The Ultimate Croatia Road Trip Guide
From city hopping to lazing on the beach, Croatia is perfect for a road trip. It’s the ultimate blend of charming cities, history, stunning nature, and azure blue seas. In 4 weeks, we drove our blue bus from Rovinj to Split, a definite highlight during our 5-month road trip across Europe.
Planning to embark on a Croatian road trip soon? Dive into everything you need to know before you go – from budgeting and handy tips to great campsites and accommodations, and the ultimate road trip route for Croatia.
In this article
- Sights in Croatia
- Best Time to Travel to Croatia
- Budget for a Road Trip in Croatia
- Practical Information for Your Road Trip
- The Coolest Campsites and Accommodations
- How Do I Get There?
Best travel route through Kroatië
The Ultimate Road Trip Route for Croatia
In about 26 days, we drove from Rovinj to a small coastal town just past Split. Along the way, we stopped at various historic cities, discovered an undiscovered part of Croatia, immersed ourselves in nature, and spent a few days lounging by the water. Check out our summarized route through Croatia below or read more about our road trip in the article “The Ultimate Route through Croatia“.
- Rovinj: 4 days
- Krk: 4 days
- Gospic: 3 days
- Sibenik: 3 days
- Trogir: 3 days
- Lokva Rogoznica: 5 days
- Plitvice National Park: 3 days
Read the article about Croatia’s route
What to do in Kroatie
- Stroll through the old town of Rovinj
- Visit the island Krk and stay overnight at Olive Hill Gardens
- Explore Plitvice National Park; one of the most beautiful places in Croatia.
- Take a boat tour around Trogir
- Wander through the historic city center of Sibenik
- Discover the nature of Gospic
Best time to travel to Kroatië
The best time to visit Croatia is from May to September. However, we recommend avoiding the peak season. During this time, accommodations and attractions are almost twice as expensive. Popular destinations are crowded, and it can be challenging to find last-minute camping sites or hotels. May, June, and September offer a quieter experience in Croatia while still enjoying pleasant temperatures.
Which budget do i need in Kroatië?
Let’s talk money, honey! Though we sadly didn’t stick to our budget, we found the costs in Croatia quite reasonable. We visited Croatia right in the peak season, which I wouldn’t recommend to anyone. Finding affordable and nice campsites can be a bit tricky then. Yet, we often paid between 15 – 20 euros for a campsite.
The costs for food and drinks were also generally reasonable, especially if you avoid touristy spots. Our budget went off track mainly because we were carefree in Croatia. We dined out almost every day, had lunches at different places, and occasionally opted for hotels instead of staying at mediocre campsites.
Costs of a Road Trip in Croatia
On average, we spent between 60 – 100 euros per day. It could have been much cheaper. You can easily manage a budget of under 60 euros by cooking more often at your camper, occasionally overnighting at camper stops, and avoiding toll roads as much as possible.
- Campsites: 15 – 25 euros
- Beer: 2 – 2.5 euros
- Lunch: 10 – 15 euros
- Dinner: 15 – 30 euros
- Coffee: 1 – 2 euros
- Petrol: 1.1 euros
- Toll roads: super EXPENSIVE! ;p
Practical information about Kroatië
- Download the Park4night app & campercontact app for the best campsites and camper stops.
- Save a lot of money outside the high season with the ACSI discount card.
- If you’re bringing your dog, ensure it has the correct vaccinations, a chip, deworming pills, and a passport. Always consult your vet for advice before your trip.
- Wild camping in Croatia is prohibited and strongly discouraged during the high season.
- Toll roads are quite expensive, try to avoid them as much as possible. Read all the information on the ANWB website.
- If you plan to drive to Dubrovnik, be aware that you’ll pass through Bosnia, where different rules apply. This also concerns your dog!
- In Croatia, the currency is the Kuna. 1 euro = approximately 7.5 kuna.
- Check with your bank beforehand for any extra transaction fees in Europe. Consider switching to, for instance, Knab Particulier or Bunq if you frequently travel abroad.
- Ensure you have enough payment options and distribute them across different places. In case your wallet gets lost or stolen, you’ll have a backup. It’s also handy to carry a credit card with you at all times.
- Make sure you have mobile payments enabled. If you forget your wallet, you can easily pay with your phone.
- Rent a car if you don’t have your own transportation to discover Croatia’s beautiful places.
- You’re allowed to stay in Croatia for 90 days with a valid passport or ID. If you plan to stay longer, you’ll need to apply for a visa at the Embassy of Croatia in The Hague.
- For fun and affordable items, take a look at Xenos. We bought our outdoor rug, parasol, light strings, and boho hammock there.
- At Decathlon, you’ll find useful items for your car or camper, such as a phone holder, thermos flask, cool boxes, and much more.
Also, read the article “Useful tips for your Croatia road trip” for more tips
Wat moet ik meenemen in de auto
In Kroatië ben je verplicht om het volgende mee te hebben in de auto: gevarendriehoek, veiligheidshesje, verbanddoos en reservelampen. Reis je met een bedrijfsauto dan ben je ook verplicht om een brandblusser bij te hebben.
What are nice places to stay in Kroatië?
Campings
In Croatia, you have plenty of options when it comes to campsites. There are special campsites for kids, luxurious resorts, and cozy green campsites. Our preference goes to tranquil green campsites. Is that your preference too? Then we have some great tips for you:
- Maslinik Olive Garden on the island of Krk: A fantastic campsite on a steep hill. It’s a bit of a climb by car, but the view is breathtaking. The sanitary facilities might not be the best, but the surroundings make up for it.
- Val Vidal Camping just outside Rovinj: A wonderful small and quiet campsite, only a 5-minute walk from the beach. A huge recommendation! Definitely a favorite of us.
- Eco Camp Rizvan City in the midst of Gospic’s nature: For nature enthusiasts, there’s no better place than Gospic.
- Autocamp Sirena is absolutely one of the most beautiful spots we’ve ever stayed at with the camper. Right by the water for an affordable price.
- Camp Borje is a very nice camping spot if you plan to visit the Plitvice National Park.
Also, read the article “The Best Campsites in Croatia”
If camping isn’t your thing, we’ve also selected a few amazing accommodations for you.
How to get to Kroatië?
Kroatia pairs perfectly with a road trip through Slovenia and/or Germany. Our road trip commenced in Germany, where we explored cities like Mainz, Munich, and Heidelberg. Just before heading to Slovenia, we spent a few days in the stunning town of Berchtesgaden. Highly recommended!
From Germany, we drove to Slovenia. Our Slovenia road trip began in Bled, then continued to Bohinj. On our way back to Italy (our next destination on our Europe road trip), we made stops in Ljubljana and Vipava; Slovenia’s wine region.
