Country Hopping: Croatia
International travel can get pricey, fast. Learn how to navigate your way to and around Croatia, without breaking the bank.
The Country Hopping: Around the World series starts with Croatia. This country is quickly climbing to the top of everyone’s travel list, and for good reason… it’s beautiful! Croatia is actually a very affordable place to visit, as long as you plan your trip correctly. I had the pleasure of taking a trip to Croatia from May 30th-June 3rd of 2017, and I definitely have some tips to share! This post will run through a list of what to do while visiting, how to book the flight, where to stay, how to get around, and also include a trip recap video. Enjoy!
Traveling: For The Lost Video Recap - Croatia
What To Do?
Croatia has so much to offer, especially when it comes to outdoor activities (which are my favorite type of activities—if you can’t already tell). From island hopping to city exploration, this beautiful country will keep your inner wanderlust satisfied without racking up bills!
1. Island Hop ($38.79)
Croatia is full of islands, many of which are only a short boat ride from the coastline. During my trip to Croatia, I decided to book a boat tour through Viator (the same company I went through to book activities while on my San Francisco/Napa Valley trip). The tour was called the “Blue Lagoon & Three Island Tour From Trogir”. This tour included a large group of guests (about 30-40 people). The tour sails through the beautiful blue lagoon and stops at the islands of Šolta and Čiovo. When the tour stops at an island, guests are able to freely explore the area (dip in for a swim, go for a walk, find local food, take some pictures, etc). The boat crew notifies its guests what time they should return to the boat (they give you plenty of time—I believe it was an hour or two, which is the perfect amount for these islands). Other perks? Lunch & refreshments are included! This island hoping boat tour was about 8 hours long and sailed out of Trogir (about 40-minute drive from Split). I would highly recommend this tour to anyone traveling to Croatia because it really was the highlight of my trip. I was hopping to post the link to this tour here, but it looks like it is no longer available. ~~HOWEVER~~, I found another tour via Viator that sounds exactly like the tour I’ve described, and you can view it by clicking here.
2. Go For a Swim (FREE)
If you are visiting Croatia, a dip in the *crystal clear* water is a MUST. While staying in Split, I was able to find a local beach to swim in, however, I would recommend going swimming in the water of a nearby island. Many of the island beach areas have clear water and are pretty secluded… so you can basically have the entire spot to yourself. It is also important to note that a lot of beach areas in Croatia have rough terrain, which includes sharp rocks and small pebbles. Bring water shoes! I purchased a pair (very cheap… around $10 from Walmart) and used them constantly. Because they were so cheap, I threw them out at the end of the trip (more suitcase room for souvenirs). Some of my favorite beach spots were located on the island of Šolta, the island of Čiovo, and the Veli Drvenik island. Don’t forget your sunblock and sunglasses!
3. Catch Views from Split’s Bell Tower ($3.23 or 20 Kuna)
Split is one of the more popular spots in Croatia, and it's pretty obvious why—Split is beautiful! This is where I stayed during my visit to Croatia. The city has a rich culture and insanely detailed architecture to keep you in awe. The best view of Split (and the coastline in general) can be captured at the top of Split’s Bell Tower. The tower is located in the heart of the city and is attached to a beautiful cathedral.
4. Visit Krka National Park ($68.07)
First off, Krka is literally picture perfect. The national park is massive and includes a number of waterfalls, all ranging in size. Some sections of the park do allow visitors to swim (and yes, much of the water is clear), but not all so make sure to check before you jump in. Because the park is so large, you can expect to do a lot of walking so comfy shoes are a must. I booked a day tour to Krka that left out of Split. The tour was about 12 hours long but it included driving to and from Krka, an informative tour guide, a tour through Croatia’s countryside, a stop at Visovac Lake, a tour through part of Krka, free time to swim in Krka, a stop at Alte Mühle Kristijan to eat (food not included in tour price, but it was very cheap and buffet style), and a tour through the city of Sibenik. I booked this tour through the Portal Trogir Trip company, and the link to this tour can be found by clicking here. If you are planning to go for a swim in Krka’s waterfalls, make sure to bring your water shoes!
