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How to Plan Your Perfect Trip to Croatia in 2025

18th March 2025/0 Comments/in Holidays in Croatia, Travel advice

This year is already speeding past – can you believe that we’re already halfway through the third month of 2025? Now is the perfect time to start thinking about your travel plans for the year ahead, and if your travel plans concern Croatia well…you in the right place! Let me guide you in planning your perfect trip to Croatia in 2025 to give you the best holiday ever!

Step 1 – Choose where you want to go

Now, this is one of the most difficult steps in planning a perfect trip to Croatia. There, I said it. But only because Croatia is such a beautiful country that it’s difficult to choose where exactly to holiday! Luckily you’ve come to the Visit Croatia website and we’re all about helping you choose a destination in Croatia.

Do you have an inkling of where you’d like to go? Perhaps you’ve seen gorgeous photos of Dubrovnik’s Old Town, the stunning imagery of Zlatni Rat Beach near Bol on the island of Brac, the glorious views from above Hvar Town overlooking nearby islands, shots of the charming Istrian coastal towns such as Rovinj, Porec, Umag or Novigrad, or scenes of the waterfalls of Plitvice or Krka National Parks? If one of these has inspired you, then go for it! You’ll find plenty of information about these destinations and how best to get to them in our special guides.

Top Sights in Croatia - Zlatni Rat Beach — Walking along the Old Town walls in Dubrovnik

But what if you’re not sure at all, and nothing really springs to mind when you’re thinking about where to go in Croatia? Here are some ideas for different things you may want on a holiday:

Amazing sights? Head to Pula with its excellent selection of Roman sights, with a Roman amphitheatre – the Arena – that can’t be beaten. Or Split, for the Diocletian’s Palace area that is something that has to be seen and experienced to be believed
Parties non-stop? Alright, I get you. Zrce Beach on the island of Pag is the place for you, with its excellent open-air clubs that play host to many of the top festivals in Croatia. But don’t forget The Garden Tisno, a specially made festival site that also hosts some of the best events in the country.
A charming coastal town? Let’s go for the pretty Rovinj, with its colourful buildings, cobbled streets and lovely harbour…with many a top restaurant
A charming coastal town in Dalmatia? My top pick would be Sibenik, with its beautiful yet compact Old Town that includes the Cathedral of St James, a UNESCO World Heritage site
A city break with a difference? Consider Osijek in eastern Croatia – Ryanair flies there – and explore the city and its sights, with a good selection of dining options and hotels. You’re also in a place to explore Kopacki Rit Nature Park and the wineries of this part of Croatia, such as Ilocki Podrumi.

Nothing but relaxation? Opt for one of the health and wellness resorts on the island of Losinj, known for its relaxation (and good food!)
Somewhere far away not many others will go to? Pick one of the islands furthest away from the Croatian coast, such as the so pretty Vis or very much off-radar Lastovo
Something new? If you like to be the first of your friends to experience things, why not try one of the new hotel openings in Croatia? My choice would be The Isolano on the very quiet island of Cres
Gorgeous nature? I mean, any of Croatia’s eight national parks or twelve nature parks would fit this bill but you’re probably wanting Plitvice or Krka National Parks. But do also consider Mljet with its lush greenery or Dugi Otok, home to Telascica Nature Park.
Foodie heaven? Don’t be scared by Croatian cuisine (I’m sure you’re not), but Istria would be the destination for you. Delight in its truffles, olive oil, wine and delicious natural produce

Top Sights in Croatia - Krka National Park — Krka National Park

Somewhere to stick the kids in…sorry, to enjoy with the kids? The Zadar region, especially as it is home to the Zaton Holiday Resort has something for everyone
Wine country? Hey, I get you – try Istria, as above, or southern Dalmatia to be able to enjoy the wineries of the Peljesac Peninsula
An island that’s not really an island and within easy reach of the sights of the mainland? Ciovo would totally fit the bill for this, seeing as it’s less than a kilometre away from the mainland and connected by bridge. And then you’re super close to places such as Split, Krka NP, the Dalmatian islands…
Croatia, but make it France? …niche, okay, I’m not sure I’ve ever been asked that before…but I’ve still got the place for you – Opatija.
That place with the awesome walls and red rooftops? Dubrovnik

Oh, what’s that? You want more than one destination on your perfect trip? I get you! We’ve got plenty of ideas for multi-destination holidays to Croatia on our special guides to One Week, Ten Days, Two Weeks and Three Weeks in Croatia.

Still stuck for inspiration? Have a read of our Where to Go in Croatia guide for some more inspiration.

Just want to look at pretty pictures and choose a holiday destination that way? See Top Ten Destinations in Croatia or Top Ten Sights in Croatia. And don’t forget What Not to Miss in Croatia!

Step 2 – Who are you going to go with?

Trust me – mention your idea of going to Croatia and suddenly every man, woman and his/her dog will want to join. Will your holiday to Croatia be a family affair, a romantic trip, a girls-only sojourn or a short city break with friends? You’ll need to narrow it down because, quite frankly, trying to do all of the above will get messy!

Trust me, Croatia is a really ideal destination for those of you with families. There are many family-friendly hotels and resorts all up and down the coastline. A few years ago, my family and I enjoyed the Hotel Jakov, part of the Amadria Park resort near Sibenik. It was excellent for us two adults and two kids (and all the other families who were there at the same time). See my full review: Visit Croatia Review: Amadria Park Resort, Sibenik.

Review Jet2 Holidays - View from Amadria Park Beach — View from one of the private beaches at the Amadria Park resort

A spot of romance? Maybe you’re considering Croatia for a honeymoon? (Oooh, congratulations.) How lovely – take a look at my Honeymoon in Croatia travel planning advice.

A girls’ trip? I enjoyed a short stay at the Grand Hotel Brioni in Pula last year and I can’t wait to go back with my girlfriends to enjoy the spa, the top dining options, the infinity pool and private beach and excellent cocktails!

Luxury hotels in Croatia - Grand Hotel Brioni, Pula — A room with a view (oh, what a view) at the Grand Hotel Brioni in Pula

For a city break with friends, I would strongly suggest mighty Zagreb which has something for everyone. Better still, go to Zagreb at one of its best times of year – Christmas – to enjoy Advent in Zagreb.

(But maybe leave the dog behind. All that faff with getting a pet passport and all that.)

Step 3 – Money, money, money

“Unusual to involve Abba as one of the steps, but alright, you know what you’re doing” you’re probably thinking.

Now that you’re humming Benny and Bjorn’s most famous hits – sung beautifully by Agnetha and Frida, of course – you need to seriously think about your budget for your Croatia trip. Are you trying to keep costs in check as much as you can? You will need to look at our guide on How to do Croatia on a budget. That page in itself offers some suggestions for where and when to go, so it may give you some further holiday inspo.

At the other end of the scale, perhaps money is no object. Lucky you! There are more and more luxury and five-star openings in Croatia all the time, so peruse our Luxury Hotels in Croatia page for ideas.

Step 4 – Finding your way…otherwise known as booking flights (or buses or trains)

If flights are what you need then flights is what you shall have…by first looking at our pages on Flights to Croatia from the UK & Ireland, US to Croatia Flights and Flights from Asia to Croatia.

Open up another tab on your browser and get the information you need from our Getting to Dubrovnik, Getting to Split, Getting to Istria, Getting to North Dalmatia, Getting to the Kvarner Riviera and Getting to Zagreb pages.

Maybe you want someone to book a whole holiday – flights and hotels – for you? I’d recommend Jet2 Holidays…and I’m not being paid to say that!

If you’re trying to limit your carbon emissions in 2025, why not consider alternative ways of reaching Croatia than by flying? I’ve recently written about Getting to Croatia from the UK by bus as well as Getting to Croatia from the UK by train. It has to be said (and to be expected), that neither option is particularly fast BUT… Why not consider Croatia your endpoint on a fantastical adventure across Europe? Spend perhaps a week reaching Croatia by bus or train or a combination and then a week (or more) relaxing on the Croatian coast.

Step 5 – You need a place to stay

Of course, you do! Now that you’ve figured out where you’re going and how to get there, you will need a roof over your head, whether that’s camping, a hostel, a holiday rental, a five-star hotel or a luxury villa.

If you’re undecided take a look at our Accommodation in Croatia section which highlights accommodation options for practically everywhere in Croatia (if I’ve not written a page about it, it’s not worth staying there!) as well as guides to different types of accommodation.

Or use the map below – which, yes, shows Dubrovnik but type in your own destination – as a starting point!

