Dreaming of sailing through the turquoise waters of the Adriatic, wandering ancient cobblestone streets, or savoring the fresh truffles in a local konobo? Croatia is as magical as it sounds—but it’s also full of surprises that could throw a wrench in your plans if you’re not prepared.
Did you know that most beaches are rocky, not sandy, or that “island hopping” might take a bit more planning than expected? Whether you’re exploring Game of Thrones filming locations in Dubrovnik, navigating ferry schedules, or figuring out why the locals are so passionate about rakija, these Croatia travel tips will help you avoid rookie mistakes and travel like a pro. Get ready to fall in love with Croatia—stress-free!
Croatia Travel Tips
Croatia is an incredible country to visit. Not only is it one of the safest countries in the world, but it is also extremely clean, the people are friendly, and, as part of the European Union, visiting from the USA is pretty easy. After visiting Croatia in late August through early September, this is what I learned:
Croatia is Expensive!
Maybe 20 years ago, Croatia was the cheaper alternative to the Amalfi Coast or Greek Islands, but no more. You can certainly get off the beaten path and still find bargains, or stay in vacation rental apartments versus hotels, but if you plan on visiting the hot spots such as Dubrovnik, Hvar, and Split, be prepared for some sticker shock. We found Dubrovnik hotels the most expensive, but food was pricey everywhere except some of the smaller towns in Istria.
You need to make sure you budget appropriately so that you aren’t stressing about how much you are spending at every turn. To help, I’ve put together a full Croatia budget breakdown.
Be Prepared for Heat and Humidity
Pretty much every destination I’ve visited in the last five years has experienced the negative impacts of climate change. Croatia is no different. If you are visiting in the prime summer season, you need to be prepared for high heat (and humidity), especially along the Dalmatian Coast. Croatia’s coastline sees an average of over 2,500 hours of sunshine per year, making it one of Europe’s sunniest spots.
People flock to Croatia for its Mediterranean climate, but when we visited in the late summer, most of our days were over 90 degrees and very humid. That can be fine when you are sitting in a shaded beach chaise and taking frequent dips in the sea, but it is downright suffocating when walking through the narrow streets of the walled cities that don’t get much of a breeze. If you want cooler temperatures, you will need to head inland.
I highly recommend planning any walking tours for the early morning or late afternoon. Be sure to pack a good sunhat, sunscreen, and maybe even a handheld fan. You also need to drink plenty of water! Luckily, there are public fountains with clean drinking water in Dubrovnik and Split, making it easy to refill your water bottle. Otherwise, like many European countries, it can be challenging to ask for free tap water at restaurants versus paying for bottled water.
Beware of Off-Season Travel
Shoulder season and off-season travel can be a great way to avoid the heat. However, you need to be aware that in some regions, like the Dalmatian Islands, many hotels, restaurants, and shops close down for the season. Many establishments begin to close by mid-October as the season winds down, with some staying open until the end of the month, depending on demand and weather conditions. By late autumn and winter, options for dining and accommodation become limited on the islands.
Get Ready for a Lot of Walking (and Stairs!)
If you want to explore the medieval walled towns in Istria, hike in the national parks, or discover the history of Croatia’s magnificent cities, you will be walking a lot. Make sure you pack comfortable shoes that work well for cobblestones, hills, and lots and lots of stairs. I saw quite a few women dressed for the club, clinging to their boyfriends as they teetered through the cobblestone streets on stilettos.
Those stairs and cobblestones can really come into play when considering where to stay.
Rethink Staying in the Old Cities
I love staying in the historical center of cities like Rome or Barcelona, where the top sights are just a short walk away and the accommodations exude character. However, there are some factors to consider when choosing where to stay in Croatia. To start, many of the old cities and towns are pedestrian-only zones. So you need to consider how far you will need to drag your luggage across cobblestones from the ferry port, taxi stand, or bus station.
Also, in towns such as Dubrovnik, Korcula, or Hvar, you will find many stairs leading to the smaller side streets where you will find many of the inns, hotels, or rentals. Do you want to haul your bags up these steep staircases?
It may be better to stay just outside of town, close enough that you can walk, but far enough that you can have amenities such as taxi service and maybe a pool to cool off in. If you stay further out, you will save money on accommodation but spend more on cabs/Uber and/or a car rental and parking fees.
Opt for Uber
Speaking of cabs, the taxis in Croatia, especially Dubrovnik, are much more expensive than using Uber. Uber isn’t available everywhere (like Korcula for instance), but it is a good option when you can use it. We had multiple guides compare the taxis to the mafia or cartel in terms of price control and scams. If you do take a taxi, negotiate the rate before you start the ride.
Know When Cruises are in Port
The cruise season in Croatia typically runs from spring through autumn, with peak months being June, July, and August. This is when the largest number of ships and passengers visit, taking advantage of the Mediterranean’s warm and sunny climate.