5. Walk Through Trogir (FREE)
Trogir is probably my favorite city in Croatia. It is located on the coastline and is next to a popular port area. Trogir is a short car drive and an even shorter boat ride from Split. The city itself is pretty small and absolutely beautiful. Its castle-like vibes and lower tourist levels make it a perfect spot. It is also a great area to walk around for the day and purchase some souvenirs. Because of its coastal location, Trogir has a few restaurant spots you can dine at while overlooking the water!
6. Visit Visovac Lake (FREE)
Visovac lake is definitely a spot I want to revisit ASAP. This area is technically located in Krka National Park, but it is pretty far from the main Krka waterfall area. Visovac is especially known for its Monastery, located on a small island in the middle of the lake… honestly, you’ve probably had a picture of it pop up as one of those random screen savers on your work computer (I know I have!). This is a great spot for any outdoor lovers to enjoy a day of hiking.
How to get there?
For those of you who may not know, I am originally from the United States... and, unfortunately, flying straight from the U.S. to Croatia can get pretty price. So, I thought outside the box. I was able to fly from Sevilla, Spain to Split, Croatia for $161.86 per person via Vueling Airlines. This brings me to a very important #TravelTip when it comes to Europe in general, which is: it is incredibly affordable to fly between countries once you are in Europe. So yes, the initial roundtrip flight from the United States to Europe may be expensive (around $300-$600 roundtrip on the lower end, which may seem expensive at first), but then you can “country hop” through Europe because the flights are very affordable. During my entire summer Europe trip (three weeks long), I was able to fly New York to Spain for $520.74 roundtrip (JFK to SVQ, roundtrip), then Spain to Croatia for $161.86 (SVQ to SPU, one way), then Croatia to Italy for $46.58 (SPU to VCE, one way), then Italy to Spain for $160.30 (VCE to SVQ, one way), then fly from Spain to New York on the original roundtrip flight I had booked. Another #TravelTip is to book these trips a little at a time. No, I did not book all of my flights at one time. Instead, I booked the large roundtrip flight first (New York to Spain) in December of 2016. Then a few weeks later, I booked the Croatia and Italy flights. This will keep you from emptying your wallet!
Where to stay?
While in Croatia, I stayed at the Grand Hostel Lero, which I found via Hostelworld. This spot is located in the heart of Split; it was a five-minute walk to the main shopping center and about a ten-minute walk to the Split boat dock area. I loved this place! I had booked a private room for my boyfriend and I for five nights. Because we booked a private room, we were placed in what was basically a house that the hostel owned. We were able to pick which room of the house we wanted to stay in (probably because we were the first people to get placed there; no other guests had arrived yet). The house was rustic and quaint; it included a kitchen, bathroom, shower, multiple bedrooms, Wi-Fi, an upstairs balcony, and air conditioning. In addition to the convenient amenities and location, this hostel was very affordable. The cost in total for five nights was $178.29; which my boyfriend and I split, making it $89.15 per person for the entire stay. You can visit the link to this hostel via Hostelworld by clicking here.
How to get around?
I walked pretty much everywhere in Croatia. And if a spot was too far? I used Uber. Because I stayed in the heart of Split, it was easy to walk wherever I needed to go (local food market, shops, boat dock, bell tower, restaurants, etc). However, for something like a day trip to Trogir, I used Uber (40-minute drive). It was an affordable and convenient option. Not to mention, after returning to the U.S. from my Europe trip, I learned that Croatia has Uber for boats! Which is crazy… I wish I knew about that while I was there. Definitely a must do when I get back to Croatia!
If you do end up taking my advice during your trip to Croatia, or if you have any questions, I’d love to get your feedback. Please click on the “contact” link at the top of the page and write your message there.
Thanks for visiting #TFTL & safe travels!