Travel to Croatia on your own. Croatia is a great country for budget travel. Best season: when to go

The other day I returned from a mini-trip around Croatia, which we went on with family and friends. Although in all previous years we preferred beach holiday in all-inclusive hotels, this time they decided to add variety and completely abandoned the services of various travel agencies, trying to organize the trip on their own.

It didn’t take us long to choose a country; we had long wanted to visit Croatia, and the lack of need for a visa only strengthened our desire to go there.

As a result, a month and a half before the proposed trip, I started booking hotels, buying air tickets and renting a car, because... we wanted to get not only to the sea, but also to see the famous Plitvice Lakes and several large Croatian cities.

As a result, our route according to plan was as follows: we fly to Zagreb, take a car there and go to Plitvice Lakes. There we look at them for two days and move out to the sea in resort town Makarska. We live at sea for 6 days, and we don’t just lie on the beach, but visit islands and interesting nearby cities. Then on the eighth day we go back to Zagreb and spend the whole day exploring this city. On the last day we return the car and fly home.

There is a plan, all that remains is to prepare everything so that this plan can be translated into reality.

The first thing I did was find out the availability of air tickets to Zagreb. Aeroflot found a suitable option. To be on the safe side, I went to the airline’s website, booked tickets and paid for them using a MasterCard.

There are three hotels and a car left to book. To book hotels, I used the website booking.com, where you can quickly book almost any hotel in any country. Having chosen suitable hotels, I made a reservation, entering the details of my MasterCard card to confirm my intentions. No money is usually charged at the booking stage. They can only be removed if you cancel within a few days of the booked date.

There are hotels, there are tickets, there is still a car.

I had no experience in booking a car, so after reading the reviews, I used the website rentalcars.com, which, as I understand, is a partner of all major car rental companies and allows you to find the best deal for a particular car.

Since we were 4 adults and one child, I needed a car that was roomy enough, so I settled on an Opel Astra with an automatic transmission, climate control, and also ordered a child seat as an option. I also entered my credit card details and confirmed my order. As a result, the next day I received confirmation that the car was booked with EuropCar.

At this point, the booking process was completed, and all that remained was to wait for the departure date. For money on this moment it turned out to be 46,000 rubles. per person.
A month and a half flew by unnoticed, and now we were already on the plane on the way to Zagreb. We arrived normally, the weather was good, and the border guards were friendly and efficient.

We quickly found the EuropCar office, signed the necessary papers, left a deposit (they took it from my MasterCard) and hit the road. The only mistake we made at this stage was not inspecting the car before leaving for any “jambs” that could then be pinned on us when we return the car. And as it turned out later, there were such “shoals” there.

So we're on our way. The first thing we decided to do was find the nearest bank and exchange money for local currency. The navigator gave us the nearest bank, which turned out to be a local post office, where we successfully bought local currency.

Well, then the first point of our journey awaited us - Plitvice Lakes, not far from which the first hotel was located. I gave all the coordinates and addresses of the hotel to Artem Basmanov, who went on this trip with me. He entered them into his navigator, which was pre-installed on his iPad.

After 200 km we realized that the navigator was taking us in the wrong direction...))
It turned out that Artem had entered into the navigator something very similar in name, but not ours at all locality. We turn around, enter the correct coordinates and drive another 300 km along the highway in the opposite direction.

Here we encounter a second interesting point. On the autobahn we run into some piece of metal at high speed and completely destroy the rear left tire!

We stopped, took out all the things from the trunk and began to change the wheel, thank God the spare wheel was in place, and we only punctured one wheel, although a piece of metal got under two wheels.
Here's how it went:

The adventure begins!

While they were changing the tire, a local policeman drove up to us and asked what happened and if we needed help with anything. I said that we were tourists from Russia and just had a flat tire, so no help was needed.

Our mini-hotel was beautifully decorated with flowers, and it was located at the very entrance to the national park.

Almost all the paths in this national park are made of rounded wooden planks, which are carefully laid over the lakes.

Huge schools of fish swim right under your feet. Fishing is prohibited there, so they swim without fear)

I actually put this photo on my desktop. Just a fabulous view!

