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Practical information

Let’s start this digital nomad guide to Split with some practical info! Croatia has recently joined the Schengen Area and has taken up the Euro instead of Kunas.

Currency: Euro
Visa situation: Croatia is a part of the Schengen Area. Croatia offers digital nomad visas which allows you to stay up to one year, all info about the digital nomad visas can be found here.
Language: Croatian is the official language, but English is widely spoken
Debit/credit cards: Both debit and credit cards are widely accepted, however, some places have a minimum spend of a few Euros when paying with cards. Although cards are widely accepted, I would advise you to always carry a small amount of cash, just in case.
ATM’s: Avoid the Euronet ATM’s at all cost, those are the most expensive ones to use. Only use ATM’s from actual banks, OTP banka has been my go-to as I’ve found they have the lowest fees.

Why Split is an ideal destination for digital nomads

There are many reasons to choose Split, Croatia, as your next base.

It’s pretty affordable

Although not as cheap as many of the Balkan countries, such as Albania and Bosnia – Split is relatively affordable compared to many Western European countries. This is especially true when it comes to accommodation, well, except for in the high season (July and August) where prices in Split, as in most of Europe, are at an all time high. I would advise you to visit outside of those months, not only because of the high cost, but also because it gets incredibly crowded.

Croatia is incredibly safe

Statistically, Croatia is incredibly safe, and that is very on par with my experience there. I never so much as felt uncomfortable, even walking around late at night by myself, I never felt unsafe.

It’s easy to get around

Traveling around Croatia is easy, regardless of whether you are planning to hire a car or use public transport. The roads are great and there are plenty of buses that will take you around the country. Here I have a full post about how to get around Croatia.

Plenty of things to see

There are plenty of things to see and do, both in and around Split. There is of course the old town, plenty of beautiful beaches, as well as the many islands that are just a short boat ride away. Click here to read my full post on things to do in Split.

English is widely spoken

Unlike many of the other Balkan countries, such as Montenegro, Albania and Bosnia – English is widely spoken in Croatia. You are therefore unlikely to experience problems due to language barriers.

Where to live in Split

Where in Split you want to live will depend on your preferences. For those wanting to stay close to the beaches, I’d recommend checking out Firule and Bacvice. If you want to stay in the middle of the action, the old town would be ideal, but it is also the most expensive area. I stayed in Firule for 6 weeks and really loved that area, it’s really close to the ocean and you have lots of cafés and supermarkets within walking distance. I have also stayed in Bol, between the Joker Mall and the old town, which was also great as it’s more affordable than the old town but only a 10min walk away.

Accommodation in Split, Croatia

This digital nomad guide to Split wouldn’t be complete without a guide to securing accommodation. Finding places to stay in Split is easy, that is apart from the high season months, July and August. As for the rest of the year, I’ve found it’s easy to find affordable accommodation. To give you an idea, I paid around €800 for a modern one bedroom apartment, about 10min walking distance from the old town, in October of 2022. I have always used Airbnb to find rentals in Split and have had really good experiences. You can also find long-term rentals on Booking, which, due to the increasingly high fees on Airbnb, might be a cheaper option.

Below are a few suggestions for really nice apartments with amazing reviews!

Here is a beautiful, recently renovated studio apartment, right next to the old town
This is a gorgeous two bedroom apartment, located right in the heart of the old town
Here is a modern one bedroom apartment in Bacvice, close to the beach and the old town
Here is a nice studio apartment with balcony, located in the old town
Here is an amazing one bedroom apartment in Firule, just 200 meters from the beach!

Apart from Airbnb and Booking, you can find apartments to rent through Njuskalo and in Facebook groups. I’ll link a few active Facebook groups below. If you are planning to rent through Njuskalo or Facebook, always be cautious as, unfortunately, there are lots of scammers out there that are ready to take your money and run. I would highly recommend you to not pay anything until you’ve seen the place in person, which might require you to book a few nights in a hostel or a hotel to begin with.

Facebook groups that you can use to find rooms or apartments to rent:

Split Home rent

Digital Nomads Croatia Housing

Croatia apartments

Digital Nomads Split Croatia

Coworking spaces and cafés to work from

There are plenty of laptop friendly cafés in Split, as well as a few coworking spaces. Having spent a few months in Split as a digital nomad, I’ve tried a whole lot of cafés, here is a post covering my favourite cafés to work from in Split.

These are a few of the coworking spaces in Split:

Re.Split Coworking – located in the center of the University Campus.
The Work Coworking – located in the Firule neighbourhood
ScapeUp Coworking – located close to the University Campus
Smartspace – located in the old town

I hope this digital nomad guide to Split has answered your questions about living in Split as a digital nomad. Having spent close to three months in Split as a digital nomad, I can highly recommend it as a base for other digital nomads. It’s an incredible city with lots to see and do.

If you are planning a trip to Croatia, you might also want to read:

• Getting around in Croatia: How to travel within Croatia
• 11 Things that surprised me about Croatia
• Visiting Krka National Park
• 10 Things to do in Split
• Where to eat in Zagreb

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Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links that may earn me a small commission should you click through and make a purchase (at no extra cost to you)

1. Eggspress

The first restaurant where I’d recommend that you eat in Zagreb is Eggspres. Located just a few minutes away from the center, Eggspress, as the name suggests, is all about eggs. Their menu includes omelettes, scrambled eggs, eggs benedict, spicy eggs and some more eggs :))) I would suggest going there for brunch, and if Mimosas are your things, well, they have those!

Click here for the exact Google maps location

2. Good Food

This was one of my top choices for lunch and dinner! Good Food offers burgers (both meat based and vegetarian), salads, tortillas, sandwiches and juices. Prices are very decent and the food is great. I can especially recommend the vegetarian burger and the sweet potato fries! Good Food shares its space with another restaurant called Soho, which serves delicious sushi and poke bowls. I haven’t tried the sushi but can highly recommend the poke bowls!

