A comprehensive guide on visiting the top cities and islands on the alluring Adriatic Sea.
Croatia is an absolutely delightful country, known for its pebble beaches, mountainous coastlines creating an opportunity for sublime views of the crystal clear Adriatic Sea, total breathtaking landscapes, intricate architecture and historic sites. This country is a treat as it has so many things to offer to the tons of tourists that set foot in this country. Regardless if you looking for an adrenaline pumping activity, a romantic getaway, in search of an offbeat beach or perhaps a place to spend some quality family time Croatia would not disappoint, I can promise you that. You’d easily find incredible architecture, national parks, stunning beaches and of course delicious food in this country. Not just incredibly picturesque but also extremely clean! Croatia is super clean, you can literally roll on the floor and your clothes would not get dirty, especially the Dalmatian region. I was set to hop across the various islands of the Dalmatian region on ferries, scooter around within the islands, hike the highest peak of the Adriatic, swim in crystal clear water and explore the various historic old towns.
Island life
A popular island hopping route here is Split - Supetar (Brac) - Bol (Brac) - Jelsa (Hvar) – Hvar –Korcula - Dubrovnik. Day trips to island Vis and Mljet can be possible from Hvar and Korcula respectively. Jardolinja and Kapetan Luka (Krilo) are popular ferry agencies which operate on the above route. Travelling within the islands can be done by hiring scooters, jeeps or quads. In my opinion public transportation is not that reliable on the islands but yes it is a good money saver. Taxis are a good time saver but can create a massive hole in your pocket, should be used only as last resort. The prices of the ferries can differ based on the route opted, example Split to Supetar can cost 35-40 KUNA whereas Korcula to Dubrovnik can cost 200-250 KUNA. Expect sea sickness to be at its prime on a day with unexpected weather otherwise ferries are super comfortable and eatables are also sold on them. Yes, the currency that runs here is the Croatian Kuna. Credit and debit cards are widely accepted in the cities and on the islands too. There are many currency exchange agents where you can get some cash exchanged for a commission.
Yacht tours go on during the summer months and they sail across the islands for a week. You end up staying on the Yacht overnight and exploring the main land during the day. These tours are priced super fancy and its best to book them many days in prior. If travelling during the shoulder season these tours does not function as the weather conditions are not favourable for sailing. In this case accommodation can be opted for on the islands. Accommodation on islands is easily available in the form of hotels, hostels and AirBnB’s or guest houses. AirBnB’s are a better option on the islands as hostels are scarce and they are a tad less expensive than hotels bonus being that they came with basic facilities enabling you to cook meals and also flexible check in and checkout timings subject to availability.
Food is not at all a problem on the islands; there are lovely cafes and bistros on the various islands. They serve all types of cuisines and are reasonably priced. A top recommendation by me if you are heading to Croatia is to explore the fruit markets, fresh oranges, apples, mangoes and also jam sold here is absolutely delicious and they are so filling. A good healthy hack to save up on breakfast; explore the fruit market and fill your belly with fruits and juice! The Pizzas here are finger licking awesome, a must try and of course the gelato sold here is absolutely delicious! Pro Tip – all restaurants located on promenades at the various islands and cities are super expensive, the restaurant in the alley way is always the best option!
Best time to visit here would be the end of the shoulder season leading up to summer as you have longer hours of daylight giving you more time to explore, manageable temperatures making it a very pleasant experience and of course less visitors. But yes there can be some chances of unexpected weather in the form of rain from time to time during this season.
Out and about Dalmatia
Split
Typically Split is the starting point to begin to ferry across the islands and finish at Dubrovnik. It is generally also the place from where several yacht companies begin their tours from (some also begin from Trogir and some start from Dubrovnik). Split is a popular city and many tourists set foot here for its posh restaurants on the ‘Riva promenade’, the Diocletian’s Palace and the area around it which is the place to be after the sun sets. Speaking of sun sets two other absolutely stunning places to be are the Marjan hill, it a hike to get here but the city view from this spot is breathtaking. Another place as incredible for sunset would be Bacvice beach, shallow waters ideal conditions to swim! Ideally a couple of days are good to explore this city. Sexy Cow is a great place to get some delicious wraps. It’s got vegetarian and vegan option as well and is budget friendly. Kanoba Fratelli is another great place in the city. It is priced on the higher side and comes with a great view.
