Travel to Croatia. How to go to Croatia yourself, a detailed plan

When similar questions about one country are asked more than three times a day, I sit down and write an article so as not to repeat myself.

IN Croatia we have been several times, the closest of which is September 2017, in the new season we may also stop by on the way to Montenegro. Frequently asked questions about Croatia - the weather, how much it costs holidays in Croatia how to relax, so that near the sea, cheap and not crowded, there was even a wish about a volleyball court nearby. As for the volleyball court, I'm not sure, but with the rest everything is less clear and will work out - I'm sure. About my Croatian top best places I will also tell you.

Visa to Croatia

Citizens of Ukraine do not need a visa to Croatia, Russians and Belarusians need to get a Croatian national visa - as far as I know, this does not present any serious problems and is solved independently.

Those who have a multiple entry Schengen visa do not need to obtain a Croatian visa. Multischengen entitles you to travel to Croatia, since although it is not part of the Schengen zone, it is a member of the European Union.

What is the currency in Croatia and where to change money

The local currency is the Kuna, the exchange rate to the Euro is 1 Euro = 7.39 kunas

Cards are accepted almost everywhere, it is better to have money in the ratio of cash / card 1: 3. Basic payments - from the card. Only kunas or cash Euros can be accepted for apartments.

There are enough exchange offices both on the coast and in cities.

How to travel to Croatia

From Ukraine there are no convenient and cheap flights to Croatia, even with a transfer.

There are two ways out of this "problem".

For those who are too lazy or uncomfortable to drive for a long time and since you still need a car in Croatia, you can buy cheap flights to Budapest. Today it can be done for 40-50 euros round trip. In Budapest, rent a car and travel further by car.

The second way, and I like it more, is to drive your own car, which is 1900 km. if you go from Kyiv to Split. At the same time, we “lose” a day on the way, but we go through the picturesque Carpathians, you can make a stop in no less beautiful Lviv and in no less beautiful Budapest . If you have a family vacation, it's cheaper than renting a car and more freedom.

If there is from your city direct flights to Split or convenient transfer, then it is better to fly to Split and there either take a bus to the chosen vacation spot (worse) or rent a car (better) and continue the journey autonomously and comfortably.

How to choose a resort in Croatia

Here I could say that Google is to help, because there are a lot of resorts and places to stay in Croatia for every taste and budget. In my several trips to this country, I have visited no less than twenty places and a dozen islands, and this is minuscule compared to what is in this country. I advise only from where I was and, by the way, on my first trip, I also listened to the advice and did not regret it.

This is the sea, so we choose resorts on the coast, and we will go on an excursion to the mountains and lakes, I’ll tell you where below.

When choosing a location for sea ​​recreation I distinguish for myself north of Croatia- This Istrian peninsula(Rovinj, Pula, Rijeka and surrounding villages) and Dolmatia- everything to the south (lower on the map) from the city of Split up to Dubrovnik. Go in a separate line Croatian islands . On the islands, holidays are a little more expensive and not always better. I'll also talk about the islands.

In the north there is more history and less sea and beaches, in the south there is more sea and less history- but there is Split and Dubrovnik. And there and there are wonderful small towns and beaches, just in different proportions. Again, in my humble opinion.

Sometimes the richness of the choice of a place to stay makes it difficult to choose this very place. That is, when there are too many locations about which little is known to the beginner. This is exactly that country.

So if you are going to Croatia for the first time, let me recommend you South Dolmatia, namely Makarska Riviera- so that you will surely like it. Here you can choose from small towns-resorts - Makarska, Podgora, Baska Voda, Brela, Omis. Omiš is a specific place, because here the river flows into the sea and sea water mixes with fresh water, but there are sandy beaches and a pretty town in general, and not far from Split.

What are the beaches in Croatia

IN Croatia some of the best beaches in Europe and a sea that only Greece.

Majority Croatian beaches small pebbles, often the pebbles are so small that they look like coarse sand, for example on Bol beach (Brac island). There are places with sandy beaches, for example, in the area of ​​​​the city of Omis - on the coast of Dolmatia near Split.

The pebbles are small and pleasant, that is, not at all the same as in Nice or, for example, in the Crimea. Swimming, however, is better in slippers - there are places with sea ​​urchins. I do not use slippers for swimming, everything is visible and so. The water is so clear that it is scary to swim in it - it seems that you are hanging high in the air.

