Excited to be visiting Croatia for the first time but don’t know where to start? We have written an extensive Croatia Travel Guide that you should definitely check out. However, we also bring here our best tips for first-time visitors to Croatia, and for all who are open to our suggestions and want to experience a new and different Croatia.
Croatia is a great place to visit! Beaches, historical sites, natural wonders, incredible adventures, a good food scene, and lovely coastal towns – they all await you in Croatia.
Many first-time visitors are concerned about whether Croatia is a safe country or not. They don’t know how many days in Croatia they need, or when is the best time to visit Croatia and where to go in Croatia. Worry not! Croatia is a safe country, very tourist-friendly, with a very low crime rate. So even if you are a solo female traveler, you will be very safe traveling in Croatia.
In this post, we share our tips for first-time travel to Croatia. We address some of the most common concerns, misconceptions, and general tips. Even if you’ve been to Croatia before, we hope you’ll find some useful tips for your next vacation in Croatia.
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First-time travel to Croatia: all you need to know if you travel to Croatia for the first time
So, you are finally visiting Croatia! Congrats! Although Croatia is one of the smaller countries in Europe, you will find many things to do in Croatia, many places to visit in Croatia, lots of beaches to enjoy, and lots of historical and natural sites to see.
Without further ado, here are our main tips and advice for those of you who plan to travel to Croatia for the first time.
Stay somewhere central
You can’t visit the entire country in a week’s stay. No matter how small Croatia might seem, the country is long, and from Umag in the northwest to Dubrovnik in the southeast, you’ll need to cover 700 km. Besides, there are so many places to visit in Croatia, that you simply can’t do it all in a week or two.
If you still like to visit more than one place, stay somewhere central. And then do day trips from your base location.
Split can be a good base to visit Dalmatia (and Split is an awesome town to see!). From Split, you can easily reach the islands of Brac, Hvar, Korcula, Vis, the towns of Trogir and Omis, Krka Waterfalls, and even Dubrovnik.
Porec is a great base to visit Istria. It’s centrally located to visit all highlights of Istria within an hour’s drive. And yet it’s a cheaper place to stay than Rovinj.
Take a road trip
If you don’t travel by car already, then rent one at least for a day when in Croatia. Croatia is a perfect destination for a road trip. The roads are in great condition, and the scenery is breathtaking.
Our favorite road trips are along the Adriatic coastal road from Split to Dubrovnik, along the Peljesac peninsula, and around Istria. Here is our full post on Driving in Croatia, and Car Rental in Croatia.
Eat Local
I would say that travelers to Croatia, after visiting a country for a brief time, leave it with the biggest misconception about food.
No, along the coast, locals don’t eat roasted pork. We’ll all always rather have a roasted lamb. But hey, if Germans, our most numerous guests, love their roasted pork, then we are happy to prepare it for them.
Many restaurants are also very touristy, and not particularly exciting. You know, those places offering pasta, pizza, risotto, grilled meat, and a fish plate for two?! Advertised, for better understanding, with photos of the plates you’ll get.
Please, try to eat at least once at restaurants that locals love.
Island hopping on your own isn’t that easy
Many readers of our blog, as well as our friends, when planning to visit Croatia for the first time, imagine themselves hopping from one island to another and visiting half a dozen of them in less than a week.
It’s not going to happen. While islands are not far one from another geographically, they are far enough when it comes to ease of transport. More often than not you’ll need to choose a port city on the mainland for your base if you would like to visit more than one island during your short stay in Croatia.
Sorry to disappoint you, but the only way to do it is by renting a yacht, or hopping on those charter boats that sail along Adriatic.
Visit Zagreb
Zagreb is for many visitors to Croatia, their entry point to Croatia, yet the majority of travelers either visit it for just a couple of hours or skip it altogether. Mistake! Zagreb is wonderful, and even more so in summer, when many locals leave town for the coast, traffic gets light, and lots of street performances take place all over the town.
Put Zagreb on your Croatia travel itinerary! Check here all the wonderful things to do in Zagreb, or read our post on the best Zagreb accommodation.
Shop at a local green market
Croatians love shopping for fresh produce at the open-air green and fish markets. You’ll find these markets in every town in Croatia.
Feel the pulse of the town, and watch the locals go about their everyday life, as you explore local green markets. We’ve written about Dolac, Zagreb’s main green market, and Pazar, Split’s green market.
Plitvice isn’t the only national park
Plitvice is one of the most visited places in all of Croatia, and the single most visited national park in Croatia. But, indeed, it’s not the only beautiful national park in Croatia.
Croatia’s got eight. If you don’t like crowds, consider visiting Risnjak, Northern Velebit, or Paklenica National Parks.
