Comparatively speaking, the area occupied by Croatia is slightly smaller than the state of West Virginia. Visit Croatia for days of unending sunshine, history, culture, magnificent Roman ruins, a spectacular coastline, glistening beaches, incredible waterfalls, national parks and 1200 islands. This Central European and Mediterranean country is seasoned with influences from the Greeks, Romans, Venetians and Turks to name just a few. To really appreciate its beauty and culture we recommend no less than 7 days, but 10 days would be perfect. This fast-growing destination is now one of Europe’s most sought after hotspots (with a little help from Game of Thrones fans) and holidaymakers will not be disappointed.
Why Croatia is a great destination for families with kids
When I think of visiting Croatia I immediately relax, feel calm and smile. This is one destination where you can truly have a very balanced vacation. If you are visiting one of the beautiful cities like Split, Dubrovnik or Sibenik you will be surprised by the various cultural influences, its amazing cleanliness, the variety of food and the very hospitable Croats (all who speak excellent English). Be sure to seek out some of the filming sites for Games of Thrones. You have an abundance of beaches you can one choose from giving you lazy days with the family enjoying the sunshine and water sports. For more family fun visit one or some of the 1200 islands like Hvar or Korcula by boat, spend a day on the water, snorkelling, swimming, fishing, sunbathing and even a quick stop on an island for lunch or a BBQ dinner. When you tire of the seaside head to the mountains, or one of the National Parks (lookout for the wonderful wildlife) or enjoy a walk, hike, kayak, picnic or a swim in one of the many waterfalls.
Must see places in Croatia
If Croatia is on your Bucket List, then don’t miss out on:
- Zagreb – Maksimir Park, Zagreb Cathedral, Dolac Market, St Marks Church, Lotrscak Tower and ‘Uspinjaca’, Museum of Chocolate
- Istria – Cathedral of St. Euphemia, Rovinji, Brujuni National Park, Pula, Umag and Porec and all the small hilltop towns, sample wonderful food, wine, cheese, olive oil
- Split – Diocletian Palace, Cathedral of St Dominus, Statue of Gregory of Nin, Campanile, Peristil Square, Klis Fortess (GOT fans)
- Krka National Park – hiking, boat rides and the waterfalls, Sibenik, if you love sailing Kornati National Park
- North Dalmatia – stretching from the Kvarner River to Split, you can enjoy towns like Zadar, Sibenek and Togir
- Dubrovnik – Walk the Wall, Lokrum Island, Trsteno Arboretum, Stradun, Onofrio Fountain, Franciscan Monastery, Sponza Palace, Pile Gate, Mount Srd Cable Car, Buza bars and Konvale for horseriding, cooking classes and gastronomy
- Plitvice Lakes – found between Zagreb and Zadar
- Croatian Islands – there are more than 1,200 – visit Hvar, Brac, Vis, Mljet and The Elafiti Islands, Losinj, Dugi Otok and Pag Island
How long would you vacation in Croatia?
We would say that 8 – 10 days is a perfect amount of time to visit Croatia. If you have 14 days then we would recommend – Istria and Dalmatia or Dalmatia pre / post stays in Sibenik / Split and Dubrovnik plus one week on boat. The most popular airports to fly in and out of seems to be Zagreb, Split and Dubrovnik (depending where you are coming from). Zadar is also becoming popular for some of the low cost airlines and Pula if you are starting in Istria. Start in Split, take an island tour to Hvar and / or the Korcula islands and end in Dubrovnik. If you have the time, we would extend you visit to enjoy Sibenik and Krka National Park, Brac island and the Elafiti Islands.
Our top 10 reasons to visit Croatia
- Gastronomy and the wine regions
- Waterfalls
- Beaches
- Scenery
- People
- Culture
- Wildlife
- Fun – Game of Thrones themed
- Coastlines and island hopping
- Roman ruins
Top 10 things to do in Croatia with kids
- Enjoy a Treasure Hunt in the cities
- Take a Zagreb Walking Food Tour
- Hike and enjoy boat rides in Krka National Park (add in a visit to the Falconry)
- Sea Kayaking and Snorkelling
- Take an adventurous boat ride to the Elafiti islands, Pakleni islands or Vis island and visit many caves both blue and green
- Horsebackriding
- Cycling tours on one of the islands with a farm lunch
- Go Oyster Fishing
- Have fun on a Buggy Safari
- Take part in a White Water River Rafting
How can we help?
While we live in Europe and having visited Croatia on a number of occasions (one of us wants to celebrate our 50th birthday in Croatia), we believe we are in the best position advise and help you to plan a memorable vacation. Let us assist you by taking advantage of our vacation consulting or itinerary development services. Working to your budget we’ll discuss the best locations, present you with the best family accommodations, family focused tours / excursions / activities and work out the logistics for you, taking all the stress of planning away.
So, if you are planning a vacation to Croatia and you need some help then drop us a line. We’ll set up a time to call you and let you know how we might help.