5 Must See Cities In Croatia

Croatia - Top 5 Cities 

If you have been thinking or planning your trip to Croatia this summer, probably you should know which cities you want to visit.

• Looking for fun - party or want to meet a lot of international people?
• Looking for some quiet place, with good restaurants and beaches?
• Looking to discover culture, history?

1. Dubrovnik
2. Split
3. Island of Hvar- city of Hvar
4. Island of Pag, Novalja
5. Zadar

Dubrovnik - small city located southeast in Croatian coast, close to border with Montenegro. However, it's not recommended to visit Dubrovnik by car, because there are not many parking spots, especially in summer time. As Dubrovnik is historical city, with a lot of amazing restaurants, beaches and rich history, it's more of a quiet place. Young couples, families with children, people in retirement will for sure enjoy in delicious food, Crystal Clear Water, beaches and warm weather with a lot of sun.

Dubrovnik

Dubrovnik Croatia

Split - the city where I am from.

Split is located in the heart of Dalmatia.Every year Split is becoming more and more popular for all ages. Split is offering  great beaches, amazing history as Diocletian palace, great restaurants with delicious food and a lot of events for young people. Every year in summer from Split is starting popular "Yacht Sailing Week"!

Definitely if you are in Dalmatia, You don't want miss this such a beautiful city.

Split Croatia

Hvar - located on the Island of Hvar. Hvar is known as the city with the most sunny days a in year. 

In summer time, this city lives 24h per day. The other name for Hvar is "Croatian Ibiza" and it's not hard to get there, only hour and a half with car ferry from Split. Parties are one thing that are never missing in Hvar.  Hvar also will provide you great food, beaches, clean water and a lot of fun.

City of Hvar - Croatia

Novalja - located on the Island of Pag. Just a few minutes driving from city of Novalja is located popular party destination, called Zrce. Cheaper than the island of Hvar with amazing events, DJ-s, restaurants, disco bars. Perfect for young people.

Zadar only 150 km far from Split. Greeting to the Sun at Zadar promenade is one of those thing what you must see. Zadar has great connection with highway, and it's in the middle of the Adriatic coast. 

CROATIA

We had a few posts before how Croatia is becoming a more and more popular tourist destination! Here is more evidence, check out what the Huffington post has to say!!

xo

LET'S MEET MENTALITET

Why do people love Europe so much?

The idea to write about a country and it's mentality came about this week. Each country has its own mentality, which people either like or they don't! When you go traveling, how do you pick your destination? Why do you go?  Because you like visiting a new city, meeting new people, experiencing a new culture, relaxing and taking a break from the daily grind & work, or some other reason! Why do you like a country?  What makes it appeal to you more than another?

Everyone in this world is different; some live for their job & working 12h per day, some like winter sports, some like water and water activities like swimming, sailing & fishing, some like traveling for fun, or traveling for business....each of us is different!

But there is one thing that connects us all!  PASSION & EMOTION!  With these two words we are all connected! Some of us have a passion for sailing, some of us have a passion for working, some of us have a passion for sports, for winter, for summer, some of us have a passion for traveling, and some of us have a passion for partying!

Everyone has passion for something! But its emotions, that connects us all! Connecting us because each passion can be different, depending on each person's likes & dislikes, but the presence of an emotional experience is the same!

Europe has a past. A long & colourful past. A past that has created a certain culture. A culture that breeds passion and emotion. Passion and emotions that you can't see, but that you can feel! Who experiences emotions? People! People have emotions and feelings! People learn how to express their emotions & feelings! This is such an important part of life. In relationships between friends, in sports, a love for a city or place in the world! Why? Its simple, because the emotions are so authentic & passionate! 

That's why people love Europe so much. Because Europe has a past, a culture, a heart and a spirit! People visit Europe because they want to be a part of the buzz, to experience first-hand the passion & emotion that haunts every cafe, every street corner, every major attraction and always, every bus, train & railway station!

Split, the Croatian coastal city in Dalmatia (and a lot of people who have been there, even for only one day, will agree with me!) has a PAST. a CULTURE. a SPIRIT. and a HEART. Each corner of Split is full of locals & tourists all buzzing with passion, with anger, with excitement, with amusement, with joy. All of the feelings co-exist amongst and within each other, and just walking down the promenade or touring the market you can't help get swept up by the authenticity and passion of it all! 

