Country guide · Croatia
Best places to visit in Croatia
4 destinations compared, so you can choose where to spend your time.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Zysko serhii, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
For a first trip to Croatia, start with Dubrovnik: A walled Adriatic city of limestone streets, sea forts and island swims. For beaches, look at Dubrovnik, Hvar and Split. Zagreb is the least expensive of the destinations in this guide.
Key facts
- Destinations in this guide
- 4
- Best months overall
- May–June and September–October
- Start with
- Dubrovnik
- Least expensive here
- Zagreb
4 places to visit in Croatia
Best: May–June and September–October · 4 days
Dubrovnik
A walled Adriatic city of limestone streets, sea forts and island swims
Best: May–June and September · 4 days
Hvar
Lavender hills, Venetian harbour towns and island-hopping off Split
Best: May–June and September · 4 days
Split
A lived-in Roman palace, island ferries and Adriatic swimming
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Best: May–June, September–October and December · 3 days
Zagreb
Habsburg squares, café terraces and a medieval hilltop Upper Town
Compare the destinations
| Destination | Known for | Best time | Ideal stay | Mid-range per day |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dubrovnik | City walls and Stradun | May–June and September–October | 4 days | $170–$300 |
| Hvar | Hvar Town harbour and Pakleni Islands | May–June and September | 4 days | $160–$300 |
| Split | Diocletian's Palace and Riva promenade | May–June and September | 4 days | $140–$250 |
| Zagreb | Upper Town and St Mark's Church | May–June, September–October and December | 3 days | $110–$190 |
When to visit Croatia
Across these destinations the most reliable months are May–June and September–October. Timing still varies by place: Dubrovnik is best in May–June and September–October; Hvar is best in May–June and September; Split is best in May–June and September.
Signature dishes across Croatia
Events through the year in Croatia
| Month | Events |
|---|---|
| February | Dubrovnik: Feast of St Blaise — processions and celebrations for the patron saint (3 February); Hvar: Carnival celebrations in island villages (usually February) |
| March | Hvar: Za Križen — overnight Holy Week procession in six villages (Holy Thursday, March or April); Zagreb: Festival of Lights — light installations across the centre (usually March) |
| April | Hvar: Easter (March or April); Split: Easter (March or April) |
| May | Split: Sudamja — Feast of Saint Domnius, with a fair and celebrations (7 May) |
| June | Hvar: Lavender festival in Velo Grablje (usually late June or early July); Zagreb: Animafest — world festival of animated film (usually June) |
| July | Dubrovnik: Dubrovnik Summer Festival — theatre and classical music in forts and squares (usually mid-July to late August); Hvar: Hvar Summer Festival — concerts and theatre (usually July–August) |
| August | Dubrovnik: Dubrovnik Summer Festival continues (usually until late August); Hvar: Feast of the Assumption (15 August) |
| November | Zagreb: Zagreb Film Festival (usually November) |
| December | Dubrovnik: Dubrovnik Winter Festival — Advent market and events in the Old Town (usually December); Split: Advent in Split — Christmas market and events on the Riva (December) |
How far apart they are
| From | To | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Dubrovnik | Hvar | 147 km |
| Dubrovnik | Split | 165 km |
| Dubrovnik | Zagreb | 390 km |
| Hvar | Split | 37 km |
| Hvar | Zagreb | 296 km |
| Split | Zagreb | 259 km |
Questions travellers ask
+Where should I go on my first trip to Croatia?
Dubrovnik: Dubrovnik's Old Town is a car-free, limestone-paved city inside almost 2 kilometres of medieval walls, jutting into the Adriatic at the southern tip of Croatia. Once the capital of the independent Republic of Ragusa…
+When is the best time to visit Croatia?
Generally May–June and September–October, though it varies by region.