Delivering a dazzling mix of historic charm, natural beauty, idyllic islands, stacks of varied UNESCO World Heritage Sites, and mouth-watering Mediterranean food, Croatia offers travelers the chance to sail, hike, relax and dine in fabulous style. Given all that variety, it can be tricky to figure out how to focus your trip. So, read on to find out how to plan a trip to Croatia, from deciding when’s the best time to go, to figuring out the best places to visit for different experiences.
When to do this: 6 months before your trip to Croatia
The first stage of planning your vacation to Croatia is to consider broader questions around what you want from your trip, and when’s the best time to visit.
Factors to consider while planning your trip to Croatia
The best time to visit Croatia depends on a number of key factors, not least the kind of activities you’re looking to enjoy, your weather preferences, and your budget.
On balance, the best overall times to visit Croatia are spring (May to June) and early fall September to early October).
These periods offer warm, sunny weather that’s ideal for sightseeing, swimming, and island hopping Croatia without the peak-season crowds — and peak prices — of July and August.
For example, in May and June, Croatia’s Adriatic coast starts to see more activity as the weather warms, while beaches and historic towns like Dubrovnik, Split and Rovinj are still pleasantly relatively uncrowded.
September and early October offer similar conditions, with sea temperatures still warm for swimming. At the same time, milder daytime temperatures make these months a joy for exploring national parks like Plitvice Lakes or Krka.
How to plan a trip to Croatia step 1 — look at the big picture © Shutterstock
In our view, the longer you can stay the better! It’s one of our favorite European destinations for many good reasons.
But given the usual time and budget constraints, it's good to know that a well-planned Croatia itinerary of 7 to 10 days can be enough time to sightsee, relax and travel between a couple of destinations.
For example, following a Croatia itinerary for 7 days is enough time to enjoy lots of top highlights, combining a historic city (like Dubrovnik or Split) with visiting an island (perhaps Hvar or Korčula), and a national park, such as the impossibly pretty Plitvice Lakes.
If you have to time to follow a 10 day Croatia itinerary, you could cover a couple of coastal towns, islands, and inland attractions, and possibly also visit Istria, Zadar, Krka National Park or Zagreb.
Meanwhile, 3–5 days is enough for a short city break or coastal stay if you focus on one city (like Dubrovnik, Split, or Zagreb) and look to enjoy a few nearby day trips.
Mljet National Park is a popular island hop from Dubrovnik © OPIS Zagreb / Shutterstock
As is always the case, the cost of a vacation depends on the season, and how you like to travel — do you tend to travel on a very tight budget, or are you in the market for all-out luxury?
With that in mind, here we share a ballpark budget for a 7-day trip to Croatia with estimated average costs for a mid-range stay.
Accommodation: mid-range hotels or well-rated guesthouses typically cost €70–€130 a night, depending on location and season, while accommodation in coastal cities and islands (e.g. Dubrovnik and Hvar) are more expensive, especially in summer. Expect an average total of €490–€910 for 7 nights.
Food and drink: expect to spend €25–€40 per person, per day on meals at casual restaurants, café and konobas (traditional taverns). This amounts to a 7-day average total of €350–€560 for two people.
Transport: if you’re planning to visit multiple destinations, the cost of ferries, buses and car rental might total €150–€300 across the week.
Sightseeing and activities: entry to national parks (like Plitvice), boat tours, and guided walks range from €5–€30 per activity, adding up to an estimated total of €100–€200 for two people.
Overall total: €1090-€1970/ $1180-$2120 USD
Hvar island, Croatia © Shutterstock
US and UK citizens (along with many other nationalities) don’t need a visa to visit Croatia for stays of 90 days within a 180-day period, but your passport must be valid for at least three months beyond your planned departure date from Croatia.
As Croatia is part of the Schengen Area, time spent in Croatia counts toward the 90-day Schengen limit — this is very important to note if you’re visiting multiple Schengen countries during a longer trip around Europe.
While no visa or pre-travel authorisation is currently required for entry, from mid-2025, tourists will need to register with ETIAS (the European Travel Information and Authorisation System) before entering any Schengen country, including Croatia.
