We already have everything booked (my doing the southern islands before heading inland to national parks). But just wanted to make sure we were aware of everything. So if there's anything you wish you knew beforehand, or found made your trip easier, or places you consider a must see, please let me know!!
Updated 25.08. with :" Croatia Travel Tips and Tricks you need to know before visiting! "
Hey, check out these articles linked below for maybe something that you missed or similar:
How many days in Croatia is enough ? (Guide on how to spend 5, 7 or 10 days in 2025)
10 Most Beautiful Cities in Croatia to visit in 2025
Best Beaches to Visit in Croatia (Most popular beaches in Croatia)
10 Most Beautiful Small Towns in Croatia to escape the crowd! 2025
Is Croatia Expensive ? (Complete Cost Breakdown for visiting Croatia in 2025 Guide)
When is the Best Time to Visit Croatia Guide (Per region)
Croatia Road Trip: 4 Amazing Itineraries to sightsee Croatia (Guide)
Is Croatia worth visiting in 2025? Top 10 Reasons to visit Croatia
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Or check the CROATIA TRAVEL GUIDE directly here. The guides are all written by a local which is traveling around Croatia.
@croatiatraveltips I’m currently in Croatia right now. I’m finding that it is a bit less crowded than Italy or France in general in terms of tourist attraction cities and towns. The islands are amazing. We wish we went to the islands longer. Dubrovnik is beautiful and it is expensive. Honestly I think it’s all still pretty expensive and on par in comparison to other euro countries. Right now we are in Bol on Brac island. We absolutely love it. Food is excellent so far, customer service is either fantastic or not there at all. Ferries were pretty great for transportation. Groceries are pretty cheap and Restaurants were pricey but good overall. Hope you have a great time.
Sounds like you're all set for itinerary ... I spent 10 days there last fall -- LOVED IT. Here are notes & trip pics - no advertising, really just my personal trip blog, but might give you some ideas - It was my first time to Europe so it was all amazing 🙂 https://smilebecause.com/europe-2023/
Since it was my first time to Europe (or really for much international travel overall), I was unfamiliar with paid restrooms - Many of the little tourist spots (like Perast, Mostar(?) were cash only and most often 1 euro) - So make sure you have some Euros on hand for that.
I didn't have the experience of the ATMs charging 25% but our tour guide (I did a week with a group, then went solo) said to BE SURE to use the ATMs run by the major banks (vs. just the ones in markets or in tourist attractions). There are still fees at those major banks, but not 25%. Ditto not needing much cash though - I use my cards mostly.
If you go to Plitvice Lakes (you mentioned national parks), this is a GREAT site for getting a handle on how to tackle the park. It POURED down rain the day before and the morning I went, so I didn't even get there until close to noon. Even a few hours was amazing:
The little pekaras (bakeries) are perfect for any quick, inexpensive meal. I don't think I ate in a restaurant at all besides a few times during the tour part ... I just went to the markets and got meat, cheese, bread and delish baked goods.
I want to go back so bad!!! I want to go spend a month just in Istria.
Thank you so much for the detailed response and attaching your blog. I will definitely go through it all over the next few days.
Thanks for the tip on the pekaras, this was exactly the type of knowledge I was hoping to gain from this post!
We're doing Dubrovnik then ferry to a few of the islands then up to Split, Plitvice then Zagreb
Will you have a car at all? I loved driving around Istria ... My favorite part of Dubrovnik was the walk around the wall in Old Town. We didn't explore too much besides that. In addition to my notes, here was our rough itinerary with the group ... just in case it adds any other ideas to the places already on your list. http://cidestinations.com/croatia.html
I liked Marjan Park in Split, and I really liked our excursion to Montenegro (Mostar, Perast), but I know that adds some border/travel logistics.
Have fun!!
We had a lot of fun in Brač as far as islands go. If you are ferrying from Split I’d definitely make a full day out of it. There is a restaurant there called Apinelo and I’ll be thinking about their lamb for a long time. Also, Soul is a wonderful tapas place in Split.
Sounds like you might be driving up from Split to Plitvice. If so, I’d avoid Krka NP. It isn’t bad or anything, but I’ve heard Plitvice js much nicer.
Avoid renting a car. They are often insurance scammers. I myself had to pay 1220 Euro for a small scratch on my car which hopefully I can sort out when I get home. Ferries /island hopping is the way to go and buses do work if needed. Taxis are also sometimes scammers with limited oversight on price.. If possible, use Uber. I highly recommend Hvar, blue cave and Zadar.
Appreciate it! We're only renting a car to take us from split to Plitvice to Zagreb, gonna be island hopping on ferries most of the time
Hey check out this guide as it covers the route from Split - Zagreb or vice versa.
From Zagreb to Split drive (Best stops on the way) Guide
If you will need other information here is a list of Guides for Croatia:
Croatia Travel Guides (City guides, prices, what to see, etc.)
Best luxury hotel options in Dubrovnik with a sea view?
