Where to go tenting in Croatia, the place to seek out chalets in essentially the most stunning areas, and the out of doors actions in Croatia you don’t wish to miss on a vacation… or an extended keep.
With fairly, historic walled cities, waterfalls and different superior pure wonders, and 2000 kilometres of shoreline, Croatia provides the proper mixture of journey and rest. It’s simply subsequent to Italy, sharing a border and the attractive Adriatic Sea with the Italians, a lot extra simply accessible by highway or ferry that you just would possibly suppose. In reality, a visit combining Italy and Croatia ought to undoubtedly be thought-about.
In this journey information, we’ll offer you all the data you want to simply organise your journey to Croatia: ferries, automobile or campervan rent, campsites and open-air resorts, and locations to discover on this fascinating vacation spot.
Whether you’re there for every week, a month and even longer, Croatia is a stunningly stunning, secure nation which is able to impress and amaze you each day of your keep.
How to get to Croatia
Flights to Croatia
The greatest positioned worldwide airports from an open-air vacation perspective are Zadar and Split, as they’re seaside cities providing speedy entry to the seashores, islands and fairly coastal cities you’ll possible need go to. Zadar is handiest, nearer to Italy and to most of our inventory of 20+ open-air resorts and campsites in Croatia.
It’s additionally potential to fly into in Zagreb and Dubrovnik, however make sure that to take a look at the place the perfect lodging and actions are after which test distances earlier than you ebook. Croatia is a giant nation and – from both of these spots – you can find yourself with hours of driving or bus journeys to get to your remaining location.
Ferries from Italy to Croatia
You might discover that the perfect locations to go in Croatia are simpler to achieve from Italy. It’s solely a hop,skip and leap by automobile or campervan from Trieste, or by ferry from Ancona. Travelling by automobile is mostly extra handy if you happen to arrive from northern Italy (for instance, Venice) and plan to cease in Istria, whereas, if you’re coming from central Italy, the ferry may be very helpful.
From Ancona ferry port, there are departures to Zadar (7-9 hours) and Split (Sept. 11 hours), within the central a part of the Croatian coast. Prices differ in line with route, variety of passengers, sort and measurement of auto. A bridge passage for a single individual with out a car can price round 100 to 120 euro for the standard round-trip ticket. For two folks in a medium-sized campervan, the fare ranges from 350 to 500 euro for departures from Ancona. Fares can differ significantly: naturally, you’ll get the perfect costs in off-season or by reserving properly upfront, whereas the very best costs are in July and August, when these routes develop into extremely popular.
To discover the perfect fare on your dates, we suggest utilizing our worth comparability and ferry reserving instrument. With all obtainable timetables and fares conveniently on one web page, the choice and reserving course of can be smoother. If you’re planning an on-the-road journey to Croatia, you may as well take into account reserving a return journey from completely different cities, which can be very simple to do on our web site.
There is a second ferry route between Dubrovnik and Bari, which – though costlier than the opposite route and never as helpful for the areas we suggest you to remain in, in Croatia – is an choice price realizing about for a campervan journey particularly.
Rent a automobile in Croatia
If you’ll be able to get a direct flight to Croatia and may afford to splash out for extra flexibility in your journey, a rental automobile, or certainly a campervan or motorhome, will assist you to marvel at extra of the 2000km lengthy Croatian shoreline and get to extra adventurous locations, troublesome to achieve by public transport. It may also offer you that further little bit of consolation for a extra stress-free journey.
To test dates, costs, automobile varieties and pick-up areas obtainable, use our:
(Tip: For extra alternative, choose a global airport as your pick-up location.) Prices in excessive season begin at round 650 euro per week for a compact automobile.
If having your personal transport would push the vacation price range out too far, don’t fear – there are good bus strains all alongside the Croatian coast making journey by public transport potential and reasonably priced. So, selecting to remain an additional week at a campsite and forgoing the rent automobile is unquestionably an choice. You received’t be in need of issues to see and do close by your campsite.
Croatia holidays by the ocean: the perfect areas
If, in your creativeness, Croatian seashores seem as infinite stretches of white sand, you may be in for fairly a shock while you arrive! Although a majority of these seashores do exist, in actuality most of Croatia’s shoreline is characterised by picturesque cliffs and rocky inlets, with white and gray pebble seashores and crystal-clear water in shades of inexperienced and blue. Best explored within the water, armed with masks and snorkel!
Istria and the Bay of Kvarner
Istria is the northernmost a part of the Croatian coast, but it enjoys a delicate local weather that enables the seaside vacation season to start as early as spring.
The space round Rovinj boasts essentially the most stunning seashores within the area, with sheltered bays and coves which are nice for kids. Meanwhile, those that need extra journey can head for the islands of Losinj and Krk, which have secluded coves, together with the pristine seaside of Sveti Ivan, and quieter villages surrounded by lush vegetation and a community of mountain climbing trails good for escaping the summer season crowds.
