When you think of ‘travel to Croatia,’ what comes to mind? Perhaps the iconic Dubrovnik, island hopping, or the allure of Roman ruins. These are the typical reasons why people travel to Croatia. But what if we could delve deeper, discover unique experiences, and unearth the lesser-known treasures of this beautiful country? This was my goal—to travel to Croatia differently, to find unique experiences, and to highlight its outdoor adventures. Here’s how I did it!
Croatia has become a very popular European travel destination in the last decade. It had been 17 years since I had been to Croatia, and I was excited to get back and see how it had changed. I also wanted to see if I could get off the beaten path and explore the lesser-known places.
Despite its turbulent history, Croatia is a remarkably safe country to travel in. The tourism industry is well-developed, making it easy to navigate, with plenty of excellent accommodations. The guides, as I experienced, are truly incredible. It’s a fantastic European travel alternative to the more popular countries of Italy and Spain, offering a safe and convenient travel experience.
Since I didn’t have time to plan this trip, I turned to the experts at Adventure Life Travel. I wish I could tell you that I came up with this itinerary myself and found all of these great, unique experiences—but I really had nothing to do with it! It was my planner, Clara, at Adventure Life, who organized everything for me. More on Adventure Life’s custom planning services below.
How do you have a fantastic trip to Croatia, avoid the crowds, but still do those quintessential things that make Croatia an incredible European vacation destination? I have some suggestions for you; they differ from your typical things to do in Croatia. These are travel experiences that make your Croatia vacation unique and stand out among the typical Croatia itinerary. This is the way I love to travel.
You may be surprised to learn that Croatia has 8 National Parks. You don’t often hear much about them as they live in the ‘shadow’ of the Croatian islands and coastline. I was excited when Clara suggested them as something different to see in Croatia. Since we were on a custom private tour, we even had our own guides at each of these parks, which made it even better!
Plitvice Lakes, the most visited National Park in Croatia, is often considered the most beautiful. A web of 16 travertine waterfalls and turquoise lakes flows through this magical park. The constant motion of the park, with water flowing over limestone and chalk, creating natural dams and forming lakes, caves, and waterfalls, is a sight to behold. It’s a unique landscape that’s worth the visit despite the crowds.
However, when you see the crowds of people there, I’m sure you may curse me and wonder why I said this is a unique place! I think it’s a unique enough landscape (one I’ve never seen before) to go see it and fight the crowds. Our guide, Jake, was absolutely incredible and knew the park inside and out. He got us off the main walkways and to some lesser-known trails. He also gave us his best tips for visiting the park and avoiding the crowds.
Sadly, we had a tight schedule, so we were only able to explore the walkways of the lower lakes. But if I had it to do over, I would do it exactly like Jake laid it out: spend a day and hike the K trail. It’s active, and you’ll get to see the entire park in a way few people do, making it a unique experience!
Paklenica is where you’ll get to experience the mountains of Croatia! This park is mainly known by climbers, as its towering limestone walls offer many great climbing routes. However, I’m terrified of heights and climbing, so I was there to hike, and luckily, there’s plenty of that, too!
The park is located an hour’s drive from Zadar and the coast, but the mountains tower up to 5700 ft! We did a full-day hike with our guide, Mirna. From the moment we met Mirna, we were swept up by her enthusiasm for nature. All I can say is that Mirna is unique – so special – a kind soul with a love affair with plants.
As we hiked up to one of the mountain huts in the park, we stopped and learned about plants, rocks, animals, and insects—she covered everything! In addition, she collected some of these specimens along the way for a special lotion/balm that she was going to make us. She was not only a naturalist guide but also a crazy scientist!
