
Dubrovnik
Famous for its Game of Thrones scenes, the beautiful city of Dubrovnik makes for both a wonderful city and holiday destination.
Famous for its Game of Thrones scenes, the beautiful city of Dubrovnik makes for both a wonderful city and holiday destination.
If you prefer the beaches of somewhere a little less British, head to the coast of Dalmatia and discover stunning shores and turquoise water.
Holidays to Croatia are becoming more and more popular in 2023 and 2024 as holidaymakers start looking at alternative destinations than the typical Costa del Sol or Algarve. Made particularly famous as the setting of King's Landing in hit TV series, Game of Thrones, Croatia has the perfect mix of incredible scenery, historical architecture, outstanding cuisine and some of the most incredible beaches you will ever see.
For a stunning beach holiday destination, try the gorgeous Dalmatian Coast. Stretching all the way from Rab to Kotor and including almost 80 islands, Dalmatia is the perfect place for a tranquil holiday with some excellent resorts on offer, both for families and adults only.
Located in the north of the country, Istria is a peninsula which juts out of the very top coastline and borders Italy. Your holiday to Istria starts by flying into either Pula, or Trieste, just the other side of the Italian border. From here, popular holiday resorts and towns in the Istrian Riviera include Rovinj, Lovran and Umag.
All along the coast are beautiful islands with soft sandy beaches, quiet spa resorts and turquoise water. If it's a truly tranquil escape away from the daily grind, islands like Brac, Hvar and Korcula provide peaceful accommodation options you might just be looking for.
Not only can you enjoy city breaks in Croatia, you can combine the city and the beach very easily. While Zagreb in the north is its capital, Split and Dubrovnik are popular for holidays too, both of which have direct flights from the UK, and a range of accommodation options to suit all budgets, from cheap, self catering apartments to luxury spa hotels.
For a beach holiday, the summer can be the perfect time, with temperatures regularly reaching the 30s along the southern coast of Dalmatia. Of course the summer school holidays can get both busy and pricey at the main holiday resorts, so be aware of when you're travelling.
Many of the beach and tourist hotels in Croatia close for the winter season, however, you may still find a few open. If you do decide to visit between November and March, self catering accommodation through the likes of Airbnb and Booking.com will be available.
Spring and Autumn can be ideal times to visit Croatia, both because it's not too hot and not too cold, and it won't be as busy as the touristy summer months of July and August. You will also find that during these "shoulder seasons" prices will be lower than peak travel periods.
Croatia is such a diverse holiday destination, with beautiful beaches and magnificent mountains. Here's our selection of the best.
Dubrovnik is probably high on your list of city breaks to visit, and it should be, especially if you're a Game of Thrones (GOT) fan. It's definitely a walking city too, perfect for admiring the architecture from both the ground and up on the city walls that surround Dubrovnik. But why not venture to its capital, Zagreb for somewhere a little different, or if you've been to Dubrovnik and loved it but want somewhere else, try Split as a similar alternative.
You might not think of Croatia as an all inclusive destination but it definitely can be. Hotels like the TUI BLUE Medulin in Pula, TUI BLUE Adriatic Beach in Makarska and the Osmine Hotel in Slano each offer all inclusive options with many also having half board breaks too.
Croatia can be a very affordable destination, and whether you're trying to save money, or simply want to head out and try a new restaurant in the local area each night of your stay, self catering could be the ideal option for you. Apartments can be relatively cheap and have a kitchen so you can grab some breakfast bits from the local supermarket, but discover new eateries each day too.
Brands like Oliver's Travels, James Villas and Villa Plus all offer a great range of villa holidays throughout Croatia including the Dubrovnik Riviera, Istria and Brac. Ranging from small, 2 bed villas to large luxury villas with heated pools, this can be another good self catering option, especially if there's a group of you travelling.
As a romantic destination, Croatia has it all. Fine dining, adult only resorts, and a wealth of fun and interesting activities. This makes it a perfect place for couples.
For a family holiday, you might automatically think of places like Majorca or the Canary Islands, but Croatia is great for families too. Not only to many of the resorts have children's pools and kids clubs, there's also loads to do too including speedboat tours and quad bike safaris.
The mountains in the north of this beautiful country are awe inspiring and adventurers will love it here. Hiking, mountain biking and much more are best done in the summer months around Risnjak and Zumberak in the north, and Biokovo Mountain in the south.
With direct flights from the UK to Zagreb, Split, Pula and Dubrovnik, getting from the UK to Croatia can be relatively easy. Airlines flying there include easyJet, British Airways and Jet2 and for the best price, be flexible with dates and avoid school holidays where you can.
You can book your flight and accommodation separately, like easyJet flights with an Airbnb apartment, however, it is worth booking an ATOL protected holiday package with the likes of TUI, Jet2holidays or British Airways holidays to ensure you are financially protected by the ATOL scheme. This can often save you money too, especially if you are intending to fly with the tour operator airline and are staying at a hotel or resort rather than a self catering apartment or home.
At the start and end of the holiday season, the temperatures are lower and hotels can be quieter which also means that prices can be cheaper, so if you're on a budget break, this can be an ideal time to travel and explore. Brands like Jet2 and TUI will offer free child places at some of the hotels which could help save you month both in and out of school holidays and there are often discount codes for holidays over a certain price range too.
One of the cheapest parts of Croatia is Istria. Because it's in the north, the weather is still warm but not as warm as the south.
Holidays to Croatia can start from less than £500 per person including flights and self catering apartments. A city break in Zagreb can be even cheaper.
You will need to fly to Croatia to visit. Driving there is possible through France, Germany, Austria, Slovenia and across the English Channel, but this will take well over 24 hours to drive.
If you're treating yourself to a bit of luxury, there are some gorgeous five star hotels here. In Zagreb, you have places like the Doubletree by Hilton and the Esplanade Zagreb Hotel which is one of the most impressive buildings you'll see. Along the coast, you have hotels like the TUI BLUE Jadran in Tucepi, Aminess Khalani in Makarska and the Sun Gardens in Orasac.
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