Step 6 – What are you going to do?

Even if all you’re planning on doing is lazing by a pool or beach day in, day out, on repeat every day, it would be advisable to have some idea of what there is to at your destination. Look up some of our day trip ideas – Day Trips from Dubrovnik, Day Trips from Split, Day Trips in Istria pages as an example. Or take some suggestions from our Bonkers Tours of Croatia list if you want to try something completely off the wall!

If this is all a bit TL;DR for you here’s my one tip – go on a boat trip! Any boat trip, preferably to a nearby island. It is so much fun to be out on the Adriatic. Failing that, book yourself onto a local ferry for a short hop and simply explore!

Step 7 – What have you forgotten?

Have you hired a car and planned your driving route in Croatia? (If you’re choosing to rent a car, that is.)

Have you checked your passport and made sure it’s valid for entry into Croatia and the EU? It needs to have been issued within the last ten years and have at least three months validiltiy left on it after your departure from Croatia. (See UK Passport Requirements for Croatia and also our Visa Requirements for Croatia page.)

Have you packed everything you need for a trip to Croatia? Read my guide to Croatia Holiday Essentials for some tips on what to take.

You’ve done all of the above? Good! Then congratulations, you’re all set for a perfect trip to Croatia in 2025!

How to: Croatia for first time visitors

2nd October 2024/0 Comments/in Holidays in Croatia, Travel advice

You probably keep seeing Croatia mentioned in the travel press all the time. You’ve probably heard your friends and family talk about what an excellent time they’ve had in Croatia – how “stunning” it was. (It is!) And you may well have glimpsed parts of Croatia on TV or film – whether the country was “playing” itself or another destination (which in turn, could have been a real destination – such as the island of Vis playing a Greek island in Mamma Mia 2 – or a fake location, such as Dubrovnik playing King’s Landing in Game of Thrones). So now, it’s surely your time – you need to pay a visit to the country. But how? It’s easy, don’t worry! Follow this guide to Croatia for first-time visitors!

Croatia for first time visitors - advice for where to go, how long for and how to plan your holiday

Croatia for first-time visitors: the kind of holiday to go for

Unless you’re a particularly adventurous and highly experienced traveller – in which case you’ve probably been to Croatia before, let’s face it – let’s make things easy for you. I would recommend one destination as a base for your stay. In the case of almost all of the most popular destinations in Croatia, you will be able to use that place to enjoy yourself with sights, restaurants, bars, cafes, a little shopping, beaches and activities and be able to make day trips to other places of interest.

This kind of holiday to Croatia for first-time visitors is a great introduction to the country!

Croatia for first-time visitors: how long to visit for

Yes, of course – Croatia’s a pretty small country as far as countries go but it’s not that tiny. There’s no way you can cover most of the country’s main sights, experiences, towns, cities and islands even if you had a month to hand.

I would therefore suggest that you either opt for a week-long stay, or – if you can’t quite stretch to that – a long weekend break.

A week-long stay would allow you enough time to mix up your holiday with some days relaxing by a pool or on the beach, taking gentle strolls into town for a delicious evening meal, and some days devoted to day trips by boat to local islands.

A long weekend break (or any kind of break that lasts a few days) would also give you a decent amount of time to explore one city in Croatia, with some local trips within that general region.

More info: take a look at Visit Croatia’s itineraries and ideas for one week in Croatia and a city break in Croatia. Perhaps you will be inspired to add more travel during your holiday!

Croatia for first-time visitors: where to go

Okay, now the big one, Where should you go? Oof! How do I answer this…?

For a one-week stay

Let me just throw some names out there!

Dubrovnik – an absolute gem of a place, it is no surprise that this is one of the most popular places in Croatia for holidaymakers. With a hugely impressive Old Town that is so well-preserved, and plenty of other sights, there’s absolutely no way you will be bored. Dubrovnik also has a wealth of accommodation options – from budget-friendly to absolute luxury – as well as being chock-full of restaurants, cafes, bars and more.

Croatia for first time visitors - Dubrovnik — Dubrovnik

Split and nearby – I wouldn’t necessarily choose the city of Split itself for a week-long stay, but instead flying into Split and then transferring to somewhere close by. Consider holidaying in somewhere such as Trogir or Ciovo, the Makarska Riviera, the island of Brac or Hvar or the Sibenik region.

Zadar – Zadar is a very charming town that offers much for travellers. It benefits from having a number of excellent accommodation options on its outskirts, as well as some great day trip opportunities; the Kornati Islands National Park and the islands of Dugi Otok and Ugljan, and even the world-famous Plitvice Lakes.

Croatia for First Time Visitors - Zadar — Zadar at dusk, looking out over to the nearby islands

Istria – oh, beautiful, beautiful Istria with its excellent food and wine, stunning coastal towns and exceedingly pretty countryside. If there’s something negative about Istria, I haven’t found it yet. Fly into Pula and stay there for top Roman sights, or transfer to the lovely Rovinj or very popular Porec. There are lots of family-friendly attractions in Istria too!

Top Sights in Croatia - Pula Arena — The Arena in Pula

More info: I’ve linked to our pages on the above-mentioned destinations in the text above – take some time out of your day and give the information a read!

For a long weekend break

If you’re certain you want to head to the coast, Dubrovnik or Split would be the simplest to get to whilst offering plenty of things for you to see and do. I would also highly recommend Pula if you can reach this charming town easily.

Otherwise, please consider Zagreb! No, it doesn’t have the Adriatic Sea, but there is SO MUCH to enjoy in this city. Maybe consider it for a winter break – timed to coincide with its world-famous Advent in Zagreb celebration?

More info: Take a look at our guides to Two Days in Dubrovnik, Two Days in Split, Two Days in Pula and Two Days in Zagreb to give you some ideas on what to do

Croatia for first-time visitors: how to book your holiday

Undeniably, booking a package deal or via a travel agent would really simplify your holiday booking plans. Leave someone else to do all the hard work of figuring out accommodation, flights and transfers! I totally understand, I often do the same! (But not, normally, for Croatia as you may understand.)

Take a look at our Best package holidays to Croatia post for some ideas of (UK-based) companies to help you plan a holiday.

Do also look at our Tour Operators for Croatia for UK-based companies, and American Tour Operators for Croatia for…well, it’s obvious!

No thanks – I want a more detailed itinerary!

Okay, okay – I hear you! Perhaps you’re a first-time visitor travelling from a fair way away and want to make the most of your time in the country, seeing as much as possible. That makes sense, I get it!

My best advice to you would be to opt for a “one-way” itinerary, flying into one place and out of another.

Consider something like this:

Fly into Zagreb – Zagreb – Plitvice Lakes – Zadar – Split – day trips to Hvar and/or Brac – Dubrovnik – day trips to Mljet and Elafiti Islands – fly out of Dubrovnik

Or what about:

Fly into Dubrovnik – Dubrovnik – day trips to Peljesac Peninsula (for wine and oysters) and Korcula – Split – day trip to Krka National Park – Zadar – Opatija – Pula – day trips to Brijuni islands and Rovinj– fly out of Pula (or hop over to Italy)

Really, if you’re looking for advice on a more detailed itinerary, take a look at our full-to-the-brim Itineraries for Croatia section where there is advice on actual routes to take, how to travel, when and where to go and plenty more to help and inspire you.

Other Tips

I’ve mentioned day trips multiple times in this post and for good reason. There is so much choice from so many destinations. You’ll certainly encounter many boat trips to islands and along the coast, but there are also opportunities to go to national and nature parks, wineries, gastro spots and more. You might even be able to pop over the border to Montenegro or Bosnia and Hercegovina, depending on where in Croatia you will be.

Take a look at some of the most popular day trips in Croatia for inspiration.

Final advice

Remember – the beauty about going to Croatia for the first time is…you will fall in love, and then need to go back!

Best Package Holidays to Croatia 2024

17th June 2024/0 Comments/in Holidays in Croatia, Travel advice, Travelling to Croatia

Seeing as we’re already in June, you may have booked your summer holiday to Croatia (or could it possibly be another destination?!) long ago. But if you’re anything like me, you’re probably simultaneously opening up 23 different tabs on your laptop’s browser, trying to compare the best holiday deals. If the destination you’re typing into your browser is Croatia, this page is for you – as I look at the best package holidays to Croatia 2024.

Savings on Package Holidays to Croatia

Now, seeing as we’re already in summer, prices will of course be higher. We’re in peak season, after all. But if you’re able to jet off on holiday soon (how about this week?!) and before the school summer holidays start, you may well be able to grab yourself a bargain. Alternatively, consider looking at dates in September. The ninth month of the year is normally an excellent time of year to visit Croatia!