Here is just one example of Split's mentality. The past & culture of this city! Maybe a lot of people will not understand the words in the song, but take a second to watch the video.  Just see the emotion in everyone's faces, the devotion, the love and the passion for Hajduk.

The song is about Hajduk, Split's soccer team, and in the end it is not important how this club will play in the future or how its playing now, it is more about the tradition.  A tradition started and passed on by our elders, our grandfathers, grandmothers, our fathers! And this devotion and tradition to Hajduk is not just about winning, it is more about people who we love and who we respect!

These moments & feelings are the reason we are happy! 

And this is one of the reasons why everybody loves Europe.  All of Europe has a spirit and a heart.  It varies drastically amongst countries, amongst cities, even between small towns. But it is a heart, and this heart is what people like, its authenticity, innocence and presence!

You can check out the song here.

In the video you might notice a donkey!  The donkey is the symbol of Dalmatia.  Dalmatians are famous for their stubbornness & their determination....what was a joke has become a standing symbol of the coastal region.  Sidenote: Donkey's also played an important role in transportation on the coast before cars were invented.  It is these traits that make the Dalmatians unique, entertaining and authentic.  They carve a path and follow it relentlessly, listening to nothing but their heart (this is a key to success). If you want be happy, tune out the noise around you and listen only to your heart but remember to always respect the others around you! :)   

  

By the way: Good luck to the Croatian soccer team at EURO 2012!!!!

xo

CLEANEST WATER - CROATIA

Reminder:

For everybody who has already decided to go and spend their vacation in Croatia, on the Adriatic coast, one more confirmation that you have made a great decision!  :)

Some more European statistics about how the Adriatic Sea has been rated one of cleanest waters in Europe!

You can take a look here!!!

What do you think?? Is it blue enough? :)

DUBROVNIK & HVAR.

We've been sharing so much about the city of Split here at Let's Split, we have been neglecting so many other fantastic destinations in Croatia.  So, we are taking you on a trip through Dalmatia - to the very southern tip of the Dalmatian coast, with an island stop on the way!

Dubrovnik & Hvar, likely two of the most popular Croatian destinations! Some have even referred to Hvar as the Ibiza of Croatia's Adriatic Sea!

Ask us for more information, we're always happy to help you! (Check out our new page SERVICEs )

A Let's Split peek through a Dubrovnik fortress window

Hvar

The fortress walls of Dubrovnik

The Adriatic Sea surrounds the fortress walls of Dubrovnik's center

Dubrovnik Fortress

A Let's Split view of Hvar (Croatia's Ibiza)

Greenery among the stone paths & homes on Hvar

Hvar views

A garden within Dubrovnik's Fortress

The crystal clear Adriatic Sea in Hvar

Hvar Town on Hvar island - another Let's Split view

The walls of Hvar town on Hvar island

Lets Split walks around Hvar town

A famous Dubrovnik cafe

A Let's Split view of the cleanest sea, the Adriatic, in Dubrovnik

Hvar town's fortress overlooks the promenade on Hvar island

A final Let's Split view in Dubrovnik, from one of the oldest balconies

xo

BIOKOVO.

A nice, hot, sunny day - perfect for heading to the beach and spending the day swimming in the refreshing Adriatic seawater or maybe just napping on a lounge chair soaking in the rays! OR maybe today you are not up for another beach day? you want to spend some time exploring, hiking, taking in a new perspective on the Dalmatian coast? maybe you'd prefer more of a day in the mountains? Exploring nature?

                                                               Excellent!!!!

  

Are you traveling down the Dalmatian coast? Maybe close to Split? Perfect. Then take a day, an afternoon, or a only a few hours and head to Mountain Biokovo.  Only a 1hr drive from Split, Mt. Biokovo is close to the small coastal town of Makarska.

