Croatia: Dubrovnik, Split and the Plitvice Lakes — Where to Go and What to Try

Dubrovnik: a city within its walls

Dubrovnik is one of the most recognisable cities on the Adriatic. The old town is ringed by mighty defensive walls that you can walk almost all the way round, looking down on the tiled roofs and the sea. Inside are the Stradun, the main street with its stone paving polished to a shine, along with monasteries, palaces and little squares. It gets crowded in summer, so it's best to explore early in the morning or in the evening.

Split and the islands

Split grew up around the palace of the Roman emperor Diocletian, and today its ancient walls are home to residents, cafés and shops. From Split it's easy to set off for the islands: Hvar with its lavender fields and lively evenings, Brač with Zlatni Rat beach, and quiet, green Vis.

The Plitvice Lakes and Krka

The Plitvice Lakes are a national park where a cascade of turquoise lakes is linked by waterfalls, with wooden boardwalks laid over the water. Krka National Park, not far from Šibenik, offers a river, waterfalls and trails through the woods. It's best to arrive at both parks in the morning, before the main flow of visitors.

Istria and Zagreb

In the north of the coast lies the peninsula of Istria: hilltop towns, the Roman amphitheatre in Pula, Rovinj with its colourful houses right by the water, plus truffles and olive oil. The capital, Zagreb, is a calm, green city of cafés, markets and museums, well worth a visit for at least a day.

What to try

Croatian cuisine is close to Mediterranean cooking and full of fresh produce.

• Fresh fish and seafood from the grill.
• Black risotto made with cuttlefish ink.
• Paški sir, the cheese from the island of Pag.
• Pršut — dry-cured ham.
• Dishes cooked under the peka — meat or octopus slow-cooked under a metal lid over embers.
• Istrian truffles and olive oil.

Good to know before you go

Croatia is a calm and friendly country, and a few simple tips will help you feel at ease.

• Water shoes make pebble beaches more comfortable, and you'll sometimes find sea urchins near the rocks.
• Summers are very hot: plan excursions for the morning and evening, and save the middle of the day for the sea and the shade.
• In the old towns, it's not the done thing to walk around in swimwear or shirtless away from the beach.
• Enter churches and monasteries in clothing that covers your shoulders and knees.
• In Croatia you pay in euros.

Staying connected

In Croatia you need the internet from the very first minutes: to open a map, check the ferry timetable, find a beach or a restaurant, or show your hotel booking. You can install your eSIM at home over Wi-Fi, so after landing you won't have to hunt for a SIM card at the airport or stand in queues. When a plan's validity begins is shown on the checkout page before you pay: for some plans it starts at the first connection in the destination country, for others on installation or right after purchase. Your main number stays in your phone, and calls and messages to it keep arriving as usual, under your carrier's terms.