Airplane))

I trained a lot in photographing waterfalls, fortunately there are a lot of them there.

The largest of the local waterfalls, about 75 meters.

And here are greetings from the friendly Chinese (or Japanese), who were the most tourists there)

And although swimming there is also prohibited, there were comrades who violated this prohibition and enjoyed the local water. I caught one of these at the crime scene))

As for access to the Internet via Wi-Fi, in the first hotel there was a good signal only on the street terrace, so Artem and I occasionally went there with our laptops.

Then we moved towards the sea to the city of Makarska. This is where we decided to refuel for the first time. At a gas station, the system is like this - you drive up to the pump, fill up as much gasoline as you need and leave and go pay at the cash register. With our money, a liter of 95 gasoline cost us 56 rubles. It turns out exactly twice as expensive as in Russia.

The road to Makarska took us about 3 hours and 80% of it was on the toll highway.

With autobahns, the system is as follows: when entering the autobahn, there are automatic barriers. You need to drive up to him and take a special one. a coupon that records the place and time of entry onto the highway. When exiting the autobahn, there is also a barrier plus something like an ATM, where you need to insert your coupon received upon entry and your VISA or MasterCard card. Money is debited from the card depending on the length of the route traveled along the highway and the barrier opens. Sometimes, instead of an ATM, there is a booth where a kind guy sits and accepts cash.

On the autobahn, people travel at an average speed of 130-150 km/h. We decided not to stand out from the crowd and drove about the same, maybe a little faster. But comrades regularly “flew” past us, who were definitely driving well over 200)). There was even a Bentley Continental GT.

Unfortunately, I left my radar detector in the car at the airport, so I can’t say whether there are radars at all in Croatia, and how many speeding fines we collected there.

When we arrived in the city itself, we spent about an hour looking for the hotel where we were to live for the next 6 days. The navigator could not accurately indicate this place and gave only approximate points, so I had to resort to help local residents.

Checked in... Wi-Fi is available, the flight is normal))

There are a lot of people on the beach both during the day and in the evening, so it is best to go swimming early in the morning.

Learning to swim

Embankment

Every day, returning from the sea, we went to the market and bought fruit, took a large watermelon, melon, blackberries, strawberries, blueberries and many other tasty and healthy gifts local nature.

Lots of all kinds of natural oils, lavender, honey, dried fruits...

With our money, a watermelon cost about 32 rubles. per kilogram. You can buy whole, half or quarter.

Once we rented a catamaran. We had a good time jumping from it...

In the evenings we walked along the embankment

These were the sunsets...

One day we sailed to the islands. I pretended to be the captain of our ship.

Several other ships sailed with us.

The famous Croatian beach "Golden Cape" on the island of Brac.

I'm testing the waters of the golden cape. The water was good that day.

One day we went to the city of Split. We arrived in the city, parked the car in a paid parking lot and went for a walk.

First of all, we climbed to the very top high tower in the city.

This tower used to be a bell tower, but now tourists are allowed into it for a small fee. They did a lot with the tower beautiful shots.

We also bought a Croatian flag there for our collection. We bring a flag and a mug from each country.

The city of Split in the rays of the setting sun.

On the penultimate day we returned to Zagreb and walked around it. There are no special attractions there, but it was still interesting.

Local tram

Local yogis who sit right on the street in front of a crowd of passers-by.

One of the angels near the main temple of Zagreb

This is how our trip turned out, full of adventures, new sensations and different emotions. With a child, of course, it’s a little hard, especially for mom, but in any case, overall, this trip left us all with unforgettable impressions and a positive experience. independent travel, in which we made almost no mistakes.

Our "rakes" that may be useful to you:

1. Inspect the car together with a representative of the rental company and write down on a special sheet all the chips, scratches, and damage that you notice. In the future, this will save you from disputes over whether you or not are to blame for this or that scratch on your car.

2. Start booking hotels 3-4 months before your trip (if it happens during the holiday season). We booked 1.5 months in advance, and by this time all the “delicious” options had already been taken away. Although we also more or less successfully got through all the hotels, but if we had done everything in advance, it would have been even better.

