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Croatia in the off-season - a beautiful view of Dubrovnik Old Town

Croatia in the off-season – absolutely worth visiting!

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For the past few months, I have been in touch with a traveller to Croatia who was planning on visiting the country in the off-season. The lovely lady in question, Emily, was fully aware that March and April weren’t beach and sunbathing time – but seeing as she’s from California, those weren’t a priority for her! She also knew that the weather might bring some challenges, but hoped spring weather would be the norm. (In the end, she ended up encountering a non-March-typical massive snowstorm when trying to visit the Plitvice Lakes!) I decided to ask Emily some questions about her travels – read on to discover all about her experiences of visiting Croatia in the off-season.

Note: all of the amazing photos shown on this page were taken by Emily. Aren’t they just wonderful?

Croatia in the off-season - a beautiful view of Dubrovnik Old Town
A beautiful view of Dubrovnik Old Town – you wouldn’t think this is Croatia in the off-season!

What made you decide to visit Croatia in the off-season (and in general)?

We have long had Croatia and the Balkans on our travel radar, and recently had friends who have travelled there and who really whetted our appetite for the trip. We chose to go to Croatia in the off-season because we were hoping to travel without big crowds. We had friends who told us that the Plitvice Lakes National Park and Dubrovnik were just jam-packed when they were there, and we really wanted to avoid that.

Croatia in the off-season - a basketball court in the Old Town
A basketball court in Dubrovnik’s Old Town
Dubrovnik's colourful rooftops
Dubrovnik’s colourful rooftops
Croatia in the off-season - Dubrovnik at night
Dubrovnik is still buzzing in the evening, in the off-season!
Easter celebrations in Dubrovnik
Beautiful wooden Croatian Easter eggs
Dolac Outdoor Market in Zagreb – re-sited from its usual location!

I know you visited Plitvice; although you were there in March, you encountered unexpectedly heavy snow! What was that experience like?

We were hoping that late March and early April, we would have at least decent weather. We were quite excited to see the waterfalls at Plitvice and that beautiful area. As it turned out, of course, we had all the snow, but that proved to be its own special adventure, so in the end, we didn’t feel too disappointed. Sadly, the park was completely closed, but there was a panoramic trail of the park- just a kilometre or two, but it had been tromped on enough that we could walk there and see some waterfalls in the distance.

When we were at the Hotel Jezero, they had an All Europe Junior Go tournament, so there were lots of families with smart kids who had a lot of pent-up energy from being stuck inside. Imagine soccer games in the hallways…it was fun, and we were only there for two days, so we went with it and had a good time.

Plitvice in the snow, March 2026
Emily in the snow in the Plitvice Lakes region
Plitvice Lakes in the snow
Plitvice Lakes in the snow

How did you plan your trip?

We planned the trip by getting recommendations from our friends who had been there and looking at the Overseas Adventure Travel itinerary for their land-based and ship-based trips, and then checking with Google Maps and Rome2Rio to get help with transportation options.

I looked at Booking.com and Google Maps for hotel information and reviews. We really like to do things ourselves!

My husband loves to take care of the transportation, and I get to pick hotels, trying to maximise square footage and comfort with a reasonable cost.

Of course, in Dubrovnik, I queried “steps” in all the reviews, because while we can do stairs, we didn’t want to do hundreds every day. I completely failed in selecting our accommodations in Kotor – the fact that the bathroom was, while private, down 15 steps from the studio with the bedroom and kitchen was sort of buried.

Otherwise, the hotels and the Airbnbs we found were available at really reasonable rates and were of very high-quality.

The Greeting to the Sun installation in Zadar
The Greeting to the Sun, Zadar
The Forum in Zadar
The Forum
The Old Town harbour in Zadar
The pretty Old Town Harbour in Zadar

I understand you undertook several walking tours. Do you find these are great ways of getting to know a destination? How did you decide what tours to do?

