Visiting Croatia is on your bucket list? Congrats! You’ve made a great decision considering Croatia has so much to offer and touring the country will be a fantastic experience of your life. However, as Croatia is getting more and more attention from tourists and cruise ships, it’s becoming a little tricky to stay off the beaten paths. The ever-popular port city of Dubrovnik is even plaining on restricting the number of tourists in high season. If you want to avoid the crowds – check these fun day trips from Dubrovnik or keep reading.
If brushing shoulders with other tourists isn’t your thing, you might as well consider some alternatives when visiting Croatia. No matter if you are a beach-hopping lover, or crazy about medieval heritages, it’s easy to find a place just for you to admire the beauty of Croatia.
Sukosan
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The town itself has no sand beaches. However, you can still spend all day basking in the sun on some of the most beautiful pebble beaches. Sukosan is also the heaven for nature lovers. Visiting one of the well-known national parks: National Park Kornati, National Park Paklenica, Plitvice Lakes National Park will be an unforgettable memory.
How to get there: The closest airport is Zemunik near Zadar, which is situated around12 km from Sukosan(a 15 minutes drive.)
Šibenik
A real gem on the Mediterrane. Šibenik is known not only for its dazzling waters, but it is also favored by the Game of Thrones team and inspired the scene of Braavos in the show. The medieval history of Šibenik gives it a unique character. The rock maze of tranquil backstreets and lanes is a pleasure to explore. The exceptional St James’ Cathedral was constructed in the 15th&16th centuries, it’s a classic of Renaissance architecture. Krka National Park makes a great day trip from Šibenik. Take a dip into the Skradinski Buk cascade, which is the highlight of the park. You can even swim near the waterfall if the water level is allowed.
How to get there: As one of the main hubs for buses, you can find loads of regular shuttles and the bus station is just a short walk from the old town.
Pag
The island of Pag is known as “the Ibiza of Croatia.” With its stretch of beach nightspots and Hideout and Sonus festivals, you can readily get an Ibiza-like vibe here. Apart from the party scene, Pag is also home for some incredible quality cheese and lamb. The Paški sir cheese which you can see in many signature Croatian dishes comes from here. It’s made from the salty flavored milk from the local kind of small sheep. If red meat isn’t your favorite, head to Na Tale and get some fresh catch of the day! As the top dining place in Pag, Na Tale always serves high-quality seafood to match with its magnificent location.
How to get there: A Jadrolinija catamaran runs daily to connect Novalja and Rab. Buses also run from Zadar to Pag regularly.
Biograd na Moru
Located on the Adriatic Sea coast, the city of Biograd na Moru was the ancient capital of the medieval Croatian Kingdom. Apart from its historical aspect, it is also an excellent place for a variety of activities. First of all, it’s located in the middle part of the coast of Croatian Adriatic, which makes it very easy to make excursions in the surrounding area. Also, you can’t miss the Drazica Beach! It is just 10 minutes’ walk from the Biograd city, and it has won the international award for the quality of the facility and cleanliness of the sea. Finally, if you like fishing, you’ve come to the right place. With Croatia’s biggest lake, Vrana Lake just next to the city, the lake is rich in both freshwater and marine fishes. Eel, Prussian carp, catfish, etc… This is THE perfect spot to practice your hobby.
How to get there: Biograd na Moru is accessible by air. The city doesn’t have its own airport, yet there are two nearby airports you can choose from: Zadar airport (20 km away) and the airport in Split (120 km away.)
