Croatia Travel Guide

This travel guide for the stunning destination of Croatia, highlights the top places to visit, how to get there, safety, scams, logistics, and more to help plan your trip.

Note: This travel guide and all posts on Croatia have been updated as of January 2023.

Top Attractions in Croatia

Croatia’s beauty, history, sunny climate, and friendly locals make it an outstanding destination for all ages.

Not only is much of the mainland edged with stunning beaches, crystal-clear blue water, and abundant sunshine, there’s even more of it to explore on the 79 islands and 500 islets scattered along the Dalmatian coast.

On top of this, it has one of the best preserved walled cities in Europe, Dubrovnik. Full of ancient Roman and Venetian ruins, and tons of fascinating history. This travel guide just covers the highlights of the best destinations in Croatia, make sure to click on the links at the bottom for more detailed information.

Dubrovnik

This picture perfect city is one of the finest, most well-preserved, medieval towns in the world, also making it one of the top visited spots in Croatia. Also known as the ‘Pearl in the Adriatic’, it’s considered by some to be the most beautiful city in the world.

In fact, Dubrovnik is so picturesque, it’s been used as a filming location for many movies and TV series, most notably, The Game of Thrones, which many come here to see. Sites like the Red Keep in King’s Landing, Fort Bokar, Gradac Park, the stairs where Cersei Lannister did her ‘walk of shame’, and much more.

Split

Split, about a 3 hour drive north of Dubrovnik, sits on a picturesque bay on the Adriatic, surrounded by pine-forested mountains.

It’s also where Roman emperor Diocletian chose to build his retirement palace around the 4th century AD. Today, its remains are the world’s most complete Roman palace remains. It’s fascinating to explore them and see how the city built around them over the centuries!

But Split also has some great beaches, a fun nightlife, and has ferries running to some of the most popular islands in Croatia, so it’s also a top destination here.

Plitvice Lakes National Park

If you’re into nature, Plitvice Lakes National Park is must-see. With 16 cascading, connected lakes, each a different shade of blue/green, and over 90 waterfalls, it’s a visual wonderland.

This stunning gem is located about a 3 hour ride north of Split, and about 1.5 hours south of Zadar. I spent three days in this park exploring its sites, but you really only need one (especially if you read my guide on the Best Spots In Plitvice Lakes National Park).

Zagreb

Zagreb, Croatia’s capital, is a common starting point in Croatia, as many flights arrive here. This city is a great place to experience Croatia’s culture, and has some beautiful old architecture, like St. Marks’s Church (below left) and Zagreb Cathedral (below right). It also has a lively street called Tkalciceva street in the center of Old Town, full of restaurants and bars. You’ll find locals and tourists here, making it feel authentic.

Although I don’t really recommend Zagreb as a destination city on its own, it’s definitely worth a stop if you’re flying into the airport here.

Zadar

Old Town Zadar, less than 2 hours north of Split, sits on a small peninsula in the Mediterranean, surrounded by 16th century Venetian walls. It’s also home to the ruins of an ancient Roman Forum, the center of life when this city was Roman, as well as some quirky, modern installations.

There are also some lesser known islands nearby to explore, like Ugljan, Dugi Otok, and more.

Island Hopping On The Dalmatian Coast

For a really epic adventure, plan to do some island hopping. With 79 stunning islands and 500 islets along Dalmatia’s 3,600 miles of coastline, there’s a lot to explore.

Each island offers plenty of beachfront, crystal-clear water, and delicious Mediterranean restaurants, yet each one has its own personality.

The most popular islands are:

• Brac
• Hvar
• Vis
• Korcula
• Mljet

You can read more about each, as well as how to navigate them by ferry in my island hopping post below.

Best Time To Visit Croatia

The best time to visit Croatia weather-wise is May to June and September to October.

High season is July and August, so it will be the most crowded, and quite toasty.

October to March is off-season, as it will be cooler. A good time to visit if you’re looking for a bargain.

Languages in Croatia

The Official language is Croatian, but more than 80% speak English. Especially in the tourist areas.

Croatia Travel Guide: Money Matters

Currency: As of January 2023, Croatia has dropped its currency of the Kuna and now uses the Euro. Kuna will still be accepted until January 15, 2023 and can be converted into Euros through the end of 2023. Remember to only exchange at currency exchange bureau and banks.

The conversion rate as of January 2024 is as follows.

• USD (1)=.91 Euro
• CNY (1)=.13 Euro

Credit Cards: Credit and debit cards are widely accepted, with Visa and MasterCard the most common. If prompted, always choose conversion in the local currency (Euro), not your home currency, to get the best rate. If you have a travel card that charges no foreign transaction fees, this will be the least expensive way to make purchase.

ATMs: ATMs are easy to find in larger cities, as well as on the most islands. When using a debit card in a foreign country, you may be charges two transaction fees. One by your bank and one by the bank you are transacting with. Talk to your bank to understand the fees they charge. Consider using a debit card like Charles Schwab which rebates you all ATM fees and charges no foreign transaction fees.

Croatia Travel Guide: Tipping

A 5-10% tip at restaurants for good service is common, and appreciated, but make sure it’s not already added to the bill.