Click here for the exact Google maps location

3. Bistro Fetis

One of my top choices for breakfast and lunch! Bistro Fetis is a very trendy coffee shop, I’m honestly not sure which I liked more – the food or the interior! They serve a variety of focaccia sandwiches as well as avocado toasts, quiche, cakes and of course high quality coffee. It’s laptop friendly, at least during weekdays, so if you need to get some work or studying done, you can do so here.

Click here for the exact Google maps location

4. Kungfu Express

If you’re in the mood for Asian food, look no further! Located in a historical building in a pedestrian street at the heart of Zagreb, Kungfu Express offers a variety of Asian food at very reasonable prices. Expect to pay around 10 euros for a main course. I’ve only tried the Pad Thai, which was delicious and was prepared in just a few minutes.

Click here for the exact Google maps location

5. Poke Poke

If you’re wondering where in Zagreb you can eat poke bowls, Poke Poke is the answer! Located in the very center of Zagreb, here you’ll find both fish and meat based poke bowls, as well as vegan. It’s one of those restaurants that I kept going back to, everything I tried there was very tasty and I found the prices to be very fair, around 10 euros for a bowl.

Click here for the exact Google maps location

6. Melt Gelato & Brunch Bar

Arguably the most aesthetic & “instagrammable” café in Zagreb, Melt would honestly be worth a visit even if it was just to admire the interior. They have a variety of options when it comes to food – acai bowls, smoothies, pancakes, avocado toasts, egg & bacon, pastries and whatnot. For those that like to do brunch, I’d say this would be a good option. Note that it does get busy, especially during weekends, so consider booking a table in advance.

Click here for the exact Google maps location

7. Namaste Bistro

This guide on where to eat in Zagreb wouldn’t be complete without a proper Indian restaurant! There are a few Indian restaurants in Zagreb, but I’d recommend Namaste Bistro over the others. The interior is really aesthetic and the food is simply amazing – as is the staff. You truly can’t go wrong with this place, one of the best Indian food I’ve ever had.

Click here for the exact Google maps location

8. Nutelino

Unless you really hate crepés & waffles, I’d argue Nutelino can not disappoint! Whether you’re craving something salty or something sweet, you’ll find it at Nutelino. And it’s gonna be delicious. I only tried the sweet crepés (pictured above) and wow, it was good. They put a lot of nutella in there You should know that the crepés are very filling, so you might want to consider splitting one between two people.

Click here for the exact Google maps location

9. The Cookie Factory

A very cozy place to sit down and have a coffee and some pastry. You can choose from cupcakes, chocolate cakes, cheesecake and chocolate chip cookies, just to name some of the many options. Everything I’ve tried there has been good – banana cupcake, oreo cupcake and the chocolate chip cookie are all something I can vouch for. The Cookie factory has two locations in Zagreb – one in the center and another one about 10-15 minutes from the center.

Click here for the exact Google maps location of Cookie Factory in the center (note that it is on the other side of the street from what the location says)

Click here for the exact Google maps location of Cookie Factory outside of the center

10. Quahwa

The place coffee lovers will not want to miss! Quahwa is a coffee roastery located in the center of Zagreb. Here you’ll find high quality coffee with different types of origins – espressos, lattes, americanos, cortados, ice coffees, etc. You can also purchase their coffee beans to bring home!

Click here for the exact Google maps location

I hope this post helped you figure out where to eat in Zagreb! If you want to be notified when I publish new blog posts, simply click on the red bell in the lower right corner, or follow me on Instagram, where I usually announce new posts :)))

If you are planning a trip to Croatia, you might also want to read:

• Getting around in Croatia: How to travel within Croatia
• 11 Things that surprised me about Croatia
• Best cafés to work from in Split
• Visiting Krka national park
• 10 Things to do in Split

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Find your accommodation in Split here!

1. Wander through the old town

Exploring the old town is the best thing to do in Split in my opinion! Known as the historical center of Split, the old town is a maze of cobblestone streets and it’s a true gem! Declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the old town is home to well preserved roman architecture, museums, shops, picturesque narrow streets and squares. You can easily spend hours wandering through the old town, which is entirely pedestrian.

2. Diocletian’s Palace

Arguably the most famous landmark in Split, Diocletian’s Palace was built in 305 AD for the Roman Emperor Diocletian. The palace remains largely intact, and is in fact one of the best preserved Roman architecture in the world. Over the years, the old town has grown around the palace, which to this day remains the heart of the old town.

3. Climb the Bell Tower

Just next to Diocletian’s Palace, you’ll find Saint Domnius Cathedral. The inside of the cathedral is beautiful and worth checking out, but even more stunning is the view from the top of the tower. Head up to the bell tower of the Cathedral for panoramic views of the city! Note that the bell of the tower will ring every hour, so you might want to avoid being up there at the hour as the bell is very loud The cost to climb the tower is 40kunas and tickets can be purchased from the ticket office across the square.

4. Join a walking tour

One of the best ways to get to know Split and its history is by joining a walking tour. It’s a good idea to book these tours in advance to secure a spot, especially during the summer months when Split gets incredibly busy with tourists. Check out these top rated guided walking tours that take you to famous landmarks as well as hidden gems, all while learning about the city’s history.

5. Marjan Hill

Marjan Hill is located just west of the city. It’s a nature retreat covered in lush pine forest, scenic viewpoints and trails, making it a perfect place for when you need a break from the city life. Whether you decide to just wander through the park or visit some of the viewpoints, you are bound to enjoy the views and the quietness the Marjan Hill offers. The easiest viewpoint to get to, located only a 10 minute walk from the old town, is the Prva Vidilica Na Marjanu viewpoint (click here for the exact Google Maps location). A bit further is the Vrh Telegrin viewpoint (click here for the Google Maps location), it requires a bit more hiking but has beautiful views. I can also recommend heading down to Kasjuni beach, a picturesque beach where you can cool down in the Adriatic Sea.

6. Znjan Beach

Znjan beach is one of the many beaches in Split, located in the eastern part of the city. It’s a beautiful beach with crystal clear waters, perfect for a relaxed day. There are a few beach clubs around Znjan beach, including Mistral Beach Bar, Taboo Beach Club and Cool Beach Bar. Note that the beach clubs are only open during the summer months. You will also find plenty of cafés, restaurants and a supermarket in the area.

