The Ultimate Guide To Holidays In Croatia

From its glorious hidden beaches and tiny little islands to some of the oldest towns in all of Europe, this gem of a destination is just waiting to be explored. Here’s everything you need to know and holidaying in Croatia.

Browse the full itinerary for our eight-day Coastal Croatia trip here.

Best time to visit Croatia

Like much of Europe’s Mediterranean nations, it’s hard to argue against summer as the best time to visit Croatia. Anytime between May and August offers you the kind of sun-drenched weather that should always accompany gorgeous seaside towns, shimmering ocean waters and glowing sandy beaches. That said, if you’re not too bothered about the quality of weather, shoulder seasons remain pleasant enough as a lower cost, crowd-free alternative. Plitvice Lakes National Park and Krka National Park are both particularly beautiful in March, April, September and October. If you’re more interested in exploring culturally rich cities like Split, Dubrovnik and Zagreb, then winter can be a real cost saver. Do just bear in mind that this country’s tourist season very much revolves around summer, so flights might be harder to come by and some resorts will close off-season.

What to do in Croatia

So much focus is placed on the sea that Croatia’s inland beauty is often overlooked. Plitvice Lakes National Park is one of the most uniquely beautiful parks in all of Europe, characterised by cascading waterfalls, limestone canyons and emerald green terraced lakes. Krka National Park also has its fair share of beautiful waterfalls, most famously Skradinski Buk, one of Croatia’s most beloved sights. A hike in Plitvice or a boat tour through Krka will show you a totally different layer to this country’s natural beauty.

Krka National Park proves that inland Croatia is just as pretty as the coast

No visit to Croatia is complete, meanwhile, without at least one medieval old town being explored. Dubrovnik is the most popular, thanks to Game of Thrones. While the tourist levels post GoT have reached almost unsustainable levels, it is still more than worth visiting thanks to the stunning architecture on display. Split offers a slightly more laid-back feel, with an open-space marina full of charming little bars and restaurants. If you’re looking for somewhere a little different, check out Pula, with its utterly magical amphitheatre.

Best beaches in Croatia

The Dalmatian Coast is lined with hundreds of incredible beaches, many of which remain largely undiscovered. This is especially true of the country’s many islands and islets which, due to their remote nature, welcome far fewer visitors than the coastlines surrounding major cities. Head to Hvar, Korcula and Vis for an excellent range of quaint beaches, such as Palmižana, Badija and Stiniva. Makarska is a mainland town with plenty of lovely stretches of sand, while Split, Pula and Dubrovnik are all surrounded by nice beaches too – just expect those to be a little busier. Read our full guide to the best beaches in Croatia to find out more.

Croatia tour – the ultimate holiday package with Culture Trip

If you want the complete Croatia experience, your best bet is booking a trip with a ready-made itinerary. There’s so much to see here, but public transport isn’t amazing, so if you want to experience multiple islands, towns and cities in one go, you’ve got a bit of a logistical nightmare on your hands. That’s where we come in with our highly knowledgable Travel Experts, who take care of all the planning and logistics, while on-the-ground Local Insiders will be there to guide you from arrival.

Are you ready to explore the Dalmatian Coast with us?

Our trip starts in Split, before winding down the coast to Dubrovnik. You’ll get a guided tour of Split’s ancient old town, as well as a night of stargazing from the city’s hilltop observatory, before we embark on an island-hopping adventure. First there’s Vis, the former Yugoslavian military base, covered in pretty beaches and Venetian courtyards, not to mention old remnants of the military, now taken over by Mother Nature. You’ll have plenty of time to explore the island for yourself in between a guided tour of the old base and a cave-spotting boat tour, before we hop onto our next island, Korcula, famous for its spectacular medieval walled city on the oceanfront. You’ll visit a local museum, explore densely forested landscapes and cycle to Lumbarda for a wine tasting before returning to the mainland.

En route back to the mainland we’ll stop off at Ston, famous for having some of the best oysters on the planet. After slurping down a fresh batch, we’ll finally make our way to Dubrovnik, for a walking tour of the city’s narrow alleyways and many hidden secrets. Not bad for just eight days’ work!

Sold on our Coastal Croatia tour? Browse the full itinerary and book your spot on a trip today!

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

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