Croatia

When travelling in Croatia you are never to far from the Coast, which is one of the reasons I loved my time in Croatia, it was very easy to find a room with views of the Adriatic Sea. Split and Dubrovnik are two of the cities I visited both were very easy to explore on foot while I was in Split my accommodation could only be accessed by foot, if you are staying within the old city walls the houses can only be accessed by walking through narrow cobbled streets up hill; so make sure you have comfortable shoes and can carry your luggage. Croatia is a country I would fly back to explore during the low season as its to small a country to really enjoy when its overcrowded. I hope this short summary of Croatia will help you plan your trip.

Best Time to Visit

Croatia’s climate varies from region to region. On the coast the summers are hot and dry, and the winters are mild with some rainfall. Further inland the summers are hot, and the winters are bitterly cold with snowfall.

Things to do and see

1. Plitvice Lake National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site worth exploring with or without a guide. There are beautiful lakes, mountains and waterfalls you can enjoy by walking the different trails.
2. Adriatic Coast is where many locals and tourist go swimming, snorkelling and kayaking from Dubrovnik during the summer periods.
3. Wine Tasting is very popular in the bay town Ston a few miles from Dubrovnik. You can visit family run Wineries and have sea food by the sea.
4. Game of Thrones tour is a fun way to spend a few hours in Dubrovnik if you are a fan of the show. You can go to some of the filming locations for example the Lovrijenac Fortress, which is the filming site for the red Keep.

Food

The coast of Croatia is well known for its seafood and Italian influence. While inland the dishes are more meaty steaks and stews. Most popular tourist towns and cities in Croatia have food from all over the world.

Transportation

Air: There are direct flights from London to Croatia. International airports all receive domestic flights. Most of the domestic flights are operated by Croatian airlines.

Roads: Croatia has an extensive network of highways and well-maintained roads. Drivers drive on the right-hand side of the road.

Rail: The rail service connects most of the country the popular routes are, Zagreb to Split, Zagreb to Rijeka and Zagreb to Osijek. There are no trains to Dubrovnik. InterRail One-Country Pass allows you to travel internationally by train.

Taxi: Uber is functioning in Croatia. There are also metered authorised taxis.

Ferry: There are regular connections between the main ports in Croatia, operating services between Rijeka to Dubrovnik via Split.

Bus: Regular coach services connect the whole country. Most cities also have a regular local bus service.

Visa

Visas are not required for all EU, U.S, Canadian and Australian nationals for stays of up to 90days over a 6month period.

Language

The official languages spoken in Croatia is Croatian. However, Serbian, Slovenian, Hungarian and Italian are also spoken in Croatia by minority groups. English is also widely spoken in the tourist industry.

Money

The official currency in Croatia is the Kuna (HRK) There are many ATMs in large tourist cities. Foreign credit cards are accepted in most hotels and restaurants.

Tipping

Upmarket restaurants will expect 10% tip if not included in the bill.

Social etiquette

Most of the population are Roman Catholic, but there are also communities of Eastern Orthodox Serbs and Muslims. It’s customary to shake hands upon meeting and departing.

Adaptor

There are two plugs associated with Croatia.

Wifi

Wifi is available throughout Croatia, there are also many internet Cafes in the tourist areas.