For extra cost savings, try to travel during mid-week (for example, a Tuesday to Tuesday holiday). You can often also make savings by booking a holiday that’s not a standard 7- or 14-night duration. I’ve just seen an 8-night stay that was cheaper than a 7-night one! (That sounds crazy, but it’s true!)

Benefits of a Package Holiday to Croatia

If you scroll down further on this page, you’ll see I talk about putting together your own holiday to Croatia. And that’s largely what Visit Croatia is for – presenting advice for independent travellers to plan their own trips.

So why would I recommend a package holiday? Well, it’s certainly an easy way of putting together a holiday. Just plug in the destination, enter your dates, type in your credit card details and (almost) away you go – you’ve got everything you need for a week (or two) in the sun. Flights, accommodation, transfers, some meals (or all) and even excursions have all been sorted out for you. That’s ideal for people who don’t want to think too hard about putting together a holiday…something that’s certainly attractive when we’re all so busy these days with our lives.

Perhaps you don’t want to do too much research about a holiday – you just want to look at some pictures, decide on a room type and make a decision.

Other benefits come from booking the holiday. You can easily compare prices of different hotels (and other accommodation types), departure airports, and destinations when making your decision.

You can also very easily use the package holiday companies’ websites to narrow down your holiday type – whether you’re booking a holiday as a couple or for a family.

Jet2 Holidays

Visit Croatia is a big fan of Jet2 Holidays…and I promise I’m not being paid to say that! Take a look at my Jet2 Holidays review of a family holiday to a hotel close to Sibenik. It wasn’t just the destination and accommodation offered that made the holiday; the actual booking process made a big difference where I could easily compare prices for different departure dates and add in any extras (or take them off) that I wanted. Free child places are also certainly a big draw!

Jet2 Holidays presently offers holidays to the Dubrovnik Riviera (17 resorts here), which essentially means Dubrovnik itself and the other little towns and villages nearby, and locations in central Dalmatia (20 resorts here) – in and near Split. From summer 2025, they will also be offering holidays to Istria, from a selection of 9 resorts here.

I like the look of 7 nights at the Hvar Places Hotel by Valamar (departing 27th June) for £2,338 total for two adults. This hotel is part of Jet2 Holidays’ Vibe collection – places that are perfectly located for going out and having a bit of fun. And with this hotel “new for 2024”, you can be one of the first guests to stay there.

Package Holidays to Croatia - Hvar Places Hotel by Valamar — Hvar Places Hotel by Valamar (Credit: Valamar)

From their Luxe collection, you can have 7 nights at the 5-star Hotel Le Meridien Lav in Split (also departing 27th June) for £2,604 for two adults. Go on, pamper yourself!

An excellent deal is 7 nights at the Marko Polo Hotel by Aminess on lovely Korcula island (departing 27th June) for £1,356 for two adults.

If you’re holidaying with kids, take a look at 7 nights at the Amadria Park Apartments Trogir (departing Saturday 27th July – in the summer holidays) for £2,604 for two adults and two children. Or if you can travel on Tuesday 30th July, the price drops to £2,265 for all four of you.

At the moment, Jet2 Holidays is offering a saving of £200 on all summer holidays, plus an extra £10 per person if you have a myJet2 account. They’re also Which magazine’s travel brand of the year for 2024!

Note: all prices above are based on departures from London Stansted. Please don’t hate me, non-London people!

TUI

TUI is often a name that holidaymakers turn to when they’re booking a package holiday and with the vast destination network and a trusted brand, it’s easy to see why.

TUI offers holidays to Istria, the Split region (including islands) and the Dubrovnik region (also including islands) – and city breaks to Zagreb too.

If you can pack your suitcase quickly to go off on holiday in the next week or so, there are definitely some good deals to be had. 7 nights at the Rubin Sunny Hotel By Valamar in Porec in Istria (departing 25th June) can be had for just £1,196 in total for two adults – that’s on a half board basis.

A more luxurious option would be 7 nights at the 5-star Hotel Ambasador in Opatija for £1,734 in total, departing on Tuesday 2nd July.

For families? There are plenty of options in Istria at resorts such as Porec, but what about 7 nights at the relatively new Grand Hotel View on the island of Brac for £3,376 in total for 2 adults and 2 children? That’s for a departure on Thursday 15th August with return flights with Easyjet from London Gatwick.

TUI are currently running a number of promotions including savings of up to £250 on holidays and an extra £10 off if you use their app.

Easyjet Holidays

“Cheap holidays” proclaims Easyjet Holidays’ own website when you look them up. And, as with the above companies, they also offer holidays to Istria and the Split and Dubrovnik regions.

One of the cheapest holidays I could find for 2 adults in the next few weeks was 7 nights at the 4-star Hotel Mimosa – Lido Palace in Rabac in Istria for £1,346 in total. That’s for a departure on Friday 28th June from London Gatwick to Pula. This same holiday costs £1,248 for 7 nights if departing from Bristol on Thursday 27th June.

More high-end is 7 nights at the 5-star Hotel Melia Coral for Plava Laguna in Umag for £1,984 in total for 2 adults. This holiday also departs on Friday 28th June from London Gatwick.

Families might want to take a look at 7 nights at the Royal Palm in Dubrovnik for £3,698 for 2 adults and 2 children, departing on Tuesday 30th July from Bristol. That’s not a bad price for a luxury king suite in a five-star hotel; in fact, this price includes a saving of £218 off the full price.

Package Holidays to Croatia - Royal Palm Dubrovnik — Royal Palm Dubrovnik (Credit: Royal Palm Hotels & Resorts)

Adventure holidays and specialist holidays

Maybe you’re after a package holiday but anything but the norm – no lying on a beach sunbathing day in and day you for you!

Take a look at our Tour Operators page which lists all sorts of companies offering holidays to Croatia – including travel for solos, coach and rail travel, green travel, kayaking, hiking and horseback riding, walking holidays, swimming adventures and more.

Sailing holidays

Do you know what Croatia’s got lots of? Islands. Which means it has a relatively long coastline and rather calm waters. All in all, it is ideal for sailing which, in turn, is an ideal way of exploring Croatia’s islands.

Check out our Sailing Holidays in Croatia page. As well as some tips, you’ll find details of companies that offer sailing package holidays in Croatia.

A DIY Holiday?

No, not a holiday that involves you packing a hammer, a screwdriver and a cordless drill.

Seeing as Visit Croatia has all the advice for you to put together your own holiday (and if you can’t find any answer, I’m here to help you!), you may well find that putting together yourself – in other words, a do it yourself holiday – is actually preferable to you.

We’ve got all the answers for how to plan your own holiday to Croatia, from finding flights, accommodation, transfers, tours and more.

You may well find that you make a slight cost saving in putting together your own holiday. Or you may find that by putting together your own holiday, you really will get the perfect holiday to Croatia; whether it’s a specific destination, departure point, activity or other thing that’s making it perfect.

I hope you’re able to book a wonderful holiday to Croatia this summer!

Visit Croatia Review: Amadria Park Resort, Sibenik

28th June 2023/0 Comments/in Family Holidays, Holidays in Croatia, Reviews, Travel advice

Last year, Visit Croatia holidayed at the Amadria Park resort with her young family. See what she – and the rest of the family – thought in this review!

If you’ve read our review of Jet2 Holidays and the dilemma of choosing a holiday destination, we’ll fast forward to the conclusion that we ended up booking a week’s holiday in July at the four-star Hotel Jakov, part of the Amadria Park resort near Sibenik. Off we set – waaaay too early for a Sunday morning, it has to be said – on our breezy 2-hour flight from London Stansted to Split.

I’m always amazed by how wonderful landing in Croatia is – once you’re in Croatian airspace, the view from a plane is truly spectacular with a gorgeous view of the stunning coastline and the many, many islands and islets and beautiful towns below. And such was the case on a beautifully sunny summer’s day in Split. Whisked through the airport relatively quickly with a bit of time to admire the new airport building, our transfer coach was waiting outside for all of us Jet2 Holiday holidaymakers. On this particular journey, we had a total of 3 stops with Amadria Park guests alighting at the final destination – making it about an hour’s transfer time from the airport.

