6 Things I Wish I Knew Before Visiting Croatia for the First Time

• In October, I spent 10 days in Croatia. It was my first time in the country.
• I noticed certain perks and drawbacks of visiting at the end of its peak season.
• Although I enjoyed myself, I wish I had done more research beforehand.

In October, I traveled to Croatia for a 10-day getaway. I was craving the beach, sun, and a change of scenery from monotonous city life — and Croatia seemed like the solution.

Croatia has become a popular destination in Europe — especially following the popularity of HBO’s “Game of Thrones,” which was partly filmed in its scenic old towns.

More tourists are arriving, too: The Croatian Bureau of Statistics said that 1.7 million tourists arrived in May this year — a 21% increase compared to 2023. Croatia also joined the Schengen Area in 2023, a zone in Europe with no internal border controls, making travel more accessible.

During my trip, I stayed in Dubrovnik, Hvar, and Split and took multiple day trips to other cities along the Adriatic Coast.

While the trip was worth the long flight, I realized along the way that I hadn’t done enough research before the trip. Here are six things I wish I had known before.

1. Choose accommodations wisely

Coastal cities like Dubrovnik have hilly terrains and countless flights of stairs to conquer. An Airbnb that I assumed would be a short walk from the main bus station turned out to be at the top of a hill. Consequently, we engaged in a full-body workout to lug our bags up what felt like endless flights of stairs to reach our accommodation.

It was more peaceful to stay in a less touristy area. But since most attractions are near the Old Town, staying closer to the city center (and closer to ground level) would have been more convenient and comfortable.

2. Increase travel budget

I booked my trip to Croatia assuming that daily expenses would be similar to countries like Italy or Hungary. I was wrong.

Croatia adopted the Euro in January last year, abandoning its previous currency, the Kuna. The country also has the second-highest VAT in the EU — 25%, the same as in Denmark and Sweden. On average, my meals added up to around 15 euros per person.

And although I wasn’t surprised that people have to pay to enter public toilets, I was surprised that most entries cost 1 euro — or half the price of a cup of coffee in any nearby café.

Still, there are ways to see the city on a budget. We signed up for pay-as-you-wish walking tours, bought day passes to take the public bus and see attractions at a lower cost, and stayed in affordable guest houses that cost around $50 a night. We also explored outside tourist hot spots to try food targeted at locals, which I found to be more authentic and wallet-friendly.

3. The beaches are beautiful — but water shoes are crucial

The temperature in early October ranged from 63°F to 72°F, so it was mild enough to chill on the beach and bask in the sun.

Croatia has some of the most beautiful beaches I’ve seen. The waters were crystal clear, and I was excited to dive right in. But I soon learned the hard way that Croatian beaches are not sandy. Most shores were rocky and pebbly, and I had not packed water shoes.

It was too painful to go barefoot, so I wore my sandals every time we went to the beach. It worked just as well, although I did end up with funny tan lines on my feet.

4. Visiting in off-peak season has its pros and cons

Croatia sees most of its tourists during the summer months, between June and August. When I visited in October, its old towns were still brimming with tourists. But some locals told me that the crowds were still smaller than in the summer.

I noticed that some attractions were also cheaper. The entrance ticket for Krka National Park, for example, costs 40 euros in the summer and 20 euros in the shoulder months. In winter, the ticket prices drop to 7 euros.

However, visiting during the off-peak season also meant many services were on a break. On a day trip to the UNESCO Old Town Stari Grad, we were surprised to see most shops closed, with the sign “See you in June 2025!” posted on their doors.

Visiting during this time of the year also meant that chartered bus or ferry services were less frequent. As it turns out, the charm of walking around a near-empty town can only last so long when the next bus back is at 10 p.m.

Hiring a car would have been better. However, neither of us had our driver’s licenses.

5. Spend more time in Split instead of Dubrovnik

If you plan to split your time between the popular coastal cities of Split and Dubrovnik, spend more time in the former.

We spent three days in Dubrovnik and five days in Split. This balance felt right. Dubrovnik has beautiful beaches and architecture, but I could see the effects of its over-tourism: Prices were slightly higher, and its iconic Old Town thronged with tourists and rubber duck shops.

In comparison, Split is a great springboard for day trips. While there, we took public transport to nearby towns like Omiš and Trogir. We also spent a day exploring Skradin and Krka National Park, just an hour and a half away by bus.

Split is also a bigger city, so it was easier to find budget-friendly food options.

6. Watch “Game of Thrones”

Lastly, I regret not watching HBO’s “Game of Thrones.” During walking tours, the guides would point out where iconic scenes were filmed. For example, Cersei’s walk of shame scene was filmed at the Jesuit Staircase in Dubrovnik’s Old Town.

As other visitors marveled at its medieval architecture and fortresses, I wished I had watched the show before to see the city in a new light.