3. Enter your destination into the navigator using the digital longitude and latitude coordinates, which are always indicated for the hotel when booking it.

I will be glad to see your comments.

P.S. All photos were taken with our Canon EOS 5D Mark II camera. I learned to take photographs, am learning and will continue to learn at our

Capital: Zagreb

Currency: Kuna

Time: UTC+02:00

Thousands of magical emotions – your holiday in Croatia

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

“The country of a thousand islands,” although it actually has about 1,185 islands. Each island is a bright piece of the natural mosaic of Croatia, which has been admired not only by tourists, but also by world-famous artists for many years.

The poetic charm of Croatia cannot be denied. I once spent my time here Honeymoon Agatha Christie is a detective legend. Kings and emperors have enjoyed their holidays here from century to century. Croatia was sung by Lord Byron, Jack London, Yesenin, Chekhov and other masters of words.

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 TV series of our days.

Trips to Croatia will give you thousands of magical emotions and thousands of truly beautiful photographs! Prepare cameras, photo albums and more free space on your computer - unforgettable impressions there will be very, very many. As well as new desktop screensavers;)

Enjoying the pictures of sea voyages

A beach holiday in Croatia seems somewhat unusual at first glance. Of course, here you can just walk Coast, enjoy the salty freshness of the air and raise fountains of sparkling spray. But beach trips in Croatia are primarily about contemplating and enjoying 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 around 30 degrees, and the water temperature 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 is simply off the charts, and this is understandable: into the “velvet” summer heat subsides, and young people return home to prepare for work and school everyday life.

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

Porec is another urban wonder of Croatia, attracting not only tourists, but also artists. All kinds of creative festivals are constantly held here, and on the streets you can often hear inspired music or poetry readings. The green beaches of Porec are no less elegant 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. Some beaches are rocky, some are pebbly. Sandy places are not so common in Croatia, but each of them is a real work of art. What are they worth at least? famous beaches on the islands - Korcula, Moru, Zadar... We highly recommend visiting the resort of Split, which is famous throughout Europe for its clean sea.

Yachtsmen and amateurs flock to Croatia every year water sports. Conditions for all kinds marine entertainment simply excellent! There are thousands of ports to visit in this region, many of which are well equipped for all types of boating tourism.

While traveling along the beaches, don’t forget to check out the Croatian restaurants and taverns, which are called “Konobe” in the local language. There you will discover the enchanting tastes of Adriatic cuisine: delicious stewed cabbage, Juha soup, sheep cheese, baked different ways fish, shrimp, shells and other seafood. Don't forget to try prosciutto - charcoal-smoked ham, dried in the sea wind.

Finish your meal on a sweet note: try Croatian cakes and pastries, chestnuts, zucchini, cookies and even local brushwood. Various wines go well with these treats, especially red ones - they often arrive on the counters and tables straight from the heat of Istria.

The obvious and the incredible: interesting holiday ideas in Croatia

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

In the capital of Croatia, Zagreb, a very unusual discovery awaits you - the Museum of Failed Relationships. Sometimes it is also called the “Museum of Divorce” or “Museum of Broken Hearts.” Zagreb also has a technical museum and an extensive

a zoo full of “worldwide” flora and fauna.

And a little more amazing! Do you want to see... walking fish? Yes, yes, fish on real legs! Go to Porec and look into the Baredine cave - there, at a depth of 60 meters, there is a special type of fish that has 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 high demand in this place.

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

and you can stop forever.

TUI is yours reliable tour operator in Croatia

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

Holidays with TUI are 100% reliable! We are a European leader in tourism, and we place high quality services at the forefront. When traveling with us, you can be sure that your money will not be lost or “burnt” 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, special children's menus and hotel equipment.
• Young people and all lovers of noisy parties will enjoy the 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.
• For tourists who prefer relaxing holiday, we can easily select quiet hotels with interesting but unobtrusive animation.
• There are also hotels for those on a budget that offer excellent value for money.

Geographical location

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

Religion

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

Climate

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

Currency

Official currency Croatia - kuna (1 kuna = 100 lipa).

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

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

1 US dollar ~ 6.5 kn
1 euro € ~ 7.5 kn.

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 close altogether: it's time for a midday rest - a siesta.

