6 Things To Know Before Traveling To Croatia – Part 1

6 Things To Know Before Traveling To Croatia – Part 1

We’re at the start of a new year with a bunch of available vacation days ahead of us to use. And what better way to use that time off than by taking a relaxing vacation to Croatia?

Croatia has everything for all kinds of tourists to enjoy, from beautiful Mediterranean weather and crystal clear oceans that are perfect for lazing beside to diverse landscapes that are just waiting to be explored.

With so much variety in this small European nation, it can be a struggle to fit everything into your tour itinerary. So prepare yourself accordingly and create the perfect vacation by understanding the things to know before traveling to Croatia…(this includes the things to avoid in Croatia on your travels this year).

Get your suitcases at the ready and your passports on hand as we get you prepared for the ultimate vacation to Croatia in 2023!

1) Things to know before traveling to Croatia – The new year brings a new currency

2023 is a historic year for Croatia as it has seen a change in its national currency. As of January 1st, Croatia officially moved from the Croatian Kuna over to the more widely established Euro. So why has this happened? Croatia became the 27th nation to join Europe’s passport-free Schengen zone and an official member of the European Nations. 

Although having actually joined 10 years prior, with Croatia officially adopting the Euro as its currency, there have been some huge resulting changes within the country. Including a number of border checkpoints being removed around Croatia’s bordering EU countries.

This means that US tourists traveling to Croatia this year can expect freedom to move between bordering countries without the need to obtain new visas or bring a different form of currency with them. 

Things to avoid in Croatia in 2023 – Taking the old currency

One of the biggest things to avoid during your travels to Croatia is bringing the old Croatian Kuna as your spending money. The likelihood of finding a currency exchange company that still supplies the Kuna may be slim, but it is not entirely impossible. This is not to say you can’t spend the old currency in Croatia. 

Kuna banknotes can be exchanged indefinitely, whilst Kuna coins and lipa will have a 3-year window before the coins are unusable. To ensure you do not run into any issues on your travels, we advise that you prepare the correct currency in advance. 

For more information and advice on the changing of Croatia’s currency and its entry into the EU, speak to one of our travel experts. Our team is always up-to-date with the latest developments in Croatia to ensure no sudden surprises will impact your future trips to the Balkan nation.

2) Things to know before traveling to Croatia – Booking early will be your savior

By organizing your trip earlier in the year, you will be able to find the best prices on tours and accommodation throughout Croatia. Especially in the tourist hotspot areas such as Dubrovnik, Split, Zagreb and more which are known to be a bit pricier than the lesser known towns and cities.

The closer it gets to peak tourist times in Croatia (mid-June until mid-September) prices will continue to rise on the most popular hotels, villas, excursions and tours with these getting booked up fairly quickly.

January is the best time to book a trip to Croatia. Use this chance to book early and save money on your trip whilst you have the best selection of places to stay, private charters and tours. Don’t miss out on the trip of a lifetime by waiting around for too long to book your vacation. 

Things to avoid in Croatia in 2023 – Last minute bookings 

Booking a last minute long-distance trip can be a stressful experience for any traveler. With the need to find spaces on long-haul flights that have available seats and times which match your vacation needs, as well as good accommodation in the places you want to visit can be incredibly difficult. Especially if you’re looking during the peak season. 

In any case, whether it is booking in advance or last minute, we would always advise you to use a travel guide to help you organize your trip to Croatia to ensure it is the best experience for you.

By booking pre-planned tours to Croatia or customizing an itinerary with a travel agent such as Adventures Croatia, we can help you cut this planning time right down, relieving you of that unnecessary pre-vacation stress.

3) Things to know before traveling to Croatia – Traveling for big events

Croatia is known for hosting a lot of interesting events and fun festivities throughout the year which draw thousands of tourists into the country every year. It is good to have a note of the dates on which these festivals take place to ensure your tour dates align. You wouldn’t want to miss out on some of these incredible events. 

Here are our top recommendations for 2023:

• The Festival of Oysters in Ston – March 21, 2023
• Dubrovnik Summer Festival – July 10, 2023 – Friday, August 25, 2023
• Split Summer Festival – July 14, 2023 – Monday, August 14, 2023
• Zagreb Film Festival – October/November, 2023
• Day of Truffles in Istria – mid-September until the end of November
• Advent in Zagreb (Christmas Market) – TBA, however in previous years it has run from mid-November until early January
• Rijeka Carnival 2023 – January 17, 2023 – Wednesday, February 22, 2023

Things to avoid in Croatia in 2023 – Booking during festivals if you’re wanting to avoid crowds

For tourists seeking a quieter experience whilst visiting the scenic sites and historic cities of Croatia, we would recommend you avoid booking your vacation around festival dates. 

If you want a more relaxed vacation when visiting the tourist hotspots, try to book your vacation at least a week before and after the festivals to experience a version of Croatia that is suited to you.

Accommodations and tours get sold out quickly during festivals due to the events’ popularity. To help you find the best dates of when to travel to Croatia in 2023, contact our Croatia travel experts who can help you plan the perfect vacation.

Booking a trip to Croatia 2023

If you’re thinking of booking a trip to Croatia this year, we have a wide selection of tours to Croatia departing this year suitable for all kinds of tourists from adventure seekers and foodies, to families and history buffs.

Find a tour that has all your top Croatian travel destinations on it, or speak to our travel guides to organize your own custom tour to Croatia today. 

For more information on things to know before traveling to Croatia in 2023, check out our part 2 of this blog series.