This year, Korcula Buggy Official celebrates fifteen years of operating a highly innovative and exciting way of exploring the lovely island of Korcula. Run by Branko and Ana, founders and owners, the company offers the original and best safari experience on Korcula, something you can verify through their reviews – they’re one of the highest-rated experiences in Dalmatia on review and tour websites such as TripAdvisor and Viator! (Wow!) Branko and Ana offer a truly personal experience, going beyond what other companies offer to give guests the ultimate tour of Korcula. So let’s find out a little more about Korcula Buggy Official and what they offer, shall we?
About Korcula Buggy Official and their tours
Branko and Ana really know their stuff when it comes to Korcula. Don’t believe me? Well, both are from the island, with Ana’s family established on Korcula for around 150 years, whilst Branko’s family has been there for around 700 years!
Ana and Branko of Korcula Buggy Official
Unlike other similar tours on Korcula, the personal experience is what Korcula Buggy Official is all about. One of the highlights of the tour is a visit to their own private estate and winery, which includes a hunting-style tasting room – featuring no less than 165 trophies – and a beautiful terrace overlooking the sea. It’s here that Branko and Ana serve their own, original Dalmatian delicacies – Ana’s homemade bread, prosciutto, liqueurs, and their own wine. Utterly delicious!
Homemade liqueurs and marmalade tasting – how wonderful
Korcula Buggy Official have evolved over the years by really listening to their guests, and Branko and Ana believe that’s helped them make their tours better than ever. Their finely crafted tours mean they explore the best parts of Korcula, with the right amount of activities and just the right tour length to keep everyone happy.
How did they come up with the idea of buggy safari tours on Korcula? The spark was ignited by spotting an open-top car in Split that looked very much like a buggy – that’s what planted the seed.
Unfortunately, four years ago, another agency bought buggies, copied their entire itinerary, and even stole the name. This has sadly led to Branko and Ana’s company sometimes receiving bad ratings from people who’ve been scammed – they find Korcula Buggy Official online, think they’re the ones responsible, and leave a bad review. The other company does all sorts of things online to ride on their reputation and lure guests into booking with them. This other company are frustratingly parasitising their hard work, but…they’ve decided to stop stressing about it. It transpires the other company even offer free bottles of wine in exchange for reviews, but anyone can see that over 60% of the other company’s ratings are fake.
Branko & Ana’s Happy Guests
Korcula Buggy Official have had so many beautiful moments, especially when they see guests leave completely thrilled…and even a little bit sad to be saying goodbye! They especially love their older guests because they truly appreciate the story behind the tour.
Some VERY happy guests!
Korcula Buggy Official has over one thousand authentic reviews, which clearly demonstrate the fruits of their labour. They always give their guests more than what they pay for. Some even exclaim that Korcula Buggy Official’s tour was the best excursion they’ve ever been on, or that it’s the best tour in all of Croatia.
A vineyard tasting stop
What’s the best time of year to tour?
Branko and Ana say the most beautiful months are May and September – or even mid-October. In May, nature opens up with some incredible scents, while October is beautiful because the landscape is resting after the heat of summer; the air is calm, there’s no wind, and everything is quiet – as if it’s waiting for life to begin again.
Prices and booking tours
Prices start at €60 for shorter boat tours, while a standard tour is around €80.
There is really no comparison between their tours (which range from €60 to €85) and the agency that copied them. The other company’s ‘private’ tour, which costs over €150, is barely at the level of Korcula Buggy Official’s €70 tour. Guests often get confused by these manipulations. But you know which one to choose!
You can enquire about tours and book directly on WhatsApp on +385 97 777 7808.
More info & booking tours
You can find out all there is to know about Korcula Buggy Official on their website korcula-buggy.com, or look them up on Instagram at @korculabuggyofficial.
https://www.visit-croatia.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/hidden-bays-and-vineyards-korcula-offroad-buggy-adventure.jpg5631000annazhttps://www.visit-croatia.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/visit-croatia-logo5.jpgannaz2026-03-24 22:47:032026-03-30 22:19:30Spotlight on: Korcula Buggy Official
Plitvice Lakes National Park is one of the top sights to visit in Croatia. With its stunning interconnected lakes and waterfalls, gorgeous nature and animal inhabitants (although the larger ones are rarely seen by people), it’s a wonderful place to spend a day – or hopefully longer. The inland location, in the Lika region of Croatia, is also somewhere that many visitors wouldn’t otherwise experience, preferring the coast or Zagreb. Visiting the park provides a wonderful opportunity to experience another slice of Croatia. My latest visit to the National Park was last month, at the start of the coldest season of the year. So what was it like visiting the Plitvice Lakes in winter? Is it worth it? Find out what I thought!
Early arrival
To make the most of my day, I decided to take the first bus from Zagreb to the lakes. That meant getting up before 6am (normally, waaaay too early for me) to make the 6.45am bus. The bus, run by Prijevoz Knezevic, ended up being a little mini-bus to my surprise, but no matter. The comfy seats and decent leg room were just the thing for a snooze all the way to the lakes. (The mini-bus was half full, and one small group also disembarked at the lakes.)
The bus stopped right by Entrance 1, from where it’s possible to visit the Lower Lakes – which are the ones that are accessible in winter. It is also this entrance you need to visit Veliki Slap (Big Waterfall – the clue’s in the name, as it’s the tallest waterfall around these parts). Funnily enough, although you’re visiting the Lower Lakes, you enter the Park from up on high and first experience one of the most beautiful and most famous views of the National Park.
