Croatia | 10 must-sees, must-doos and must visits

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“I look my best when I’m totally free, on holiday, walking on the beach.” {Rosamund Pike}

A quick round-up of some of my Croatian favourites…

1. The Blue lagoon

This place simply took my breath away: serene, beautiful and with water that is oh-so blue. We took a speedboat tour from Split to reach the small lagoon; its perfect for a spot of more isolated sunbathing {as the beaches in Split itself are often packed} before cooling off with some snorkelling – I’ve always had an irrational fear of swimming in the sea, but the water is so calm and relaxing here that even I managed it! Tip: get there early to avoid the crowds as the larger tour boats start arriving about midday.

2. Lokrum

A short ten minute boat ride from Dubrovnik’s harbour sits the charming island of Lokrum. Brimming with wild {but very tame} peacocks it was an incredible way to spend an afternoon – I got far too excited by the handsome guy in the picture above…hundreds of photos later I think I found myself a new favourite animal.

3. Biševo and the Blue Cave

An excursion tour took us to this entrancing island; home to only 15 people, Biševo is so peaceful and it’s slow pace of life is blissful. Visiting makes you feel as though you’ve stumbled across a bit of a secret – you can also get some amazing fresh fish in the only beach restaurant on the island.

In contradiction to Biševo’s serenity, on the island’s shores sits the Blue Cave which teams with tourists. Only accessible in small guided boats, the short tour {approximately 15 minutes} allows you access to the cave’s brilliant blue colours that are so intense it’s hard to believe that it occurs naturally with sunlight. It’s worth the wait for tickets, a warning though – the entrance to the cave is exceptionally small {not good for the faint–hearted!} so in bad weather it is too dangerous for the tour boats to run.

4. Ice cream

One of my favourite things about holidaying in warm European countries is the ice cream – it’s always out of this world, and the UK definitely needs to catch up! This picture is from Luka’s in Split, but with so many great ice cream makers offering amazing flavours up and down the country, why not aim to try one from every store you see…it’s a balanced diet if you get different types right?

5. Split

Built in and around a Roman palace, the city of Split is lively and vibrant – with thousands of people still living within the palace walls. Make sure you take a guided tour {we did a free walking tour} as it’s only when you know the story behind this place that you can fully appreciate it. The seafood restaurants are top-notch and very affordable, but if you fancy splashing out a little try Paradox wine and cheese bar {I would recommended this bar over and over}.

6. Markets

Fruit and veg are better with a bit of authenticity! I loved living life as a local at the Croatian outdoor markets – in smaller cities you’ll doubtlessly stumble over them {the picture above was from the small market in Hvar, conveniently located near the main square}.

7. Plitvice lakes

The UNESCO National Park is vast, containing 16 lakes joined by a number of huge waterfalls and some varied wildlife. Although this is a an absolute must-see when visiting Croatia and a brilliant photo opportunity, the crowds of people shuffling through does get a bit overwhelming at points – but this is only to be expected at the country’s most popular tourist location.

8. Hvar

Our visit to Hvar was a tale of two very different islands. On one side we frequented jazz bars, admired yachts bigger than my home, visited lobster restaurants and partied in fancy harbour-side clubs {you’ll need to have slightly looser purse strings here compared to more Northern cities}.

The other side of the small island provided a very different scene; we rented ourselves a dune buggy and drove along Hvar’s one and only main road to get a taste of its picturesque, agricultural and quiet lifestyle. Scattered with lavender fields, small harbour villages and vineyards it was a great way to spend an afternoon – I’d also recommend stopping off at one of the small distillery’s to sample the locally grown wine and olives.

9. Three Caves Tour {Green Cave, Blue Cave and Monk seal Cave}

This full day speedboat tour was, without doubt, my highlight of the entire Croatian trip; from seeing wild dolphins and swimming in caves, to visiting local fishing villages, deserted bays and cliff ‘hot-tubs’ {essentially huge rock pools naturally heated by the sun}, the day was packed with lifelong memories.

We finished at the hidden cove of Stiniva on the island of Vis…a picture-perfect little piece of paradise, and the best way to relax after a packed day. For the full itinerary and to book this daytrip departing from Hvar click here – you won’t regret it, I promise.

10. Dubrovnik

Okay, so this was by far the most expensive, most touristy and most packed place we visited – but you simply can’t go to Croatia without visiting Dubrovnik. If like me you can’t stand the crowds, avoid visiting the old city from midday to early afternoon {this is when cruise ships arrive}.

Take the cable car for great views and an awesome sunset, walk the walls to experience the whole of the city and again I would recommend the free walking tours as Dubrovnik has a rich culture and history {there are even Game of Thrones tours for the fans amongst you}.

Restaurants within the old city walls provide great Dalmatian cuisine but can be a bit on the pricey side, so you may want to explore what the newer part of the city has to offer too. Cafe Buza is a real gem, offering amazing views from the cliff-side over the ocean – particularly special at sunset. The underground Cave Bar More is also effortlessly cool and offers a unique setting to grab a couple of cocktails.

…and that’s your lot from me folks! For more photos take a look at my Instagram. If you’ve got any other amazing Croatian recommendations, let me know in the comments – it’ll give me a great excuse to go back.