Seasons in Croatia, weather

Oddly enough, given the fact that Croatia is located in the south of Europe, a full-fledged beach and sea season begins only at the end of June. During this period, the water temperature is slightly more than 20 degrees (sometimes lower). I remember our sailing trip in the Adriatic at the end of June - I didn’t want to swim for a long time and often, in the evening it was noticeably cool, although it doesn’t happen year after year.

The most comfortable temperature of water and air - July August, at the same time maximum people and maximum prices. Let's talk about prices below. Little life hack - it's better to go to holiday in Croatia V end of August with the transition to September, at this time the people are moving in reverse direction- returns home from the resorts and you can find a comfortable atmosphere when it is still warm and there are already fewer people (but still quite a lot).

IN September it gradually becomes cooler - the air is up to +25-28, the water is as warm as in August, up to +28. At the end of September it can rain, the water is still very "bathing" - up to +22 at least, the air is about the same. Bonus - a perfect minimum of people, while all the establishments work.

My pick of the season in Croatia - beginning of September. Pleasant housing prices, warmth and a minimum of people.

Just travel around Croatia possible in any season, all year round.

Top 5 places to visit in Croatia

In Croatia, you can choose a place using a random glance at the map, and most likely you will not be mistaken - each town or piece of coast, in its own way, is interesting and comfortable for recreation. But, of course, there are top five places worth visiting.

A lot has already been written and rewritten on this topic, but often these are travel sites that copy materials from each other or simply make a hodgepodge of several articles.

When choosing places for excursions, I would focus on where you are going to rest, in which part of Croatia.

If you are planning a vacation peninsula of Istria- then necessarily such cities as Pula, Rovinj, Porec and Rijeka. Generally in Istria beautiful coast, picturesque bays surrounded by Croatian pines. Plus add the first two places here from the Top 5 below, they are available from Istria as well.

If you chose Dolmatia for your vacation - that is, everything south of Split, then the TOP-5 places may look something like this:

• Plitvice lakes

If you go by car - this is on the road, it is worth making a stop there and even spending the night;

• national park KRK, not to be confused with KRK island

In the KRK park, the lakes are similar to Plitvice, but you can swim in them. If there is no desire to go both there and there - choose one thing, both places are equally worthy. I would still choose the KRK National Park;

• Dubrovnik

The city is certainly crowded with tourists and in the summer it is a perfect hell, but I can not advise it. Dubrovnik is a beauty, try to get there early in the morning or during the low season, in September, for example;

• Biokovo National Park

It's in the mountains, the most high peak Croatia (if I'm not mistaken) - Mount St. Jura. But it's not even about the numbers above sea level, it's unusually beautiful at sunset, plus a view of the islands and the Adriatic coast. It is very close to Makarska, but the road is serpentine, and it is quite narrow, you just need to drive carefully and there will be no problems.

• Road along the Adriatic Sea

The road from Split to Durovnik along the sea, not to be confused with the autobahn that goes along the top in the mountains. This is one of the most beautiful roads in Europe and in the world through which I passed. Be sure to ride along it along the sea - you will want to make stops every five minutes. Plan on this road for at least three hours from Split to Dubrovnik, including stops.

What you need to know as a driver in Croatia

How to travel through Hungary by car and generally move around Hungary, I already.

IN Croatia eat like toll roads as well as free. Driving on the autobahns is quite fast and they are needed to get from point A to point B. For example, on the way there or back from Ukraine or Hungary.

Most even minor roads in Croatia excellent quality, no worse than Austrian or German, sometimes even better.

Autobahns in Croatia dear, it's because of the tunnels and mountainous terrain. But extremely beautiful.

Autobahns are paid by card or cash Euro or local currency - Kuna. There are several payment points on the way from Budapest, for example. We just drive up to the payment point and hold out a card or cash through the window, before entering the payment point we pay attention to the signs at the top - we need the row on which the little man is drawn in the window. Even if you miss, they will let you through, the people here are nice.

Total for travel within Croatia if you go from Budapest to Split you will need about 40 Euro, the same back.

• split for a while, but you can skip it because it is too noisy, big and partyy or combine it with a trip to the islands;
• Zadar - history and nice to walk
• Trogir - very beautiful and ancient
• Milna, town and marina on the island of Hvar
• Old Town - Island of Hvar
• The city of Hvar on the island of the same name Hvar

I do not recommend spend time in Zagreb, an ordinary European city, if you have been to many places in Europe, feel free to move on.