A first view of the lower lakesLooking down toward Veliki Slap
I headed to the ticket booth to snap up my €10 ticket (which would be €40 in the peak summer months!) and then talked to the helpful guy in the adjacent booth who explained what paths and trails were open and would be possible to visit. In this case, he told me Trails A and B would be able to be followed. I decided to opt for the longer Trail B (which they say takes 3 to 4 hours, and 4,000 metres in length).
And then, reader, my adventure began.
Oh, wow!
As I’ve already hinted, just a few steps beyond Entance 1 is one of the most the unbelieveable sights of the Plitvice Lakes, looking down onto three interconnected lakes (Milanovac, Gavanovac, and Kaludjerovac) and the waterfalls inbetween them. You might even stand yourself here, take in the amazing sight, snap a photo or three, and then head home. But you wouldn’t, because you’re not crazy, are you?
From here, I descended down the path in the direction of Veliki Slap. This waterfall is actually in the wrong direction from the trails, essentially down a dead end, but if he’s the biggest guy in town, you need to pay him a visit – right?
Veliki Slap
Two things quickly became apparent to me. The first was that it was literally freezing (I do mean literally), so I had to dress myself in all additional items of clothing I wasn’t yet wearing.
The second I realised was that by arriving at the Plitvice Lakes just before 9am in winter, I had totally won in life. As I descended down to the Lower Lakes, I didn’t pass a single other person. On my way to Veliki Slap and back, I passed two people – Plitvice Lakes maintenance workers. Heading further around the paths, heading in the direction of Lake Kozjak, I passed only a handful of people – maybe 10 at most? Having the Lakes essentially “to myself” was really such a magical experience that I can barely put into words. It was probably one of the best days of my life!
The Lower Lakes in Plitvice on a winter morningThe lovely wooden paths in Plitvice
Heading round the wooden paths and admiring all the lakes and waterfalls, the lack of other visitors meant I could really go at my own pace. This also meant I could take in all the particular signs and points of interest I came across without being hurried along.
A plaque explaining how a set of falls are named after opera singer Milka TerninaA wonderfully still lakeMilanovac Lake
Time for a pit stop
On reaching Lake Kozak, I discovered a small souvenir shop and a small cafe. Of course, I made good use of both – I couldn’t leave without getting something for my fridge’s magnet collection. The cafe was relatively basic, but very warm and just the thing for a recharge, for both myself and my phone. It had a reasonable selection of hot drinks and offered things like sandwiches, burgers and chips and a few sweet treats. (Also, a fairly impressive range of Croatian spirits…I’m sure a shot would have been warming, but I didn’t go for it!) I would highly recommend a warming coffee and a slice of cheese strudel (savijača). Delicious.
Just the thing for a cold December morningInformation signs in PlitviceInformation signs in Plitvice
On I go
The cafe and shop are right by the shore of Lake Kozak, which has an electric boat running across it. This in itself is another awesome experience – the boat glides softly and quietly over the lake as you take in the nature on both sides.
The boat was actually the largest number of people I saw at any one time during my Plitvice winter adventure, with about 15-20 people on board. A few seemed to be part of small tour groups, who I assumed to be undertaking private tours of the Park. (I certainly saw one couple clearly being guided around the lakes.)
Lake Kozjak
I disembarked on the other side of the lake – past a sad, understandably closed ice-cream stall – to continue my journey on Trail B. Most of my fellow boatgoers seemed to disappear at this point (don’t worry, I don’t mean in a sinister way), so I assume they were heading up to Entrance 2, to be taken elsewhere.
Heading up the hill here, I encountered what’s called the “panoramic vehicle”, essentially a small coach with comically sized windows. (Comically big not small, although the latter would be more comical.) By this time, I was alone again, and the bus took me on a short journey to continue Trail B. Excitingly, this part of the Park had snow! Real snow, on the ground! Okay, only on the parts where no one walked, but as I had hoped to encounter Plitvice in snow (but delayed my visit for a few days to get better weather), it was a teensy bit exciting.
Panoramic vehicles in the Plitvice LakesSnow in the Plitvice Lakes
The bus dropped me off to continue my walk along the top of the canyon, towards Entrance 1, and I again encountered the lakes of Milanovac, Gavanovac, and Kaludjerovac from up high. By this time, the sun had properly emerged, and the temperature had gone up a few degrees, so the gorgeous lakes and waterfalls could be their best twinkly self.
And again on the paths back to Entrance 1, I only encountered one or two people at a time. Solo but not lonely at all. And no “fights” for the best photo viewpoint!
A panoramic view of the Plitvice LakesAnd a second panoramic view of the Plitvice Lakes!
Conclusion – was visiting Plitvice Lakes in winter worth it?
Oh my goodness, yes. A million times yes.
Visiting the Plitvice Lakes is worth it any time of year, but in peak season, you’ll encounter so many crowds of people that it will be practically like a traffic jam to get around. Nevertheless, Plitvice in peak summer is still a sight to behold.
The different seasons give visitors a different Plitvice experience. Sure, winter means hardly any fellow visitors, but also shorter opening times and quite strict logistics in terms of where you can travel from and at what times. You also have to pay closer attention to the weather. I would have loved to have visited in proper snowfall (tempted as I was by social media posts!), but I’m aware that that could have meant a more treacherous journey around the Park. I don’t regret waiting a few days for a cold but eventually beautifully sunny, dry day!
So yes, please do visit the Plitvice Lakes in winter. It is absolutely worth it.
A close-up of the interconnected Lakes in PlitviceThe view from Entrance 1, now almost four hours later
Getting to the Plitvice Lakes in winter
If travelling by public transport, it is easiest to reach the Plitvice Lakes in winter from Zagreb. With a journey time of around just two hours, and the fact that there are a number of buses per day, makes a day-trip very doable. Take a look at the Zagreb Bus Terminal website to look up bus schedules and to buy your tickets. Do also make your life easier and buy your return ticket before travel as well – you don’t have to use the same bus operator. Tickets are mostly electronic these days, and can be presented on your phone upon boarding.
