A Complete Guide to Croatia: Listen to a Croatian Rhapsody on the Azure Adriatic Coast

Croatia is located in southeastern Europe, in the northern part of the Balkan Peninsula, facing Italy across the Adriatic Sea.

Weather

The coastal area of Croatia has a Mediterranean climate, gradually transitioning to a temperate continental climate inland. Overall, the weather is warm year-round, with the best time to travel being from April to September. July and August are peak season, and prices in major cities will increase significantly. The main tourists are from Europe and the United States. For Chinese tourists, Croatia is still a niche destination, so traveling during the off-season will not only avoid crowded places but also offer better value for money.

Visa

Croatia is not a Schengen area country. Travelers with Chinese ordinary private passports need to apply for a Croatian visa in advance. In addition, all foreign citizens with a Schengen visa (double or multiple entry), as well as national visas and residence permits from Bulgaria, Cyprus, and Romania do not need to apply for a Croatian visa separately.

Currency

The official currency of Croatia is the Croatian Kuna (Kuna), with the currency code being HRK. The largest denomination of banknotes is 1000 Kuna. The exchange rate of Croatian Kuna to Chinese Yuan is almost 1:1. Major banks in China cannot exchange Croatian Kuna, so you need to exchange currencies such as Euro, US Dollar, and British Pound in advance. It is recommended to use Euro because the exchange rate for Euro is the most favorable in Croatia. Although Croatia is a member of the European Union, it is not a Eurozone country. Some hotels and restaurants accept Euro, but generally, the circulation rate of Euro is not high. There are many ATMs in Croatia that support UnionPay card cash withdrawals, and credit card consumption is also very common.

The overall consumption level in Croatia is relatively low in Europe, and it is incomparable to first-tier cities in China. This is definitely good news for travelers.

Transportation

City Transportation: Transportation within major cities relies mainly on walking, buses, and taxis. However, the distance between most city attractions is relatively short, and you can easily reach them on foot. For buses, you can purchase tickets directly from the driver.

Intercity Transportation: Mainly relies on long-distance buses. The departure time and frequency of long-distance buses vary greatly during the peak and off-seasons. Therefore, it is best to check the specific departure times at the station.

Self-Driving: Due to the instability of public transportation, self-driving is also the preferred choice for many travelers. Moreover, Croatia has a highway D8, known as one of the most beautiful coastal roads in the world. On one side are lush mountains, and on the other side is the azure Adriatic sea. Along the way, you will pass through countless charming towns. Croatia, like China, drives on the right side of the road. Most cars rented in European countries are manual transmission. If you need an automatic transmission car, you must book it in advance. It is recommended to choose major rental companies like Europcar and Hertz. It is also best to choose full coverage insurance.

Communication

Croatia has a wide internet coverage, and most hotels offer free trial Wifi or wired network access. There are two ways to access the internet on your mobile phone. If you are worried about missing calls, it is recommended to rent a portable Wifi in advance in China. If you don’t mind changing your phone number and want to disappear for a while, it is recommended to purchase a local 7-day unlimited data phone card for 85KN. It is easy to buy at the airport and TISAK kiosks in major cities.

Language

The official language is Croatian, but English proficiency is gradually increasing in Croatia. Most young people can communicate in English, and some older Croatians can speak Russian.

Walk the Ancient Walls, Pilgrimage to King’s Landing – Dubrovnik

“If you want to see what heaven is like, go to Dubrovnik!” – George Bernard Shaw

If I had to rank European medieval towns, Dubrovnik would definitely be in my top 3.

The azure Adriatic Sea embraces the red-roofed architectural ocean of Dubrovnik’s old town, a sight unmatched anywhere in the world.

If there is one thing travelers to Dubrovnik must do, it’s to climb the Dubrovnik city walls in the evening, slowly walk around the old town along the walls, watch the glorious sunset over the Adriatic Sea dye the rooftops of the old town red, and the ancient past seems to stand still at this moment.

Even though it was selected as the best destination in Europe in 2017 by the travel bible Lonely Planet,

And has repeatedly appeared on various recommendation lists, Croatia is still a niche travel destination for Chinese travelers.

The name Dubrovnik is a bit of a mouthful, but since the explosion of “Game of Thrones” in 2011, it has a more memorable and heartfelt new name – “King’s Landing”.

