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 on 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. Especially the islands 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 put on seasonal events too. Read our article about when to visit Croatia for more info.

It really depends on your desired travel pace and particular interests. That said, to keep to a comfortable pace, we advise against too many one-night stays. If it's your first trip to Croatia and you have just a week to spare, we suggest concentrating on the southern Dalmatia region. The historical city of Dubrovnik is truly a must-see. For a Croatia in 10 Days itinerary, adding the capital Zagreb or somewhere in Istria is possible. Within two weeks, you could see almost the whole country at a leisurely pace. You could potentially spend a couple of days in neighboring Slovenia too. Our travel advisors will work with you to craft the ideal customized Croatia tour for you. They'll help you decide on the best places to stay, the best things to do, and how much time to spend in each place. The most common answer to the question "what would you do differently" on our post-strip survey is "spend more time almost everywhere".

If you have just a week to see Croatia, you'll probably want to concentrate on the main highlights, which for many is the Dalmatia region. Start with three days in Dubrovnik, then head to Hvar island. We suggest Hvar town rather than Stari Grad. It's closer to day trip destinations like the Pakleni Islands or Vis. Finish your trip in Split, from where you'll have time to see Plitvice Lakes National Park, one of the most popular day trips from Split. Split's well-connected airport is convenient for a return flight. If you have the option to extend your vacation, we highly recommend it. A 10-day Croatia itinerary can allow for a more relaxed pace or more overnight destinations. We'll plan a custom itinerary to fit the amount of time you have.

Croatia's coastal and inland areas offer a lot of variety. Dubrovnik, for the pure wow factor, is a must for all Croatia first-timers. Of Croatia's numerous islands, Hvar has the best nightlife, while Korčula and Vis are quieter. For outdoor pursuits, Split is a great base. For a mix of rolling green wine hills and some coastal time, Rovinj on the Istrian peninsula ticks all the boxes. Our travel advisors can help you choose where to spend your time based on your interests.

Because of Croatia's geography - long and thin - we recommend buying an open-jaw (multi-city) flight, landing at one end of your itinerary and departing from the other. For example, land in Dubrovnik and depart from Split or Zagreb (depending on the destinations you're visiting). You'll save time doubling back on yourself and the additional cost is usually minimal.

Our customized Croatia tours include accommodation, transfers, walking tours, and activities and start at around $300 per person per day. A luxury Croatia vacation package, staying at the very best hotels and packed with activities, can cost upwards of $750 per person per day.

You can get a rough estimate of the total price based on any of the Croatia itineraries on our site by using the Price Guide function. Choose which class of hotel you prefer, the size of your party, and the month you wish to travel in. An estimated price will be generated for you.

To get a more accurate price, submit your details and after a brief phone consultation, our expert travel advisors and trip planners will create a custom Croatia trip plan for you. The accommodation options and excursions will be tailored to your budget and interests.

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 coastal waters are 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, Greeks, the Ottoman Turks, as well as Slavic neighbors in all directions. This has resulted in an impressive array of dishes that range from traditional to gourmet food, including 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 fresh 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. One of the best ways to savor Croatia's wines is to join top-rated wine tours your local expert in Croatia will handpick for you. 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 cafés are for drinking coffee, local wine, beer, or spirits. Some of them also offer an impressive range of ice cream. Espressos are inexpensive 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, a local spirit made with a wide variety of flavors, from anise to nuts. Heading inland, you will frequently be offered a šljivovica – a plum brandy – by your hosts.

Many older guidebooks refer to Croatia's affordability, but this no longer holds. Due to the country's growing popularity, and increasing standard of living, Croatia isn't the bargain it once was. Expect lodging and dining prices on a level with Italy for example, especially in popular coastal towns. Dubrovnik is particularly expensive. For more budget-friendly Balkan destinations in high season, we recommend Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Macedonia, and Montenegro.

With so much coastline, you'd be missing out if you didn't spend at least one day on the water. A boat ride of some kind is a must, whether it's a sailing day on a private yacht or a group day trip to see some nearby islands. Cooking classes provide a delicious and nourishing way to take a reminder of Croatia home with you: authentic recipes. For many visitors to Croatia, the chance to combine a walking tour of the Old Town of Dubrovnik with an exploration of some of the filming locations of Game of Thrones is hard to resist. Walking the city walls of Dubrovnik or taking the cable car will provide you with incredible views. Visitors to Istria can take part in a truffle hunt. Croatia's museums are concentrated in Zagreb. One, in particular, has achieved cult status; the Museum of Broken Relationships.

Absolutely. The idea is to enjoy the most perfect holidays after all! Because every itinerary we create is customized, not every day has to be packed with a full-day guided tour with a local guide. We can make sure you have plenty of time to explore on your own or spend the day relaxing on the beach if you wish.

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 offers 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.

There are 10 UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Croatia. They range from historical, like the Old City of Dubrovnik or Diocletian's Palace in Split, to natural wonders, such as the lakes of Plitvice National Park. Another 15 have been submitted for consideration and remain on UNESCO's tentative list.

