Discovering Croatia: My First Impressions of this Enchanting Country

Spent the last 10 days making the rounds in Croatia. After a few scheduled attempts during Covid we finally made it to this beautiful country. It is indeed a postcard perfect place to spend time in and for me the scenery was far and above the number one attraction.

We spent coastal time in Rovinj, Split, Korcula and Dubrovnik. Additional side trips to Plitvice National Park and the Town of Pula.

I would rank the cities as follows:

1. Rovinj

2. Dubrovnik

3. Korcula

4. Pula

5. Split

Plitvice is a category all to itself, not a place you can really compare to another but none the less and very special nature lovers paradise.

The people are friendly but not overly so, the food is pretty average and very expensive compared to others European countries I have visited recently. The conversion to the Euro in early 23 made for some opportunist to raise prices.

Smoking is a big problem in Croatia as people are allowed to smoke virtually anywhere and nearly 4 in 10 adults indulge in the nasty habit. Don't count on Non smoking areas in restaurants.

Dubrovnik, even in early October was overrun in the daytime with cruise passengers broken up into small tour groups that virtually take over the streets of this beautiful city. The expense levels in central Dubrovnik are especially high, two examples, it now costs 35 Euros to walk the famous walls of the city, no guide just the privilege of walking. Food prices are especially high and for very average pasta dish you will pay over 20 Euros and for a very average burger the price is 26 Euros if you add a side.

I will publish more details on the beauty of Croatia but for now those are my initial impressions after completing a 10 day stay. Would I go back? Maybe, but for me Italy is still better, cheaper and friendlier.