Croatia Tourism > Travel Guide, Places to visit, Tours and Packages

"The Colourful Coastal Country"

Croatia Tourism

Located in Eastern Europe, Croatia is a coastal country that is not only beautiful to look at but also offers a variety of things to do for tourists. There is history interspersed with architecture, great opportunities for swimming, Balkan wine, some of the best seafood and more. The most regularly visited cities here are Dubrovnik and Zagreb, its capital. It also encompasses several islands that are breathtakingly beautiful. In a nutshell, this country offers pretty much everything under the sun for a great vacation.

Tourist Places to Visit In Croatia

Dubrovnik

Zagreb

Zadar

Pula

Hvar Island

All Tourist Places In Croatia

Best time to visit Croatia

April-May; September is the best time to visit Croatia

The best time to visit Croatia is from June-August or September – October. Croatia has a mild climate throughout the year. The country is divided into two regions, inland and coastal. Historic centres in the coastal area, namely, Split, Dubrovnik and Zadar are great for sightseeing during mild winters. During the peak season, coastal Croatia is hot and ideal for sunbathing and swimming. September and October, on the contrary, are less crowded and the weather is pleasant too. From October till March, the coastal region is significantly quiet with a host of excellent accommodation options and hotels closed for tourists. Inland Croatia consists of places like Zagreb, Plitvice and Motovun, and these are better not experienced during the winter months.
The best time to visit inland Croatia, which is often termed as the most beautiful part of the country, is during autumn. During this time, the travellers can enjoy new wines and enjoy the picturesque natural beauty at the fullest. December is, however, the rainiest month in Croatia and hence, should be avoided by the tourists.

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Holidify's Opinion

What's Great?

Good food. Offbeat. Beautiful views and horizons. Clean.

What's Not So Great?

Slightly expensive. Traffic on streets in cities.

For Whom?

Nature lovers. Solo travellers. Family groups. Newlyweds.

Currency of Croatia

The official currency of Croatia is the Croatian Kuna or HRK. Frequently used bank notes are HRK 5, HRK 10, HRK 20, HRK 50, HRK 100, HRK 200, HRK 500 and HRK 1,000. In terms of foreign currency, some people may accept Euros, but that is not the legal tender in Croatia.

Exchanging Money in Croatia

Croatia has a number of ATMs that you can access. European credit cards, bank cards and debit cards are widely accepted. These include Diners Club, MasterCard, Eurocard, Visa, Cirrus, Maestro, Visa electron, etc. Banks can also help you exchange currency.

Nightlife in Croatia

Croatia is not one of the European countries you would travel to for partying. That said, it does have a pretty active nightlife. Drinks such as beer are fairly cheap, the latest cocktails are whipped up for patrons, the DJs are excellent, and the energy is truly infectious. The music played at clubs and pubs ranges from rock to jazz to electronic. Apart from the regular pubs, there are also rave parties, rock clubs and discos to dance the night away. Zagreb, Zadar, Split and Rijeka are the cities that have the best nightlife, especially during the winter. During the summer, the nightlife of islands Pag and Hvar is better.

Shopping in Croatia

When in Croatia, you must shop from Zagreb. The country's capital promises flea markets, collector's markets, little stores as well as shopping malls for you to indulge your every whim and fancy. Boutiques here sell home appliances, accessories made by local designers, clothes and more. The little stores lined along streets sell CDs, old books and old records too. For souvenirs, you could always pick up a bottle of the best Croatian wine, some olive oil or truffle-based sauces.

Festivals of Croatia

Some major festivals of Croatia are Music Biennale Zagreb, Eurokaz Festival, Hartera Festival, International Folklore Festival and Dance Week Festival.

History of Croatia

In the 7th century, Croatia was a duchy. It became a kingdom only in the 10th century. From the 12th century, it became a state by itself, equipped with a parliament and a ruler. However, it used to listen to the commands of royalty - the kings and emperors of Hungary and Austria. Between the 15th and the 17th century, there were a lot of fights and struggles with the Ottomans. For most of the 20th century, Croatia was a part of Yugoslavia. It was only in 1991 that the country regained its independence.

Hygiene in Croatia

If you plan to go hiking in continental Croatia in the summer season, you will do well to note that there will be ticks and tick-carrying diseases around at that time. Tap water is one hundred percent safe and completely potable.

Customs of Croatia

Treat everyone with respect here, as it is something they value the most. Always be polite and say thank you when required. Table manners are given a lot of importance here, so remember to hold your cutlery the right way. Tipping is expected here.

Tips for visiting Croatia

Carry mosquito sprays and/or insect repellents with you. Use only the marked roads for travel; do not stray away from those. Carry and use tons of sunscreen.

Culture of Croatia

Croatia sees a combination of many different cultures. The family forms the base of their cultural and social lives.

Christianity is the most widely followed religion of Croatia.There are several others who are Roman Catholics as well.

Croatian is the official language of Croatia. Other languages that they speak are Standard Bosnian, Standard Serbian, etc. Some people speak English, German and/or Russian.

Food of Croatia

The food of Croatia is very diverse. Different areas have different specialities. The coastal region, for example, is well-known for its truffle-based dishes and soups. Fried fish is also very popularly consumed in the coastal areas. In the mountainous and hilly regions, mushrooms, berries and wild meat are used in a lot of the preparations. The white truffles of Istria are very well-known, as is goulash. Pasta is also eaten on a large scale and is available everywhere. Olive oil, herbs and spices such as garlic, rosemary, pepper, etc. are what typically characterise Croatian cuisine. Wine is consumed widely in Croatia, apart from beer.

Regions in Croatia

There are five regions in all, in Croatia. They are Istria in the north-west, Kvarner which is the seashore, Dalmatia which comprises of the mainland and some islands, Slavonia which includes some fields and forest areas and Central Croatia, home to the country's capital - Zagreb.