From the “Iron Throne” to the “Pile Gate”, you can easily get the same views as in “Game of Thrones”. There are also many “Game of Thrones” themed City Walk routes in the area. You can spend a few hours following a guide to visit every filming location.

A City with a Coffee Aroma and the Museum of Broken Relationships – Zagreb

If Croatia’s southern coastal cities represent the “poetry and distance” of the country,

Then Zagreb, an inland city, is filled with a strong sense of everyday life.

Tourists full of anticipation for their trip might say “it’s a bit boring” after a quick visit here.

But take your time, there are many interesting corners.

Everyone who comes to Zagreb has the same feeling, the city is “coffee-flavored”.

As a major base for European coffee culture, Zagrebians are more obsessed with coffee than Italians.

The streets are filled with coffee shops, always bustling with people, sipping coffee, chatting, reading, or even just basking in the sun and daydreaming.

The pace here seems a bit lazy, but they take coffee seriously, no wonder “Starbucks” and similar fast-food chains find it hard to survive here.

For museum enthusiasts, the “Museum of Broken Relationships” in Zagreb is a must-visit.

It houses thousands of exhibits from around the world.

A doll, a love letter, a pair of red heels… each one hides a real love story.

These stories are heartbreaking and poignant, and here you can truly feel that people all over the world, despite different cultures, religions, and educational backgrounds,

Still share a common language – ALL YOU NEED IS LOVE.

One of the Most Beautiful Coastal Roads in the World – Highway D8

Many people choose to explore Croatia by self-driving, partly because the transportation between cities in Croatia relies mainly on long-distance buses, and the departure times and frequencies of buses are not fixed and vary greatly between peak and off-seasons, posing a challenge for advance planning. The other, and more important, reason is that Croatia has a highway D8, known as “one of the most beautiful coastal roads in the world”!

This highway was built in the 1960s, starting from Dubrovnik and running north along a coastline of over 200 kilometers. Imagine, on one side are lush mountains, and on the other side is the stunning Adriatic Sea view, driving through charming towns along the way, as if driving through the scenes of a road movie.

Finally, a Foreign Scenic Spot Riding the China Hype – Plitvice Lakes National Park

Plitvice Lakes National Park, what a mouthful!

How about this – Plitvice Lakes National Park. The entire national park consists of sixteen lakes connected by countless waterfalls, hence the name “Sixteen Lakes”. The lakes are connected by a series of cascading waterfalls, forming a series of cascading waterfalls. Isn’t that easier to remember?

How about a more down-to-earth name – Europe’s “Jiuzhaigou”. What? I’ve heard of “East China Santorini”, “Hubei Sentosa”, but this is the first time I’ve heard of a foreign attraction riding the hype of Chinese attractions.

But honestly, Plitvice Lakes National Park is indeed like a twin brother of Jiuzhaigou. Located in a karst landform area, the water is rich in minerals, creating various strange colors. If you happen to visit in autumn, it’s like God’s palette, making you reluctant to leave.

A Concerto of Sun and Waves – Zadar

Located on the western coast of Croatia, the ancient Roman city of Zadar is not as flashy as other popular seaside resort cities. Tranquility and comfort are the main themes here, with sunshine and waves as the masters.

Two things that must be mentioned in Zadar – the Sea Organ Square and the “Greeting to the Sun”.

Sea Organ – Sea Organ is a series of waterfall-like steps leading to the sea, with a total length of 70 meters.

It is equipped with 35 pipes of different sizes and inclinations. The pipes make sounds by the impact of the sea breeze and waves.

The sea is its bellows, and the waves are the performers.

It is a lullaby when the sea is calm and a symphony when the waves are rough.

In the evening, invite three or five friends to sit by the sea, the golden sunlight is warm but not dazzling.

Shining on the sea, shimmering.

Listen to the Sea Organ making pleasant sounds.

Sometimes it’s melodious, sometimes it’s low.

At this moment, it is quiet and unforgettable.

Greeting to the Sun is located on the seafront promenade, composed of 300 layers of glass panels.

It collects solar energy during the day and discharges electricity at night, enough to support the lighting system of the entire bay.

The colorful LED lights on the ground change with the music at night, like an “open-air disco”, brilliant and beautiful.

These two works are both by local artist Nikola Basic. Thanks to his masterpieces, nature’s concertos play out here every day.