Croatia Travel Guide 2022: (Split, Tucepi, Makarska, and Dubrovnik)
As you may or may not know, I’ve been traveling in Croatia since the beginning of April, starting in Split, traveling to Tucepi, and ending here in Dubrovnik! It’s been an amazing 2 months here and I’ve enjoyed every minute of it!
I’m really looking forward to sharing with you my entire Croatia journey with this ultimate guide to Croatia – you can find here where to stay, what to see, what to eat, and more! I will update this as I go – so follow me or save this guide for future reference. Whether you are planning to visit Croatia soon or you are already here, keep reading this Croatia Travel Guide to learn more!
SPLIT
Where To Stay:
Heritage Hotel FERMAI
The Heritage Hotel FERMAI is a stylish and modern hotel in a quieter area, 10 minutes from Old Town Split.
The rooms were very luxurious and pleasing to the eye. Our room also had a nice balcony where we can see the Bell Tower and the charming old town from the room. It was overall a cozy location that felt right at home.
Residence Stine Hotel
The Residence Stine is about a 10-minute walk away, which is Heritage Hotel’s sister location. It’s situated inside Old Town, but minutes away from the hustle and bustle of it.
We enjoyed stunning views of the city from the Residence Stine, which was a hotel in the style of an apartment. At Heritage Hotel, we also enjoyed a similar view and felt at home.
What To Do:
Visit the Bell Tower
If you want amazing views of the city, I highly recommend checking out the Bell Tower. I will warn you though, that there are a lot of stairs to get up there (no elevator), but trust me, it is worth the climb!
See the Vestibulo
See the Ethnography Museum
Ethnography museum was a recommendation by my walking tour guide, so I had to visit!
This museum is right in the center of the palace with exhibits on traditional costumes, crafts & culture of the Dalmatian Coast.
One highlight of this museum is its terrace. So don’t forget to stop by before leaving the museum (I almost missed it!). This is also another cool viewpoint of the city! Highly recommend going during the early week for fewer crowds!
Archaeological Museum
If you want to see more museums in Split, Croatia, check out this one! It’s a 10-15 min work from the center. Here you can find displays of diverse artifacts in an estate-like space with a garden.
Ivan Meštrović Gallery
This is an art museum in Split, Croatia, dedicated to the work of the 20th-century sculptor, Ivan Meštrović. It’s about a 20-30-minute walk from the palace. The museum was a short and quick one, but aside from the cool sculptures; it offered amazing sea views!
Marjan Stairs
The best way to enjoy nature and the best views in Split, Croatia is by hiking! The Marjan Stairs is right behind the church and takes around 10-15 minutes up the steps to get to your first viewpoint. Then you can either stop there or keep going on a hiking adventure! I kept going, and it took me around 2-3 hours round-trip! It was worth it! As you keep walking, the views keep getting better and you can even spot some secluded beaches! It’s the perfect little activity to do if you want a free workout!
Tours and Activities To Book:
Walking Tour
If you want to learn more about Split and its history, booking a walking tour is the best way to do it! The best part is it’s completely free, with the option to tip at the end.
Krka Waterfalls
One of the must-do things here in Croatia is to visit the Krka Waterfalls.
This National Park is only 1 and ½ hours away from Split by bus. I recommend booking a tour versus going on your own. The tour I went on offered time in the park to enjoy the waterfalls and wine tasting! It was a blast! You can easily book here.
Ziplining
If you’re feeling adventurous and want to enjoy nature, zip lining is a must! We booked zip-lining through Go Adventure and it was a blast!
They picked us up from Split and drove us to a town called Omis (which is about an hour’s drive away). The zip lining involved around 7-8 zipline courses offering beautiful scenery!
Go Adventure offers other adventurous activities – see it all here!
SeaYou Speed Boat Tour
The best way to explore the coast is by boat. While in Split, I did a fun speedboat ride via SeaYou. It included a full day of riding, island hopping, relaxing, and swimming! We saw popular sites such as the Blue Cave (which is a MUST-see), as well as visiting towns such as Vis and Hvar. The company also offers other boat tours.
Check it out here. Use code Nancy20 for a 20% off discount on any of their tours!
Where To Eat and Drink:
Lvxor Cafe is in the center of Diocletian’s Palace and is my favorite spot for drinks and people watching. It’s pricy (not going to lie) as it’s a tourist spot, but is worth checking out once!
Bokamorra Pizzeria is the BEST pizza in Split, Croatia. Reservations are a MUST!
Noir Restoran is a nice place to have dinner if you want something more formal. They offer a variety of Croatian dishes that were very delish!
Zlatna Ribica is a great place for authentic Croatian seafood!
Konoba Varos is another great, authentic Croatian spot. Konoba in Croatia means tavern, and they offer amazingly priced dishes that are big enough to share with the table. I highly recommend you order their seafood risotto and sea bass!
