Croatia ✓ VISITEDCroatiaROAMSUN

Croatia✨ 10 best things to do in Croatia

Things to do in Croatia

1. Walk Dubrovnik's city wallsCircle the Old Town on its medieval ramparts for views over terracotta roofs and the shimmering sea.
2. Explore Diocletian's PalaceGet lost among cafés, shops and homes built into a living Roman emperor's palace in Split.
3. Hike Plitvice LakesFollow wooden boardwalks past cascading waterfalls and turquoise lakes in Croatia's most famous national park.
4. Island-hop by ferryHop between Hvar, Brač, Korčula and Vis, each with its own beaches, vineyards and stone villages.
5. Swim at Krka's waterfallsSee the travertine cascades of Krka National Park and kayak or walk along the river.
6. Sail the Kornati islandsTake a boat trip through a stark, beautiful archipelago of more than a hundred islands.
7. Taste truffles in IstriaWander hilltop towns like Motovun and Grožnjan and feast on truffle pasta, olive oil and local wine.
8. Watch the Zadar sunsetListen to the waves play the Sea Organ as the sun sets beside the glowing Greeting to the Sun installation.
9. Kayak around DubrovnikPaddle beneath the city walls to secluded caves and the island of Lokrum.
10. Discover Zagreb's café cultureSip coffee in the Upper Town, browse Dolac market and visit the quirky Museum of Broken Relationships.

Croatia🗺️ Where to visit in Croatia

Where to go in Croatia

• 
  DubrovnikSouthern Dalmatia · walled cityThe 'Pearl of the Adriatic', a UNESCO-listed walled city of marble streets and baroque churches.
• 
  SplitCentral Dalmatia · Roman cityA lively port built around a Roman palace and the main ferry hub for the islands.
• 📍
  Plitvice Lakes National ParkLika · lakes & waterfallsSixteen terraced lakes linked by waterfalls, best visited early in the morning.
• 
  HvarDalmatian islands · beaches & nightlifeLavender fields, a glamorous harbour town and quiet coves beyond the party scene.
• 
  RovinjIstria · coastal townA romantic Venetian-style fishing town with pastel houses tumbling down to the sea.
• 
  ZagrebCapital · cultureAn elegant Central European capital with museums, markets and a famous Advent festival.
• 📍
  KorčulaDalmatian islands · medieval townA compact walled town, local wines and traditional sword dances.
• 📍
  ZadarNorthern Dalmatia · history & sunsetsRoman ruins, quirky sea installations and easy access to national parks.

Croatia🌦️ Weather & best time to visit Croatia

Best time to visit Croatia

The coast has a Mediterranean climate with hot, dry summers and mild, wetter winters. Inland areas such as Zagreb and Plitvice are continental, with hot summers and cold, sometimes snowy winters.

Typical daytime highs and rain in Dubrovnik (approximate averages).

Croatia🎉 Festivals & events in Croatia

• July–August
  Dubrovnik Summer FestivalTheatre, classical music and dance performed in the Old Town's squares, forts and courtyards.
• January–February
  Rijeka CarnivalCroatia's biggest carnival, with costumed parades and bell-ringing traditions.
• Late November–early January
  Advent in ZagrebThe capital fills with Christmas markets, lights, music and mulled wine.
• 3 February
  Feast of St BlaiseDubrovnik honours its patron saint with processions and celebrations.
• August
  Sinjska AlkaA historic knights' tournament in the town of Sinj, where riders spear a ring at full gallop.

Croatia🧭 Croatia itinerary ideas

How many days in Croatia?

Croatia🎒 Backpacking Croatia – tips & hacks

Backpacker budget: about $50–80 a day

• Buses are the best way to travel along the coast and inland; book ahead in summer and keep small change for luggage fees.
• Split, Zagreb, Zadar and Dubrovnik have plenty of hostels, and Split is the natural backpacker base for island-hopping.
• Use the slower car ferries rather than fast catamarans to save money between islands.
• Eat at bakeries, markets and konobas (local taverns) offering a daily lunch menu, and look for burek and ćevapi for cheap meals.
• Visit in May, June or September for lower prices, warmer seas and more space in hostels.

Croatia🛡️ Safety & money in Croatia

Emergency: 112 · 192 police · 194 ambulance · 193 fire

Croatia🛬 Getting to Croatia

The main international airports are Zagreb, Split and Dubrovnik, with seasonal flights also to Zadar, Pula and Rijeka. Croatia is easy to reach by road and rail from neighbouring countries, and overnight ferries link it with Italy.

✈️ Cheap flights to Croatia: airports, flight times & best time to fly →

Croatia💡 Did you know? 5 facts about Croatia

• The necktie is said to have originated from scarves worn by Croatian soldiers, inspiring the French word 'cravate'.
• Croatia has more than a thousand islands, of which only a few dozen are inhabited.
• The Dalmatian dog breed is named after the Croatian region of Dalmatia.
• Pula's Roman amphitheatre is one of the best-preserved in the world.
• Hum in Istria claims to be the smallest town in the world, with only a handful of residents.

Croatia❓ Croatia travel FAQ

Croatia travel questions