What lies directly south of Slovenia, hugs Bosnia & Herzegovina and has over 1700 kilometers of coastline along the Adriatic sea? If geography isn’t your thing, we’ll save you the Google search. The answer is Croatia.
Croatia is Europe’s unsung hero of the Mediterranean. Despite the recent trending appeal, it has yet to be disturbed by the mass marketing of the tourism industry. As a result, it has avoided the stifling overdevelopment now plaguing the hot-spot beaches of its neighboring hot-spots Italy and Greece and its boasting landscapes of dramatic mountains and postcard-worthy azure waters remain uncrowded.
Croatia is a cornucopia of local foods where the hundred mile diet would be a constant pleasure. These include the products of olive groves and vineyards. The country is known for its fresh pasta, locally farmed truffles and cured meat. Overindulging in local fare will have you thanking the gods for the elastic waistband of your swim trunks but we highly suggest saving room for a must-try, the gelato. Found in little side shops nearly everywhere throughout the country, pillowy mountains of bright colors under the fluorescent lighting of a display freezer will have you lamenting over whether to try the Pistachio or Honey Melon. After having acclimatized to the easygoing lifestyle of the Mediterranean, trust us, it will be the most difficult decision you’ll have to make all trip.
Whether by chartered yacht or backpack and bus, Croatia is a Mecca for island hopping and fresh eats. We’ve chosen three of its city destinations, Split, Hvar and Dubrovnik, and will guide you through where to eat, sleep and party in this Mediterranean playground.
SPLIT
Croatia is a great place to party and Split is no exception. There are some great large-scale nightclubs that play host to sweaty dancefests and inebriated “networking”.
Check out Vanilla Club, set in the public pool complex. It is merely a 20 minute walk away or a short taxi ride from town. The club has a 360-degree bar and, when weather permits, opens up onto a large terrace. It is cash only and, like most big clubs in Croatia, has a cover charge.
Another notable beat-blasting, strobe-light-flashing club is the Hemingway Bar. It has a large terrace, chandeliers and tented-off bottle service VIP areas. It’s catered towards the elite of Croatia and the see-and-be-seen of tourists.
For a more laidback vibe, check out Red Room, Academia Ghetto Club, Fluid and Puls. These are smaller bars in the city center that have great drinks or fun crowds that tend to spill out into the streets.
SURVIVAL TIP: This is a great city in which to rent an apartment. The market is vast and the selection ranges from low-budget rentals to high-end fully furnished homes. As a port town, it’s easy to take day trips from Split, so you’ll want to have a nice place to call home after you return on the last ferry into town. Check out split-apartment.com.
HVAR
A must see are the Pakleni Islands. Rent a boat for about 350 kuna (roughly $70) a day and explore the islands on your own. You can rent boats right in the main square in Hvar, the islands are very close by a and lot of them have little alcoves that can become your own private beach for the afternoon. Make an activity out of it by packing along a picnic or a bottle of wine.
If you’re afraid of renting a boat and recreating Captain Phillips, there are also organized tours. Check out a trip to the Blue Grotto: the tour goes inside caves where the water shines so brightly blue you’ll have to see it to believe it.There are also frequent water taxis that run every half hour or so.
Be sure to get someone to set up a Vineyard tour. With Hvar Adventure organizing tours to any of these wineries in close proximity, there’s no excuse not to:
1. Bastijana
2. Duboković Medvid
3. Agricultural Cooperative Svirče
4. Zlatan Otok
SURVIVAL TIP: If you’re going to be checking out short-term apartment rentals, be sure to double-check the apartment location before booking: Hvar is set on a hill, and it’s steep. Also, beware of the high school and college kids invasion during high-season. Although it might be fun to party like a college freshman for a night, their large groups and rowdy tendencies will have you feeling your age.
DUBROVNIK
At the southernmost tip of Croatia lies Dubrovnik, known for its romantic settings and as a lavish destination, this city plays hosts to a booming culinary scene. First stop should be the acclaimed restaurant Nautika. Situated just outside the Pile Gate, it’s known for three things, its panoramic terraces, head chef and it’s formal white lining. They have a menu fittingly based on freshly caught seafood, we suggest trying the Croatian style Lobster Medallions.
Plan a visit to D’vino wine bar, their wine list has an extensive collection of domestics and imports that can be tried by the glass, bottle or in tasting servings. House wine beginning at around $5 you can be sure to enjoy an afternoon or evening.
360Dubrovnik, is another great example of Dubrovnik’s lavish lifestyle with impeccably creative presentation, well trained wait staff and meticulously sourced food. We’re talking bread served on hot stones and Brie ice cream, creative. But be warned: this luxury, of course, will be reflected on the bill.
SURVIVAL TIP: If you’re visiting in high-season avoid the tourist attraction of walking the city walls. Although beautiful, the tour will be crowded and the pounding direct sunlight is brutal. Instead take a lift on the cable car; the views are better anyway. Also, if you are lucky enough to book this apartment, do it immediately. It is located in the middle of the city and is great in both price and amenities.
QUICK TIPS:
• The money is called Kunas and exchanges at roughly $1USD to 6 Kunas.
• Do rent a car and turn your adventure into a road trip.
• Getting involved in an AgroFarm program, truffles aren’t going to find themselves!
• Take advantage of warm dry weather and outdoor activities (the biking trails are great) in the spring.
• Tourist high season is June-July, late August and September are less crowded.
• You also have to try the squid ink risotto. Warning: It will turn your mouth temporarily purplish black, but fear not, it will fade before the end of your meal. Lastly, the local grilled squid with olive oil will have you writing home to your loved ones.