This will be a simple online process with a small fee.
Dubrovnik, Croatia G Shutterstock
When to do this: 4-6 months before
Step 2 is arguably the most fun part of your how to plan a trip to Croatia journey. This is when you find inspiration for what you most want to see and do during your trip, whether that's cultural discovery, coastal adventuring, island chilling, or exploring Croatia's beautiful national parks.
During your research process, note down anything that interests you, perhaps pinning possible destinations on a digital map.
If you’re not traveling solo, have each person in your travel party suggest 3-5 must-see destinations and create a shared Google Doc or Google Map so everyone can add their own must-visit places. That way, you can start building an itinerary that keeps everyone happy.
What to consider while pinning down your Croatia wish-list:
Split, Croatia © novak.elcic/Shutterstock
From city-based vacations packed with culture, history and incredible cuisine, to adventures in awe-inspiring national parks, and blissing out on sublime beaches around idyllic islands, read on for a run-down of the some of the best places to visit in Croatia.
Variously offering a mix of historic charm with spectacular coastal views, architectural splendour (from Roman through medieval, to modern) and cool contemporary culture, Croatia’s are exhilaratingly diverse.
Zadar, Croatia © xbrchx/Shutterstock
Croatia’s coastline boasts a bounty of beautiful beaches, and islands surrounded by crystal-clear waters that are ripe for swimming, snorkelling, and sailing vacations.
If these are among the reasons you’re thinking of visiting Croatia, read on to find out about a few beach and island destinations to have on your radar.
You’ll find more inspiration in our feature on the best beaches in Croatia, and our practical guide to island hopping Croatia.
Proizd beach near Korcula, Croatia © eldar nurkovic/Shutterstock
From majestic mountains and fairy-tale forests, to glass-like lakes and rushing rivers, Croatia’s diverse natural landscapes and national parks invite adventure, and soul-stirring walks on the wilder side, depending on how you roll.
Here are some of the best nature spots to consider visiting:
Krka National Park, Croatia © Shutterstock
With all those tempting cities, beaches, islands and national parks begging to be included in your itinerary, it’s worth taking the time to figure out how you can travel between them/
That way, with planning, you might just be able to visit more of them in a single trip. With that in mind, here’s an overview of getting around Croatia.
Modern, comfortable, and reasonably priced, intercity buses are the most reliable way to travel between cities and towns.
Main hubs include Zagreb, Split, Dubrovnik, Zadar and Rijeka, and tickets can be booked online or bought at bus stations.
Renting a car is a good option if you’re staying a while and are looking to explore inland regions, national park and smaller villages. Also, driving the Adriatic coast serves spectacular views, and is an excellent experience itself.
Croatia’s highways are also excellent, though note that tolls apply on major routes. Note also that parking in old towns is limited.
Ferries connect the mainland to Croatia’s islands, including Hvar, Brač, Korčula, and Vis, with operators like Jadrolinija and Krilo running frequent services.
High-speed catamarans are best for foot passengers, though car ferries are also available.
Be aware that services are reduced in winter, and some routes won't run
Train travel is limited, slower than buses, and not useful for coastal destinations.
That said, train travel can be useful in northern and central Croatia, where it’s also a scenic way to get around.
If time is short, domestic flights connect Zagreb to Dubrovnik and Zadar.
National Theater, Zagreb, Croatia © Shutterstock
When to start: 5 months ahead of travel
To spread costs and secure your ideal flights and accommodation at a better price, we suggest booking your main travel components around five months before you’re planning to take your trip.
At this stage, book:
When it comes to getting to Croatia, if you’re traveling from the US, while direct flights don't run year-round, it’s easy to connect via one-stop in a major European hub.
The flight time is typically 11 to 14 hours, including layovers, depending on your start point.
In summer, some U.S. cities may offer seasonal direct or charter flights — check airlines like United or Delta.
Outside peak season, you can connect via London, Frankfurt, Munich, Paris or Amsterdam with airlines like Lufthansa, British Airways, Air France, or KLM.
Flying to Zagreb is best for inland travel, while Dubrovnik and Split are better for coastal and island trips.