You can also hire a car to make the relatively easy journey to the Lakes. Parking in the Lakes car park is free in winter (in December, January and February).
Alternatively, you may prefer an organised tour. Take a look at some of the possibilities below:
The park is open from 8am to 3pm, with both Entrance 1 and 2 generally open unless conditions prove otherwise. Ticket sales are only available until 1pm.
The electric boat over Lake Kozjak operates from 8am to 2.30pm/3pm (end time depends on the direction) in winter.
Good to Know
What to wear
Dress appropriately! And warmly! Winter at the park can be very cold indeed, so make sure you have appropriate winter clothing – which means many layers, and a proper winter jacket. A waterproof coat/jacket in addition wouldn’t be a bad idea, or at least take along a waterproof top layer that you can put on if you need.
Gloves are an absolute must, as are hiking shoes or boots or footwear that has a good grip when you’re walking. The paths can be wet and/or icy.
I personally didn’t have any hand warmers, but I saw a few other visitors with them. They seem like a good idea!
Eating, Drinking and Shopping
Right by entrance 1 is a small snack bar (think sandwiches, burgers, hot and cold drinks) for refreshment and a souvenir shop with Plitvice Lakes branding. Although the products comprised a mix of regular souvenir takeaways (t-shirts, baseball caps) and more pleasing items (carved wood ornaments, kids’ books on Plitvice), I found it to be rather expensive! I wanted to buy a book (in English) for my children, but baulked at the price of €15 for a very slim book!
I’ve mentioned the shop and cafe by Lake Kozjak for another pit stop. However, for a proper, hearty and very filling lunch, I would return to Entrance 1 and head over the footbridge to Licka Kuca (Lika House in English) Restaurant. Absolutely delicious food, typical of the Lika region, with very friendly service and a warm ambience. Recommended!
Getting there
If you’re using public transport – i.e. bus – you really do want to get to the lakes as early as possible. Although you’ll curse an impossibly early start, you’ll thank yourself when you get to the lakes and experience them!
Return buses might run a little late – they don’t start from Plitvice, but are travelling from further afield. Wait by the little wooden huts (make sure you’re at the hut that’s going in the right direction) and be patient!
Tickets
You can buy tickets for the National Park in advance online on the Plitvice Lakes National Park – Tickets webpage. But I wouldn’t bother, they are very, very unlikely to sell out in wintertime!
One thing to note is that you can buy a 2-day ticket for €15 in winter. If you’re driving yourself to the Lakes and staying locally, a two-day visit would be lovely.
More info
You can find out all the latest information on visiting the Park, including current conditions of trails and what can be visited, on the Plitvice Lakes National Park website.
Do you ever sometimes think “my holiday in Croatia sure is going nicely, but now it’s time to do something totally bonkers”? Yes, I thought so. Well, you’ve come to the right place – er, post. Here are some suggestions for totally bonkers tours of Croatia that will really send your holiday into the stratosphere. There’s everything from whistle-stop tours to Croatia’s neighbouring countries to motorbiking, to partying on the Adriatic to watching the sea life up close. Which one – or ones, for I know you’ll go for more than just one – will you try?
Disclaimer: not all of these tours are “totally bonkers”. In fact, very few are. But I’m sure you have fun on each and every one of them nevertheless! And of course, I mean “bonkers” in a very loving way!
Sightseeing on a Segway
Do you remember when segways were invented? Unveiled as a new transportation device at the beginning of this century that was going to completely revolutionise our lives (or so it felt), the segway has become something of a damp squib when it comes to new tech. Unless you’re fabulously wealthy and need one to get around your grounds, most people don’t own their own personal segway. And some countries and cities have even banned segways from being driven on public roads or footpaths.
That’s why joining a city segway tour is always fun, giving you an excellent opportunity to try out these “sticks with wheels”. It’s possible to do a 2-hour Segway Tour of Split, a guided tour that takes in some of the top sights of Croatia’s largest coastal city. Most of the tour is conducted in and around the Diocletian’s Palace area – where many of Split’s main sights are – but you’ll also get an opportunity to head up Marjan Hill and see Split from above. In fact, what better way to head up the hill than on your own set of two wheels? Much easier than climbing up the stairs!
Good to know: It’s also possible to do a 2-hour Segway Tour of Dubrovnik which explores the Lapad Peninsula part of the city
Take to the skies
As you come in to land in Croatia – at an airport on the coast, that is – you’ll be dazzled by the multitude of islands and the highly indented coastline below you. (It’s one of the best arrivals in the world, in my opinion!) But perhaps you only managed to get a couple of snaps before your plane touched down, and now you’re left wanting more?
You could take back to the skies and enjoy a flight over a particular part of the coast. For example, there’s the 1.5-hour Private Flight over Kornati & Sibenik that takes off from Sinj Aerodrom. A private flight in a small aircraft – so yes, this is one of the more expensive experiences, but certainly worth it – gives you a view of the Kornati Islands like no other.
No, no, no – not with guns and no shooting or anything like that (very much not my thing) but hunting in the dirt. Wait, what?
Istria is very much associated with the delicacy that is the truffle, and hunting for truffles is a very unique and enjoyable experience. Join professional truffle hunters (and their canine companions – they’re essential in sniffing out these earthy gems) on a private, 7-hour Truffle Hunting in Istria Tour. After the truffle hunt, you’ll of course be able to try some truffle products and food adorned with truffle. You will also have an opportunity to explore the charming inland Istria town of Motovun.
