Croatia: Travel Guide Wonder of the Balkans | Itineraries and Highlights

Croatia’s Major Regions

It can be divided into two distinct regions:

• Continental (or inland) Croatia, around Zagreb and to the east (Slavonia). This part of the country is characterized by plains, hills, forests and a more continental influence in culture, architecture and climate.
• Coastal Croatia, which stretches along the Adriatic Sea and the Atlantic Ocean includes regions such as Istria and Kvarner (island of Krk). North Dalmatia (Zadar), Central Dalmatia (Split) and South Dalmatia (Dubrovnik). This area is known for its Mediterranean landscapes, islands (Brač, Hvar, Korčula, Mljet), historic cities like Split and Dubrovnik, mild climate and strong Venetian and Mediterranean influences.

Why Choose Croatia for Your Vacation?

Croatian tourism has experienced a strong upturn. Travellers from North America and Asia are coming in ever greater numbers, thanks in particular to new seasonal air links.

North American travellers now enjoy direct seasonal flights to Zagreb from Toronto (Air Transat), as well as convenient options via points programs (Aeroplan, Flying Blue, Avios) to access Split or Dubrovnik via European connections.

The country is not too expensive by European standards, and credit cards are accepted almost everywhere! A destination of choice for those who want a budget trip in Europe!

Croatia: the Must-Sees

Zagreb, Continental Croatia

Zagreb is the capital of Croatia. The old town of Zagreb is a charming place with numerous museums that offer a wealth of information about the country’s history.

Indeed, Croatia has been at the center of several conflicts over the last millennium. Therefore, we can see an amalgam of elements from different civilizations that have integrated into Croatian culture, including Venetian, Napoleon, Roman, Slavic, and Viennese influences.

Zadar (North Dalmatia)

A charming seaside town, Zadar’s blend of ancient history (Roman forum), Venetian heritage and unique artistic installations such as the Marine Organ and the Salute to the Sun.

Zadar is a bit like Split in terms of its old town, but Zadar has some of the most beautiful spots for a dip just a stone’s throw from its promenade! It’s also an excellent starting point for exploring the Kornati or Dugi Otok islands, thanks to a ferry network modernized in 2025.

It’s also a popular venue for dance and music festivals.

Dubrovnik, the Pearl of the Adriatic

A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Dubrovnik attracts several hundred thousand visitors every year. Since 2023, the city has introduced daily access quotas for the Old Town and recommends booking tickets for the city walls or certain museums online in advance.

Dubrovnik was my favourite part of my trip to Croatia and ranks among the most beautiful places I’ve visited. I definitely want to go back!

Dubrovnik’s old town is surrounded by walls, which gives it its charm. Indeed, inside the walls of the city, we are immersed in a medieval atmosphere.

The most common activities in Dubrovnik are:

• walk along the top of the city walls
• take the funicular
• kayaking on crystal-clear water
• take a trip to the haunted island Lokrum

These activities cost about 500 KN or $45 per person and you can pay with a credit card! We used our Scotiabank Visa Infinite Passport to save on conversion fees.

Game of Thrones

For fans of the series, references can be seen everywhere in Croatia, but particularly in Dubrovnik.

Most of the locations have not been greatly altered; the producers have only made a few additions to the computer.

I strongly suggest you join a free tour of the city with the Game of Thrones angle. You won’t be disappointed! This kind of tour can be found on the Guruwalk directory; they are free of charge, but the guides are paid on a tip system. It’s a great way to save money when travelling without tightening your belt too much.

The guide Darko was excellent, as he told us about the history of Dubrovnik and the filming locations during his 2-hour tour!

Split and Surroundings

Split’s charming old town is the perfect place to satisfy your appetite for Croatia ‘s regional delicacies on a magnificent stroll along the water’s edge, in the hidden lanes or in the local markets.

Its historic center, Diocletian’s palace and lively atmosphere make it a real attraction. It is also a major port of embarkation for the Croatian islands, thanks to a modernized and reinforced ferry network scheduled for 2024/2025.

Psst! For fans of electronic music, the city of Split comes to life every summer with the Ultra Europe festival.

Before our arrival, some friends told me that in one day, we could do the tour of the tourist places of Split, but that it would take more than a week to take the gastronomic pulse!