Znjan beach is located around 3km (1.8 miles) from the old town, but it’s easily reachable by bus, car or a taxi.

7. Stroll the Riva

The Riva is a very lively street that runs along the harbour of Split. It’s lined with a variety of cafés & restaurants, colourful buildings, and of course the Adriatic Sea. During the summer you will also encounter a number of street vendors, selling anything from drinks to accessories to skincare products. If you’re lucky, you might even see live music or some street performers. I just love strolling through here, grabbing a coffee and enjoying the view.

8. Klis Fortress

This hilltop medieval fortress is located above the village Klis, only 12km (7.5 miles) from Split. It’s an interesting historical place to visit and offers a scenic view of Split and the nearby islands. The fortress gained popularity when it was used as the Game of Thrones location for Meereen city, but even so it still isn’t too crowded. You can even do a guided Game of Thrones Tour, which will take you to the filming locations in Split, including Klis Fortress.

The fortress is open from 9AM to 5PM every day, but I’d recommend checking the official opening hours here as this can change on short notice. The entrance fee is around 10 euros. Klit Fortress is a 20 minutes drive from Split and can also be reached by bus.

9. Visiting Trg Republike Square

This beautiful red square is a must see when in Split! Around the square you’ll find plenty of cafés & restaurants, making it an ideal spot to sit down and enjoy a drink or a meal. If you happen to be visiting Split in December, Trg Republike turns very christmasy, with an ice skating ring, lots of decorations and little houses where they sell hot chocolate, among other things.

10. Sunset cruise

Seeing the sun set over Split, on a yacht with a drink in hand is the perfect way to end the day! This top rated sunset tour will allow you to see the Split coastline from the water while listening to live music and zipping on unlimited complementary drinks.

If you have time to do some day trips, I can highly recommend visiting Krka national park and Hvar island.

If you are planning a trip to Croatia, you might also want to read:

• Getting around in Croatia: How to travel within Croatia
• Your Digital Nomad Guide to Split
• 11 Things that surprised me about Croatia
• Visiting Krka national park in Croatia
• Best cafés to work from in Split
• Where to eat in Zagreb

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Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links that may earn me a small commission should you click through and make a purchase (at no extra cost to you)

Splitska Coffee

Splitska Coffee is a trendy coffee shop, located about 20 minutes walk from the old town. Its location next to a big OTP bank’s office means that you have lots of business people coming in. There is plenty of seating during weekdays so you don’t feel pressured to give up your table for someone waiting. They offer sandwiches, salats and juices as well as sandwiches.

Click here for the exact location on Google Maps

D16 Coffee

This speciality coffee shop has a wide range of high quality coffee as well as pastries, mainly croissants. I found it to be relatively quiet, but note I was visiting during off season. As it’s located in the old town, I can imagine it being more crowded during the summer months. I found it to be a great place to grab a coffee and get some work done!

Click here for the exact location on Google Maps

MakaMaka Acai & Poke Bar

Maka Make is one of my absolute favourite restaurant in Split. They have lots of healthy options, including acaí bowls, fresh juices & smoothies, poké bowls and sushi. Prices are on the higher end of what you can expect in Split, but the food is delicious so it’s well worth it in my opinion. I often went there to grab one of their freshly made juices and a cup of coffee. It’s usually very quiet during the day so you can stay as long as you like without feeling guilty of occupying the table for too long.

Click here for the exact location on Google Maps

Cookie Lab

This cute little café, located in Bacvice, is a great place to work from for those that like coffee and something sweet. Cookie Lab offers great coffee as well as croissants, delicious cookies, home made ice cream and other pastries.

Click here for the exact location on Google Maps

I hope this post about the best cafés to work from in Split has been helpful. Having spent close to three months in Split as a digital nomad, I can highly recommend it as a base for other digital nomads. During off season, from September until early May, you can find very affordable accommodation – especially when you book for at least a month.

If you are planning a trip to Croatia, you might also want to read:

• Getting around in Croatia: How to travel within Croatia
• Your Full Digital Nomad Guide to Split
• 11 Things that surprised me about Croatia
• Visiting Krka National Park
• 10 Things to do in Split
• Where to eat in Zagreb

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Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links that may earn me a small commission should you click through and make a purchase (at no extra cost to you)

Practical information

Let’s start with some practical information about Kraka national park!

Krka national park opening hours

The national park is open all year round, only with the exception of the 25th and 26th of December. On the 24th and 31st of December the park closes at 12. Opening hours vary throughout the year, as well as having different opening hours for different parts of the park.

The main place of interest, Skradinski Buk, is open as follows:

June through August: 8AM to 8PM
September: 8AM to 7PM
October 1st through October 15th: 8AM to 6PM
October 16th through October 31st: 9AM to 5PM
November through February: 9AM to 4PM
March: 9AM to 5PM
April: 8AM to 6PM
May: from 8AM to 7PM

Note that the Krka monastery is closed from November throughout March.

Click here to see the complete opening hours

Entrances to Krka national park

There are five entrances to Krka national park, with the main ones being Lazovac and Skradin. Here I’ll go over what you need to know about each of the entrances.

Lozovac

This is the main entrance when arriving by car or in a tourist bus. At this entrance you have a ticket office as well as free parking for visitors. Tourist buses are allowed to transport visitors from the entrance to Skradinski Buk, and from April through October there is an organized transport for individual visitors from the entrance to Skradinski Buk. If you are visiting ouside of those months, you can enter with your vehicle. For those that like to hike, you also have the option to take the 875m (0.54 miles) hiking trail from the entrance to Skradinski buk.

Skradin

A part from being a picturesque town, Skradin is also the location of one of the five entrances to Krka national park. Those that arrive on a public you will likely enter through Skradin. There is parking available in Skradin, but it’s limited, so if you’re driving I’d recommend that you choose the Lozovac entrance.

