• I spent 10 days in Croatia in October. It was my first time in the country.
• I realized some pros and cons of visiting at the end of peak season.
• As much as I enjoyed it, I wish I had done more research beforehand.

I traveled in October Croatia For a 10 day getaway. I was craving the beach, the sun, and a change of scenery from monotonous city life, and Croatia seemed like the solution.

Croatia has become a popular destination in Europe, especially after the popularity of HBO. “game of ThronesIt was partly shot in scenic old towns.

More tourists are also coming: Croatian Bureau of Statistics He said that 1.7 million tourists came in May this year, which is a 21% increase compared to 2023. Croatia also joined Europe’s Schengen Area, which has no internal border controls, in 2023, making travel more accessible.

I stayed during my trip DubrovnikWe went to Hvar and Split and took many day trips to other cities on the Adriatic coast.

Although the trip was worth the long flight, I realized along the way that I hadn’t done enough research before the trip. Here are six things I wish I knew sooner.

1. Choose accommodation wisely

like coastal cities Dubrovnik There are rugged terrains and countless stairs to conquer. An Airbnb that I thought would be a short walk from the main bus terminal turned out to be on top of a hill. As a result, it took us a full-body workout to haul our bags up what felt like endless flights of stairs to reach our accommodation.

It was more peaceful to stay in a less touristy area. But since most of the attractions are close to the Old Town, it would be more convenient and comfortable to stay closer to the city center (and closer to ground level).

2. Increase travel budget

I booked my trip to Croatia assuming daily costs would be similar to countries like Italy or Hungary. I was wrong.

Croatia abandoned its previous currency, the Kuna, and switched to the Euro in January last year. The country also has the second highest VAT in the EU at 25%, the same as Denmark and Sweden. On average, my meals total around 15 euros per person.

Although I’m not surprised people have to do this When I paid to enter public toilets, I was surprised that most entrances cost 1 euro, half the cost of a cup of coffee at any nearby cafe.

Still, there are ways to see the city on a budget. We signed up for pay-what-you-wish walking tours, bought day tickets to ride the public bus and see the sights at a lower cost, and affordable guesthouses The nightly rate was about $50. We also explored outside tourist hotspots to try food targeted at locals, which I thought was more authentic and wallet-friendly.

3. The beaches are beautiful, but sea shoes are very important.

In early October the temperature ranged from 63°F to 72°F, so it was mild enough to cool off at the beach and enjoy the sun.

Croatia has some of the most beautiful beaches I have ever seen. The waters were crystal clear and I was excited to dive right in. But I soon learned the hard way that Croatian beaches are not sandy. Most of the shores were rocky and pebbly and I didn’t take water shoes with me.

Walking barefoot was too painful, so I wore my sandals every time we went to the beach. It worked just as well, although it left me with funny tan lines on my feet.

4. Visiting during off-peak season has its pros and cons

Croatia sees most of its tourists during the summer months, that is, between June and August. When I visited in October, its old towns were still teeming with tourists. However, some locals told me that the crowds were still smaller than in the summer months.

I noticed that some tourist attractions were cheaper too. entrance ticket for Krka National ParkFor example, 40 euros in the summer, 20 euros in the middle months. In winter, ticket prices drop to 7 euros.

But off-peak season visits also meant many services were suspended. On a day trip to the UNESCO Old Town of Stari Grad, we noticed that most shops had signs saying “See you in June 2025!” We were surprised to see that it was closed with a sign. hung on their doors.

Visits at this time of year also meant charter bus or ferry services were less frequent. It seems the temptation to walk through an almost empty town can only last long when the next bus is at 10pm

It would be better to rent a car. However, none of our drivers had a driver’s license. licenses.

5. Spend more time in Split instead of Dubrovnik

If you plan to split your time between popular coastal cities Divide And Dubrovnikspend more time in the first one.

We spent three days in Dubrovnik and five days in Split. This balance felt right. Dubrovnik has beautiful beaches and architecture, but I could see the effects of overtourism: Prices were slightly higher and its iconic Old Town was packed with tourists and rubber ducky shops.

In comparison, Divide It’s a great springboard for day trips. While there, we took public transportation to nearby towns like Omiš and Trogir. We also spent a day exploring Skradin and Krka National Park, just an hour and a half away by bus.

Split is also a larger city, so it was easier to find budget-friendly dining options.

6. Watch “Game of Thrones”

Finally, I regret not watching HBO”game of ThronesDuring walking tours, guides would point out locations where iconic scenes were filmed. For example, Cersei’s walk of shame scene was filmed on the Jesuit Steps in Dubrovnik’s Old Town.

While other visitors marveled at the medieval architecture and castles, I wished I had watched the show earlier to see the city from a new perspective.