After hiking up, up, up – we arrived at the mountain hut, where we had shots of cherry liquor, beer, and a big bowl of pasta Bolognese! (This is why I love hiking – because I love eating!) While we ate and talked to the locals, Mirna unpacked her backpack of beakers, scales, and potion bottles. She added the elements we picked up along the way, and soon, she concocted a batch of cream she called “Paklenica’s Power of Plants.” It was a cream for sore muscles – a perfect gift after a strenuous hiking day. It was a unique experience to walk away from a great hike with a cream made from the local plants, oils, and spring water that we hiked by.
This stunning park, with its towering limestone cliffs and a string of mountain huts, is a beautiful break from the hot Dalmatian coast and crowds.
Home to Europe’s largest (not tallest!) travertine waterfall and consists of a chain of cascades, islands, and lakes along the Krka River. It’s somewhat similar to Plitvice Lakes, but it’s more open and less people as I experienced it. It also has a series of boardwalks and trails that lead you across the cascades. We saw much more wildlife as we walked around the park, even a large snake that appeared to have just eaten lunch!
Some feel that Game of Thrones put destinations on the tourist map. Croatia is certainly one of those destinations. However, I was there before the series ever came out, and it was pretty popular back then, too! Game of Thrones draws people to Dubrovnik for sure. Still, Dubrovnik is overtouristed already, so why not try a less busy Game of Thrones stop in Šibenik?
This historic little town sits between Zadar and Split along the Adriatic Coast. It is where the Krka River flows to the sea. Yes, there are Game of Thrones sites here (more on that below), but the thing I loved most about the old town along the waterfront was that locals still live in it. It felt like the Dubrovnik of old that I remember from my first visit 12 years ago when locals still lived inside the city walls.
As we walked around with our guide, Karmen, kids were playing in the parks, and locals walked around the narrow pathways, and it felt alive with everyday life. Granted, I was there in May before the busy season, but the fact that people actually lived there was a great sign.
My other favorite thing about Šibenik was their incredible 15th-century stone Cathedral of St. James. Karmen pointed out why the Cathedral is so unique – it is the world’s largest church built entirely of stone. It has stone slabs and ribs with no binding material; it’s a sight to see – even the roof is stone! Take time to go in and wander back to the baptismal room – it’s exquisite!
The Cathedral was featured in Game of Thrones as the Iron Bank of Braavos. In fact, other parts of the city are also featured. I also believe that Šibenik inspired one of the storylines in the show. This is just my opinion, but it is the first thing I noticed about the Cathedral, and at the time, I didn’t even know that Game of Thrones was filmed in Sibenik!
You’ll notice that the Cathedral is decorated with 71 sculpted stone faces. They go all around the building, and each one has a unique expression. The faces were simply ordinary citizens of Šibenik from the 15th century. I immediately saw them and thought about season 5 of Game of Thrones and the eerie Hall of Faces. I hypothesize that the writers saw the Sibenik Cathedral and devised the unusual Hall of Faces motif that dominated season 5. What do you think?
I know it might feel like I’m picking on Dubrovnik – I don’t mean to – but I dislike crowds and big tourism. So, yet another substitute for Dubrovnik is the little town of Zadar. Like Dubrovnik, it is surrounded by an old city wall and is full of Roman ruins.
It’s home to an ancient Roman Forum dating back to the 1st century BC. One of the most surprising things about the ruins and outlines of old merchant stores was that they were out in the open, where anyone could walk around and observe…even sit upon them. There was no ticket required, no gate—it was just a part of the city’s architecture now.
The Roman Forum has a surprising history. It was reduced to rubble and buried by an earthquake. The city was rebuilt on top of the rubble, effectively burying all of the ruins, and that’s how it existed for centuries. In World War II, the Allies bombed the city due to its essential port, uncovering the ruins! You can now walk around and see how the medieval city was constructed on top of the old Roman ruins. This is especially evident when you look at the base of the Church of St. Donatus, which was built on top of old fallen Roman columns.
Our guide, Vlatka, provided a historically thorough and entertaining tour of the old city. She also introduced us to local artists, gave us restaurant advice, and even helped us chase down street kitties and meet some of the residents who feed them! She’s the best!