We do find walking tours a great way to get oriented to a new city, and try to do them in every place we go. We like to do general walking tours and also street art tours when they are available. We didn’t find any street art tours in Croatia, but we did have one in Mostar. Last year, we had a phenomenal street art tour in London that took us through the Brick Lane area – have you ever done a street art tour? We also went on one in Paris that was quite cool!

For the city walking tours, we recently discovered Guru Walk. We liked that we could read about the tour guide and pick the tour accordingly.

A guide conducting a walking tour in Zagreb
A walking tour in Zagreb

It sounds like you enjoyed many parts of your travels, but do you have any particular highlights?

Marijana, our Zagreb tour guide, was amazing!

We particularly loved our time in Dubrovnik, but Zadar and Split were amazing as well – it was quite windy when we were in both cities, and we did wish for better weather.

The Riva in Split
The Riva in Split
A view over Split from the belltower
A view over Split from the belltower

We were sorry we hadn’t arranged a stay on one of the outlying islands. We found the Adriatic to be just as picturesque and beautiful. We were blown away by the color of the water!

We also found the food to be so fresh and delicious! We think the quality of the produce is superior overall to what we get here. Although we live in California and get produce from our farmers’ markets, the fact that they use fewer pesticides and chemicals in the food in Europe, as opposed to the United States, really pays off in terms of flavor.

We liked taking the ferry from Split to Dubrovnik, and found the bus trips interesting.

Going to the Symphony at Lisinski Hall in Zagreb was also really cool – we like going to a concert when we travel to do something that brings us to a place that is more local than touristy. The restaurant we went to before the concert (Restoran Trnjanka – see it on the map) was super local-feeling. It was fun.

Thank you so much to Emily for taking the time to write about her experiences of visiting Croatia in the off-season. It sounds like a wonderful trip!

If you would share your experiences of travelling to Croatia, please drop me an email!

Sibenik

Plan Croatia for May Half Term 2026

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We’re almost at the end of April, which can only mean one thing – it’s May in a few days’ time, which in turn means two bank holidays for all of those in the UK (yay) and which also means there’s another half term coming along (gulp). But, good news! The end of May is perhaps one of the best times of the year to visit Croatia, so May half term is so well placed for you to enjoy a holiday with your family in the country. But let me help you plan your trip to Croatia for May half term with this post!

Plan Croatia for May Half Term - an aerial view of Sibenik in North Dalmatia
Sibenik

Why go to Croatia for May half term?

I mean, why not, but if you really need me to twist your arm:

  • Flight time from the UK is roughly two or two and a bit hours, which is very doable with little ones, as that’s about 17 episodes of Bluey (remember, screen time isn’t a concern when you’re on holiday)
  • The weather will be great
  • The Adriatic will just about be warm enough for swimming in
  • But should you find it too cold, practically every family resort will have its own pool – maybe even an indoor one too
  • As it’s early season, holidays will be cheaper than during the summer holiday months of July and August
  • The crowds will not have descended yet, so you will have more pool-space, beach-space, sightseeing-space, national park-space and all other kinds of space to yourselves
  • The ice cream
Croatian ice cream (on the island of Ugljan)
Delicious ice cream

I’m not constrained by school holidays, should I go to Croatia for May half term

I mean, no. Why would you do that to yourself? Go the week before or the week after.

If you’re already booked your holiday for that last week in May, then – oh yay, well done, never mind.

Seriously, don’t worry, Croatia isn’t exactly a peak half term holiday destination.

Are you sure the weather will be good enough?

Yes. All along the coastline, the weather will be very fine indeed. Temperatures are likely to be in the mid-20s Celsius (at least), and days will be very sunny. Rain isn’t likely, but if you do encounter any rainfall, it won’t be for long.

On that note, do bring your summer clothes to enjoy the most of the weather, but pack some cover-ups (cardigans, light jackets) for evening time. Late May doesn’t bring the same kind of sweltering heat as summer does, so evenings will be a little fresher but not cold.

Fine, I’m sold. Where should I go in Croatia for May half term?

There are plenty of family resorts up and down the Croatian coastline, which of course means plenty of choice for you!

