by Janis / 0 comments - Orginally published:23rd February 2018
Well, we didn’t realise that…
Gary and I had an incredible time during our road trip adventure through Croatia. No matter how many hours of research and planning you do in advance, there are always things that come as a surprise.
This is one of the reasons we love travelling. We enjoy the differences, whether they are large or small. Something will always put a smile on our faces, or on occasions, we look on in sheer amazement. Either way, we love it.
We have pulled together some “interesting to know” facts about Croatia, and hopefully, they will help you in your future planning and enhance your experience in Croatia.
These are the places we visited during our Croatian adventure;
Opal lakes of Plitvice
Sights and Sounds of Zadar
The Historic Walled City of Trogir
Exploring the streets of Dubrovnik
Driving to Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Strolling through the centuries of Split
The Romance of Rovinj
The Romans left their mark in Pula
Rustic Charm of Porec, Croatia
Why not Pin it for later?
Our Croatian road trip
How to get to Croatia
- By Air
Don't forget you can always use Booking.com to check out your flight options too. Why not give it a try. Then pick up you Rental Car, and start exploring Croatia.
- By Car
If you’re heading from the UK by car, jump on Le Shuttle or a Brittany Ferry and venture off to Croatia under your own steam. Check out our Road Trip checklist for handy advice.
Navigating around Croatia
Was it easy to drive?Our Croatian road trip started from our doorstep in the southeast of the UK, from the comfort of our own car, so we had no issues regarding the vehicle.
Our car is quite large, and we were unsure of vehicle access in some of the locations we were visiting. However, during the entire trip, we did not have an issue, even with smaller towns.
Stopped by the roadside near Pag
During our independent adventures, we usually try to avoid motorways as we enjoy travelling on the back roads of rural towns and villages. We never encountered any issues, and a particularly pleasurable route in Croatia was touring along the coastal roads and across the islands.
Our Croatian Road Trip
Toll Roads
Some of Croatia’s roads have tolls, which you can pay by credit card or cash. Our advice is to pay cash initially to get some change; we found this handy for paying for parking.
Stunning Venetian influences
A touch of Italian stylePrior to visiting Croatia, we had researched some of the country’s fascinating history and were aware that Croatia that had previously been under Venetian rule. However, we were pleasantly surprised to see how much of the Venetian architecture and influences were still present throughout the country.
The UNESCO city of Trogir
In many of the coastal towns that we visited, the magnificent bell towers immediately caught our eye. The prominent, elegant towers were synonymous with the bell towers seen in St Mark’s Square in Venice.
An iconic view across the Grand Canal, Venice
If you've yet to discover the delights of Croatia you're in for a treat. While planning our road trip, I used the DK Eyewitness books. I find them extremely informative, easy to follow and the pictures and maps tempt you into discovering more.
We used a previous version of this book to plan our north to south Croatian road trip, now you can grab the revised copy.
Croatian wine
A well-kept secretWell, the Croatians have certainly managed to keep their delicious wine a bit of a secret.
During our Croatian road trip driving south to Dubrovnik, we decided to take the scenic route and caught a ferry from Ploče to Tripanj. On leaving Tripanj, we drove southeast through the island, weaving our way through some beautiful countryside, passing by farmlands and vineyards.
Picking up wine at, Putniković
As we were driving and had plenty of time, we couldn’t turn down the opportunity of stopping. So, we pulled over to visit one of the little wineries dotted along the route. Needless to say, we picked ourselves up a case of mixed wine and brought it home with us.
It was delightful; keep an eye out for it.
Did you Know?
That you can still smoke in some bars & cafés in Croatia? Just look out for the green sign on the door.
Croatia’s many islands
A little island-hoppingOur Croatian road trip was only for a couple of weeks; however, we wanted to squeeze in a visit to a couple their charming islands. We had heard so many lovely things and couldn’t waste the opportunity to make a visit.
Croatia has over 1,000 islands, some reasonably easy to access by ferry and some a bit trickier.
Arriving by ferry
Before heading off on our road trip, we had read stories about long delays at the ferry ports. However, we travelled in September and twice used JADROLINIJA and found their ferries very efficient.
A view from one of the many islands
However, if you are visiting during the summer months, I would undoubtedly pre-book, and it’s certainly worth allowing more time for arrival, as I could imagine they would get quite busy.
Croatian walnuts
A versatile nutPrior to arriving in Croatia, I researched local food and drink specialities. Still, we never realised that walnuts were going to be a delicacy. One evening in Trogir, Gary tried the dessert Palacinke, a crêpe-like pancake. He had a choice of fillings, one of which was walnuts, so, yes, Gary opted for the walnuts.
Palacinke with walnuts
Also, when we were in a konoba one evening in Dubrovnik, we were offered a walnut liqueur, which was homemade by the waitress’s brother…..well, “when in Rome,” so we gave that a go, and it was delicious.
Did you Know?
Croatia has bakeries that are open late into the evening. I never realised that Croatians enjoyed their pastries so much.
Staying in Apartments
Is it cash or card?Before you head off on your holiday to Croatia, it’s helpful to know that many apartments only accept cash. During our Croatian road trip, we stayed in five different apartments/b&bs, four of which only accepted cash.
The view from Villa Leoni, Dubrovnik
Carrying cash may not be an issue for you, but it’s a good idea to check your accommodation as it may be one of their requirements.
The delicacy of truffles
Croatian olive oilYes, Croatia has truffles, that expensive delicacy held in high esteem by some chefs. However, unlike parts of France and Italy, this prized food is a fraction of the price in Croatia, so give them a try.
The white truffles are mainly found around the Croatian Istrian peninsula, so we purchased a little nugget when leaving Rovinj.
Treats from Croatia
Although Croatia is a small producer of olive oil, it has a history of growing olives for centuries. It now competes with some of the Mediterranean big boys.
Another small food item we purchased to take back home to the UK was a bottle of olive oil. I love these little memories that remind us of our travels.
Visiting Croatia
For further advice on visiting Croatia, head to the official tourism website Croatia – Full of Life.
Driving into Bosnia
You no longer need a Green CardYes, I know this isn’t really a tip for driving in Croatia, but more for Bosnia. However, I just wanted to let you know that since August 2021, you no longer need a Green Card to drive from Croatia to Bosnia-Herzegovina.
During our visit in 2017, the Green Card was a requirement; thankfully, this is no longer the case, however, ensure your insurance complies with Bosnia’s requirements.
Mostar Bridge, Bosnia
So, if you have your own vehicle and you are near the Bosnian border close to Dubrovnik, then I urge you to visit the incredible ‘Stari Most’, Mostar Bridge. It’s a sight to behold.
* This post may contain links to affiliated sites where we earn a small commission at no additional charge to you.