Once you arrive in Skradin, head to the ticket office if you haven’t already purchased your ticket online. You then have the option of either heading to the pier and hop on a scenic boat ride that will take you to Skradinski Buk, or you can opt to for the equally scenic 3.4km (2.1 miles) hike. The boats run approximately every hour from April through mid November, you can see the complete schedule here.

Roski Slap/Laskovica

You can reach Roski Slap by road from Skradin, Knin and Drnis, as well as by one of the Krka excursion boats from the Skradinski Buk waterfall. Parking is available at this entrance and normally it has plenty availability. There is a ticket office where you can purchase tickets for the national park as well as for the boat excursions.

The boat excursions to the Krka monastery (note that it’s closed from November throughout March) and to Visovac Island are available from June through September, you can find the complete schedule here.

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Burnum/Puljane

Those that are interested archaeological sites will want to choose the Burnum entrance. It offers access to an archaeological site where you can see parts of Roman Burnum as well as artefacts that have been dug up, including weapons and daily use items. Burnum can only be reached by road and parking is available.

Kistanje/Krka monastery

Krka monastery can be reached by an organized boat excursion from Roski Slap waterfall during the months of April through October, as well as by car from Kistanje all year round.

From Kistjanje, follow the signs for the Krka monastery and head down the twisting road to the monastery, where you’ll find parking.

How much is the entrance fee to Krka?

The entrance fee to Kraka national park depends on the season, ranging from 50 kunas (7EUR) during winter to 300 kunas (40EUR) in the summer.

Click here for complete information on prices

Is Krka national park worth visiting?

Yes, Krka national park is absolutely worth visiting! The picturesque Skradinski Buk waterfall alone makes it worth a visit, not to mention the six other waterfalls and the beautiful landscape.

How much time do you need in Krka national park?

Krka national park can be explored within a day, and if you have enough time I’d recommend that you allow for a whole day at the park. Skradinski buk is the main sight, but the park also features six more waterfalls, a museum, a few cafés and restaurants, not to mention the stunning landscape. You can go on a boat tour (which I’d highly recommend), check out the souvenir shops as well as simply walking along the boardwalks and taking photos.

How to get to Krka national park?

Krka national park is easily accessible from coastal cities such as Split, Sibenik and Zadar. You can opt to rent a car, take a public bus or do a guided tour.

Getting to Krka by car

The most convenient way to get to Krka national park is by renting a car. This will of course give you the greatest flexibility, this is especially true during off season when public transport and tours run less frequently then during the summer months. Driving in Croatia is easy and the roads are in great condition.

Driving distances to Krka from the major towns:

Sibernik: 20km, approx. 20min drive
Zadar: 73km, approx. 1 hour drive
Split: 92km, approx. 1.15 hour drive
Zagreb: 325km, approx. 3 hour drive

I would recommend choosing the Lozovac entrance if you’re driving as it has the greatest availability of parking.

If you are looking to rent a car for your trip to Croatia, I’d highly recommend using RentalCars to compare prices between all the major car rentals to make sure you get the best deal!

Getting to Krka by public bus

It’s possible and relatively simple to get to Krka by a public bus from the major cities. Note that buses area much more frequent during the summer months, with only a few of departures a day during the winter months. The bus stop in Skradin is only a few minutes walk from the ticket office and the pier where you can take a boat to Skradinski Buk. The boats run approximately every hour from April through mid November, you can see the complete schedule here.

The bus ride from Sibenik takes around 30 minutes. There are 3-4 departures a day during off season while they are much more frequent during summer.

The journey from Zadar takes around an hour. During the winter months there are two departures per day, but up to eight in July and August.

The bus ride from Split takes around an hour and 20 minutes. There are around four departures a day during winter, but up to twelve in July and August.

Find your bus ticket to Krka here:

Visiting Krka on a guided tour

For those that prefer to go on an organized tour, you can do so from either Split, Zadar or Trogir. This is a great option for those that aren’t comfortable doing the trip on their own or those that simply want the convenience of having someone else organizing everything.

Note that entrance fee to the park is usually not included in the tour prices.

Day trips from Split to Krka national park

There are plenty of guided tours available from Split to Krka.

This top rated day trip includes a visit to a local winery where you’ll get a chance to taste local wines, cheese and olives.

For those that aren’t into wines, check out this highly rated tour that combines a visit to the Krka national park with visits to the picturesque towns of Skradin (pictured below) and Primosten.

Day trips from Zadar to Krka national park

From Zadar you have fewer options for day trips than from Split – I’d recommend checking out these two.

This trip includes pick up and drop off at your accommodation in Zadar and will take you to Krka in a minibus. You will have 6 hours to explore the park, which is plenty of time to see everything. Afterwards, the driver will be waiting for you and will drop you off at your accommodation.

For those that are into wines, I’d highly recommend checking out this trip that includes a visit to a local winery where you’ll get a tour of the winery and the procedures, followed by wine & cheese tasting!

Day trips from Trogir to Krka national park

This full-day tour from Trogir will allow you to see the famous Skradinski Buk, as well as the Roski Slap waterfall and the stunning Visovac Island. After visiting Krka national park, you will explore the small picturesque town of Sibenik.

Another option is this highly rated tour from Zadar that includes 5 hours in the Krka park, followed by a visit to a winery where you’ll learn about the production and taste some local wines!

Can you swim in Krka?

No, it is not allowed to swim in Krka anymore. It used to be possible to swim by the Krka waterfalls, but since 2021 it has been forbidden to swim there in order to preserve the waters of the park.

Final thoughts on visiting Krka national park

Visiting Krka was honestly one of the highlights of my time in Croatia! I visited on a beautiful autumn day at the beginning of November. I got to enjoy the park without hardly any other visitors, which really added to the experience. I’m sure it’s equally as stunning during the summer, just try to arrive early at Skradinski Buk to avoid the crowds. I would recommend doing a boat tour if you have the chance! Since I arrived by bus, I entered through Skradin and took the boat from there to Skradinski Buk, which was incredibly scenic. After having visited Krka, I can promise you won’t regret doing a day trip there!