There are numerous seaside campsites in Istria, with very reasonably priced costs, from 10-15 euro per pitch, with direct entry to the ocean, a swimming pool, eating places and loads of services and actions for kids and younger folks. You may even discover locations to remain on the islands: right here you are inclined to get extra unique open-air resorts, together with 4- and 5-star campsites, with bungalows and cell houses overlooking the ocean and actions reminiscent of scuba diving and snorkelling.
Northern Dalmatia
The coast of northern Dalmatia, nearest town of Zadar, is characterised by headlands and rugged cliffs dotted with islands. And it’s on these islands, from the extra distant Selve and Dugi Otok to the extra widespread Ugljan and Murter, that the area’s most noteworthy seashores will be discovered. Slanica seaside on the island of Murter is especially appropriate for kids, with shallow waters and varied services. Those who wish to benefit from the solar in full tranquillity, then again, can take a ferry from Zadar and spend the day in Silba or Olib.
Chalets and campsites in northern Dalmatia are simple to seek out.
If you don’t wish to journey too removed from Zadar, you’ll be able to undoubtedly use right here or close by Zaravecchia as your base. They are actually stunning spots: Zadar metropolis may be very underrated and there are campsites simply outdoors the centre, surrounded by Mediterranean vegetation and with actions reminiscent of kayaking, fishing, bike rides and swimming.
The close by islands of Ugljan and Murter even have a number of luxurious, eco-responsible resorts, notable for his or her dedication to sustainability and discount of waste. Prices can be a bit greater, however if you’re searching for a soothing out of doors vacation in unspoilt environment, it is going to be cash properly spent. The extra distant islands have a number of guesthouses however no open-air tenting and self-catering lodging. They will be visited on a day journey from the mainland.
Southern Dalmatia
On the “Makarska Riviera” in southern Dalmatia, to seek out a fascinating, secluded seaside, all you need to do is cease on any stretch of highway the place there’s a path resulting in the ocean, and comply with it to the seaside.
However, we are able to’t not point out Zlatni Rat seaside on the island of Brač: a white pebble seaside well-known for the truth that it’s perpendicular to the coast and for the form of its tip, which modifications relying on how the wind blows. Also famend are the seashores on the island of Hvar, a well-liked vacation spot for these with their very own boat due to its usually calm and clear waters.
Campsites on Brač island
If you desire a conventional tent tenting journey, simply accessible from Split, the island of Brač is a wonderful tenting vacation spot. Campsites are nestled within the pure setting of the Mediterranean maquis and infrequently have direct (typically even personal) entry to the seaside. Pitches are properly spaced out and youngsters can be stored entertained by the ocean and the numerous actions on supply. There can be a good alternative of eating places with native delicacies, each inside and beside the campsites.
The greatest excursions in Croatia
Croatia has develop into world well-known due to its shoreline and crystal-clear sea, however don’t neglect the Dinaric Alps, which snake their manner throughout Croatia, creating a wide range of landscapes reminiscent of waterfalls, lakes, caves and imposing peaks.
The nation’s must-see vacation spot on an out of doors vacation in Croatia is the Plitviče Lakes National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Characterised by its wealthy wildlife, the park boasts an 18-kilometre community of trails that cross the 12 largest lakes and assist you to admire the system of waterfalls that join them. Its proximity to Rijeka and Zadar makes it an ideal day journey from the coastal campsites of Istria and the Dalmatian Coast.ia.
Paklenica National Park is one other pure surprise, house to Croatia’s largest mountain vary, Velebit, providing over 150 km of mountain climbing trails appropriate for all ranges. As the massif is so near the Croatian coast, any path on Velebit ensures breathtaking sea views. Like the Plitviče lakes, Paklenica is well accessible from Zadar (solely 25 km away) and is inside a few hours of Split as properly.
Avid walkers and hikers can be within the Via Dinarica and the Via Adriatica, two medium-high issue routes of over 1000 km, which run the size of the nation, from Istria to Dubrovnik. The former, with a number of potential variations, additionally continues into the neighbouring Balkan nations, making for an epic journey over a number of months.
The nicest cities in Croatia
Istria: Poreč and Rovinj
Both characterised by a robust Venetian affect, Poreč and Rovinj are the primary cities in Istria to go to. The former boasts treasured marble and Byzantine mosaics thought-about among the many Most worthy on the earth, whereas the latter combines a full of life nightlife with Roman buildings and Baroque structure on a cliff overlooking the ocean.
Zadar
A traditionally necessary metropolis for Venetian rule over the Mediterranean, Zadar boasts a vibrant previous city dotted with church buildings and attention-grabbing buildings such because the Sea Organ, which produces sounds primarily based on wave movement.
