In this guide to coastal Croatia, I want to highlight my time in this beautiful country. We took a European cruise to Croatia, specifically Zadar, Rijeka, and Dubrovnik, and got to spend a day in each exploring. I’m going to combine all these cities given that there is one clear favorite city we had, Dubrovnik, while the other two towns are okay at best.
Map of Croatia:
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A Map of Croatia
Itinerary:
Zadar
For our first stop in Croatia, we went to the central coastal city of Zadar. From the cruise terminal, we took an express bus that was like 6 dollars apiece to the old town. I could tell you it’s a fantastic city and there are tons to do, but it’s just not the truth. I think cruises are stopping in ports like Zadar to try and build them up as tourist spots. There are indeed national parks nearby, and perhaps we should have done that while spending our time in Zadar. However, we still found it a pleasant first stop, especially drinking the local beer.
As I said, there is an old town, and there is actually some ancient buildings and ruins in the city to observe. The old town is small and can quickly be walking in the morning. It was scorching while we visited and so we would pop in and out of bars during the afternoon to cool down. We actually went to this local restaurant that sat right on the water’s edge and drank cheap Croatian beer. That was comfortable to do!
Zadar does have one famous tourist sight, and that’s the sea organ. These are on the northwest part of the old town, and a neat musical organ that makes noise as the waves come in. It’s pretty cool, and there are some shopping tents nearby, but it’s about a 10-minute visit at most.
Rijeka
Our second stop was the city of Rijeka. Rijeka is north of Zadar and close to the Slovenian border. This city probably had the least amount to do, although we could have done excursions to towns nearby. The towns of Pula and Rovinj are worth noting. Like Zadar, there is a town nearby, and there are some sights to see, but on the whole, nothing really to note. This city felt more modern than it did old although it did have a nearby castle.
The Trsat Castle can easily be walked from the downtown city center, or you could take a bus. We decided to walk and climb the 500 plus steps to the top of Rijeka where the Trsat Castle sits. It’s a cute castle and worth a visit. However, that was about the only sight to see in Rijeka, and I’m not even kidding. We spent our remaining time drinking, eating, and shopping around.
Dubrovnik
Our third stop was in the city of Dubrovnik. Dubrovnik is by far the most popular tourist city in Croatia, and there is a reason why. It’s absolutely beautiful. But it is without question popular, and that does take away the charm a bit.
From the port, the old town of Dubrovnik is about 2 miles away. It actually felt further than that, and the reality is that we needed a bus to get there. Way too hot and way too far to walk.
Many know about Dubrovnik these days thanks to Game of Thrones as it was filmed there or an inspiration. I understand this, but Dubrovnik has been popular way before Game of Thrones and for a good reason. It’s a fantastic city and perhaps one of the few intact walled towns still in use. The views are just breathtaking, and that’s why people come here.
But it’s also sweltering in the summertime. We showed up on a day when the temperature reached nearly 100 and probably felt close to 100. It’s hot, and even with dipping your face in some water, it’s uncomfortably hot.
The most popular attraction is obviously the wall around the city. It is worth doing; however, the lines are very long in the morning. It’s better to wait until the afternoon when most of the tourists have done the wall and left. We did it at about 1 pm, and it was pretty empty. It’s easy to walk around, but it did take about an hour. We did have a drink at a cafe on the wall, which helped blocks us from the sun and heat. There is practically no shade walking on the wall except at these bars and cafes.
I think Roman and I both agreed that Dubrovnik was completely worth a visit. It’s charming, and although it is crowded, it gets less crowded throughout the day. Overall Dubrovnik is very touristy, but there is a reason why people visit.
Favorite:
Some of my favorite restaurants, spots, pictures, and videos of Croatia!
Restaurants
Rijeka:
Sit and enjoy some coffee with amazing views of Rijeka.
Such a cute pub with cheap beer, air conditioning and good food.
Dubrovnik:
Cafe near the Luža i Gradski zvonik
It’s a cute cafe that has a view, good drinks and shade.
This place actually has unique wraps and pizza. It’s actually kind of pricey but still less expensive than sitting down. Good for to-go.