I have two hotels in particular to recommend to you in Croatia for May half term, both in the gorgeous region of north Dalmatia. First off, the Falkensteiner Funimation Hotel Borik in Zadar has multiple outdoor pools and is right on the beach, but also has a decent-sized indoor pool should the weather not play ball. If swimming gets boring, there’s a great indoor soft play (yes, really!), kids’ clubs with activities for different ages, indoor games and best of all, it’s all-inclusive! Zadar Old Town is a short journey away (book an Uber or Bolt, it will be less than €10) to enjoy everything that lovely town has to offer.

Falkensteiner Funimation Hotel Borik
The exterior of the Falkensteiner Funimation Hotel Borik, as seen from the garden/pool area – at sunset!

My other personal favourite is the Amadria Park Hotel Jakov, which offers smart, trendy yet fun accommodation (bunk beds for the kids!) with very relaxing vibes throughout. Again, there are several pools here, including a nicely sized baby pool, a kids’ club, and a bear mascot that likes to turn up at random times. The whole Amadria Park resort is interconnected, so you can stroll along the seaside promenade to enjoy the multiple restaurants and areas. There’s even a mini golf here. Hotel Jakov’s neighbour, the Hotel Andrija, is also suitable for a holiday with kids, who may shriek with delight when they see the giant octopus on the outside. (Don’t worry, he’s not real.) And if all of this isn’t enough, the Aquapark Dalmatia is just steps away. The outdoor portion of this opens in June, but there’s an indoor section that is open year-round!

Review Jet2 Holidays - View from Amadria Park Beach
A beach at the Amadria Park resort in Sibenik

Otherwise, take a look at Visit Croatia’s guides to Family Hotels in Croatia and Family Holidays in Croatia for more ideas.

Families with older kids

Those of you who are travelling with teens may want something more than just a family hotel with a pool to jump into about 97 times a day. If so, consider renting an apartment that has access to a pool and is a short walk to a beach, but also is well placed for trips to a larger town or city for sightseeing and excursion opportunities. Here are some ideas:

  • Trogir is a short distance from Split and very easy to reach from Split Airport. This small island town itself is exceptionally charming, but for more traditional holiday vibes, stay on the connected island of Ciovo, which offers plenty of apartments (and some hotels) and beaches. You can reach Split very easily by bus or boat (or car, of course).
  • A small resort in southern Dalmatia, such as Cavtat, Slano, Zaton or Mlini, so you can have a relaxing day-to-day existence, but make the journey into Dubrovnik by bus or boat
  • Enjoy a city and nature break combo by flying into Zagreb and spending half your holiday there (so many sightseeing and cultural opportunities!), and then taking a bus down to the Plitvice region and taking several walks/hikes in the Park on subsequent days
A boat crossing a lake in the Plitvice Lakes National Park
A boat crossing a lake in the Plitvice Lakes National Park

Activities in Croatia for May half term

A holiday in Croatia isn’t a holiday in Croatia without an excursion of some sort. And if you only do one trip, make sure it’s getting out onto the Adriatic on a boat. Everyone will love it, trust me! Boat trips can be booked almost all along the coast – mainland or on the islands. When you’re in Croatia, enquire at your hotel or at any of the little stands you’ll see dotted around the town you’re staying in.

For a preview, take a look at some of the options below:

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Late May would be an ideal time to see the magical Blue Cave before the peak summer crowds, and combining it with a trip to where Mamma Mia 2 was filmed (yes, really) – what could be better? Or dolphin watching in Istria, how amazing is that?

Day trips can absolutely include a little bit of adventure, from quad biking to fun and games on the Cetina River (which is practically adventure central in Croatia):

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Or, seeing as you’re in Croatia, why not experience a bonus destination by hopping over a border and ticking another country off your list?

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Book me in!

Take a look at what holiday packages operators such as Jet2 Holidays (one of my favourites), TUI, Easyjet Holidays or British Airways Holidays have to offer. You may well be able to snap up a half term deal, and tweak your holiday depending on your requirements.