If you like to stick to waterfalls, try Krka Waterfalls instead. If you are curious about the Croatian islands, why wouldn’t you visit Kornati, Mljet, or Brijuni, all three national parks themselves?
Visit Istria
Istria is the most visited region in Croatia. Yet it remains very little visited by overseas guests, like Australians, Americans, or Japanese.
It sometimes seems to be Europe’s best-kept secret. Lots of Europeans, particularly Germans, Austrians, and Italians, spend their holidays in Istria.
If it’s your first time traveling to Croatia, consider visiting Istria. The region is gorgeous, full of history, culture, and a dream destination for any foodie.
Forget trains, use buses instead
Unlike the rest of Europe, the Croatian train network is really poor, and not really a viable way to explore the country. However, the bus network is extensive, awesome, and reliable. Forget trains, and look for buses instead.
GetByBus does a great job of aggregating lots of bus lines within Croatia and between Croatian towns and major European destinations. Even more, they offer online tickets for all those bus lines.
Croatia isn’t an off-the-beaten-path destination
Hell, no! Croatia has always been popular among European travelers.
When you visit, especially during high season (July, August), and especially popular destinations like Plitvice, Dubrovnik, Split, Zadar, and Istria, expect crowds, queues, traffic jams, and few (if any) solo moments for a selfie.
Taxis are expensive
Uber just started operating in Croatia a few years ago, and so far it operates only in Zagreb and Split a year around. In other coastal towns, like Dubrovnik, Zadar, and Rovinj, Uber operates seasonally. A local taxi company, Cammeo Taxi, has also competitive rates.
Zagreb also has the most competitive and cheapest taxi scene in all of Croatia. So, yes, if visiting Zagreb, go ahead and take a cab everywhere.
As for the rest of Croatia, use it if it’s your only transport option, or if you are two or more and can split the cost. Taxis are super expensive, and the drivers aren’t always polite.
English is widely spoken
No need to worry about not speaking Croatian. It’s a difficult language to learn and Croatians know it.
Almost everybody speaks at least a little English, and many people also speak at least another foreign language (German and/ or Italian are the most widely spoken languages after English).
Excellent tourist infrastructure
Tourism, as we know it today, started mass developing in Croatia in the ’60s. And today tourism is the main industry in Croatia (for better or worse).
That said, expect to find an excellent tourist infrastructure all along coastal Croatia: from amazing all-inclusive resorts, luxury & boutique hotels, and budget hostels, to an abundance of vacation rentals, villas, and campsites.
Don’t be afraid to rent with locals
Croatians have a long tradition of hosting vacationers from all over the world. Almost every family along the coast rents apartments to tourists. Vacation rentals are a great alternative to hotels, offer better value for money (especially for families, or bigger groups), come with a fully-equipped kitchen, and offer more space.
Check my in-laws’ vacation rentals in southern Dalmatia and our villa rental near Porec. Or, read our full post on Croatia apartments to rent.
It’s not cheap, but it doesn’t need to be expensive
People sometimes falsely assume that Croatia is cheap. Well, it’s not. In fact, many things, particularly groceries, are more expensive than in the US or any Western European country.
The only things I find cheap(er) in Croatia are wine, spirits, cigarettes, pastry shops, and dining out.
For the rest, expect to spend as much as back home.
Wine here is awesome, and so is olive oil
Croatia is a small country, and whatever people here produce, they produce it in small quantities. All produce is also mostly sold to the Croatian market.
This is the reason you’ve perhaps never heard of Croatian wine or olive oil. But let me reassure you, they are of excellent quality, and must try them when in Croatia. In fact, we highly recommend you go wine tasting or olive oil tasting.
Our favorite white wine is Malvazija Istarska (check our post on 5 wineries to visit in Istria), and our favorite red is Dingac from the Peljesac peninsula (especially Saints Hills).
As for olive oil, I am absolutely crazy about this Croatian stuff. So much so that now we even make our own olive oil. We recommend visiting Chiavalon Olive Oil Estate in Vodnjan.
Croatian currency is Euro
Yep, it’s true! As of January 1, 2023, Croatia Croatia joined other 19 EU member countries that use the Euro as a common currency.
The exchange rate is 0.93 € per 1 US$, 0.7 € for 1 CAD, 0.65 € for 1 AUD, and 1,13 € per 1 £.
Book Early
Accommodation in Croatia fills up fast. The majority of big hotel companies run early booking promotions for bookings made by the end of February (for stays throughout the year).
Also, hotels change their prices dynamically. This means that as the occupancy increases, so do the rates.