Checking In…or not

Now, at this point, we encountered probably the biggest problem of our holiday. Sunday is clearly a big guest turnover day and the lobby was filled to the brim with new guests waiting to check in and be allocated their rooms. The Hotel Jakov is termed a “family hotel” so as well as plenty of adult guests there were many, many children of various ages and in various stages of behavioural boredom. And what with the hotel being full of families, all manner of family-related items were also in the lobby – prams, pool inflatables, bags of nappies, that sort of thing.

Despite the inconvenience, there was an orderly queuing system and the young staff were staying calm in typically insouciant Croatian fashion, managing to cope with the situation. They also placated us guests with glasses of a fizzy little something.

We probably waited over an hour before we were finally able to check in – not at all ideal after a longish day of travelling and a very early morning start. As an apology, we were given a free dinner for our party at the hotel restaurant – which worked out for the first night anyway, with us not wanting to stray to far or think to hard about what to eat.

Rooms at the Amadria Park Hotel Jakov

After all the check-in palaver, we were delighted to finally be given the key cards to our room. And a lovely room it was! We had opted for the 31m. sq. family room, which was ideal for two adults and two kids. The room had a smart, modern and welcoming decor and included a small balcony with a view of the hotel grounds.

If you’ve travelled with kids, you’ll likely know that kids and adults and hotel rooms are a terrible mix – no one wants to go to bed at an appropriate time, no one can relax properly and something bonkers like the adults “hiding” in the bathroom whilst the kids try to fall asleep always ends up happening. So a separate space for kids to sleep in is a must…which is exactly what this hotel room had.

With a bunk bed right by the room entrance (where there was also space for a baby cot), the main double bed in the room is down a narrowish hallway – past the bathroom – and well away from sleeping kids. A highly appreciated solution to give the younger holidaymakers and the older holidaymakers some space so everyone can rest appropriately.

Pool Area and Amenities

Although the pool area is nicely laid out with space for a good number of loungers, it did always feel busy. There are two smallish freshwater pools (right next to each other) and a smaller baby pool off to one side. We tended to sit by the baby pool which was a lot quieter and where it was always easy to find some lounger space – and shaded space at that, under sun umbrellas and trees.

The pools themselves were perhaps a little on the small side given the number of guests, and aside from swimming and bobbing around on their own inflatables, kids amused themselves by throwing themselves off a small rocky display next to one of the pools. Kids being kids, and all!

Amadria Park Hotel Jakov Pool — The baby pool at the Hotel Jakov – see, I told you it was less busy!

There was a beach bar where simple snacks (sandwiches and salads), freezer ice creams and drinks could be obtained which was very welcome in the heat. A suggestion to the hotel would be to have an ice cream menu on display – no one ever seemed to understand what we wanted (and everyone spoke English) but an ice cream is an ice cream…right?!

Aquapark Dalmatia

Part of the Amadria Park resort is the Aquapark Dalmatia waterpark, which you can see (and most definitely hear!) if you’re staying at the Hotel Jakov.

The waterpark is fairly small as far as waterparks go, with a lazy river, several jacuzzis, a large rain “fortress” with six water slides, a “kids zone” with smaller water slides and a number of smaller pools ideal for younger guests.

The waterpark cost €26.60 for adults and €13.30 for children “between 90cm and 120cm” in height which we felt was too much for what it actually was, although probably in line with these sorts of attractions! This was a discount from €33.33 and €16.67 for non-hotel guests. (Note: these are all 2022 prices)

A nice touch would have been to give us one free waterpark day as hotel guests. As it was, we weren’t tempted to return later in the week after spending the majority of one day there and given the price.

Note: AquaPark Dalmatia is also open to non-Amadria Park guests

Kids Club and Activities

There was a daily kids club at the Hotel Jakov (shared with the Hotel Andrija) which you could dip into as you wanted with your kids, I believe for those aged 4 and above. Housed in two little huts by the playground, it seemed to be well-staffed by young, enthusiastic adults going through the usual childcare activities of games and crafts. The kids club was included in the hotel price; private babysitting also seemed to be on offer for €33.35 per hour (2022 price).

Hotel Jakov playground — The playground and kids’ club huts

The playground itself was also a welcome draw – reasonably large with a number of fun climbing frames, slides and similar. It certainly drew the kids in the evenings once the temperature was cooler!

A hotel mascot – a bear – popped up occasionally at the hotel, either delighting or frightening children (depending on their temperament). This same bear would also delight/frighten the kids on the daily train parade that ran a route from next to the Aquapark along the main promenade.

There were additional daily entertainment activities, including yoga on the beach, t-shirt/bag painting at Sweet Dreams Cake Shop (for an extra charge), aqua aerobics and aqua fun, and a pirate competition – whatever that may be – on the minigolf course.

Dining

The welcoming, large dining room at the Hotel Jakov is open for a buffet breakfast and buffet dinner. Our booking only included breakfast and we found the breakfast options plentiful – cereals, cooked breakfast, pancakes and sweet treats, fruits, yoghurts, continental cold plate breakfast options, juices, hot drinks…the list goes on.

There was more than enough food supplied and replenished throughout the breakfast session, plenty of seating for hotel guests (indoor and outdoor) and enough baby chairs for little ones.

Dinner was again buffet style – although not part of our booking, we received a free dinner the first night and had the option to pay for other nights if we wanted to. This was less of a hit for us – the choice and portions were more limited, and we never returned after that first night.

So, where else to eat? Well, the Amadria Park resort is huge with a number of other eating options dotted around the resort – from fast food (burgers) to a pizza/pasta-style cafe to more high-end dining. We tried a number of these and although perhaps on the pricey side, all served good food and we welcomed the fact that we had these choices just a short walk from our hotel.

An old stone house in the Dalmatian Ethno Village, Amadria Park — An old stone house in the Dalmatian Ethno Village

In particular, the Dalmatian Ethno Village is a treat for the final night of your holiday – the little village showcases a typical Dalmatian village from many moons ago. The menu as well offers garden-to-plate cooking, and the bread, cheese, olive oil and brandy are all made by hand using original tools. A very tasty meal was had here, with some good wine options too.

We personally also ate off-site a few nights – once at a restaurant just by the resort, another time in Sibenik.

Evening Entertainment

Every early evening a kids’ mini disco seemed to spark up by the neighbouring Hotel Andrija with hotel employees doing their best to inject a bit of fun into the location whilst some younger guests played football. (Because of course that’s what some boys do!)

Probably the most spectacular bit of entertainment we enjoyed during our week was a “train” (the resort’s motorised train vehicle) that summoned guests over to the Mediterranean Square, Pied Piper-style. Once there, an actually DJ-controlled disco started – still suitable for young ones – with dramatic disco lights, fantastically dressed dancers and performers including a fire-eating lady. A great atmosphere!

Party train — The party train leading people to the Mediterranean Square disco

Mediterranean Square Disco, Amadria Park — The Mediterranean Square disco

Amadria Park – Family Hotel versus Kids Hotel

As I’ve mentioned, the Hotel Jakov terms itself a “family hotel” in contrast to its next-door-neighbour, the four-star Hotel Andrija which is billed as a “kids hotel”.

What’s the difference? Well, I’d say that the Hotel Jakov is aimed at adults with young kids that want to stay at a nice hotel with pretty decor and great amenities that also caters to and thinks of its young guests.

Hotel Andrija, Amadria Park — The Hotel Andrija – I told you there was kid-focused decor!

From what I could see of the Hotel Andrija – we often went to its outdoor bar for an evening ice cream – that hotel fully targets its young visitors with child-friendly decor and furnishings, and amenities such as a gaming room. (Yes, really!)

Personally, the Hotel Jakov is much more my style!

The Amadria Park Resort as a whole

The resort is huge – but not in a way that overwhelmed us or ever felt too crowded. It is home to five hotels AND a camping resort at one end, plus mobile homes dotted around. There are numerous cafes and restaurants and other attractions such as the En Vogue Beach Club. The resort is so large, that we didn’t even have the time to fully explore all it had to offer!

(It has to also be said, we were not on the kind of holiday where a beach club would have fitted in!)

I haven’t even mentioned some of the other features and amenities of the resort such as the entertaining mini golf course, the outdoor cinema on the beach, bumper cars, bike rental, tennis lessons, the sweet shop and the very useful on-site mini supermarket. Or even really talked about the beach!

Inflatable waterpark — An inflatable waterpark

To rectify that here, the beach (pebbly, of course) offers loungers and beach umbrellas that must be paid for, although of course, you can sit yourself down anywhere else. The shallow, calm waters are ideal for kids, and there’s a lifeguard on duty for safety as well. There is also a large inflatable “fun park” a little distance out which was clearly enjoyed by kids and big kids alike.

