Category: Croatia

Travel Guide and Why Go to Croatia articles

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Brela Beach

sand-waves.jpgBrela Beach is on Croatia’s mainland, only a few kilometers from Split and Makarska on the other side and one of Croatia’s most popular and highest rated beaches. It’s an easy day trip to Brela from either city and you’ll find that many people make the drive down the coast to enjoy the fine pebbles that look like sand from a distance.

One of the best features of Brela is the series of secluded coves that add a bit of privacy to your visit. Each cove becomes your own little swimming hole and you may find yourself growing attached to one in particular if you go to Brela’s shores multiple times.

Brela is consistently ranked at the top of the best beaches in Europe and the attention has attracted many hotels to the area. Hotel Marina and Hotel Soline are your best bets for three star hotels, but a number of apartments and rooms for rent can also be found easily in the surrounding area for significantly less than the hotels, in most cases.

There are almost limitless recreation options around Brela. Brela is one of those destination beaches where the facilities come to you and you’re more likely to have to fight the guy offering to take you parasailing off with a stick than you are of getting bored while you’re there. Parasailing, scuba diving, gondolas, table tennis, even bowling is available near the beach.

Because it’s just south of Split, Brela’s weather is predictable and fairly similar to Croatia’s overall weather patterns. The weather will be sunny and hot in the summer, cooler and rainy in the winter. Although the crowds increase in the summer, the beach at Brela is seemingly never “full.” There is no such thing as a bad time to visit Brela.

Like almost all beaches in Croatia, topless sunbathing is acceptable by both women and men. Full nudity is officially discouraged, but with the coves at Brela offering something of a shield between the sections of beach, there will most likely be few complaints. Beaches generally separate themselves somewhat by age in Croatia, so that there is a family section and a place for adults. Mostly though, everyone at the beach is there to have a good time and enjoy the sun.

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Windsurfing and Kitesurfing Croatia

punta_puntacana_cana_1414900_l.jpgWindsurfing has been available in Croatia since the 1970’s, when tourists from elsewhere in Europe brought their equipment to Croatia’s relatively still and calm sea to take advantage of windy days.

Windsurfing is a sport where athletes ride a surfboard with a sail attached and use the wind to propel their boards around the water. Hugely popular among surfers and extreme athletes, the sport grew in popularity and slowly got a foothold in the local population over the next two decades, and has recently taken off among travelers as Croatia’s tourism boom peaks.

There are now nearly a dozen windsurfing clubs up and down Croatia’s coast and most resorts on the water provide instructors and equipment for hire for their guests. Windsurfing, although it may look easy, requires you to learn how to harness the wind and use it for your own purposes instead of dumping you when you try to stand up.

You can devote as little as an hour to windsurfing or organize your vacation around the sport. Just be sure to take some lessons if it’s your first time on the board or the frustrating process of getting up on the board, falling off, getting up, and falling off, may sour the sport for you permanently.

For lessons, there are many great options and your choice will largely be dictated by your location in the country. The best windsurfing to be had in Croatia is on Korcula, an island a few hours from Split by ferry. Unfortunately the island is too far away to really be a day trip from the mainland, but if you have accommodations on Korcula this, or the Peljesac peninsula just across the way near Orebic, will be the best spots to windsurf.

If you’re staying in Split, the X-shop windsurfing club is on the southern end of the peninsula, or if you make a day-trip to Zlatni Rat on Hvar, there are several nearby resorts within easy walking distance that provide windsurfing rentals for beginners by the day, half-day or hour.

Kitesurfing

Windsurfing’s younger, sexier cousin kitesurfing is just blooming into its own industry as windsurfing shops and resorts begin to carry all of the specialty equipment that kitesurfing requires and providing lessons on how to get started.

Kitesurfing involves riding a lightweight board behind a kite that pulls the rider over the top of the water. Kitesurfing is also considered a highly skilled activity and requires lessons for first timers.

The best kitesurfing is found at the same spots that windsurfing is popular. Korcula, the Peljesac peninsula, Hvar, and other plaecs. Most shops that rent equipment provide lessons and safety instruction, most require that you complete one of their classes before you take their equipment out.

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Baska Beach

Watch your step on your way down to Baska Beach on Krk Island. The long stretches of nearly-sand beach are inviting and fun to play on, but you have to get down there first and the descent can be a leg-sapping workout. Take all of your towels and picnic supplies with you, because you won’t want to make this trip twice.

A trip to Baska Beach does not have to include a grueling climb down from the parking lot. But hiking the trails to one of the secluded coves gets you into your own personal sunbathing and swimming hole and that is a feature worth every step of the walk down.

If you don’t want to make the effort to get what is close to a private beach, the beach at Stara Baska is still a worthy destination for your day. Known for its unspoiled nature and the pebbles that look like fully formed sand from a distance, Stara Baska is on the southwest coast of Krk Island. Krk Island is accessible by road or ferry. The main road (M2) extends by bridge to the mainland and connects to the island’s main road. Ferries connect from Valbiska to Merag, or if you want to get straight to Baska, there is a ferry running from Lopar to Baska.