Or put your holiday together yourself! (Go on, be brave!) Take a look at what flights can be booked for the end of May (the answer is plenty, but use our Flights to Croatia from the UK & Ireland page as your guide) and then snap up the accommodation in Croatia of your dreams.

And…relax…

Lucky you! You’re going on holiday to Croatia very soon!

How to spend the Easter Holidays in Croatia - an aerial view of Dubrovnik Old Town

How to spend the Easter Holidays in Croatia

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The Easter break is fast approaching, with less than a couple of weeks left of the school Spring term! (Sorry to surprise you if you weren’t already aware.) Whilst I’m sure many of you will have already booked your holidays, some travellers may be seeking alternative arrangements to planned breaks or perhaps booking last-minute deals. And be thinking…is Croatia suitable for an Easter holiday? Well, you’re on the right page to find out! Here’s how you can spend the Easter Holidays in Croatia.

How to spend the Easter Holidays in Croatia - an aerial view of Dubrovnik Old Town
Dubrovnik would be an ideal location for an Easter Holidy break!

Wait a minute, when’s Easter again?

Easter Sunday is fairly early this year, on 5th April. Do be aware that Easter Monday is also a public holiday in Croatia, but the Friday before is not – but will still be commemorated as part of the Easter weekend. As a Catholic country, Easter is understandably a rather religious affair for many here. In fact, Easter is probably the most religious of all the holidays during the year. Mass on Easter Sunday is a very well-attended affair at churches all over Croatia.

Because of its status as a religious holiday, most establishments will be shut on both the Sunday and Monday. That includes shops, cafes, restaurants, many attractions (but not all) and similar, so do be aware of this.

If you would like to witness a traditional religious Easter procession, you may like to head to the island of Hvar. The 500-year-old Easter tradition, Za Krizen, sees six parishes follow a cross on an overnight journey all around the island. This journey begins on the Thursday before Easter (Maundy Thursday) into Good Friday.

Of course, the Easter Holidays – as far as schools and similar institutions go – are always a two-week-long holiday. If you are concerned that spending Easter in Croatia will disrupt your enjoyment (I mean, it shouldn’t, but for some it might), consider holidaying in the second week.

But what about the weather?

Okay, this is bound to be a big consideration for many travellers if you’re thinking about spending the Easter Holidays in Croatia. It’s too early in the year to have summer weather, that’s for sure – you definitely won’t get temperatures in the high 20s Celsius (high 70s/low 80s Fahrenheit) and endless stretches of very hot sun. Sunbathing on a beach is unlikely and swimming in the Adriatic is a no-go…unless you’re very brave.

Having said that, it is too early to be looking at weather forecasts to see what the weather will actually be like for the first two weeks of April. Generally, however, you can expect coastal areas to be sunny and hopefully reaching around 20ºC (or perhaps a few degrees higher). The further south along the coast you are, understandably, the better/warmer the weather should be. So opt for Dubrovnik and the surrounding area to try and get the best of the weather if you really, really need to have the best weather possible.

Once we get closer to April, take a look at the forecasts on the Croatian Meteorological Service, or a weather app of your choosing to find out what will actually be forecast.

Flights to Croatia for the Easter Holidays

The end of March is a time when many airlines start their “seasonal” services, and that’s certainly the case for flights to Croatia. Whilst not every single route starts operating at this time of year, you can certainly make use of an incredibly high number of flights from the UK and Ireland to Croatia during the Easter Holidays. Such as:

