Guides and tips for your Adriatic holiday

Practical answers to the questions people ask before they travel — parking, boats without a licence, tourist tax, beaches, which town to pick. Written by people who live here, with links to real offers.

City guides

Cavtat Guide 2027: Beaches, Boat to Dubrovnik, KonavleCavtat is a small harbour town 20 km south of Dubrovnik and just 6 km from Čilipi airport. It offers what Dubrovnik cannot: calm, parking, beaches without crowds and slightly lower prices – while Dubrovnik's old town is 45 minutes away by boat (from about €10 one way in 2026) or 35 minutes on bus 10 for €4.Dubrovnik Guide 2027: Walls, Beaches, Parking, PricesDubrovnik is the most expensive and most crowded city on the Croatian coast, and it is still worth it. The wall walk costs €40 in season (2026), the old town is car-free, and on cruise-ship days thousands of people squeeze onto the Stradun between 10 am and 3 pm. Pick your dates, your neighbourhood and your beach carefully and you get a different city entirely.Makarska Travel Guide 2027: Beaches, Biokovo Skywalk, Parking, FerriesMakarska is a town of 13,000 wedged between the sea and the 1,762 m Biokovo massif, 60 km south-east of Split and 85 km from Split airport. People come for long pebble beaches shaded by pines, the glass Skywalk above the coast and the liveliest nightlife between Split and Dubrovnik – it is a resort town first and a historic town second.Opatija Travel Guide 2027: Beaches, Lungomare, Parking, Getting ThereOpatija is a 19th-century spa town below Mount Učka, 15 km from Rijeka and 40 km from Rijeka (Krk) airport. You come for the 12 km Lungomare seaside promenade, belle-époque villas and a year-round café culture rather than sandy beaches – the beaches here are concrete platforms and pebble coves.Rovinj Travel Guide 2027: Beaches, Parking, Getting There, PricesRovinj is an Istrian town on a peninsula crowned by the church of St Euphemia, and you cannot drive into it – you leave the car at the edge (Valdibora, €3.50/h in summer 2026) and walk. Pula airport is 40 km away, Trieste 90 km, and a seasonal fast ferry links it with Venice. Beaches are rock and pebble in the Zlatni rt forest park, 15 minutes on foot from the centre.Split Travel Guide: Palace, Beaches, Ferries, Parking (2027)Split is Croatia's second city and the only one where people live inside a Roman palace built around AD 305. The airport is 25 km from the centre, and ferries to Brač, Hvar, Šolta and Vis leave from the harbour right below the Riva. We write this guide from Sukošan near Zadar, 160 km up the A1.Sukošan Travel Guide: Beaches, Marina, Zadar in 15 Min (2027)Sukošan is a village of around 4,700 people 10–12 km south of Zadar and 8 km from Zadar Airport. It is the quieter, cheaper, family-friendly alternative to the city: shallow beaches, the D-Marin Dalmacija marina and bus line 120 into Zadar. Adrysa is run from here, so this guide is first-hand.Zadar Travel Guide: Old Town, Beaches, Ferries, Day Trips (2027)Zadar is a 3,000-year-old city on a peninsula with the Sea Organ, a Roman Forum and ferries to Ugljan, Dugi otok and Pašman. The airport is 8 km from the centre, and centre parking cost €1.60/hour in 2026. We write this guide from Sukošan, 10 km down the coast.