Time

Kitchen

In addition to the usual European cuisine, in Croatia guests are offered National dishes. Traditional Croatian snacks include: Dalmatian or Istrian “pršut” (a type of raw smoked ham), Pash (from the island of Pag) or lichka (from the Lika region) cheese, sheep cheese, Slavonian “kulen” (a type of spicy salami), the famous Samobor or Zagorsk “cheshnevki” (savory 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 from meat dishes The most popular are “paštitsada” (a savory beef dish) and boiled young lamb. Continental Croatia has a rich selection of meat dishes, with specialties such as turkey with “mlinci” (a type of pasta), baked lamb and suckling pig, and boiled or baked “štrukli” (cottage cheese pies) occupying a special place on the menu. ).

Croatia has a rich winemaking tradition, both in the continental part of the country and in the Littoral region and Dalmatia. From the strong alcoholic drinks The most famous are the various varieties of brandy: slivovitz (from plums), travaritsa (from herbs) and lozovača and biska (from grapes), and among dessert wines - prošek 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 and Albanians also live , Gypsies, Montenegrins and Macedonians

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 tip 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, homemade figured candles, and aromatic oils.

Transport

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

In addition to buses in major cities(in Zagreb and Osijek) there is also a network of tram lines. Tickets for travel are usually sold inside the bus or tram or at newsstands.

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

Net railways connects all major Croatian cities except 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 at least 3 years of driving experience, credit card(or security deposit), passport and driver's license.

Safety

Security is another attractive aspect of Croatia. Today there are not many corners 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 do not forget that during the tourist season there are a lot of visitors here, and do not try such experiments, so as not to accidentally spoil your stay in the country.

Beach

All beaches in Croatia are free. Only rental of sunbeds and umbrellas is paid. Most beaches are pebble 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 very inventive people. The natives of this country are responsible for the creation of a modern torpedo, the discovery of alternating current, the invention of the 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 Golden Cape and is located on the island. Brac. By the way, it was on this island that marble was mined for the construction of the White House in Washington. Another “miracle of nature” can be observed in national reserve on o. 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 within an island.” Finally, on the Istrian peninsula, Završe has its own 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 Croatia thanks to its rich history, many architectural monuments, beautiful ancient towns in the Venetian style, the clearest sea, magnificent beaches and excellent opportunities for a comfortable stay. The beaches on the peninsula are mainly artificial concrete platforms, natural rocks and plateaus. From Istria you can visit 2 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 own characteristics. It is generally accepted that the most picturesque part of Central Dalmatia is the “Makarska Riviera”, where the best beaches in Croatia are located.
Southern Dalmatia is a land of mountains and islands. Here, on the Peljesac peninsula, the best oysters in Dalmatia are grown and the most famous wines of Croatia are produced - Dingač, Postup and Malvasia. One of the most popular resorts Southern Dalmatia is Dubrovnik. Dubrovnik is, as they say, a “must see” for all tourists who value cultural attractions: Dubrovnik is included in the top three by UNESCO the most beautiful cities- monuments of Europe during the Renaissance. The other two cities are Venice and Amsterdam.
The main natural attraction of Southern Dalmatia is its islands. The largest of them are Korcula, Mljet and the Kornati archipelago.

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 was September 2017; in the new season we may also stop by on the way to Montenegro. Frequently asked questions about Croatia – weather, how much it costs holidays in Croatia, how to relax so that it’s near the sea, cheap and uncrowded, there was even a wish for a volleyball court nearby. I’m not sure about the volleyball court, but with the rest everything is less clear and will work out - I’m sure. About your Croatian top best places I'll also tell you.

Visa to Croatia

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

Those who have a multiple-entry Schengen visa do not need to obtain a Croatian visa. Multischengen gives the right 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 Kuna, the exchange rate to Euro is 1 Euro = 7.39 Kuna

Cards are accepted almost everywhere; it is better to have money in a cash/card ratio of 1:3. Basic payments are made from a card. Only Kuna or Euro cash can be accepted for apartments.

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

Way to travel to Croatia

There are no convenient and cheap flights from Ukraine to Croatia, even with a transfer.