Indeed, there is not a large number of sites to visit in Split:

• Diocletian Palace
• Saint Duje Cathedral
• Statue of Gregory Nin
• The vestibule
• The « Golden Gate »
• Marjan Hill
• Meštrović Galerija

The wide variety of restaurants in Split means you can sample Croatian specialties at your price range: prosciutto Dalmatien, black cuttlefish risotto, octopus salad, gnocchi with pasticada, etc.

The most popular high-end establishments are: Bokeria, Zinfandel and Zoi. For our part, we really liked the super modest Fife bistro. We went back twice during our stay, although we could have tried another!

Trogir

Trogir is a small Dalmatian municipality north of Split. This is a day trip that is easily done from Split.

The old town is small, but the medieval architecture has been well preserved.

Croatian Islands such as Hvar, Korčula, Brač

Hvar is close to Split which explains its popularity with day trips. However, we really enjoyed the atmosphere of the island in the morning and evening without the crowds of daytrippers. The beaches are full of rocks (so bring your water shoes), but the water is perfectly clear and very refreshing.

At the end of the afternoon, you can go up to the fortress of Hvar and admire the sunset and the magnificent panorama.

Brač is an island off the coast of Split, best known for its famous Zlatni Rat (Golden Horn) beach, often considered Croatia’s most beautiful beach due to its crystal-clear waters and unique shape. This tongue of white pebbles juts out into the Adriatic Sea and is a popular spot for swimming, windsurfing and kitesurfing. The island also offers authentic villages, hiking trails and a peaceful atmosphere, ideal for escaping the crowds of the coast.

Korčula, nicknamed “little Dubrovnik”, is absolutely worth a visit. Its medieval old town, surrounded by ramparts and towers, is reminiscent of a miniature Dubrovnik, but with far fewer tourists. Here you’ll find a labyrinth of cobbled streets, lively squares, gastronomic specialties (including local wine) and a rich cultural tradition. It’s a great way to discover Dalmatian architecture and Croatian history in a more intimate, relaxed setting than Dubrovnik.

National Parks such as Plitvice, Krka

Croatia has 8 national parks, including Plitvice (UNESCO), Krka, Mljet and Kornati. Entrance to Plitvice costs between €23 (low season) and €40 (summer); Krka between €20 and €40.

It’s imperative to book in advance in high season to avoid the crowds. Plitvice marvels at its turquoise lakes linked by waterfalls; Krka boasts impressive waterfalls amid lush vegetation (swimming is limited to protect the ecosystem). Kornati is a paradise for sailing and kayaking from Zadar.

Plitvice

For hundreds of years, river water has flowed over limestone, giving the region a rather unique appearance today. These rock formations have sculpted the beautiful turquoise lakes and the many mystical waterfalls.

In this national park, there are many opportunities to hike or to rest in this setting.

Mljet, Coastal Croatia (South Dalmatia, Adriatic islands)

Mljet is a lush island renowned for its national park, inland salt lakes and monasteries. It’s one of Croatia’s greenest and most peaceful islands, ideal for hiking, cycling and relaxing in the heart of nature.

Planning Your Trip to Croatia

When to visit?

The best time to explore Croatia is in spring and autumn, i.e.

• mid-April to early June
• from September to October

The climate in Croatia during these periods will be perfect for discovering the country without having to face too many tourists. Winter in Croatia remains mild, but many restaurants are closed and not all ferries operate.

Cruises, Ferries and Slow Travel

This country has gained tremendous popularity over the past decade with the success of the TV show Game of Thrones. Split and Dubrovnik are also cruise destinations, notably with Croisieurope.

The Jadrolinija network connects all the major islands to the coast with greater frequency. Croatia has also established itself as a key destination for small-group cruises, thanks to specialists such as Sail Croatia.

This company offers unique itineraries along the Adriatic coast, exploring unspoiled islands, picturesque villages and secret beaches, often inaccessible to larger cruise ships. The onboard experience is generally more intimate, with boats accommodating around 20 passengers, guaranteeing personalized service and authentic immersion in the local culture.

This “slow cruise” trend allows you to avoid the summer crowds while immersing yourself in local Croatian culture. Some points programs or premium cards allow you to redeem your points for Booking.com or ferry gift cards – keep an eye on Milesopedia for these tips!

How Much Time Should You Plan For?

Although Croatia is a small country in terms of surface area, you can easily spend a lot of time exploring all its nooks and crannies. I would recommend focusing on the Dalmatian coast for a trip of 10 days or less.