If you are planning a trip to Croatia, you might also want to read:

• Getting around in Croatia: How to travel within Croatia
• 11 Things that surprised me about Croatia
• Best cafés to work from in Split
• 10 Things to do in Split
• Where to eat in Zagreb

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Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links that may earn me a small commission should you click through and make a purchase (at no extra cost to you)

Driving in Croatia

Driving is definitely the best way to get around in Croatia. Driving in Croatia is easy and convenient as the roads are wide, in excellent condition and easy to navigate. Of course it also gives you the freedom to explore the beautiful landscapes at your own pace and stop whenever you please. Note that driving within towns and cities during the summer months can become pretty crazy as Croatia receives lots of tourists during those months, many of which rent a car to get around. But as soon as you get out of the cities and on the highway, driving is usually a breeze.

Generally speaking, the speed limits are 130km/h (80m/h) on motorways, 90km/h (55m/h) on open roads and 50km/h (30m/h) within cities.

Toll roads in Croatia

All the multi lane roads connecting different parts of Croatia are toll roads. These roads will be marked with the letter A, followed by the road number. At the entrance you will take a ticket from the toll booth and then you’ll pay at the exit. The toll can be paid in Kunas, the local currency, in Euros, or by card. The tolls range from 40 kunas (5EUR) to 230 kunas (30 EUR).

Click here to compare prices of rental cars from all the major companies to make sure you get the best deal!

Traveling by bus in Croatia

Traveling by bus in Croatia is efficient and affordable. Buses are modern, reasonably priced, covering most of the country and departures are frequent enough. Tickets can usually be purchased at the station, but I’d recommend booking tickets in advance, especially during summer when popular routes are often sold out. The easiest way to find and book tickets is to use Omio, which allows you to compare bus routes by different companies – saving you the hassle of having to visit many different websites to find the best route.

On longer journeys (more than 3-4 hours) the buses will have one or more stops on the way, usually for 10-20 minutes each. Often you’ll be able to get some drinks and snacks during those stops, but don’t count on it as sometimes they stop in really small towns where there are no shops. The stops are mostly for people to use the restroom, often you’ll need to pay a small fee (10-20 kunas) for the use of restrooms, so make sure you have some cash. The biggest downside of traveling by bus is that you won’t have the freedom to stop whenever you want.

Note that many bus companies charge for each piece of luggage stored in the baggage compartment. The charge is usually 10-20 kunas per piece and must be paid in cash.

Traveling by train in Croatia

Train travel within Croatia is, unfortunately, very limited. Croatia’s train system covers only some of the north and east – mainly connecting Zagreb to a few cities on the coast. There are no train lines running up and down the coast, there is for example no train station in Dubrovnik. Main routes of interest would be from Zagreb to Rijeka or Split, and from Rijeka to Pula. Although trains may be slightly cheaper than buses, they are usually slower than buses and departures aren’t nearly as frequent. Furthermore, trains tend to be unreliable and often have long delays (a few hours), so I’d recommend taking a bus instead of trains when traveling in Croatia.

Timetables are shown at the stations, where you can also purchase tickets. You can also see timetables and purchase tickets directly through Croatian Railways (HZPP) or simply use Omio to compare bus and train routes to make sure you find the best option.

Interrail and Eurail passes are valid in Croatia.

Domestic flights

Croatia boosts an extensive schedule of domestic flights, making air travels within Croatia relatively easy. This is especially true for summer months, when departures are more frequent and popular routes are often served by many airlines. The main operator of domestic flights is the local Croatia Airlines. Prices are affordable, but do vary a lot depending on which time of year you’re traveling and how far in advance you book your tickets. Generally speaking, the summer months (May-August) is when air fare prices are the highest, while they drop significantly during the winter months. During winter months tickets can cost as little as 330kn (46USD), compared to up to 800kn (110USD) during high season.

The obvious advantage of flying is that it saves time, especially on longer routes. For example, a flight from Zagreb to Dubrovnik takes just under an hour, while driving takes over 6 hours.

To find and book domestic flights I’d recommend using Kiwi, One Travel, Omio or Skyscanner.

Traveling by ferries and catamarans

Ferries and catamarans connect the main cities on the coasts to the many surrounding islands. The main operator is the state owned Jadrolinija, which operates car ferries as well as catamarans. Krilo is the other operator, which is privately owned and operates only catamaran ferries. Catmarans are faster passenger only ferries, while ferries refer to the slower car ferries. The main hubs are Split, Dubrovnik, Zadar, Rijeka and Sibernik. The most popular routes will have multiple departures a day, especially during the high season, while less popular routes might only have one departure per day. I found the Jadrolinija website really difficult to use and not very user friendly, so I find that the best way to compare routes and prices is by using either Get By Ferry or Croatia Ferries.

Fares for passengers are very reasonably priced, ranging from 20-120kn (2,8-17USD). Bringing your vehicle on board will have an additional cost of 100-300kn (14-42USD), depending on the size of the vehicle and the travel distance.

Both the ferries and catamarans are well equipped, have indoor and outdoor seating and have toilets on board. Snacks and drinks are available for purchase, and bigger boats will also sell food and alcoholic beverages. There is usually free wifi on board. It’s advised to arrive at the port 45 minutes before departure, which I’d recommend, especially in the high season. Outside of the high season you don’t really have to, unless you’re bringing a vehicle on board, which we’ll get to next!

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Bringing a car on board the ferries

Bringing your car or vehicle on the ferries is certainly possible. Spaces for vehicles are limited, and are on first comes first served basis, so make sure to get to the port early. When you get to the port, the first thing you should do is drive your car to the queue. There will be at least five lanes for cars, each of them are clearly marked with a number. Those that arrive first will go to lane number 1, which will be the first line to be able to drive aboard the ferry. Then lane 2, and so on.