I do not recommend buying into tourist brochures and going to Golden Horn beach near the city of Bol on the island of Brac - it is beautiful only from the height of a quadrocopter, otherwise it is an ordinary beach with an insane amount of people. We approached it from the sea, there was an opportunity to evaluate and quickly escape to the yacht.

TOP 5 Croatian Islands

The Croatian Islands are a separate topic and have already been written about them. I will only list those islands that I really liked and to which I would like to return.

Many of the islands can be reached by ferry from Split, or by car. You buy tickets for the ferry at the box office on the pier - this is the center of the city of Split, next to the embankment.

• Hvar island– self-sufficient place and how seaside resort and how to walk and see
• Mljet Island, untouched nature, forests and vineyards. The complete opposite of touristy Dubrovnik and an oasis of calm
• Island of Vis – small island a little further than the island of Hvar, it is also available from Split; very cute and beautiful - fun enough to spend a whole day here. We even rented a car here for three hours, the first time we had used an hourly car rental;
• Korcula Island, located just opposite Makarska Riviera, you can get there by ferry from Split and Dubrovnik. Many secluded and sparsely populated bays and beaches, nature and ancient stone towns.
• Island of Brac just don't go to Golden Horn beach- a common product of marketing with crowds of tourists. It was not overcrowded even in the middle of June, that there in August I better not tell; I recommend town of Milna on the coast is a really beautiful place.

How to save money on holidays in Croatia

The Germans did Croatia expensive resort in a fairly short time. I felt the evolution of prices on myself, resting there in different years.

It’s really beautiful and varied there, and the Germans know a lot about good places for beach and sea holidays, preferring Greece and Croatia to other Mediterranean countries.

You can make your vacation cheaper:

• Drive your own car or rent a car with a company;
• Instead of hotels, choose apartments on the beach with a kitchen and other options; in some apartments, even sun loungers and other paid little things are included in the price;
• Cooking on your own or mixing lunch in a restaurant on the beach with a terrace near the house on the sea, I even find it difficult to say which is better
• To go on vacation in the low season - June or September, at this time a vacation in Croatia will not be more expensive than the Black Sea or cheap Albania and Montenegro - it was checked last fall for yourself.

Briefly, the algorithm of actions for self-organization of the trip

• We get a Croatian or multiple-entry Schengen visa if necessary;
• We choose the method of delivery for ourselves and friends - by car, by air plus by car or just by air.
• Choosing a resort in Croatia, for example Makarska Riviera or Istria
• Decide on the date of the trip
• We book accommodation, hotel or apartment
• If necessary
• We outline an approximate route and places worth visiting; when independent travel it can always be corrected or expanded;

Where to find cheap accommodation in Croatia

I usually look for hotels and apartments on websites Booking.com or Hotels Combined (RoomGuru), the latter is a search engine, here it is convenient to check the prices for the selected accommodation and then choose the site on which to book.

There is also a well-known site Airbnb, many people know about it but do not use it and completely in vain. Often apartments here are cheaper than on Booking - I usually check on all resources.

For those who are looking for housing for the first time Airbnb, can register follow this link and get a bonus for the first booking.

Where to find cheap flights to Split

If you decide to fly directly to Split then the cheap tickets I'm looking for www.aviasales.ru– here prices are often “tastier” than on Sky Scanner. Check tickets from your city with an interactive calendar low prices- a handy thing.

Where to rent a car in Croatia or Hungary

Beach holidays in Croatia attract the majority of visiting tourists. Rocky, rocky coastal zones occupy a significant part. But even in these areas all amenities for vacationers are created. There are also resorts with sandy, pebble beaches in the country.

Croatian cities have an originality, a unique charm. They carefully store architectural and cultural historical objects. Some monuments are included in the List world heritage UNESCO. Tourists are offered a lot interesting excursions allowing you to replenish your knowledge base.

Croatian resorts provide an opportunity to have a good time for fans active rest. There are many diving centers, tennis courts, volleyball and basketball courts. Hiking and bike routes, rally, sea fishing, yachting.

Beach holidays in Croatia

In Croatia there are several resort areas, the beaches of which have a certain specificity. It is possible to choose a city, taking into account your ideas about the ideal pastime.

Admirers natural beauties, lovers of cycling and hiking go to the resorts of the Istrian peninsula. The coast is mostly covered with stones. For convenience and comfort, concrete slabs have been laid on the banks, providing a safe entry into the water, it is possible to put sunbeds and umbrellas. Sea water purest, transparent. All kinds of water entertainments are organized. The resorts of this zone include: Opatija, Porec, Pula, Rovinj, the islands of Krk, Brijuni and others.

