Although some might associate this country with its relatively recent and stored history, the reality is that it is one of the most underrated holiday destinations to visit in the world right now. From its incredible history that dates back to Neolithic times and stretches all the way through ancient pagan tribes, to the Roman invasion and onwards, to its natural wonders that equal (and some surpass) those found on the other side of the Adriatic Sea, a visit to Croatia will be a trip to remember in the fullest sense of the term.
Nonetheless, because of the plethora of things to see and do, creating an itinerary that makes the best use of your time without feeling overly rigid can be a tricky task to complete. In this post, we will do our best to give you the helping hand you need to generate an unforgettable trip that should fit in most of the main attractions while allowing you enough wiggle room to experiment if other options arise that you might like to pursue.
Visit Picturesque Islands Via Ferry Or Something A Little More Luxurious
Croatia is blessed with a truly remarkable coastline replete with a set of islands scattered around that give even the most picturesque locations a run for their money. Moreover, finding your way around them is as straightforward as booking a ferry, hopping on a cruise, and exploring them to your heart’s content. When it comes to cruising in Croatia, you will discover countless hidden bays and beautiful coastal towns. This option provides you with a sense of adventure that also enables you to plan with a high degree of accuracy (the ferries tend to run on time most of the time) and gives you a level of flexibility that can be a great thing, particularly if traveling as part of a group.
These ferries are also incredibly affordable, and because they head out at regular intervals, you can make it a day trip or book accommodation if you choose to stay longer. However, if you really want to experience true indulgence and bend what is often a limited amount of time to your will, you might want to consider chartering your very own yacht. According to Master Charter luxury yacht charters in Croatia, you have a range of options to book and can go as large and extravagant or as sleek and under the radar as you desire!
Aside from the obvious point that it’s something that you’d never likely choose to do unless presented with the option and nudged toward it, chartering a yacht gives you the ultimate freedom to navigate around one of the most stunning bits of water on the planet. If you combine the charter with a great group of friends and family and good food and wine, you have a recipe for the kind of trip that is only usually open to the well-heeled.
Some also come replete with scuba and snorkeling equipment you can make use of when you happen upon an area of exceeding underwater beauty that just beckons to be explored!
Explore Croatia’s Stunning National Parks
Moving from the wetter parts of the nation to the drier ones, we move on to what is perhaps the best activity for those who prefer the rural to the urban (or if you’ve already done the latter and want to experience something a little more serene). When it comes to national parks, you can’t go wrong with this part of Europe.
While there are plenty of stunning locations around Europe, there is something a touch more wild and untamed about the parks found in Croatia that give one the feeling of how it might have felt as a pre-cursor of a Croatian citizen walking around millennia ago.
This is in part due to the sheer number and variety of wildlife that still roams these parts, including bears, wolves, lynx, and deer. While these sorts of trips are best done with a guide by your side to help guide you through the wild areas in safety, there are plenty of trails and routes that you can explore by yourself. There is also a vast range of activities to participate in, with options like cycling, kayaking, and even climbing being some of the more popular. If you’re unsure where to begin, the following are great places to start your research:
- Plitvice Lakes National Park: This is a UNESCO World Heritage site and home to the famous 16 lakes that are all interconnected via a cascade of waterfalls.
- Krka National Park: Slightly tamer but no less impressive than Plitvice Lakes, you have pools and waterfalls to enjoy along a very pretty route.
- Paklenica National Park: This one is for the climbers among you. While it can certainly be appreciated by all, the canyons and rock formations just beckon to those who have finger muscles the size of their forearms!
- Risnjak National Park: If wildlife diversity and rarity are your thing, then Risnjak is the place to go. Best booked as a tour that will direct you around the best routes to see the most of what Risnjak has to offer.
- Mljet National Park: you will have to travel to the island of Mljet, but it’s well worth it as you’ll see two saltwater lakes and a Benedictine monastery.
The bottom line is that they are all fabulous, and you really won’t regret choosing any of them. If you have a specific activity in mind, then your best bet is to look online which is best suited for that activity and plan accordingly.
Discover The Charm Of Dubrovnik’s Old Town
For most uninitiated people in this country, Dubrovnik is perhaps the only city that you have heard of. After all, it’s generally considered the country’s tourist town. However, please don’t let that moniker put you off, as it is so choked full of history and culture that to avoid it purely because you want to go off the beaten track is to miss out on something truly special.
It’s a fascinating blend of different ages throughout history, with a notable precede of medieval architecture that makes it very otherworldly (at least to those more accustomed to very ancient or very modern styles). It’s also home to all manner of art galleries, museums, and general street goings-on that give the city a vibe that is hard to find in other places. Because its walls also happen to straddle the sea, you can take walks around the entire town with the Adriatic on one side and a dense network of beautiful alleyways and cathedrals on the other.
Sample Local Cuisine At Traditional Konobas
Balkan cuisine might not be high up on the list of foods one might think of when considering delicious foods, but just like Croatia itself, it is highly underrated (there’s that word again!)
One of the primary ways that the peasant folk would eat in the past was by way of a local tavern, as we might refer to them, or as a local might, a Konobas. These places specialize in all manner of delectable foods, from hearty stews to some of the freshest grilled meats and seafood you’ve ever set your tastebuds upon. You can also wash it all down with plenty of whatever craft beer they create in the region you’re staying in.
Experience The Vibrant Nightlife In The Main Cities
If you’re more of an urbanite and one who enjoys it when the sun begins to set, then you also won’t be disappointed. As long as you’re in any of the major urban centers, you should be able to stumble upon some incredible nightlife scene.
These can range from sophisticated wine bars serving some of the local vino to the more hardcore nightclubs that are designed to give you tinnitus and a serious hangover the next day. If you choose to go to the latter, make sure you go with friends, because, although Croatia is perfectly safe, nightclubs and alcohol don’t always bring out the best in people.
Participate In Local Festivals And Events If Your Trip Lands On The Correct Dates
If you are the kind of person who is able to plan a trip to millimetric precision, you might want to look at whether you’re able to sync up your dates with any of the many local festivals that occur throughout the year. Some of interest include:
- Rijeka Carnival: February 15-25
- Split Summer Festival: June-September
- Dubrovnik Summer Festival: July-August
- Spancirfest: August 22-September
- Easter Food Festival in Rovinj: April 18-20
- Omis Pirate Night Festival: September 11-14
Dates might vary per year, but a quick check online should give you all the information you need.
Relax On Croatia’s Beautiful Beaches
Now we get to our final tip, which, depending on the type of person you are and the type of holiday you’re after, may or may not be within the spirit of this post. However, even if you enjoy running through life at 100 mph, you really ought to take some time to chill out on the glorious sandy beaches dotted along the coast.
Many are easy to get to, and if you travel to the islands, there will be beaches you can head to where you can bathe in the summer sun and swim in the crystal clear waters that are so famed in this part of the world.
Croatia is a place that, if not already, should be on your bucket list. In fact, to call it a “bucket list” worthy location is really doing it justice, as the style of travel here mainly revolves around a slower pace of travel that enables you to soak in all that it has to offer.
With a bit of quality planning, you can make this one of those trips that give you the peculiar mixture of joy that you chose to visit with a melancholy that you have to go back home again.