Of course, you’re not literally hunting your own food as it’s not like you’ll be able to dig up a truffle and immediately start chowing down on it, but you’ll certainly get an idea of the process of how truffles are found.
Good to know: If making your meal is definitely your kind of thing – even on holiday – join the Private Cooking Experience with Wine Tasting in Dubrovnik. Honestly, this sounds ideal – explore the countryside surrounding Dubrovnik, enjoy wine at a local winery and then cook your own meal (supervised, of course!) on an outdoor grill.
Military history mixed with quadbikes
What else goes hand in hand with learning about military history other than quadbikes?
The lovely island of Vis – closed to foreigners until 1989 – has quite an unusual history over the centuries, ruled by different territories and countries. Its 20th-century timeline is also very different to other Dalmatian islands, with Vis playing an important base during World War II and then as a naval base during the time of Yugoslavia.
Vis is a relatively small island and is fairly easy to explore if you have wheels of some sort, be they bike, moped or car. But why not join a guided tour on quadbikes – the 2.5-hour Adrenaline Quad Safari-Military Tour – that goes both on road and off road? The tour will explore the island’s military sights as well as take in its nature. You’ll also see and visit Vis Town and Komiza, the two main towns on the island.
Some of you are here to see all the amazing sights and breathe in that fine, fine culture.
Others are here to…well, yup…party. If that’s your style, you will have likely heard about the infamous boat parties that are a huge part of the Croatian festivals that take place during the summer. In particular, Zrce Beach on the island of Pag is party central, with a number of top clubs that play host to quite a few festivals in June, July and August.
If you can’t quite commit to a multi-day festival event, you can still party on the Adriatic by joining a boat party…otherwise known as a booze cruise. For example, there’s the Novalja Boat Party Booze Cruise that’s a 3-hour trip that includes all-inclusive drinks (yes, really!) and DJs spinning the tunes. There’s also a swim stop to give you a refreshing plunge into the sea.
Good to know: Not a boat party, but if you’re on the mainland and want to party in the clubs of Hvar, there’s the Hvar Party All Night Experience. You’ll get collected from pick-up points in either Split or Trogir and transferred by speedboat to Hvar Town, giving you 7 hours to party to your heart’s content. The speedboat then drops you back in Split or Trogir by 5am!
Good to know 2: In a similar party vibe, join the 5-hour Private Bar Crawling with a Guide in Zagreb. This is literally a bonkers tour as it apparently includes some crazy challengers!
Dinner in the sky
Not really one of a tour of Croatia, per se, but certainly a bonkers experience! If heights aren’t a problem for you (that counts me out!), why not have Dinner in the Sky above Dubrovnik? Suspended way up high, you’ll join around 20 other people for a three-course dinner that will include unlimited Croatian wine. Um, yum. Part of the whole experience is a one-hour cooking show – yes, your meal is actually prepared in front of you at altitude. It’s certainly a highly novel way of seeing Dubrovnik and enjoying some local cuisine.
Oh, I caught you reading our Day Trips from Dubrovnik page. Great! So you know what day trips over to Montenegro are possible, and how to do them!
But what if you could visit two countries in one day from Dubrovnik? It’s possible – if you join the Montenegro & Bosnia 2 Countries in 1 Day Tour. It’s no surprise this is a 10-hour tour to make the most of your time, and it’s a private tour too so all the attention will be on you and what you want to see.
You’ll visit the lively Trebinje in Bosnia and Hercegovina and Perast and Kotor in Montenegro, with time to explore each of these places. In Perast, you could even opt to do a boat tour (for an additional fee) to Our Lady of the Rocks islet.
Good to know: To go even further afield visiting two countries from Dubrovnik, try the Private 2-Day Albania and Montenegro Tour. It is over two days, however, so not quite as “bonkers” as stepping foot in three different countries in one day!
Head to an uninhabited island
To really get away from it all, why not head to an island that is home to…no one? Ooh, spooky!
Well, not quite, for the island in question is Plavnik in the northern Adriatic, which you can visit from the larger island of Krk. This private tour – named the Wild Bays and Plavnik Island Tour sounds idyllic – as you’ll get to explore some of the quieter bays of Krk before making the journey to Plavnik for swimming, snorkelling and hiking on the island. You might even spot some dolphins!
The island of Pag has a very unusual landscape, certainly very different to some of the other lush, green Croatian islands. Some even call the terrain moon-like. Why not pretend you’ve left Earth on a hike to some of the key spots of Pag on the Life on Mars Hike? Trust me, when you share the photos, people won’t believe you’re in Croatia!
When I say “make friends” I mean “spot the from a boat” which is practically the same thing, right?
Dolphins do indeed exist in the Adriatic Sea, which some of you may be surprised to hear. Any boat trip out onto the relatively calm sea is always a winning activity, but why not join a tour to go and spot some dolphins? The Dolphin Cruise with Dinner is a 3-hour activity that departs Pula and sails around the lovely Brijuni Islands. A sunset cruise, dinner is also included to make the whole experience rather magical.
If you’re visiting the central part of Dalmatia – in and around its main city of Split – you may have come across the possibility of visiting somewhere called the Blue Lagoon. While this sounds rather spectacular, it’s not the only Blue Lagoon in the world – you may have heard (or visited) that amazing geothermal spa that’s located just outside Reykjavik in Iceland. (I have and that place is magical! But I digress…) Let me first tell you that the Blue Lagoon in Croatia is nothing like the Icelandic version and secondly, it still is magical in a slightly different way! Here’s a guide to why you should visit the Blue Lagoon and what you can see and enjoy when doing so.
