Holidays to Croatia
Europe’s hottest ticket may well be a holiday to Croatia, where you can sizzle like a sausage on Split's beaches, sail around majestic islands and play Game of Thrones in historic Dubrovnik.
Croatia's Hollywood starlet
One of the best-preserved medieval towns on the planet, Dubrovnik's immaculate city walls, polished limestone streets and jaw-dropping cathedral (said to have been founded by Richard the Lionheart) make it an absolute star of IG.
Game of Thrones fans will likely recognise it as King's Landing, but if you need a quick recap, a filming locations tour is a far better option than binge-watching all eight seasons again.
Islands in the sun
Fancy dancing like Simon Le Bon in the Rio video? Known as the ‘Land of 1,000 Islands’, Croatia is a dreamy destination for wannabe sailors. Here you can live out those Duran Duran dreams by bouncing around the islands of Brač (known for its beaches), Hvar (upmarket in a good way) and Korčula (authentic, low-key) as you cruise down the Dalmatian Coast.
Let's get beachy
From the v-shaped Zlatni Rat (aka the Golden Horn) on Brač to Zrće Beach on Pag, it's obvious that Croatia was made for sun-kissed beach breaks. But don’t expect too much soft white sand – Croatia prefers smooth white pebbles. After all, sand just gets everywhere, so this way your nooks and crannies are safe!
Other top coastal destinations to flop on include Copacabana Beach on Seka Bay, Spiǎza Bay on Susak and Šunj Bay on Lopud.
Join the culture club
Croatia holidays aren’t always about banana boats and beach bars. Whatever your pleasure, there's enough culture in Croatia to sate even the most curious of historians.
Head north towards Italy and the Istrian Riviera is jam-packed with Roman and Venetian ruins. Make sure to pay Pula a visit to marvel at its two-millennia-old amphitheatre (aka the Croatian Colosseum). Or head to Rovinj to see the two-faced Balbi's Arch, the town's main gate built in 1679. If what you’re looking at has a Turkish head on one side and a Venetian head on the other, you’re in the right place.
Sneak Peek
Best for... Beach-loving history fans with a penchant for Game of Thrones 🐉
Go... To Krka National Park and splash about in the waterfalls 💦
You have to... Take a boat trip to explore one of Croatia’s many islands 🚤
Croatia holiday deals
Sun Gardens Dubrovnik
4.7
Excellent
- 7 Jun 2026
- 7 nights
- Self-catering
- From Stansted
Prices from
Bluesun Hotel Jadran
4.7
Excellent
- 13 May 2026
- 7 nights
- Bed & breakfast
- From Manchester
Prices from
TUI BLUE Adriatic Beach
4.5
Excellent
- 13 May 2026
- 7 nights
- All-inclusive
- From Manchester
Prices from
Sunny Dubrovnik by Valamar
- 7 Jun 2026
- 7 nights
- All-inclusive
- From Stansted
Prices from
Top Destinations in Croatia
Cavtat
Prices from
£417 pp
Mlini
Prices from
£339 pp
Tucepi
Prices from
£249 pp
Zadar
Prices from
£244 pp
Details
Currency
Euro
Language
Croatian
Time difference
GMT +1
Cost of a beer
€3
3-course meal
From €25
Flight time
2.5 hrs
Brilliant beaches
The tiny white pebbles and crystal-clear waters of Zlatni Rat on Brač make this Insta-worthy beach an attraction for professional sunbathers and influencers alike. Fancy some sand? Pack your bucket and spade and head to Rab, which is home to some of Croatia’s few sandy beaches. The most famous is Rajska Plaža in Lopar, which effectively translates to Paradise Beach (it lives up to its name). Almost 2km (1.25 miles) long, it's great for kids who love to bury their parents in the sand.
Medieval mayhem
Croatia's history is like a who's who of European invaders, so it’s no wonder the ancient Dubrovnik (Pearl of the Adriatic, no less) has such sturdy walls. Add its scary-looking fortresses and you’ll soon realise why atmospheric Dubrovnik is the darling of Hollywood. Meanwhile, Split is home to Diocletian’s Palace – basically a plush retirement home for a Roman emperor – and in Istria, you can live out your Gladiator fantasies in Pula, which has a 2,000-year-old amphitheatre to run riot in.
Party time!
We're not saying that Croatia is the new Ibiza, but the Vengabus certainly has a few stops here. To live it large, head to Hvar Town for beach bars and nightclubs where you can party until dawn. Split is another hotspot, where the Bačvice beachside is the place to be. Partying in Dubrovnik? You’re also in for an epic night out. Start with sundowners in Buža II, a classic cliff bar in the old town, and finish with a boogie to a Game of Thrones megamix under the 16th-century arches of an actual fortress.
When to go to Croatia
For a cheap Croatia holiday, visit in spring when the scent of flowers fills the streets and cool, coastal breezes drift in over the islands.
Make sure to slather on the sunscreen from May onwards as that’s when Croatia starts to heat up. In June, you’re looking at a delicious 20C-25C and once July and August hit, expect temperatures to easily rocket past 35C.
Unsurprisingly, summer is also the busiest season and you might have to fight (easy now, not literally) to bag a sun-lounger on popular beaches.
Croatia still sees plenty of sunshine come September and early October, and the Adriatic is warm enough for a dip or two. Winter’s pleasant climate also has its appeal, not to mention its fabulous festivities like Zagreb’s lit-up Christmas markets.