Lovers of a relaxing holiday, families with children prefer central Dalmatia, resorts located between the cities of Gradac and Sibenik. The beaches in this part of the coast are covered with small pebbles. The coast is surrounded pine forests, giving the air healing properties, a wonderful aroma. This group of resorts includes: Vodice, Makarska, Baska Voda, Brela, the islands of Hvar, Brac and others.

Fans of the highest category service, gourmets, connoisseurs luxurious beaches the best place recreation consider southern Dalmatia. The tourism infrastructure here is at the highest level, there are many luxurious hotels in the resorts. sandy coast provides maximum comfort. Elite places include: Slano, Plat, Mlynn, Lopud Islands, Vela Luka, Kolocep and others.

Excursion trips

Not only beach lovers are attracted to Croatia. Holidays in this country provide an opportunity to see many historical sights, unique natural places. Many cities have ancient history, originating in ancient times. They went through several periods of rule. All these eras have left a mark in the form architectural monuments to which tourist excursions are organized.

Among the country's most popular attractions is the ancient Roman amphitheater in Pula, preserved from the 1st century. Tourists often visit the palace complex of Diocletian, which was also built in the Roman era. The pearl of Croatia is the Cathedral of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary in the city of Dubrovnik.

Croatia has some of the most beautiful national parks. The most popular are the Plitvice Lakes. Many vacationers visit the Krka National Park, the Brijuni Islands.

Holiday seasons in 2019

Climatic features of Croatia, natural protection of coastal areas mountain ranges provide the maximum duration of the swimming season. In this country there are skiing, balneological resorts. Therefore, you can have a good time here at any time of the year.

High season

The swimming season in most resorts begins in late April - early May. At this time, the temperature of water and air is comfortable, there is no sweltering heat. The most favorable period is May-June, September-October. July and August are not suitable for people who do not tolerate high temperatures, the air can warm up to 32-34°C. However, prices for tours are high during these months, as most vacationers prefer to enjoy the warmth and bright sun.

In April-August, most of the festivals, exhibitions, concerts, competitions take place, which allows you to diversify your vacation, make it more vivid and memorable. In June, lovers of sea fishing come here.

There is also winter in Croatia high season. Many tourists come here in January-February, for the New Year and Christmas holidays.

low season

Sightseeing lovers can plan trips to Croatia from October to April. The cost of vouchers at this time is low, there are no crowds of tourists in the cities. This makes it possible to devote time to educational excursions. Many hotels in Croatian resorts have indoor pools with sea water. Therefore, during this period, vacationers can enjoy swimming.

In the low season, you can go to the balneological resorts of the country. High-quality treatment is provided by boarding houses and sanatoriums in the cities of Motovun, Makarska, on the islands of Hvar, Vela Luka and others.

my first independent travel was in Croatia. Summer was approaching, I wanted the sea, the sun, the comfort of the old European city, and at the same time did not want a long and stressful flight.
I always thought that independent travel is very difficult, you need to know the language perfectly, be able to book hotels, buy tickets, and not get lost in a foreign country - so I went straight to a travel agency.

A lot of options were worked out with the manager - Cyprus, Greece, Spain, Montenegro, Croatia, etc. We settled on Croatia - the country fully corresponded to my ideas about the right vacation, and also attracted summer period. The criteria for rest were as follows: Central Dalmatia, a small hotel without animation as close as possible to the sea, as well as relative proximity to some city, because I don’t like exclusively beach holiday. Surprisingly, my very modest desires could not be satisfied - either the hotel was too far away, or it was too big with animation and round-the-clock fun, or it simply did not satisfy my aesthetic ideas, or it was very expensive. That day I left with nothing and was terribly upset.

In the evening I went to the Internet, and, once again, after reading the reviews of independent travelers, I decided to act. On the websites I found information about airlines, special promotions and discounts on flights, sites where hotels are booked. It took one evening to book tickets. In the middle of May special offers little, the most profitable turned out to be from a tour operator in Croatia, and tickets for the Moscow-Split flight of Transaero airlines were purchased from him. To buy tickets, even a plastic card was not needed, the money was transferred using an instant transfer through a bank.

