Croatia Holidays

Croatian culture

Croatia’s territory has changed hands over the years, so the country’s a big mix of different cultures…

• Dubrovnik Old Town – This Medieval town is a whole UNESCO site – walk along the ancient city walls and soak up the sights like the Stradun, the Rector’s Palace and Cathedral of the Assumption.

• Zagreb – Croatia’s capital city combines age-old history with urban culture. Go see the historic Upper Town and St. Mark’s Church, pick up some street food in Dolac Market, then visit the quirky Museum of Broken Relationships.

• The Istrian Riviera – The north has a strong Italian feel, with Venetian palaces and Roman ruins in Rovinj and Pula. The country’s even left a mark on the food scene, too, with pizza, pasta and risotto on most menus – with a Croatian spin.

• Diocletian’s Palace – Built by the Roman Emperor Diocletian, these ancient ruins are still standing strong. Stroll through the open-air halls and take a closer look at the grand stone columns – or go at night to see it all lit up.

Beaches

Sweeps here all come in a similar style – they’re a mix of sand and pebble, with some of the clearest water in the world.

• Banje Beach – The closest beach to the city, Banje Beach’s got great views of the Dubrovnik Old Town and Lokrum Island from here. Swing by in the evening when it becomes a lively beach bar.

• Bacvice Beach – A short stroll from the city, this one’s a prime spot if you’re after sand. The water in the bay’s shallow and gentle, so it’s a firm favourite with families.

• Zlatni Rat Beach – Zlatni Rat in Bol is known as the most famous beach in Croatia, thanks to its unique shape and Caribbean-worthy water. It backs onto thick forest, and you can only get there by boat.

• Baska Voda Beach – This beautiful beach is a 10-minute drive from Makarska, and it’s worth the trip. The bay is brilliantly clear, but the mountain backdrop is even more impressive.

• Punta Rata Beach – Another mountain-backed beauty, this rugged bay in Brela is very popular. So, head here in the mornings to swerve the crowds and the boats that stop for snorkelling.

National parks

The country’s coast draws the most attention, but Croatia’s wild side is another reason why it’s worth a visit.

• Krka National Park – Krka is famous for its waterfalls, especially Skradinski Buk. You can swim in some of the park’s natural pools, making it a perfect spot for a refreshing dip.

• Plitvice Lakes National Park – Set off through this UNESCO World Heritage Site, known for its lush forests and iconic waterfalls that flow into a bright blue lake.

• Mljet National Park – In the Dubrovnik archipelago, this park’s home to forests, two unique saltwater lakes, cliffs, coves and tiny islands. In the centre of one of the lakes is a small island with a former monastery that’s now a quaint restaurant.

Island-hopping

Whether you catch a public ferry from the mainland or hire your own skipper for the day, here are some of Croatia’s must-visit islands.

• Hvar Island – On the Dalmatian Coast, Hvar’s got great combination of historic sites and fun bar culture. The island’s covered with vineyards, so you can enjoy a couple of tastings without having to worry about a drive back.

• Brac Island – An hour from Split by ferry, this island’s got a sleepier feel. Supetar is a small fishing village, and on the other side you’ve got Bol and the famous sands of Zlatni Rat, also known as Golden Horn Beach.

• Mljet Island – Mljet is the greenest of all the islands. Off the Dalmatian Coast, it’s covered on one side by the national park. Odysseus Cave on the south side is a must-visit spot.

• Lopud Island – Lopud’s very peaceful. It’s known as one of the loveliest islands thanks to its seafront prom, car-free streets and sandy beaches.

Festivals

Get involved in the highlights of the Croatian calendar with these festivals that are happening across the year.

• Dubrovnik Summer Festival, July/August – This usually takes place between July and August. Expect live music, performances, traditional dancing and fireworks in some of the city’s most iconic sites.

• Split Summer Festival, July-August – During July and August, you can catch evening performances of opera, ballet and classical concerts across Split.

• Zadar Sunset Festival, July – This city’s got one of the best sunset viewing points in Croatia, and they’ve got a whole festival dedicated to it every July. Expect boat parties, beach sessions and loads of lively events.