For this reason, our best accommodation advice for anybody visiting Croatia is to book your hotels or vacation rentals as early as possible. Booking.com is the best booking website for accommodation in Croatia. Booking.com offers competitive rates and flexible booking conditions. It also has its own loyalty program that provides additional discounts. Booking.com is the single most important booking platform in Croatia.
Pack light, but don’t forget these items
We strongly believe that one should always travel light, and bring as few things as possible when traveling.
However, a few things we highly recommend that you bring with you to Croatia are mosquito repellent (we like this Bug Soother Spray), adapters, and water shoes for Croatian rocky beaches.
Get Familiar With Ferries in Croatia
Sooner or later you will perhaps end up using ferries in Croatia. Some of the top destinations in Croatia for first-time visitors include islands Brac, Hvar, and Korcula, and you will need to use ferries to reach them.
There are a couple of ferry operators in Croatia. Jadrolinija is a state-owned and the biggest ferry operator in Croatia with a network of ferries operating on many routes all year around. Jadrolinija is also the only boat company in Croatia operating car ferries. All other companies only have passenger ships and fast passenger ferries on their routes.
The smaller operators include Kapetan Luka – Krilo, and G&V Line.
Recommended travel guides
- Fodor’s Croatia Travel Guide (we are co-authors!).
- Lonely Planet Croatia Travel Guide
- Rick Steves Croatia & Slovenia
ACCOMMODATION DEALS
Find here a wide selection of affordable accommodation in Croatia!
RENT A CAR
Check the best car rental deals here!
LOCAL TOURS & DAY TRIPS
Browse here a great choice of local tours and day trips!
BUS TICKETS
Book your bus tickets online here!
FIND CHEAP FLIGHTS
Search flights in real time and book online.
FERRY TICKETS
Avoid lines by booking your ferry tickets online!
MULTI-DAY TOURS
Amazing choice of multi-day coach and boat tours of Croatia!
TRAVEL INSURANCE
Have a peace of mind with Safety Wing Travel Insurance.
Further reading: more Croatia travel tips
We’ve got lots of good stuff here at our Croatia Travel Guide and Blog, stick around, read further, and let us know if we can help with anything regarding your travel to Croatia.
- A Complete Travel Guide To Croatia: 26 Things To Know Before Travelling To Croatia
- Car Rental In Croatia
- Ultimate Packing List For Vacation In Croatia
- Things To Do In Croatia
- Croatia Travel Budget: How Much Money You’ll Need In Croatia
- Croatia Travel Budget Tips
- Where To Have Local, Cheap, And Delicious Meals In Croatia
- How To Choose Your Destination In Croatia
- Where To Go In Croatia: Best Places To Visit In Croatia
- A Complete Guide To Accommodation In Croatia
- Best hotels in Croatia
- Best all-inclusive hotels in Croatia
- Driving in Croatia
We hope you’ve enjoyed our tips for first-time travel to Croatia. Still, have a question? Please leave them in the comments below.
Featured photo credit: MacPepper via Flickr
Hey Frank, that was an interesting read. You pointed out that taxis are cheaper in Zagreb and Split than in other cities. However, I would like to add that taxi services such as ours (Auto Taxi Medo ) provide intercity transfers at nominal costs round the year.
It was lovely to read about a first-time visitor’s concerns and your solutions to them. It feels great that so many people are excited to explore our country. Cheers!
Hi my name is Emrana.
We are planning to go to Croatia (tomorrow!)
There are 5 of us
Is it worth hiring a car to go around split ,that’s where we are staying.
Also we are planning to visit debouvernic for the day using local transport or the ferry what is your advice.
Please could you also advise on how the cost in food and local supermarket are .
We are traveling from the UK.
Thanks alot in advance for your time
Emrana
Frank you are a Godsend! This is so helpful. But here is my dilemma that is not being spoken of. Flying into Croatia in the winter months. A bit of a challenge. That said, do you have any tricks for getting to Split easily from London Gatwick in November specifically by chance?? Any advice on what airlines might be most affordable to go through online?? I’m in Canada and rarely travl. We’re headed to Split to volunteer in November for the month, but not many airlines are flying to Split at that time of year. Any help or advice is so appreciated!! Thanks in advance. Veronica
Hi Frank! Nice tips by the way especially for new visitors completely agree. So, thumbs up…
Hi Frank great site. We are travelling to Croatia on the 24th July, land in Zagreb, hired a car and staying in Zagreb for 3 nights. We have 16 days in total in Croatia.
Would you be able to suggest a few places to visit in that time frame. We are going to the lakes area and would like to make it to Dubrovnik. We fly out of Zagreb at the end of our holiday.