In addition to all of the ancient stones in Zadar, the old city also had a unique modern side. Along the waterfront, you’ll find a part of the city that embraces whimsy, art, and nature. Zadar is home to the Sea Organ and the Sun Salutation. These two nature-focused art installations were worth the stop in Zadar alone!
The Sea Organ looks like a simple set of steps along the waterfront. However, it’s a musical instrument that plays random notes created by the rolling power of sea waves. I loved the randomness of the haunting tones. I cheered on nearby boats to pass by the steps and create more unusual sounds!
You’ll also find the Sun Salutation Installation next to the organ. This art is fueled by the sun. It comprises 300 multi-layered glass solar plates that absorb solar energy during the day and create a spectacular waterfront light show just after sunset.
More than anything – I learned that Zadar was a city of surprises that exceeded my expectations.
Most visitors spend all of their time island-hopping around Croatia. However, if you want to experience a different side of Croatia, don’t miss its capital city, Zagreb. Zagreb has an entirely different feel than Dalmatia. The old part of the city is lovely to stroll around in, with its many outdoor cafes, museums, old city walls, and ancient architecture.
One of the main reasons I wanted to see Zagreb was for a museum that I had heard about and always wanted to visit. The Museum of Broken Relationships didn’t disappoint – it was the first thing I did after checking into my hotel, and it was absolutely worth it! This quirky, unique museum is full of sad, funny, heartwarming breakup stories for all types of relationships.
Wander around the old city walls, enjoy craft beer, and enjoy the incredible morning Dolac Market established in 1930. This daily market is one of the loveliest markets I’ve seen in Europe. Located right behind the main square, you’ll find a sea of red umbrellas protecting the fresh produce from the sun. There’s even an underground section of the market where you’ll find butchers, fishmongers, and cheesemongers. In addition, there’s a fresh flower market closer to the main square.
I was there in May and couldn’t believe the fresh produce available from local farmers. The tomatoes were big and luscious…in May! The experience made me wish I had more days in Zagreb to buy local food and cook at an Airbnb!
We also did a bike tour of the new side of Zagreb to see how it’s expanding. If you are there on a Friday night in the summer, enjoy the local food and drink vendors in the same square as the Dolac Market.
Croatia is known for its truffles. So why is truffle hunting so unique? It’s not the hunting…it’s where you are doing your truffle hunting that makes this experience different. Most people think that truffles in Croatia only exist in Istria (even locals told me this!) – a region on the northern coast. If you want to do Croatia differently, why not try truffle hunting in Split along the Dalmatia Coast with a local family and their truffle-hunting dogs? This experience runs from ground to table as you go out with a professional truffle hunter and his dogs digging up these gastronomy gems and then using them in a 3-course meal.
We learned about the humble truffle, where it grows, how the dogs were trained, and how they are utilized in the hunt. I found the entire process so exciting – plus, it was a beautiful walk in the woods!
We (actually – the dogs) found about a dozen truffles that we took back to a small hut in the woods and proceeded to have a chef cook them up in a 3-course meal. Talk about fresh – it doesn’t get any better when it comes to a unique Croatian food experience!
Over the last 7 years, Croatia has become known for its many bike and boat tours. Big groups stay on a boat/barge for a week, travel from island to island, and bike the scenic routes. My good friend Jackie from Jump Adventures offers a tour like this in Croatia and Greece.
However – if you don’t want to do a whole week of biking and boating, you don’t have to! Instead, you can break out of the norm and rent a bike, hire a guide, and bike around the island of Hvar for a day! We biked all morning around the island through small coastal villages, stopping for ruins, lunch, and lavender gelato! In the afternoon, we left the bikes. We went kayaking out in the sea – a different way to experience the beaches and islands!
What stood out to me on this trip was the quality of the guides I had throughout the itinerary. A good guide can make all the difference when traveling.
