CROATIA TRAVEL GUIDE
Things to Know
Croatia is a beautiful country located in central to Southern Europe. Croatia is located on the Adriatic Coast and shares a border with Slovenia, Hungary, Serbia, Bosnia & Herzegovina, and Montenegro. The Countries popularity has boomed in recent years due to its stunning coastlines, beautiful towns, and diverse culture. Croatia also has over 1000 islands off its coastline. During the summer season, tourists from all around the world venture to the islands to relax and soak up the views. In addition to Croatia’s beautiful coastline, you can find truffle festivals in the fall and beautiful Christmas Markets in the winter. No matter the time of the year, Croatia is a stunning location to visit.
Useful Words
Bok
Dober Dan
Molim
Hvala
Da
Ne
Hi / Bye
Good Day
Please
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Yes
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If you’re headed to Croatia, check out the travel templates linked below to help plan your trip! The templates are editable with a complete itineraries to 8 cities and include blank templates as well.
When To Visit
In my opinion, you cannot go wrong visiting Croatia any time of the year. Every season changes the dynamic of traveling in this diverse country. Below is a guide to the different seasons and what you can expect if you visit during each time:
Shoulder Season: April to May and September to October
Although I love visiting Croatia all year round, I tend to prefer the shoulder seasons. This season is typically during the months of April, May, September and October. During these months, the weather is still warm enough to swim, but the crowds are drastically less than during the peak season. This makes for a quieter experience while exploring Croatia’s beautiful towns. It is worth noting from mid-October through April, many shops in the coastal towns are closed. The average high during these months in the coastal regions is in the mid 60’s to mid 70’s (11° to 18°C). Inland in locations like Zagreb, the average high is around 60 to 70° F (16° to 22° C). The shoulder season is a great time to visit popular attractions like Plitvice Lakes. The weather is still warm, the admissions costs reduced and the crowds are lower than the peak season.
Peak Season: June to August
The peak season is during the months of June, July and August. During these months, travelers from all over the world flock to Croatia to explore its stunning coastlines and beautiful national parks. The weather is at its warmest during these months making island hoping between Croatia’s many islands a very popular activity. The average high for the coastal region during these months is between 80° to 86°F (29° to 30°C). The temperature remains marginally cooler inland with an average high in Zagreb of 76° to 80°F (24° to 27°C). Travelling to Croatia this time of year for their amazing weather does come at a cost though. Popular destinations like Dubrovnik and Split among others, are extremely crowded with tourists. If crowds do not bother you, then this time of the year is sure to bring beautiful weather to your travels. If you get claustrophobic in crowded places, then you may want to stick to visiting in the shoulder seasons.
Winter Season: November to March
The dynamic in Croatia’s coastal towns changes drastically during the winter season. Many of its smaller charming towns are heavily dependent on tourism. With this season being less crowded then the rest, shop owners shut down until the tourism picks back up. In the larger coastal cities like Dubrovnik, Split, or Zadar a majority of the shops remain open. These towns have Christmas markets bringing crowds during the winter season. However, in smaller towns like Korcula or Rovinj you will find that many of the shops will be closed. Keep this in mind when planning a trip to the coastal region during this time of year. If you do visit Croatia’s coastal region during the winter season, you will find the average high to be around 50° to 59°F (10° to 15°C). The weather inland in Zagreb is much cooler. The average high is between 38° to 53°F (3.5° to 12°C). Although the weather is cooler, Zagreb is a very popular destination this time of year due to their incredible Christmas market. They have won the award for the best Christmas market in Europe multiple times. If you are looking for a winter wonderland to get you into the holiday spirit then visit Croatia during the winter and make sure to stop by their Christmas markets in their major cities (Especially Zagreb!).
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Popular Destinations
Dubrovnik
Hvar
Korcula
Plitvice Lakes
Pula
Rovinj
Sibenik
Split
Zadar
Zagreb
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