Thankyou
Dear Frank,
We are a senior couple in good health visiting Croatia in Sept. for the first time. Right now we have ten nights in Croatia. We would like to have 2 bases (maybe Dubrovnik & Split) and take day trips. Should we visit Zegreb or is it too far?
Just wanted to say thanks for these tips and everything on this blog! Have been searching for a resource that has a more local perspective, and this has been so very helpful. Can’t wait to experience my first trip next week!
If you have time, ferry can be fun.
Buses are the best (only) option for public transport in Croatia. Try to visit getbybus website in order to find more info.
ups, seems like we are too late for the answers. Sorry for that Jim! Hope you have figured it out and that you have enjoyed your time in Croatia.
The road from Sucuraj to Jelsa isn’t in the best condition, and the southern part of the island is pretty deserted. However, the crossing to Sucuraj takes less time (35 min) than crossing to Stari Grad (120 min), so it comes down to what would you prefer: to explore less travelled part of Hvar Island, or to get quickly to Split via more comfortable road.
Uf, it’s definitely possible, but can get quite expensive. Maybe you can look into shared options like GoOpti (https://bit.ly/2Oc8tOg), or even better, if you can get someone who speaks Croatian, check a car-sharing website BlaBla (https://bit.ly/2IJO5Fl). This is a widely used website in Croatia for peer-to-peer car sharing. Unfortunately it’s only in Croatian.
Hi Sophie, it’s very safe to travel solo in Croatia. Majority of the places are small towns with good infrastructure. So there is nothing to worry about. I don’t know about any tour groups for solo travelers. But we recommend using Get your Guide for day trips. You can check one of their Montenegro tours here: https://bit.ly/2J0HHZQ
Hi Frank, thank you for your very helpful site! I’m planning to go to Croatia in August and I have some friends who I am meeting there for a boat tour that covers Split, Makarska, Stari Grad, Hvar, Vis, Korcula, Sipan and Dubrovnik. I have three weeks to travel and I very much want to see Montenegro as well. How safe is it for a woman traveling on her own? Do you recommend doing another boat tour to Montenegro or taking a bus? Any tour groups you particularly like for solo travelers?
Many thanks!
Sophia
Thanks for your details blog, we will land in Zadar airport and plan to go straight to Dubrovnik, but it’s quit long bus journey, is it possible to take Uber or other transportation way to shorten the time? What about book a car with guide? It’s worth to pay such expensive cost. Thanks.
Hi Frank,
We are travelling from Brazil to Italy and Croatia early July and we will only have 6 days in Croatia (it should have been more but we are taking a ferry from Italy and we depend on the ferry schedule).
Our first stop is Dubrovnik where we plan to stay for 2 days and take the Game of Thrones tour. Next, we are planning to go to the islands. Do you think it is a good idea to ride straight to Hvar by the ferry Drvenik/Súcuraj and explore the islands from there ? Or is it better to go straight to Split (our next stop) and then explore the islands? We pretend to visit Hvar, Crac and Vis, at least. Is there any other island you would recommend? On the way back to Italy (Venice) we may stop at Istria (it depends on how tiring it will be – 648 km). As it will be more a kind of pit-stop, which place/town would you recommend?
Thanks a lot in advance,
Silvia
Frank, we are heading to Croatia in a few weeks, April 14-24. Trying to finalize the itinerary and would like some advice. Here is the high level
4/15 Arrive Zagreb early afternoon; tour of Zagreb
4/16 Mid-afternoon flight to Zadar
4/17 Day trip to Plitvice National Park
4/18 Zadar to Split via Krka National Park
4/19 Morning tour of Split
4/19-23 Here is where we need help:
– We need to experience Dubrovnik and would like to see some islands (Brac, Hvar, Mljet and/or Korcula, depending on time. Is it feasible/worthwhile to charter our own boat to travel from Split to Dubrovnik and experience a/some island(s)?
– You HIGHLY recommend seeing Istria. Where should we work that in and/or would you adjust the itinerary above to better cover the country?
– And how should we decide which of the islands above to visit?
4/23 5pm flight, Dubrovnik to Rome
I am planning to visit Croatia on 21-May-26-May-2019. I am having doubt about public transport, how does it operate and where can I find more information regarding this?
Hi Frank! We are visiting Croatia for a week this June. For a family of three to travel from Dubrovnik to Split, would you advise taking the bus or a ferry? To me the ferry sounds more scenic, but I don’t know. Thanks for any tips! – John
Hi Frank,
Thanks for your information regarding Croatia.
Are there any ferries from the end of April?
Kind Regards
Monique
I will add my compliments about your site. It has such wonderful information.