On paper, there are some clear similarities between Split and Zadar. Both these coastal cities were formed in the Ancient Roman era and retain plenty of signs of their origins. Split is Croatia's second-largest city and a major ferry port, so it can be hard to avoid spending at least a few hours there on any trip to Croatia that includes a tour of the Dalmatian Coast and the islands. There's no doubt that the Old Town of Split, contained within the walls of a 16-century-old Roman emperor's palace is impressive, but vacationers looking for an off-the-beaten-path experience would do well to consider Zadar. The city walls might be Venetian, not Roman, but the marble-smooth streets of the Old Town are a pleasure to get lost in. They have a buzz that's more real than Split's thanks to the large university located in the city. As a bonus, you'll be treated to what Alfred Hitchcock described as the most beautiful sunset in the world.

On the surface, these two UNESCO-listed, waterfall-rich national parks might seem quite similar. Certainly, you might find it unnecessary to visit both on the same trip. Your decision might be made easier by proximity if you're staying in a city that's closer to one or the other. Plitvice Lakes National Park is by far the most visited of the two, and the most iconic, but visiting Krka can help you avoid some of the crowds.

If you're not just focusing on the sun-drenched coast, but want to get the full flavor of Croatian culture, Zagreb is worth spending a couple of nights in. Besides the atmospheric medieval Gornji Grad (Upper Town), Zagreb is home to all of Croatia's cultural institutions, such as the opera, philharmonic orchestra, and museums. Zagreb is a lively city year-round. Over 15% of Croatia's population live there, so not only does it boast an exceptional dining scene but it's also more affordable than the coast. Zagreb's central location in Northern Croatia makes for a great base for day trips to nearby towns.

You might have noticed from looking at aerial photos of the coastal towns of Dubrovnik and Split that there's not a lot of green space in these ancient walled cities. In Split, locals head up to Marjan Hill. The view of the Old City from there is spectacular. In Dubrovnik, many locals take the ferry to Lokrum Island, a haven of tranquility, and a nature reserve. It was also a filming location for Game of Thrones. Lokrum has several beaches to enjoy as well.

Croatia is a very laid-back country and there's no strict dress code in most places. As you will likely be doing a lot of walking on marble-smooth stone in the city center of Dubrovnik, Split, or Zadar and cobblestone streets in other Old Towns, sturdy and comfortable shoes are a must. Please refer to our blog post for advice on what to pack when traveling to Croatia.

Croatia's intercity bus and train system isn't always the best. However, the country has excellent, modern highways. We recommend private transfers or renting a car if traveling north of Split. The northern half of the country, including Istria, is perfect for a road trip. A self-drive Croatia vacation is a cost-effective way to cover a lot of ground. Driving in Croatia is generally very safe. Flights within the country are rarely worth the hassle and cost unless you need to backtrack from one end to the other quickly. Driving from Zagreb to Dubrovnik would take a full day. Intercity buses often take slower non-highway routes as they stop at intermediate towns.

We advise against trains, as much of the country (such as Dubrovnik) isn’t part of the rail network. Where they do exist, train stations are rarely central, and trains aren’t as reliable as travel by road. Croatia's islands are connected to the mainland by a ferry network. We include ferry tickets in every customized Croatia tour if you are visiting the islands. Dubrovnik is home to the country's only cable car, and while pricy, the views from the top of Mount Srd' are truly breathtaking.

A Croatia road trip can be a great way to explore the mainland, and we can incorporate a self-drive segment into your perfect Croatia itinerary. While many of Croatia’s highways are in good shape, a rental car is not of much use on the islands. Dubrovnik is a driver’s nightmare thanks to its narrow, winding roads, and large pedestrian-only areas. Parking near the centers of Split and Dubrovnik is expensive and in short supply.

Adriatic neighbors Croatia and Italy have a lot of shared history and make for a great combo trip, providing you allow enough time. We suggest a couple of weeks. You could take a route that includes Rome, Dubrovnik, Hvar, Split & Venice. With a little longer, you could extend your time in Croatia by including Rovinj in Istria and then taking the ferry to Venice. By starting and finishing in Italy, you'll have cheaper transatlantic flights than if you started in Italy and returned from Croatia.

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.

Croatia is surrounded by the other countries of former Yugoslavia, so an itinerary that takes in some of Croatia and the wider Balkans area is a possibility if you have at least two weeks. The most common pairing is Croatia and Slovenia. Combining Croatia with countries in Central Europe like Austria, the Czech Republic, or Hungary is another option.

We don't offer group tours of Croatia, only Croatia private tours. Croatia has so much to see and do that we find most group tour itineraries don't give you the diversity of experiences available with custom tours. If you prefer shared day trips led by a tour guide or activities in small groups, whether for socializing reasons or to save money, we can always include that in your customized Croatia tour.

From 1st January 2023, Croatia switched to the Euro, ending a nearly 10-year period during which Croatia was in the EU but retained its currency, the Kuna.

Yes, Croatia joined the Schengen Area in January 2023, meaning that crossing the border with Hungary or Slovenia will no longer require a border check, so you just drive on through!