Croatia is proudly called the pearl of the Adriatic. It has become a hot European tourist destination over the last few years. Why wouldn’t it be? Croatia has a long, magnificent coastal line, reasonable prices, and solid infrastructure. Recently, camper vans have become a hot form of vacationing along the Dalmation Coast. I visited Croatia 3 times, and each experience was vastly different yet unforgettable. So here are the experiences in Croatia that are some of the most memorable.
Croatia in the wintertime
My first time in Croatia was very unconventional. My husband and I drove to Plitvice Lakes National Park from Trieste. This probably comes as the first thing to do in Croatia, and ordinary people flock to this place in summer. We’re not typical; therefore, we went in January.
Of course, the difference is striking when you compare pictures taken there in the summertime versus the winter. I would never argue Plitvice Lakes National Park is more beautiful when covered in snow. However, winter scenery has its own charm. Frozen waterfalls look like they are out of this world. And most importantly, the whole park was basically just for us. We walked on the snowy paths at our own pace, without being pushed around by tons of tourists. This is one of the main complaints of those visiting during the summer. Masses of tourists just flood this magnificent place, and it’s hard to find a peaceful spot to admire this nature’s wonder.
We then drove to the coastal city of Zadar. Its famous old town, influenced by Venetians and Romans, is located on a peninsula. I remember arriving there in the late evening. We walked to the well-known Roman Forum, St. Anastasia’s Cathedral. Then we went back to our hotel because we had big plans for the upcoming day.
We woke up early and hurried to the Sea Organ to greet the sunrise the next day. The Sea Organ is probably the leading tourist site in Zadar. Descending into the sea, the marble steps create an improvised musical instrument. When waves hit these steps and tubes underneath them, it creates music. That morning, we were the only ones sitting there and enjoying a concert dedicated just for us.
Next to the Sea Organ, there is another sightseeing called Sun Salutation. To put it simply, it is a 22-meter diameter glass-covered circle with solar modules underneath it. During the daytime, the energy gathered from the sun is transformed into a light show in the evenings.
Cruise stop in Dubrovnik
My second time in Croatia was concise, approximately just 6 hours when we were on a 7-day Greek island cruise in mid-summer. We had an excursion to Srd Hill, which is one of the main highlights of Dubrovnik. This hill is accessible by cable car, and from there, the whole old town and Dalmatian coast are beneath your feet.
Then we descended from the heavens into the Dubrovnik old town. Undoubtedly, it’s fantastic with all these defensive walls, narrow streets, and alleys. Stradun – the main pedestrian street, is packed with restaurants, bars, and souvenir shops. We spent most of our time looking for these famous walk of shame steps from GOT. After getting lost a few times in that endless street maze, we finally found it.
What we managed to see in Dubrovnik was just the tip of the iceberg, and I would like to spend at least 3 days there to gather a more detailed picture of this Croatian city.
Two weeks in Šibenik
First things first: how did I end up in Sibenik? I volunteered at this coastal town’s international kid’s festival for two weeks. I had plenty of free time on my hands; hence, I used it wisely and traveled a bit.
1. Sibenik
This Dalmatian coast town is in the middle between Zadar and Split. It is also called a gateway to the famous Kornati islands. Sibenik is a small town with a population of around 35 thousand inhabitants. In the summer season, this number increases; however, it doesn’t feel overcrowded as Dubrovnik or Split.
And here we come to the most significant advantage of this place: it’s calm, and thousands of tourists don’t flood the tiny streets of Sibenik. Croatia is an affordable holiday destination, but I’ve noticed a striking difference between prices in Split and Sibenik. The latter will empty your wallet less quickly.
Sibenik has a small city beach within walking distance from the old town. The larger beaches and resorts are located further away and accessible by public transport. On top of a hill, there is a Barone fortress from where you can see beautiful sunsets. Other main highlights of Sibenik are St. Michael’s fortress, St. James Cathedral, and Old Town Hall.
I didn’t experience a wild, mind-blowing nightlife in Sibenik, but I genuinely enjoyed my time there. If you look for excellent weather, friendly prices, delicious foods, and a relaxing atmosphere, this might be a place to consider. At least go there for a day trip.