Then, with a little more time, you can venture into the rest of Croatia and even into the neighbouring countries. In fact, you can easily make short trips to Montenegro or Bosnia-Herzegovina independently (ideally with a car) or with organized tours on GetYourGuide or Civitatis.

Budget, Prices and Practical Advice

When it comes to accommodation, expect to pay between €80 and €150 a night for a three-star hotel on the coast or islands, with rates rising sharply in July and August, when demand soars.

When it comes to meals, Croatia offers both affordable and tasty cuisine: you’ll need between €15 and €30 in a restaurant to savour local specialties, including fresh fish and seafood from the Adriatic.

Getting around within the country is made easy by a dense network of reliable and frequent intercity buses. However, renting a car remains the best way to explore the hinterland and less touristy regions at your own pace.

As for sea crossings between the islands and the mainland, the price of a ferry ticket generally varies: a short crossing starts at €4, but can exceed €20 depending on the distance covered or whether you’re taking your own vehicle.

For a more exclusive experience, let yourself be tempted by an intimate cruise with Sail Croatia or Katarina Line: an all-inclusive week starts at around €700, excluding flights.

Bear in mind, however, that in high season, we strongly advise you to book your accommodation, ferry tickets and entrance fees for major natural sites in advance. For peace of mind, remember to use a credit card with no conversion fees.

Finally, those who wish to travel differently can take advantage of the attractive off-season offers, ideal for discovering Croatia in a quieter, more sustainable way, while keeping their budget in check.

How to Get to Croatia?

Air transat

Air Transat has the advantage of being the only carrier to offer direct seasonal flights from Toronto to Zagreb (May to October) from CAD 1,127.

Air Transat is now partnered with Porter Airlines, allowing VIPorter points to be used on a large number of Air Transat flights. However, at the time of writing, the flight to Zagreb is not yet open to purchase with VIPorter points. This is something to keep an eye on, however, as Porter Airlines gradually expands its destination network.

If this flight opens with VIPorter points, it would be wise for you to use one of the following credit cards to earn VIPorter points:

While you’re waiting for your VIPorter points to open, you can apply your travel points to your expenses.

Travel Points

Airline prices to Croatia seem to vary greatly. According to my research, when paid in cash, they can cost around $1,000 and go up to $2,000 during the summer months. Depending on the rates you find, the decision to use Aeroplan points or not will depend on your ability to accumulate these points and your valuation calculation.

Aeroplan Points

Air Canada used to operate direct flights between Toronto and Zagreb, the Croatian capital, but these flights were suspended with the pandemic. On the other hand, Croatia Airlines is a partner in the Aeroplan program, and several Star Alliance hubs are connected to Croatia’s main cities with frequent flights.

For a round trip to Croatia, you can expect to pay 80,000 Aeroplan points in economy class, i.e. the partner fixed fare. Sometimes you can find cheaper flights when Air Canada operates a segment.

This kind of route is excellent for taking advantage of the 5,000-point Aeroplan stopover rules, since you’ll inevitably have to make a connection to reach Croatia!

Aeroplan points are easy to accumulate, especially if you shop at a store that accepts American Express and keep an eye out for welcome bonuses.

Indeed, my preferred card for earning Aeroplan points daily is the American Express Cobalt^® Card. The Membership Rewards points offer great flexibility, as they can be used as cash back or with the Aeroplan program.

Sweetspots to Get to Croatia

There’s a sweetspot for Croatia (or any other destination in Europe). Indeed, low-cost airlines dominate the European sky, so once you are in the Old Continent, it is easy and cheap to go anywhere. So the cheapest flight to Europe (in points or money) with a low-cost flight can often be the winning combination.

For example, a round trip between Montreal and Lyon (direct service) is still subject to Air Canada’s dynamic pricing and can cost 60,000 Aeroplan points. This is a situation where the dynamic pricing of the Aeroplan program can work in our favour.

So, the summary of this strategy? Less expensive in points and less costly in cash!

The disadvantage of buying two airline tickets is that if something goes wrong, the airlines will not take you to your actual final destination.

However, you can make stops to explore Lyon or give yourself enough time (flight segment spacing) to complete your itinerary comfortably! You can be covered if you have allowed enough time between the two flights (e.g. 4 hours)!