Tips and answers

Boat Rental Prices in Zadar 2026/2027: Small Boat, RIB, SailboatA small licence-free boat in Zadar costs 60–130 € a day in the 2026 season, a 6–7 m motorboat 300–430 €, a 9–10 m RIB from 500 € and a skippered sailboat from about 400 € a day. Fuel is almost never included, and deposits range from 100 € for a dinghy to several thousand euros for a yacht.Driving to Zadar, Croatia 2027: routes, vignettes and tollsZadar is 640 km from Vienna (about 6.5 hours), 815 km from Munich (8 hours), 630 km from Budapest and 960 km from Prague. Since Croatia joined Schengen in January 2023 there are no border checks from Slovenia or Hungary; your only costs are vignettes for the countries you cross and the Croatian motorway toll, which is €17.60 from Zagreb to Zadar (2026).What to Eat in Dalmatia: Konoba Guide, Fish by the Kilo, 2026 PricesA konoba is a family-run tavern with a short menu built around the day's catch: fish from the gradele (charcoal grill), meat or octopus cooked under the peka bell, brudet fish stew, black risotto, pršut and Pag cheese. Whole fish is priced by the kilo (roughly €50–90 in 2026 depending on grade), house wine comes by the decilitre or carafe, and a main course runs €15–30. In July and August, book a dinner table a day ahead.Best time to visit Zadar and Dalmatia: month-by-month guideFor swimming, the Zadar area is at its best from mid-June to the end of September, when the sea is 23–25 °C. If you want warm water without the crowds and at lower prices, aim for the second half of June or September. July and August are the hottest and most expensive months; April, May and October suit hiking and the national parks; winter is quiet and cheap but most seaside restaurants are closed.Kornati Boat Trip from Zadar: Tour Boat, Own Boat or Skipper (2026)There are three ways to reach Kornati from Zadar: a full-day excursion boat at 25–65 € per person with lunch (the 8 € national park ticket is usually included), a small-group speedboat at roughly 100–150 €, or your own rented boat with or without a skipper. The crossing takes about 2 hours each way and the trip lasts 8–10 hours. The best months are May, June and September.Zadar Airport to the City, Sukošan and Biograd: Bus, Taxi 2026Zadar Airport (ZAD, in Zemunik Donji) is 11 km from the old town. The cheapest option is the Liburnija airport bus at €5 one way (about 20 minutes to the bus station, then on to the old town); a taxi costs €25–35 and Uber or Bolt €15–25 outside peak hours. Sukošan is only 10 km from the airport, but there is no direct bus, so plan on a taxi, a pre-booked transfer or a hire car.Boat Rental Without a Licence in Croatia: What You Can DriveYou can rent a small open boat up to 5 m long with an engine up to 5 kW (roughly 6–7 hp) in Croatia with no licence at all, as long as you are 18+ and stay within 500 m of the coast. Anything more powerful needs a boat licence – an ICC, RYA Day Skipper, German SBF See or a national equivalent, plus a VHF certificate if the boat has a radio.Croatia motorway tolls 2026/2027: prices, ENC, no vignetteNo vignette exists for Croatia. Motorways are tolled by distance: you take a ticket at the entry and pay at the exit — €17.60 from Zagreb to Zadar, €26.40 to Split (HAC 2026 tariff, passenger car). Cash and cards are accepted, and an ENC transponder gives 21.74% off. From 1 March 2027 the toll plazas disappear and tolling becomes free-flow electronic.Parking in Dubrovnik: garage, zones and 2026 pricesThere is no parking inside Dubrovnik's Old Town at all, and the closest lot at the Pile gate costs €20 per hour in season (Sanitat Dubrovnik price list, in force since June 2025). The sensible options are the Ilijina glavica public garage (€7/h, €40 per 24 h) or the Gospino polje car park at €1.30/h, followed by a 15-minute walk or a short bus ride. Best of all: park at your apartment in Gruž or Lapad and take the €1.73 city bus to the walls.Parking in Split: zones, garages and 2026 pricesStreet parking in central Split costs €1.20 per hour in summer (zone 1), €0.80 in the outer zone 3, and the two premium lots on the Riva charge €4–5 per hour (Split parking d.o.o. price list, 2026). The cheapest sensible option is a municipal garage or a zone 3 street at €0.80/h and a 10–20 minute walk to Diocletian's Palace. In July and August, expect everything within a kilometre of the Riva to be full by 10 am.Peka and Pre-Order Dishes in Croatia: How, When and How Much (2026)Peka must be ordered in advance – ideally the day before, at the latest the morning of your dinner – because it cooks for 2–3 hours under an iron bell buried in embers and the kitchen only makes it for a confirmed table. Most konobas set a minimum of 2 people (often 4) and charge €25–40 per person in 2026. Spit-roasted lamb, brudet and large whole fish are pre-order dishes too.Sandy beaches in Croatia: where the sand really is (Zadar & more)Short answer: yes, but very few. Most of the Croatian coast is pebbles and rock; genuine sand exists in only a few dozen