Croatia

Croatia’s main attractions are beaches, the medieval walled town of Dubrovnik, spectacular coastal and mountain scenery, picturesque towns, museums, ancient islands, lakes, historical sites, fishing, gorges, yachting, marvelous churches and monasteries, folk arts, fascinating culture, health spas and the capital city of Zagreb.

Croatia will appeal to travelers who have already been to many European countries and are ready to get off the beaten track to discover a fascinating part of the world. Croatia makes a great beach holiday—the coastline is spectacular, and the seafood is excellent.

Probably the most famous historical site in Croatia is the Old City of Dubrovnik. This medieval, compact walled town in Southern Dalmatia was first settled in the early seventh century. Walk around the 1.2 mi/2 km of intact city walls or take a cable car to Mount Srd above the town; both offer a fantastic introduction to the town and breathtaking views of the coast. Also make sure to visit the Dominican Monastery, a Gothic-Renaissance-style building constructed in the late 1300s at the same time as the Dubrovnik city walls. Today it houses an impressive art collection of the Dominican friars.

Another important landmark is Diocletian’s Palace in Split, which was the summer and retirement palace of the Roman emperor Gaius Aurelius Valerius Diocletianus, who ruled from 284 to 289 and built the palace around the year 295. Today it is a UNESCO World Heritage site and a living monument with a thriving mix of residences and shops within its original walls. There are four original gates still in place, but much of the inside of the palace has been built over the centuries.

Trogir is another medieval walled town and UNESCO World Heritage site just west of Split, situated on an island accessed from an old wooden bridge from the mainland. The 15th-century medieval fortress of Kamerlengo lies on the south side at the end of a waterfront promenade. On the other side of town, at the end of Trogir’s main street Gradska is the 12th-century St. Lawrence Cathedral with its breathtaking, intricately carved doors with scenes from everyday life and legend.

In the western region of Istria, the Amphitheater of Pula is one of the largest and best preserved ancient monuments in Croatia, and among the six largest surviving Roman arenas in the world, built in the mid-first century BC by the Roman Emperor Vespasian. A labyrinth of corridors in the underground area houses a museum with a rich collection of archeological artifacts, and the arena continues to be used as a multipurpose venue for various exhibitions, performances and festivals.

Croatia has a diverse variety of museums and galleries. In Zagreb, the Mimara is one of the most prestigious museums in the country with a vast collection of painting and sculpture from around the world. Naive art is very well represented in Croatia, and one of the greatest artists of the genre, Mijo Kovacic, has been painting detailed naive scenes on glass for more than 50 years. His gallery in Zagreb is open to the public. http://www.mijokovacic.com.

In Split, the Ivan Mestrovic Gallery showcases the villa and atelier of the famous Croatian sculptor by the same name, housing his masterpieces (http://www.mdc.hr/mestrovic/index.htm). The Split Archeological Museum is the oldest museum institution in Croatia, founded in 1820 and situated north of the city center. Exhibitions and contents come mainly from the area of southern Dalmatia with stone epitaphs, ceramics, glass and hundreds of other objects from pre-historic, pre-Christian, Greek and Medieval periods. http://www.mdc.hr/split-arheoloski/index.html.

One of the most impressive of the eight national parks in Croatia is Paklenica National Park, on the southern side of Velebit, which boasts the largest mountain range in Croatia (http://www.paklenica.hr). Plitvice National Park is the oldest and most popular Croatian national park, with a series of waterfalls, connected lakes and trails to explore throughout the park. It is listed as a UNESCO World Natural Heritage site (http://np-plitvicka-jezera.hr). The Velebit Nature Preserve is the largest protected area in Croatia, covering the mountain range of the same name (http://www.pp-velebit.hr). On Krk island is Krka National Park, with one of the most beautiful rivers (the Krka River) in Croatia set in a beautiful lush landscape with gentle falls (Skradinski buk). http://www.npkrka.hr.

Suggested Accommodations in Dubrovnik.

You will always get more bang for your buck staying at Airbnb’s in Dubrovnik.  Look for properties within the old city wall.

A favorite location of mine are properties in Lapad, Croatia. Lapad is only a 15-minute Uber ride to the city center. It has a fabulous beach and lots of cute restaurants. It’s away from the craziness of the old city walls too!

