You are sitting at the computer and
can't decide where to go? Istria, Dalmatia or the Kvarner Bay?
Read on, because in this article we will give you useful tips on choosing the
perfect region for your next vacation along the Croatian Coast!
1. THINK ABOUT HOW MUCH TIME YOU WILL SPEND IN CROATIA
Most of the villas in our offer are rented from Saturday to Saturday. So we assume that you will spend at least
one week in Croatia.
Although
Croatia is small (56 594 km2), it does not mean that you can easily hop from one place to another. Croatia has 1,777 km of coastline, and if you count the islands, the coastline is 6,000 km long. So you can see why it will be impossible to
explore the whole country within one to two weeks, even though it is very small. :)
We advise you to choose a more centrally located place that will serve as a
base for exploring the closer surroundings. We definitely recommend renting a car to explore the surrounding area, as public transport is not so frequent in smaller villages and towns.
The
biggest advantage of Istria is that it is a small peninsula and it is not difficult to visit many places in a short time.
Rovinj, Porec and Pula are the most popular vacation destinations in Istria and all of them are a
very good choice whether you are traveling with family or with your friends.
Dalmatia is bigger than Istria and it will be more important to find a centrally located place here for your vacation. In contrast to Istria, where you can get from one end to the other within an hour, in Dalmatia it takes a bit longer to get from one place to the next. Here you will find
3 major historical towns: Zadar on the north of Dalmatia, Split in central Dalmatia and Dubrovnik in the south.
Zadar is the perfect choice if you want to explore both inland and islands. The city is located in the northern part of Dalmatia - behind it is Mount Velebit and Paklenica National Park (popular with those who like hiking and climbing), and in front of the city are the islands of Pasman, Ugljan, Pag, Dugi Otok and Kornati National Park,
easily accessible by ferry.
Split is the second largest city in Croatia and the perfect choice if you want to explore probably the most famous and some of the
most beautiful islands in Croatia: Brac, Hvar, Vis and Solta. Near split are also the cities of Trogir, Sibenik and Makarska - all well-known cities that have
a lot to offer for tourists.
Dubrovnik is located in the very south of Croatia and is probably the most famous city in Croatia and always a good choice. Nearby are the
Peljesac peninsula and the islands of Mljet and Korucula.
2. HOW DO YOU TRAVEL?
How do you travel? By plane or by car?
If you are arriving by plane, the destination does not really matter, since there is an
airport in all major cities: in Istria there is one in Pula, in the Kvarner region on the island of Krk, and in Dalmatia in Zadar, Split and Dubrovnik.
If you are traveling by car and do not want to drive too long, then
Istria and the Kvarner Bay are the
better choice.
3. FIND A DESTINATION THAT SUITS YOUR INTERESTS
Make a list of things you want to do that are important to you. Maybe you worked overtime a lot and you want to spend your
vacation in a natural environment with hiking trails and taste the local cuisine? Then
Central Istria is the right choice for you. Here you will find many small villages, vineyards and olive groves and local restaurants with delicious traditional food and a good selection of wine. Zadar is also a good choice for those who like hiking. In the region around Zadar you can also find
most of the national parks.
If you have health problems and want to explore
health tourism, the best place to go is Opatija and Kvarner Bay. This region is known for its wellness offer. This whole region is situated below the mountain Ucka and
a lot of beautiful villas with spectacular sea view have been built here.
If you want to go out and
be among other people in the evening, cities like Rovinj, Porec, Pula, Zadar, Split and Dubrovnik are the right choice for you. If you find interest in history and like to go to museums, then it is best to choose one of the bigger cities like Pula, Zadar or Split, but also Trogir.
4. CONSIDER YOUR BUDGET
Although you may not want to think about your budget when you go on vacation, it can be an
important selection criterion. Generally, the closer your accommodation is
to the sea, the more expensive it will be. Larger cities,
especially Dubrovnik, are more expensive than, for example, Central Istria.
Make a
list of activities you want to do and find out how much you will have to spend on them on official websites. This will be helpful in deciding what you can realistically do in the time you spend in Croatia. Keep in mind that
not to overload your schedule, which can be tempting if you are visiting a place for the first time. It is also important to schedule down some time for
relaxation.
Whatever you choose, the most important thing is that you
have fun doing it and that your choice meets your current needs. Besides, there is no reason not to visit Croatia more than once. :)
Monika Pranjic
9.12.2022
MY ISTRIA GUIDE
