WEDNESDAY, MAY 7, 2025

A practical guide to the top destinations and day trips in Croatia

A land of deep history, vast natural beauty, rugged landscapes and hospitable people, Croatia attracts millions of visitors every year for a good reason. People from all over the world come (and stay) to enjoy its enchanting vibe, taste its memorable cuisine and bask in the mild, pleasant climate.

But wait, there’s more - despite being a superb place to chill, unwind and let loose and party, Croatia has also been ranked as the safest European country for walking around at night, truly a unique combination.

Finally, Croatia has such a massive number of interesting places to see - both on sea and land - that the sheer amount of choice can be positively overwhelming.

Getting around Croatia

It’s easy to get carried away and turn your visit to Croatia into something that feels like work  as you zip from one guided tour and day trip to another, but things don’t have to end up like that. Just make sure to prioritize your own fun and be picky when planning your day trips to maximize your enjoyment. 

Considering that numerous unvetted agencies offering day trips have sprung up throughout Croatia, it’s really important to keep your cool and not allow yourself to be sweet-talked into an expensive package tour where you’ll be crammed into a bus like sardines, fed a mass-produced meal at a restaurant that knows you won’t be able to complain and then whisked away from the attraction just as you were about to take that perfect photo.

Fortunately, there is an alternative to this generic experience: Last minute rent a car!

• Enjoy traveling at your own schedule, without having to wake up early
• Enjoy your privacy, away from large groups of strangers
• Enjoy your freedom, with no one to force you to march on when you’re tired, eat when you’re not hungry or leave when you want to stay and continue having a good time
• Enjoy speed and flexibility, with no searching for meeting points and no waiting for other group members
• Enjoy significant price savings even from 2 passengers onwards and increasing with every group member!

Check it out yourself - renting your own vehicle is surprisingly affordable, with prices as low as €40 / day for a car that seats up to 4 passengers, and as low as €120 / day for a spacious van that seats large groups up to 9 passengers. And with pickup and dropoff points in 10 different places in various cities and airports in Croatia, it’s super easy to take advantage of!

However, this is your vacation, dear traveler, so we’ll leave the details to you. Instead, allow us to share some tips about our favorite places in Croatia and how to visit them!

Motovun

A once-overlooked place in the hinterlands of Istria, known mainly for its indie film festival taking place at the end of every July since 1999, Motovun has since become recognized for its serene charm and unique hilly landscape.

Over time, Motovun has become one of the focal points of Istrian tourism, with abundant Istrian Truffle finds, boutique hotels, villas and wine cellars, numerous traditional and fusion restaurants featured in the Michelin Guide, and several recognized types of wine.

As a town of many surprises, Motovun contains even a 9-hole golf course, nestled among the gentle green slopes!

There’s just one little issue: Motovun is a tiny town of just 912 people, and is served only by sporadic local buses from Poreč and Rovin, with the railway that once led from Trieste in Italy to Poreč in Croatia now defunct.

Thus, getting to Motovun can be quite difficult, but you can make your life a lot easier (and avoid wasting money on taxis) by renting a car at the Last minute rent a car office at Pula Airport or Rijeka Airport.

This will save you a huge hassle, and will also allow you to leisurely combine visiting Motovun with some other destinations throughout Istria (or even Slovenia), as well as allow you to stay for a relaxed drink or two while enjoying the famed Motovun sunset. 

Rovinj

A melting pot of cultures and history coupled with unique landscapes, Rovinj is centered on a steep peninsula (historically an island divided by a narrow passage that’s since been filled) jutting out westwards into the Adriatic Sea. Rovinj features steep narrow streets characteristic of many coastal Croatian and Italian cities and a rich cultural atmosphere.

The city is the home to a severely endangered Istriot language, a branch of Dalmatian Romance languages spoken by about 400 people, and features unique culinary delights and architecture for discerning travelers. During summer, it is also connected to Venice by a seasonal ferry.

Rovinj is the second-most visited destination in Istria and enjoys an above-average level of development.

How to visit Rovinj? Well, as usual for Croatian small towns, public transport connections (mainly from Trieste, Rijeka and Pula) may be sparse and not at all compatible with day trips, so grabbing a rental car from Pula Airport or Rijeka Airport might serve you well.

Renting a car will allow you to visit Rovinj in a fast and comfortable way that leaves you more time for sightseeing and dinner in this charming place.

Pula

Home to the world famous Pula Arena, a perfectly preserved 1st century Roman amphitheatre, Pula is also a historically important naval and industrial hub, having been one of the main seaports of Austro-Hungarian Empire for centuries (the other ones being Trieste in Italy and Rijeka in Croatia). It is from Pula that the Austro-Hungarian fleet sallied forth to defeat the Italian navy in the Battle of Vis (1866).