Ariel view of popular Blue Lagoon – Krknjasi near town Trogir, in the Adriatic sea, Croatia
About The Blue Lagoon and its features
Croatia’s Blue Lagoon is located just off the tiny island of Drvenik Veli, a sister island to Drvenik Mali. (Veli and mali meaning big and small!) The lagoon is located in Krknjasi Bay on the eastern side of the island. It is referred to as the Blue Lagoon because of its stunningly clear blue and turquoise waters atop a sandy seabed and next to a white pebble beach.
The sea area here is remarkably still and shallow – helping to produce this gorgeous blue effect – protected as it is by two further islets, Krknjas Veli and Krknjas Mali. (There goes those veli and mali names again. Now you know what they mean!)
This whole experience is one of paradise, with some even calling it akin to the Caribbean. Whilst I have no personal experience, let’s just stick to admiring this slice of heaven in the Mediterranean, shall we?!
This is certainly one of these places where words can’t fully do it justice, and photos can only go so far. Why not experience it for yourself when you next visit this part of Croatia?
In almost all cases, it would be easiest to join an organised tour if wanting to visit the Blue Lagoon. Tours from local towns and cities exist, such as from Split and Trogir. These tours generally include visiting the Blue Lagoon as just part of the day – often, you will also get to visit other small islands in the region, or historic gems such as Trogir. In all cases, you will have at least an hour or two to enjoy in the Blue Lagoon itself for swimming and snorkelling. (Snorkelling equipment is normally always provided by the excursion company.)
Take a look at some of the options for tours from Split…
Local Trogir agency Bura Line also offers a 10-hour tour from Split that includes stops in Trogir, the island of Ciovo and the island of Solta as well as the Blue Lagoon.
By ferry
You can otherwise opt to take a public ferry from Trogir to Drvenik Veli. Jadrolinija operates this route, sailing three times a day, year-round. (The boat in fact then also sails on to Drvenik Mali.) Should you utilise this boat, it would give you a full day on the island as the latest return boat departs 7 and a half hours after you’re first dropped off. (Do check timetables carefully so you’re not stranded by missing the return boat!)
The boat docks at Drvenik Veliki, the main settlement on Drvenik Veli. This is around a 45-minute walk away from the Blue Lagoon bay.
Should you wish for more time on the island and to enjoy the Blue Lagoon, there is a small handful of accommodation in Drvenik Veliki. You can search and book using the map below:
Opening Hours and Price
Well, seeing as it’s a natural bay in the sea, it’s open all the time! But you are of course restricted to the hours that you can reach the area by boat.
As for the price – the lagoon itself is free, but you are again dependent on the cost of the excursion or ferry!
When is Best to Go to the Blue Lagoon
As you can perhaps imagine, the Blue Lagoon can be a popular place to visit – sometimes too popular. Obviously summer is the best time to come here to get the full effect of sunshine and warm Adriatic waters, but you’ll be joined by a good number of other day trippers.
Consider visiting outside of the peak summer period – let’s say early June or mid to late September – when you’ll still be able to enjoy swimming here but alongside fewer visitors.
What to See and Do
Relax! Enjoy the gorgeous blue waters and the tranquil surroundings of where you are. If you visiting from somewhere as bustling as Split, it will be quite a contrast.
If you have access to snorkelling equipment, absolutely give it a go. You’ll be able to view the marine life in the calm waters, and snorkelling itself is such a calming activity.
More info
Unfortunately, Drvenik Veli appears not oto have a tourist board website, so online information is somewhat limited. There’s a small slice of info on the Visit Trogir website.
https://www.visit-croatia.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/blue-lagoon-3.jpg7491000annazhttps://www.visit-croatia.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/visit-croatia-logo5.jpgannaz2025-02-10 15:18:052025-02-10 15:18:33Spotlight on: Blue Lagoon, Dalmatia
Now that you’ve got your holiday all booked up (if you’re still deliberating, why not head over to my Plan Your Perfect Holiday to Croatia 2024 advice page) it’s time to start thinking about what day trips and tours you might like to do on your travels in the country. On this page, I’m going to suggest some of the best tours in Croatia 2024 – including some of the most popular ones, some “must-see” experiences and some that are perhaps…slightly bonkers…but are too good to miss!
For all the tours below, I’ve shown the length of the tour and whether the tours can be booked individually (meaning you join a group and can book as 1, 2 or more people) or whether they need to be booked as a group.
Please note: this post contains affiliate links, which may earn Visit Croatia revenue. All suggested tours are Visit Croatia’s own opinion, however!
1. Enjoy the best sunset in the world in Zadar – in style!
1.5 hours, can be booked individually
Sunsets are a pretty spectacular affair up and down the Croatian coastline, but there’s no better place to watch the setting sun than in Zadar. (Just ask Alfred Hitchcock.) Whilst sitting up on the main seaside promenade with the Sea Organ twinkling gently alongside is a superb free experience, take things to the next level on a Sunset & Night Cruise with Unlimited Sparkling Wine. (They totally had me at “unlimited sparkling wine”.)
The 90-minute small boat tour sets off from Zadar marina and makes the small journey out to sea to really make the most of the glowing sunset as it makes its way behind the local islands. After experiencing this, you’ll then be taken on a brief sightseeing tour of some of the town’s main sights by sea – including the aforementioned Sea Organ. And all the while, you’ll get to sip on sparkling wine!
When did zip lines get so popular? And who invented them?! I’m not the biggest fan of ziplines given a slight fear of heights and “going faster than a human should be going” (I believe that’s the official technical term) but I can totally see how the thrill-seekers amongst you are beside yourselves with the opportunity to try a zip line in a new location.
There are actually a number of zip lines in locations up and down the coast, but I’ve picked out a zip line experience that’s just a short journey from Split.
