On the Road Series - Croatia

If you know us personally or have been following us for a little bit I’m sure you know by now I love a good road trip! Carlos not so much… but he usually ends up saying yes. So, the first time we visited Croatia we ended up renting a car and doing a road trip. If you’re thinking of doing the same I hope this article serves as inspiration of places to visit while on a road trip in this beautiful country.

Zagreb When it comes to Croatia, the coast is the most popular attraction. With airports conveniently located in Pula, Split and Dubrovnik many people skip the capital. If you can, make sure to go. It’s actually a beautiful city with lots to do, amazing markets, beautiful viewpoints such as Plato Gradec, conveniently close to Plivice lakes, and it has delicious food. Yes, in 2016 we began our road trip here.

Pula I’ll be honest, we visited Pula for two reasons. We have friends living there who invited us to stay with them, and we really wanted to see the Colosseum. That being said, we couldn’t believe how much we ended up loving that city and its people. We spent seven days there and we made friends we still have today. Located very close to Slovenia and Italy makes it a perfect hub to make day trips to other cities, such as Venice and Ljubljana. Pula is such a beautiful place, with an amazing Saturday market and full of history. If you’re visiting Croatia and it’s possible try make it to Pula, you won’t regret it.

Croatian Old Road The day we left Pula we started driving with the goal of making it to Split. We took the old road which I strongly recommend doing. Yes, It will be slow and long, (the trajectory will take about 10 hours compared to maybe 5 on the main highway) but the villages and cities you’ll see on the old road are worth every minute of those extra hours. I don’t have specific recommendations on that road because no matter where you decide to stop or what you end up seeing, simply put, it will be amazing. No decision will be the wrong one. The only thing I have to say is: allow time, allow yourself to stop on that random little place by the ocean and get a coffee, talk to locals, buy fruit by those stands by the road, stop anywhere with a viewpoint, just enjoy yourself and allow Croatia to make you fall in love.

Split While in Split, you’ll notice there are so many things to do. We spent 7 days there during our roadtrip. I know I keep repeating myself but please visit their morning market. Watching people live their normals lives in such a touristy place will make you appreciate the country and its culture. Marija Hill is an amazing hike with a great view of the city. If you go early in the day or late afternoon you’ll be rewarded with a beautiful sunrise and sunset. Another thing to do while you’re in Split is to visit nearby islands. With multiple ferry routes it’s very easy to do day trips to islands even the furthest ones. You’ll also be very close to beautiful towns such as Šibenik and Trogir going north and very close to Omiš and Makarska going south. If you’re a nature lover you have Krka National Park going north and the Cetina river going south. With so much to do you’ll definitely never be bored while in Split.

Dubrovnik Oh Dubrovnik! The pearl of the Adriatic, the most popular city in Croatia, and the place that will leave you day dreaming about going back! What else can I say about Dubrovnik! Please go! By now social media is plastered with pictures of this Croatian city but nothing you see thru the screen on your phone will prepare you to be fully speechless once you’re physically standing there. In 2016 during our roadtrip this was our final destination in Croatia before heading to Bosnia. Next Blog article will be fully dedicated on tips on how to make your vacation to this beautiful city affordable but also fun. Car versus Bus in the Balkans Although I don’t regret renting the car in 2016 and doing this road trip, I must say driving in Europe isn’t cheap. An alternative to renting is taking the bus which we’ve done in 2018 and 2019. Europe has an amazing public transportation system and I don’t think the Balkans is the exception. To help you make a choice here are some pros and cons of renting versus taking the bus. Renting will give you the freedom of going wherever and whenever you want to. Just in keep in mind a few extra expenses such as tolls, insurance, gas (which is very pricey in Europe), the hold on your credit card in case of an accident, if you only drive automatic transmission your rental will be more, parking can be difficult, and if you’re planning on including Bosnia, Montenegro, Albania, Kosovo, Macedonia on your road trip you will need to purchase an extra card for each county for 30-50 euros In comparison to that if you decide to take the bus, the main con is the lack of freedom but it is a lot cheaper and easier than having a car. Basically you won’t have to worry about any of the things in the previous paragraph. Regardless of which way you decide to discover the Balkans, whether by renting a car or taking the bus or even flying between cities you will have an amazing time and you will end up with the desire to return.

Article Edited by Jesse Dias