Dubrovnik, one of the most popular destinations, sees the highest number of cruise passengers, welcoming around 520,000 passengers annually. However, to preserve the city’s historic charm and avoid overcrowding, there are limits on the number of passengers that can be in the city at any given time. Dubrovnik’s maximum daily limit for cruise passengers is 8,000, although on certain peak days, this number can go up to 10,000 passengers. Other cities and islands such as Split, Zadar, and Hvar are also popular cruise ports.
What does this mean for you? These cities can get extremely crowded on the days that multiple cruise ships are in port. If you don’t like crowds (and who does?), use a site like CruiseMapper to see when cruise ships will be in port and plan your city exploration around those times.
Getting Around Croatia
While you are planning your trip, be sure to look at a map of Croatia. This is a long, skinny country without a well-established train system. Getting from place to place will likely take longer than you think. It is much easier to fly into one city and out of the other. For example, fly into Zagreb and work your way south to Dubrovnik or fly into Dubrovnik and head north towards Split or Zagreb.
Once you get into the southern Dalmatian Coast, there is one main road that can get quite busy, especially in the summer. If you don’t want to drive between destinations, you can also take busses.
Rent a Car or Hire a Driver?
I have friends who have visited Croatia and used private drivers to transfer from location to location. That can be a great solution if you don’t need the car while at a destination or you plan to take tours for day trips.
However, Croatia has a modern highway system (complete with electronic tolls and many, many tunnels through mountains.) Driving between destinations is actually quite easy and I’ve honestly never seen better food at highway rest areas. Car rental prices are also pretty reasonable (just, as always, book in advance if you want an automatic transmission.) The only times it gets tricky is driving some of the narrow, winding roads in Istria or on the islands. If that kind of driving makes you nervous, you will be better off hiring a driver.
Prebook Airport Transfers
One more note on transportation, if you are arriving by air into Dubrovnik or Split, I’d suggest pre-booking your airport transfers (I rely on Welcome Pickups.) On days when cruise ships are embarking or disembarking, the traffic to the airport can be atrocious. You will want to plan ahead and give yourself time on departure days. But even on arrival, it may take a long time to hail an Uber because of the traffic headed to the airport. Better to have someone who is already there waiting for you.
Book Your Ferries in Advance
I found the ferries in Croatia a bit easier to navigate than in Greece, but you still need to plan ahead. Ferries do book up and have a limited number of daily sailings. Spend some time researching the schedules and book your tickets in advance. I use Ferry Hopper for this.
Once you arrive at the ferry port, be aware of the ferry line (company name), number, and other destinations of your ticketed ferry. As in Greece, the display on the boat will show the end point destination for your ferry. For example, to get from Korcula to Split, you will first stop in Hvar. Once on board, stow your bag quickly and find a seat (seats aren’t assigned like they are on an airplane.) You will then need to watch/listen for your ferry stop and head over to the luggage area before you dock as the loading and unloading process happens very quickly.
Carry Cash
Euro is now the official currency of Croatia, making it much easier for frequent European travelers. You will find hotels and most restaurants and shops take credit cards, including Apple Pay, but some still rely on cash. But even more than the few places where you need cash, there are many, many shops and restaurants who prefer cash and will offer you a cash discount. Sometimes that is to avoid the expensive credit card transaction fees the vendor pays, but some shopkeepers were quite clear that they prefer cash because then the don’t need to report the same amount on their taxes. So if you want to buy souvenirs like jewelry (coral is huge in Croatia), cash will get you a deal.
ATMs are plentiful if you need to get Euros, but check with your bank about foreign transaction fees. I often order some foreign currency from my local bank before I take a trip.
Should You Tip?
While not mandatory, tipping is definitely appreciated. Rounding up the bill or leaving about 10% at restaurants is a nice gesture and somewhat expected for American travelers. Just let them know at restaurants before they run your credit card so that they can add the tip to the bill.
Pack Water Shoes
As I mentioned above, the beaches in Croatia tend to be rather rocky. To enjoy a dip, or even a stroll, pack a set of water shoes or water socks to protect the bottoms of your feet.
Day Trip to Another Country (or Not)?
When you visit Dubrovnik or Split, it is very tempting to tick off a couple of more countries via day trips to Montenegro or Bosnia. But, there are a few things to keep in mind. First of all, Montenegro and Bosnia and Herzegovina are not part of the European Union. This means that you have to deal with a border crossing in each direction. This can take up hours of your day trip. If you are planning to go to Montenegro, there is one road through southern Croatia into Montenegro and the traffic can be terrible, especially in August when Croatians and other Europeans head down to the Balkans for vacation.
Also, given its geography, Mostar, the popular Bosnian day trip from Croatia, is even hotter than Croatia in the summer and colder in the winter. Something to keep in mind when planning your trip! Given these day trip drawbacks, maybe it is better just to add on a few days in one of these countries instead of visiting for just a day.
Are you ready to pack your suitcase? Be sure to check out our 10-day Croatia itinerary too!
