Everything you need to Know About a Vacation in Croatia

Everything you need to Know About a Vacation in Croatia.

Vacation in Croatia –  In Croatia, your vacation will be thrilling, exciting, and fun-filled. Croatia is a beautiful country that sits on the edge of the Adriatic Sea just to the east of Italy. It has a stunningly dramatic coastline that is blessed with a Mediterranean climate, historic cities and towns, and welcoming hospitality that makes it a pleasure to visit.

The beaches have more rocks than sand, but the traditional culture and deep-rooted history are really why you visit Croatia. If you’re looking to lounge away your days on a white sand beach, then Croatia is not the best destination.

The beaches are more likely to have pebbles, and much of the coastline is rocky.

Instead, if you’re looking to step back in time to a place with old-world traditions, quaint alleyways, and children playing soccer in the street, then this is the place for you.

In Croatia, you will find beautiful scenery, lovely cities, and quaint old towns that are often built out of stone and are surrounded by an ancient wall.

You can get wonderfully lost wandering through the streets that haphazardly crisscross each other. The history in Croatia is apparent in almost every town. The old churches still dot the skylines and the people cling to old traditions. Food in Croatia is also delicious.

The cuisine is heavily influenced by the Mediterranean region, most notably that of Italy, but it makes more frequent use of seafood, particularly in cities along the coastline. To truly experience the country you should try to stay with a local. Many residents wait at bus or train stations to offer you rooms for rent in their homes.

This is usually a great option as the rooms are comfortable and well priced. This is a popular way to rent a room in the more touristy cities like Dubrovnik or Split. If you can find a place to stay in the old town, then you should take advantage of the opportunity.

Many of the newer and more modern hotels are located well outside of the city’s town center and you’ll likely have to rely on public transportation more often.

Highlights of Croatia

• If you’re traveling to Croatia from elsewhere in Europe, you’ll find some great discount flight options into cities like Dubrovnik. Check regional airlines to make sure you’re getting the best deal. If you’re traveling from a nearby country and are coming by land, then there’s a great bus network that will take you to almost any city within the country. This is easily the cheapest way to travel and is generally smooth and reliable.
• If you’re hoping to do a little island hopping while you’re in the area, then ferries are usually the cheapest and most convenient way to get around. They can move a little slow at times, but they offer excellent views of the coastline and can make for an enjoyable trip. Jadrolinija is the largest ferry company with the greatest number of connections, but there are also international routes that are available through Blue Line International.
• Internet access is widely available throughout the country. In larger cities, there are plenty of internet cafes that offer cheap access to high-speed internet. Many hotels also offer wireless internet access to their guests, sometimes for an additional fee. Inquire before you make a reservation or at the time of check-in if this is something you’re interested in.
• Many people choose to spend all of their time in Croatia along the coast. It’s easy to see why many people are drawn to these areas, but if you’re hoping to experience more of the country then head inland to see some of the more diverse natural beauty that the country has to offer. Towns and cities that are not on the coast are often cheaper as well, so you’ll find you can stretch your money a little farther if you decide to diversify.
• Many people do a highlights tour of the country and visit little more than Dubrovnik and Split. If time allows, try to explore some of the less popular areas so you can get a true feel for what the country has to offer.

Language of Croatia

As expected, Croatian is the most popular language in the country, and 95% of the population are Croatian native speakers. Before Croatia adopted Croatian as its official language in the 19th century, Latin was the official language.

A form of Serbo-Croatian language, which is a blend of Serbian and Croatian, was used in Croatia between 1945 and 1991. Croatian consists of three dialects, namely Shtokavian, Kajkavian, and Chakavian. The language uses the Latin alphabet.

Climate of Croatia

July is the hottest month in Dubrovnik with an average temperature of 77°F (25°C) and the coldest is January at 48°F (9°C) with the most daily sunshine hours at 13 in August. The wettest month is November with an average of 198mm of rain.

Popular Foods in Croatia

Croatian cuisine is very diverse and regionally based. In the eastern parts of the country, you will find a good amount of sausage and stew, while along the coast you’ll find much more seafood in the diet.

Central Croatia is known for its cheese pasta which is filling and delicious as well. Each region has it’s own local specialties, so as you’re traveling around, try to find restaurants that are known for specific local dishes.