Split
Croatia’s second-largest metropolis, Split is price a go to for its atmospheric previous centre of stone alleys, bars and eating places set inside historical partitions, buildings reminiscent of Diocletian’s Palace, the elegant waterfront energetic, and the character on the encircling hills that give it a verdant really feel because it slopes in direction of the majestic mountains within the background.
Dubrovnik
At the southern tip of the nation, Dubrovnik is called the pearl of the Adriatic. It is not possible to stay detached to the fantastic thing about its marble streets and stairways, its sheer partitions shimmering within the daylight and the orange-red sunsets from the highest of Mount Srđ. Lose your self in its alleys at first mild, to take pleasure in its magnificence in silence earlier than the (typically chaotic) metropolis life awakens. But be ready to pay extra for the privilege of visiting Dubrovnik.
How a lot does it price to go on vacation to Croatia?
Croatia is not a low-cost vacation spot however, other than exceptions like Dubrovnik, it’s nonetheless potential to keep or vacation in Croatia on a decrease price range than in lots of European nations. Activity and sight-seeing prices should not extreme, if you happen to keep away from very well-known sights such because the Dubrovnik metropolis partitions. Restaurant prices can simply be lowered by cooking on the campsite or shopping for at native markets and picnicking.A couple of money-saving suggestions will make your price range go even additional:
- First of all, don’t neglect that Croatia has its personal forex. The forex in Croatia is the kuna, which on the present alternate charge (June 2022) is equal to 0.13 euro. Order some kuna earlier than departure, to keep away from shedding cash on an unfavourable alternate charge in locations like airports on arrival.
- As we’ve already seen, the price of journey can differ and to economize it’s good follow to ebook journey properly upfront.
- Staying on a campsite in a tent or campervan is nice in Croatia and can cuts prices significantly. A motorhome pitch for two adults and a pair of kids begins at as little as 350 euro for an entire week in late August, and usually has numerous enjoyable providers included reminiscent of a swimming pool.
What to do in 7 days in Croatia? An itinerary: Istria and the Bay of Kvarner
It is not possible to go to your entire Croatian coast in a single week, so put that concept out of your thoughts! We’re recommending an itinerary which is able to assist you to uncover the northern a part of the nation, between Zadar and the Italian border.
Day 1: Zadar
After arriving by aircraft or ferry in Zadar, take a day to discover the historic metropolis centre.
Day 2: Plitviče Lakes
Only an hour and a half from Zadar, the Plitviče Lakes are a must-see on any itinerary. Spend the day exploring the park’s trails and waterfalls, taking a picnic with you. At the tip of your go to, head straight north to the island of Krk.
Days 3-4: Krk Island
Venture to Malinska, and discover the seashores. Take time to calm down, hike, pattern the island’s distinctive native gastronomy and admire the structure of the city of Krk. If you favor, you should utilize the second day to additionally go to the island of Lošinj.
Day 5: Rijeka
Devote half a day to Rijeka, strolling across the market sq. and waterfront earlier than heading to Učka Nature Park, the place you’ll be able to keep in a single day.
Day 6: Učka Nature Park
Explore the park and its many trails and viewpoints, for a day devoted to getting in contact with nature. Visit the Korita spring and maybe organise a hike to Brgudac, an enthralling mountain village. Check the maps for tougher trails for consultants.
Day 7: Rovinj
In an hour’s drive you’ll arrive in Rovinj, the place you’ll be able to select whether or not to discover the maze of alleyways within the previous city, organise some mountain climbing within the Golden Cape Nature Park, or calm down on the seaside.
Day 8: Poreč
Visit the distinctive mosaics of Poreč’s basilica and take one final swim at one of many seashores round it earlier than heading in direction of the Italian border. (Poreč is simply over an hour from Trieste).
Useful suggestions for travelling in a campervan in Croatia
- Camping outdoors campsites or geared up relaxation areas just isn’t allowed in Croatia, so at all times test that there’s a campsite within the space you propose to go to.
- Speed limits for vehicles, campers and light-weight caravans are 50 km/h in city areas, 90 km/h outdoors city areas, 110 km/h on highways and 130 km/h on motorways.
- If you resolve to go to Croatia in winter, don’t neglect winter tyres and snow chains.
- On the coastal descent to Dubrovnik, there’s a quick stretch of shoreline belonging to Bosnia and Herzegovina, the place documentation checks usually create some site visitors and potential delays. Take this into consideration in case you have strict timetables to stick to.
Feel you realize sufficient to plan a visit to Croatia now? Croatia is nice from early spring, but when it’s a summer season vacation you’re pondering of, don’t neglect to begin planning as early as potential to get a wider vary of lodging and choices, lower your expenses and get your journey off on the suitable foot! Start your search by shopping our tenting and self-catering lodging in Croatia.