Another big draw was the lovely seaside promenade which is the main path along the resort. As well as being the main way to get between the different hotels, restaurants and the like, it was a lovely walk particularly in the evening as the sun was setting.

Overall, I’m a big fan of the Amadria Park resort and I would say it is definitely suitable for a family holiday. I would certainly return for a future vacation!

Note: This is NOT a sponsored post, and Visit Croatia paid for the entire holiday. All thoughts in this review are Visit Croatia’s own and not influenced by any company.

Visiting Croatia in Summer 2021

23rd February 2021/0 Comments/in Flights, Holidays in Croatia, Travel advice, Travelling to Croatia

Note: Many of the websites relating to coronavirus no longer exist, so we have removed some of the links on this page

Here, we’ll bring together the latest information – updated regularly – about visiting Croatia in summer 2021, with flight and holiday news, travel and local restrictions (and the lifting of these) and more.

Travel Restrictions in Summer 2021

There are two parts to this story – restrictions on foreign travel by your own country, and restrictions in place for Croatia.

For example, as it stands for the UK, holidays abroad should be allowed from 17th May. (See Covid: When can I go on holiday in the UK or travel abroad?, BBC News, 23rd February 2021) But it is unknown at the moment what and if any kind of quarantine will be required when returning to the UK.

Latest update The UK’s green and amber lists have been combined into one “safe list” as of 4am on Monday 4th October. Croatia is on this safe list, meaning fully vaccinated travellers do not need a test to re-enter the UK and do not need to self-quarantine for 10 days. See the full list of rules on the Foreign Office website.

Updated The latest UK travel update on 26th August saw Croatia remain on the green list, which is great news! Do note, however, that neighbouring Montenegro is on the red list from 4am, Monday 30th August – if you travel to Montenegro and then return to the UK you will need to enter paid hotel quarantine for 10 days.

Updated Announced on 14th July and coming into effect at 4am on 19th July, Croatia has been be placed on England’s travel green list! This means that all travellers returning from Croatia to England do not need to quarantine for 10 days.

Updated From 19th July, fully vaccinated travellers from England (and children under 18 years of age) will not need to quarantine when returning from amber list countries, which Croatia still is. However, covid tests before and after returning to England will be required.

Updated As it stands on 24th June, Croatia remains on the UK amber travel list.

Updated As it stands on 8th June, Croatia remains on the UK amber travel list. There appears to be little movement week by week with new countries making it on to the green list.

Updated The UK is indeed allowing people to travel abroad for holidays from 17th May. The UK has also announced which countries are on its green light travel list…and Croatia is not presently one of them. That means that anyone travelling to Croatia for a holiday would need to self-isolate for 10 days at home on their return. (It is possible to “test to release” on day 5 of your return.)

Updated The UK is now suggesting that people can think about booking summer holidays. The earliest date that people could travel abroad is the 17th May. There is to be a traffic light system with countries designed as green, amber and red; the different colours indicate what UK travellers will need to do (not isolate, isolate at home, or isolate in a hotel) upon returning home. The first list of countries and the ‘traffic light’ that they will be is to be announced on 10th May.

Border Entry Regulations for Croatia

New regulations on entering Croatia were introduced as of 1st April.

LATEST UPDATE Visiting Croatia as a traveller from the UK, Cyprus, Russia or India

In effect from 26th July, ALL travellers (even if they are double-vaccinated) from these four countries must present proof of a negative PCR test taken in the previous 72 hours before entry into Croatia, or a negative rapid antigen test taken in the previous 48 hours before entry. This is due to the worsening epidemiological situation in those countries. As of 1st October, this is no longer valid. Please see Double vaccinated UK travellers to Croatia no longer need a negative test.

Additionally, as of 1st July, EU citizens/those travelling from the EU can enter Croatia with an EU Digital Covid Certificate.

For EU/EEA nationals and non-EU nationals if they are travelling from the EU/EEA who do not have an EU Digital Covid Certificate yet AND for third-country nationals, you must have one of the following:

a negative PCR test undertaken in the previous 72 hours or a rapid antigen test undertaken in the previous 48 hours (at the point of entry); if you are using a rapid antigen test, it must be one recognised by the EU, and the test name and manufacturer must be visible, and the test must be conducted by a healthcare facility/laboratory and signed or confirmed by a doctor
a vaccination certificate not older than 365 days showing you have received the second dose of a vaccine more than 14 days before entry into Croatia (or a vaccination certificate not older than 365 days showing you have received a single dose – in the case of single-dose vaccines – more than 14 days before entry into Croatia)
a certificate showing you have recovered from covid AND you have had one dose of a covid vaccine in the eight months since recovering; your vaccine dose must have been administered in the previous 12 months before arrival in Croatia
a certificate showing you have previously been infected with covid and had a positive PCR or rapid antigen test result in the previous 365 days only (and valid from on the 11th day after your positive test result)
if you are travelling from the EU, a vaccination certificate showing you have received the first dose of the Pfizer, Moderna or Gamaleya vaccine, on the basis of which you can enter Croatia in the period of 22 to 42 days from receiving the vaccine, or 22 to 84 days from receiving the first dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine

if you don’t have one of the above, you must obtain a PCR or rapid antigen test immediately after arriving in Croatia (at your own expense) and to isolate until you obtain a negative test result – if do not do this, you must isolate for 10 days

Children under the age of 12 who are travelling accompanied by a parent or guardian are exempt from having to provide a negative test result (or to self isolate) providing their parent or guardian adheres to above entry regulations

Third-country nationals (which UK citizens now are!) can visit if you are:

travelling for tourist reasons and have confirmation of a paid accommodation booking in a hotel, camp, private renter or rented vessel and other forms of tourist accommodation
HOWEVER, please note that this paid accommodation booking proof requirement now no longer exists for travellers from the following countries: Albania, Armenia, Australia, Azerbaijan, Bosnia & Heregovina, Brunei, Canada, China, Hong Kong, Israel, Japan, Jordan, Kosovo, Lebanon, Macao, Montenegro, Moldova, New Zealand, North Macedonia, Qatar, Saudia Arabia, Serbia, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Ukraine, USA

Travellers from South Africa and Zanzibar (Tanzania) must show proof of a negative PCR test undertaken in the previous 48 hours AND must also isolate for 14 days upon arrival in Croatia. (The isolation period can be shortened if a PCR test – at your own expense – is taken on day 7 at an authorised testing facility.)

As of 1st October, travellers from Brazil no longer need to quarantine for 14 days upon arrival in Croatia. However, ALL travellers – regardless of vaccination status – from Brazil need to show a negative PCR test (taken in the previous 72 hours) or a negative rapid antigen test (taken in the previous 48 hours) to enter Croatia.

Updated A meeting between the Croatian Minister of Tourism and Sports, Nikolina Brnjac, and the British Ambassador to Croatia, Andrew Dalgleish, saw Ms Brnjac state that Croatia “would be ready to receive tourists from the UK as soon as epidemiological rules in their home country allow it”. (See: When can I visit Croatia? Latest news as the country promises to welcome Britons by May, Daily Telegraph, 19th March 2021) This would suggest UK citizens could visit Croatia from 17th May.

Will any kind of ‘vaccination passport’ be in place for Croatia? There has not been any firm confirmation on this either way, but it is thought that Croatia is reluctant to introduce this. (Again, to encourage holidaymakers to visit.)

Updated The EU – of which Croatia is, of course, a member – looks set to introduce digital travel certificates for its citizens this summer. The UK is still considering whether or not to do the same.

Local Restrictions in Croatia

As of 28th May, new regulations have come into effect in Croatia. You can read about these on our Croatia Travel Restrictions 2021 page.

Covid Test Centres in Croatia

Should you need to obtain a PCR or rapid antigen test when in Croatia, you can see a list of test centres on the Koronavirus website. This website details the locations of test centres all over the country, including in towns and cities such as Zagreb, Split, Zadar, Pula, Rovinj and Dubrovnik. The page also shows how to book these test and how much they cost.