What lies directly south of Slovenia, hugs Bosnia & Herzegovina and has over 1700 kilometers of coastline along the Adriatic sea? If geography isn’t your thing, we’ll save you the Google search. The answer is Croatia.
Croatia is Europe’s unsung hero of the Mediterranean. Despite the recent trending appeal, it has yet to be disturbed by the mass marketing of the tourism industry. As a result, it has avoided the stifling overdevelopment now plaguing the hot-spot beaches of its neighboring hot-spots Italy and Greece and its boasting landscapes of dramatic mountains and postcard-worthy azure waters remain uncrowded.
Croatia is a cornucopia of local foods where the hundred mile diet would be a constant pleasure. These include the products of olive groves and vineyards. The country is known for its fresh pasta, locally farmed truffles and cured meat. Overindulging in local fare will have you thanking the gods for the elastic waistband of your swim trunks but we highly suggest saving room for a must-try, the gelato. Found in little side shops nearly everywhere throughout the country, pillowy mountains of bright colors under the fluorescent lighting of a display freezer will have you lamenting over whether to try the Pistachio or Honey Melon. After having acclimatized to the easygoing lifestyle of the Mediterranean, trust us, it will be the most difficult decision you’ll have to make all trip.
Whether by chartered yacht or backpack and bus, Croatia is a Mecca for island hopping and fresh eats. We’ve chosen three of its city destinations, Split, Hvar and Dubrovnik, and will guide you through where to eat, sleep and party in this Mediterranean playground.
SPLIT
Croatia is a great place to party and Split is no exception. There are some great large-scale nightclubs that play host to sweaty dancefests and inebriated “networking”.
Check out Vanilla Club, set in the public pool complex. It is merely a 20 minute walk away or a short taxi ride from town. The club has a 360-degree bar and, when weather permits, opens up onto a large terrace. It is cash only and, like most big clubs in Croatia, has a cover charge.
Another notable beat-blasting, strobe-light-flashing club is the Hemingway Bar. It has a large terrace, chandeliers and tented-off bottle service VIP areas. It’s catered towards the elite of Croatia and the see-and-be-seen of tourists.
For a more laidback vibe, check out Red Room, Academia Ghetto Club, Fluid and Puls. These are smaller bars in the city center that have great drinks or fun crowds that tend to spill out into the streets.
SURVIVAL TIP: This is a great city in which to rent an apartment. The market is vast and the selection ranges from low-budget rentals to high-end fully furnished homes. As a port town, it’s easy to take day trips from Split, so you’ll want to have a nice place to call home after you return on the last ferry into town. Check out split-apartment.com.
HVAR
A must see are the Pakleni Islands. Rent a boat for about 350 kuna (roughly $70) a day and explore the islands on your own. You can rent boats right in the main square in Hvar, the islands are very close by a and lot of them have little alcoves that can become your own private beach for the afternoon. Make an activity out of it by packing along a picnic or a bottle of wine.
If you’re afraid of renting a boat and recreating Captain Phillips, there are also organized tours. Check out a trip to the Blue Grotto: the tour goes inside caves where the water shines so brightly blue you’ll have to see it to believe it.There are also frequent water taxis that run every half hour or so.
Be sure to get someone to set up a Vineyard tour. With Hvar Adventure organizing tours to any of these wineries in close proximity, there’s no excuse not to:
1. Bastijana
2. Duboković Medvid
3. Agricultural Cooperative Svirče
4. Zlatan Otok
SURVIVAL TIP: If you’re going to be checking out short-term apartment rentals, be sure to double-check the apartment location before booking: Hvar is set on a hill, and it’s steep. Also, beware of the high school and college kids invasion during high-season. Although it might be fun to party like a college freshman for a night, their large groups and rowdy tendencies will have you feeling your age.
DUBROVNIK
At the southernmost tip of Croatia lies Dubrovnik, known for its romantic settings and as a lavish destination, this city plays hosts to a booming culinary scene. First stop should be the acclaimed restaurant Nautika. Situated just outside the Pile Gate, it’s known for three things, its panoramic terraces, head chef and it’s formal white lining. They have a menu fittingly based on freshly caught seafood, we suggest trying the Croatian style Lobster Medallions.
Plan a visit to D'vino wine bar, their wine list has an extensive collection of domestics and imports that can be tried by the glass, bottle or in tasting servings. House wine beginning at around $5 you can be sure to enjoy an afternoon or evening.
360Dubrovnik, is another great example of Dubrovnik’s lavish lifestyle with impeccably creative presentation, well trained wait staff and meticulously sourced food. We’re talking bread served on hot stones and Brie ice cream, creative. But be warned: this luxury, of course, will be reflected on the bill.
SURVIVAL TIP: If you’re visiting in high-season avoid the tourist attraction of walking the city walls. Although beautiful, the tour will be crowded and the pounding direct sunlight is brutal. Instead take a lift on the cable car; the views are better anyway. Also, if you are lucky enough to book this apartment, do it immediately. It is located in the middle of the city and is great in both price and amenities.
QUICK TIPS:
• The money is called Kunas and exchanges at roughly $1USD to 6 Kunas.
• Do rent a car and turn your adventure into a road trip.
• Getting involved in an AgroFarm program, truffles aren’t going to find themselves!
• Take advantage of warm dry weather and outdoor activities (the biking trails are great) in the spring.
• Tourist high season is June-July, late August and September are less crowded.
• You also have to try the squid ink risotto. Warning: It will turn your mouth temporarily purplish black, but fear not, it will fade before the end of your meal. Lastly, the local grilled squid with olive oil will have you writing home to your loved ones.