• Christmas markets, December – If you’re here in December, Split, Dubrovnik and Zagreb all have their own markets to celebrate the festive season. Dubrovnik is magical and Medieval, but the capital has the biggest one.

Experiences

Make the most of your trip with Sundeals Experiences and get even more memories out of your holiday to Croatia.

• Game of Thrones-style cruise – Set sail on a two-hour cruise around ‘King’s Landing’ (Dubrovnik) before getting a closer look with a walking tour around the city.

• Montenegro daytrip – Cross the border for a full-daytrip around Montenegro. You’ll stop in Kotor’s Old Town and the pretty ports of Perast and Budva.

• Krka waterfalls tour – Join a daytrip to Krka National Park to see the stunning rivers, lakes and Skradinski Buk waterfalls.

• Blue Cave and six islands boat tour – Tick island-hopping off your itinerary with a full-day boat tour around the Dalmatian Coast. You’ll get to see some of Croatia’s best sights, from the Blue Cave and Blue Lagoon to Hvar Town.

Nightlife

If it’s lively bars and clubs you’re after, Croatia has plenty.

• Hvar – This island’s got a reputation for the best nightlife in Croatia. It’s got everything from beach clubs to pool parties and nights at the famous floating island club, Carpe Diem – even events in an ancient Venetian fortress at Veneranda.

• Split – Split scores highly for its late-night scene. The Dosud area in the Old Town is where to head for the liveliest bars or the waterfront is where to go for some nice evening drinks.

• Zagreb – Zagreb has a huge range of bars, clubs and live music venues. Head to Tkalciceva Street, the main strip, and take your pick.

• Dubrovnik – Dubrovnik’s busiest during the summer, with most of its bars and clubs opening up outside. Head to Buza Bar for clifftop views, or for clubbing, Culture Club Revelin is a popular spot.

Local dishes

Croatian cuisine’s a mix of fresh Mediterranean flavours, seafood straight from the Adriatic and a few flavours borrowed from Italy.

• Crni rizot – This traditional risotto from the Dalmatian Coast is made with cuttlefish ink, which gives it a rich, black colour.

• Peka – This hearty lamb stew is made with potatoes, vegetables, garlic and white wine. It’s the Croatian national dish.

• Fritule – Croatia’s take on doughnuts. These fritters are crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside, dusted with a good amount of icing sugar.

• Pasticada with gnocchi – A combination of Croatian and Italian cuisine. It’s a dish of roast beef cooked in red wine and veg, mixed with gnocchi.

Traditional drinks

Although you can get alcohol brands from all over the world in Croatia, there are some drinks produced locally you should try.

• Rakija – This fruity brandy is a staple spirit in the Balkans. It’s normally sipped during a meal or after, as a digestif.

• Ozujsko – Sometimes known as Zuja, this Croatian lager’s available in pretty much every bar and restaurant across the country.

Wine tasting

Croatia’s got a long history of winemaking and produces good red, white and rosé varieties.

• Kozlovic Winery, Istria – Head to this centuries-old vineyard to learn all about the winemaking process and taste their range of fresh and aged red and white wines.

• Dubokovic Winery, Hvar Island – Visit this family-run winery to try their red and white wines with amazing scenes over the Dalmatian Coast.

• Bire Winery, Korcula Island – Another family-run business, this winery in Korcula offers tasting sessions which include a tour of the estate, a look at their process, and a tasting of their white, red and rosé paired with bread, cheeses and seafood.

Car hire

Having your own car means you can explore whenever and wherever you like. It’s a great option if you want to tick off more than one destination, find secluded spots and for getting further inland to the national parks.

Bus

Travel like the locals do and jump on the bus between towns and cities. There are reliable services that run regularly between Zagreb, Split, Dubrovnik and Zadar, and they’re budget-friendly, too.

Ferry

Public ferries run multiple times a day from Split and Dubrovnik to the nearby islands. The services are much cheaper than hiring a skipper with a speedboat, but it’ll take you a little longer.

Taxi

These are everywhere in the more touristy resorts and cities, but they’re not the cheapest way to get around. Uber and Bolt operate in Croatia and usually cost a lot less than the local taxis.