Test centres in Croatia:

Testing at Zagreb Airport
Test centres in Zagreb
Weekend testing via Zagreb Tourist Board (50% of price is subsidised by Zagreb tourist board)
Hotels in Zagreb offering testing facilities
Test centres in Split (including testing at Split Airport)
Test centres in Split-Dalmatia county (including on Hvar, Brac and Vis)
Cro Care shows public testing centres in Split-Dalmatia county including Hvar, Brac, Vis and Solta plus Split, Makarska and Trogir
Public health testing centres in Dubrovnik (in Croatian language only, unfortunately)
Private testing centres in Dubrovnik (in Croatian language only, unfortunately) including Marin-Med Clinic
Test centre at Dubrovnik Airport
Test centres in Zadar
Test centres in Opatija
Rapid antigen test centres in the Kvarner region including in Novalja on Pag, Rijeka Airport and Omisalj on Krk and Biograd na moru
Test centres in Pula
Testing at Pula Airport

The KoronaTestiranje website shows a map of testing centres all over Croatia, along with contact and booking details and prices.

Flights to Croatia Summer 2021

The vast majority of flights from the UK & Ireland to Croatia that usually operate each year are planned to do so again for summer 2021. The start of the operating timetable for some routes has been pushed back – e.g. instead of flights starting at the end of March/early April, they will do so in May/June. This is to be expected, really, as foreign travel in spring and Easter time – normally a popular time of year to go away – is not yet permitted. (Foreign travel from the UK is expected to be allowed from 17th May.)

Updated As of the week beginning 9th August almost all flights scheduled to operate this summer from the UK & Ireland to Croatia have commenced. For the full timetable, see our Flights to Croatia from the UK & Ireland page.

Updated Delta has also announced a brand transatlantic route for summer 2021, from New York-JFK Airport to Dubrovnik. The route will start on 2nd July, operating four times a week (on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays). With United’s flights below, this now means Dubrovnik will be connected to New York with 7 flights a week this summer!

Updated United has announced a brand new transatlantic route for summer 2021, from New York-Newark Airport direct to Dubrovnik. Flights will commence on 8th July, operating three times a week (on Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays) until 3rd October.

Updated Ryanair has announced new routes for summer 2021 – from Liverpool, Newcastle and Edinburgh to Zadar. (They will also have a new, daily route from London Stansted to Zagreb from 1st September.)

There are also plenty of flights operating from elsewhere in Europe to Croatia in summer 2021. See our Getting to Zagreb, Getting to Split, Getting to Dubrovnik, Getting to Istria, Getting to the Kvarner Riviera and Getting to North Dalmatia pages for more details.

For flights from further afield…there’s bad news, unfortunately. Although more and more transcontinental routes direct to Croatia – from the Middle East, Asia and North America – emerged, pre-pandemic, the majority have been cancelled for 2021. We hope to see them resume in future.

Croatia Travel Updates

Here is some information related to travelling to or in Croatia that visitors may find helpful for summer 2021.

Updated Jadrolinija will continue to operate its popular coastal catamaran (Split – Bol – Hvar – Korcula – Dubrovnik) until 20th September 2021.

Updated Kapetan Luka is the new operator of the Pula – Unije – Susak – Mali Losinj – Ilovik – Silba – Zadar line (taking over from Catamaran Line).

Updated Kapetan Luka has also cancelled their Split – Hvar – Korcula route for 2021.

Updated Kapetan Luka‘s second coastal catamaran, sailing Split – Bol – Makarska – Korcula – Sobra – Dubrovnik, has been cancelled for 2021.

Updated The start of Jadrolinija‘s international route from Ancona to Zadar has been postponed until 21st July.

Updated Kapetan Luka‘s other coastal catamaran travelling Split – Bol – Makarska – Korcula – Sobra – Dubrovnik will start operating from 5th July.

Updated Jadrolinija‘s coastal catamaran that sails Split – Bol – Hvar – Korcula – Dubrovnik will start operating from 25th June.

Updated Kapetan Luka‘s popular coastal catamaran travelling Split – Milna – Hvar – Korcula – Pomena – Dubrovnik is now due to start operating on 15th May 2021 instead of from early April.

Updated Croatia is to subsidise (by 50%) the cost of covid tests for tourists and those who need to get tested once in the country. Additionally, in Zagreb, special testing centres have been set up for visitors – you can find more info on the Zagreb Tourist Board website.

Updated Jadrolinija has announced that passengers can make changes to their tickets on international sailings (Ancona – Zadar, Ancona – Split and Bari – Dubrovnik) for free up to one day before the sailing date. Tickets can be rebooked onto another sailing within the next 12 months.

Updated Jadrolinija has also announced that those who purchase tickets on certain car ferry lines now WILL have a guaranteed reservation at a particular time – even in summer. (Previously, a ticket did not guarantee a sailing time on the date booked, and travellers still needed to queue up at the port several hours beforehand.) You can see the full list of lines this applies to on Jadrolinija’s website; in summer, you do still need to be at the port 60 minutes prior to departure.

Booking Holidays to Croatia for Summer 2021

Many tour operators and holiday companies seem to be operating “full steam ahead” when it comes to selling holidays for summer 2021 – for Croatia, and elsewhere! That’s understandable from their perspective, but we would always advise making sure you have comprehensive travel insurance in place should you need to re-arrange or cancel your holiday. (Either due to illness or due to changes in rules on travelling.)

Travelling to Neighbouring Countries from Croatia

Please check the entry requirements of countries such as Bosnia & Hercegovina or Montenegro if you plan on making day trips (or longer stays) into them from Croatia. Do note, however, that as of 4am on 30th August 2021, Montenegro is on the UK’s red list.

Other Info

If you’re visiting Croatia in summer 2021 from the UK, make sure you check out our advice on Visiting Croatia Post Brexit to see what changes there now are seeing as the UK has left the EU!

Happy travels for 2021, everyone, and do keep safe!

Croatia Travel Checklist – are you ready?

2nd June 2015/1 Comment/in Blog, General, Holidays in Croatia, Travel advice

Are you travelling to Croatia this summer? Here’s our guide to some things you might like to consider before you go!

Do I need a visa for Croatia?

Citizens of EU countries, the U.S., Canada, Australia and New Zealand DON’T need a visa to visit Croatia. There are also many other countries whose citizens don’t need a visa for Croatia – we won’t list them all here, so please do check against the information on Croatian Ministry of Foreign Affairs website.

It is also possible to visit Croatia using a double- or multiple-entry Schengen visa – which is useful if you’re doing a fair amount of travelling around Europe this summer. Again, please check the information on the above website.

What if I do need a visa?!

If you need a visa for Croatia, please contact the Croatian Embassy in the country you’re based in – or the Embassy as advised in this list: Diplomatic Missions and Consular Offices of Croatia.

If you want to obtain a Schengen visa, you would obviously have to do this at the Embassy of a Schengen area country. Normally this would be the country in which you are spending the majority of your time when on your holiday.

What about money – what’s the currency in Croatia?

The currency is the Kuna. Plural in Croatian is Kune, but it’s fine to says Kunas. On signs, the currency is abbreviated to Kn; in foreign exchange places (outside of Croatia) it will be listed as HRK.

The currency in Croatia is not the Euro. Euros are not accepted. Croatia will not be joining the Euro anytime soon.

(Slight disclaimer: Some private accommodation places might accept payment in Euros…but really, work on the basis of the currency being the Kuna!)

See more on our Money in Croatia section.

Should I obtain Kunas before I go?

We know that travellers have many preferences when it comes to foreign currency. Our preference is to travel with debit (cash) cards and withdraw money from ATMs/cash machines as we travel. These are readily available in Croatia (even at airports) and exchange rates are normally very good. Of course, your home bank will charge fees – but these can often be quite low. (Check before you travel!)

Otherwise, there are many places to exchange money – bureau de change and banks – practically everywhere. Simply take along your home currency (Pounds, Euros, Dollars) to Croatia if you’re planning on changing money in the country. Avoid changing money in hotels as exchange rates are normally pretty bad.

You can also obtain Kunas before you go to Croatia if you like – for example, in the UK many high street banks, Travelex.co.uk, the Post Office and M&S Money all sell Kunas these days. However, the exchange rate that you get will be a bit better in Croatia than in your home country.

How much money should I take to Croatia?

For those that do prefer taking cash on holiday, this is the $64,000 question! (Although, please don’t actually take $64,000 along with you.) It’s difficult to answer because – what are your typical spending habits? Do you like to splurge for every meal and on drinks? Or will you mainly be having low-key meals? Will you be signing up for daily organised excursions? Or relying on local buses and ferries to get you to other places?