The next step was choosing a hotel. Everything was more complicated here, not because it is not easy to book a hotel (this procedure takes only a few minutes), but because it is not easy to decide on a hotel due to the variety of options offered. That's where the scope for creativity! No agency is able to offer so many different options. In the end, the choice fell on a place called Subcountry, near the Split and a small, cozy aparthotel with a kitchenette. I decided to book a hotel with a kitchen because there were very conflicting reviews about the village and, after reading them, I did not understand how things were with restaurants and cafes in the area. As a result, it turned out that I made my choice not in vain. I booked a hotel room on booking.com. Before my trip, which was scheduled for the end of June, there was a month and a half left.

Arriving in Croatia, we decided to go to Podstrana by taxi. As usual, you can take a taxi at the exit from the airport, only unlike in our country, you pay according to the meter and the taxi drivers are the nicest, most polite people who help you carry your luggage and open the door for you. Contrary to my expectations, there were no mountain serpentines, the trip turned out to be comfortable on a good, flat road. I heard that there are still serpentines closer to South Dalmatia. But there was no way to check. The trip took approximately 30 minutes and cost 60 euros. At the hotel we were met by the owner, who was called in advance by a warning taxi driver, and from that moment the vacation in Croatia began.

This is a wonderful country with clean air, azure sea smiling and friendly people. The language barrier?! It was easy for me there, although, contrary to numerous reviews, the Croatian language is completely incomprehensible and I do not find the slightest resemblance to the Russian language, it was easier to ask in English (although I know it very mediocrely), and sometimes in Russian.

Every day we went for a walk to nearby cities - Omis, Split, Trogir, fortunately, buses go there every half hour, and some of them have sea links. For example, from Omis and Split you can sail on an excursion to the Islands.

Croatian cities are a medieval fairy tale. Very cozy and unhurried, lined with paving stones, and in the center in the very heat, thanks to the stone and proximity to the sea, it blows with pleasant coolness - walking there is a real pleasure. Restaurants and cafes are everywhere, any street will definitely lead to one of them.

Prices are quite acceptable, for example, a portion of tuna or sea bream costs 500-600 rubles, salad 150-400 rubles, soup 100-300 rubles, coffee 100-120 rubles; The portions are huge, I had to repeatedly take away or take for two. All products are fresh and not only in restaurants. Croatian kitchen- delicious, but the most ordinary, without pretensions to sophistication. If it is meat or fish, then just grilled, salads are mostly without dressing, but there are always salt, pepper, balsamic vinegar and olive oil on the table so that visitors season the dishes to their liking.

In the markets you can buy seafood, excellent cheeses (I bought several varieties at home), prosciutto- dried meat, which is one of the national Croatian dishes, various fruits, the price of which is much cheaper than ours, and black and white truffles as a delicacy. Large selection of souvenirs, as in any resort town- all kinds of stone crafts in Trogir, lace weaved by Croatian old needlewomen right in the center of Split, local alcoholic drinks (travaritsa, slivovitz, etc.), silver jewelry (I was assured that jewelry with coral from local manufacturers), bags and oil with lavender, olive oil (our store does not compare with local ones), natural soap and traditional magnets. In my opinion, prices in Omiš are slightly lower than in Split and Trogir.

Now a little more about Podstrana. The village is very quiet and calm, I had Villa Jercan apartments near the sea, literally three steps to the water's edge. At the hotel private beach, at the entrance to the sea, the bottom is pebbly, and then sand - I am writing about this, because this fact surprised me, I thought that in Croatia there are pebbles almost everywhere, at least in this place for sure. The disadvantage of this place is that there are only two restaurants in the vicinity, approximately 500 m along the seashore, one grocery store, so it is more reasonable to rent a house in the village with at least a small kitchen for cooking the most necessary things.

Otherwise, everything is fine - proximity to Omiš and Split, stop next to the house, lack of crowds of tourists. A bus ticket to Split and Omiš costs 10-12 kunas, fixed-route taxi a little cheaper. The owner of the hotel organizes various excursions and extreme views recreation, car rental, offers taxi services for a moderate fee. You can go to the national park Krka, to oyster farms, as well as to visit many other interesting places.

If you are interested not only in a beach holiday, then one week will not be enough to travel around Croatia, the best option is two weeks - the time during which you can see the most popular sights, walk around the cities, explore the traditions and life of another country and have plenty of rest on the sea.

I would like to note that independent travel planning is not at all difficult, moreover, it is interesting, the process captured me so much that now I follow all the promotions offered by well-known airlines, as well as discounts on hotels in various countries. And I will organize the next trip myself, without travel agencies. Indeed, in addition to significant cost savings, it is also an incredible pleasure.