A 10% hotel charge is often added to your bill, so no need to tip extra.

Tip around 10% for tours and simply round up for taxis.

Croatia Travel Guide: Safety Concerns

Croatia is relatively safe. As in any touristy area, however, petty theft, pick-pocketing, and purse-snatching can occur. Take normal precautions and always be aware of your surroundings.

If you’re offered something too good to be true, it probably is, and if things don’t feel right, trust your instincts and evaluate other options.

Some political tension from the Croatian War of Independence does remain, so sometimes ethnic and/or racial crimes do occur, although are rare.

Also, know that there are areas where the possibility of unexploded land mines exist. This website provides more information, although is only in Croatian. Copy and paste the URL into Google iTools to translate. You can usually stay safe by sticking to marked trials and don’t drive off-road.

The threat of terrorism is always a possibly, as it is in Europe, the USA and other areas, so always be vigilant.

Always check the latest situation on your government website. It’s also a good idea to sign up for STEP (Smart Traveler Enrollment Program), or similar, with your country. This service will send you emails if and when potentially dangerous situations arise.

Croatia Travel Guide: Common Scams

Although relatively safe, there are always a few people that try to take advantage of tourists. Some of the popular scams in Croatia are:

Drink Scams: This scam is one of the most common and starts with an attractive lady asking you to join her for a drink. Unfortunately, the establishment will be in on it, forcing you to pay a very expensive tab. Possibly even forcibly walking you to an ATM to get the money. Remember, if it seems to good to be true, it probably is. Alternatively, an extra zero may be added to your bill and you will not get a receipt. Make sure to always get a copy of your bill to avoid this.

Skimming At ATMs: Always look at the ATM carefully before using it. Do you see hidden cameras that can see you entering your pin, does the card skimmer look like an original, or look tampered with, or is there an overlay over the keypad capturing your pin? Always check thoroughly for suspicious add-ons and cover your pin with your hand as you enter it.

Fake Travel Agents: Only book with companies that have a legitimate on-line listing with reviews that look real. Check their phone number to make sure it really works. Maybe even ask to see their license. Never book with someone you meet on the street.

Rosemary: With this scam, an old gypsy woman may offer you a sprig of rosemary (or other small item) as a token of luck, then demand money. If the scene escalates, the distraction may result in you being pickpocketed. Don’t accept anything for free.

Car Windshield Wash: While waiting in line for the ferry in your car, someone may spray chemicals on it, then refuse to wipe it off if you don’t pay.

Croatia Travel Guide: Getting Around

Fly

International flights arrive into 6 mainland cities, Dubrovnik, Split, Zagreb, Zadar, Pula, and Osijet. Most international flights, however, arrive in Zagreb. There are also some international flights to the island airports of Rijeka, on Krk, Brac (near Bol), and Losinj, on Kali Losinj.

Boat/Ferry

Boat/Ferry is one of the best ways to get around Croatia’s coastal cities and islands, plus, it’s stunningly beautiful. You can take ferries from Dubrovnik and Split directly to most all the main islands, as well as each other. To see Croatian ferry schedules, click here, or read about my post on island hopping.

Drive

Driving is done on the right side of the road and is relatively safe. Avoid rush hour in big cities and park where there are white lines and a big ‘P’ sign. Don’t park where there are yellow dots as these spots are for the disabled. The minimum driving age is 18. You can also rent a car at 18, although there is an extra fee for those aged 18-20. If your country is part of the EU, and your license uses a Latin typeface, you will not need and International Drivers Permit (IDP), although it is highly recommended in case you get stopped or get into an accident. It’s best to ask your car rental agency in advance. The rules are similar for US citizens. According to the US Embassy in Croatia, US Citizens may use a US drivers license in Croatia for up to three months, but an IDP is recommended.

Bus

Buses are an inexpensive alternative in Croatia. See Bus Croatia for bus schedules. They do not always need to be booked in advance, but in peak season, it’s a good idea as they fill up quickly.

Know that sometimes if buses are full, you may need to stand in the aisle. To be safe, arrive early. And remember, you can try to reach the nearest city and take a shorter bus to your destination if necessary.

Visa Information for Croatia

Beginning January 2023, Croatia is now part of the Schengen Zone, following Schengen rules. Citizens of the US, Australia, New Zealand, and many others can visit visa free for 90 days within a 180 day period. Citizens of China must apply for a Schengen Visa. See the link above for full details by country.

These 90 days also include visits to any other countries that follow the Schengen. This means if you visit France for 30, Italy for 30, and then Croatia for 30 (or any other countries in the Schengen) within a 180 day period, you will have used up all of your 90 days. Days do not need to be consecutive, just no more than 90 within the 180 days. Your clock resets every 180 days.

Croatia Travel Guide: Top Destination Blogs & Stories

Click on the images, or copy, below for more detailed information on these key Croatian sites.

Summary

If this travel guide has been useful in planning, or just dreaming about visiting Croatia, please add a comment below. I’d love to hear from you.

Safe travels!

Julie

To learn more about me and my philosophies on travel read my about me page.