Croatia Travel Highlights: How I Turned “Someday” Into “I’m Going!”

Lately, I’ve heard so many people say, “Croatia is on my travel wish list!” so I wanted to share a few highlights and tips from my recent trip in case it helps you turn that daydream into your own plan to visit.

Back in 2022, I signed up for a women’s retreat in Tuscany hosted by life coach Sarah Centrella. I’d always dreamed of visiting Italy, so when the opportunity came up to stay in a villa in the countryside, I said yes and then promptly panicked. Traveling solo after COVID to meet a group of total strangers felt a bit intimidating to say the least.

But that week ended up being one of the most transformative experiences, and I’m so grateful I went. I remember sitting one afternoon, looking out over the rolling hills, and promising myself I’d stop just thinking about travel adventures and start doing it. Life is too short to put things you are passionate about on hold for someday.

Since then, I’ve kept that promise by creating a “dream bucket” fund that automatically pulls a little money from every paycheck. It’s what helped me explore France, London, Costa Rica and now, Croatia.

Additional Tip: My friend Erika uses an app called Acorn to help fund her travels. It automatically rounds up your everyday purchases and invests the spare change into a diversified portfolio, making it an easy way to save without thinking about it. Here’s her referral link that offers a discount if you are interested in purchasing it for yourself.

So if you’ve been curious about Croatia, here’s a round-up of favorite places, experiences, and travel tips to help you plan your own adventure.

First Stop: Dubrovnik

I flew into Dubrovnik and stayed at Hotel More, perched above Lapad Bay with stunning sea views, a cave bar carved into the cliffs, and a nice complimentary breakfast. It’s about a 20-minute taxi ride to Old Town Dubrovnik, which makes it easy to explore without being in the thick of the crowds.

Dubrovnik is as magical as everyone says with winding cobblestone streets, ancient walls, and tucked-away restaurants. Game of Thrones fans will instantly recognize the setting of King’s Landing.

One of the best things I did was book a 60 minute photo session with a local photographer, Valentina. It not only gave me a reason to get out of my hotel but it was a great way to see the Walls of Dubrovnik from a local while snapping photos along the way. I grabbed a yummy dinner at Dubravka 1836 (thanks to a recommendation from my mother-in-law).

Road Trip to Split

After a couple days in Dubrovnik, I booked a car transfer in advance to Split and made a pit stop in the seaside town of Makarska for lunch at Nocturno Café. It’s just steps from the beach and the perfect halfway break between the two cities. I then met up with my friends in a town outside of Split at a beautiful AirBnB house with stunning views of the water. This was our home base for the week.

Split + Trogir

Before one of our excursions, we spent a morning in Trogir and I instantly fell in love. It’s a tiny, charming town with beautiful architecture, coastal views, and local shops. We grabbed coffee and a croissant (a daily ritual) and enjoyed shopping for souvenirs.

Our boat tour (booked through Airbnb Experiences) was another highlight. Our Croatian captain, a former college basketball player in the U.S. played great music, told stories, and even introduced us to Mojito Man, a famous floating bartender who mixed drinks right off his boat.

Later in the week, we toured Diocletian’s Palace, one of the best-preserved Roman structures in Europe. It was windy and cold that day, but still incredible to see. Fun fact: I learned on the tour that the necktie (or cravat) originated in Croatia!

For dinner, Sarah treated us to an amazing dinner at Konoba Fetivi, a Michelin-star family-run tavern serving traditional Dalmatian dishes. Well worth the reservation.

What I’d Do Differently

Honestly, not much. Croatia exceeded every expectation. If I could tweak anything, I’d:

• Go a few weeks earlier in September to catch warmer weather.

• Extend the trip a few extra days to explore the islands (Hvar and Korčula are on my list). My friend Bonnie stayed at the Lemongrass Hotel on the island of Brač and highlighly recommends it.

• Invest in a new carry-on with wheels to save my shoulder next time.

Final Thoughts

Croatia is stunning. Friendly people, good food, and a safe, welcoming vibe that made traveling with three amazing women even more memorable. If it’s on your bucket list, start planning. If you plan to travel solo, I highly recommend getting travel support from an expert like Timezoneless Travel so you get solid advice on local transportation and accommodations. I promise, you won’t regret turning “someday” into “I’m going.”  If you have been to Croatia and have other great travel tips to share, please include in the comments below.

Thanks for reading and sharing! xx