The Zip Line Adventure (which also provides optional transportation) takes you to a zip line which is situated on Kozjak, a small peak slightly inland from Split. The actual zip line isn’t just one zip line, oh no – it’s six different zip lines, which comprise 2,500 meters in total length and then also include a 90-meter suspension bridge through pine trees.
The tour of course also provides a full safety briefing before participants make their way over to start their zip-lining adventure. You’ll be flying over beautiful Croatian forests with sea and island views in no time.
3. Enjoy the tranquil island of Cres on a boat trip from Opatija
8 hours, can be booked individually
If you’re holidaying in gorgeous Opatija, you may not necessarily think about doing a boat trip to any of the local islands which is a shame as there are some real beauties in this part of the coast.
This 8-hour Boat Trip to Secluded Beaches on Island Cres tour sees you head off to one of Croatia’s quieter islands – just the kind of place to have hidden beaches. You’ll be able to enjoy three beach stops as well as visiting the charming village of Porozina. The tour offers plenty of time for swimming and snorkelling, and generally just having a relaxing time on lovely Cres!
4. Views for miles on Biokovo Skywalk via tuktuk (from Makarska)
2.5 hour tour, can be booked individually
One of the more modern sights in Croatia is the Biokovo Skywalk experience on Mount Biokovo. Opened in 2020, this horseshoe-shaped glass platform extends 11m over the cliff face at a height of 1,228m, offering amazing views out across the Adriatic Sea to nearby islands such as Brac and Hvar.
The Biokovo Skywalk isn’t far from Makarska at all but it is up high (of course!) and getting to it is a little tricky if you don’t have your own transportation. That’s where the Skywalk Biokovo Sunset Tour by TukTuk comes in.
You’ll get picked up from your hotel (there are a number of pick-up points along the Makarska Riviera) and then taken to Biokovo Nature Park in a little tuk-tuk. (Not perhaps the most authentic of transportation in Croatia, but the open nature of the vehicle works perfectly to allow you to enjoy the nature all around you and the views!)
Having skipped the entry queue, the two-and-a-half-hour tour gives you time to enjoy parts of Biokovo National Park on a guided tour (with scenic stops for photos) whilst also offering 30 minutes on the Biokovo Skywalk at sunset. Glorious to enjoy at any time of day, sunset will be a wonderful time to experience it. You’ll then be driven back through the Nature Park and returned to your hotel.
If you’re in Croatia, you’re going to have to indulge in all sorts of local gastronomic specialities – and where better to do so than if you’re visiting Dubrovnik?
The 3-Hour Food and Wine Tour is a walking guided tour that takes in many of Dubrovnik Old Town’s top sights, whilst also offering the chance for you to sample some little treats at the city’s top restaurants. And treats that come with a wine pairing! The culmination of the tour – as any good tour should – is dessert comprising of a traditional Dubrovnik cake.
“Oh la-dee-dah” – you’re probably thinking – “private boat tours are how the other half live, but there’s no way I can afford them!” Well, perhaps you can – providing there’s a big enough group of you. A number of private boat tours can cater to large groups of say 6 to 12 people and when you divide the total cost of the boat tour by 6, 8, 10 or even 12 that ends up being…not too much at all.
Of course, there are a wide variety of private boat tours from ports such as Zadar, Trogir and Split, but take a look at this Full Day Elafiti Islands Private Experience for six people. The tour gives you 8 hours of exploring time on the three main Elafiti islands, Kolocep, Lopud and Sipan allowing you to explore beaches, bays and the islands’ tiny villages. The tour can be customised as per your group’s wants so if you prefer to explore as much as possible you can, or if you want to devote a good chunk of time on a secluded beach, that’s possible too.
Once you’ve explored your Croatian destination to the fullest on foot or by transport of some sort, why not do the same…by sea? And not just on some kind of boat tour – why not put the effort into it yourself by powering your own sea vessel? Before I start going too cryptic, I’m referring to sea kayaking.
The island of Dugi Otok near Zadar is one of the lesser-known Croatian islands – often referred to as an “off-the-beaten-track” kind of place – and is ripe for exploring. On the Full-Day Kayaking Tour in Dugi Otok, you’ll be transferred to a bay to start your sea kayaking adventure – an adventure that will lead you to all manner of secret coves, bays, caves and even past soaring cliffs. You’ll then get transferred to the north part of Dugi Otok for lunch and where the second part of your kayaking adventure will commence – one that will take you to a sunken ship which will give you the opportunity to do a spot of snorkelling.
The final bit of the tour offers a spot of fun on Sakarun Beach, one of the best (sandy!) secret beaches in Croatia.
If you’ll be further up the coast but want to indulge in a spot of sea kayaking, why not try this rather inventive trip based in Pula? Because what’s better than just regular sea kayaking? Night-time kayaking. And what’s better than that? Night-time kayaking in a transparent kayak. (Yes, really!) And one that’s equipped with LED lights so you can see into the sea.
This 2-hour Night-time Sea Kayaking in a Transparent Kayak tour sets off from the Verudela resort area of Pula to explore the Adriatic Sea and all that it contains – by which I mean marine life. Should you tire of looking at the little fishes (unlikely) then simply look up and do a spot of star-gazing instead.
How could I not include visiting the truly amazing Plitvice Lakes in this list of the best tours? Visiting them yourself is relatively straightforward – it’s just an easy public transport bus ride up from cities such as Zadar or Zagreb. But if you’re in Split and want to visit Plitvice, things get a little more complicated because of having to rely on (the not so frequent or well-timed) buses.
The 12-hour Plitvice Lakes National Park Full-Day Tour transportation to and from the Plitvice Lakes as well as a 4.5-hour guided tour inside the National Park. After the tour, you’ll have time to take one of the short boat rides or simply take a breather amongst the beautiful nature.