These are some of my favorites! 

https://www.hotel-adria-dubrovnik.com (near Gruz Port perched on top of a hill) 

https://www.hotel-lapad.hr (located in the heart of lapad)

https://www.arthoteldubrovnik.com (The Art Hotel is one of my favorites if you are looking for a little luxury without breaking the budget.

https://www.hotel-more.hr/en/ ( Cool location and an awesome cave bar)

https://www.hilton.com/en/hotels/dbvhihi-hilton-imperial-dubrovnik/?SEO_id=GMB-EMEA-HI-DBVHIHI (If money is no option or your trying to get out of the dog house stay here!)

https://www.hotelporto.hr/homepage (Brand new hotel opened in 2021) 

http://www.grandhotel-park.hr (Nice pool and spa)

Suggested Accommodations in Split. 

I recommend staying two nights after our trip in the beautiful city of Split.

https://www.sleepsplit.com/ (Great location and close to Old Town)

https://villasplitluxury.com/ (Great value and excellent location) 

http://hotelcorner.eu  This is a 3/4-star property and it is about a 10-minute walk to the city center. 

https://piazza-heritagehotel.com/ (In the heart of the action)

Croatian food is generally very good and very hearty. In the country’s interior, starchy foods are common. Grah is a traditional bean stew made with smoked bacon and paprika, and strukle is a delicate but filling salty cheese-filled dough pocket baked and served with sour cream. Traditional Balkan dishes such as duvec (sauteed vegetables and meat), moussaka (eggplant and minced meat casserole), sarma (minced meat and rice rolled into a cabbage leaf) and raznijici (grilled veal or pork) are found on many menus. Be sure not to miss grilled cevapcici (minced lamb and pork seasoned with onion, garlic and fresh mint).

Sample the local smoked ham and sheep’s cheese. Prsut, a home cured ham made in inland Istria and Dalmatia, is a national delicacy and can be compared to the Italian prosciutto but with a stronger smoky flavor. Paski Sir is a delicious hard cheese that comes from the island of Pag, and it is made from the milk of sheep that graze on the wild herbs and lavender that grow on the island.

A specialty inland, especially in the Lika region and on the interior of many of the larger islands such as Krk, Cres, Brac and Hvar is spit roast lamb. If you’re driving on the larger islands or through the interior, look for road signs for restaurants that serve janjetina na zaru and be sure to stop—it will be the best lamb you’ve ever tasted.

Apple strudel, a vestige of the Austrian influence in Croatian desserts, is divine, as are Croatian crepes known as palacinka, which are filled either with nuts, jam or chocolate sauce. A popular dessert is a flaky pastry with a vanilla cream filling, called krempita. In the fall locals go crazy for kesten pire, a dessert made with chestnut puree laced with rum and served with whipping cream.

At restaurants along the Adriatic coast, you’ll find excellent seafood, especially oysters, scampi (prawns), prstaci (date mussels) and Dalmatian brodet (various types of fish, stewed with rice). Spider crab is a delicacy found throughout the country’s Adriatic islands. Croatian fishermen roast the crabs in fires made from grapevines. When the shell separates from the meat, they know it’s ready. Each crab yields only a small amount of meat, but the taste has been favorably compared to lobster. Fish is often served grilled whole, and then drizzled with a persillade (olive oil, garlic and parsley) when it comes off the grill. Try the local varieties of tunj (tuna), lubin (sea bass) and orada (a mild white fish).

Italian pizzas and pastas are readily available throughout Croatia at reasonable prices. Cuisines of other nations are also available, including Chinese, Czech, Hungarian and others.

Locally made pelinkovac (herbal liqueur), maraschino (superb cherry liqueur from Zadar), sljivovica (plum brandy) and travarica (herbal brandy) are highly recommended. If you enjoy red wine, try Dingac or Postup: Both are excellent. Some of the best wines available are from the Plavac grape. Vineyards from the peninsula of Peljesac in the southern Dalmatian region are regarded as producing high-quality wines at a reasonable price.

Croatian wines are often strong, so the local tradition has adapted to mix wine with other beverages. Bevanda is red or white wine mixed with plain water, and gemist is white wine mixed with sparkling water.

Croatia is a very safe country to travel in; however, there are still some stray mines present in rural areas—remnants from the last war. As the mines are removed, former mine locations are marked with signs. To be on the safe side, don’t go into these areas. If you stay on well-used roads and paths, you will be safe. If you are unsure about an area, ask locals first before venturing there.

