I really enjoy sharing my travel tips and memories here on Prettygreentea. So when I was approached by Destinology to talk about one of their luxurious destinations, I just knew I had to pick Croatia.
I have a lot of happy memories from my trip to Croatia in 2005. I love going on holiday with my family and my mum planned this trip out very well. We experienced the beautiful beaches, the crisp air in the mountains, took boat trips around the coast and visited Dubrovnik. We all fell in love with Croatia and we keep talking about visiting again soon.
It was also on this trip that I really fell in love with photography. I had a cheap and cheerful camera from Lidl, it was my first digital camera and I was keen to learn how to use it. I don’t bother to read manuals so I simply switched it on and went straight into the world of digital photography. Although I’d experimented with a few digital cameras and even made what I now know are stop motion movies I never took it too seriously. I was told I wasn’t creative at school so I presumed that I probably wouldn’t be any good with a camera. It turns out that was wrong. Since then if I want to do something I just go for it and figure it out along the way.
So, not only does Croatia hold happy and fun memories for me but it’s also the place that has had a big impact on my career and life. I thought I’d share 4 reasons why I think you should all bump Croatia up on your bucket list.
4 reasons to visit Croatia:
– National Parks: Plan your trip to ensure you’re near one of the 8 National Parks. The beaches are lovely but if you prefer to explore then get yourself to one of the parks; Brijuni, Kornati, Krka,Mljet, Paklenica, Plitvice Lakes, Risnjak and North Velebit. Who wouldn’t want to miss out on those beautiful waterfalls, lakes and lush green forests we see on Pinterest. If you’re into hiking and sports then picking one of the parks to visit is a must. When I go back to Croatia I want to visit Plitvice Lakes which is situated 2 hours outside of Zagreb (the capital of Croatia).
– Clear water: I think Croatia is one of the few places I’ve visited where I can truly say that the water is crystal clear. You can paddle into the sea and clearly see the rocks and tiny fish swimming about. Be careful of the sea urchins though, my sister had quite a prickly run-in with one. I’d actually recommend wearing sea shoes, even though they look silly.
– Dubrovnik: Although we visited Croatia in the middle of summer we still made time to visit Dubrovnik. I’m sure you all know how hard it is to go sightseeing in intense heat, but we did and it was totally worth it. We took a boat from Cavtat to Dubrovnik which was a beautiful journey. I always forget how much I enjoy travelling by boat, it’s not something I get the chance to do often these days. When you’re approaching Dubrovnik the unique beauty of this charming city hits you. There are big stone walls around the city which have been preserved from the 16th century.
In Dubrovnik you’ll find good affordable wine and food. Do your research and find out the latest foodie spots in the city. Walk around the city walls, the view back out to the Adriatic Sea is something very special. Avoid the tourist shops (there’s a lot of them) and discover the local independent shops and luxury shops. I think visiting the city museums and galleries to learn about the recent history of Croatia is essential. I’ve also heard from friends that the cable car up to Mount Srd is a must, but be ready to queue. I’ll be honest, I’m not a big fan of cable cars so this isn’t something I’ve done and it’s highly unlikely that I’ll do it on my next visit.
– Sunsets: The sunsets in Croatia were some of the most beautiful I’ve seen so far. Maybe it was the good company I was with, my new love of photography or just simply having the chance to sit and witness something quite magical.
There are of course many more reasons why you should visit Croatia. The history, the friendly people, the caves, the towns and village to explore and much more. In today’s post I really wanted to share my personal experience and a few of the things that hold very happy memories for me.
Now you know why you should visit Croatia check out this post on 15 places to visit in Croatia.
I hope you find this post useful and be sure to leave a comment below and let me know about a place that holds a special place in your heart.