June 26, 2022 - Summer has just arrived and in what could be called the first year back to normal since the pandemic began, and the country is preparing for a big wave of tourism in the next two months. But have you thought about September as the ideal time to visit the Croatian Adriatic coast? Here are three reasons you should. 

Ferries everywhere, parties along the coast, film and music festivals, Instagrammable landscapes, and much more. There is no better time to visit the Croatian Adriatic coast than in the height of summer... or is there?

It is not a secret that many seek to anticipate the high season, or wait a bit for it to pass. Before the pandemic began, months like May, June, September, or October attracted many tourists from abroad and there was no shortage of flights arriving at Croatian airports. Unfortunately, the situation in recent years has forced many to focus their efforts on July and August, due to the uncertainty caused by travel restrictions in Europe.

However, it is almost impossible to deny that the situation seems to have finally reversed. After two difficult years, travel restrictions to Croatia are almost non-existent. Although the current Russian invasion of Ukraine has also generated a great deal of uncertainty for companies linked to tourism, as well as for tourists themselves, the Ukrainian resistance and the progressive retreat of the Russian invasion seem to offer a more positive outlook.

If you don't feel like visiting the Croatian Adriatic coast in the high season or you're still not sure when to book your tickets and accommodation, here are three reasons why you should consider September as a good month to travel to Croatia.

Fewer crowds

It is not an accident, nor a miscalculation. Not a single space to lie on the beach, you have to wait to walk through the narrow streets in the old towns, no tables available at restaurants, sold-out tickets for ferries... July and August are crowded months all over the Croatian Adriatic coast, and for many, this is not very pleasant. In September, however, you will notice how the beaches begin to empty and the number of tourists in the coastal cities and on the islands begins to decline week after week.

Many returning to work, young people preparing to go back to university, and the little ones are back at school... the holidays are over! And this is where yours begin, without crowds. 

Photo: Mario Romulić

Hot, but not too hot

By the time this article was written, weather forecasts anticipate temperatures above 33 degrees for the last week of June. Although there is a heat wave that will hit much of the region, temperatures between July and August on the coast average between 29 and 32 degrees, and do not drop below 24 degrees at night. This may not be so bad for some, such as those who come from cold or sea-less countries, as they can take full advantage of the freshness of the Adriatic Sea.

However, there are others who can feel really hit by the strong heat, and it is totally valid to avoid places with very high temperatures, as it can be even dangerous. In September, the weather is still very pleasant to take a dip in the sea and there is even no need to bundle up at night, because during the day the maximum temperature averages between 25 and 26 degrees, while at night it can drop to 18 degrees. And not only is it good to go to the beach without fear of burning, but September is also a good month to visit the National Parks without a crushing sun to stop you.

Photo: Mario Romulić

Budget-friendly

Perhaps the first two can be reasons that one can anticipate, but when it comes to prices between July and August, things can be very unnerving. Landlords raising their prices at the last minute, taxi drivers charging fortunes from here to there, or tickets to certain places of interest at an exorbitant cost, visiting Croatia in the high season can give one goosebumps when it's time to do the maths. Some say it's fair, others say it's scandalous, but the truth is that many will raise their eyebrows after seeing the prices of accommodation, ferry tickets, or the taxi meter.

You can already see the prices in September, and the difference is noticeable almost immediately. While they are not as low as in April or October, when you consider that there will be fewer crowds and the weather will still be spectacular, prices in September are surely a bargain.

Photo: Mario Romulić

For more on travel in Croatia, follow TCN's dedicated page.

May 27, 2022 - While Croatia is the country to find paradise with its beaches, islands, activities, and parties, there are plenty of historic sites on the Croatian Adriatic coast that should be on your travel itinerary.

From Istria to Dubrovnik, the Croatian Adriatic coast has witnessed throughout history the presence of various civilizations and cultures that found it the ideal land with resources to settle. If you believe that Croatia is an earthly paradise, then surely you would have coincided with the Illyrians, the Greeks, the Celts, the Romans, and the Byzantines, who left evidence of their passage along the coast.

Whether you are coming by plane, bus, or in your own car or camper, it is always a good idea to find a moment in your busy itinerary to be amazed by the enormous historical heritage that can be found on the 1,880 km of Croatian Adriatic coastline. These are just 10 of some of the historical sites that you must visit during your stay.