Once your car is parked in one of the lanes, you can go and buy your ticket if you haven’t already. Locals will usually park their car in the lanes, and then go for a walk grab a coffee at one of the cafés at the port. Just make sure to be back at your car when the ferry is docked, as you don’t want to be the person holding up the entire lane

Island hopping

Island hopping between the many Adriatic islands in Croatia might very well be the highlight of your trip. With over 1200 islands dotted across the stunning blue waters of the Adriatic sea, it’s easy to see why Croatia is a popular destination for island hopping. Some islands worth visiting include Hvar, Korčula, Vis, Brač, Rab, Mljet and Cres. To get to one island to another you can take the Jadrolinija or Krilo ferries/catamarans or charter a private boat for a more luxurious experience. To make the most of your trip, I’d highly recommend doing some day trips to explore more of the islands.

Final thoughts

Something I feel like I have to mention, is that Croatia is split into two parts. Twenty kilometres (12 miles) of Bosnia-Herzegovinian coastline separate the Dubrovnik region from the rest of the country. So what does this mean for you? In practice, you can normally just drive through without having to show your passport or any paperwork. However, it is possible that you will be stopped at the borders so make sure to carry your passport and additional visa documents, if relevant. Schengen passport holders do not need a visa to travel to Bosnia or Croatia.

I hope this post helped you plan your next trip to Croatia! If you want to get notified when I publish new posts, just click the red bell in the lower right corner or follow me on instagram where I usually announce new posts

If you are planning a trip to Croatia, you might also want to read:

• Visiting Krka national park in Croatia
• 11 Things that surprised me about Croatia
• Best cafés to work from in Split
• 10 Things to do in Split
• Where to eat in Zagreb

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The post Getting around in Croatia: How to travel within Croatia appeared first on Sóldís Alda.

Find the perfect accommodation in Croatia here:

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1. Croatia has a whole lot of islands

I was aware that Croatia had quite a few islands, but I had no idea that along the coast of Croatia there are over 1000 islands. 1244 islands to be exact. Most of those islands are small and uninhabited, with only 47 of them being inhabited.

2. Cash is king

In Croatia, you need cash. Croatians love cash, and surprisingly seem to not be to fond of debit and credit cards. This especially goes for the islands and the smaller cities such as Pula, Rovinj, Zadar, Rijeka… In the larger cities debit and credit cards tend to be more widely accepted, but even there, many businesses have a very high minimum spend when paying by card. For someone (me ) that is used to pay literally everything by card, I found this incredibly annoying and often found myself in a situation where I wanted to purchase something but I didn’t have any cash

the old town in dubrovnik! edited with the soft tones preset pack/photo filters, available here

3. Croatians are very friendly

I mean I wasn’t expecting them to be unfriendly, but I found them to be incredibly helpful and friendly. I have heard the same about other Balkan countries, so I guess the same goes for the locals the other Balkan countries.

4. Just about everyone speaks English

No matter where I went, just about every Croatian I interacted with spoke English. The fact that there was no language barrier just makes everything so much easier. After having a chat with a few locals, I learned that their high level of English is probably due to the fact that Croatia doesn’t dub movies and TV shows to Croatian, but instead show them in their original language with Croatian subtitles.

The only minor language problem I faced was in the supermarkets when trying to read the ingredients lists on products, which are usually only in Croatian and/or other balkan languages. But this was easily solved just by asking locals for help.

5. Coffee is a part of daily life

Having a cup of coffee at an outdoor café is part of daily life in Croatia. Judging by the fact that I never had a bad cup of coffee in Croatia, I’m gonna go ahead and assume that coffee in Croatia is pretty good.

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6. Smoking is very common

Just like drinking coffee, smoking is very much a part of daily lives of Croatians. Pretty much everyone smokes, and when it comes to where to smoke, just about everything goes. Smoking inside bars, and sometimes even restaurants, is allowed and socially accepted. Many bigger restaurants have a designated smoking area, allowing those that want to stay clear of it. When going to bars, you can be pretty sure you will smell like an ashtray when you go home :)))

7. Croatian sounds aggressive

As someone that doesn’t understand Croatian, I kept thinking a fight was about to break out when I heard people having a conversation in Croatian. It’s just something about the language that sounds somehow harsh. I used to step back as I didn’t wanna get caught in the middle of it, only to then seeing them hugging and realising it’s just friends catching up :)))

8. There is a “colosseum”

Yes that’s right. In Pula there is a Roman amphitheatre that looks pretty similar to the Colosseum in Rome. It used to be home to gladiator fights, but now it serves as a venue for concerts, sporting events as well as Pula Film Festival.

9. It’s very seasonal

There is a huge difference between visiting Croatia during high season and low season. From mid-May to early October, Croatia is bustling with life as tourists and locals gather outside to enjoy the warm sunny days. Cafés and restaurants are often packed, especially in popular cities, such as Split, Hvar and Dubrovnik, to name a few. During the low season, however, it’s an entirely different story. As October comes to an end, with more rainy days and less sunshine, the street become quiet, locals seem to go out less and there are hardly any tourists around. Many activities, bars and restaurants close in October and then reopen in April or May, when the tourism season start.

10. Breakfast can be hard to find

I’m not sure why, but finding restaurants that serve food in the morning can be very challenging. Some bars, if you’re lucky, will have croissants – which usually are filled with some type of marmalade, again, not sure why :)))) But the marmalade croissants were often the only food restaurants seemed to be serving before 12pm.

11. It’s not as cheap as you might think

Don’t get me wrong, Croatia isn’t expensive, but it’s not as cheap as you might expect for an Eastern Europe country. I found that prices are more similar to those in Spain and Italy, rather than to other countries in Eastern Europe.

a viewpoint in dubrovnik! edited with the ocean blues preset pack/photo filters, available here

I can’t recommend Croatia enough and hope that this post has perhaps encouraged you to add it to your bucket list, if it wasn’t there already! If you are planning to visit Croatia, you might also want to check out this post about How to get around in Croatia

PS if you want to get notified when I publish new blog posts, just click the red bell in the bottom right corner or follow me on instagram where I usually announce new blog posts :))

If you are planning a trip to Croatia, you might also want to read:

• Visiting Krka national park in Croatia
• Getting around in Croatia: How to travel within Croatia
• Best cafés to work from in Split
• 10 Things to do in Split
• Where to eat in Zagreb

PIN IT!