spots. The closest to Zadar are Queen’s Beach (Kraljičina plaža) in Nin and the beach at Zaton, 15–18 km north; the best-known island sand is Sakarun on Dugi Otok, and in Kvarner there is Paradise Beach at Lopar on Rab.Beaches in Sukošan: Dječji raj, Makarska, Zlatna luka and nearbyWith small children, go to Dječji raj in the middle of Sukošan – shallow water over a sandy bottom, 300 m from the car park. If you want shade and fewer people, choose Makarska at the eastern end (tamarisks, pebbles, sports courts) or Zlatna luka by the marina. The coastline is roughly 5 km long and every beach is public and free.Beaches in Zadar: Kolovare, Borik, Diklo and where to go with kidsThe closest beach to Zadar's old town is Kolovare – about 1 km from the peninsula, pebbles and concrete slabs, Blue Flag since 2014. With small children head to Borik (sandy entry, 4 km from the centre); for quiet and easier parking go to Diklo or Uskok. All city beaches are public and free; only part of Borik sits inside a hotel concession.Tourist tax in Croatia 2026/2027: rates, who pays, childrenCroatia's tourist tax (turistička pristojba, still often called boravišna pristojba) is charged per person per night. From 1 April to 30 September 2026 it is €1.50–2.65 depending on the town, and less in the off-season; children under 12 are exempt and 12–18-year-olds pay half. Your host collects it, usually in cash on arrival.Croatia with a Dog: Pet Passport, Dog Friendly Beaches, FerriesTo enter Croatia a dog needs a microchip, an EU pet passport (or an animal health certificate from outside the EU) and a valid rabies vaccination – given at least 21 days before travel if it is the first one. Ordinary beaches are mostly off-limits in summer, but Zadar County has more than ten designated dog beaches. On Jadrolinija ferries dogs need a muzzle and lead, and dog friendly apartments typically charge 5–20 € a night in 2026.Sukošan or Biograd with kids? Beaches, prices and evenings comparedWith small children (up to about 8) Sukošan wins: a sandy, shallow seabed at Dječji raj beach, apartments with parking in the yard and Zadar 15 minutes away by car. With older kids and teenagers Biograd na Moru is the better base – a long promenade, evening entertainment, a fun park and Kornati excursion boats leaving straight from the harbour. Zadar makes sense if you want a city and day trips and the beach is your second priority.SUP in Zadar and Sukošan: Where to Paddle, When and Prices (2026)The best SUP spots around Zadar are the enclosed bays: Zlatna luka in Sukošan, the Kolovare–Foša stretch under Zadar's old town walls and the shallow lagoon at Nin. Paddle between 7:00 and 11:00 before the maestral wind builds, and never try to cross the Zadar Channel to Ugljan. Rentals cost 5–15 € per hour in 2026 and no licence is required.Ferries from Zadar to the Islands 2026: Ugljan, Dugi Otok, SilbaFrom Zadar a car ferry sails to Ugljan (Preko) roughly every hour for €3.80 per person and €17.30 per car, taking 25 minutes. Car ferries to Dugi Otok (Brbinj) run three times a day, 1 h 35 min, €6.40 per person and about €28 per car (2026). Jadrolinija car ferries leave from Gaženica port; catamarans and passenger boats leave from Liburnska obala by the old town — mixing up the two is the most common mistake visitors make.Things to Do in Zadar When It Rains: Museums, Food, Day TripsZadar averages just 3 rainy days in July but 7–8 in September and October, so a wet day is far more likely in shoulder season. Spend the morning in the old-town museums (Ancient Glass, Archaeological, Gold and Silver of Zadar), have a long konoba lunch, then drive to Šibenik or Nin. If bura or jugo is blowing, leave a rental boat in port and move the date.Zadar with kids: kid-friendly beaches, day trips and tipsFor toddlers, swim at Borik or Puntamika in Zadar (shallow, sand and fine pebbles) and spend a day in Nin, 15 km away, where the sandy lagoon beaches stay knee-deep for tens of metres. In town, children love the Sea Organ and the Greeting to the Sun (both free) plus the Museum of Illusions. Families usually stay just outside the city – Sukošan, Bibinje or Petrčane – for quiet nights and parking at the door.Zadar in One Day: Walking Itinerary with Times (2026)One day is enough for Zadar's old town: the walk from the Land Gate to the Sea Organ is under 3 km. Sights in the morning, a konoba for lunch, a swim in the afternoon and sunset at the Greeting to the Sun – this is the route we give our own visitors, living 10 km down the coast.Winter on the Adriatic: Weather, What's Open and Long Stays in ZadarFrom November to March Zadar sees daytime highs of 11–16 °C, January nights around 5 °C and more sunshine than most of central Europe – but also the bura, a wind that can stop ferries for two or three days. The cities (Zadar, Split, Šibenik) run as normal; on the islands most restaurants and shops close. A winter-let apartment costs roughly €400–800 a month in 2026 and suits remote workers and retirees far better than families.