The Croatian islands and coastal towns are absolutely beautiful. While we originally wanted to visit the area due to its Game of Thrones connections, there is so much more to love there. The scenery is gorgeous, and you can easily combine Dubrovnik, Split, Hvar, and Brac into a single trip.
Dubrovnik
Dubrovnik is the main attraction along Croatia’s coast. The old town is famous for its collection of orange rooftops against the blue ocean backdrop, and tourists from all over the world come to see the “King’s Landing” sights from Game of Thrones.
There are many ways to see the Game of Thrones sights in Dubrovnik. Self-guided tours around the old town are definitely an option, but we decided to splurge for a private tour led by a guide who appeared on the show as an extra. We thought it was absolutely worth it. The guide came prepared with photos of the show’s scenes so that we could do a side-by-side comparison of how the surroundings were transformed.
If you aren’t a Game of Thrones fan, Dubrovnik is still worth a visit. There is delicious seafood at places like Barba, and you may also see some wild peacocks wandering around town. Plus, the water is beautiful.
Hvar
Hvar is a party island. There’s no way around it. If you visit in the summer, you’re bound to see a number of tourists stopping at Hvar as part of Yacht Week. The place to be earlier in the day is Hula Hula, which is an awesome beach club. For later nights out, there are a number of clubs to choose from, but those don’t open until 2am.
For a nicer meal, we suggest you visit Dalmatino and enjoy some seafood pasta. Everything is incredibly fresh. Like Dubrovnik, Hvar has crystal clear water that is begging for you to dive in, so you’ll enjoy a visit even if you don’t enjoy going out.
Brac
The island of Brac is home to Zlatni Rat – one of the most beautiful beaches in the world. It is truly unique, as the shape of the beach changes as the tide shifts. There isn’t much to do on Brac aside from the beach, so we recommend a one-day stop to experience this destination. Another piece of advice – bring water shoes. The beach is very pebbley. It makes the water crystal clear, but it isn’t the most comfortable to walk on.
Split
Split is Croatia’s largest coastal city, but we opted to only spend one night there. It’s nothing against Split – we just wanted to spend more time in Dubrovnik and the islands. Still, Split has a lot to offer. There is a nice hike up Marjan Hill that provides a great vantage point of the city, and the old town has a lot of interesting architecture. For example, in the old town you can find the beautiful Diocletian’s Palace. You can also climb the bell tower to get another view of the city.
Other Tips & Tricks
- Where to Stay: We found a number of great, affordable Airbnbs for our stays around Croatia. Especially if you want to stay in the old towns of Dubrovnik and Split, apartment rentals are probably your best bet. There just isn’t enough space for large, chain hotels. You’ll likely be doing a lot of walking in all of these coastal destinations too, so be sure to pick central locations.
- Getting Around: Within each town, public transit is not plentiful. Be prepared to walk. In terms of getting from town to town, though, there are some affordable options. Ferries will be needed to get to Hvar and Brac. If you travel directly between Split and Dubrovnik, you can take a bus. We recommend going from Split to Hvar to Brac to Dubrovnik, or the reverse of that order, to minimize travel time.
- Currency Exchange: Unfortunately, you won’t find the best exchange rates in Croatia’s coastal cities. The vendors take advantage of the high tourism there. If you happen to be visiting Zagreb on your trip as well, we recommend doing all of your exchanges there.
Happy traveling!
Kitrina & Jordan