Capital: Zagreb

Currency: Kuna

Time: UTC+02:00

Thousands of magical emotions - your holiday in Croatia

Croatia is a cozy world in which the most modern beaches coexist with delightful forests, hills and mountains. Croatia has a special, poetic name -

“The country of a thousand islands”, although it actually has about 1185 islands. Each island is a bright piece of the natural mosaic of Croatia, which has been admired for many years not only by tourists, but also by world-famous artists.

The poetic charm of Croatia cannot be denied. I spent my time here Honeymoon Agatha Christie is a detective legend. Rest here from century to century enjoyed the kings and emperors. Croatia was sung by Lord Byron, Jack London, Yesenin, Chekhov and other masters of the word.

Contemporary art has also not bypassed Croatia: not so long ago picturesque city Dubrovnik became the prototype King's Landing in "Game of Thrones" - one of the most popular series of our time.

Tours to Croatia will give you thousands of magical emotions and thousands of truly beautiful photos! Prepare cameras, photo albums and more free space on your computer - unforgettable experience there will be a lot and a lot. As well as new screensavers on the desktop;)

Enjoy painting sea voyages

A beach holiday in Croatia seems somewhat unusual at first glance. Of course, here you can just walk to the seashore, enjoy the salty freshness of the air and raise fountains of sparkling spray. But beach trips in Croatia are primarily contemplation and enjoyment of exquisite nature.

Poetic relaxation and an endless series of delights are combined with an excellent opportunity to get the most chocolate tan in the world. From May to October, pleasant Mediterranean weather reigns in Croatia: the air temperature is kept around 30 degrees, and the water is 25-28.

At the very end of summer, the long-awaited the Velvet season- a magical time of calm. The popularity of tours to Croatia just rolls over, and this is understandable: in the most “velvet” summer heat subsides, and young people return home to prepare for work and school days.

We advise you to start your trip from Dubrovnik! This ancient fortress has retained the mystery and charm of magical antiquity. Adriatic waves breaking against high walls, bright roofs of toy houses, the light of magnificent street lamps in romantic bays... Rest here will be a romantic gift for couples in love and an interesting adventure for both young people and older people.

Poreč is another urban miracle of Croatia, attracting not only tourists, but also artists. All sorts of creative festivals are constantly held here, and on the streets you can often hear inspired music or poetry reading. The green beaches of Poreč are no less graceful and picturesque than the city itself.

You will find many other beaches on the island of Istria, as well as in South and Central Dalmatia. Somewhere the beaches are rocky, somewhere - pebble. Sandy places are not so common in Croatia, but each of them is a real work of art. What are at least the famous beaches on the islands - Korcula, Moru, Zadar ... We highly recommend visiting the resort of Split, which is famous throughout Europe for its clear sea.

Every year yachtsmen and amateurs come to Croatia water sports. The conditions for all kinds of marine entertainment are simply excellent! Thousands of ports can be visited in this region, many of which are well equipped for all types of water tourism.

When traveling along the beaches, do not forget to look into Croatian restaurants and taverns, which are called "Konobe" in the local language. There you will discover the enchanting tastes of the Adriatic cuisine: delicious stewed cabbage, Juha soup, sheep cheese, fish baked in different ways, shrimp, shells and other seafood. Do not forget to try the prosciutto - a charcoal-smoked ham dried in the sea wind.

End your meal in sweet colors: try Croatian cakes and pastries, chestnuts, zuccarines, biscuits and even local brushwood. Various wines go well with these treats, especially red ones - they often arrive on the shelves and tables straight from the hot Istria.

Obvious-incredible: interesting holiday ideas in Croatia

For lovers of everything unusual, mysterious and inspiring, Croatia has in store a lot of sightseeing wonders. And one of the most striking is a trip to Plitvice Lakes! This is a real natural masterpiece, which has long graced the pages of hundreds of geographical magazines. The national park covers an area of ​​217 hectares and includes 16 different lakes and a huge number of waterfalls. With its mesmerizing atmosphere, this place is somewhat reminiscent of the Iguazu Falls on the border of Argentina.

In the capital of Croatia, Zagreb, a very unusual discovery awaits you - the Museum of Failed Relationships. It is sometimes also referred to as the "Divorce Museum" or the "Museum of Broken Hearts". Also in Zagreb there is a technical museum and an extensive

a zoo full of "worldwide" flora and fauna.

