By Kevin Wilkerson, PubClub.com Travel Editor
This is a cut-to-the-chase look at Croatia. I have anticipated your questions (ones I had before going there myself, actually) and have provided these answers.
Where Exactly Is Croatia And It Still Part Of Yugoslavia?
Croatia is east of Italy with a coast along the Adriatic Sea. It was once part of Yugoslavia, which no longer exists, and gained its independence and thus became a country in 1992. So it’s very young in that regard but has been around since the Greeks first left Paros and landed in Hvar (perhaps they sensed it would become a big-time party island, haha) in, get this, 300BC. Since that time it has been occupied and influenced by the Romans, French, Italians, Hungarians and pretty much every other civilization in Europe. Today, that’s all ancient history.
Is Croatia A Popular Place To Visit?
Croatia’s popularity among tourists is skyrocketing, in large part because Game of Thrones and parts of Star Wars were filmed in Dubrovnik.
It is also home to some breathtaking locations (personally, I was stopped in my tracks at Brela, about an hour and a half from Split on the Dalmatian coast), especially on the islands. It’s a big destination for people on sailboats, and yachts. Each summer the country hosts Croatian Yacht Week, an organized event that island hops in a flotilla of yachts and what I call “party cats,” which are luxurious catamarans.
The island of Hyar is a well-known world’s top party destination with a vibrant nightlife scene and in August it gets the jet setters and celebrities who like to spend a lot of their time at the Carpe Diem Beach Bar. Don’t worry, about that, tho, for Hvar and this beach bar gladly welcomes us “ordinary” folks, too.
Is Croatia Beautiful?
Oh heck yeah. The coastline and the islands are up against the Adriatic Sea, which is so clear that as you walk along it, it practically pulls you into it. Croatia is a rocky country – Croatians are quite proud of how those rocks have been turned into stones that literally built the country – and thus there are rocky shorelines. This makes for dramatic views that will have you checking how much space is left in your smartphone because you’re taking so many pictures and videos.
What Kind Of Food Is In Croatia?
I was initially taken aback when I arrived in Split for the first time to see that nearly every restaurant on the long waterfront offered pizza and hamburgers. Pizza and hamburgers!? When I inquired as to why this was the case I was told that the influence of the Italians is responsible for the pizza – “and the pizzas are quite good,” one local told me – and that hamburgers are “for you Americans.” Well heck, I didn’t fly halfway around the world to eat a danged hamburger!
Actually, if you want to eat like a true Croatian, then you will have fish. That is the county’s speciality. One of the signature dishes is black risotto cuttlefish which, depending on the restaurant, is served chilled or heated (I tried it and didn’t particulary care for it due to its too-fishy taste). There are also tiny shrimps and octopus and other seafoods served together as appetizers. The best meal (among many great meals) I have had to date in Croatia was a simply-cooked yet outstanding grilled tuna at a small restaurant on the remote islet of Vrnik, a 45-minute kayak paddle from Korcula. (After that workout, I felt I deserved it, but the reward was worth all the pain, ha).
Those on a budget can find to-go places but here’s a pro’s tip: the pizza in those places is a lot of dough and not very tasty, despite how tempting it looks in the glass case. There kabob places and and a lot of flaky pastries – both with meats and sweets – and judging from what I witnessed, Gelato is probably the most consumed item in Croatia.
Are Croatian Wines Any Good?
Before visiting, I did not realize Croatia even had wines. But it does; in fact the island of Korcula (a two-hour ferry ride from Split) has somewhere around 30 wineries and a millennia-old tradition of winemaking. It is known for the quality of its white wines while the rest of what is called the Dalmatian Coast is more noted for reds. Heck, even the party island of Hvar has its own wines.
The whites are pretty light but have a nice flavor, which is why you see people having wine with lunch while sitting outside at the seemingly endless number of small and beautiful restaurants in the big cities, small towns and islands of Croatia. The reds are more bold, of course, but no wine is overpowering and they don’t have a bitter aftertaste. Because production is so small you can only get Croatian wines in Croatia and quite often only local wines in that particular area.