The Euphrasian Basilica in Poreč

Poreč's most valuable cultural property, the Euphrasian Basilica, was registered on the UNESCO World Heritage Sites list in 1997. The Early Christian complex is the only complete monument in the world preserved from that period.

Photo: Mario Romulić

Built during the time of Bishop Euphrasius in the 6th century, it includes an atrium, baptistery, episcopal palace, mosaics, and remains of sacred buildings dating from the 3rd to 4th centuries. The mosaics that decorate the interior and the facade of the church are considered a valuable legacy of Byzantine art, and thanks to the floor mosaics and preserved scriptures, the periods of its construction and renovation can be read.

Source: Poreč Tourist Board

Pula Arena

The most famous and important monument, the starting and ending point of every sightseeing tour is the Amphitheater, popularly called the Pula Arena, which was once the site of gladiator fights. It was built in the 1st century AD during the reign of Emperor Vespasian, at the same time as the magnificent Colosseum in Rome.

Photo: Mario Romulić

The ground plan is elliptical, the longer axis measuring about 130 m and the shorter one about 100 m. Gladiator fights took place in the central flat area called the arena, while the spectators could sit on the stone tiers or stand in the gallery. It is believed that the Amphitheater could seat about 20,000 spectators. Local limestone was used for its construction. In the Middle Ages, it was the site of knights' tournaments and fairs.

Nowadays, the Pula Arena is also the main venue for the Pula Film Festival, one of the most important in the country.

Source: Pula Tourist Board

Trsat Castle

The Trsat Castle represents a strategically embossed lookout on a hill 138 meters above sea level dominating the city of Rijeka. It was mentioned as a parochial centre for the first time in 1288. At this same site, there was a Liburnian observation post from prehistoric times, used for monitoring the roads leading from the hinterland to the coast. This location served well for the Romans to establish their defence system, the so-called Liburnian limes, whose starting point was the Tarsatica fortress town – which was situated at the site of today’s Old City of Rijeka.

Image: Rijeka Tourist Board

The plateau of the Trsat Castle offers a magnificent view of the ruins situated on opposite hills, Katarina and Kalvarija, as well as of the whole area of Rijeka’s Old City. The Trsat Castle is one of the oldest fortifications on the Croatian coast which preserves the features of the early medieval town construction. Today the Trsat Castle has been enriched by new facilities and events – visual arts gallery, open-air summer concerts, and theatre performances as well as fashion shows and literary evenings.

Source: Rijeka Tourist Board

Roman Forum in Zadar

The Forum in Zadar was built by the first Roman Emperor Gaius Julius Caesar Octavian, as witnessed by the stone inscriptions dating back to the 3^rd century when the construction finished. It was once enclosed by a portico with galleries on the first floor, and under the portico there used to be shops and stalls.

Image: Zadar Tourist Board

Since the first century B.C., the Forum was the main gathering place for Roman soldiers, religious people, administrators of the Republic and later of the Empire, as well as for traders and all Zadar citizens in Antiquity. At the time of its full glory, the Forum was surrounded on three sides by a magnificent portico. Today, it is an inevitable square for strolling and one of the symbols of the city.

Source: Zadar Tourist Board

St. James Cathedral in Šibenik

The Cathedral of St. James in Šibenik is one of the most significant and most beautiful architectural achievements in Croatia and was included on the UNESCO Cultural World Heritage List in 2000. It was built over a stretch of more than a hundred years, during the 15^th and 16^th centuries, and is unique for it is entirely built of stone. The most important builders of the Cathedral were Juraj Dalmatinac (Georgius Mathei Dalmaticus) and Nikola Firentinac (Niccolò di Giovanni Fiorentino). The Cathedral was first built in Gothic and completed in Renaissance style.

Photo: Mario Romulić

Its beauty is especially emphasized by the imposing Renaissance dome, the work of Niccolò di Giovanni Fiorentino, which was damaged in the Croatian War of Independence, and nowadays is a special symbol of Šibenik. The Cathedral is also known for its iconographic innovations, among which a special place is occupied by sculptures of 71 heads on the outside part of the shrine, the work of Georgius Mathei Dalmaticus, for which scientists are still not quite sure who they represent.