And some more amazing stuff! Want to see… walking fish? Yes, yes, fish on real legs! Go to Poreč and look into the Baredine cave - there, at a depth of 60 meters, there is a special kind of fish that have legs (they are very reminiscent of lizards). Interestingly, the skin of these fish is almost the same color as that of humans. Excursions to "human" fish are in the highest demand in this place.

If you like "road romance", be sure to rent a car and drive around Croatia with a breeze! Driving along the road and looking at the magnificent landscapes is a special, very “Croatian” pleasure. What is at least a picturesque road from Split to Cavtat! Just be careful with these beautiful views drive

and you can stop forever.

TUI is your trusted tour operator in Croatia

Decided to visit Croatia? Do you want to enjoy a holiday without worries and worries? Contact us! We will be happy to select exactly the tour that will meet your expectations and possibilities. All you need is the desire to plunge into the fabulous nature and recharge with its unique energy.

Holidays with TUI are 100% reliable! We are the European leader in tourism, and we put at the forefront high quality services. Traveling with us, you can be sure that your money will not be lost or “burned out” for any reason.

Holidays in Croatia are suitable for all categories of tourists:

• For families with children, there are family rooms, mini clubs, children's pools, a special children's menu and equipment in hotels.
• Young people and all lovers of noisy parties will enjoy a large selection of hotels near bars and discos.
• For those who just want to relax and forget about the bustle of the city, hotels with SPA centers are perfect.
• Tourists who prefer relaxing holiday, we will easily pick up quiet hotels with interesting, but unobtrusive animation.
• There are also hotels for budget travelers that offer excellent value for money.

Geographic location

The Republic of Croatia is located in Central Europe, borders in the north - with Slovenia, in the east - with Hungary and Serbia, in the southeast - with Bosnia and Herzegovina, in the south - with Montenegro, from the west the country is washed by the Adriatic Sea. According to natural and climatic conditions, the country is divided into four regions: Istria, Kvarner, Gorski Kotar and Lika in the northwest; Dalmatia in the central and southern part of the Adriatic coast, the Northwestern region in the central continental part, as well as Slavonia, Baranya and Srem in the east.

Religion

Religion: 87.8% - Catholics, 4.42% - Orthodox, 1.2% - Muslims, 0.19% - Protestants.

Climate

On the territory of Croatia, two types of climate can be distinguished: within the country - temperate continental, with cold winters and moderately warm summers, and on the Adriatic coast - Mediterranean with warm, humid winters (+9..+15°C) and hot dry summers (+25..+29°C).

Currency

The official currency of Croatia is the kuna (1 kuna = 100 lip).

Foreign currency can be exchanged at a bank, exchange office, post office, travel agencies, hotels and campsites.

Credit cards (Mastercard, Visa, American Express and Diners) are accepted in almost all hotels, marinas (marinas), restaurants and shops, as well as at ATMs.

1 US dollar $ ~ 6.5 kn
1 euro € ~ 7.5 kunas

Language

Official language- Croatian, in Istria the second language is Italian.

The shops

Shops are open from 08.00 to 20.00, and in high season from 06.00 to 12.00 and from 17.00 to 22.00. From two o'clock in the afternoon until five, when the sun is especially hot, many shops are generally closed: it's time for a midday rest - siesta.

Time

Kitchen

In addition to the usual European cuisine, Croatian guests are offered national dishes. Traditional Croatian snacks include: Dalmatian or Istrian “prosciutto” (raw smoked ham), Pasha (from the island of Pag) or lichka (from the Lika region) cheese, sheep cheese, Slavonian “kulen” (a variety of spicy salami), famous Samobor or Zagorsk “chesnevki” (spicy sausages), fresh homemade cottage cheese with homemade sour cream, etc. In Dalmatia, Primorye , on the islands and on the Istrian peninsula, the main dishes are prepared from fish and seafood, and the most popular meat dishes are “pašticada” (spicy beef dish) and boiled young lamb. The mainland of Croatia is distinguished by a rich choice of meat dishes, and specialties such as turkey with “mlinci” (a type of pasta), baked lamb and piglet, as well as boiled or baked “strukli” (cottage cheese pies) occupy a special place on the menu here.

Croatia is rich in the tradition of winemaking, both in the continental part of the country, and in Primorye and Dalmatia. Of the strong alcoholic drinks, various varieties of brandy are most famous: slivovitz (from plums), travaritsa (from herbs) and lozovacha and biska (from grapes), and from dessert wines - proshek and maraschino.

