The Spinny Index: Croatia
Spinny's verdict: unscientific, but built on a lot of travel. 5 wheels = maximum.
Dubrovnik: on the walls of an old merchant republic
Stone walls wrap around Dubrovnik's Old Town, and walking them gives you a view straight down onto terracotta roofs, church domes and the sea.
For centuries this was the self-governing Republic of Ragusa, a merchant city-state, until Napoleon's armies arrived in 1806. The Old Town is a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Stroll the polished limestone of the Stradun, the main street, then take the cable car up Mount Srđ for the view.
Game of Thrones fans will recognize corners of the city: it was a filming location for King's Landing.
Best for: history, sea views, city breaks · Spinny tip: Walk the walls early in the morning, before the heat and the biggest crowds.
Croatians are obsessed with…
Plitvice and Krka: lakes, waterfalls and wooden boardwalks
Inland, Plitvice Lakes National Park is a chain of 16 named lakes cascading one into the next. Wooden boardwalks lead you right across the water.
The lakes are held back by tufa barriers, natural dams built up from limestone. The park has been on UNESCO's World Heritage list since 1979.
Closer to the coast, Krka National Park has waterfalls along the Krka River. The lowest set is called Skradinski buk.
Best for: nature, hiking, photography · Spinny tip: Swimming in the lakes at Plitvice is not allowed. Bring good shoes and a picnic instead.
Spinny's food dare
Four words that open doors
| Hello | Bok | BOK |
| Thank you | Hvala | HVA-la |
| Cheers! | Živjeli! | ZHI-vje-li |
| Goodbye | Doviđenja | do-vi-DJE-nja |
Capitals = stressed syllable. ə = a short, neutral vowel.
Split and the islands: café life inside an emperor's palace
Between 295 and 305, the Roman emperor Diocletian built a palace by the sea to retire to. It has been lived in ever since, and the old town of Split grew up inside its walls.
Today people live, shop and drink coffee within the palace. Its columned courtyard, the Peristyle, is a favorite meeting place.
Split is also a gateway to the islands: Hvar with its lavender fields, Brač with Zlatni Rat beach, and Vis, the farthest inhabited island off the mainland.
Best for: history, island hopping, nightlife · Spinny tip: In July and August, buy ferry and catamaran tickets in advance, especially if you're bringing a car.
Croatia in 60 seconds
- 295–305 Emperor Diocletian builds his retirement palace by the sea at Split.
- 1358 Venice gives up its claims to Dalmatia, and Dubrovnik grows into the self-governing Republic of Ragusa.
- 1918 Croatia joins the new Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes, later Yugoslavia.
- 1991 Croatia declares independence on June 25.
- Today An EU member since 2013, using the euro since 2023.
Istria: truffle forests, a hilltop town and a Roman arena
In the northwest, the Istrian peninsula feels part Croatian, part Italian. In towns like Rovinj, Croatian and Italian are both official languages.
Motovun sits on its hill above a forest where trained dogs sniff out black and white truffles, the white ones in autumn.
On the coast, Pula has one of the best-preserved Roman amphitheaters in the world, and Rovinj's old town stands on what was once an island.
Best for: food, road trips, slow travel · Spinny tip: Come in autumn for truffle season, and look for pasta with fresh truffles on the menu.
Croatia: three easy mistakes
Croatia by numbers
Myth vs truth
💶 What it costs
Croatia has become noticeably pricier in recent years, especially on the coast. Dubrovnik, Hvar and Split are expensive in high summer, while Zagreb, inland towns and the shoulder season give much better value.
🛂 Visa & entry (tourist stays)
- EU/EEA citizens: No visa needed. A valid passport or national ID card is enough. (Official source)
- US citizens: No visa needed for stays up to 90 days in any 180-day period in the Schengen area. Your passport must be valid for at least 3 months after the day you leave. (Official source)
- UK citizens: No visa needed for stays up to 90 days in any 180-day period in the Schengen area. Your passport must be less than 10 years old on the day you arrive and valid for at least 3 months after the day you leave. (Official source)
Other nationalities, longer stays or work: check the official source.
General guidance only, not legal advice. This information is collected automatically and may be incomplete or out of date. SpinYourDestination takes no responsibility for your entry to any country – always check the official source or the embassy before you travel.
