Essential Tips for Your First Visit to Croatia

When to go: Most people visit Croatia during the summer months, June - September. We went the end of August and first part of September. We thought it was perfect. The crowds were not as bad. We could still dip our feet into the Adriatic, and actually swim! Croatia has one of the most beautiful coast lines in the world. If you are going to Croatian between November to May you may want to focus your tour on the Mainland, May can be very beautiful with flowers. October you will still have the warmth of Dubrovnik, but Zagreb may be getting chillier. Fall is a wonderful time to visit the hill towns of Istria. You can enjoy truffle hunting and wines that have just been released.

Croatia currency is the euro as of January 2023. Previously it was the Kuna.

Cash is King. Many businesses will not take credit cards and prefer appropriate sized bills.

Tipping is not expected as in the US. But is greatly appreciated, plan on either rounding up or tipping 10 - 15%

Passport is required, but a visa is not. Croatia is a part of the Schengen Zone.

Croatia is one of the safest countries we have ever visited. There is virtually no crime or violence in the major cities.

Croatian people are very welcoming. They are warm and genuinely friendly. Croatians are very proud of their country and will tell you about their history and culture.

Electric Adapter. Croatia uses the standard European plug with two round pins, type C. Croatia operates on 230v AC Electricity

Water is safe to drink in all of Croatia.

Rent a car   Without a Train system, the only public transit options are the ferry and bus system. While these are both great options, there are many places it is easier to get to with a car. Driving is very easy in Croatia. You drive in the right side of the road and roads are in good condition. Be aware you cannot drive in the old towns. Parking can be a hassle. We drove all over Croatia and never had a problem. This allowed us to stop at our own pace and see places that are difficult to get to with public transit.

If your primary focus is the Dalmatian coast and you plan to ferry to the islands, you do not need a car. We did this portion of Croatia via Ferries. Once we left Split we rented a car. You can drive with your own license and passport.

Don’t talk on a Cell phone while driving. It is illegal in Croatia and strictly enforced.

Ferries. During the summer months traveling by ferry along the croatian coast is quite easy. From October to May there are limited ferry schedules. The main Croatian ferry companies are TP-Line, Kapetan Luka - Krilo and Jadrolinija. Check ferry schedules at ferryhopper.

Croatia does not have a good train system. In fact, most of Croatia does not have any rail system.

Croatias bus network (buscroatia) is pretty reliable and cheap. Purchase your ticket a couple days ahead if you are traveling during the summer months.

Croatian beaches are probably some of the cleanest. But, they are also the rockiest. Do not expect to find many sandy beaches.

Croatia is not cheap. It is not as expensive as Greece or Italy but it is more expensive than most people realize. The highest prices are in Dalmatian area, Dubrovnik and Split. Expect to pay at least double in these areas.

Croatia is crowded in the touristy areas. Especially in summer. Dubrovnik, Cruise ships come here. Piltvice Lakes can be very crowded, GO EARLY at 07:00 when it opens. We arrived at Plitvice Lakes at 7 am and were done by 11 am just when the crowds were arriving.

Croatian Language. While most Croatians in the tourist area speak English, Croatian is the native language. It is a Slavic language very similar to Serbian and Bosnian. Hrvatska is how Croatia is said in Croatian.

Learn a few croatian words or phrases. Hello - Dobar Dan (pronounced Don), Thank you - Hvala (pronounced falla), Please - Molim (pronounced with a long “O” and I with a long “E” sound.) Beer - Pivo, Bathroom - Kupaonica, How much? - Koliko Kosta