Spots
Trsat Castle in Rijeka
The wall, especially the northwest part of it is the most beautiful part of Dubrovnik. An amazing view.
The harbor on a boat is also an impressive view. It’s cheap and an excellent chance to view Dubrovnik.
Climb up a random street in Dubrovnik.
What to Wear:
Croatia is like any other western European country in terms of what you can get away within a style. Your own western style is certainly acceptable, and you’ll see a European flair while in Croatia. It is my opinion that the men like to wear tight-fitting clothes compared to the United States and certainly have a more “metro,” look.
I like a simple yet vibrant look. The coastal areas of Croatia feel very Mediterranean with palm trees, beaches, and usually sunny weather. Dress according to how hot it will be as well. Linen is actually super popular in Croatia, and there is a good reason. It will keep you less hot compared to jeans or other bulky clothing.
Speaking of linen, it’s way more common in Croatia to see males in linen shorts and pants. If you can’t find anywhere you live, try online or wait to shop in Venice. The cuts on both shirts and shorts are unusual and have a more European feel. Love that. Linen is excellent for male travelers who want their clothing to breath and want to feel more lightweight.
For summer, stick with an upscale casual look. You don’t need to dress up, but if you want to look presentable, then shorts that are not gym shorts are perfect. Florals, prints, graphics, and stripes are definitely in right now. I like short and tight, but I know that’s not everybody’s go-to. Make sure it fits appropriately first of all.
Bring shorts that can easily mix and match with your other items. A blue or khaki shorts for your entire trip is more than enough. I used those to mix and match with every shirt I had, sometimes throwing in a linen short. Your shorts are like the base of your outfit, and you should have a good solid base to mix and match with your shirts.
Go for the florals, plain, or even stripe shirts. They are easy to mix and match with a solid base for your shorts. Comfort is critical, but please don’t be lazy or have oversized shirts. Then it won’t look good at all. A nice polo or even a dress shirt also a good look as long as it’s not too hot.
For the off-season like in winter, Croatia gets surprisingly chilly. You’ll need to bring long pants, jeans, and some jackets. It’s not hardcore cold, but it’s enough that you can even have a scarf. If you go further into Croatia it will get much colder the further away you are from the ocean. It’s still Europe and winter will not feel “Mediterranean-like,” at all.
An Ideal Look:
What I Loved:
The clear reason you go to Croatia is for the beautiful cities and landscapes on the ocean. I think Zadar and Rijeka still have a ways to go in terms of tourism, but several towns are beautiful nearby.
Dubrovnik is also totally worth a visit even if it’s crowded. It’s a hard choice because summer is the best time to visit Dubrovnik in terms of weather, but it’s also crowded. Some days there are even four cruise ships at Dubrovnik. I still had a good time even if it was too hot and there were way too many people.
What I Disliked:
Zadar and Rijeka’s central part of the city are cute, but I wouldn’t say they are worth a visit. Numerous towns around these two towns are probably more attractive. There are also activities like hiking or going to one of Croatia’s national parks. We probably should have done this.
If you’re coming in the middle of the summer, you just have to deal with the heat. It’s hard to look stylish while being in 100-degree weather because you will just always sweat. This is why I think linen is so vital because linen is designed to deal with harsher heat. Overall there is not much you can do but just deal with it, drink water and make multiple stops inside.
Ideas and Tips:
Cruising actually might be a great way to see a lot of Croatia. Coming independently and driving or flying to Dubrovnik or other cities will take time. Cruising you get a port a day, and that’s very convenient.
Croatia beer is cheap and tasty.
Dubrovnik city wall is worth it however wait until the lines clear in the morning and go in the afternoon. It’s way less busy.
Consider the national parks from Zadar or Rijeka. They can be a drive, but at most they are 2 hours away.
Thoughts:
Croatia is a beautiful country that is coming into its own as a recognized tourist destination. It’s officially popular to go, and that will mean a lot of tourists. If that is not your thing, then you may not really enjoy Croatia.
I really enjoyed Croatia myself. Sure some of the stops were somewhat boring, but the landscapes are still beautiful. Overall I had a great time and would definitely go back, just perhaps during the offseason.
More Info on Croatia
If you’re looking for more info on Croatia, I have a few guides and books to read on.