Meanwhile, if you’re traveling from the UK, it’s fast and affordable to fly to Croatia — the country is served by several full-service and budget airlines, with a flight time of 2-3 hours, depending on your departure point and destination.
Croatia accommodation covers everything from cute traditional guest houses, to budget hostels and luxury resorts, which means it’s worth taking the time to research options that best suit your needs, tastes and budget in all your chosen destinations.
Our guide to where to stay in Croatia is a handy place to start your search. It covers the best places to stay in Dubrovnik (spoiler alert: accommodation in the Old Town is ideal for first-timers) , and several other top destinations.
Brela beach, Croatia © lukaszimilena/Shutterstock
When to do this: at least 4 months ahead of your trip
As it always the case with travel plans, it’s a good idea to pre-book your must-do experiences and tickets to top attractions in advance.
That way, you’ll have the peace of mind that comes of being organized, you’ll avoid missing out, and you might just save yourself of hassle of waiting in long lines.
What to do:
If any of the following places have made it onto your final itinerary, we strongly recommend you pre-book your tickets and tours.
Lokrum, near Dubrovnik © Shutterstock
If you fancy taking any of the following recommended day trips, it’s worth figuring out the practicalities before you travel.
That is to say, look to pre-book any required ferries, buses and organized tours.
Varoque cemetery in Varazdin, Croatia © DragonPhotos/Shutterstock
When to do this: three months in advance
To avoid last minute panics — and give yourself time to consider different options — it's a good idea to sort the likes of insurance a few months ahead of your trip.
Decisions to make:
Travel insurance is 100% recommended for peace of mind. So, take time to research and compare options a few months ahead of your trip, and get a policy that covers medical emergencies, trip cancellations, and lost luggage.
While Wi-Fi is widely available in Croatia’s cities and towns, in the likes of cafés, bars, airports and stations as well as accommodation, you might want to buy a local SIM card to enjoy reliable internet access throughout your stay, especially if you plan to hit some of the country’s national parks.
Alternatively, pre-buying an eSIM offer the convenience of activating a mobile plan without needing a physical SIM card.
They're especially useful for travelers who want the peace of mind of setting up connectivity before arrival, such as the great-value service offered by Travelsim.
Blue Cave, Croatia © bayazed/Shutterstock
When to do this: one week before
Around a week before your trip to Croatia, check you have all your documents and itinerary details to hand, get some local currency, and give thought to packing.
What to do:
It’s best to take digital and physical copies of your booking confirmations. We also suggest compiling all the details of your day-to-day itinerary — plus booking confirmations, addresses and useful contact details — into one handy document.
While card payments are widely accepted in Croatia, it’s still a good idea to carry some cash, especially in smaller towns, on islands, at local markets, or for things like public restrooms, parking, and tips.
Croatia uses the euro (€), and ATMs are widely available. It’s best to use official bank machines to avoid high withdrawal fees from independent operators.
While Croatia’s coastal climate is warmly Mediterranean, inland areas are cooler. As a result, what you need to pack depends on when and where you go, and also what activities you plan to do.
That said, here’s some general packing tips for Croatia.
Essentials for visits from spring through to fall include comfortable walking shoes, lightweight clothing (linen, cotton), and a light jacket or sweater for cooler evenings.
It’s also a good idea to have a daypack for hikes and exploring cities, and to bring a plug adapter (Croatia uses Type C and F plugs, 230V).
If you’re visiting nature areas or national parks, bring hiking shoes or sturdy sneakers, mosquito repellent, and a waterproof jacket.
And it goes without saying that if you’re coming for the beaches, bring swimwear, a beach towel and reef-safe sunscreen.
Dubrovnik, Croatia © Shutterstock
Having carefully planned your trip as outlined above, you’ll be in prime position to enjoy an unforgettable vacation in Croatia
Alternatively, to forgo all the hassle of planning, you could have our local Croatia travel experts curate your perfect Croatia itinerary.
That way, all the work of booking transfers, accommodation and tours will have been handled for you. If that wasn’t enough, you’ll have access to expert support throughout your trip.
written by
Joanne Owen
updated 25.03.2025
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From travel safety to visa requirements, discover the best tips for visiting Croatia
