Travelling to Croatia in 2025: A Few Things That Surprised Us

Croatia is easily one of the most fascinating destinations we have visited in Europe. There is something for everyone, from quiet beachside towns, to bustling cities and untouched, pristine nature.

With that said, there were a few things during our two-week stay that we found interestingly odd, or at least had not expected. Here’s a few of the things that surprised us the most during our time in Croatia.

Let’s get started!

It can be surprisingly expensive to eat out

Southern European countries share a common love for good food, and Croatia is no exception.

With Italian, Slavic, Greek and even Ottoman influence, it’s a delicious cultural hotpot that is a must to experience for any visitor.

What we didn’t expect, however, was that the average cost to eat out is much higher than the rest of Southern Europe, and more in line with northern countries such as Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands. Overall, expect to spend on average of about €35 - €40 for a two person meal, and that is with no drinks except for a bottle of water, no appetisers and no dessert.

Eating out on the islands, especially the more touristy ones such as Hvar, was particularly expensive, close to €10-€15 more than the mainland. One reason is that, since establishments on islands need to import most ingredients and food items, that causes an increase in the final cost of a meal.

Another reason, however, is that most towns in the islands are fairly small and have few restaurants, reducing the competition and allowing for higher prices.

If you’re spending more than a few days in Croatia we recommend booking a stay with a kitchen, so that you can prepare your own meals without having to blow your entire budget on eating out. To give you an example, a quick calculation showed us that, had we not booked an apartment with a kitchen in Zadar, eating out two to three times a day would have finally exceeded the total price of the stay.

Promenade and port of Split, Croatia.

Croatia has some of the clearest waters we have ever seen in Europe

While the crystal waters of the Adriatic are famous across the world, we were not prepared for how beautiful the sea in Croatia can truly be.

We spent hours on end sitting on the rocks with our feet dangling in the cold water, Especially on the islands, watching fish swimming around, enjoying the sun and watching the small waves crash below us. It was an incredibly relaxing experience that we absolutely recommend!

Of all the cities we visited, Zadar (along with the surrounding towns and islands) had by far the cleanest and clearest water, so much so that you can go for a swim right off the famous seaside promenade located in the old town.

On the other hand, the other destinations we visited, Šibenik and Split, were definitely less proper, and we definitely recommend limiting your water activities to the beaches. The sea in Split had a particularly foul smell in the waterfront area, which according to some is caused by natural hot sulphur springs under the city. Regardless of the source, if you want to go for a swim you’ll have to walk a ways to reach some clean and clear waters.

Crystal clear waters by Bonj Beach on Hvar Island, Croatia.

Weird experiences with tickets

Twice during our two week-long stay in Croatia, we had strange experiences with payed entries to certain sights and locations.

The first was when we visited Krka National Park, located not too far from Šibenik. The entrance to the park can be reached on foot or by car, or alternatively with a ferry from the town of Skradin, which is included in the €20 per person ticket (at the time of writing this article).

When we arrived, the time-slot for the boat we had booked was filled to capacity, which left us with the choice of either walking or waiting an hour for the next ferry. Not wanting to sit around that long, we decided to walk the 2.5 miles (4 km) to the park’s entrance. When we arrived, we were extremely surprised to see that the few staff members positioned at the entrance didn’t seem to have a care in the world about what was going on around them and, unlike at the pier, no one there seemed to be the slightest bit interested in checking tickets.

We thought it was a singular, odd experience, made even more strange by the high cost of the entry fee.

Španjola Fortress, also known as Fortica Fortress, located on the island of Hvar.

And then it happened again, this time on the island of Hvar.

We wanted to visit the fortress located on the hill behind Hvar town, which costs €10 per person to enter. When we reached the top, we were greeted by an empty ticket booth. We waited around for a bit, thinking that perhaps the employee had to leave for whatever reason, until we were met by some exiting visitors that told us that apparently no one had been in the booth for quite a while. At this point we decided, whatever, we’ll just go in. We toured the fortress, enjoyed the view, and left, still with no sign of any employee in the ticket booth.

Now, we’re not sure if these occurrences are due to us visiting during the low season, but they sure were strange. We guess that the moral of the story is, when in Croatia, don’t book anything online, if you’re lucky you might just get to tour the place for free.

The heat can be intense, even in spring

While the weather during the spring months can be a little unpredictable and can quickly shift from sunny to rainy, what’s sure is that, when it’s out, the sun beats down hard.

If you’re prone to burning, you really should wear sunscreen even with temperatures around 70°F (around 20°C). What’s more, around the coast it’s often windy, which helps you feel fresher but also disguises the intensity of the sun.

We also recommend checking the weather forecast if you’re planning on hiking through Croatia’s spectacular nature. The trails are often dry and not very shaded, and with temperature around 70°F (25°C) it quickly starts becoming uncomfortably hot for long walks under the sun.

Sunscreen is a must, along with a hat and plenty of water, since you’re unlikely to find many sources to refill your bottle outside of the cities.

Historical remnants are everywhere, but are often left unmaintained

Croatia has a turbulent millennia-long history of occupation from various powers.

From Venetian forts scattered along the Dalmatian coast, ancient columns, walls and gates in Zadar, to entire Roman palaces in Split, the remains of that history can be seen scattered throughout the country.

What we found fascinating is that these historical sites are often left unkempt, or are integrated into newer structures. One example is the Zadar’s old town, where remains of Venetian occupation are scattered all over, and seemingly without much care given to them.

Another location we found super interesting is Fort Saint Michael, an ancient Byzantine fortress on the island of Ugljan. It’s easily reachable from an hour-long trail that starts from the town of Preko, and then meanders up through the hills. What’s unusual is that, despite its historical significance, the fort is a completely abandoned and dilapidated ruin, so much so that you should enter at your own risk.

Still, we found it a fascinating place to explore, and the views over the sea and the islands from the top of the walls is absolutely unforgettable!

Views from Fort Saint Michael, an ancient Byzantine fortress on the island of Ugljan.

And there you have, these are some of the things that we sure had not expected from our visit to Croatia.

That’s not to say that we didn’t enjoy our time, however. We can’t wait to go back and explore more of what this amazing country has to offer!

What about you, have you been to Croatia? What are some of the things that you experienced that you definitely were not expecting?

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