When Shedoesthecity and Hawaiian Tropic Canada gave me the opportunity to travel wherever I wanted, Croatia instantly came to mind. I called up a friend in Calgary and with no major plan other than a plane ticket and a high-level itinerary, we set off for a reunion on the Southern Dalmatian coast.
We chose to kick off our trip with a relaxing getaway to Korčula Island, a two-hour ferry ride from Dubrovnik. When our attempt at spontaneity resulted in the risk of all ferry tickets being sold out, the owner of our Bed & Breakfast quickly called up a local contact, got our tickets and drove us to the ferry terminal. This gave us a first glance at the honest, friendly and laid-back people that we would encounter throughout the rest of our adventures.
Our agenda-free day on Korčula Island turned out to be one of the highlights of my trip. After embracing the Croatian café tradition and nursing a cappuccino for over an hour in Lumbarda, a small town with quaint charm, rustic architecture and strong Italian influence, we found a nice pebble beach and took our first-ever dip in the Adriatic Sea.
We then met a local tour boat owner who offered to show us around the island as we made our way to the Pelješac Peninsula. Because there were no scheduled tours at the time, we got our own private tour on a boat fit for 100 people. I bet this is what it feels like to be Jay-Z and Beyoncé on vacation.
We had one of our best meals on the Pelješac Peninsula, a region famous for its divine dry white wine, olive oil and seafood. Fresh squid and a glass of wine for under $20 CAD? Yes, please!
We then took a beautiful coastal drive to Dubrovnik, our home base for the next three days. Its reputation as an enchanting medieval town is well-deserved. Walking the ancient city walls of the old town was one of my favourite activities, especially being up there while the sun set over the Adriatic Sea.
Fun fact: parts of Game of Thrones are shot there!
Being in such a central location, we were easily able to take daytrips from Dubrovnik. One of our trips took us to Lokrum Island, a Nature Reserve that’s a mere 10 minute ferry ride from the Old Town.
After spending five incredible days by the Adriatic Sea, we headed to Zagreb to experience a different side of Croatia.
A two-hour drive from Zagreb, Plitvice Lakes National Park is home to a breathtaking array of waterfalls, lakes and caves.
Zagreb charmed us more than we expected. There were live shows and festivals going on in virtually every major square and the cafés were always full. Unlike the Southern Dalmation coast, which has a very strong Mediterranean vibe, Zagreb has a much stronger Slavic and Austro-Hungarian vibe.
One week was definitely not enough time in Croatia, a country I grew to love very quickly. The fresh food and incredible wine, boundless café culture, history and multitude of natural wonders left me yearning for an opportunity to return.
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