When I told my friends I was planning a trip to Croatia, the first reaction I got was, “Oh, Game of Thrones!” Which made me wonder—am I the only person who hasn’t watched GoT?
While researching Croatia, I discovered that despite its long coastline, it doesn’t actually have many beaches. Most of the few that exist are rocky, which I found quite surprising. But as I traveled from Plitvice Lakes to Split, I learned why: the Dinaric Alps rise right next to the Adriatic Sea, creating dramatic rocky landscapes instead of sandy beaches. The result? Instead of waves crashing onto the shore, you see the azure waters of the Adriatic calmly meeting the mountains. Thanks to the zigzag mountain ranges, what looks like lakes from above is actually the sea, with ripples only when a ship or boat passes by. The water is so clear that even from about 50 feet up, you can see straight to the seabed.
I spent about 10 days in Croatia, and the standout places for me were Plitvice Lakes and Korčula. Nothing—absolutely nothing—you’ve ever heard about the beauty of Plitvice prepares you for the real thing. When I asked a lady from the US (whom I met in Slovakia) about it, she actually stopped in the middle of the road, jaw dropping just thinking about it (she had visited a few days earlier). She told me that after every 10 feet in the park, I’d want to take 10 pictures. She was right—Ami Gandhi will agree with me!
Of the over 1,500 islands in Croatia, if there’s one you must visit, it’s Korčula. From the moment you step off the two-hour ferry, the island makes you feel welcome and at peace. It helped that I visited during the low season and had the island almost to myself.
Plitvice Lakes, Split, Korčula, Dubrovnik—from national parks and old towns to lakes, mountains, calm blue seas, ports, cruise ships, islands, and more islands—Croatia truly has it all.