When you’re in Croatia, there are quite a few chances to hop over to a neighbouring country for a day trip – to Montenegro from Dubrovnik, Bosnia and Herzegovina from Split or Dubrovnik and Italy from Istria, for example. But you may not know that it’s a very short journey up to Slovenia and Ljubljana from Zagreb. And not just Ljubljana but the magical Lake Bled too.
The 11-hour Ljubljana with Funicular, Castle, and Lake Bled tour offers a great chance to take in some of Ljubljana’s best sights, including the impressive Ljubljana Castle. And no visit to Slovenia is complete without enjoying the tranquil Lake Bled, which is also included on the tour.
All transport is included, and you’ll get a guided walking tour of Ljubljana too. Just remember to bring your passport!
Narrowing down all the wonderful tours you can do in Croatia to just ten was impossible. So here are a few more tours that are absolutely worthy of a mention:
Taste Zagreb Food Tour Taste traditional and more modern Croatian cooking and find out the best food shops and restaurants on this 3-hour tour
Hvar: Party All Night Experience Transports you over to Hvar from Split or Trogir just in time for dinner and then takes you back to the mainland…at 4am!
https://www.visit-croatia.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/the-top-10-tours-in-croatia-2024-s.jpg7501000annazhttps://www.visit-croatia.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/visit-croatia-logo5.jpgannaz2024-03-26 23:03:332024-03-27 10:02:43The Top 10 Tours in Croatia 2024
As wonderful as Zagreb is with its many sights, eateries, shops, experiences, attractions and more, the city is also very well positioned for several exciting day trips. As well as visiting places in central and northern Croatia such as the Plitvice Lakes, Samobor and Varazdin, or destinations on the coast such as Rijeka or Opatija, how about hopping a border to another country! Slovenia is only about 26km away from Zagreb, so a trip across to its capital city (and more) would be a great little trip to undertake from Zagreb. Here’s our guide to a day trip to Ljubljana from Zagreb.
One interesting thing to note is – what I think – the marked difference between the two cities. Zagreb is (perhaps surprisingly, given Croatia’s size) a large city home to 770,000 people; Ljubljana, meanwhile, has a population of just under 300,000. Zagreb, to me, seems to be an incredibly bustling city all the time, with people absolutely everywhere, at all times of day! Ljubljana seems a little more laid-back and quieter. But it’s still a wonderful place to visit!
Oh, and one thing you might be wondering is…how to pronounce Ljubljana? It’s lyoob-lyana. Go on, give it a shot!
Ljubljana Castle
Getting to Ljubljana from Zagreb
By Bus
There a numerous buses per day between the two cities, including a couple of early morning options that depart Zagreb at 7.15am and 7.35am and get you into Ljubljana at 10am or just after. For the return journey, you can take your pick – but there are suitable options at 6.05pm or 7.50pm.
The bus costs €14.99 each way, and tickets can be bought on the Flixbus website where you can also look up timetables.
By Train
Travelling by train is a relaxing way of making the journey between these two capital cities, as the seats are fairly comfortable and you can stretch your legs by strolling up and down the carriages. (The scenery is also very picturesque as the train winds its way along the Sava River for most of its journey.)
There’s an early morning train departing Zagreb Glavni Kolodvor at 6.30am, arriving in Ljubljana at 9.14am – perfect for a day of sightseeing!
The best return option would be the train departing Ljubljana at 6.37pm, which gets you back into Zagreb at 8.45pm.
The train costs €9 one-way for adults, €4.50 for children (2023 prices) which is amazing value!
Driving
Should you have access to a car, driving is also a quick and easy way of making the hop over to Ljubljana. Leave Zagreb and drive over to the A2 motorway which takes you all the way to Ljubljana.
Do note that the motorway is tolled – in Croatia, it is a simple case of taking a ticket as you enter the motorway and paying when you leave it. In Slovenia, you need to purchase a vignette, which can be done online at the SI Vignette website.
Border logistics
Now that Croatia is in the Schengen Zone, there is no longer a border between Slovenia and Croatia. So whatever way you make the journey, you won’t have to show your passport!
Additionally, if you have a Schengen visa to enter Croatia, you will also be able to visit Slovenia.
What to See in Ljubljana
Ljubljana is a very walkable city (not least in the central pedestrianised area!) so you can easily make your way to most of the attractions here by foot – and it’s a great way of exploring or uncovering some hidden gems too!
Ljubljana is also a very charming city with a number of great sights, good food, and fun cafes and bars and it’s a great place to spend a day or two. Oh, and dragons! The dragon is the symbol of Ljubljana and this mythical creature appears on the city flag and in the city shops. (And on a bridge – see below!)
Ljubljana Castle
I would recommend first making your way to Ljubljana Castle which is perched up on a hill overlooking the city – you’ll see it looking down on you as you make your way around the city. This 15th-century structure was built as a defensive against the Ottomans; today it houses several exhibits and also hosts cultural events.
Ljubljana CastleThe view from Ljubljana Castle over Ljubljana
You can reach the castle utilising the modern, fully glass funicular that’s located at ground level. After just a few minutes’ ride you’ll be up at Castle level where you can enjoy the lovely view across the city.
If you’ve purchased a full ticket for the castle, you can access the Museum of Puppetry; the Virtual Castle; the Viewing Tower with its 360-degree views with local mountain peaks pointed out rather cleverly; the Armoury; the surprisingly beautiful Castle Chapel of St George and the Exhibition of Slovenian History – which I felt was a bit thin on the ground with its content. (Poor Slovenia!)
