Top vacation destinations in Croatia

July and August are Croatia's warmest months and roughly correspond to the high 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 of the vacation season, especially between July 15 and August 15. You can expect crowds on the most popular beaches and in the coastal towns, although sites of a more cultural nature won't be as busy as you might expect. Croatia's shoulder seasons 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. Read our article about when to visit Croatia for more info.

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 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. Read about the Best Beaches in Croatia.

Croatia's food and wine traditions are a mix of influences from the Italians, Hungarians, and Greeks, as well as Slavic neighbors in all directions. 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 rostilj (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 vegans and those with other restrictions, such as gluten intolerance. Choose from delicious fresh salads to tasty vegetable dishes. There are now a number of vegetarian and vegan restaurants to be found in any Croatian city, and gluten-free dishes. If you have any dietary restrictions at all, let your local representative know. They will make specific recommendations in the places you will visit.

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 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.

Although Croatia has a 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 expect.

There's no right or wrong answer overall to whether you should stay in Split or Trogir. 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. Both are UNESCO-listed old walled towns. Read more about the pros and cons of each here. Whichever you choose you're bound to have a wonderful time!

Although Croatia joined the European Union in July 2013, it is not a member of the Eurozone. It has retained its own currency, the Kuna, and is officially expected to do so until 2025. While you may find some businesses accept Euros, the rate is unlikely to be favorable. You can exchange foreign currency at banks, exchange offices, post offices, travel agencies, hotels and marinas. You may however get a better rate using an ATM, as long as you decline its offer to convert the charge to your own currency, and avoid the yellow-and-blue Euronet machines.

Credit cards are widely accepted, but don't expect to be able to use them everywhere. Visa, Mastercard and Diners are 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, so we recommend keeping some Kuna on hand.

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. Your passport should be valid for at least six months AFTER your date of departure 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 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.