Croatia has long been a popular summer holiday spot among those who want a cheap beach holiday or an interesting city break.
Croatia has plentiful options for travellers: from old-world architecture and marbled streets in Dubrovnik, to partying and sunbathing in Split; to the incredible natural beauty in the waterfalls at Krka and the icy-blue water of Plitvice Lakes.
It’s got beautiful national parks, fantastic beaches, and crucially, very cheap drinks.
Here are six things you need to know before you go.
Island hopping is a highlight
Greece isn’t the only place known for its islands – Croatia has this going for it too.
Hvar, Vis, Solta, Brac, and Korcula are all popular options for holidaymakers desiring a few days of splashing about in the Adriatic Sea.
Each island has its own unique appeal: partying, beaches, relaxing, family fun and more.
If you’re going during the summer, though, make sure to pre-book your ferries instead of turning up for them on the day, else you might miss out.
Fun fact: this is where Dalmatians come from
As you might guess from the name ‘Dalmatian coast’, the dog breed Dalmatians originated in Croatia.
You just have to hope that Cruella de Vil never made it that far.
Bikes are a great way to explore
The cycling infrastructure in Croatia is actually pretty good.
By bike you can easily explore along the coastline, as well as whizzing around the islands, and the cycle lanes are often fairly extensive.
It has the world’s smallest town
Worth a visit just for the novelty value, Hum is often cited as the world’s tiniest town.
With a population hovering at about 25, the main source of visitors to Hum is of course the tourists who come to check out the truth in this accolade.
Game Of Thrones was filmed in Croatia
The ever-popular fantasy series has many scenes recorded in the historic city of Dubrovnik.
Its impressive stone walls form the backdrop to some of the show’s key moments, with shots featuring the Baroque staircase and Fort Lovrijenac
The seaside town of Split also features in the show.
About 10% of the country is protected by national parks
This impressive statistic is realised to full effect in the glorious UNESCO world heritage-acclaimed waters of Plitvice Lakes, and the thundering waterfalls of Krka national park.
Head to Krka if you fancy a swim or a more manageable day trip, but Plitvice is well worth a longer stay if you have more time, as there’s much more to it.
The understated city of Zadar is a good jumping off point for both of these parks, as well as some of the islands.
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