Croatia Vacation & Tour Packages

July and August are the warmest months in Croatia. The sea temperature reaches up to a very comfortable 28° C (83° F) and air temperature exceeds well over 35° C ( 95° F). This is the peak of the holiday season, especially between July 15 and Aug 15. You can expect crowds on the most popular beaches and in the coastal towns. June and September are ideal if you prefer the weather not so hot and less 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 Europe or Canada 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.

Read our article about when to visit Croatia for more info.

Although Croatia joined the European Union in July 2013, it is not a member of the Euro. So far it has retained its own currency, the Kuna. The target date for transition to the Euro is not until 2025. While you may find some businesses accept Euros, the rate is unlikely to be favorable. You can exchange foreign currency banks, exchange offices, post offices, travel agencies, hotels, camps and marinas. You may however get a better rate using an ATM.

ATMs are readily available in all resorts, towns and cities in Croatia. Type of cards most commonly accepted: MasterCard, Visa, Diners cards.

Credit cards are widely accepted but don't expect to be able to use them everywhere. Visa, Mastercard and Diners accepted the most frequently accepted.  American Express is accepted less frequently. You can pay by credit (or debit) card in hotels, stores, restaurants, gas stations. Cards are often not accepted in small family inns, fast food joints, small tourist offices and stores. For this reason it is useful to travel with a small amount of spending money in Croatian Kuna.

According to Croatian law all guests need to be registered with the Croatian Tourist board and hence the need to take the details of your travel documents.

You will need your passport but visitors holding passports from Western European countries, Canada, the USA, Australia and New Zealand do not require a visa. For any other countries, we recommend checking the visa requirements page on the Croatian Ministry of Foreign Affairs website. Since 22 July 2014 Croatia now accepts a valid Schengen Area visa under the same conditions as any Schengen country.

If you travel by car or bus from Split to Dubrovnik you will pass through the "Neum corridor". This is a 22km strip of Bosnian territory along the Adriatic coast. This may sound like a cause of concern for travelers who would normally require visas to enter Bosnia but if you are entering the Neum corridor in order to transit without stopping you are not subject to the usual Bosnian entry requirements. When entering and exiting this zone you will need to show your travel documents (ID card, passport, or Croatian visa if relevant). NOTE Citizens of EU countries, US, Canada, Australia and New Zealand have a 90 day exemption from Bosnia visa requirements.

Travelers taking the coastal ferry from Split to Dubrovnik do not pass through Bosnian territory and are not affected by the Neum corridor.

Croatian cuisine shows the influences of Italians, Hungarians and Greeks. This has resulted in an impressive range of 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 rostilji (Balkan barbecue).

Save room for dessert! Croatian sweets are delicious and different in every region.

Although Croatian cuisine abounds with meat and seafood there's plenty of choice for vegetarians. From delicious fresh salads to tasty vegetable dishes. There are now a few vegetarian and vegan restaurants to be found in Croatia, a marked improvement on the early 2000s. If you have any dietary restrictions at all, let your tour manager know and they will make specific recommendations.

Pharmacies are modern and well stocked. Drugstores (or the stores that look like them) don't sell any over-the-counter medicines though. You can visit local doctors or hospitals. Fees apply and we recommend you have comprehensive travel insurance.

Croatia has a wide range of drinking choices. Beer is sold everywhere. Domestic brands like Karlovac and Ozujsko are usually on draft 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". 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 icecream. 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.

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 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.

Most of Croatia's beaches are pebble beaches or made up of small stones. There are very few sandy beaches in Croatia. The main reason why the Adriatic sea in Croatia 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 sea bed. Read about the Best Beaches in Croatia.

There's no right or wrong answer overall here. Trogir is a quieter and smaller town, Split is more lively and cosmopolitan, with some higher end hotel options, so it really depends on your preference. Read more about the pros and cons of each here. Whichever you choose you're bound to have a wonderful time!

Although Croatia has huge number of 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 four 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. By focusing on these islands we are able to maintain strong relationships with our accommodation and activity partners. This enables us to ensure the quality of service our guests experience.