Below is an idea of some prices in Croatia during peak season. Do note that some locations (e.g. Dubrovnik and Hvar) can be pretty pricey during summer! These are all approximate prices, only to be used as a guide – please do note

Relatively simple meal for two (pizza/pasta) with a drink each (beer/soft drink): 150 Kunas
Push-the-boat meal for two with a nice bottle of wine: 500 Kunas (or more!)
Local beer: 15-20 Kunas
Glass of wine: 15-20 Kunas
Soft drink: 15 Kunas
Bottle of water (at a restaurant/cafe): 10-12 Kunas
Coffee: 10-15 Kunas
Ice cream: 9/10 Kunas
Buses journey – Split to Dubrovnik: 125 Kunas (Obviously, bus prices vary depending on the journey! See Bus Ticket Prices in Croatia)
Catamarans – Split to Hvar: 55-70 Kunas (As above!)
National park entrance fees e.g. Krka National Park: 110 Kunas (summer price)
Excursion e.g. Split to Plitvice Lakes: 500 – 600 Kunas

You can save money by buying your own food/snacks at markets and supermarkets – which are pretty cheap – ideal for a picnic-style lunch; drugstores/pharmacies usually stock a small range of snacks as well.

What cards are accepted in Croatia?

Visa and Mastercard are readily accepted in Croatia. However, you may find that some places – such as smaller, family-run restaurants – don’t accept cards at all, so do always have some cash to hand!

What electrical travel adapters do I need?

Croatia uses the standard European 2-pin electric plug. It’s best to bring one (or a few!) along with you – don’t rely on buying them in Croatia! (Technically, they’re available, but you don’t want to spend all day hunting around for one.) Or, better still, take one and a 4-way plug adapter – so you can charge a few things at once!

Travel Insurance/EHIC

As with travelling anywhere, you really should arrange travel insurance before your visit to Croatia. Shop around for the best deal.

As Croatia is now in the EU, the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) is recommended for EU citizens as this will help you get state medical healthcare for free/reduced rates. An EHIC card is free – apply for one (or renew one) online.

Phones/Internet

If you’re travelling from the EU, many mobile phone providers now offer rather cheap data and phone plans if you plan on using your phone abroad. For example, UK-operator o2 let you use your phone in other EU countries for £1.99 a day which includes unlimited data (upper restrictions apply); you can making/receive calls for 50p then no more for the first hour, and send texts for just 5p. Contact your own network to find out how much it’ll cost you to use your phone – it may be cheaper than you think. (But it’s always best to double-check!)

Wifi is readily available in Croatia these days – almost all accommodation places offer it (normally for free), as do many cafes/restaurants. You may also find free hotspots in some towns and cities.

Guidebooks on Croatia

Why do you need a guidebook when you have Visit Croatia?!

We’re just kidding, of course, for we also love travelling abroad with a trusty travel guide! (Although Visit Croatia is now fully mobile-optimised!)

Check out our Books on Croatia section to see what’s available.

Accommodation in Croatia

We’ll assume many of you have already sorted out your accommodation for Croatia. If not, head to our Accommodation section!

If you’re planning on leaving until you get to Croatia – wanting to go the ‘private accommodation’ route – that’s fine too. However, because summer is peak season, availability is low – though you should still be able to find a bed for the night somewhere. If you’re not that bothered about accommodation amenities or how basic a place is (although everywhere should be clean and safe – don’t worry about that kind of thing), that’s fine. If you have specific requirements/wants, or wouldn’t be best pleased to stay somewhere basic and with a 80s-style bathroom, then think about booking ahead!

If you ever get stuck looking for accommodation, head to the local tourist office. They should be able to help you find somewhere.

Should I learn some Croatian before I go?

Pretty much everyone that works in the tourist industry – hotel staff, waiters, tourist office works – speaks English, with the younger generation speaking it excellently. (Older waiters, for example, probably speak better German, but they’ll still understand you!)

It wouldn’t hurt to learn a few basic phrases – see our Croatian for Travellers guide and below – but don’t worry too much about learning Croatian!

Basic phrases in Croatian

Good morning – Dobro jutro (doh-broh you-trow)
Good day – Dobar dan (doh-bar dan)
Good evening – Dobra vecer (doh-bra veh-cher)
Hi! – Bok! (bok!) Note: quite informal – use one of the above, normally!
Goodbye – Dovidenja (doh-vee-jen-ya)
Yes – Da
No – Ne
Thanks – Hvala (Hva-lah)
Please – Molim (Mo-leem)

Visiting Croatia in September

21st August 2013/0 Comments/in Blog, Dalmatia, Events, Festivals in Croatia, Holidays in Croatia, Travel advice

Who would have thought it? We’re over halfway through August, which means we are most definitely hurtling towards the end of summer. (Although, personally, I definitely think summer runs until the seasons change in September. But then, I like to be an optimist about the weather.)

Some of you who are perhaps yet to take your summer hols, or are looking for a late summer trip to ease yourself back into autumn ways, may be thinking of visiting Croatia in September. You may be pleased to learn that September is considered the best month to visit amongst those in the know – the weather is still good (yes, you will – most probably – still be able to swim in the sea!), the high season crowds will have departed for home by the end of August, but everything – tourist-related – is still very much open.

The island of Vis

However, you probably have a whole list of questions – what’s there to do? Where shall we go? We’re here to help you with these questions and more if you’re considering visiting Croatia in September!

The weather in Croatia in September

First things first. This is something we always get asked – is the weather in Croatia still good in September? Yes, very much so. It may come as no surprise really – as a Mediterranean country, the summer weather continues long into September. The last few years have seen very hot summers in Croatia, and this glorious weather definitely hung around in the ninth month of the year. (In fact, even into early October too!) This year there’s also been a rather hot summer in Croatia with temperatures in so many places reaching the very high 30s celsius. In fact, during July, temperatures for practically the entire country were classified as being “very warm” or “extremely warm” (poor Vis was the only place in Croatia to simply be “warm”), whilst most of the country was considered to be either “dry” or “very dry”.

All in all, we expect the weather in Croatia to be great this September! The Croatian Meteorological Society has plenty of forecasts in English – at the moment, they obviously don’t show much data for September, but take a look at their seven-day forecasts a little closer to the time.

The sea off the coast of Croatia – having had all summer to warm up – will be great, temperature-wise, in September. Yesterday, for example, temperatures reached around 23/24C for many places, with the sea a few degrees colder in the north of the coast.

Disclaimer: Yes, of course, the weather everywhere is starting to turn a little crazy. So don’t hold it against us if conditions in Croatia inexplicably turn winter-y during September. That’s definitely not supposed to happen. And it’s very, very unlikely to happen. But if anything insanely crazy, weather-wise, happens…don’t blame us!

What’s on in Croatia in September?

Croatia has established itself as something of a prime festival destination in the last few years, with more and more dance festivals being added all the time to each year’s calendar. September is when the festival season winds down, but there’s still a couple of events taking place, both in Istria. The brand-new-for-2013 Unknown is being held in Rovinj from 10th to 14th September, with names like Jessie Ware, The Horrors, Jamie xx and SBTRKT all on the bill. Now in its second year, the electro festival Dimensions will be on in Pula from 5th to 9th September, making use of Fort Punto Christo that’s close to the town. (Dimensions is the “little sister” of Croatia festival favourite Outlook, which is on itself in Pula from 29th August to 2nd September.)

For the less dance music type events, there’s the Split Film Festival on from the 14th to the 21st September. The historical festival Gioistra – now in its seventh year – will be held in Porec from 13th to 15th September, with assorted costumes, revelry, sports, street entertainers and products on sale, all re-enacting 18th century times. The second Korkrya Baroque Festival is an international music festival on the island of Korcula, being held from 7th to 13th September. Zagreb hosts both the general entertainment festival RujanFest (literally, ‘SeptemberFest’) from the 13th to the 22nd September, as well as the 46th edition of the International Puppet Theatre Festival (9th to 14th September).

For those more keen on sports events, Croatia will host the Davis Cup tie against Great Britain in Umag (which means clay!) on the weekend of 13th to 15th September. And yes, Wimbledon champ Andy Murray is expected to play. Tickets can be bought on the ticket portal Eventim.hr.

Be sure to pop into the tourist office of wherever you are to ask for events taking place locally!

Where should I go in Croatia in September?

As we’ve covered so far, the weather will be great in September, so it’s hard not to pick a location on the coast. Dubrovnik should be as busy it always is, and there’s certainly a large number of cruise ships scheduled to dock during that month, bringing thousands of (day trip) passengers at a time. Split has had a great season so far, so it wouldn’t be any surprise to see this place as bustling as it has been. (Seeing as it’s Croatia’s second largest city, it is relatively lively all year round!) Some of the more popular islands, such as Brac and Hvar, and other popular locations on the coast (the Makarska Riviera) are still likely to receive a good number of visitors, even whilst the season starts to wind down.

