6 things I wish I knew before my first visit to Croatia

• In October I went to Croatia for the first time for 10 days.
• I have noticed certain advantages and disadvantages of visiting a country at the end of the peak season.
• While I enjoyed it, I wish I had done more research beforehand.

In October I went to Croatia for a 10-day vacation. I wanted the beach, the sun and a change of scenery from the monotony of city life – and Croatia seemed like the answer.

Croatia has become a popular destination in Europe, especially after the popularity of the HBO series.Game of Thrones“, which was partly filmed in picturesque old towns.

More tourists are also arriving: The Croatian Bureau of Statistics reported that 1.7 million tourists arrived in May this year, 21% more than in 2023. Last year Croatia also joined the Schengen area, an area in Europe without internal border controls.

I stayed in DubrovnikHvar and Split, and also made day trips to other cities on the Adriatic coast.

Although the trip was worth the long flight, along the way I realized that I had not done enough research beforehand. Here are six things I wish I knew.

1. Choose your home wisely

Coastal cities such as Dubrovnik you have to conquer hilly terrain and countless flights of stairs. I assumed the Airbnb would be within walking distance of the main bus station, but ended up at the top of the hill. Carrying a bag up the stairs, which felt like endless flights of stairs, was a full-body workout.

Staying in a less touristy area was more relaxing. But since most of the attractions are located near the Old Town, it would be more convenient and comfortable to stay closer to the city center and closer to the ground.

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2. Increase your travel budget

I booked a 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 2023, abandoning its previous currency, the kuna. The country also has the second highest value added tax in the European Union: 25%, the same as Denmark and Sweden. On average my food costs about 15 euros.

Although I wasn’t surprised that people have to paid entry to public toilets, I did not expect that most entries would cost 1 euro – half the price of a cup of coffee in a nearby cafe.

There are ways to see the city on a budget. We signed up for pay-as-you-go walking tours, bought day tickets to take the public bus to see the sights, and stayed at affordable guest houses it cost about $50 a night. We also explored outside of the tourist hotspots to try local-focused food, which I felt was more authentic and easier on the wallet.

3. The beaches are great, but water shoes are critical.

Temperatures in early October ranged from 63 to 72 degrees Fahrenheit, making it mild enough to relax on the beach and bask in the sun.

Croatia has some of the most beautiful beaches I have ever seen. The water was crystal clear and I was excited to dive into it. But I learned the hard way that Croatian beaches are not sandy. Most of the shores were rocky and pebbly and I didn’t bring any water shoes.

It was too painful to walk barefoot, so I wore sandals. It worked just as well, although I did end up with some funny tan lines on my legs.

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

Croatia receives most of its tourists in summer. When I visited the country in October, its old towns were still full of tourists. But some locals told me that the crowds are still smaller than in the summer.

I noticed that some attractions were also cheaper. Entrance ticket to Krka National Park costs 40 euros in the summer, but only 20 euros in the off-season. In winter the price drops to 7 euros.

But visiting during the off-season also meant that many services were suspended. On a day trip to Stari Grad, we were surprised to see that most of the shops were closed, with signs on the doors saying they would reopen next June.

Visiting at this time of year also meant that charter bus or ferry services became less frequent. It turns out that the charm of walking through an almost empty city can only last for a very long time if the next bus leaves at 22:00.

5. Spend more time in Split rather than Dubrovnik.

If you are planning to travel to popular coastal cities Split And Dubrovnikspend more time in the former.

I spent three days in Dubrovnik and five days in Split. This balance seemed right. Dubrovnik has beautiful beaches and architecture, but I could see the effects of tourism: prices were a little higher and its famous Old Town was overrun with tourists and rubber duck shops.

Split makes an excellent springboard for day trips. There I traveled by public transport to nearby cities such as Omiš and Trogir. I also spent the day exploring Skradin and Krka National Park, just an hour and a half away by bus.

Split is also a larger city, so it was easier to find inexpensive food options.

6. Watch Game of Thrones

Finally, I regret not watching the HBO series.”Game of ThronesDuring walking tours, guides pointed out places where iconic scenes were filmed. For example, Cersei’s Walk of Shame scene was filmed on the Jesuit Stairs in Dubrovnik’s Old Town.

While other visitors admired its medieval architecture and fortresses, I wanted to watch the show to see the city in a new light.