There are two ways out of this “problem”.

For those who are lazy or uncomfortable driving for a long time and since you will still need a car in Croatia, you can buy cheap air tickets to Budapest. Today this 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 better, 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 road, but we go through picturesque Carpathians, you can make a stop in no less beautiful Lviv and no less beautiful Budapest . If you go on vacation with your family, it’s cheaper than renting a car and gives you more freedom.

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

How to choose a resort in Croatia

Here I could say that Google can help, because in Croatia there are so many resorts and vacation spots for every taste and budget. During my several trips to this country, I visited no less than twenty places and a dozen islands, and this is tiny compared to what is in this country. I advise only from where I have been 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’ll go on an excursion to the mountains and lakes; I’ll tell you where below.

When choosing a location for sea ​​holiday I distinguish for myself northern Croatia- This Istria peninsula(Rovinj, Pula, Rijeka and surrounding villages) and Dolmatization– everything south (below on the map) from the city of Split all the way to Dubrovnik. They go on a separate line Croatian islands . Holidays on the islands are a little more expensive and not always better. I’ll also tell you about the islands.

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

Sometimes the wealth of choice for a holiday destination makes it difficult to choose this very place. That is, when there are too many locations that a beginner knows little about. This is exactly the country.

Therefore, if you are going to Croatia for the first time, let me recommend you Southern Dolmatia, namely Makarska Riviera- so you'll probably like it. There are small resort towns to choose from - Makarska, Podgora, Baska Voda, Brela, Omis. Omiš is a special place, because here the river flows into the sea and sea ​​water mixed with fresh water, but there are sandy beaches and a generally nice town, and not far from Split.

What beaches are in Croatia

IN Croatia one of best beaches in Europe and a sea that can only compete with Greece.

Majority beaches of Croatia finely pebbled, 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 Omiš - on the Dolmatia coast near Split.

The pebbles are small and pleasant, that is, not at all like in Nice or, say, in Crimea. However, it is better to swim in slippers - there are places with sea ​​urchins. I don’t use slippers for swimming, everything is visible as is. The water is so clear that it is scary to swim in it - it seems as if 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, the full 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 yacht trip on 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 there are maximum people and maximum prices. We'll also talk about prices below. A little life hack - it’s better to go to holidays to Croatia V end of August with transition to September, at this time people are moving in the opposite direction - returning home from the resorts and you can find a comfortable atmosphere when it is still warm and there are fewer people (but still quite a lot).

IN September it gradually becomes cooler - the air reaches +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 “swimming” - up to +22 at least, the air is about the same. The bonus is a perfect minimum of people, while all establishments are open.

My choice of season in Croatia – beginning of September. Nice prices for housing, warmth and a minimum of people.

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

Top 5 places worth visiting in Croatia

In Croatia, you can choose a place by randomly looking at the map and most likely you won’t be mistaken - each town or piece of coast, in its own way, is interesting and comfortable for relaxation. But, of course, there are top five places worth visiting.

Much 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 on vacation, in what part of Croatia.

If you are planning a vacation for Istrian peninsula- then definitely cities like Pula, Rovinj, Porec and Rijeka. Generally in Istria beautiful coast, picturesque bays surrounded by Croatian pine trees. Plus add the first two places from the Top 5 below, they are also available from Istria.

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

• Plitvice Lakes

If you are traveling by car along the road, it is worth stopping there and even spending the night;

• KRK National Park, not to be confused with KRK Island

In the KRK park the lakes are similar to Plitvice, but you can swim in them. If you don’t want to go both ways, choose one, both places are equally worthy. I would still choose the KRK National Park;

• Dubrovnik

The city is of course overcrowded with tourists and in the summer it is absolute hell, but I can’t help but recommend it. Dubrovnik is beautiful, try to get there early in the morning or in 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. George. But it’s not even about the numbers above sea level, it’s incredibly beautiful there at sunset, plus a view of the islands and the Adriatic coast. It’s very close to Makarska, but the road is serpentine and quite narrow - you just need to drive carefully and there won’t be any problems.