Konoba Marul – I really enjoyed their pasta dishes, also great for sharing!
Watch my YouTube Videos to Split here!
TUCEPI & MAKARSKA
Where To Stay:
DALMACIJA [PLACESHOTEL] by Valamar
If you’re looking for a piece of paradise, highly recommend checking out this hotel! As part of this new [PLACES] hotel location’s concept, guests will experience the true Mediterranean lifestyle. Overall, the vibe was laid back and relaxed. There was a beautiful outdoor pool area, and the hotel was only a minute walk from the beach!
During your stay, the hotel offers free breakfast daily and a 25 euros daily credit that you can use for their lunch or dinner menu, or drinks at the bar. Any unused credits will roll over to the next day.
Find out more information about the hotel here.
Tours and Activities to Book:
Rent Jet Skis or Go Parasailing
If you’re ever visiting Croatia in the summer, booking water sports activities is a must! While visiting Tucepi, we did both jet skiing and parasailing. Such a great way to explore the sea and enjoy the beautiful city up high!
We booked it via Watersports Tucepi, which offered both activities! Highly recommend checking it out when you’re here!
Book a Fish Picnic Boat Tour
Another cool boat tour I did while visiting Tucepi, Croatia, is the Stella Polaris. As part of this boat tour, we visited two islands – Hvar (Jelsa area) and Brac, where the famous Zlatni Rat beach is located – a must-see when in Croatia.
In addition to visiting the islands, we also enjoyed a fish lunch, and unlimited wine and water!
Check out more information about this tour here.
DUBROVNIK
Where To Stay:
Hotel Bellevue
The Hotel Bellevue is a 5-star hotel located only 20 minutes from the Old Town of Dubrovnik. It is a 1-minute walk from the beach and faces the beautiful Adriatic Sea. Watch my full recap here.
I had the most marvelous stay here. The hotel is very elegant and modern – and the staff was always very accommodating. We stayed in their Junior Suite Room – which was absolutely gorgeous and very spacious! We also had the best view of the Adriatic Sea from our balcony.
The hotel offers a fine dining restaurant upstairs called Vapor, which we visited. Dinner was a combination of swordfish carpaccio, prawns for starters, John Dory and beef fillet for entrees, and a chocolate souffle and Panna cotta for dessert. Super phenomenal meal, highly recommended!
The hotel offers guests access to the beach as mentioned, as well as a spa and gym within the premises. Beautiful hotel – book here if interested!
What To Do:
Book a Cable Car Ride
Dubrovnik’s cable car is the easiest way to get to the top of the hill. From high above Dubrovnik, you can admire the city in just 4 minutes! The cable car is 200 kunas ($30 round trip), which may seem like a lot, but the views you’ll get on the way up are worth it! Book your tickets here.
Walk Dubrovnik City Walls
Dubrovnik City Walls is one of the most popular activities when visiting Dubrovnik. It is best known for its distinctive Old Town, which is surrounded by the Walls of Dubrovnik. The walls are 1940 meters long with 6 fortresses. I highly recommend doing this.
Due to hot weather and no shade, I recommend you try to avoid going around noon – and go right in the morning or towards the evening!
Take the Ferry to Lokrum Island
Another cool activity and a MUST do while in Dubrovnik is to visit Lokrum Island. You can reach this island in just 10 minutes by ferry. There is a monastery and a botanical garden on the island, as well as beaches, a dead sea, and a few restaurants! The island is doable for a mini-day trip – we stayed for a few hours and enjoyed it!
Tours and Activities to Book:
Old Town Food and Wine Tour
It’s a MUST tour for any foodie or traveler who is in Dubrovnik! It combines delicious food, culture, history, and local life experiences. Our local guide Goran was amazing and very knowledgeable! We toured Dubrovnik’s landmarks in between meals and checked out some hidden gems – I really enjoyed this tour and I am sure you guys will too!
Here is a link with more information about it.
Sunset Wine Cruise
Who loves wine and sunsets? If you answered ME – this may be the tour to book! Wine tasting and local snacks were part of this charming sunset tour, all while enjoying the gorgeous sea views overlooking the city! See full recap here.
Where To Eat:
Azur Dubrovnik is a Mediterranean restaurant with an Asian twist! This restaurant was phenomenal! There are few Asian options in Croatia, so I was grateful for this one; I loved their salmon, shrimp, and tacos.
Proto Fish is seafood (Michelin recommended) restaurant in the heart of the Old Town. This restaurant is a MUST, serving the freshest seafood options. I really enjoyed all their dishes. Watch my full recap here!
Bura Bistro is also another favorite here in Dubrovnik. It recently just opened, and they offer elevated Croatian dishes paired with a nice, lovely ambiance. (Stay tuned for full recap!)