The view from the watchtower of Ljubljana Castle over the central space of the Castle and beyond to the cityAn exhibit at the museum – editions of the first currency in independent Slovenia, the Tolar, before the introduction of the Euro in 2007
Tickets for the castle and funicular cost €16 for adults and €11.20 for children aged 7 to 18. A family ticket for four costs €38.40. (2023 prices)
The funicular taking passengers up to Ljubljana Castle
Ljubljana Market
Once you make the funicular ride back down to ground level, you will face Ljubljana’s Central Market, and open-air space with fruit and veg and typical market items being sold. Alongside the river is the Plecnik’s Covered Market, a beautiful structure built in the 1940s and designed by the famous Ljubljana architect Joze Plecnik.
Ljubljana MarketPlecnik’s Covered Market next to the Ljubljanica River
Should you be visiting Ljubljana on a Friday from March to October, you must visit the market to enjoy Odprta Kuhna. Chefs prepare excellent gourmet food options.
Zmajski Most – Dragon Bridge, The Triple Bridge and Other Bridges
It is always rather pleasing for a city to have a river winding its way right through the centre. This is certainly the case for Ljubljana with its River Ljubljanica…and you know what else that means? Lots of bridges!
The most famous bridge of all in Ljubljana is the Dragon Bridge, right around the corner from the Central Market. Built in 1900-1901, this bridge is adorned with four somewhat scary dragons at each edge; the bridge was the first reinforced concrete structure in the city and was one of the largest bridges in Europe at the time.
A dragon on the Dragon Bridge
Further west is the Triple Bridge – literally three bridges, side by side. The original bridge was the central one, it’s current form from the mid-19th century. In the early 20th century, the left and right-hand bridges were added to a design by Joze Plecnik. These three bridges really are quite striking, and fun when you make the decision of which bridge to cross!
Looking across the Triple Bridge
Preseren Square
Right by the Triple Bridge is the wide open space of Preseren Square (Preserenov Trg), Ljubljana’s main square and clearly a gathering place for many locals. You’ll find the Preseren Momument here, depicting Slovenian poet France Preseren. The Franciscan Church of the Annunciation is also located here, as is the lovely Hauptmann House.
The statue of France Preseren on Preseren Square
Museums and Exhibitions
Plecnik House covers the life and works of the famous aforementioned 20th Slovenian architect, Joze Plecnik. He contributed greatly to the design of modern Ljubljana (as well as working in Vienna and Prague).
The National Gallery is home to almost 600 works by Slovenian and European painters, including works by Zoran Music, a leading modernist painter.
Eating and Drinking in Ljubljana
For a super hearty lunch, I would highly recommend Moji Struklji, also known as the Dumpling House. The restaurant prepares a variety of dumplings, both savoury and sweet, with traditional fillings such as cottage cheese, meat, carrot and other vegetables, nuts/walnuts, apples and more. You will honestly find it hard to choose! Alongside the dumplings, you may also like to try one of their delicious stews.
A meat dumpling at Moji Struklji
Another top tip for a very filling and delicious (not to mention quick) meal is Klobasarna. Essentially, this place is all about the Carniolian sausage…and that’s pretty much all they serve! A half or whole portion will get you the sausage carved up alongside mustard, horseradish and a bread roll; I went for the sausage wrapped in sauerkraut and dough which was fantastic! And seeing as you’re in Slovenia, why not wash this down with a Cockta, the Slovenian soft drink that was invented to rival a more famous drink with a similar name?
Pizzeria Foculus is a very relaxed but fun kind of place with an astonishingly long menu. It’s all exceedingly tasty!
Cacao is the place to head to for the best ice cream in the city.
An extra day in Slovenia
If you’re truly taken by Slovenia and want to extend your time here, another option would be to stay the night in the city and use the next day to visit the magical Lake Bled. There are numerous bus departures from the main bus station in Ljubljana direct to Bled that take just over an hour. It is possible, of course, to also join an organised tour that includes transport, but it’s easy to just do it yourself!
Once you arrive in Bled, make your way down to the shimmering lake itself to take in its beauty. If you have the time and the proper footwear, I would recommend walking the full circumference of the lake for an excellent way of experiencing the nature of the place and seeing the lake and its surroundings from multiple viewpoints.
Lake Bled and Bled Castle
Another must is to enjoy the lake from…well…water level. There are boats that will take you to the island in the middle of the lake; you can choose from either an old-fashioned-style wooden boat called a pletna which is rowed (really!) across to the island, or an electric boat which is faster but perhaps less traditional. (These two boat types are obviously used to preserve the clean waters of the lake.)
Pletna boats on Lake Bled
Once on Bled Island, you can visit the Church of the Mother of God (for an additional entrance fee) which has a 52-metre-high bell tower. Alternatively, retire to Poticnica Cafe to sample the local potica delicacy, a filled pastry-type treat; the walnut potice is the most popular.
The boats leave you on the island for a minimum of 1 hour 15 minutes, which is just about enough time to get the most of what there is here. Make sure you don’t miss the return boat!
The church on Bled Island
There are several eateries around the edge of the lake for you to fuel up at. You absolutely must, however, leave room to try the Bled Cream Cake at Kavarna Park, which invented this sweet treat in 1953. The layered cake – made up of a crispy puff pastry crust on the top and bottom and vanilla custard and cream in between – is served up in a cube-like portion and a small glass of sweet wine is a great accompaniment. (Kavarna Park also serves up some other impressive dessert and ice cream dishes if the cake isn’t your cup of tea.) The cafe has apparently served 16 million portions of Bled Cake since its invention!
A Bled Cream Cake at Kavarna Park
More info on Ljubljana and Slovenia
You can find more information on visiting this lovely city on the Ljubljana Tourist Board website.
For more tourist advice on Slovenia in general, head to the Slovenian Tourist Board website.
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