  • British Airways from London Heathrow to Zagreb
  • British Airways from London Gatwick to Dubrovnik
  • Croatia Airlines from London Heathrow to Zagreb year-round
  • Croatia Airlines from London Heathrow to Split
  • Easyjet from London Gatwick to Split daily
  • Easyjet from London Gatwick to Dubrovnik daily
  • Easyjet from London Luton to Split
  • Easyjet from Bristol to Pula
  • Easyjet from Bristol to Split
  • Easyjet from Bristol to Dubrovnik
  • Easyjet from Manchester to Dubrovnik
  • Easyjet from Edinburgh to Dubrovnik
  • Ryanair from London Stansted to Zagreb year-round
  • Ryanair from London Stansted to Zadar
  • Ryanair from London Stansted to Dubrovnik year-round
  • Ryanair from Manchester to Zagreb
  • Ryanair from Manchester to Dubrovnik
  • Ryanair from Dublin to Zagreb year-round
  • Ryanair from Dublin to Zadar
  • Ryanair from Dublin to Split
  • Ryanair from Dublin to Dubrovnik
  • Jet2 from London Stansted to Dubrovnik
  • Jet2 from Birmingham to Dubrovnik
  • Jet2 from Manchester to Dubrovnik
  • Jet2 from Newcastle to Dubrovnik
  • Jet2 from Leeds Bradford to Dubrovnik
  • Jet2 from Edinburgh to Dubrovnik
  • Aer Lingus from Dublin to Dubrovnik

I’ll be honest with you, before I started writing out this list, I didn’t expect it to be quite so long! That’s 28 (28!) routes you can make use of if you’re heading to Croatia during the Easter Holidays.

As ever, head to Visit Croatia’s guide to Flights to Croatia from the UK & Ireland 2026 to see days of operation and actual start dates.

Getting to and from Split Airport
Split Airport

Get a deal on a package holiday to Croatia during Easter

If I’ve managed to persuade you to spend your Easter holidays in Croatia, why not consider a package break? At this time of year, you’ll very likely enjoy some very good deals indeed because it’s quite early in the season. Seeing as Jet2 have commenced their flights to Dubrovnik, let’s take a look at some of Jet2Holidays‘ packages to this city.

For example, you can take advantage of 7 nights (departing Sunday 5th April) at the very comfortable 4-star Grand Hotel Park for £1,380 for two people. Close to restaurants and a bus journey away from the Old Town, this hotel has an indoor pool, so you can enjoy some swim time whatever the weather.

For luxury at a relative steal, 7 nights at the 5-star Royal Blue Lapad for the same dates costs £1,744 for two people. Or you could opt for 7 nights at the 5-star Hotel Croatia in genteel Cavtat for £1,408 for two people.

For something super upscale, you could enjoy 7 nights at the 5-star Hotel Excelsior – one of Dubrovnik’s most famous hotels – departing London Stansted on Sunday 5th April for £2,660 for two people. Pricey, yes, but I found the same package offered for over £5,000 for two people for dates in June.

Other types of holidays in Croatia

City breaks galore

Okay, so given it’s not exactly beach weather in Croatia during early April, how about considering another type of holiday? A city break to Zagreb would really be ideal for this time of year. Springtime in Croatia’s capital city is wonderful, with the pleasant weather providing a cheerful air and the perfect setting for days spent in cafes (although, really, the Zagrepčani have no problem doing that all year round) with gentle strolls through the Upper and Lower Towns, taking in many of the museums and sights.

Easter Holidays in Croatia - Springtime in Zagreb
Springtime in Zagreb

Or, what about a coastal city for a city break? Glorious springtime offers much for visitors in cities such as Pula, Zadar or Split.

Who doesn’t love a road trip?

April may be the perfect month to undertake a road trip in Croatia. The roads won’t be busy with summer “commuters”, and you won’t have to suffer through sweltering temperatures as you slog down the coastal road. (Scratch that – the coastal road is anything but a slog, whatever the outside temperature.)

That very coastal road, with its spectacular views, would be the top choice for a road trip. Get the full experience of Dalmatia by starting in Zadar (to where you can fly) and then making the drive all the way down to Dubrovnik. Or, if you have more time, start in Pula in Istria! And of course, doing the reverse of either of these is possible.

For a mix of inland treasures and coastal delights, start in Zagreb and then head down to the Plitvice Lakes to enjoy a couple of days here in the spring sunshine. Then head down in the direction of Zadar and further down the coast, as above.

