Croatia Vacation Packages & Private Tours

July and August are Croatia's warmest months and roughly correspond to the peak season. This is when the majority of Europeans take their summer vacations. The sea temperature reaches a pleasant 27° C (81° F) and air temperature can be over 30° C ( 86° F). This is the peak season, especially between July 15 and August 15. You can expect crowds on the most popular beaches, in the coastal towns, and the more northerly islands, although sites of a more cultural nature won't be as busy as you might expect. Croatia's shoulder seasons, either side of the main summer months, are an excellent time to visit. June and September are ideal if you prefer weather that isn't as hot, and fewer crowds. The water is still warm and you will get plenty of sunshine. Swimming and sunbathing are also possible in May or October. This is especially true if you come from northern places and are not afraid of colder water. Depending on the weather, even April is sometimes nice and warm enough for the beach, though there's no guarantee that early in the year.

Outside of these months (November to March) is very much the off-season. Many tourist-centric businesses shut down either for their own vacations or to make renovations and improvements. The islands especially seem to go into hibernation, and ferry connections are fewer. The major exception to this rule is the festive season. The buzzing capital Zagreb doesn't have an off-season, and has won awards for its Christmas markets. Split and Dubrovnik also put on seasonal events too. Read our article about when to visit Croatia for more info.

Beach lovers, particularly those fond of vast stretches of golden sand, should prepare for some culture shock. Most of Croatia's beaches are pebble beaches or made up of small stones. There are very few sandy beaches in Croatia, but that's not to say there aren't beautiful beaches. The main reason why Croatia's coast is so crystal clear is the lack of sand. We recommend bringing flip-flops or sandals for the beach. If you're spending a lot of time in the water we recommend neoprene beach shoes as there can be sharp rocks on the seabed. Croatia's beaches are all accessible to the public, by law, so you won't find private beaches anywhere, but you will find loungers for rent at popular beaches. A boat trip, or taking a taxi boat, is a great way to reach isolated and deserted beaches. Read about the Best Beaches in Croatia.

Croatia's food and wine traditions are a mix of influences from the Italians, Hungarians, and Greeks, the Ottoman Turks, as well as Slavic neighbors in all directions. This has resulted in an impressive range of fresh fish, seafood, grilled meats, and vegetables. Istria is famous for its truffles and truffle dishes are affordable here and highly recommended. The Adriatic Coast is a real paradise for seafood and fish lovers. You will find a large number of meat dishes and rostilj (barbecue). Save room for dessert! Croatian sweets are delicious and different in every region.

Croatia has a wide range of drinking choices. Beer is sold everywhere. Domestic brands like Karlovacko and Ozujsko are usually on draft in most places. The wine selection is expansive and almost exclusively local. The most common indigenous grape variety for reds is Plavac Mali, a relative of Zinfandel. For whites, Grasevina is the most planted varietal. Croatians like to drink wine with their meals, sometimes watering it down with still or sparkling water. This is called a "gemišt" inland, or "bevanda" on the coast. Fresh fruit juices and soft drinks are also available.

Coffee is popular and always a welcome reason to take a break. Croatia and her neighbors all have lively cafe scenes. The cafes are for drinking coffee, local wine, beer or spirits. Some of them also offer a wonderful range of ice cream. Espressos start at 7 kuna in Croatia and multiple daily coffee breaks are not unusual.

After dinner, you will often be offered a shot of a colorless distillate called "rakija". Made with a wide variety of flavors, from anise to nuts. Head inland you will frequently be offered a "šljivovica" – a plum brandy – by your hosts.

Although there is a huge number of Croatian islands, not all of them are inhabited. Many do not have an established tourism infrastructure or are not well connected with the mainland, or each other. Some simply lack significant points of interest. We have chosen to concentrate on five Dalmatian islands as overnight destinations. We feel each offer something different and representative. You can visit many other islands from each of these as day trips. Focusing on these islands allows us to maintain strong relationships with our accommodation and activity partners. This enables us to ensure the quality of service our guests expect. Our travel advisors will help you choose the ideal island for your Croatia vacation.

Anything is possible but unless you’ve got at least a week to dedicate to each or better still three weeks, it doesn’t make sense. Croatia and Greece might look close on a map but that can be deceptive. There are two countries (Albania and Montenegro) and no highways or train routes between them. There are also very few flight connections. - Greeks don’t go to Croatia much and vice versa. The only direct flights year-round are Athens - Zagreb and in the season Athens - Dubrovnik. These direct flights are priced quite high as there is no competition. There are no direct flights from the Greek islands to Croatia and no ferries.