In this situation, points like the NBC A la carte Rewards travel points from the National Bank World Elite Mastercard can cover part of the cost of your tickets. What’s more, the card’s travel insurance can help you out if something goes wrong while coordinating your separate flights. You benefit as soon as a portion of the trip (such as taxes and Aeroplan fees) is charged to the card!

Since the flight between Montreal and Lyon is operated by Air Canada, you can take advantage of free checked baggage with an Aeroplan credit card!

Then, for low-cost flights, you will most likely be charged for checking in your luggage. To save on baggage charges, you can claim your baggage fees with the National Bank World Elite Mastercard^®.

Finally, you must ensure that you have compliant luggage for all flights on the itinerary and arrange for the transfer.

How to Get Around in Croatia

Public Transportation

Public transport in Croatia is based mainly on a network of buses and ferries.

Car-free travel is perfectly feasible in Croatia, but you will be subject to bus schedules. During the summer period, the connections are more frequent.

Here is an example of an itinerary that can be done comfortably by public transport:

These ferry (Jadrolinija) and bus (Flixbus) tickets can be purchased online with a credit card. By using a credit card with no conversion fees like the Scotiabank Passport^™ Visa Infinite + Card, you will save 2.5% on foreign currency transaction fees.

What’s more, you’ll be able to collect points on your purchase and use your Scene+ points on those expenses categorized as “travel”!

Another way to plan your trip to Croatia is to base yourself in Split and/or Dubrovnik and visit the islands for a day.

Car Rental

Some connections in Croatia are not at convenient times, so you can lose a lot of time waiting for the bus.

Then, on the islands, it is better to have a vehicle to go in all the corners. We were lucky because the owners of the apartments where we stayed offered free transfers to the island. However, we favoured slow travel and often stayed only in the pedestrian zone and the beach.

Where to Stay in Croatia?

Independent Hotels and AirBnB

The most economical way to stay in Croatia is in independent hotels. Actually, the majority of establishments on the Dalmatian coast are apartments on Airbnb or VRBO.

So the points to be prioritized will be travel rewards you can redeem on expenses charged to your card. The prices of hotels in Croatia vary greatly depending on the season and location. However, we were always able to stay in the center of the action at a low price.

Our credit card strategy for accommodations on this trip was straightforward.

Statement credits are credited instantly upon booking. We love this method since we have no (or almost no) balance to pay when we get home.

Marriott Bonvoy Hotels

In Croatia, Marriott Bonvoy hotels are present in the major cities. There are five of them:

Personally, the location of the Marriott hotels was not at all suitable for our trip. For example, the Sheraton Dubrovnik Riviera Hotel is a beautiful hotel located 3 minutes from the beach, but it was 10 kilometres from the Old Town where we spent most of our time. Since we were without a car, it was not a good choice for us.

However, the previous example is a good use of free night awards! You can use it to book a night costing up to 35,000 points with the possibility of topping up with points up to 50,000. These certificates are earned with the Marriott Bonvoy^®American Express^®* Card or the Marriott Bonvoy^™ Business American Express^® Card.

So, you can stay at hotels like this one when you renew your cards and after paying the $120 or $150 annual fees depending on the card. It’s a bargain, because the certificate (+ 2,000 points) will save you €333 or $450 at the Sheraton Dubrovnik Riviera Hotel.

A number of new hotels have recently opened their doors and may also be of interest to you. Take, for example, the Maslina Resort on the island of Hvar. This five-star Relais & Châteaux member blends perfectly into its natural surroundings, surrounded by olive groves, terraced vineyards and century-old pine trees.

Hyatt has just opened its first hotel in Zadar, the Hyatt Regency Zadar. It offers a luxurious wellness area and a culinary experience featuring local cuisine. Several hotels from the Hilton, Marriott and Pullman brands are expected, such as the Opatija Marriott Resort & Spa, further north in Ičići, but its opening has been pushed back to April 2026.

Also discover my colleague Marie-Ève’s points strategy, who traveled to Croatia and the Balkans in Fall 2025 using her points, saving over $3,800.

Bottom Line

Croatia is a country that is not always on the bucket list of travellers, but it is a perfect destination for a great vacation with friends, as a couple, or with family.

Prepare your bookings in advance (flights/hotels/ferries), use your points wisely according to your preferred program and consult Milesopedia for all the latest tips.

Follow my adventures on my Instagram account @wanderingaline!

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