Hey there, fellow travelers! Today, we’re in Vis, Croatia! We love to help travelers prepare for their vacations, and other than telling you the best things to do, we love to share the things that will shock you upon arriving in a new destination. Today we’re sharing the top ten travel shocks of Croatian culture.
Croatia Culture Shock #1: The Stone Beaches
The beaches of Croatia look so inviting, but you’ll get the first shock of your Croatia vacation when you step barefoot on to a beach. They are not soft, sandy beaches. Croatia beaches have small stones, rocks and pebbles…and they hurt your feet! Make sure you bring some water shoes.
Watch: Five Things You’ll Love & Hate About Visiting Croatia
Croatia Culture Shock #2: Number of Tourists in Dubrovnik
When you visit the historic center of Dubrovnik, you’ll be shocked at how many tourists they can fit into town. The cruise ships arrive in the morning, releasing thousands of passengers into Dubrovnik for the day. If you aren’t visiting Dubrovnik on a cruise, you can enjoy how quiet the town gets in the evening, after the cruise ships depart.
Croatia Culture Shock #3: Historic Stone Cities
Croatia has beautiful stone cities, with so much history. Dubrovnik still has the city walls you can walk on, Šibenik has St. James Cathedral, and Split where the historic city was built inside of a Roman palace, and many cities with narrow, winding cobblestone streets. Croatia has seven UNESCO World Heritage Sites, many of them in the historic city centers.
Croatia Culture Shock #4: Architecture in Croatia
It’s really cool to see how various architectural influences show up in Croatia. The Venetians ruled for a time, so there is a lot of Italian influence, and even a Colosseum. In Zagreb, you can see the Hapsburg influence which is reminiscent of Austrian architecture. It’s an interesting way to follow the history of Croatia, through the architecture.
Croatia Culture Shock #5: Intense Heat & Sun in Summer
It can easily reach 100 degrees in Croatia in the summer, and it’s oppressively hot. Visiting Croatia in the shoulder seasons is the way to have good weather in Croatia. You’ll also have fewer tourists to content with, too. There are a ton of mosquitos in the summer, too, so the best time to visit Croatia is spring or fall, for milder temperatures.
Croatia Culture Shock #6: National Pride
The Croatians are so proud of their country, and they take really good care of it. It’s not just national pride, but regional and local pride as well. Most Croatians are very proud of their hometown and they’ll tell you it’s the best city in Croatia. Historic areas and museums of Croatia are really well preserved and well cared for. On that note, do not call this area Yugoslavia; Croatia became independent in 1991, so it hasn’t been “Yugoslavia” for a very long time.
Croatia Culture Shock #7: Excellent Tourism Infrastructure
The tourist infrastructure in Croatia is fantastic; not just in the most popular areas. There are tons of buses and ferries to help you travel around Croatia. There are lots of restaurants and hotels in Croatia, and tons of nightclubs, too.
Croatia Culture Shock #8: English is Widely Spoken
With so much tourism in Croatia, there are many English speakers in Croatia. It’s shocking how well many Croatians speak English. It is very easy to travel in Croatia, even if you don’t speak the local language.
Watch: Learn Croatian: Top Ten Croatian Words for Tourists
Croatia Culture Shock #9: Natural Beauty in Croatia
It’s not just beautiful women! There is so much natural beauty in Croatia, it’s really shocking! The coastline and the islands are magnificent, then there are mountains and waterfalls, and the Lake District. This all combined makes Croatia one of the most beautiful countries in the world.
Croatia Culture Shock #10: Cost of a Croatia Vacation
After reading and seeing for yourself how awesome Croatia is, with UNESCO World Heritage Sites, beaches, islands, mountains, waterfalls and history, you will be shocked to find out how affordable a Croatia vacation can be. This is what makes Croatia great; it’s so much more affordable than other places in Europe, so many Europeans vacation here in the summer.
We hope these ten shocks of Croatian culture make you want to visit Croatia, and lessen the shocks you have upon arrival. Have you taken a Croatia vacation? We’d love to hear what shocked you; just leave a comment below! For more Wolters World travel tips, check out these blog posts and videos: