Croatia is still a little hidden gem of a country, relatively undiscovered, but with so much to offer! We've put together our top 11 photos to highlight the very best. Enjoy, and tell us which one was your favourite!
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So you’ve decided on Croatia as your next travel destination and you’ve been researching places and things to do for weeks or even months. You’ve spent countless hours developing the perfect itinerary, right down to the last minute, and you’re ready to pack up your things and jet off to this magical, far away land. You’ve planned to hit all the major sites and cities but…
...it’s just not going to work out. And here’s why… Because the fanny pack is back - it actually never went anywhere, it’s been all the rage since the 80s here in Croatia. It’s a seriously practical fashion accessory and we’re fools for phasing it out in North America. You’re hands-free, you’ve got lots of storage space, you can double it up as a belt - it’s just so versatile.
Planning your next vacation to Croatia? Make sure you check off these 10 items for an ultimate holiday in one of the most enticing countries on the planet. These are my absolute favourite and top things to see and do while travelling Croatia. There are of course a million other things to see and do, but you just can’t miss out on the following:
1. Make sure you do a sailing excursion around one of the 1200 islands off the coast of Croatia. You'll be pinching yourself as you soak up the sun and the breathtaking views and feel like you have the entire Adriatic to yourself.
General Information:
Croatia is a unique country full of extraordinary natural beauty and an equally interesting historical and cultural heritage. The country is situated on the Adriatic Sea with no shortage of beaches to take your breath away, especially with over a thousand islands and islets to explore. Croatia's history and culture can be seen all over the country, along with numerous fortresses and caves where ancient handmade relics can be found. Croatian food is an exquisite combination of classic Mediterranean and Italian flavour. The climate along the coast is perfect for vineyards and olive groves to flourish, which is why Croatia is well known for its impeccable wine and olive oil selection.
You’ve just had the most wonderful vacation of your life travelling around Croatia and now you’re back at work. The only problem is that you got used to a few things while on holiday. Bringing back one or more of the following habits could get you fired.
1. You brought back some heavy duty Croatian coffee and are now accustomed to drinking 4 cups a day. With too much caffeine in your system, you've been bouncing all over the office and have become a hyper-Howard.
Croatia is probably most well known for Dubrovnik, but let me tell you, there’s much more to Croatia than the Game of Thrones filming location. Here are some lesser known, but fascinating tidbits about this cool country.
Not only is it one of the most beautiful countries you’ll ever visit in your life, but it’s home to one of the most majestic places in the world...Plitvice Lakes National Park. This little slice of heaven is a must-see if you plan on travelling to Croatia. Although the country has eight national parks, Plitvice takes the lead in my humble opinion. Mother Nature sure outdid herself on this one!
As an expat in Croatia, everyone always asks what I like about living here and how it compares to Canada. Well here’s my most favourite thing that I think is missing in most (if not all) Canadian cities...
1. Do not go on a diet.
With several different regions, each famous for their own specialties, now’s not the time pass on succulent, mouthwatering meals. Savour some gnocchi with fresh truffle-cream sauce in Istria, delight in Dalmatia’s best seafood straight from the Adriatic Sea, revel in world renowned oysters from Ston, or taste traditional meats, finely cured from the continental region. There's so much to try - you might actually need to start a diet after you return home ;) All of these foods also pair extremely well with local wine, which brings me to number two on the list...
(post by Sarah)
Maksimir Park was opened to the public in 1794 and was the first of its kind in this region of Europe. There are so many things to love about it, but here are my top 5.
1. There are 5 lakes within its 18 hectares of space where you can relax, admire nature and have a picnic. I can’t even count the number of picnics I’ve had here over the years. A blanket, a bottle of wine, a baguette with some fresh cheese, deli meat and fruit and you’re all set for a cozy afternoon enjoying the outdoors with the peeps you love. It’s a great place to escape the crowds and find a little peace!
(post by Sarah)
I thought it might be helpful to write a post about some useful words and phrases when visiting Croatia. When I first stepped off the plane back in 2007, I only knew a few words from my little Lonely Planet pocket phrasebook and boy have I had my share of embarrassing language mishaps along the way. Want some examples? I told Ivan I was going to kill him on one of our first dates (I’m surprised he stuck around :), I told a woman I liked her new body hair (seriously strange reaction), I asked a neighbour to help me bring my bike into the butt-hole in the basement (definitely the most awkward reaction to date), and the list goes on.
Here's where I learned all of my beginning Croatian - I went to cafes, alone, and studied the small English-Croatian dictionary in the back of this phrasebook.
(post by Ivan)
Ever since I was a child, I’ve always had a love for cars (which of course started with a couple of toy cars that my friends and I would push around on the floor, pretending we were racecar drivers). Cars have changed so much over the years, especially here in Croatia – up until the fall of communism, over 50% of the cars on the street were Zastavas (Yugoslavian car factory) – only those who left Croatia to work in rich, neighboring countries like Germany, Austria or Switzerland drove the finer cars like the ones hosted in the museum.
(post by Ivan)
What made Zagreb win the award for the Best European Destination for Advent?
With Advent behind us all now, vendors are surely rubbing their hands together (with how much money they made) and most of the citizens of Zagreb are still in awe of what a spectacle this year’s celebration turned out to be. I have to admit – this year, Advent in Zagreb was very special to me. (Partly because I was celebrating this season as a new father :)
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AuthorsSarah CosicAs a Canadian in Croatia, Sarah aims to share her favourite things to see and do, in hopes of helping others enjoy and explore this beautiful country, Ivan CosicIvan is always searching for unique places and experiences to offer his guests and wants to share some of his findings through the blog. |