1! Girl about the Globe’s Guide to Croatia Welcome to the Girl about the Globe’s Guide to Croatia, written by solo females for solo females. We have chosen the best destinations for women travelling solo, included all of our favourite must-sees, restaurants, bars, and recommended accommodation for you to stay in, and added a few solo and local tips too. We know that not every woman travels the same so we’ve split this guide into different types of solos. Whether you are an adventurous Girl about the Globe (GatG), a sightseeing GatG or a budget GatG we’ve broken down our favourite destinations into bite-sized info making it easier for you to choose the right destinations for you. Find out how to escape the crowds, the best places to interact with the locals, where to go for the best view and what to do in the evenings. Follow our 7-14 day itinerary for a recommended route and discover the best of Croatia, one footprint at a time. Safe travels, x Founder Girl about the Globe Making solo travel easier 2! Croatia Known for: Island hopping, Old Towns, Beautiful coastline, Partying, Festivals, History, Waterfalls. 3! Contents Solo Travel in Croatia 5 Croatia Facts 6 About Croatia 7 Accommodation in Croatia 10 How to Get Around 11 Croatia Tours 12 From the Airports 13 Highlights 14 Itineraries 15 Conscious Info 16 Useful Croatian Phrases 17 Dubrovnik 18 Hvar 40 Korcula Island 52 Lastovo 54 Mljet 56 Plitvice Lakes 58 Rovinj 69 Sibenik 83 Split 86 Trogir 89 Zadar 92 Zagreb 108 Other Destinations 128 Booking Sites 129 Partnerships 132 Girl about the Globe Guides 133 Acknowledgments 134 4! Solo Travel in Croatia Croatia is so open to tourism that it is easy to be a solo traveller here. It’s a popular tourist destination with great infrastructure, good transport systems and so many places to stay. No matter which destination you visit, you’ll meet friendly locals and other travellers too. Croatians are proud of their country and heritage and have a love for life. Being helpful and accommodating means that you will feel so welcome here. Croatia is popular with Australians and New Zealanders who come to explore the country on a sailing trip. The whole country is not only beautiful but has a comfortable vibe. Safety Croatia is a really safe destination and walking around the old towns even at night is safe. Croatian Culture Traditional Croatian fishing is part of their cultural heritage as well as their olive oil which is regarded as one of the highest qualities in the world. We can’t forget the wine either which dates back to the Ancient Greek settlers who introduced vineyards on the coast in the 5th century BC. 5! Croatia Facts Facts Costs Capital – Zagreb Population – 4.25 million Local Currency – Croatian Kuna (HRK) Do I need a visa? Not on a British passport Vaccinations Required Flying time to Croatia from UK – 2.15 hrs Airlines To Croatia Budget £40 - £65 a day The Best Time to Go – June, July, August Plugs Required • Hostel - £12+ • Hotel - £20+ UNESCO Sites in Croatia • Average meal - £8 • Glass of wine - £7 Events and Festivals in Croatia • Beer - £2 • Transportation - £7 Local Customs & Etiquette • Tour - £23 Dial (+385) 112 for emergency services Most expensive destination- Dubrovnik Did You Know? Game of Thrones was filmed in Dubrovnik. Language Spoken FAQs Croatian. English is also spoken in the tourism areas Can I drink the water? Yes but check before. Is tipping expected? Yes, 10% Fixed price or barter? Usually fixed price. Any ATMS? Yes. Which side of the road do they drive? The right-hand side. Good for vegetarians? Yes. Any Seven Wonders of the World? No. 6! About Croatia Croatia was once a destination kept under the radar, but nowadays this Mediterranean country is rapidly growing as a tourist destination with old towns, diverse islands and a vibrant night scene all adding to its appeal for both older and younger solos. Sharing borders with Slovenia, Hungary, Serbia, Montenegro, and Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia is part of former Yugoslavia and declared independence in 1991 causing the Croatian conflict which lasted until 1995. Nowadays this peaceful country attracts those who come for its dramatic coastline, Renaissance walled towns and of course, its Croatian charm. Known as the ‘pearl of the Adriatic,’ the City of Dubrovnik is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and its timeless beauty makes it a mecca for history lovers. Once a great trading hub, the city is now one of the biggest tourist destinations in the Mediterranean city with outside cafes and a quaint marina. Exploring