Island life

Croatia’s islands are waking up in springtime, but are still relatively quiet locations when it comes to holidaying at this time of year. But that’s what you might be looking for! Even the larger and most popular of Croatia’s islands – Hvar and Brac, for example – still have low numbers. Not all accommodation may be fully available to you, but for a peaceful and relaxing stay, consider some time on an island during the Easter Holidays.

How to spend the Easter Holidays in Croatia - A pretty view on the island of Hvar
A peaceful Spring moment on the island of Hvar

What’s on in Croatia during the Easter Holidays?

Look out for Easter-related events wherever you are, often involving child-focused happenings. (Such as Easter egg hunts, for example.) One of the best Easter-related events is the display of giant Easter eggs in the northern Croatian town of Koprivnica. These eggs – labelled Easter Eggs from the Heart – are hand-painted in naive art style, typical for the region.

Non-Easter events

Around 3,000 competitors are expected for the Istria 100 (9th – 12th April), which actually covers five different race distances, the longest being 100 miles in length…hence the name. The competition is sold out, but you can certainly watch the racers whizz by in Central Istria.

If you’re more into cars and less into…er, people…the Croatia Rally takes place on the exact same dates (9th – 12th April). This official FIA World Championship event is held on roads in Istria, Gorski Kotar, Lika and Karlovac counties this year.

The first concert of Dubrovnik Musical Spring, a wonderful classical music event featuring the Dubrovnik Symphony Orchestra, will take place at Revelin Fortress on 10th April.

April is asparagus month, and if you’re a fan of this woody vegetable, you must head to Lovran in Istria! The whole month celebrates the Asparagus Festival, with local restaurants offering special menus. The highlight of the festival takes place on 11th April when a giant fritaja (similar to an omelette) is made with 1,000 eggs and 30 kilograms of asparagus and bacon. That’ll be quite some party!

The UCI Gran Fondo cycling race will be taking to the roads in and around Umag on 11th April.

On the evening of 11th April, the Zadar Night Run will see competitors race on routes (5km, 10km or 21km) at night. Most of the routes run right by the sea. A super sweet kids’ night run takes place the day before at 6pm, with kids running down Siroka ulica in the centre of the Old Town.

On Fridays in April (10th, 17th and 24th), head to Kvaternik Square from 6pm to enjoy the street food event Place. With good vibes and great music too, you can enjoy a tasty dish from a street food stall.

All in all, there’s lots to enjoy if you’re spending the Easter Holidays in Croatia!

Top 5 Things to Do in Croatia in Spring

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Now that we’re fully into Spring, it’s time to take a look at some of the best things you can do when visiting Croatia this season. Springtime is often one of the nicest times to visit Croatia. As we emerge from the depths of winter, the weather has changed to be warmer and far sunnier (although swimming in the sea is off the cards – unless you’re very brave!) which is ideal for so many activities and adventures in the country. Here, I’ll suggest the top 5 things to do in Croatia in spring.

Firstly…what’s the weather like?

When I first set out to write this post, I had also intended to say “…oh and by the way, it’s 25C in Croatia right now”! which a) was 100% true and b) would surely delight many of you. Unfortunately, slightly cooler temperatures are sweeping in as I write this post, but I’m sure they’ll creep up again soon enough. Keep an eye on the Croatian Meteorological Service website for up-to-date forecasts.

Croatia in Spring – Be at one with nature

What could be better in springtime than a wonderful nature setting filled with flora and fauna? When you think of “nature” and “Croatia” you surely think of one of Croatia’s eight national parks or one of the twelve nature parks – which means you’ve got a very fine selection of parks to choose from.

My suggestion would be to explore one of the lesser-known nature parks in the country to see some stunning scenery beyond the popular lakes and waterfalls in the most popular locations. If you’re on the coast, consider Vransko Lake Nature Park in North Dalmatia which is home to the largest natural lake in Croatia and a special ornithological reserve as well as a large wetland area. It’s an idea place to do some gentle walking, hiking or even cycling.

