Croatia Travel Tips: 15 Mistakes You Don’t Want to Make

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If you’re visiting Croatia for the first time, there are some things you should know. The Croatia travel tips I’m sharing in this post come from my own, firsthand experiences.

Because truly, no matter how much I plan in advance I always pick up new tips every time I’m on the ground actually visiting a place. Heed the warnings below as you plan your own trip to Split and Dubrovnik.

Read through and take notes so you can make your own mistakes when you visit instead of recreating mine!

Croatia Travel Tips: What NOT to Do

These travel tips for Croatia feature the top mistakes to avoid. Here are your Croatia don’ts!

Don’t…

1. Attempt to set up your rental car’s GPS by yourself

Unless you read/speak Croatian, we highly recommend you ask the person setting you up with your car to set this up for you. Make sure it’s in a language that suits you before you hit the road.

2. Fall asleep on the drive between Split and Dubrovnik

A golden sunset casts a warm glow over rolling hills and distant mountains, as seen from a roadside with a metal guardrail. The lush greenery in the foreground contrasts with the pastel hues of the sky.

Obviously, if you’re the driver keep those eyes peeled! But even if you’re in the passenger seat you won’t want to miss the stunning views.

There are two driving route options between Split and Dubrovnik — the coastal road and the A1 motorway via the Pelješac Bridge.

The coastal road offers great views but takes an hour longer and is especially busy in the summer months.

The A1 motorway still gives you views of the coast and also takes you through gorgeous mountain terrain. It’s also the faster route.

We went with the A1 motorway and were treated to majestic eye candy, from towering mountains and cliff-sides, to charming valley towns set by water.

Croatia travel tip: time your drive right for sunset views on drive from Split to Dubrovnik Croatia

If you can, plan your drive to overlap with sunset. We left Split at around 6pm on an August day and arrived that night in Dubrovnik a little after 9.

While we’re at it, make sure you have some cash on you as well for the tolls you’ll come across. You should also be able to pay with card, but it’s always smart to have some cash on hand just in case.

3. Forget your passport for the drive between Split and Dubrovnik

Yes, Split is in Croatia.

Yes, Dubrovnik is also in Croatia.

But, if you take the scenic coastal route you have to LEAVE Croatia in order to get from one to the other. For a short span of time (about 10 minutes) you’ll find yourself driving through Bosnia.

Up until 2022, this also applied to the A1 motorway route because the bridge hadn’t been built yet. Nowadays, if you want to sidestep the hassle then simply plan to take that route instead of the coastal one.

Bosnia border on drive from Split to Dubrovnik

4. Be determined to stay in Dubrovnik’s city center

When traveling somewhere new, it’s easy to feel a pull toward staying in the heart of the city.

Dubrovnik’s Old Town is a tourist favorite, and is fun to explore. But when deciding where to lay your head to rest each night, consider Lapad.

This hotel in Lapad is right near a local bus stop that’ll have you in the Old Town within 20 minutes.

The hotel itself is beautiful, offering a beach and multiple restaurants on the property. It feels like an oasis away from the hustle and bustle.

🏨 Check prices & availability at this hotel

5. Find yourself without the right beach gear

I go into detail about this in my Croatia packing list post, and I’ll say it again for emphasis. Prepare and pack well before you go so you’re not wasting time and money on this stuff while on vacation!

6. Miss out on booking major attractions in advance

Dubrovnik’s historic Old Town, with its iconic terracotta rooftops, fortified stone walls, and blue Adriatic waters, is captured from an elevated perspective. The round fortress on the coastline stands prominently in the foreground.

Croatia is an increasingly popular tourist destinations, with some iconic sites. Especially if you’re visiting during high season, make sure you book your entry to popular attractions well in advance.

This includes Dubrovnik’s City Walls, Plitvice Lakes and certain island tours (like Blue Cave and Hvar excursions) just to name a few.

When you make your bookings, time them for early mornings or later in the day to sidestep peak crowd hours.

When you visit the city walls, check out Buza Bar. Although drinks are pricey, you’d be paying for the incredible views here. Bring your swimsuit if you plan to jump into the sea while you’re there and remember – it’s cash only.

7. Forget to go ‘set-jetting’

A tall, ornate bell tower rises above a narrow alleyway lined with historic stone buildings with green wooden shutters. The perspective leads the eye toward the tower, which is part of a historic European cityscape.

You’ve heard of jet-setting, but how about set-jetting? That’s when you travel to the set of popular TV shows or movies, and it’s becoming more and more popular.

Some may turn their noses up at this, or think it’s ‘touristy’ but hey – isn’t that part of the point of traveling? To…be a tourist?

Personally, I love being able to immerse myself in environments that previously lived only in my head or on my screen.

Chances are, you’ll naturally end up doing some set-jetting in Croatia because several of the popular tourist sites have been featured in hits like Game of Thrones and Star Wars.