is the key here and if you love meandering around a gorgeous old town through secret alleyways then Dubrovnik is the place to get lost or just enjoy some seafood and people watch. The city walls are one of the best preserved in Europe making it an ideal background for the Game of Thrones scenes which were filmed here. Learn more about the city’s past with a scenic cable car ride and a visit to the war museum. Looking out at one of the most iconic images of Croatia, it’s hard to believe that this was once a town that had been bombed only 24 years before. If tranquility and stunning waterfalls are on your solo bucket list then the Plitvice Lakes has to be visited. Known for alpine forests, heavenly waterfalls and lakes, it has some of Europe’s oldest woodlands and was once called “the devil’s gardens,” because of its dense forests. Today you’ll find well sign- posted hiking trails through its magical landscape making it easy to explore this natural region for yourself. Croatia has made quite a name for itself on the festival scene too. Visit in the summer and you’ll be dancing to world class DJs in your flip flops. Hvar is also a popular destination for partygoers. There is even a party island with an exclusive nightclub for those who want to take the water ferry across. Taste some of the country’s best wine In Stari Grad, on the northern side of Hvar, and one of the oldest towns in Europe. 7! The capital of Croatia, Zagreb is the largest city and is also a vibrant one with plenty of parks and Habsburg architecture to admire. Zagreb has a big cafe culture and even in the winter you’ll find locals sitting al fresco underneath heated lamps sipping their coffee or whiling away their evenings in one of the bohemian bars at Tkalciceva Street. Located at the foothills of Mt. Medvednica, the city has an Upper and a Lower Town and is easy to get around within a few hours. A small funicular railway runs from the Upper Town to the Lower Town where you’ll find many of the museums. Visit in the summer for free cultural festivals. Having a 3000 year history means that Zadar is a city rich in heritage with plenty of ancient history to lose yourself in amongst pastel coloured buildings. Marble streets gleam back at you as you wander past Roman ruins, ancient monuments and archaeological gems from the Renaissance and Medieval times. Rovinj is a little gem which many people miss off their Croatia itinerary. On the west coast of the Istrian peninsula, this charming fishing port has a bit of an Italian feel to it. It was once of the most important towns in Istria under the Republic of Venice and is now a romantic Mediterranean town. But you don’t need a partner to visit this small coastal city, just yourself and your sense of adventure will do. Split is the gateway to the islands and where most of the sailing trips depart but there’s another reason for visiting Croatia’s second largest city. Diocletian’s Palace is one of the most impressive Roman ruins in the world and this ancient fortress now forms the old town of Split. Inside you’ll find cafes, shops and bar-hoppers amongst the few thousand residents who live within the UNESCO-protected remains. Then there are the day trips. Visit Trogir, a Croatian island which resembles a small Split with a pretty fortress and medieval streets to wander around. Or explore the architectural gems of Sibenik, a coastal destination which is fast- becoming a place to visit. From here you can Krka National Park, another of the country’s nature regions. If you choose to go island hopping, Vis is the furthest island from the coast and was once a military base. Mljet is an island to escape the crowds and fall in love with nature. Known as the “Green Island” it is abundant in vegetation with panoramic coastlines and reefs to explore. 8! Rab is also one of the greenest islands in the Adriatic and has a historic town dating back to 360 BC. Lastovo remains relatively untouched and is off the beaten path (or sail) but it holds an air of mystery. If you love medieval history, walled old towns, islands, partying and festivals then Croatia is the perfect destination.# 9! Accommodation in Croatia Depending on what type of accommodation you are looking for, you can find anything from a bed in a hostel to a studio apartment just outside the Old Town of Dubrovnik. Even universities open up their rooms during the summer months so you can get a private room for a bargain price. Beach hotels, self- catering villas and 5-star resorts cater from the budget-conscious including camping to the more luxurious traveller.