Pula enjoys a very high degree of development and is a very popular tourist destination, containing some of the most acclaimed resorts in the region and serving as the hub for visiting the Brijuni National Park.

As Istria’s largest city with significant industrial capacity, Pula itself is relatively well connected to other major destinations. On the other hand, the city is quite spread out, with many outlying districts and its top coves, beaches and resorts scattered along the picturesque coast north and south of the city. Travelers looking to make day trips to Motovun, Rovinj and other interesting destinations would be very well served by renting a vehicle from the Last minute rent a car office located at Pula Airport.

Opatija

Known as the “Pearl of the Adriatic”, opatija boasts the title of being the first tourist destination in Croatia, going back all the way to 1844 when a luxurious summer villa was built by the Italian businessman Iginio Scarpa from Rijeka (Fiume).

The city has been developed primarily with relaxation, health and congresses in mind and is active year-long, unlike most heavily seasonal Croatian destinations. This is reflected in its beautiful walkway along the coast, refined Habsburg-era architecture and meticulously maintained parks.

Opatija can be reached by public transport from Rijeka; it makes a great base for combining relaxation and making quick car trips to nearby popular day trip destinations such as the town of Motovun or Učka mountain.

Učka

Učka mountain is the westernmost peak of the Croatian Dinaric Alps mountain range, stretching along Opatija riviera in eastern Istria. It is famous for its extremely steep cliffs and rich vegetation, making it highly suitable for paragliders, hang gliders and all sorts of adventure tourism like free climbing, mountain biking or spelunking.

Being a protected nature park, Učka is especially notable for its pristine steep limestone pillars and an array of endemic plant and animal species. Getting to Učka might be a bit challenging, though; the easiest way to get to it is by your own or rental car from Rijeka, Opatija or Pula, though it is also served twice per day by a local bus from Opatija.

Velebit - Paklenica

Paklenica National Park showcases the savage beauty of Velebit mountain in exquisite detail and is one of the most amazing places in Croatia for hiking and trail walking. It is no exaggeration to say that the place is vast, wild and deserves your time and attention, so going with your own vehicle (like a rental car from the Last minute rent a car office in Zadar or at Zadar Airport) might be the best option.  

The park’s most impressive features are its incredible, steep landscape containing a massive away of geological features, ranging from 39 pits and 37 caves, as well as numerous small springs that range from seasonal to permanent (however, there are no streams permanently running through the area). It contains over 1000 different plant species, many of them unique to the area, and its rich forest is listed as an UNESCO World Heritage site.

Considering that the national park is like a whole world of its own and needs a lot of time to explore, it is important to not rush. Take your time walking around and inhaling the pristine nature all around you - and perhaps snapping that perfect photo of a deer or a lynx that are known to roam the area.

If you have enough time, combine your visit to Paklenica with a tour of Cerovac Caves (Cerovačke špilje) located just one hour of driving eastward.

Međugorje

Located close by in the neighboring Bosnia and Herzegovina, Međugorje is the region’s most famous spiritual site, known for a series of several Marian apparitions of Our Lady of Međugorje between 1981 and current year. The site has attracted intense scrutiny and reverence, having been visited by over 30 million pilgrims since then.

The Međugorje phenomenon has also been noted by the Vatican, with the Church authorities issuing a declaration in 2024 with the blessing of Pope Francis granting Međugorje the status of 'Nulla Osta' (Nihil Obstat) and encouraging pilgrimages and devotions to it without issuing any other opinions about the alleged Marian apparitions. The Vatican's statement notes that “many positive fruits have been noted in the midst of a spiritual experience, while negative and dangerous effects have not spread among the People of God.” This affirmation has increased Međugorje’s prominence and popularity even further.

How to visit Međugorje? There are many organized day trips and tours to Međugorje, but our recommendation is that a spiritual site like this really needs time to fully appreciate. If you rent a car from Split or Dubrovnik, it will allow you to travel at your leisure, extend your trip to include a sleepover at one of the many picturesque places in the region, stop for lunch or dinner, or combine your visit with other famous regional attractions like Mostar.

Please don’t forget - despite its proximity, Međugorje is located not only outside Croatia, but also outside of European Union and Schengen zone borders. This means you will need proper travel documentation like a passport and, depending on your country of origin, a visa may or may not be required (Bosnia is fairly liberal in this regard, allowing visa-free entry for most of the world).

However, be especially careful if you are traveling in Croatia with a single entry Schengen visa, as you may not be able to return to Croatia or the Schengen area after your visit!

Source of Cetina River

A far out of the way location most easily reached from Zadar, Šibenik or Split, this pristine natural wonder has been poetically referred to as the “Eye of the Earth” and “Dragon’s Eye” and has gained significant popularity in recent years.

