Warm hospitality, expansive beauty, and scenic beaches distinguish Croatia and make it so unique. Moreover, the Eastern European country is home to the most delicious traditional food, wine, beer, and rakija. However, people must keep several things in mind when traveling to Croatia. This is because making mistakes in this country can be so costly, emotionally and financially. Such consequences will leave a sour taste in the visitor's mouth for the remainder of their trip.
While people enjoy exploring magical destinations in Croatia, such as Dubrovnik, Zagorje, Zagreb, and others, they must abide by some rules to avoid nasty surprises. Such moments of discomfort and disappointment can be minimized by researching what to do and what not to do when visiting Croatia. Here is a guide for what to avoid when traveling to Croatia for the first time.
Where Not To Stay & When Not To Travel To Croatia
From June to August, the season is at its peak in Croatia. This is the most beautiful time to visit the country, thanks to the lovely sunny weather. However, the disadvantages of the peak season may outweigh its disadvantages. This is because of the crowds, traffic, and tourist-inflated prices. While people can travel during the peak season, they should not do it blindly. Instead, they must plan for their trip ahead of time and be aware that traveling during the high season entails higher numbers of people and costlier attractions.
- Tip: People insisting on traveling to Croatia during the peak season must visit Dubrovnik's Old Town during the early morning to avoid the crowds. Moreover, they can spend more time in smaller areas of the city, such as the town of Cavtat, which can be reached through a 30-minute scenic bus or car drive from Dubrovnik. Cavtat tends to be less crowded than other mainstream locations in Croatia.
Staying in popular old town areas in Croatia is fascinating. For instance, people will enjoy the most mesmerizing views while being close to drinks, food, activities, and beautiful sights. However, everything has its price, and accommodations in those touristy areas will cost much more than other places. Moreover, since the popular areas boast exciting nightlife, people will find it difficult to sleep in accommodations there because of the sleep-disturbing noises from the bars.
To solve this problem, people can stay at an accommodation away from the city's hustle and bustle.
Where To Skip Eating, Drinking, Or Shopping In Croatia
When people travel to Croatia during the peak season, they will find that the prices of tickets and accommodations are much higher and those of cafes, restaurants, and bars. Moreover, one can purchase a coffee for around € 1 from a small town in the country while paying up to € 3 for the same cup of coffee in a famous city or coastal destination in Croatia. Also, tourist trap restaurants along seaside promenades are aplenty. Additionally, those restaurants are heavily present in places like Dubrovnik, Rovinj, Zadar, and Split. Such eateries charge up to € 10 more per meal when compared to restaurants outside the central area or along the side streets. Moreover, higher prices don't equate to higher quality.
- Recommended: People must ask the locals about the best restaurants in Croatia to get an authentic food experience while paying a fair price for their meals.
Another mistake people must avoid when traveling to Croatia is buying from shops inside a popular location in the country's central area. They should instead, for example, look for a corner in Split's historic core. The best thing to do is walk for around 15 minutes outside the center and shop from grocery stores frequented by locals. This will save people much money and ensure getting them a much better deal.
- Tip: People must avoid shopping from supermarkets and stores on Croatian islands because prices tend to be much higher.
Beach Types That Should Be Avoided In Croatia
People believe that because Croatia has so many beautiful islands and a unique coastline, each one of its beaches must be sandy. Peddle beaches, and rock slab beaches can be found everywhere in Croatia. Moreover, some beaches are concrete with ladders down into the sea, making them easy to access. Thus, people must expect most beaches in Croatia to be rocky and not sandy. This is why they are advised to get water shoes to walk on rocks easily. Moreover, they should consider bringing a beach mat for support and comfort.
People visiting Croatia's beaches thinking they are sandy must not feel disappointed and should enjoy the country's various beautiful rocky beaches. Moreover, it's a positive sign because the sand will not cover the beach bag.