The post 11 Things That Surprised Me About Croatia appeared first on Sóldís Alda.

I left Iceland with a one way ticket to Milan, Italy, and pretty much no plan. I had booked three nights at a hostel in Milan, but that was it. I didn’t really have any intentions to stay in Milan, I just found a cheap flight there, hadn’t been there before, so I figured I might as well just book it

In a perfect world I would have gone to Asia, but yeah not an option at the moment So I figured I would spend a few months traveling around Europe since even though I’ve been around Europe a lot, there are still some interesting countries I haven’t been to. Originally I wanted to start by traveling around Italy for a while, visiting places like Cinque Terre, Rome, Positano, Venice, Sicily, and then continue to Slovenia, Croatia, Montenegro and Bosnia. This all should have been easy enough given that I have an Icelandic passport so no visas needed, and since I’ve already had covid, was just one email away from getting the EU Covid Pass. Or that’s what I thought :)) After about 20 emails and various phone calls, the Ministry of Health just didn’t quite feel like issuing it even though I had two certificates stating I’d had covid, since I wasn’t in Iceland when I had it so they couldn’t see it in their “system” :))) I could write a whole blog post about this process and how ridiculous it all is, but won’t bore you with that haha. I wasn’t too thrilled about all this, so a lawyer at the Ministry of Health is looking into this atm

Given I don’t have this pass, I’m not as free to travel around Europe as I should be.I could still go to Italy, just couldn’t eat inside restaurants, go to museums or go on long distance trains or buses without getting a rapid test :))) I still had a good time in Milan, I wasn’t really planning on going to museums or eating inside restaurants anyway so it didn’t really affect me. But still would have been nice to have the option lol. So I explored a lot of the outside, not so much of the inside :)) kinda felt like a dog, not allowed anywhere inside lol. But yeah, I still a had good time in Milan. I stayed at a super nice host and spend a few I spend a few days exploring Milan, eating pizza (outside :))) ) and drinking Aperol Spritz :))

However, I quickly found out that I kinda had too much luggage to be staying in hostels, I had a really hard time just finding things in my suitcases and it was just annoying. Hostels in Europe are also kind of expensive, so in the end it’s cheaper to find a room or an apartment to rent than to be staying in hostels. So I did a little research and decided that Split, Croatia, would be the perfect place to stay for a month or two. Unfortunately, a lot of other people seem to have reached the same conclusion, as just about every decent apartment seemed to be booked out for the next couple of weeks :))) I ended up booking a super cute apartment close to the beach from the middle of October, for a ridiculously low price, just under 600EUR per month. I’m super excited to be able to unpack my bags and not have to drag my luggage around every couple of days And also to be able to use whatever stuff is at the bottom of my suitcase, up until now I’ve kind of just been using whatever happened to be on the top. I will definitely do some shorter trips from Split though, but won’t need to bring all my stuff along lol.

But yeah I think the lesson learned from this is that when I’m planning to stay a month or two in the same place, I might need to book it more than a day or two in advance lol. So now I’m trying to decide where I’ll want to stay after christmas Mexico is pretty high on that list. So is Costa Rica haha.

After spending a few days in Milan, I started making my way towards Croatia. All this planning was happening very last minute, I was literally sitting at my hostel in Milan looking for flights departing the following day, which isn’t ideal when it comes to prices lol. So I decided to just go a little slower and started by booking a train to Venice. Not a bad place for a little stopover I hadn’t been there for a few years so was excited to visit once again! Although my hostel in Milan was nice, hostels in europe don’t really have the same backpackers atmosphere as the ones in asia and central/south america. I can’t really pinpoint why exactly, it’s just not the same. And after someone turned all the lights on in the middle of the night in my room, I immediately promised myself that I’d get myself a hotel room in Venice Which I did. I will say it was pretty damn nice to have my own room. Especially being the only one in control of whether or not the lights were on :)))

Originally I booked two nights in Venice, but pretty much immediately after I arrived there, I just knew I wanted to extend my stay. Venice is seriously so beautiful. Even though it was kinda raining the first day, I still loved it haha. It’s one of those places where everything is pretty. If you haven’t been yet, do add it to your list! The best time to visit I would say is just before or after the high season – April/May, maybe June is okay, or September/October. When it’s still warm but not too hot or as packed with tourists as in July and August.

I spent two days in Venice – mostly just wandering around, having aperol & pizzas and taking lots of photos. Most of the tourists tend to stay around the main canal, where the Puente de Rialto bridge is. That’s sort of the most iconic part of Venice, kind of like the Opera house in Sydney. But as soon as you get away from that area, you will quickly have the streets almost to yourself. So if you’re planning to go to Venice, make sure to not just stick to the main tourist attractions. I would still recommend visiting Puente de Rialto and those more “touristy places”, but they were definitely my least favourite part. It was so crowded with people that it just took away from the experience. Just felt way too touristy

After wandering through Venice for two days, it was time to leave Italy and head over to Croatia. I booked a bus from Venice to Pula, Croatia – which before covid would have been a smooth ride, requiring nothing but my passport. Those were the days lol. But yeah I needed to get a QR code, not in order to enter Croatia but in order to board the bus in Italy. In Iceland, and probably most countries except Italy, this is a straight forward process. You take an antigen test and then get the QR code emailed to you about 30 minutes later. But in Italy there seems to be no such thing as a smooth process. After a bit of confusion about where I could take an antigen test as a non Italian resident, I found a place that was supposed to do just that. There were lots of confused foreigners waiting in front of it, which I kinda thought was a good sign, cause at least I knew they were accepting non Italians

After a chaotic process of registering, handing over my passport and waiting, I got the test done and had the results like 15 minutes later. So not too bad, I thought, until I looked at the “certificate” I had just received. It was nothing more than a piece of paper that I had filled out, with my name and passport number, and all they had done was checking a box that said negative :)) Knowing that no person in their right mind would accept this piece of paper as a travel document. I expressed that concern to the women working there in a mix of english and spanish as her english wasn’t very good, all I got was “yeah look, negative” and I was like yeah I know but I need a QR code, but all I got was “no QR code”.I might as well have handed over a handwritten note from my mom stating that I didn’t have covid :))) Then she pointed me to a piece of paper on the wall, that looked equally as official as my “certificate”, that stated that the QR code system wasn’t working and that I should receive it within 24 hours. Which would have been too late for my bus, but that wasn’t my biggest concern.