Although there are plenty of tourists during the summer season, Baska is one of those “off the beaten path” destinations that you should visit to show up those travelers who think that if they’ve seen Dubrovnik they’ve seen Croatia. Dubrovnik is the face that Croatia wants to present to the rest of the world, but Baska beach, Krk Island and the rest of Istria hold some equally tempting attractions.

Although there are better beaches around Croatia, Baska’s appeal rests in that it has not been commercialized by the tour groups, windsurfing lessons, parasailing and other high cost ways to have fun that have moved in to other beaches. Instead of a resort, there are only the people who live there year round nearby.

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Losinj

rocky-beach-losinj.jpgThe island of Losinj is a lesser known tourist destination off the coast of Croatia that is usually undisturbed by heavy tourist traffic. This could be because it is difficult to get to from the mainland, or because the island has had a sordid history surrounded in controversy. Yugoslavia annexed Losinj from Italy several decades ago, and many Italians left the island rather than live under communist rule. Today, Losinj is every inch a part of Croatia, although the group of Italians who lived there still stay in contact.

Although Cres island is considered something of a big brother island to Losinj, a vacation on Losinj has its advantages. Losinj is popular with couples and those looking for privacy while they’re away. Although there is an airport on the island, because of the island’s distance from the mainland, there are fewer people around and it is easier to get away from the crowds. The easiest way to access the island is by ferry Pula, Zadar, or Brestova.

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Dugi Otok

sooke_mountains_water_21194_l.jpgThe long, narrow strip of land that makes up Dugi Otok is one of the most pristine islands in Croatia. Located off of the beaten path and far from the tourist hang outs, Dugi Otok allows you to relax in a natural setting, hike through olive trees, or even lounge on one of the rare sand beaches in Croatia.

The island’s relative isolation makes it a popular destination for couples and lovers to take a stroll and get lost in the natural surroundings. But, if your group calls for a more organized adventure, Dugi Otok makes up part of Kornati National Park, where you can tour the geologic and natural wonders that make up the attractions of the park on the south east side of the island.

Also, the Telascica Natural Park is a popular destination, with a 2 km salt-water pool full of balmy lukewarm water and dramatic white cliffs that separate the salt water pool from the ocean and plunge into the ocean on the other side. Telascica is much more difficult to access than Kornati, the best way to visit this park is to anchor your boat in the sea and come in to shore on your own.

The most popular family destination on Dugi Otok is Saharun, a white sand beach where kids can play and build sand castles that will not be destroyed by the encroaching tide.

The villages of Brbinj and Sali are home to most of the residents of Dugi Otok and it is at Brbinj that the ferry from Zadar arrives after an hour and a half trip from the mainland. The ferry ride twists around and in between other smaller islands and if it weren’t for those obstacles to a route as the crow flies, the ferry ride from Zadar might take less than half of the 90 minutes it takes now. But that is the sacrifice you must make to visit this archipelago.

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Zagreb’s next top hostel

bunkbedkid.jpgOne of the newest hostels in Zagreb, Fulir Hostel has only been open since 2006. That makes its meteoric rise and its perch atop the hostel market in that city all the more impressive. Ranked at the top of most of the Internet booking websites, Fulir Hostel also has rabid endorsements from travelers and a great looking website to recommend it.

Fulir Hostel’s most impressive bit of evidence to recommend it is its location. Just 50 meters off the main square in Zagreb, the hostel is convenient to the center of the city and part of the central downtown atmosphere. The hostel’s visitors create the scene as much as they enjoy it and you’ll find that the hostel itself is as much a part of the downtown culture as anywhere else.

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Rodeo Drive

rodeo.jpgRodeo Drive’s shops and stores are some of the most expensive in the world. The shopping experience down Rodeo finds haute couture taken to new levels along the famous street where you’ll find unparalleled service if you make a purchase and be shown the door if you dare to enter the wrong store without dressing up to the level of their usual clientele.

For a street of the most exclusive order, Rodeo Drive comes from humble beginnings. Originally a path for horses and horse-drawn carts, the shopping district that stands today was not established until the 1970’s. Before that, nary an Yves-Saint Laurent could be found on the road.

The term “Rodeo Drive,” refers to N Rodeo Drive, which runs from Santa Monica Blvd to Wilshire Ave. The short three block shopping district is located in Beverly Hills and is one of the more famous parts of the city.

Window shopping along Rodeo Dr is recommended if you’re in need of some really potent sticker shock, but actually going into a store is done at your own risk. While you probably won’t get kicked out, if you cause a scene and don’t seem like you’re going to buy anything, there may be some impolite exchanges.

Christmas is the best time of year to visit Rodeo Drive. Crews decorate the streets with lights and create a festival atmosphere on the weekends. Although it’s hard to justify spending extra time out shopping and fighting crowds during the holidays, they are the best time to see Rodeo and the incredible affluence surrounding it.

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Kornati National Park

blue_underwater_fish_118469_m.jpgIt’s hard to do much sightseeing in Kornati National Park without a boat. The land mass of Kornati Park cover less than 25% of the total area, but that’s OK because the best sights are not on the land anyway.

