrovnik.
BEST TIME TO VISIT
Mostly an outdoor destination, you’ll definitely want to know the weather forecast ahead of your arrival. Part of the Balkans, Croatia has the advantage of amazing weather coupled with rich history, you don’t want anything to hold you back during your visit.
QUICK FACTS
- Late Spring and Summer are the best times to visit.
- The high season is during the Summer when crowds are at its peak.
- Low season begins in October until April.
- High season not only brings crowds, but prices reflect the demand.
1. Spring – May to June – Good Season
The average high during the spring is 70F and average lows of 56F. It can still be chilly during this time but it’s a good time to visit as crowds have not yet arrived. It may be too cold to do any sailing or multi-day stays at sea.
2. Summer – July to August – High Season
During the summer, the average highs are 83F and 71F lows. The weather is picturesque beautiful during this time but crowds are big and the prices are higher. If you don’t mind, this is is the time of the year you want to come.
3. Fall/Winter – October to April – Low Season
Winter is coming and with it, average highs of 56F and 46F low. It does snow in Croatia and can often snow a lot. This is low season where there are little tourist groups but it’s the cheapest time of the year to visit. Don’t count on doing too many of the outdoor activities during this time as some parks have winter hours and some may not even be open.