They didn’t ask for my email or my phone number or any other contact info, so my biggest confusion was how they planned to send me the QR code :))) The women didn’t offer any clarification on that and was kinda done with me at this point, my phone was at 3% and my charging bank was empty, so I decided to just go back to the hotel and figure something out. I spent the night on various Italian websites trying to somehow retrieve my QR code certificate, by putting in some random codes that I found on my “certificate”. None of them worked as I always needed some form of an Italian identification number, which obviously I didn’t have :))) This was getting kinda stressful, and at this point I couldn’t wait to leave Italy and be done with this bullshit. I had heard about people getting their QR codes from pharmacies, so I visited two of those the next morning. At the first one they told me they couldn’t get it cause I wasn’t Italian. At the second one they at first told me they couldn’t get it, and I was like yeahhh you can :)) and she was like no we can’t, and I was like yeah please check it :))) After some back and forth she finally went to the computer, and then I heard her print something and I was just like omg I finally have it!! But it wasn’t actually the QR code, but it was a slightly more official looking certificate, not handwritten :))) So at least it was something haha.

When my bus arrived I saw there was a sign saying that you needed a QR code to board, so not too good news for me at this point :)) I just tried to play it cool, put my bags in and went to my seat, hoping that no one would ask me for it. The relief when the bus finally took off omg. We still had two border controls to pass (exiting Slovenia/Schengen and then entering Croatia), but neither of them required a QR code so I wasn’t too stressed about those. At the end no one even asked me for my certificate haha, just needed to show my passport so it was all good! Felt so great when I finally arrived in Croatia, knowing all this QR code bullshit was behind me, as they aren’t required in Croatia :)))

I arrived in Pula in the evening and checked into the private room I had booked. At this point I was getting kinda spoiled after my hotel stay in Venice :))) The hostels in Pula just didn’t look very good and this room actually was pretty cheap haha. And it was just super cute, and right in the centre!

I didn’t really know anything about Pula, I just knew it was on my way to Split and a few days earlier someone I’m following posted a photo of a “colosseum” in Pula. It looked very much like the one in Rome and I just thought that was kinda cool so I decided to stop there haha. Pula is a pretty small town, with a nice eastern europe feel to it. Very colourful, reminded me a lot of Slovenia and Italy. And then there is the colosseum! I spent two days there which I felt was just enough.

Continuing to make my way to Split, I got on a bus to Zadar, another pretty small town, located on Croatia’s Dalmatian coast. My favourite part about Zadar was probably the coffee place where I had breakfast – it was right next to the ocean, and just had this “local” Croatian feel to it, as it was a bit out of the centre, which was perhaps why there were only local people there. And then me It just really felt like I was experiencing the real Croatia haha. Zadar, like many other cities in Croatia, has a very cute old town that I loved wandering through.

After two days in Zadar, I took a bus to Split! That was kind of my “destination” as I had already booked an apartment there from the middle of October, so I was super excited to get there :))Split is the second largest city in Croatia, located on the Adriatic coast. I had heard nothing but good things about it, which I guess was enough to convince me to book an apartment there haha. Luckily I really loved it and am excited to get back there!

Since I’m gonna be staying in Split for at least I month, I figured I’d explore other parts of Croatia until then. This is when I bought a ferry ticket to Hvar, a small island about an hour away from Split. Hvar has been on my bucket list for years, so this felt like the perfect time to finally explore it. I was so ready for the island life so I booked a room for a week through Airbnb. (Airbnb tip – most hosts offer a discount of you stay for a week, or a month).

This week on Hvar has been a dream. Beginning every day by wandering through the island and having breakfast at one of the many restaurants that overlook the ocean.

It’s just something about waking up on an island, so peaceful somehow. I usually bring my laptop to breakfast, check on the stock market and whatever else I might need to get done, then spend the rest of day living the island life :)))

Hvar is very “seasonal” – the season runs from around May through September, this is when the island gets loads of tourists, all restaurants are open and tons of activities are available. Many restaurants and shops then close at the end of the season, and will then open back up around May – so the island gets very quiet, with mostly locals around, during off season. Since it’s the end of the season now, the island is pretty quiet, there are certainly tourists around (including me :))) ) but it isn’t packed, as I’d imagine is the case in July and August. The weather is still nice and warm, and the sea is warm enough for a swim! And as you’ve probably seen if you’re following my on instagram, the sea is so clear! With the island being pretty quiet now, finding your own little private spot on one of the beaches is not even remotely challenging.

The only negative thing I could say about Hvar is that it’s a little expensive, as islands tend to be (Iceland for example lol). It’s nowhere near as expensive as in Iceland though, but meals cost around 10-20 euros, but for the most part they seem to be profiting off of the drinks, most likely counting on the fact that you’ll order them without looking at the menu :))) It’s not uncommon for food to be decently priced, then you order an orange juice, only to find out when you get the check that the juice was 5EUR haha. Which actually, now that I think of it, is more than you’d ever pay for a glass of juice in Iceland.

My next stop is Korcula, another island about an hour away from Hvar! I don’t think I can get enough of island life haha. So more beach days to come! My plan is then to take a ferry to Dubrovnik and from there take a bus to Bosnia and stay there for a few days, before checking into my apartment in Split <3 It feels so weird sometimes to think about that this is really my life, that I can just go wherever I want and pretty much do whatever I want. At this point I can’t imagine showing up to work five days a week and it feels so strange that I used to do just that.

I think that’s it for now – PS if you want to get notified when I publish new blog posts, just click the red bell in the bottom right corner, or follow me on instagram where I usually announce new posts :))))

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