๐งญ Croatia: good to know
The general-information half of trip planning: how expensive Croatia feels, what is considered polite, what is not, and the everyday practicalities - alongside our 297 written places.
Coastal life runs on cafe time; the riva evening stroll is the day's main event.
โ Considered polite
- Take coffee slowly - a single espresso can hold a table for hours, as intended
- Pack water shoes - beaches are beautiful pebble, not sand
- Greet with Dobar dan in shops
- Book ferries ahead in July and August
โ Better avoided
- Walk through towns in swimwear - many old towns fine it
- Expect big sandy beaches - that is not the Adriatic's gift
- Skip the konoba family taverns for restaurant glass fronts
- Underestimate August crowds in Dubrovnik - go early morning or late evening
๐ก Worth knowing
- Croatia uses the euro since 2023
- Tipping is rounding up or about 10% for good service
- Tap water is safe and good everywhere
- The tourist tax is per person per night - small but real, often cash
Some links on this page are Amazon affiliate links - if you buy through them we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. We only list the kind of gear we would pack ourselves.
Customs are living things - regions differ, cities relax, generations shift. Take these notes as a friendly head start, watch what locals do, and when in doubt a smile and a greeting in the local language cover almost everything.