Biokovo is one of our favorite mountains in Dalmatia! You probably want to know why right?  In a country full of mountain ranges, both coastal and inland, what makes Biokovo that special? Well, its hazardously windy narrow road to the very top is an exhilarating drive. It's small church at the very top of the cliff is one-of-a-kind.  It's views of the Adriatic Sea & the islands that dot along the coast on one side, with views of the neighbouring country of Herzegovina and hilly countryside on the other, are absolutely unbeatable.  The higher you go, the views just get better and better.  And the drive back down gives you an almost out of body cartoon-ish experience, as if you've been inserted into the most perfect of postcards.  Convinced yet?  Well the best view is at Sv. Jure at a height of 1762 m (5, 780 feet)!  And to help you savour this trip, halfway down the mountain is one of the best restaurants in southern Croatia serving authentic Dalmatian specialties at incredible prices. How about now? Convinced? Thought so.

This is a perfect, off-the-beaten-path, day trip and an excellent stop if you're driving down the coast from Split to Dubrovnik.  And a great excuse to spend a vacation day breathing some fresh air and being active, living the healthy life!

An original, real-stone house on Biokovo

Peeking over the side!

Views of island Hvar & Adriatic

Can you spot the road??

5,700feet - no big deal...!

And a true Dalmatian will always say, "Whats a trip up the mountain without good food and wine?? (tip: don't drink and drive.  and especially don't drink and drive at Biokovo.)

xo

TRAVELLING REMINDER.

We've updated our Accommodations page with another fantastic rental.  Remember that we carefully screen anything and everything we recommend and provide here at Lets Split, so you can rest assured that you get what you see! 

We also provide any information you might need to make your trip to Croatia an unforgettable one.  Even if you're already in Croatia and have some questions or need a hand continuing on your journey, just leave us a comment or send us email and we will respond you back as soon as possible!

Street singer & his puppy learning new tricks from a bigger friend

This is the life, sitting on Split Riva (promenade) and enjoying in each moment

xo

CLEANEST SEA.

LetsSplit Information
Did you know? The Adriatic Sea has been ranked in the top 4 cleanest seas in Europe!!!! 

If you've visited the Croatian coast and had a chance to see the Adriatic - to go on a boat ride, dive or spend a day swimming - you'll know how it got this ranking.  But for those who have not had a chance to experience it for themselves...YET....Yes Croatia has one of the cleanest seas in the world.  Not to mention the coast is one of the most beautiful, with over 1,500 islands, big and small, both inhabited and some waiting to be explored- PERFECT FOR SAILING.  The high  temperatures and sunny days are just the icing on the vacation cake. 

When you head down to Croatia to check it out for yourself, just know that we want only one thing from you, to share your experience with us here at LetsSplit! And if you think we're just tooting our own horn, here's the link with the review, and other news about the Adriatic.

Hvar - crystalclear right to the bottom.  

xo

MIRROR MAY DAYS.

Podstrana, Croatia

White Rock, BC

It's not difficult to understand how easily we adjust between the cities, especially on spring days like we're lucky to be having in Vancouver this weekend. 

White Rock Beach, BC

Podstrana Beach, Croatia

Roadside view of White Rock, BC

Overlooking Podstrana, Croatia

Promenade on island Brac, Croatia

White Rock Pier, BC

Colourful views of Podstrana, Croatia

Colourful views of White Rock, BC

          ~  Gorgeous views.           Gorgeous colours.        Gorgeous days.      Gorgeous sunshine. ~

xo

HIGHLIGHTS

We have added another page called Highlights.  You'll find a link to it on our gray menu-bar, right next to Postcards.

On Highlights we will share with you, by city, what to do/where to eat/where to stay/when to go there and anything else we think might be of interest.  We'll also update it to include FAQs and more destinations, and your requests!  

Ready. Set. Click. and check it out!

xo

PARADISE.

With spring in full swing, Croatia is enjoying warm temperatures & sunny days, and with the Easter Holidays coming up, we find ourselves looking through photos of one of our favourite, and probably most famous, of Croatia's islands...Hvar. 

The lush hillsides, the crystal clear sparkling blue waters of the Adriatic, the restaurants & cafes lining the boardwalk, the palm trees along the promenade, the sound of Dalmatian Klapas singing in stonewall alleys & pathways, the historic squares, the old Castle walls standing tall&strong above the heart of the city of Hvar, the pristine sailboats and jaw-dropping yachts anchored in the harbour, the Pakleni islands on the horizon....It is one of the most magestic places in Croatia and for good reason.  It's no wonder there are multiple celebrity sightings in the peak of the summer seasons each year.

How could you not love this Adriatic jewel?

xo