Source: Šibenik Tourist Board

Trogir Old Town

Due to its geographical position, Trogir has always been a perfect place to live. With its naturally sheltered harbour, many springs of drinking water, fertile land inland, and stone from local quarries, Trogir has been inhabited for more than 3,600 years. years. This inspiring Mediterranean city has attracted many great masters since the time of the ancient Greeks. These masters lived in Trogir and created some of their most famous masterpieces here. Various artists, writers, craftsmen, and travelers found their inspiration here and have left numerous traces of their work.

Photo: Mario Romulić

Trogir is a unique example in the history of European architecture and is the city with the largest number of signs or stone markings in Europe. Each brand has its own meaning. Some of them mark the end of construction, some represent the personal signature of the master, and some are engraved votive prayers. The masters also carved games in stone, such as chess, which was used as entertainment during their construction break.

Source: Trogir Tourist Board

Roman Amphitheatre in Solin

At the westernmost point of Solin (Salona) lies the most recognizable building of Roman architecture, the Amphitheatre, in the second half of the second century A.D. The remains of such an imposing Roman amphitheater indicate that gladiator fights were held in the city of Salona just as in other parts of the Roman empire, until the fifth century when they were banned.

Photo: Mario Romulić

The building was ellipsoidal in shape, with three floors on the south side and one floor on the north side, which was conveniently laid down on a natural hillside. Despite its relatively small size (125 by 100 meters outer shell and 65 by 40 meters the arena), the Salonitan amphitheater could have been occupied by 15,000 up to 18,000 spectators. The auditorium was divided into three tiers, the lower two with seats and the upper one for standing.

Source: Solin Tourist Board

Diocletian's Palace in Split

Diocletian's Palace is one of the best-preserved monuments of Roman architecture in the world. The Emperor's Palace was built as a combination of a luxury villa - a summer house and a Roman military camp (castrum), divided into four parts with two main streets. The southern part of the Palace was intended for the Emperor's apartment and appropriate governmental and religious ceremonies, while the north part was for the Imperial guard - the military, servants, storage, etc.

Photo: Davor Puklavec/PIXSELL

The Palace is a rectangular building (approximately 215 x 180 meters) with four large towers at the corners, doors on each of the four sides, and four small towers on the walls. The lower part of the walls has no openings, while the upper floor is open with a monumental porch on the south and halls with grand arch windows on the other three sides. Over the centuries the Palace inhabitants, and later also the citizens of Split adapted parts of the palace for their own requirements, thus the inside buildings, as well as the exterior walls with the towers, significantly changed the original appearance, but the outlines of the Imperial Palace are still very visible.

Source: Split Tourist Board

Walls of Ston

The walls of Ston were built in 1333 when Ston became a part of the Republic of Dubrovnik. Their purpose was to defend the Republic and the peninsula. Dubrovnik government in 1335 and amended in 1370 and is considered one of the best planned and best structured cities in Europe. The walls of Ston were a massive architecture and construction feat. Originally 7000-meters long (22 965 ft.), they consist of several parts; the Ston city walls, the Mali Ston city walls, and the Big wall with its three forts.

Photo: Jules Verne Times Two/Wikimedia Commons

Its forts and towers are strengthened by 10 round and 31 square flanking towers and 6 semi-circular bastions. The walls were last used in the 19th century for the defense of the city and salt pans, and today they are priceless monuments of immense architectural and cultural value. You can visit the Walls during the whole year. Take a walk around the city of Ston (in roughly 20 minutes) and from Ston to Mali Ston (in roughly 40 minutes).

Source: Ston Tourist Board

Walls of Dubrovnik

The successful development of Dubrovnik in the past was conditioned primarily by its favorable geographical position, and by an economy based on maritime and merchant activities. When entering the Adriatic Sea, Dubrovnik is the first island-protected port on the maritime route going from east to west, with quick access to the hinterland by way of the Neretva Valley. Latest archaeological research has shown that a settlement dating to the 6th century or probably even earlier existed under today's city. It expanded with the arrival of the Croats in the 7th century, following the abandonment of ancient Epidaurus (today's Cavtat).

Photo: Mario Romulić

The intensification of traffic between the East and West both during and after the Crusades resulted in the development of maritime and mercantile centers throughout the Mediterranean and the Adriatic Sea in the 12th and 13th centuries. Dubrovnik was one of them. The Zadar Treaty in 1358 liberated Dubrovnik from Venetian rule, and it was crucial to the successful furthering of its development.

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