When the time comes for you to pack your case, book your plane tickets, and jet off abroad for your next holiday, where will you be heading to first? Spain? Italy? Portugal perhaps?
Whereas these are all awesome suggestions, if you’re like me, you might want to think outside of the box and try somewhere a little different.
During the course of the last several years, I’ve noticed that there are more and more people visiting the stunning country of Croatia, both for extended weekend getaways, and weekly or fortnightly holidays too. This is why I’m going to be talking to you about Croatia in today’s article.
Croatia is a beautiful country with an even more beautiful and storied past, and it is quickly emerging as the next top holiday destination. Oh, and the beer is also well worth a visit.
If I’ve now got your attention, check out these se7en great reasons why you should visit Croatia.
Dubrovnik
Okay, I’m not usually one for trends and jumping on bandwagons which is why you’ll never see me on TikTok, but I must admit, thanks to the popularity of Game of Thrones, I have been converted into a huge fan of Dubrovnik.
Dubrovnik is THE place to visit if you travel to Croatia and once you set eyes upon the place, you’ll know why. In fact, if you’ve watched Game of Thrones and have seen ‘King’s Landing’ you’ll know what Dubrovnik looks like as that is where they filmed many of the scenes taking place in King’s Landing for the show.
Known as the ‘Pearl of the Adriatic’, this coastal town is stunning, complete with marble streets and Baroque buildings.
Because of the popularity of the show (let’s forget the final season, shall we?) Dubrovnik does get very busy, especially during peak season so if you’re not a fan of tourists, try visiting in the off-season.
The weather
For some reason, whenever people picture Croatia, they often associate it with grey skies and cooler climes, but that’s just not the case.
During the summer, clear blue skies and hot sunshine is the norm, as temps easily reach the high twenties, and that’s on cooler days.
If you want a holiday in the sun, it isn’t just places like Spain and Italy that will satisfy your UV cravings as the weather in Croatia is gorgeous for much of the year, especially the summer.
In fact, the weather can get too hot sometimes, so be sure to pack your sunscreen, and don’t worry, you’re almost certainly guaranteed a tan when you head home.
The beaches
Speaking of the glorious Croatian weather, if you want a true summer beach holiday, Croatia has a surprisingly high amount of beaches, and wow, are they glorious.
With clear blue waters, warm water temperatures, and picturesque surroundings, the beaches in Croatia are as good as any you’ll find in the Med, and they’re often quieter as well.
With secret coves, majestic cliff faces, olive groves, fig-trees, white pebbles, and golden sands, you can easily see why a day at the beach in Croatia comes so highly recommended.
One thing I will say, though, is the fact that you will need to do your research because many of the beaches here are actually pebble beaches, rather than sand, so just bear that in mind if you’re planning on sunbathing.
The wine
Wine makes everything better, or rather, good wine makes everything better, bad wine just tastes like alcoholic vinegar and leaves you with a horrendous hangover and a mouth as dry as sandpaper the next morning.
If you’re a true wine connoisseur, or if you just appreciate nice wine, forget France, forget Italy, and instead, get yourself over to Croatia!
For centuries, the island of Dalmatia, Croatia, has been synonymous with wine manufacturing as the climate, along with the quality of the soil and the weather conditions in general, make for perfect growing conditions for the many vineyards.
The majority of the wine produced here is white, though there are also some exceptional reds to sample, along with a few other delicious tipples.
Why not book a guided tour around a vineyard and/or wine cellar and see how the beverage is produced before sampling a few and taking a bottle or two back to your accommodation or even back home?
Plitvice Lakes National Park
There are, without a doubt, some truly stunning National Parks located all over the globe, and Croatia is no exception.
Home to picturesque countryside, arguably Croatia’s finest National Park is Plitvice Lakes.
Situated in a canyon complete with lush green forests you’ll find sixteen crystal blue lakes, all linked up by a series of amazing waterfalls and exciting hiking trails offering spectacular panoramic views and vistas.
If you enjoy the great outdoors and love the countryside and nature in general, you must visit this National Park as it is home to all kinds of wildlife and some of the most stunning views you’ll ever see in your entire life.
Split
Though Dubrovnik grabs a lot of the attention, you can’t talk about urban settings in Croatia without talking about Split.
The split features a seaside promenade complete with an Ancient Roman palace, high walls, amazing architecture, and a vast array of eateries and shops selling all kinds of wares.
Split is the second biggest city in Croatia and is a firm favourite amongst people looking for a city break without being more than a few minutes away from the sea.
The food
As regular readers of mine will know, I’m a big foodie and the food in Croatia is definitely the main selling point for a holiday there as far as I’m concerned.
If you enjoy your food, you’ll love Croatia as it is home to some of the finest cuisines on the planet.
Black Risotto, for example, is made with squid or cuttlefish ink, garlic, olive oil, and other delicious ingredients and is unmissable due to its amazing jet black appearance.
Buzara is another dish that you simply must try, especially if you enjoy seafood as it is made using fresh mussels, often caught hours earlier, garlic, Croatian white wine, and breadcrumbs.
In fact, the seafood in general here is gorgeous, and as you know, you can’t visit the sea without eating seafood.
So what do you think? Are you ready for a wonderful vacation in Croatia?
Until next time stay safe, stay curious and don’t stop wandering!
