Pag Island, Croatia
Many people wonder if traveling alone in Croatia is a good idea (is it safe, easy, etc). The answer really depends on what you’re looking for, but Croatia might not be the destination to choose if you’re looking to travel solo.
Read the list below to get a better idea if it’s really for you:
1. If you’re looking for quiet, solo time, friendly locals might not let that happen. Croatians are curious about travelers passing through, and they often like to strike up conversations.
When you travel with others, locals might not want to impose, but you’ll definitely seem more approachable if you’re solo. Something to keep in mind if you’re not interested in engaging with the culture.
When you travel with others, locals might not want to impose, but you’ll definitely seem more approachable if you’re solo. Something to keep in mind if you’re not interested in engaging with the culture.
Plitvice Lakes, Croatia
2. There are many solo travelers making their way through Croatia, so you won’t really be breaking new ground if that’s what you were after! You’ll likely meet others along the way and you’ll share advice and tips with them (it might take away from the "doing it all on your own" feeling ;)
3. If you’re looking to stick to a strict plan, don’t travel solo in Croatia. This country has so much to offer, you’ll likely discover things you hadn’t planned on after talking to locals and other travelers alike.
You’ll probably ditch your original itinerary altogether and discover some incredible hidden gems not listed in the guidebooks.
4. When you travel alone, it forces you to focus more on the destination itself, and rely on the destination to fulfill your needs instead of the company around you.
In this case, Croatia might overly-fulfill your needs as you immerse yourself in the culture, and the beauty, and you might never want to leave. Or you’ll never want to travel anywhere else ever again.
When you travel with others, they can distract you from how incredible the country really is, so watch out if you’re alone, the experience might take you by surprise.
5. Croatia is a very safe country, so if you were looking for a little solo-adventure with a hint of danger, you probably won’t find it here!
3. If you’re looking to stick to a strict plan, don’t travel solo in Croatia. This country has so much to offer, you’ll likely discover things you hadn’t planned on after talking to locals and other travelers alike.
You’ll probably ditch your original itinerary altogether and discover some incredible hidden gems not listed in the guidebooks.
4. When you travel alone, it forces you to focus more on the destination itself, and rely on the destination to fulfill your needs instead of the company around you.
In this case, Croatia might overly-fulfill your needs as you immerse yourself in the culture, and the beauty, and you might never want to leave. Or you’ll never want to travel anywhere else ever again.
When you travel with others, they can distract you from how incredible the country really is, so watch out if you’re alone, the experience might take you by surprise.
5. Croatia is a very safe country, so if you were looking for a little solo-adventure with a hint of danger, you probably won’t find it here!
Traditional Peka lunch
6. Meal for one? Croatia doesn’t have a lot of fast food chains, so you’ll be forced to enjoy a wonderful meal at a local restaurant, unfortunately. What a downer.
7. If you want some true peace and quiet, and to be alone with your thoughts, there are plenty of places to do so, however, the choices can be overwhelming!
Should you go to a private beach? Take a private hike? Cycle through lost villages in the countryside? You might struggle to make the decision with no travel-buddy to help sway you a certain way.
8. You might have thought that because you’re traveling alone, you’ll probably learn more of the local language out of necessity, asking for directions, ordering meals etc., but that probably won’t be the case.
Most people speak English in Croatia, so if you want to learn some words for fun, great! Otherwise, you can get by pretty easily in English throughout your entire trip.
9. Traveling alone means there’s no one to keep you moving along at Plitvice Lakes (or any beautiful spot). You might get stuck in the same place taking pictures of the same waterfalls from 1000 different angles because they’re just so breathtaking.
No one will bother you to pick up the pace and keep exploring. You might use up all of your storage on the very first day.
7. If you want some true peace and quiet, and to be alone with your thoughts, there are plenty of places to do so, however, the choices can be overwhelming!
Should you go to a private beach? Take a private hike? Cycle through lost villages in the countryside? You might struggle to make the decision with no travel-buddy to help sway you a certain way.
8. You might have thought that because you’re traveling alone, you’ll probably learn more of the local language out of necessity, asking for directions, ordering meals etc., but that probably won’t be the case.
Most people speak English in Croatia, so if you want to learn some words for fun, great! Otherwise, you can get by pretty easily in English throughout your entire trip.
9. Traveling alone means there’s no one to keep you moving along at Plitvice Lakes (or any beautiful spot). You might get stuck in the same place taking pictures of the same waterfalls from 1000 different angles because they’re just so breathtaking.
No one will bother you to pick up the pace and keep exploring. You might use up all of your storage on the very first day.
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10. If you’re single, watch out. Don’t make too much eye contact with the locals, or you might wind up staying here, marrying one, and raising 3 Croatian-*Canadian (*insert your own nationality here) kids, like me.
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So there you have it. If you’re thinking of traveling alone in Croatia, make sure you’re well prepared to engage with the locals, try the food, don’t be too uptight with your plans, take a deep breath and make the hard activity decisions.
You can make new friends if you want to, but you can be as “alone” as you want to as well. There are places to be around people (locals and other travelers alike), and there are also endless peaceful spots to just be with yourself.
Don’t forget to keep exploring, and learn a few words of Croatian (only) if you’re up for it. Croatia is a very safe (and amazing) place to travel solo, so pack your bags, and come on over!
You can make new friends if you want to, but you can be as “alone” as you want to as well. There are places to be around people (locals and other travelers alike), and there are also endless peaceful spots to just be with yourself.
Don’t forget to keep exploring, and learn a few words of Croatian (only) if you’re up for it. Croatia is a very safe (and amazing) place to travel solo, so pack your bags, and come on over!
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Sarah Cosic
Royal Croatian Tours - Specializing in custom made, luxury trips throughout Croatia. We offer exclusive experiences all over the country, and we’re passionate about providing you exceptional service that goes above and beyond for your tailor made vacation! Send us an email or give us a call to start planning today! |
If you’re interested in reading a few of our other posts about Croatia:
- 25 Strange Things Croatians Do (And Would Never Do)!
- Croatian Culture, Etiquette & Social Norms: A Complete Guide!
- My Kids Don't Speak English: Raising Bilinguals is Tough!
- 15 Places in Croatia You've Probably Never Heard Of!
- 50 Insanely Spectacular Photos of Croatia: Start Packing!
- Croatia’s Best 20 Beaches: Sandy, Pebbly & Hidden Gems
- Is Croatia Safe? Read Our 20 Useful Safety Tips for Tourists
- 5 Reasons Croatian Grannies are Cuter than Kittens
- 8 Reasons You Should Never Swim in the Adriatic
- Top 10 Day Trips From Zagreb, Within 1hr Drive
- Croatian Money: KN or EURO, Exchanging $, and Daily Costs
- How I Learned to Speak Croatian as an Adult (in 7 Steps)
- Driving in Croatia (A Helpful Guide With Practical Tips)
- 38 Local Tips & Mistakes to Avoid When Traveling to Croatia
- Travel to Croatia With a Toddler or Baby (From Experience!)
- Tipping in Croatia: A Complete Guide With Suggested Amounts!
- 20 Croatian Habits Everyone Should Adopt
