Croatia
Our Rating:
Croatia: A different way to explore the sea
Croatia is an easy addition to a sabbatical route if you want a mix of coast, culture, and outdoor time. The calm Adriatic waters are great for swimming or renting a small boat, while ferries make it simple to hop between islands. Inland, national parks like Plitvice, offer marked trails and day hikes, with waterfalls and turquoise lakes that are among the country’s main highlights. The coastline also has long stretches of pebble beaches backed by pine forests, perfect for low-key exploration between travel days.
Best time of year to visit
From May until October (July and August can be crowded but great weather).
Sea
Krk: pine forests meet rocky shores
Just off Croatia’s northern coast, Krk is one of the easiest islands to reach—connected to the mainland by a bridge and only a short drive from Rijeka Airport. Despite that convenience, it’s known for its quiet coves, clear water, and accessible outdoor activities. Pine forests meet rocky shores, creating good spots for swimming, stand-up paddling, or short coastal hikes. The island also has cycling routes, small historic villages, and plenty of beaches, making it a practical base for a few days of exploration.
Stay at Camping Punta Jerta
This is a great camping if you’re looking for sea access and simplicity. Tucked into a quiet pine grove right along the shoreline, it’s made for sabbatical travelers with a camper or van, shaded by their own olive trees, and also offers some bungalows. The camp allows direct access to the sea.
Where to eat
Konoba Ivincic – a cute restaurant in Skrbčići, about 20 minutes walking from Camping Punta Jerta. Great for fish and pizza.
Konoba Galija – tucked away in the old town of Krk, this cavern style restaurant offers some great traditional Croatian food
King’s Cafe Krk – for a quick coffee or juice stop, this is a nice place in the harbor of Krk
Zrinski – for delicious fresh fish in Krk (cash only!)
What to do
Visit the old town of Krk and wander around the streets. There are also multiple nice markets (did someone say souvenirs?)
The sea around Camping Punta Jerta is calm and shallow, ideal for swimming, snorkeling, and stand-up paddling. Spend your days in and around the water.
Nature
Plitvice Lakes: a UNESCO World Heritage site
For a change of scenery from the coast, visit Plitvice Lakes National Park, about 3 hours drive from Krk. A UNESCO World Heritage site, it’s made up of 16 lakes connected by waterfalls and wooden walkways through dense forest. Trails range from short loops to full-day hikes of six to eight hours.
Plitvice is also one of Croatia’s most visited attractions, and it gets extremely crowded, especially in summer. The best way to avoid the worst of it is to go in the low season, arrive as soon as the park opens, or take one of the longer hiking routes where fewer people venture.
Stay at Camping Plitvice
Just a few minutes from the park entrance, Camping Plitvice offers modern comfort whether you choose a small cabin, park your van, or pitch your tent. Though some of the pitches are quite close together, and the offer on shade is limited, the site has a large outdoor pool, clean facilities, and an on-site restaurant serving good meals and local wine.
Where to eat
Cafe Pizzeria Rendulić – great for a quick lunch nearby quad riding
Restaurant Degenija – delicious food in a comfortable (air-conditioned) space nearby Plitvice
What to do
Visit Plitvice National Lakes – consider bringing your own packed lunch so you can choose where you want to stop along the hike to take a rest. There are multiple loops of the hike you can take, crossing each other at different points along the path. If you’re up for it, strap on some good shoes and go for the whole hike, the scenery you catch that isn’t on the most popular touristic (more easily accessible for all) route is really worth it.
Quad riding – if you’re looking for some adventure, why not take this opportunity to go quad riding? In the nearby town of Grabovac, you can find Quad & Buddy Plitvice, for quite an unforgettable ride.