2. Krka National Park
Krka National Park is another well-known naturalistic place in Croatia, less than 20 minutes away from Sibenik. The park takes an area of 109 square kilometers along the Krka river.
Like many other naturalistic parks, this one also has no challenging walking trails leading through lush forests full of local flora and fauna. However, the main attraction in Krka National Park is the Skradinski Buk. This is a large natural pool with crystal clear water where several waterfalls cascade to the pool below. Visitors are welcome to swim in these clear but chilly waters.
3. Kaprije Island
Kaprije island is one of the six permanently inhabited islands of the Sibenik archipelago. This place is easily accessible by ferry. On the way, you’ll also pass St. Nicholas’ fortress, which is included in the UNESCO World Heritage Site list. Bear in mind that Kaprije banned motor traffic; therefore, you’ll need to burn more calories walking. The population of Kaprije is less than 200 people. The island got its name from a caper bush abundant on the Dalmatian coast.
You will ultimately get peace when you mix together a small remote island with its tiny population with no motorist noise. I went there with another volunteer. We got off the ferry together with a couple of older ladies who obviously went to Sibenik for grocery shopping. The ladies hurried away, and my friend and I were left alone on a small pier.
My last line might sound a bit dramatic, but this is how it actually felt. It was dead quiet, with no people around, just cicadas playing their music. We didn’t have an actual plan of what to do in Kaprije, so first of all, we decided just to find a lovely beach. And we found a fantastic place with such clear water that I hadn’t seen before. Again, we had this beach entirely for ourselves. Then, we decided to climb the highest peak of the island. It was a bit challenging due to the heat, but oh boy, the panorama took my breath away.
4. Split
Split is the biggest city on the Dalmatian coast. I took a day trip from Sibenik to explore this place since I’ve heard so many praises and recommendations.
Split has a very unique old town. Roman Emperor Diocletian built a vast palace in the III century AD. Now, the central part of Split’s old town is located within the walls of this structure. The main points of interest in the Split old town are Saint Domnius cathedral, Peristyle Square, and the Temple of Jupiter.
Riva is another famous place in Split, outside the Diocletian Palace. It has a seafront promenade where tourists can find bars, restaurants, and souvenir shops. You know, the usual stuff. Or you can walk and simply look at the dream yachts that you will never have.
5. Zadar in the summertime
That summer, I came back to Zadar for the second time. Compared with my first time in winter, the difference was noticeable. Streets were full of laughing, happy people, good restaurants operating almost at full capacity, and lines at take-away joints. The steps of Sea Organ were packed with tourists hoping to capture the perfect sunset. When Zadar presents itself as the place of the most stunning sunsets, you must make sure of yourself. However, the music of the Sea Organ was accompanied by continuous murmuring, chatting, and giggling by fellow tourists.
6. Kornati Islands
An Irish playwright Bernard Shaw once said: “On the last day of creation, God desired to crown His work and thus created Kornati Islands out of tears, stars, and breath.” Beautiful, right? It’s hard to resist visiting and seeing this place yourself once you come across such a quote. Therefore, during these two weeks in Croatia, my ultimate goal was to visit Kornati Islands.
Once you look at the Dalmatian coast on the map, you can clearly see dozens of variously sized islands. On the map, you can spot just the largest ones; the tiny ones who could barely accommodate a house aren’t visible. 150 islands, islets, and reefs south of Zadar and west of Sibenik belong to the Kornati islands.
It is convenient to take a full-day boat tour from Zadar to visit this paradise. The boat sizes vary according to the price, and I went for a budget option for approximately 50 euros. A one-time fish meal and a bottle of wine were included in this price.
The boat was large and slow. We passed multiple islands without stopping until we reached our destination – one Kornati Islands National park island. There we had a couple of hours of free time to walk around, swim, snorkel, or pet a donkey since there were many of them waiting for snacks from fellow tourists.
Croatia in a nutshell
I’ve visited Croatia three times, one of them was in the winter. Of course, summer is the best time to travel to Croatia if you can easily handle the heat. My favorite city is Zadar. Split, on the other hand, didn’t leave me too impressed. But the best things in Croatia are its wild islands where you can find a feeling of ultimate peace.