• Cobanac: This is a type of shepherd’s stew that is a mixture of several different kinds of meat with red spicy paprika. It is popular in the eastern parts of the country where the cuisine is hearty and meat-based.
• Strukli: This local specialty is a unique traditional pasta that is filled with cheese. It’s one of the more popular dishes in Central Croatia, where pasta is a common food option.
• Purica s mlincima: This is a typical Croatian dish made from baked turkey with pastry. It’s a hearty meal that is prepared for special occasions and holidays.

Transportation Cost in Croatia

The cost of traveling between cities can vary depending upon the length of the journey, but it is safe to assume to spend about €10 – 15 per journey. If you have luggage that needs to go in the hold, be aware that there is usually a charge to do this — normally €1 – 2 paid directly to the driver.

It can sometimes be cheaper to book your bus tickets online in advance, but this varies depending on the city and region. If you’re curious, a quick Google search can answer most questions.

Food Cost in Croatia

If you follow this advice, it is likely that the cost of a meal in Croatia won’t be more than €10 – 15 per person. If you want to cut costs, even more, try to stay at a place that has access to a kitchen and cook yourself your own meals and only occasionally go out to eat.

Accommodation Cost in Croatia

Another fantastic option if you want to save money while traveling in Croatia without forgoing privacy is to get a private room through Airbnb. Again, prices in Croatia vary depending on which city you are visiting, however, you can expect to pay roughly €30 – 40 per night, which can save you a lot of money, particularly if you’re splitting the costs between two people.

Activity Cost in Croatia

If you want to go on a day tour or boat trip somewhere, as is popular in Croatia, these aren’t always cheap experiences. If you’re keen to go on a full or half-day cruise for some swimming and snorkeling, expect to pay roughly €25 – 40 per person for this.

Often the full-day cruises do include lunch which is an added bonus. Day tours to places like Krka National Park from Split cost roughly the same amount.

Top Tourist Centers in Croatia

Here are top beautiful places for you to tour round in Croatia:

1. Pula Arena

The amphitheater in Pula is the sixth largest surviving Roman arena and one of the best-preserved Roman monuments in Croatia. The Pula Arena was built around the 1st century AD and could seat over 26,000 spectators.

In the 15th century, many stones were taken from the amphitheater to build houses and other structures around Pula, but fortunately, this practice was stopped before the whole structure was destroyed. Today it is a popular Croatia attraction and used to host a variety of festivals and performances during the summer months.

2. Mljet

The island of Mljet is one of the larger islands off the coast of Southern Croatia. With 72% of the island covered by forests and the rest dotted by fields, vineyards, and small villages, Mljet is a perfect place to relax.

The island contains two salt lakes, Veliko and Malo Jezero, which are located at the western end of the island. In the middle of Veliko Jezero, there is a small island with an old Benedictine monastery.

3. Plitvice Lakes

The Plitvice Lakes are considered to be one of the most beautiful natural destinations in Europe. Due to its natural beauty and significance, this system of 16 interlinked lakes and a large forest complex around it were set aside as a national park in 1949.

The beautiful Plitvice Lakes are famous for their unique colors, including azure, green, blue, and gray. The area around the lakes is home to an extremely wide variety of animal and bird species.

Rare fauna such as the European brown bear, wolf, eagle, owl, and lynx can be found here, along with many more common species.

4. Gornji Grad

Gornji Grad is the medieval core of Zagreb and translates as Upper Town. It developed as two separate towns, Kaptol, the seat of the Bishop, and Gradec, the free town where tradesmen and artisans lived.

The towns merged in the 1770s to form the northern section of historic Zagreb. The focal point of Gornji Grad is the square around St. Mark’s Church, the parish church of Old Zagreb.

5. Euphrasian Basilica

The 6th century Euphrasian Basilica is the top attraction of Poreč, a 2,000-year-old town in Istria. It is one of the best examples of early Byzantine architecture in the Mediterranean region and, for the most part, has retained its original shape, though accidents, fires, and earthquakes have altered a few details.

The present basilica was built on the site of an older basilica during the period of Bishop Euphrasius. The wall mosaics were executed by Byzantian masters and the floor mosaics by local experts.

CSN Team.