How To Travel Croatia On A Budget – With a beautiful Adriatic Sea covering the coast of the country as well as its 1244 islands (yes, that is 1244!), The Jumping Island in Croatia is a great destination for those who want to blend time between nature and culture.
Well, a lot of people are shut down after seeing the value of a two-week vacation there … and who can blame them!
How To Travel Croatia On A Budget
But do not be afraid of budget travelers, I have done my research here at Big World Small Pockets and can really prove that enjoying the various destinations of Croatia is part of an island adventure.
Best Islands In Croatia To Visit In 2023
So the good news is that with a little research, planning and preparation, a trip to the island in Croatia on a budget is completely achievable – Hora!
If that sounds good to you, read on as I bring you the ultimate guide to enjoying the best of Croatia’s low-cost islands.
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As I avoided in this guide, an important element in keeping things cheap while cruising on an island in Croatia is doing the housework for your personal trip.
Stoke Afloat Croatia Cruise, 2023
By that I mean research on which islands to visit, where to stay, how to get between them and all your own trip plans … which makes this post perfect because it will give you all Each. Information you need to do. Just that!
Because the point here is that by doing some important work for your holiday on your own, you will eliminate the need to pay someone else to do it for you, ie travel agent!
If you want to easily book a vacation with the simplicity of having someone take your luggage from one island to another, you can definitely book and enjoy a great Croatian island tour package.
However, if you like to travel at your own pace, spend less and organize your own trip, it is worth knowing that it is entirely possible as well.
Days In Croatia: The Best 10 Day Croatia Itinerary
To explore Croatia independently on a budget, there are some different ingredients that you will need to prepare and I will explain each of them in this article to help you plan your perfect trip.
From mapping the place and when to visit, arranging your arrival in Croatia, booking your accommodation, shipping and insurance, as well as knowing what to pack, I gave you Insurance.
No wonder summer months are the most popular time to visit Croatia’s beautiful beaches.
With warmer weather, better sea temperatures, more frequent ferry crossings, and cloudless sunny days in July and August (especially the weeks during the European summer vacation) are the high season here.
The Cost Of Travel In Croatia: My 2023 Detailed Budget Breakdown
However, while the weather may be great at the moment, prices are likely to be lower.
So if you travel on a budget, I honestly recommend avoiding July and August when accommodation is especially more expensive along the Croatian coast.
Instead, I would recommend May, June or September when the weather is still good, but crowds and lower prices are a better choice!
You will also need to plan and book less during these shoulder months, although be aware that some seasonal ferry routes may be less frequent or less functional.
Things To Do In Croatia
Prices to get to Croatia (assuming you are traveling internationally to get to the country) are also likely to be better outside of the summer months, with flight prices being particularly low due to declining demand.
As always, I use Skyscanner to find the best flight rates, as this comparator also includes low cost carriers in its search.
Remember to look for destinations in mainland Croatia when considering where to fly in and out, as the cheapest way is to book a flight to a major coastal city and then leave the island from there.
Another way to save money when arriving in Croatia if you want to visit the island is not to return.
Backpacking In Croatia
By this I mean that you should explore different islands in a reasonable geographical order, that is, from north to south, rather than jumping everywhere.
What this means is that once your trip is over, you will not have to go back to the airport you arrived at, but you can save time and money by booking a return flight from the airport. Replacement aircraft.
For example, many travelers prefer to fly to Split, Croatia, but then fly out of Dubrovnik.
It not only allows you to see more countries when you are rich, but it also saves you money and the hassle of trying to get back to Split when you are tens of miles away!
Croatia Itineraries For 2023: From One Week To A Month!
If you are considering your carbon footprint more (and preferably if you have one) it is good to know that you can also travel to Croatia internationally without flying.
Since 2020 was the year I vowed not to fly, I did a lot of research in the area and found that you could easily travel to Croatia by ferry from Italy and Slovenia.
I recommend using FerryHopper to book these services. They are experts in connecting European ferries for passengers and cars and have used it myself as I try to reduce my reliance on flights for travel.
With roads around Europe, they are connected to both Zagreb and Rijeka, which is a great opening to the island of Croatia.
Traveling To And Around Croatia
Especially the easiest stop because there is actually a port in Rijeka from where you can jump directly to some islands or to another inland port in Pula which offers more island departures.
Otherwise, from both Zagreb and Rijeka, you can travel south across the country using local companies to the coast and central and southern ports.
The main departure points for travel to Croatia are the five largest port cities, including Pula, Rijeka, Zadar, Split and Dubrovnik.
There are also small ports, but if you are trying to plan your trip yourself, I will stick to the larger ports for ease of setup.
How To Island Hop In Croatia On A Budget
Dubrovnik in particular is very expensive with the most expensive food, accommodation and taxis I have ever encountered in Croatia.
Therefore, I recommend you to stay there for a short time only if you want to keep your spending down – 1 night will be enough to visit important websites.
Find out more about how to visit Dubrovnik for 1 night for less than € 80 here and check out Hostel Angelina if you are looking for cheap accommodation in the city center.
Split has less inspiration than Dubrovnik, so I also do not recommend spending much time there. Instead, make the most of your time by booking a coach return trip to Krka National Park for a day.
Countries You Can Travel For Cheap
In conclusion, I suggest you limit your time to the mainland in Croatia and instead go to as many islands as possible.
Deciding which Croatian island to visit is likely to be largely determined by how much time you have available for your trip.
A shorter trip will not only limit the number of islands you visit, it will also mean that these islands will be closer together and more accessible from the mainland port or arrival center.
First, plan where you will be in Croatia and where you will be in the north, south, or center of the country, and then choose the islands accordingly.
Croatia On A Budget
Or decide on an island first and then plan your arrival and departure accordingly.
If you go for the second option, you can consider what you want to enjoy about your trip as a starting point.
Each island offers slightly different options, and whether it is a beach, adventure, cultural or nature adventure you want to experience the most, choosing the island with the best options for these activities is another important area for research. .
In general, the most popular islands that travelers tend to visit between Split and Dubrovnik are Hvar, Korcula and Brač and Mljet.
Croatia Travel Guide: Start Planning Your Visit To Croatia
Hvar is known as a party island and if you want to touch some bars until dawn and spend all that money It’s a beautiful place to do it!
Since then, I have heard from friends who have visited Stari Grad that this is a more relaxed and “island” experience, so you might want to check it out.
Korcula is famous for its medieval settlements. Historically (obvs!) A city with great walls covered the landscape with beautiful cobblestone streets, lovely restaurants and bars overlooking the ocean.
Korcula also tends to be cheaper than most other islands on this part of the Croatian coast.
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Mljet is usually not included in Croatian vacation packages and is therefore quieter than the rest.
Most people who visit the island usually travel only one day, which means an overnight stay can be amazing.
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