If you’re after something a little quieter, perhaps consider the most outlying of all the larger Croatian islands – Vis. As a quieter and slightly mystical destination any time of year, we think this place would be divine in September. Other islands to check out include those in the Kvarner bay such as Krk, Cres, Losinj or Rab, all of which are perhaps not as well known amongst non-Continental European visitors.

Istria is of course one of the most popular destinations in the whole of Croatia, with delights such as Porec, Rovinj and Pula all located here. The county has suffered a slight fall in visitor numbers this year, but will still see good numbers overall. If you’d like to visit, why not consider something like a foodie or activity-based holiday – two things the region does very well! Check out Istria Tourist Board’s guides to gastronomy and sport.

From a logistical point of view, almost all flights from the UK to Croatia still operate in September – and well into October too. The one exception to this is Ryanair’s flights from London Stansted to Rijeka Airport stopping at the end of August. See our Flights to Croatia page for details of all routes to Croatia from the UK.

Do note that in almost all cases, ferry schedules will still be running to summer timetables until the end of September. Certainly, almost all of Jadrolinija‘s local routes remain the same until the end of September, as does their twice-a-week coastal route that runs Rijeka – Split – Stari Grad (Hvar) – Korcula – Mljet – Dubrovnik and vice versa. The exception lies with some of their international sailings (to Italy) that reduce in frequency in September, and again further in October. Venezia Lines‘ sailings between Istria and Venice will only operate from Porec and Rovinj during September.

Or check out Adriagate – they offer last minute discounts on accommodation for destinations all over Croatia!

All in all, if you’re visiting Croatia next month, we hope you enjoy your stay! Why not drop us a line on email, Twitter or Facebook to let us know how it went – we’d love to hear from you!

Looking for something different in Croatia this summer? Why not go on an activity holiday!

30th May 2012/0 Comments/in Activity Holidays, Blog, Holidays in Croatia, Sailing

We at Visit Croatia are certainly not the only ones to be very excited by the imminent arrival of summer and all the delights it brings! One of the wonders of this great season is, of course, the summer holiday; picture it – sunbathing, swimming in the sea, indulging in fine food and drink, a bit of culture and sightseeing, all done in great weather!

Yes, of course we’re biased – but we think Croatia perfectly fits the bill for anyone looking for any (or all) of the above! However, if you’ve already been to Croatia before and are looking for something a little different – or if you’ve never been before, and want to experience the country in a slightly more unusual way, why not consider an activity holiday?

Sea Kayaking

Active Holidays Croatia offer a very wide range of such holidays in the country for several different skill levels. (So don’t worry if you’re a total beginner!) They can arrange holidays in some of best locations in Dalmatia, on the southern part of the Croatian coast, based around rafting, canyoning, sea kayaking (something that I’ve always wanted to try in Croatia), trekking, free climbing, canoeing, paragliding, wind surfing…and even bungee jumping! Their holiday packages are either seven or ten days long, and all accommodation is also included, with options to stay both in hotels and private accommodation.

Rafting

Now, whilst this might sound very attractive to you, you might think that perhaps you’d be missing out on seeing some of the best things Croatia has to offer. Don’t fear – for excursions and sightseeing trips are in fact included in all their itineraries. Whether it’s a fish picnic on the island of Brac; sightseeing in the bustling city of Split or the pretty little town of Trogir; enjoying the picturesque Krka National Park or spending a day in “Pearl of the Adriatic”, Dubrovnik, there’s plenty of cultural and rest time in between activities.

Canyoning

But wait a minute, wait a minute…what if you’re definitely NOT the type for an activity holiday, and would rather someone else did all the “hard work”? Yeah, we hear those of you out there too! Active Holidays Croatia also offer a selection of luxury yachts and gulets for hire. These all come with a professional crew (so you won’t have to do a thing!), and are perfect for groups of ten to fourteen people. A sailing holiday is definitely one of the best ways of enjoying Croatia – sailing from the mainland to the islands, enjoying the wonderful coast, whilst also being able to anchor wherever takes your fancy – for a refreshing dip in the sea – is something akin to a dream.

Activity Holiday in Croatia - Nostra Vita

The gorgeous Nostra Vita

If you want a once-in-a-lifetime experience, Active Holidays Croatia also offer a fourteen-day holiday on their most luxurious yacht – the Nostra Vita – that starts in Dubrovnik and ends in Venice, taking in many of the top destinations on Croatia’s beautiful coast along the way. Sounds absolutely amazing!

Full details of activity holidays, and luxury yacht and gulet hire in Croatia can be found on Active Holidays Croatia.

Fancy a break in the New Year? How about a 3 night mini-break in Dubrovnik for under £200!

29th December 2011/0 Comments/in Blog, Dubrovnik, Holidays in Croatia, Special offers to Croatia

British Airways are currently running their “Goodbye Winter” sale and, although perhaps we in the UK haven’t (luckily) had the harshest of winters this year, it’s always nice to have something to look forward to for next year – right?

Amongst their deals to many of their destinations, I’ve noticed that they’ve also listed mini-breaks to Dubrovnik for some really rather excellent prices. As the airline fly year-round to this wonderful Croatian city (even in winter they fly four times a week – Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Sundays) a mini-break is more than do-able. They’re advertising a deal that includes a return flight plus three nights in a three-star hotel (on a half board basis) from only £169 per person, which is based on two sharing.

I keyed in a few dates, and personally couldn’t find that price (although I’m not saying it doesn’t exist!); however, the best deal I could find was still a pretty amazing £193.50.

If you fancy ramping up the glamour, I’ve also come across the same flight + three nights package – but in a five-star hotel! – for only £247.

Their flights to Dubrovnik didn’t seem to be part of their sale, although they are offering one-way flights to the city during January, February and March from only £61.

In general, Croatia has had a particularly mild winter so far, especially so in Dalmatia, which is expected to continue into the New Year. Without all of the summer crowds, early 2012 could be a great time to visit!

Note: The BA sale ends on 24th January 2012.

Activity Holidays in Croatia

14th December 2010/1 Comment/in Activity Holidays, Blog, Dalmatia, Sailing

Activity holidays in Croatia have been steadily increasing in popularity in recent years, and with very good reason. Put simply, this includes any sort of activity as part of your holiday, be it participating in some kind of sport (such as tennis or skiing); walking or hiking; speeding down the coastline on two wheels (on a pushbike, not a motorcycle, however!) or perhaps taking to the water for sailing or kayaking.

You might think that this doesn’t sound like your kind of holiday at all – why would you want to go on holiday and “do things”; holidays should be all about relaxation, right? Well, these types of holidays are in fact a great way of seeing the country from a slightly different angle, as well as being a great way to try new experiences (or take up old hobbies) in a wonderful setting. Some companies offer “package” activity holidays – great for those who like to have their holiday organised for them, but far different from the normal type of package holiday!

One such company that offers a very wide range of packages to anyone looking to experience activity holidays in Croatia is Active Holidays. They can arrange holidays on luxury yachts (otherwise known as gulets) or organise aforementioned package holidays, tailored to your interests.

Luxury yachts (gulets)

Active Holidays offer eight of the best luxury yachts for rent in Croatia, with the highest quality cabin design and level of comfort. Each yacht is equipped with a top notch crew who not only sail you from island to glorious island, but also serve up delicious food each day. All boats have a capacity for between 10 to 14 people, meaning they are perfect for a large family or group of friends. Prices range from €10,000 to €25,000 (the price for the 5* deluxe Nostra Vita) for a week which, if divided amongst the group, really isn’t that much for such a luxury holiday!

Activity Holidays in Croatia – Packages

If you’re after something a little more adventurous, the company also offer packages for activity holidays in Croatia for 7- or 10-days in length. These are separated into easy, medium and active difficulties (so you’ll be sure to find a package that meets your level of intended activity or knowledge) and includes activities such as boating, rafting, hiking, trekking, windsurfing and rock climbing. All packages also include time for sightseeing and other excursions plus some rest days, so you won’t be “on the go” all the time!

These packages include halfboard, 3* accommodation (private or hotel), with over 300 different accommodation options to choose from. Prices are €820 for a week in private accommodation or €990 in a hotel, or €990 for 10 days in private accommodation or €1,160 in a hotel.

Best of all, all of these packages are entirely flexible. If there’s an activity you’d rather not do, or if there’s an excursion to one town than another you’d prefer to take just let the company know – and it will happen!

See all details about these packages and holidays on the website: Active Holidays.