Your travel guide to Croatia

Croatia can be visited all year round. The best time to enjoy a holiday with pleasant temperatures and make the most of outdoor activities is from mid-May to the end of September. The climate is Mediterranean on the Adriatic coast and continental inland.

Croatia is a safe country with a moderate level of crime. Beware, however, of cultural differences and sensitive subjects such as religion, sexual orientation, the Yugoslav wars, football… There are also certain regions that may contain mines from the last conflict. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs recommends extra vigilance in high-risk areas.

Croatia is not very far from the rest of Europe, prices are low and the landscape is varied. The tourist offer is high quality and Croatia offers a pleasant blend of East and West.

Fortresses and castles, picturesque old towns, centuries-old churches and cathedrals, ramparts, Roman buildings, monasteries, villages and ports… Croatia’s architectural and cultural heritage is based on 5,000 years of history.

National parks, a thousand years of lavender and olive growing, waterfalls, beaches, coves, caves: whether in the hinterland or on the Adriatic coast, Croatian nature can be enjoyed in all seasons.

Croatian beaches are often small, concrete-covered with steps and railings to access the water, and your feet tread on pebbles or gravel. Long sandy beaches are an exception in Croatia.

It all depends on what you’re looking for, but we’ve come up with some top picks:

The Croatian islands: Hvar, Vis, the Kornati, Bol, Rab, Cres, Mljet, Korcula
A national park: Plitvice or Krka
A major city: Dubrovnik, Zagreb or Split
With a number of UNESCO World Heritage sites, the beauty of Croatia will delight even the most demanding visitors.

Influenced by the East, Central Europe and the West, Croatian wine and Balkan cuisine tantalise the taste buds: truffles, seafood and fresh fish, as well as cured meats and fruit ripened in the warm climate of the Adriatic.

In a fortnight, we recommend limiting yourself to 3 islands. Moving from island to island is easy, but time-consuming. If you can limit ferry transfers and take the opportunity to see some really different islands, that’s ideal.

English is well spoken among the younger generation. Older people are at ease with Italian and German. The languages spoken depend above all on the regions and the different historical dominations.

Croatia is part of Europe and has been able to pay in euros since January 2023. Previously, it was possible to pay in the national currency (kuna) and in euros. The euro is now the official currency.

It is possible to enjoy a destination close to an airport for 2-3 days, but most holidaymakers come to Croatia for at least a week. For a week, it’s best to travel around your base. For more than a week, it’s worth planning an itinerary with different types of accommodation.

Homestay is the most common option: renting a villa, renting a room, renting a house or flat, etc. Hotels and all-inclusive tourist complexes are gaining ground every year, even though they are much more expensive. Motorhome enthusiasts are well catered for. Finally, campsites and youth hostels complete the range of accommodation on offer in Croatia.

Most holidaymakers choose a destination close to the Adriatic coast or Zagreb. The rest of the country is much less touristy, but has a natural and historical heritage that is well worth a visit.

It’s all a matter of taste. Inland, wild nature, castles and the capital are the main activities. By the sea, seaside activities are omnipresent and represent the majority of the tourist offer. The major national parks are spread throughout the country, and museums are to be found mainly in Zagreb and the major coastal towns.

The most practical way is by car. You can also take advantage of the rail network and bus routes, which are inexpensive and well thought-out.

The range of accommodation on offer has undergone a real qualitative leap over the last ten years or so, and has little to envy from what you find in other tourist destinations.

For a summer holiday by the sea, pack as you would for a holiday in the South of Europe (French, Spain, Italy). Be sure to pack a mask and snorkel, as well as beach shoes to protect your feet from rocks and sea urchins. A windbreaker is also useful for windy days.

Croatia is part of the European Union and the Schengen area. To enter Croatia and travel around the country, you need an identity card or passport.

Except for special health reasons, no vaccinations are necessary to travel to Croatia.

The cost of living is lower in Croatia than in most europeans countries. This is always true compared to other capitals of Europe and particularly true once you leave the Adriatic coast. Zagreb is one of Europe’s least expensive capitals.

Flying is the quickest and most time-saving way to get to Croatia, especially if the final destination is an island. The car remains a popular means of transport, especially for holidaymakers who want to visit several destinations during their stay in Croatia.

Otherwise, bus, train and boat (ferry from Italy) complete the transport options.

Croatia has a good motorway network. Apart from the motorways, you soon find yourself on small roads. Because of the country’s geography, there are a lot of bends and gradients. What looks quick on a map can quickly take a long time, especially if it’s high tourist season. The average speed on the secondary network is 50km/h.

Croatian sockets are type F.

Traffic laws are very similar to that of other European countries, but driving is on the right.