The private guides we had organized through Adventure Life Travel were incredible. Not only were they experts in their field, but they were perfect hosts who loved their country and wanted guests to love Croatia as much as they did. Each of them happened to be a middle-aged woman who guided as their primary profession! They were our private guides, so we had our guide in each location instead of being stuck on group city tours. I walked away from this trip with nine new Croatian friends, a head full of knowledge, and a body happy with new experiences!
One of my favorite experiences was the Palace tour in Split with our guide, Marijana. She took us through the ruins of Diocletian’s Palace, built between the late 3rd and the early 4th centuries AD. Normally, this is precisely the type of stuff that I don’t really enjoy; I’ve never been a person who likes to tour ruins. However, Marijana brought it all to life for me, answered my crazy questions, and satiated my curiosity about what it would’ve been like to live there centuries ago. I can’t recall a time when I was more into ruins – guides do make a difference!
Adventure Life is a travel agency that has been around for 25 years. I traveled with them 12 years ago in Patagonia and was impressed with them then. It was fun to reconnect with their team again and have them plan my Croatia vacation.
That’s the beauty of them – they will plan everything. You’ll have a few short meetings with one of their experts to share your travel style, budget, and ideas, and they take it from there. I went back and forth with my planner, Clara, a few times until we nailed the itinerary to achieve my travel style.
During your trip, they are there for you at any point where you have a question, a change, or if things happen out of your control.
The best part is that booking through Adventure Life doesn’t cost more. Still, as part of their’ alumni’ community, you secure a 5% Past Traveler Reward on all future trips!
Learn more about Adventure Life’s travel planning all over the world.
Learn more about Adventure Life’s Croatia trips.
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From The Adventure Life Website:
“In a world where technology often breeds disconnection, we, a group of passionate individuals, are determined to bring back the human touch. Behind the screens and keyboards, we are not just a faceless company; we are people who genuinely care. Our purpose extends far beyond simply answering your questions—we want to make a positive difference in your life. So, the next time you decide to reach out to us, remember that you are connecting with a fellow human being who is here to lend an empathetic ear, understand your needs, and provide the support you seek.”
Here’s the deal: Many of the experiences I mentioned above aren’t really available as stand-alone experiences—they are part of what Adventure Life books as a complete itinerary. They work with a local travel company in Croatia to come up with these super local experiences, such as the Split cooking class and hiking/healing in Paklenica or the special truffle hunting experience in Split. This is just another reason to consider having Adventure Life help you plan your vacation.
On our trip, we had private drivers and a different guide every day. We moved locations frequently, and Adventure Life handled all of these logistics. Logistics is their real sweet spot, in my opinion. When I first looked at the various people we had to meet with and utilize on the itinerary – I never thought it would work out logistically. But every logistics point was met, and there was never an issue. I remember this being the case when I also traveled with them in Patagonia. The logistics were complicated – but handled perfectly! And this allowed me to have a vacation. I didn’t have to worry about people showing up at the right time or organizing drivers, guides, or hotels – it was all taken care of for me.
In addition, they included all of the little things that I never would have even considered—like ensuring we had someone who could help us with luggage in Split Old Town, where you can’t drive a car. Instead of having to lug our bags to a hotel inside Old Town, they had a person pick us up, put our bags in a golf cart, and whisk us away to where we needed to be!
Like anywhere in Europe, I avoid it in the summer months. I traveled there in May, right before the summer season, and there were no crowds, plus the weather was fabulous. I highly recommend traveling to Croatia in April/May or September/October to avoid crowds and still have pleasant weather. If you want to swim in the sea and do more beachy things, then September/October is best, as the waters will still be warm after their hot summer.
Suppose you are a traveler who likes to escape the crowds and find unique experiences in a region. In that case, this list of alternatives to popular Croatia experiences is the way to go. And if you don’t like to or have the time to plan it all yourself, let Adventure Life do the hard work for you!
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