- May holiday in the Balkans
- Beautiful Dalmatia
- Zadar and surroundings
- Istrian peninsula
- Insular Croatia
- Autumn waterfalls
- Gastronomic delights
When someone mentions Croatia, one immediately remembers the streets of ancient cities, penetrated by the sun and descending to the turquoise sea, Balkan motives and amazingly tasty, simple and healthy food. Everyone seeks to find something of their own in Croatia: cloudless happiness, serene tranquility or a bright fountain of emotions and new impressions. Find out when is the best time to relax in Croatia, you can devote a few minutes to our material.
May holiday in the Balkans
The season in Croatia starts in May and lasts until the end of October. In May, the coast is still cool, the Adriatic Sea, which washes the coast of Croatia, has not yet warmed up enough to open the beach season. Nothing will prevent, of course, walking along the coast, enjoying the breathtaking views, breathing the sea air, sitting in small taverns on the embankment, but this kind of rest will get bored very quickly. Therefore, in May, it is worth going to Zagreb and paying attention to the central regions of the country, which in summer you are not so eager to waste time.
It is quite warm in mainland Croatia in late spring. During the day you can wear short sleeved clothes, and in the evening you should put on a windbreaker or jacket. Don't forget about umbrellas, as the weather is changeable here.
What to do in May in Croatia?
During your spring vacation in Croatia, you can do:
- explore the Croatian capital. The most beautiful city, founded in the VIII century, consists of two cities - Upper and Lower. A funicular leads to the Upper Town (Hradec), which stops working at 23.00. In the evening it is especially pleasant there: musicians are playing on the streets, illuminated by dim lanterns, and cheerful companies gather in the cafe;
- take a walk around Varazdin - the city that was the first in Croatia to receive the status of a free royal settlement and for some time was the capital of this country. Varazdinsky castle and Trakoschan fortress outside the city are a must;
- go to a festival, for example, on the island of Rab off the coast of Dalmatia. Here, starting from May 9, tournaments of brave knights are held throughout the month.
Beautiful Dalmatia
Any tour operator will tell you that it is better to relax in Croatia when it is sunny and warm. Therefore, most travelers come to Croatia in the summer. There are several historical regions along the coast, one of them is Dalmatia, popular with our tourists. If you look at the Dalmatian coast from the sea, you might think that this piece of land is doing everything to be sure to please the observer. That is why it offers its guests secluded coves and small pebble beaches, protected from immodest eyes by spreading pines.
The most picturesque parts of the Dalmatian coastline are to be found on the Makarska Riviera. This 60 km long resort sector is located between the two most interesting Croatian cities - Dubrovnik and Split. Staying in one of the tourist villages of the Makarska Riviera, you can go for a walk to both of these cities.
Zadar and surroundings
The center of North Dalmatia, bordering the historical region of Lika, is the city of Zadar. Founded in the 9th century by the Illyrians, it is famous for the remains of a Roman forum, a large cathedral dedicated to St. Anastasia, a number of churches and the Archaeological Museum, founded the century before last.
From Zadar it is convenient to travel to several nature reserves located in the neighborhood. All tourists are delighted with the Krka National Park, where the largest Croatian waterfall is located. You can explore this park both as part of an excursion group and on your own. Each traveler chooses a route based on his strength and the time he planned to spend in the reserve. The longest route is designed for the whole day. Even with a strong desire, you will not be able to swim in the local lakes. The water in them is very cold even in summer.
Istrian peninsula
Another resort region of Croatia is the Istrian peninsula, located in the north of the country. Part of its coastline is called the Kvariera Riviera. Nobles from the Austro-Hungarian Empire preferred to spend their summer months here. But the emperor preferred to enjoy the sea air in winter.
The most famous resort of Kvariera is Opatija with its traditional villas, measured life and wealthy European tourists. Pula - a city that is more than three thousand years old - is preferred by lovers of water sports. Hunters for beautiful photographs should go to Rovinj or Poreč. These ancient cities were once part of the Venetian Republic, so the main buildings date from that period. The territory of Rovinj also covers more than two dozen islets. Some of them are inhabited.
The beaches in Istria are mostly rocky. There are sandy beaches, but they are few and they belong to fashionable hotels.
Insular Croatia
Exploring the islands that lie in bulk off the coast of Croatia is no less interesting than traveling across the mainland of this country. According to scientific data, there are more than a thousand islands here. Many of them have been turned into famous resorts, others remain deserted, but this makes them even more attractive.
The island of Hvar seems to have been specially created for lovers of a rich nightlife. Nightclubs and discos work here, and various theatrical performances are often held. Tourists come here by boat in the evening, dance all night to the fiery Balkan tunes, and in the morning, tired and happy with life, go to the mainland to their hotel. On the island of Mljet, which is considered the legendary refuge of the nymph Calypso, there is a nature reserve today. The island of Brac is famous for its magnificent beaches …
Autumn waterfalls
Summer has already ended, but Croatia does not give up its positions until the beginning of November. The velvet season begins here in September. Some guests of seaside cities swim in October in pursuit of the passing summer. The warmest weather is in Dubrovnik. The northern cities of Mlini and Cavtat are also suitable for relaxation in the middle of autumn. Those who want to see not only the embankments with palm trees in the coastal resorts can go on an excursion to the Plitvice Lakes Nature Reserve, which is under the protection of UNESCO.
Protected by tall, forested cliffs, Plitvice Lakes National Park lives up to its name. It is formed around an unusual system of 16 lakes located at different levels and interconnected by amazingly beautiful waterfalls. The excursion starts at the upper Proschansky lake and ends at the Lower lakes. It is cool in the park in autumn, so you should take care of warm clothes and comfortable shoes.
Gastronomic delights
Sometimes tourists need very little to be happy: a suitable restaurant where they could have a tasty and satisfying lunch. When to discover Croatian cuisine, if not in autumn? Croatian culinary traditions, in which there are borrowings from the cuisines of neighboring countries, will appeal to lovers of meat dishes. Best of all, meat dishes are prepared on the coast. Here you can order shish kebabs and dishes in which there are several types of fried meat. There are also fish restaurants in popular resorts, which also serve delicious seafood - crayfish and squid. In mountainous areas, try a whole roast piglet or juicy lamb. For dessert, you can order strukli - strudel, where curd cream is used as a filling.