Croatia in Spring - Vransko Lake Nature Park
Vransko Lake Nature Park

Inland, I’d suggest heading east – properly east – to Kopacki rit Nature Park near Osijek. It is here that the Drava and Danube rivers meet and the Park is part of one of the largest wetland areas in Europe. Exploring by boat (the park offers a 40-minute guided boat tour) is one of the top experiences here.

If you’re after something more intense to go along with nature, opt for one of the hiking trails in the highly forested Ucka Nature Park in the northern part of the Croatian coast.

Croatia in Spring – Explore the country’s fortresses and castles

On the 10th May 2024 a special event called The Night of the Fortresses takes place. Actually held in Montenegro, Bosnia and Hercegovina, Serbia and Croatia at the same time (although most venues are in Croatia), the event aims to promote the cultural heritage of these fine fortresses and castle structures – most of which are very impressive indeed.

Some of the venues in Croatia you will have heard about – such as Revelin and Lovrijenac Fortresses in Dubrovnik or Kamerlengo Fortress in Trogir. Others you may not have and now’s the perfect time to explore these – places such as the 17th century Kotisina Castle near Makarska; the defensive fortifications in Omis; Fortress Nehaj in Senj; Brod Fortress in Slavonski Brod; Veliki Tabor Castle; and Trakoscan Castle.

Croatia in Spring - Veliki Tabor Castle
Veliki Tabor Castle

These venues will offer free entry and some may also offer free guided tours or other educational provisions. Examine the Night of the Fortresses website to see all the venues taking place and what particular offers each one will have.

Take a look at our Events in Croatia 2024 page to see what else is taking place all around the country over the next few months.

Croatia in Spring – Adventure time

Croatia allows for many an adventure, it has to be said! And by adventure, I mean activity – from hiking and cycling to white water rafting, ziplining, canyoning and more.

But one adventure that combines “fun activity” with “sightseeing” is sea kayaking. This is an unusual way of seeing some of Croatia’s most famous spots from a different perspective – from the sea!

Sea kayaking takes place in many locations all along the Croatian coast, and you can also time these outings so they coincide with – for example – sunset.

Why not try some sea kayaking in Split to explore the Marjan Hill area of the city?

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Croatia in Spring – Sightseeing without the crowds

Now’s the perfect opportunity to visit some of Croatia’s top sights without the crowds – and also without the soaring temperatures that can often make walking around in the hot summer sun a tough ask.

Take your pick for what you consider to be the top sight that you’d like to explore at this time of year. If you ask me, however, I’d go for Dubrovnik’s Old Town Walls. Walking the walls can be chock-a-block full in the peak summer season, made even more difficult when temperatures are in the 30s Celsius as they usually are in July and August.

Two Days in Dubrovnik - Old Town Walls
Walking the Old Town walls

Start your leisurely stroll on the Walls in mid-morning and spend a good couple of hours exploring all aspects of the walls themselves and the Old Town. We have a guide to Dubrovnik’s Old Town Walls that points out interesting things to see. You could also consider a guided tour if you really want to learn all there is to know about this spectacular setting.

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Another option would be to head to one of Croatia’s most popular national parks (see the nature entry above) such as Plitvice or Krka National Park. Again, these parks get incredibly busy during the summer months, so visiting them in spring is a great idea. Spring is also when all areas of the parks are fully open and accessible as well, so you can really explore to your heart’s content.

Croatia in Spring – See what quieter island life is like

Croatia’s stunning islands (and islets) are a big draw for many visitors to the country – and that’s no surprise. But whilst the summer months draw in the island fanatics on ferries, catamarans, small boat cruises and private yachts, springtime is a great time of year to see what island life is like when there are fewer people around.

Opt for any of the Dalmatian Islands – Hvar and Brac would probably be top picks as two of the most popular islands and the ones that have the most to provide visitors (in terms of amenities, accommodation, restaurants and so on) at the time of year. Or if you want your springtime island adventure to be a bit more on the quiet side, consider lovely Vis.