Kornati is a park devoted to water and islands and the sightseeing on these islands takes place under the water when scuba divers take to the water to see the beautiful reefs and displays of natural aquatic life through the crystal clear water.

Kornati was declared a national monument in the 1980’s after an expansion of its borders led to the inclusion of 89 islands total. The park now contains 220 square kilometers, most of it open ocean. The most popular attraction in Kornati are the “Kornati Crowns” which are sheer white cliffs rising dramatically out of the ocean into the blue sky caused by Africa’s northern tectonic progress and its collision with Europe.

The most interesting part of the Kornati Crowns is the diverse wildlife and varieties of coral and plant life that live above and below the surface of the water. Peregrine falcons, hawks, and swifts patrol the cliffs above; SCUBA divers and fish patrol the water below. Because of the diverse species of wildlife that inhabit the cliffs and the water, rock climbing on the crowns is not allowed, no matter how tempting the rock walls look from the boat.

Kornati Park is located about 7 km from the mainland. The park itself is only 15 km from Zadar and about the same distance from other cities that provide tours. SCUBA diving is only allowed in Kornati Park as part of one of the registered and guided trips that depart from the cities surrounding Kornati.

Although SCUBA diving is by far the most popular activity in Croatia, the park has much to offer the geologically inclined as well. Beside the geomorphic formations that can be found on the sea floor, the Magazinova Skrila formation on the island of Kornat is an interesting place where limestone slid across the surface of other limestone on a massive scale. The cause of this phenomenon is thought to be an earthquake.

The last attraction in Kornati Park is the one least unique to the park itself. The Tureta Fortress is an ancient castle on Kornat island that probably used to serve as a look out and base for military ships that patrolled the approach to a nearby port in ancient times.

Getting to Kornati Park is a challenge if you’re not visiting on one of the registered tours. There are no ferries to the islands because no one lives on them anymore. There are some grass huts that allow boaters to stay overnight if they feel the need to camp without electricity or any of the modern comforts, but otherwise there is no accommodation on any of the islands. For those not interested or not able in renting a yacht to tour the islands, renting sea-kayaks and paddling through the islands is the best option.

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Hotel Kompass

cliffs_rocks_beach_280096_m.jpgBy most accounts, Hotel Kompass is Croatia’s nicest three star hotel. The hotel combines an amazing view with decent services and amenities to produce one of the best travel experiences available in Croatia on a mid-range budget.

Hotel Kompass is located near Dubrovnik, on the Lapad peninsula with a view overlooking the bay. The hotel regularly receives rave reviews and is a popular way to get semi-luxury accommodations on a budget.

The differences between Hotel Kompass and a luxury resort are slight. Where a resort might be described as “massive,” Hotel Kompass is “charming,” where a resort might be “pristine,” Hotel Kompass is “well-kept.”

When it comes to the food in the restaurant however, the reviews are more mixed. Some ring with recommendation and endorsement, comparing the food to the finest stuff in Italy’s best kitchens and gushing about the selection.

Others, find the food repetitive, the buffet limiting and the service average. Hotel Kompass may not have the finest kitchen to offer, but for budget travelers the food choices will likely be manageable and a far cry above what is usually offered in youth hostels.

Quick Facts

Hotel Kompass has 115 rooms over 5 floors.

Prices start at 94 euros a night.

Hotel Kompass is a three star hotel.

Accepts American Express, Diners Club, Mastercard and Visa.

There is a heated indoor pool and a heated outdoor pool as well as an accessible beach from your hotel.

Hotel Kompass is probably the best compromise you can make between a high-class resort and a youth hostel or budget hotel. While the service reflects the manageable over all price–there are fewer extra frills than a resort–the location, view and accommodations are just as good as a higher priced resort.

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Sjeverni Velebit

pines_rock_boulder_283403_l.jpg
Of all the parks in all of Croatia, Sjeverni Velebit Park is the youngest. Sjeverni Velebit, which translates to mean “northern part of the Velebite mountain chain,” was declared a national park in 1999 by the Croatian government and today hosts many visitors to its walking trails and soaring mountain peaks each year.

The park is also home to the highest meteorological station in Croatia.

The park is 109 square kilometers in size and there are 30 peaks higher than 1300 m tall in Sjeverni Velebit, making it one of the biggest mountain ranges in Croatia. Although most of the park rises up and over Croatia, most of the visitors to the park are interested in going underground, into the caves scattered throughout the mountains. Spelunkers unite at Lukina Jama, the largest cave in the park, which drops 1,392 m into the ground and at the cave system Cerovacke Pecine. Three small caves called upper, middle and lower cave extend between 2,682 m and 390 m down into the ground.

Lukina Jama was only recently discovered by a team of professors and students studying caves on Mt Velebit in 1993. On August 7th, at 9:45, the team reached the bottom of the caves, declaring it the biggest hole in the ground in Croatia and one of the 20 largest caves in the world.

Because Sjeverni Velebit is so new, the park is still not as highly trafficked as some of the other, more famous parks around Croatia. It also does not charge admission or require you to register before your arrival like several of the other tourist-heavy parks in Croatia do. Sjeverni Velebit is one of the few places where you can get away from it all without stumbling upon another group trying to do exactly the same thing.