Population

about 4,250,000 people, 90% Croats, 4% Serbs, 0.17% Bosnians, 0.3% Hungarians, 0.4% Italians, 0.25% Slovenes, Czechs, Albanians, Gypsies, Montenegrins and Macedonians also live

Tips

In hotels, restaurants and taxis, if the service charge is not included in the bill, the tip is 10%. If the cost of service is included in the bill, then the tourist is not required to pay a tip. It is also customary to leave tips for guides and bartenders.

Souvenirs and shopping

edible souvenirs from Croatia- wine, cheese, prosciutto (smoked pork ham), butter.
Office souvenirs from Croatia. These are ties, neckerchiefs and fountain pens.
cute souvenirs from Croatia. Such souvenirs are usually brought to women. Among such pleasant gifts are unique lace from the islands of Croatia, home-made figured candles, aromatic oils.

Transport

The most common form of public transport in Croatia is the bus. A dense network of bus routes covers the whole country, buses run in all directions every hour. The bus fare is low, they are comfortable and air-conditioned. Well developed and international bus service. Bus routes run to Croatia from many European countries.

In addition to buses major cities(in Zagreb and Osijek) there is also a network of tram lines. Tickets are sold, as a rule, in the passenger compartment of the bus or tram or at newsstands.

Cycling is also popular in Croatia (especially in Istria, where there are many cycling routes).

Net railways connects all major Croatian cities, with the exception of Dubrovnik (you can take a train to Split and then a ferry to Dubrovnik).

To rent a car in Croatia, you must be at least 21 years old, have a driving experience of at least 3 years, credit card(or bail), passport and driver's license.

Safety

Security is another redeeming side of Croatia. Today, there are not many places on earth where you can feel completely safe.

Croatia is one of the most safe countries. Here you can forget your wallet on a table in a cafe and return an hour later to find it in the same place safe and sound. They don't steal here. But don't forget that in tourist season there are a lot of visitors here, and do not make such experiments, so as not to accidentally overshadow your stay in the country.

Beach

All beaches in Croatia are free. Only the rental of sun loungers and umbrellas is paid. Most of the beaches are pebbly or artificial (in the form of a concrete platform). The swimming season lasts from late May to mid-September.

Do you know that…

Croats are a very resourceful people. On account of the natives of this country, the creation of a modern torpedo, the discovery of alternating current, the invention of a mechanical pen, fountain pen, tie and parachute, the beginning of naturalism and the birth of fingerprinting. Here is a one-of-a-kind beach that changes its shape depending on the direction of the wind. It is called the Golden Cape and is located on about. Brach. By the way, it was on this island that marble was mined for the construction of the White House in Washington. Another "wonder of nature" can be observed in national reserve on about. Mljet. More precisely, on one of its salt lakes, which has its own island - the island of St. Mary. This phenomenon is also called "an island on an island." Finally, on the Istrian peninsula, in Završe, there is leaning tower of pisa. Its height is 22 m, while it deviates by 44 cm.

Resorts

The Istrian peninsula is the most popular tourist region in Croatia due to its rich history, many architectural monuments, ancient beautiful towns in the Venetian style, the cleanest sea, magnificent beaches and excellent opportunities for a comfortable stay. The beaches on the peninsula are mostly artificial concrete platforms, natural rocks and plateaus. From Istria you can visit 2 out of 7 national parks Croatia - Plitvice lakes and Brijuni archipelago. The road to the south leads to Dalmatia. This fairly large region is divided into northern, middle (central) and southern parts. The coast of Central Dalmatia is one of the most beautiful in the entire Adriatic. The main resorts of Central Dalmatia are Split, Trogir, Sibenik, Makarska. Each city is unique and has only its characteristic features. It is generally accepted that the most picturesque part of Central Dalmatia is the Makarska Riviera, where best beaches Croatia.
South Dalmatia is a land of mountains and islands. Here, on the Peljesac peninsula, the best oysters in Dalmatia are grown and the most famous Croatian wines are produced - Dingach, Postup and Malvasia. One of the most popular resorts Southern Dalmatia is Dubrovnik. Dubrovnik is what is called a “must see” for all tourists who appreciate cultural attractions: Dubrovnik is included in the top three by UNESCO most beautiful cities- monuments of Europe of the Renaissance. The other two cities are Venice and Amsterdam.
The main natural attraction of South Dalmatia is its islands. The largest of them are Korcula, Mljet and the Kornati archipelago.