The view from Vidova Gora, the highest point on the island of Brac

Kapetan Luka‘s Split to Dubrovnik coastal catamaran has started operating for the season on 1st April 2024. This catamaran departs Split in the morning and stops on Brac (at Milna), Hvar, Korcula, Mljet (Pomana) and then reaches Dubrovnik at 12.30pm. (The return journey takes place in the mid/late afternoon.) It would be ideal to use for doing a spot of gentle “island-hopping”.

Getting to Croatia

Late March and April is when a good number of flight routes to Croatia from the UK, Ireland and elsewhere in Europe start. So getting to Croatia at this time of year couldn’t be easier! Take a look at our Flights from the UK & Ireland page for details as well as Getting to Split, Getting to Dubrovnik, Getting to North Dalmatia, Getting to Istria and Getting to the Kvarner Rivera.

Outdoor Easter in Rijeka

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The following is a lovely write-up from John Clayton, a UK citizen who has been living in the coastal city of Rijeka for 15 years. John talks about some of the wonderful outdoor activities that can be enjoyed during Easter in Rijeka.

The clocks are on summertime and the winter is over. Easter marks the time when we can start to plan bigger and better outdoor adventures in Rijeka. Jenny and I make the most of the winter, but this largely means grabbing opportunities on the days without “Bura”, the gale-force cold wind from the north, or the “Jugo”, the more destructive warm and wet wind from the south.

I’ll share here a few of our outdoor favourites at this time of year. As Croatia is rightly famous for its beaches this is the obvious place to start. We’re lucky to live just five minutes’ walk from the most beautiful beach in Rijeka, Sablićevo (don’t even try to pronounce it). It is also within walking distance from the town centre, or take the number 1 bus. The beach is surrounded by high cliffs creating a perfect sun trap. Even in the middle of winter, on a sunny day it’s possible to be down there in a just a T-shirt. By spring sunbathing is certainly an option and without the summer crowds.  With a wetsuit, there is also the option of swimming the 1.5km from Grčevo beach, past Sablićevo, to the dog beach right by the port. This is an amazing swim in crystal clear, often glass-smooth, water. At this time of year, there is even the small possibility that you’ll be swimming with dolphins.

Outdoor Easter in Rijeka - Sablicevo Beach in Rijeka
Sablicevo Beach in Rijeka

This morning, before writing this, we did the ten-mile mountain bike loop which is the most accessible mountain biking area from Rijeka. It starts with a slightly boring climb up through Kostrena, the fanciest suburb of Rijeka. The reward comes quickly in the form of single-track riding through the forest, opening out to views across the mountains of Gorski Kotar on the right and the islands of Cres and Krk on the left – all this before breakfast.

Rijeka keeps its last secret well hidden yet almost in plain sight. Rijeka is the third largest city in Croatia and, unlike many coastal towns in Croatia, is still industrial, with a busy port, shipbuilding, and a refinery. However, almost in the centre of the city is a steep-sided, wild, overgrown canyon, full of deep pools and cliffs. It is certainly not obvious from the town that it is there and even most locals seem unaware of its existence as it’s rare to see anyone else in there. Our favourite trail run starts at the castle of Trsat, scrambles down steeply into the canyon, past the abandoned water mills, and across the river. From here it climbs back steeply up the peak above Trsat before joining the road down to Rijeka.

After all this exercise you probably deserve a beer. As a Rijekan, I’d love to suggest one of the local craft beers, of which there are plenty to try (Tarsa, Morčić, etc.) but I have to be honest and admit that in my opinion, the best beer in Croatia, and possibly the world, is Fifth Element IPA. It’s from Daruvar and best enjoyed on draft in Pivnica Cont, on Tito Square, right on the old border between the first Yugoslavia and Italy. Just drinking a beer there is a history lesson in itself.

Thank you so much to John for suggesting some excellent outdoor adventures for Easter in Rijeka! Much appreciated. John has also previously filmed a great Easter in Rijeka video, which really gives a feel for the kinds of things that can be enjoyed at this time of year. Take a look:

To see more of what John enjoys in this part of Croatia, take a look at his Swimming in Rijeka video.