Snapshot

  • Trips: 1
  • Total time spent: ~5 days
  • Longest stay: ~5 days
  • Cities visited:
    • Vrbnik
    • Krk (city)
    • Plitvice National Park
  • Primary transport used: Rental car

Overall Experience

Croatia was a calm and collected experience. We stayed in an AirBnB in Vrbnik on the island of Krk during the off-season. It was slow-paced and intimate. We ate at the local eateries, shopped at the small markets, and patronized the town bakery. We were able to meander, explore the port and cove, and pass through the shops and eateries with little to no interaction with other tourists – it felt isolating in the best way.

Off-season equates to unpredictable weather and shop hours. We had random downpours and gale force winds; and we had sun spurts and hot weather. The few businesses in the city were open for limited hours, and some even closed down for the season while we were there. We found that Krk is best explored via rental car and it’s easier to access Croatia’s National Parks with your own wheels.

Navigation & Logistics

It is a necessity to have access to a car when staying on Krk. Although the island has reliable public transportation (bus), during off-season there are fewer departures and is generally slower. For quicker access to the other areas of the island and beyond, having your own car will give you more freedom and flexibility. Vrbnik was a very walkable city. You are able to explore the cliffs, coves, port, and residential neighborhoods on foot, with access to all of the essential shops. The city of Krk was also very walkable, but driving to Plitvice National Park was a trek, and took a bit of planning.

Although Croatian is the official language of Croatia, the majority of the workers speak English. The signs are clear and straightforward for driving, but because we recommend renting a car, we deem Krk as an intermediate level of travel.

Anxiety Profile

As with any novel country, arrival anxiety was quite high. Our arrival to Krk came with a commute through different border crossings (Slovenia and Croatia) and a couple toll booths; however, my anxiety quickly subsided as the driving itself was not too difficult, and the crossings and attendants were simple. If traveling during off-season, there is little risk of overstimulation from noise and crowds, as it’s quite empty. We also allowed ourselves to wait out the downpours and wind gusts to explore in order to feel safe and comfortable.

Best Fit For

Strong fit:

  • Confident independent travelers
  • Nature-focused travelers
  • Slow travelers

May be less ideal for:

  • Travelers who need constant activity
  • Travelers uncomfortable driving abroad

What Worked for Us

The best decision we made was to rent a car, especially during the off-season where transport wasn’t necessarily readily available. As our typical routine, establishing a home base as soon as we gained access to our accommodations was important. Checking out the local market and creating a shopping list for road trips, snacks, and morning pick-me-ups is an essential step to settling down. Learning basic phrases in Croatian was also a plus, as while passing a toll booth, the attendant greeted us in Croatian, and knowing what she said eased a lot of surprising anxiety.

What We’d Do Differently

If we had the opportunity to travel to Croatia again, we would definitely extend the stay and split our stay between Krk or another island and a bigger more populated city to experience a different side of Croatia.

Would We Return?

We would absolutely return to experience other parts of Croatia.