In Split, you will surely walk through Diocletian’s Palace. This is where you’ll see Daenerys’ throne room from Game of Thrones.

Dubrovnik was the setting of the book-turned-show’s King’s Landing, and you can book an entire GOT walking tour led by someone who helped film the show!

🏰 Check prices & availability for Game of Thrones tour

8. Overlook the ferry schedule and tickets

A blue and white passenger ferry named "Karolina" from Rijeka is docked at a waterfront in Split, Croatia. The city skyline, including a prominent bell tower and distant mountains, is visible under a bright blue sky.

Just as you should plan ahead for the sights you want to see, book your ferries in advance as well.

If you’re traveling to Croatia during peak season you’ll want to make sure you can reserve a spot on the days and times needed for your broader itinerary.

But if you’re traveling off-season, you’ll still want to check schedules and secure bookings in advance because the ferries won’t be running as frequently. So, either way, plan ahead.

🛳️ Check ferry schedules and availability

9. Expect sand beaches

In Croatia you’re far more likely to find pebble-filled beaches than sandy ones. The beaches have beautiful water that’s great for swimming, but you’ll likely need water shoes to get painlessly past the pebbles and into the water.

10. Skip Sveti Jakov beach

There are plenty of beaches to choose from in Dubrovnik, including one that was a 5-min walk from where we were staying.

However, I decided to find a more unique option and that’s how we found ourselves on a hot, 20-min cab ride to Sveti Jakov beach.

About a mile away from Old Town (you can walk or take the 5 or 8 bus from there) you’ll see Sveti Jakov church.

Just behind the church, you’ll see approximately 160 stairs waiting to carry you down to one of Dubrovnik’s most beautiful beaches (try not to think about the climb back up!).

Once down, you’re rewarded with a smallish yet gorgeous beach complete with sun chairs, a tiki bar, an outdoor restaurant and a floaty rental stand.

You’ll even have a clear view of the walls of Dubrovnik as you swim. If you like to branch out from tourist hotspots then this is the beach for you, as it’s more popular with the locals.

If you’re traveling with someone who doesn’t do stairs, contact [email protected] about possibly setting up ferry transfers instead.

Stairs down to Sveti Jakov beach in Dubrovnik

11. Assume you won’t need travel insurance

Paying a little to potentially save a lot down the line is worth it when it comes to traveling smart. I’ve learned this is a good rule of thumb no matter where you are.

You might think you’re invincible and hey, I hope you are! But it’s better to be prepared in case of something going wrong or getting sick while traveling.

I no longer take any trip without first purchasing travel insurance through SafetyWing. I have all my friends and family who travel with me get coverage, too.

✅ Get my full list of international travel essentials.

12. Get caught in the cruise crush

Dubrovnik has a cruise port. This is the source of stagnant crowds taking over Old Town during cruise season (May-October).

If you’re visiting in this timeframe, plan to visit Old Town after 4 or 5pm, when the cruise crowds have dwindled for the day.

Croatia travel tips: Steer clear of Dubrovnik Old Town during peak midday hours when cruise ships disembark

13. Miss out on a day trip or locally guided experience

I love taking advantage of locally guided experiences or day trips as a way to get to know a destination more deeply, broadly or both.

There are plenty to choose from, whether you’re into history, culture, nature or food.

This day trip from Split has more than 6,000 5-star reviews and will bring you to a waterfall-filled National Park complete with local wine tasting.

🍷 Book the Krka waterfalls, food & wine tasting tour

Additionally, here are some of the experiences I have bookmarked for myself for my next visit to Croatia that you might enjoy, too:

14. Worrying about not speaking the language

A dimly lit, narrow street in Dubrovnik, Croatia, leads to a grand domed historic building. Outdoor seating with people dining and walking along the cobblestone path creates a lively evening atmosphere.

While it’s always good manners and culturally competent to learn key words in the language of your destination country, you shouldn’t let not speaking the native language fluently keep you from visiting.

English, along with several other languages, is widely spoken in Croatia and you will be just fine navigating through in English.

But again, aim to learn some basic phrases in the local language to show respectful effort. Terms like: hello, goodbye, thank you, please and even ‘do you speak English’?

15. Ignoring the impact of sun and heat

A highway curves around a lush vineyard on a hillside, with neatly arranged rows of grapevines leading to a white building at the top. The rocky terrain and greenery contrast under a bright, clear sky.

I visited Croatia in August – and it was HOT. You won’t find me there during that time of year again. But if you are visiting during warmer months don’t take the sun and heat lightly.

Make sure you have your sunscreen, refillable water bottle, hat for sun protection and any other essentials you need for comfort and safety in the sun.

Final thoughts on these Croatia travel tips

Croatia is an incredible country that deserves your attention. There’s great food, gorgeous nature and impressive architecture there. Follow these travel tips for Croatia to set yourself up for a wonderful experience!