We are planning a first time visit to Croatia in mid-April with our 5 adult children. Our current plan is to rent a place for a week to 10 days and make that our base of operation. Istria is one option since it affords access to a trip to Venice. Would this be a good plan or would staying further south be a better option. Thank you so much for your any advice you can give.
Thank you for the amazing tips on vacationing. I didn’t know that if you decide what destinations and dates you wanted beforehand was more time efficient. My wife and I haven’t been on a vacation since our son was born and we are in dire need of some time away. Again, thank you for this amazing write up!
Hey frank! Thanks for this awesome blog. Just one question please, what would be the best option you could give me if I am to travel to Croatia from Singapore? Can you please tell me what are the best options for the airlines I should book for and hotels that are near Zagrib? Thank you and great post by the way!
Both are interesting tours, but you’ll be quite sometime in bus. I would choose one (Mostar) and spend two days chilling and exploring Dubrovnik
Hi Dan and Susan,
thanks for reaching out, and thanks for reading. Here are our thoughts, you can as well stay in Rovinj another day and visit Motovun, but also Groznjan, and perhaps Porec on the way back. You can plan a lunch in hinterland (our suggestions would be tavern Toncic, Buscina, Morgan, or Stari podrum). You can also visit a winery, perhaps Kozlovic, or Kabola. On the day that you visit Pula, plan a stop in Vodnjan at Chiavalon to taste some local olive oil. Plitvice, maybe you can depart for Zadar after the visit. It all depends how long you plan to hike in Plitvice. If you go for a 6 or 8 hour tour, then staying another night in Plitvice can be a good idea. Otherwise, you can probably go straight to Zadar. Use that extra day in Zadar to do an excursion to Kornati National Park. It’s beautiful!
It’s easier to explore Brac from Split than Hvar.
from zagreb to split, 400 km, 180 kn (25 euro) one way
from rijeka to zagreb, 170 km, 70 kn (10 euro) one way
Hi Kathy,
I don’t know how are electric outlets in Hungary. In Croatia we use round-pronged plugs, like on this photo: https://goo.gl/images/wnxTv4.
There are many exchange offices in Croatia. They take no commission but check for the best exchange rate among them once you are here. Banks usually charge commission.
Frank,
Two questions –
1) Is power adapter that was used in Hungary good for Croatia?
2)What is best way/place to exchange U.S. dollars for Kuna?
Thanks.
Kathy
Hi, Frank and Vara. We are Dan and Susan from La Mirada, California, USA. Susan found your blog, and we appreciate the loaded content about Croatia. Thanks for all the work you put into it. It’s been tremendously helpful.
We will be visiting Croatia from May 13, 2019 through May 29, 2019. We are very excited about the trip. We are currently planning our itinerary, and this is where we were hoping you can provide some feedback.
As you can see, we have an open day on 5/18. Should we stay another night in Rovinj and explore Motovun, or leave Rovinj and visit a different area?
Also, we were planning on staying at Rastovaca when we visit Plitvice. What are your thoughts on this?
Lastly, do you recommend we stay in Split for 3 days and explore Hvar and Brac as day trips? Or would it be better to stay at Hvar for two nights?
We would appreciate any input and advice you may have about our itinerary.
5/13: Depart LA
5/14: Arrive Zagreb 2:25 PM
5/15: Zagreb
5/16: Rovinj
5/17: Rovijn (visit Pula)
5/18: ???????
5/19: Rastovaca
5/20: Rastovaca (explore Plotcice National Park)
5/21: Zadar
5/22: Split
5/23: Hvar
5/24: Hvar (explore Brac)
5/25: Mostar, Bosnia
5/26: Dubrovnik
5/27: Dubrovnik (visit Kotar, Montenegeo)
5/28: Zagreb
5/29: Depart Zareb
Thank you very much.
Hi Frank
I am from australia and am going to have 3 days in dubrovnik before joining a group tour from Split tp Bled.
I would like your suggestions for 2 day tours..i”m thinking Montenegro and Mostar in a coach for budget reasons
what are your ideas
cheers andrew
this is very helpful & am very excited as I plan my 1st trip this summer. hvala (greetings from nyc)
Can you give me an idea what are the toll fees like on the large highways?
We are coming to Croatia June , we can hardly wait.
Thanks,
Mark
What a lovely, impressive sight! Can you tell me anything about festivals and markets that will take place in the fall? We will be traveling to Istria in late October, and wanted to know what source you use for finding local events. Thanks for your time and help!
Hi Frank
What would you recommend as a 10 days travel itinerary for Croatia in November?
Thanks
Cindy