It is interesting to note that Croatia also has a small craft beer industry. It’s in its infancy and pretty much limited to pilsners and pale ales, but it’s growing. I tried a few of them came away somewhat impressed. The best craft beer I had, and it was very good, was a Blonde Ale from Famila, a small craft brewery just outside of Split. I also like the Crotatian lagers available in cans at stores and to-go places and on draft in bars, Starocesko in particular.
What Kind Of Outdoor Activities Are There In Croatia?
Hiking is big in Croatia. There are many mountains to hike – I did a couple of hikes, one through a forest and another on the top of a ridge on the Napoleon French Road – and can tell you the views are worth the effort. There are some steep parts but the real challenge is the rocky trails. You had better watch your step and I stumped my big toe a few times.
Boating – sailing and yachting – is huge in Croatia. The weather is great and there are several islands within a couple boat hours with harbors in small towns and countless coves to drop anchor. Sailing and yachting in Croatia is basically the like being in the British Virgin Islands without the humidity.
You can also go sea kayaking, there’s tons of places along the rocky coasts to go swimming, as well as bicycling along the coast through small towns and into the mountains. For the latter you can go hardcore and get a mountain bike or make things easier on yourself by renting an e-bike. The latter are basically mountain bikes with a small motor, tho there’s no throttle to help you zoom up particularly steep inclines.
A couple hours along the coast from Split is one of the country’s newest and most popular outdoor activity the Biokovo Skywalk in Makarska. That experience will take your breath away! So, too, will getting there on a mountain bike or even an e-bike (we drove).
Is Croatia Expensive?
Well, I just bought a large can of beer for a buck. Actually, it was .97 Euros. In the States, ths costs upwards of $8. Even in convenience stores they are routinely less than 2 Euros. In a bar, beers are €7 – if it’s a draft it is in big mugs, larger than an American pint – wines €4.50-7ish, cocktails €12-15 and shots €10-12.
Regarding the price of hotel rooms in Croatia, in late May, I stayed in a clean, comfortable apartment in the heart of Split for just €60, the Nirvana Rooms & Apartments. Now, of course, there’s the other spectrum with beautiful hotels like briig boutique hotel in Split, the Aminess Librunia Hotel in Korcula which has a view to remember from its balcony and the can-you-believe-this-place Bluesun Hotel Berulia which has – and I’m not kidding – a swim-up pool to some rooms with double 0 numbers (I had room 007!). And everything in between but as general guide, you can stay for as low as €100 during the high season all the way up to €400 and more.
Food is priced about the same as in American mid-sized and big cities, from $15-45 for entrees.
So no, Croatia is not really expensive. Especially the beer!
Are the Croatian People Friendly?
The Croatians stop at intersections to allow pedestrians to cross the street. I wrote more about that here, but that pretty much tells you what you need to know about whether or not the people in Croatia are friendly.
They also don’t lock up their bicycles. This continually amazed me. In a week-plus in Croatia, I only saw one bike lock and it was wrapped up around the bike, not to a pole. I used to live in Hermosa Beach, CA, where if you left your bike unlocked for more than 10 seconds you would turn around and say “hey, where’s my bike?” So you can trust the people in Croatia.
And then there’s this, which is the most amazing thing of all to me. At first glance, the Croatians don’t necessarily appear to be all that approachable. But walk up with a friendly “hello” look and they will respond with a big smile and greeting. The second time you see them, they will reach out an arm, lock hands and give you a friendly pat on the back, the way you greet good friends at home you haven’t seen in a while.
So yes, the Croatians are friendly.
Is Croatia Worth Visiting?
In a single word, yes. In a few more words, it’s as beautiful as you have heard, it’s easy to get around, the food is great and the people make you feel at home. You may arrive wondering about Croatia but you will leave with a part of it in your soul.
About PubClub.com
PubClub.com is one of the original websites on the Internet. It features articles on nightlife, food & drink, events, activities, travel and sports. It has been featured in USA Today, the LA Times and American Way magazine, among other major media outlets. Kevin Wilkerson is an award-winning journalist and travel blogger.