We spent a week in Croatia in March and had a wonderful time. This country has beautiful coastline, historic old towns in Dubrovnik and Split, and the breathtaking Plitvice Lakes National Park. We also enjoyed delicious Croatian food such as black risotto and pašticada.

We initially booked a trip to Croatia four years ago, but unfortunately had to cancel it due to COVID. Now, with things slowly returning to normal, we’re thrilled to finally make our long-awaited visit to the country. It was good timing as Croatia recently joined the Schengen Zone and adopted the euro in 2023, so it was easier for us.

Our journey from Australia to Croatia took nearly 30 hours, and we spent a total of 7 days in Croatia:
2 days in Zagreb (including a day tour to Plitvice Lakes) —> 2 days in Split —> 2 days in Dubrovnik —> 1 day back in Zagreb

As we visited Croatia in March, it was the low season with many shops and restaurants closed especially in Split and Dubrovnik. However, the upside was the lack of crowds, coupled with pleasant weather, making our trip more enjoyable.

 

Our Arrival in Zagreb

One thing we found out about Croatia is that it is more practical to travel by bus (instead of train), which offers greater frequency and shorter commute times. Therefore, we decided to stay at Hotel 9 in Zagreb as it is located nearby the central bus station. Ben made a smart decision by leaving some stuff in the hotel since we planned to return a few days later.

Unfortunately, our flight did not go as smoothly as planned. The flight was delayed and caused us to miss our connecting flight, resulting in a transfer to a different airline and our luggages did not follow us on the new flight. We were very glad to have AirTags attached to our luggages which alleviated some of the stress.

Ironically, we landed in Zagreb earlier at around 1 pm instead of the originally scheduled 5pm because we were being placed on a more direct flight due to the delay. Once settled into our hotel, we spent our time shopping for clothes and necessities to tide us over until our luggages caught up with us.

 

Plitvice Lakes National Park

Plitvice Lakes National Park was one of the attractions that we were most eager to visit on this trip. It is famous for its 16 interconnected lakes, waterfalls, and lush forests. It is also a UNESCO World Heritage site and a popular tourist destination.

Plitvice Lakes must be one of the most beautiful places that I have ever seen in my life! It’s like stepping into a fairytale with its lush greenery, crystal-clear lakes, and magnificent waterfalls. I only wish we had more time to explore the hiking trails.

The easiest way to visit Plitvice Lakes is by driving, which takes about 2 hours from Zagreb or Split. Public transportation is a bit challenging, especially during the off season.

To avoid driving on unfamiliar roads, we decided on a day tour from Zagreb to visit Plitvice Lakes. We booked a tour on Viator for AUD$371 for two people with 20% cashback. Thankfully, our flight delay did not affect our tour schedule since it was scheduled for the day after our arrival in Zagreb.

The tour guide arrived promptly at 8:45 am to pick us up from our hotel, and there were a total of eight participants on the tour.

At first, Ben was worried about encountering the brown bears at Plitvice Lakes National Park… Luckily the tour guide reassured us that bears were hibernate during this season so there was no need to worry. 😂

We spent a few hours hiking in the park, which also included a short bus ride and a boat ride, all while our tour guide provided explanations. Our tour guide led us in the opposite direction of most tourists to avoid the crowds.

 

Rastoke – waterfall village

Rastoke is a scenic village near Slunj, Croatia, known for its charming watermills, waterfalls, and traditional wooden houses.

Rastoke was another attraction included in our tour, which was just a half-hour drive from Plitvice Lakes National Park. I found it to be a very unique and picturesque village. If we had more time, we wouldn’t have minded to stay here for a day and enjoy the serenity.

 

Exploring the city of Zagreb

Zagreb is the capital and the largest city of Croatia, known for its history, cultural scene, and festivals. It is also the only capital in the world that start with the letter ‘Z’.

In Zagreb, many buildings are under construction and renovation due to the earthquake that happened four years ago. If we did not cancel our trip to Croatia at that time, we would have experienced that terrible earthquake so it might be a blessing in disguise.

We joined a free walking tour in Zagreb and heard interesting stories such as the invention of neckties, Nikola Tesla the scientist, and the lamplighters.

 

Croatian Food in Zagreb 😋

There is no tourist trap and you cannot go wrong with any restaurants in Zagreb! Well, at least this was what the free walking tour guide told us. We did discover some delicious food at an affordable price.

The cevapi at Plac Kitchen was surprisingly delicious 👍🏻 our best meal in Zagreb!

Ben was actually a bit disappointed with the dinner at Stari Fijaker. We had been looking forward to visit this restaurant for a while, however the Zagreb schnitzel tasted more like Cordon bleu and also I felt the beef in the pasticada was too tough and overcooked.

 

Split and Dubrovnik

Our next stops in Croatia:
—> click here to read Split
—> click here to read Dubrovnik