Brac is less touristy regardless of its close proximity to Split. In my opinion underrated but however an incredible Mediterranean vibe on this island, super scenic as it is home to the Zlatni Rat beach, the most stunning and beautiful beach on the Adriatic Sea. Zlatni Rat translates to golden cape is a great pebble beach and is the symbol of Croatian tourism. This beach changes its shape depending upon the direction from where the wind is blowing. Brac is a treat for an adventure lover as it is home to Vidova Gora the highest peak of the Adriatic. A typical early morning start is recommended if you plan to hike up to this peak. The hike takes about 6 hours in total to complete both ascend and descend. On a clear day you can spot the Zlatni Rat beach and the island of Hvar from the peak. Alternatively you can also opt to hire a bi cycle and ride up to the peak. It is a moderately difficult hike and you do not need any professional hiking boots or gear. The path is well marked and a map is also not needed. You can finish the hike and cool off at the super cool Zlatni rat beach. Preferably 24 hours is great to explore these places. Top place to stay on the island would be on Bol town. A great place to grab a cheap short eat would be Food2go. It has got a great view from its terrace seating area. Alternatively you can also explore the towns of Supetar and Milna on the island.
Hvar
Hvar attracts many tourists and is one of the busiest ports of Croatia. It is very popular amongst the young as the vibe here is much more oriented to nightlife. However in contradiction it is the only island on the Dalmatian which is blessed with most hours of sunshine. Yes, places like Hula – Hula and Carpe Diem are where you should be after sunsets but during the hours of daylight there are several places to explore. The Hvar fortress is one place where you can take in an epic view of the island. The hike up to the fortress is not at all tiresome at all. There is an entrance to the fortress and you may choose to avoid it as the view from a spot a few meters away is of the same. A top recommendation on this island would be the super cool Dubovica Beach. It is a pebble beach which is worth all the effort to get here. Yes you have to hike down a hill to get to this beach and it takes about 20 minutes to hike down and about 45 minutes to get back up. On the Island of Hvar, Stari Grad is another great town to explore. Rich in culture of history this town is a great place to visit on a day trip from Hvar town. When it comes to day trips from Hvar town you can also opt for the blue cave day trip and visit island Vis. Vis, is an incredible island and has many hidden stunning beaches and breathtaking landscapes to offer. Hvar can be an incredible option to explore for a couple of days.
Korcula is definitely one of the most authentic islands of the Dalmatian archipelago. It may not be a popular place nor is it a very big island but it is sure to take your breath away with is sublime beauty. Located on this island is the birth place of the legend traveler Marco Polo, which is a pretty cool place to visit and go back in time. The St. Mark’s Cathedral is another recommendation to explore at the Old Town of Korcula. It is made of typical Korcula limestone in a Gothic – Renaissance style, an architectural marvel. The island is also home to a number of stunning beaches such as Pupnatska Luka, Lumbarda, Brna, and Prigradica and of course the town of Vela Luka on this island is home to the stunning Proizd beach. There are beach tours that run from the tourist office at Old Town Korcula to several beaches in the island, also there are also many day trips to Vela Luka which can be fun and adventurous. Typically a day maybe slightly more is enough to explore this island. When it comes to eateries you will get an authentic experience of the cuisines here, however the restaurants are not as fancy as Hvar or Brac. Day trips to the stunning island of Mljet can also be possible from Korcula. Mljet is a national park with one of the best landscapes in Croatia
A perfect Mediterranean vibe here with the waves of cobalt blue Adriatic Sea smashing on the ancient walled medieval city. The architecture and iconic sites at the old town are so well preserved, makes you go back in time and with some epic historic vibes. There is a lot to do in Dubrovnik, but you can more or less finish many of the spots in a day if you are short on time. Preferably 2 days is great where you can relax and explore all the spots and binge eat your way at the many classy restaurants here. Top recommendations here would be to get lost in the Old Town, walk along the Stradun and explore the City walls. Of course, these places are a must visit despite being super crowded. Top hack would be to start early and explore these spots at 6am; you would easily finish by 9am that’s before the many tour groups begin. Banje Beach is a great place to get a tan and its stunning location with the Old Town as the back drop makes it totally worth it. You have many option of restaurants at the Old Town, however if you looking for a great budget eatery, Tobasco is the place to go. It is located just below the Zicara Cable Car is this pizzeria it flawless by all means. Take a ride up to Mt. Srd on the cable car to get a bird’s eye view of the incredible city of with the Old Town being the highlight. In case the cable car is not in function you can drive up, take a taxi or use public transport. You also have the option of hiking up there which would take almost an hour. If you are a Game of Thrones fan you can take the walking tour which highlights the locations where the epic series was filmed. With an extra day in Dubrovnik you can visit the island of Lokrum on a day trip. Dubrovnik is easily accessible by road and you have several bus options from Split or Zagreb. From the island you can easily take a ferry to get here. Alternatively if you want to fly in or out, it is possible as there is a fully functional airport in this city.
