Although Croatia attracts countless tourists per year, it still isn’t as popular as Greece, France or Spain is among Dutch travellers. And that is a big shame because Croatia is a fantastic destination, you should definitely visit it once in your life. To help you plan your trip to Croatia I have created a list of 10 things to do in Croatia.

* Disclaimer * I went to Croatia back in 2017. It was actually my very first trip without my parents hence why this destination has a special spot in my heart. I, however, did not take that many pictures nor did I visit many places because let’s be honest; most eighteen-year-olds don’t have that much money. Thus, most photos aren’t mine but I will mention the official photographer (they’re all stock photos). I guess I have to head back soon!

10 things to do in Croatia

1. Visit Plitvice Lakes

Whatever you do, don’t be like me. My biggest travel regret ever is not visiting the Plitvice Lakes when I was in Croatia. It’s been 5 years, and I still regret that choice. Make sure you’ll go there because otherwise, you will regret it!

Plitvice Lakes is Croatia’s largest and oldest national park with emerald lakes and plenty of waterfalls. It truly belongs to the list of most beautiful places on earth. The park is 296.85 square kilometres and there are multiple trails that lead you through parts of the park.

Entrance to the park costs 80-180 HRK (10-23 euros) depending on when you’re visiting. This includes transport with the electric boat and panorama train, visitor insurance and tax.

2. Explore the Old Town of Dubrovnik

If you want to get a taste of that beautiful Baroque architecture, Dubrovnik’s Old Town is the place to be. Take some time to wander around the old medieval town or follow a tour. Dubrovnik is especially interesting to fans of Games of Thrones as they used the city as one of their filming locations!

3. Visit Split

Another place worth visiting is Split. Split is on the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites because of its beautiful historical buildings. Just like Dubrovnik, take some time to roam around the city. Wander around its cobbled streets, visit Diocletian’s Palace, walk along the promenade and visit the harbour, go to St. Duje’s Cathedral, and take a refreshing dive in the ocean.

Another great thing about Split is that is it less crowded during the summer months. So if you want to visit old historic sites, but would like a smaller crowd: visit Split instead of Dubrovnik.

4. Krka National Park

Another incredible sight to see is Krka National Park. It’s an hour away from Split and offers 7 stunning waterfalls. You might wonder: More waterfalls? Although in my opinion there is no such thing as too many waterfalls. The difference between the waterfalls at Krka and Plitvice is that you can actually take a swim in the large Skradinski Buk waterfall in Krka. How cool is that?

The entrance fee is 200 HRK (26 euros) in summer and 30 HRK (4 euros) in winter.

5. Visit one of the waterparks

Croatia has two bigger waterparks: Aquacolors in Poreç and Istralandia near Novigrad. Especially if you’re travelling with kids it might be fun to visit a waterpark. I myself have been to Aquacolours because we were staying in Poreç. I really liked it. There are plenty of awesome slides, a wave pool and a lazy river with waves! Do bring flip-flops or water shoes as the ground gets freakishly hot in summer. It really hurt to walk around without any feet protection.

6. Visit Pula

Another great place for those interested in History is Pula. Pula is Istria’s largest city. Over here you can find a Roman Amphitheatre (which is the 6th largest in the world!), the Temple of Augustus, the Arch of the Sergii, a fort and way more! All the sights are relatively close to one another. I’d recommend spending 1 day here.

7. Go to Zlatni Rat Beach

After having spent so much time wandering the streets in various cities you might be in need of a day of relaxation. Why not combine relaxation with a stunning view? Zlatni Rat Beach is perfect for such occasions. It is also known as the Golden Horn of Brac Island. It isn’t exactly hidden anymore, in fact, the golden horn shape has become a symbol of Croatia. Fortunately, it’s pretty big, so there is plenty of space for everyone!

8. Blue Cave

Are you up for some nature magic? The Blue Cave, also known as Blue Grotto, is a cave located in the bay of Balun on the island of Biševo. When the light hits the water through a crack or opening in the cave it illuminates the water in a bright blue colour. Very magical!

It’s best to visit the Blue cave between 11 am and 12 pm on a sunny day. There are plenty of tours you can book that will bring you to the cave.

9. Visit Lokrum

Lokrum is an island close to Dubrovnik. There are no cars and no overnight camping, thus Lokrum is perfect for getting away from the crowds. There is something special about this island though: its main inhabitants are peacocks! Lokrum is not very big but it’s perfect for an afternoon full of exploring the island. You could for example visit the Benedictine Monastery, the Lokrum Rocks (rock pools where you can swim), or visit the ruins of Fort Royal; from there you’ll get an amazing view of the bay of Dubrovnik.

Entrance: The entrance to Lokrum is about €20 per person. This may sound expensive, but Lokrum is a national park and they use the admissions to maintain it, and it includes a boat ride.

10. Baredine Caves

Situated near Poreč is the geographical wonder called the Baredine Caves. They were discovered in 1995 but have been there for way longer. In the Baredine Caves stalactites and stalagmites are created by the constant water flow, but that’s not all, the caves are also the home of Olms an endemic amphibian. These creatures can actually live up to 1 year without food. Olms are born with eyes but as they get older, their skin covers their eyes because they live in utter darkness. To me this is the closest I have ever been to seeing an alien hahaha!

Legend says that some caves are homes to dragons that control the amounts of water surfacing the caves. Their offspring could be found when they emerged to the surface, this would happen once the dragons drained the caves and then refilled them. People would find Olms, believing they were in fact baby dragons. I mean, I can’t blame them.

The entrance fee to the Baredine Caves is about €10 euros. Bring your student’s card though because they offer a student discount!

Map

Where did I stay?

I stayed at Camping Zelena Laguna in Poreč. However, it was a 15-minute bus drive or a 50-minute walk away from the city centre. Poreč is not very big, you can see everything in a single afternoon. There are, however, many campings in the area so if you’re into camping you might want to consider Poreč.

I stayed here all week, but in all honesty, I consider that to be too long. It’s perfect for a day or two, but I would personally not stay here that much longer if you want to see more of the country.

Poreč does offer a lot of entertainment for tourists. I remember there being a different activity every day. One day we, for example, went to an outdoor cinema. So if you’re into that kind of stuff, then Poreč is the place to be!

Have you ever been to Croatia? What did you enjoy most?