Have you visited Croatia yet? What are you waiting for?
You probably heard there is a nice coast, plaže (beaches), a clean sea, that it’s nice for summer vacations. Here are a couple of ideas for what to do and where to go depending on your interests.
The Sailing Lover
Did you know Croatia has more than 1000 otoci (islands)? It’s what makes the Croatian coast one of the most spectacular coasts in Europe - each island varies in size, history, food, and customs. So why not visit a different one every day, enjoying the sailing time and hidden beaches in-between? You can rent a charter yacht or go with a drveni jedrenjak (an old wooden sailboat) and you can choose from many different routes. The easiest thing to do is to rent a boat close to one of the airports. In the north you have Rijeka; Venice, Trieste or Ljubljana are close options in the north, too. In the middle you have Zadar, near the amazing national parks Kornati and Telascica. Or, you can land in world-famous Dubrovnik or Split and enjoy the nature, wines, and history of the southern islands of Croatia. Which island should you head? Mljet is one of the most peaceful ones, but you can’t go wrong with Hvar, Korcula, Vis… there are literally thousands of options.You might easily spend couple of weeks there, some days not even knowing where exactly you are (just let your skipper or captain worry about that).
The Party Beast
If you like to tulumariti (to party), Zrce is the place for you. The beautiful island of Pag has a lot to offer, but Zrce is its most popular destination: this is a place where the party never stops. There are clubs next to clubs, with music, concerts, and dancing 24/7, on the beach, in the pools, and on the yachts. It’s no wonder that it’s been dubbed “the Croatian Ibiza,” and its easy access via low-cost airlines from many European cities (tip: search for flights to Zadar) means the tourists continue to flock to the party. While on Pag, be sure to try their sir (cheese) and visit a couple of hidden plaže (beaches), if your hangover doesn’t get in the way.
The Robinson Crusoe Type
Do you enjoy being isolated, in peace and quiet, taking in the sun and nature? Want an island all to yourself? You can rent a svjetionik (lighthouse) and spend some time away from everybody, preparing fresh fish and gathering your thoughts as you listen to the waves. There are lighthouse spread all along the coast, many of them beautifully renovated so you can have all the comfort you might need.
The Game of Thrones Fan
If you’re a fan of the television series, you may already know that the real King’s Landing is actually Dubrovnik. Watch the ships from where Sansa has watched them, see where King Joffrey had the tournament in his honor and where Khaleesi tried to find the entrance to the House of Undying. Dubrovnik, Split, Trsteno Arboretum, Klis, Lokrum - all were used as filming locations. You can visit them as a fan, or just visit them just to see the majesty that inspired the location scouts, taking in their impressive history and breathtaking sights.
No matter where you land in Croatia, be sure to brush up on your language before you go. Learn more about our Passport Croatian course, or see all of our Passport travel language course offerings for your other travel destinations this summer.