The source of the river is located north of the town of Vrlika, past the artificial (but nonetheless beautiful) Peruća Lake. There is a small overlook above the lake, as well as an old chapel.

Keep in mind that swimming in the Source of Cetina is forbidden, and any imposing drone shots you might have seen online of people swimming in it were taken in violation of local regulations. However, the place is simply beautiful and well worth the visit even if you aren’t going to swim in it (the water would be freezing cold anyway).

Due to its proximity, visiting the Source of Cetina River is great in combination with visiting Sinj or Šibenik. This is where renting a car (from Last minute rent a car’s offices in either Split or Zadar Airport) will yield great fruits, providing you with unmatched convenience and saving you from inflated agency fees that take advantage of travelers wishing to visit this remote attraction.

Cetina River Canyon

An area of pristine natural beauty and cool, green thickets with plenty of shade, the Cetina River Canyon presents a stark contrast to the sunny coastline and sandy beaches located just a few miles away to the south.

One of the most popular activities in the Cetina River Canyon is rafting, which is typically organized through an agency as a package tour from Split or Omiš. Smaller activities like a boat ride up the river or ziplining are typically booked in Omiš on the spot. For simple talks, nature trails and exploration, it’s typically a great idea to go to the old mill at Radmanove Mlinice for a nice walk, lunch or picnic.

Alternatively, to see more of Cetina river at a different spot before it reaches the canyon, you could use your rental car to visit Trilj, a charming small town less than 1 hour away from Split with an amazing suspension bridge across the river and several great traditional restaurants.

Plitvice

The Plitvice Lakes National Park has been a prime component of the UNESCO World Heritage List since 1979 and remains one of the most famous natural wonders in Europe, and is usually quoted as one of the key reasons for visiting Croatia.

Plitvice Lakes are located in the mountains of central Croatia and are simply massive in scale, with a series of 16 lakes with distinct colors and numerous waterfalls spread throughout its 300 square kilometer area. They attract more than 1 million visitors every year (almost 1.5 million in 2023) and are accessible year-round, with unique charm to be found in different seasons.

Considering the grand scale of the national park and its inspiring atmosphere, as well as its long walking trails and boat rides, it is simply a pity to visit it as part of a package tour, where you will be hauled off just as you’re preparing to snap that perfect photo. Instead, you can rent a car from either Zagreb, Zadar or Split offices of Last Minute Rent a Car and go there at your own leisure so you can enjoy this unique place to its fullest.

For even more fun, combine your car trip with an overnight stay at one of the many accommodations just outside the boundaries of the national park, ranging from simple cottages to luxurious villas, or even at one of the few exclusive hotels within the park itself. There are also various ranches offering horse riding and riding classes (as well as overnight stays) in the wider region around the park, making this a great opportunity to visit them as well.

Krka Waterfalls

Smaller in scale but more easily accessible and even more serene than Plitvice, the Krka Waterfalls or Slapovi Krke is another one of Croatia’s natural wonders. It is located close to Šibenik, with the most popular entrances being inland at Lozovac and by river boat in the town of Skradin.

With a variety of waterfalls, boat rides, different terrains, side attractions and even an ancient monastery on a small island in the middle of a lake, Krka is a place you can spend days exploring and enjoying fully. It is also a wonderful place to stay if you can secure accommodation in Skradin or one of the area surrounding the national park.

If you visit it with your own or rental car (ample parking is available, especially at Lozovac entrance), you will get to enjoy all of Krka’s attractions in peace and will be able to snap those perfect photos of its magnificent waterfalls without rushing, even with all the crowds present in the peak season.

Having a car will allow you to visit the completely different world of Dalmatian Hinterlands at Drniš, as well as hidden gems around the coast near Šibenik, such as Primošten and its amazing Our Lady of Loretto statue, which also features possibly the most beautiful sunset in Croatia.

Biokovo

Biokovo is a tall, steep karst mountain and in some ways a mirror image of its northern relative Velebit. However, while the Velebit Paklenica national park is lush and green, most of Biokovo is windswept and menacing, with less vegetation and steep, savage cliffs.

A unique and recently built attraction at Biokovo is the Biokovo Skywalk, a reinforced transparent overhang jutting out 8 meters away from the sheer mountain cliff. It’s not for the faint-hearted, we must warn, but the view and feeling are absolutely spectacular.

Biokovo typically benefits from having a car, but it’s not mandatory. Since most of the mountain is traversed by interesting (but very challenging!) hiking trails, and Skywalk can be visited either by a package tour, by your own vehicle, or by a walking trail from Makarska.

Conclusion

Croatia is a land of great joys and infinite possibilities. Make sure to plan the basic outline of your trip so you’re not overwhelmed by all the options available, and don’t hesitate to make your life a little easier, especially in terms of getting around so you can enjoy a great vacation!