• Highway along the Adriatic Sea

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

What a driver needs to know in Croatia

I already know how to travel through Hungary by car and generally navigate around Hungary.

IN Croatia there is how toll roads so are free. Autobahns are quite fast and you need them 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 ones, sometimes even better.

Autobahns in Croatia dears, this is due to the tunnels and mountainous terrain. But they are extraordinarily beautiful.

Payment for autobahns is made by card or cash, Euro or local currency - Kuna. For example, there are several payment points on the road from Budapest. We just drive up to the payment point and hand out the card or cash through the window. Before entering the payment point, 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 amount back.

• Split will not be long, but you can skip it because it’s too noisy, big and party-heavy, or combine it with a trip to the islands;
• Zadar - history and a pleasure to walk around
• Trogir – very beautiful and ancient
• Milna, town and marina on the island of Hvar
• Old Town - Hvar Island
• The town of Hvar on the island of the same name Hvar

I don't recommend it waste time in Zagreb, an ordinary passage European city, if you’ve been to many places in Europe, feel free to move on.

I don’t recommend buying from tourist brochures and going on Golden Horn beach near the city of Bol on the island of Brac - it is beautiful only from the height of a quadcopter flight, otherwise it is an ordinary beach with an insane number of people. We approached it from the sea, there was an opportunity to evaluate it 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 that I would like to return to.

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

• Hvar Island– a self-sufficient place and how seaside resort and how to take a 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 from the island of Hvar, it is also accessible via the promenade from Split; very nice and beautiful - entertaining enough to spend the whole day here. We even rented a car here for three hours, using it for the first time hourly rental cars;
• Korcula Island, located just opposite Makarska Riviera, can be reached by ferries from Split and Dubrovnik. Many secluded and uncrowded bays and beaches, nature and stone ancient cities.
• Brac Island, just don't go to Golden Horn beach- a common product of marketing to crowds of tourists. There was no crowd even in mid-June, but I’d rather not tell you what it was like there in August; I recommend Milna town on the coast - a truly beautiful place.

How to save money on holiday in Croatia

The Germans did Croatia expensive resort for enough a short time. I experienced the evolution of prices myself while vacationing there over the years.

It's really beautiful and diverse 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 like this:

• 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, the price even includes sun loungers and other paid little things;
• Cook it yourself or mix lunch in a restaurant on the beach with a terrace near a house by the sea, I’m even at a loss to say which is better
• Going 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 - I tested it myself last fall.

Briefly, the algorithm of actions when organizing a trip on your own

• We obtain a Croatian or multiple-entry Schengen visa if necessary;
• We choose the method of delivery for ourselves and our friends – car, air plus car or just air.
• Choose a resort in Croatia, for example Makarska Riviera or Istria
• Deciding on the date of the trip
• Booking accommodation, hotel or apartment
• If necessary
• We outline an approximate route and places worth visiting; when independent trip it can always be adjusted 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 last one is a search engine, here it is convenient to check prices for the selected accommodation and then select the site on which to book.

There is also a fairly famous site AirBnb, many people know about it but don’t use it and it’s completely in vain. Apartments here are often cheaper than on Booking - I usually check on all resources.

Those who are looking for housing for the first time AirBnb, can register follow this link and get a bonus for your first booking.

Where to look for cheap flights to Split

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

Where to rent a car in Croatia or Hungary

What you need to know when coming to Croatia for the first time:

In Croatia:

1. I believe it will not be useful to everyone, but first of all, relax, feel the friendly rhythm and keep up with it. If you are used to getting yours with character and pretension, it is better not to go to Croatia, you will not relax and skim off all the cream of hospitality, you will not see natural and human beauty around you, but only the sea - this is an incomplete impression;)

2. Slavic, an accessible and completely understandable language, you can even start speaking in a few days.

3. Mostly holidays in private apartments. Hotels have European stars, and so do the prices. Their territories are small with rare exceptions, often the territories are open, there are not many all-inclusive options and there is no eastern abundance. The apartments do not provide meals; there are equipped kitchens everywhere.

4. There are no private beaches; in some places there are beaches rented by hotels.

5. Very little sandy beaches and on such beaches there is a rather shallow entry into the sea.

6. Partially concreted beaches with slopes into the sea, unknown to anyone, this is the most comfortable and requested by gourmets, lovers of “everything for me” ... and views, and the beach, and the sea.

7. There are no jellyfish in the sea and almost no algae. The Adriatic Sea of ​​Croatia is one of the cleanest in the world.

8. The swimming season starts earlier and ends later in Dalmatia, from Sibenik and further south to Dubrovnik, simply because it is further south and the mountains and islands create a certain climate.

9. Seasonal prices for accommodation, for car rental and even in cafes... during the peak season (July and August) are more expensive than in June and September, and in the off-season you can rent apartments with a monthly price.

10. It is better to book holidays in the region of August 1-15 in advance, even better before the New Year, because... This time is also a vacation time for Italians, who also like to vacation in Croatia.

11. There are very few single-family houses in Croatia, there are even fewer of them near the sea in civilized places with markets, shops, pharmacies, restaurants, and this, of course, more expensive than apartments. Another category is villas, which are of appropriate quality, if there is territory, then with swimming pools and a barbecue area, and even a few kilometers from the sea, they usually cost from 200-300 euros per day (400-700 euros July-August) and above.

12. Holidays in cabins at campsites often happen. more expensive than a vacation in the apartments.

13. There are only 1.5-2% of Russian tourists in Croatia at the moment, so excursions in Russian can sometimes be provided only by hotels and only those that work with Russia.

14. Recreation on yachts and other watercraft. is no less popular than land means, we can say that the forces are equal :)

15. When booking a holiday in an apartment in May and later, it is recommended NOT to buy tickets in advance, but to first find accommodation and adjust to it.

16. IMPORTANT! Children are also people who are also considered for accommodation and are also registered, with the exception of infants up to a maximum of 2 years old. The apartments are all categorized for a certain number of people (this is how taxes are paid) and any other number is fraught with a fine, and inspections are quite common. Those. “The child is 5 years old, he is small, he will sleep in the bed with us” in Croatia it is better not to mean. Yes, cribs for babies are provided in the apartments, not like those at home, wooden ones, but mobile playpens-beds, pay attention to this!

17. In Istria and Kvarner there are more hotel holidays, in Dalmatia holidays in apartments.

18. Driving cars is possible with a Russian license. Fines for traffic and parking violations are quite high.

19. Almost everywhere in use bank cards, with the exception of newsstands, souvenir shops, markets, most coffee shops and payment for transport not at train stations. Rubles are not accepted anywhere.

20. Prices in shops and restaurants on the islands, if they are not connected by a bridge to the mainland, are usually more expensive.

21. High quality products, pay attention to the labels “domaće”, “hrvatski proizvod”, “hrvatska kvaliteta”, “mlijeko hrvatskih farmi”, “meso hrvatskih farmi”.

22. People often ask about sanatoriums for the treatment of the respiratory tract... Sanatoriums in Croatia can be counted on the fingers of one hand and they are not all at sea. There are places on the coast where nature heals, so come and breathe the sea, pine trees, it is important to change the altitude above sea level, and this means the presence of mountains is important. Asthmatic diseases are also treated over time.

23. If you expect to travel by car from island to island or to the mainland quite often, consider the cost of ferries - quite expensive.

24. Croatia, although small on the map, has a coastline of more than a thousand kilometers, not counting the islands, so count on your strength, thinking over a route every day in a new place - it’s very tiring.

25. If you have insurance with Schengen coverage in Croatia, you will NOT be served, because Croatia is not yet in Schengen.

26. There is a very low crime rate, but during the season, like everywhere else, there are “guest performers,” so keep your purses, documents and phones with you, be careful!

27. Croatia is a very hospitable country; private accommodation services here have been polished in their quality for decades and you can always be sure that you are welcome guests. They will always help you solve problems during your stay, as well as brighten up your holiday with their attention and courtesy. Those who do not need extra attention are recommended to stay in hotels.

28. You can’t even imagine how much there is to see in this small country with a thousand islands.

From personal experience requests :) I definitely missed something, I feel... I’ll add it later :) The author of the text is Yulia Shevaleva.