The crime rate is relatively low, but displays of wealth—particularly around bus or train stations—increase your chances of becoming the victim of a pickpocket or mugger.

Most of the beaches on the Adriatic are safe from sharks.

In an emergency, dial 92 for the police; 93 for a fire; 94 for an ambulance. You can also dial 112 for any
emergency service, including mountain rescue and veterinary assistance. If driving, dial 987 for roadside assistance.

In case of an accident at sea, call 155 (National Headquarters for Search and Rescue). For the latest information, contact your country’s travel-advisory agency.

Passport/Visa Requirements: Passports are needed by citizens of Australia, Canada, the European Union and the U.S.; visitors from these countries may stay for up to 90 days without a visa. Reconfirm travel document requirements with your carrier before departure.

Population: 4,486,881.

Languages: Croatian.

Predominant Religions: Roman Catholicism, Eastern Orthodoxy.

Time Zone: 1 hour ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (+1 GMT). Daylight Saving Time is observed from the last Sunday of March to the last Sunday of October.

Voltage Requirements: 220 volts. 50 Hz.

Telephone Codes: 385, country code; 1,city code for Zagreb; 21,city code for Split; 20,city code for Dubrovnik; 31,city code for Osijek; 51,city code for Rijeka.

The kuna (HRK) is the official currency and is divided into 100 lipa. In Croatia, euros and other foreign currencies can be exchanged at banks, post offices and travel agencies. The euro is commonly accepted for payment in many areas, especially for accommodations (where it is actually the preferred currency).

Additionally, the use of credit cards, including Visa, MasterCard and American Express, is commonplace. Funds can also be accessed from debit cards via ATMs linked to international networks.

The PDV (purchase tax or value-added tax) is 25% for all goods except books and items of necessity. A reduced rate of 10% applies to tourist accommodation services. Travelers can receive a refund of the PDV on purchases of more than 501 HRK in one store (indicated by a “Tax-Free Shopping” sign on the store’s window).

Make sure you get a sales receipt for your purchases along with a Global Refund Cheque from the sales clerk before leaving, because you will need to have the check stamped by a customs official. In Croatia, many post offices provide the refund. More information can be found via the tax authority website. http://www.carina.hr.

In restaurants, tip 5%-10% of the bill for good service. Taxi drivers and other service personnel don’t expect tips, but they appreciate the ones they get.

May-October is an excellent time to visit, as it’s the warmest and driest time—great beach weather. During March, a cold north wind, the bura, can chill to the bone. You may need a sweater in the evenings, even in summer. The winters are cold, often drizzly, snowy and windy, especially in the interior and the north.

In Croatia, you can make both local and international telephone calls via prepaid telephone cards (called telefonske kartice) that can be purchased at post offices, major hotels, kiosks and newsstands. These cards can be used in telephone booths scattered around town. Cards are available in denominations of 15 HRK, 30 HRK, 50 HRK and 100 HRK. You can also make international calls right at a post office without using a card, and pay after you finish your call.

If you want to call a local telephone number, dial the number direct. If you want to dial to another city, add the city code (with a zero) plus the main number; for example, to phone the Castle and Civic Museum in Varazdin from Zagreb, you would dial 042-210-399.

To reach a local operator, dial 988. For international directory inquiries, dial 902. You can also obtain general telephone information by dialing 981. Toll-free numbers start with a 060 prefix.

You can also use your cell phone in Croatia, provided that you are connected to the GSM network. Both local and international calls will be expensive, however. Rather than using your cell phone from home, it can be simple and cost-effective to purchase a Croatia-compatible cell phone along with a prepaid international SIM card before your trip.

As Croatia has more cell phones than people, public pay phones are relatively hard to find. However, an initiative to modernize pay phones with touchscreens and Wi-Fi has proven successful and has led to an increasing number being made available in the larger cities.

Depending on the location, post offices in Croatia (indicated by Posta or HP) are typically open Monday-Friday 7 am-8 pm and Saturday 7 am-9 pm. Smaller postal branches may be open 7 am-2 pm Monday-Friday.

During summer months, post offices in some of the more resort-oriented locations stay open until 9 or 10 pm. Additionally, the main post office in Zagreb, located at Branimirova 4, is open 24 hours Monday-Saturday and 1 pm-midnight Sunday.

Mailing letters and packages from post offices in Croatia is safe and relatively inexpensive. To find a post office or for other information on sending a letter or package in English, go to http://www.posta.hr.