Captivating resorts on a stunning coastline

Croatia is a long-standing favourite with British holidaymakers thanks to superb resorts, a wonderful coastline and an exceptionally sunny, refreshing climate with mild winters - offering excellent accommodation and an appealingly relaxed atmosphere for the perfect holiday. The nightlife here is a pleasantly animated but romantic affair with attractive promenades, friendly pavement cafes and charming tavernas serving excellent seafood and local specialities along with fine Croatian wine.

Idyllic spots for sunbathing, swimming and water sports

Beautifully clean beaches and the sparkling, warm Adriatic Sea make it a popular destination for families with children. Croatia is particularly popular with all those seeking peaceful swimming and sunbathing. Quiet beaches are easy to find on the indented coastline, with tiny secluded coves and beautiful bays sheltered by shady wooded hills. Additional beaches are found on dozens of tiny islets off the coast. Snorkellers, scuba divers and all water sports enthusiasts will be in paradise here. Vibrant youthful resorts like Bol are known for their exceptional sports and water sports facilities. Croatia also offers excellent fishing, mountain biking, river rafting and hiking.

Pretty towns with animated charm

Croatia boasts well-kept little towns like Jelsa and Baska Voda, and attractive small resorts with picturesque flower-decked harbours like Brela and Cavtat. Islands of exceptional natural beauty like Brac or Hvar are often carpeted in lavender and aromatic herbs in the springtime. For culture lovers, cities like Dubrovnik and Split, both UNESCO World Heritage Sites are well worth a visit.

Croatia weather

Warm, sunny weather is one of the prime reasons for people to visit Croatia, the south eastern European country which enjoys the beautiful coastline of the Adriatic Sea. Visitors will find a Mediterranean-style climate characterised by mild winters and warm sunny summers. Expect temperatures of 26 to 29 degrees Celsius in July and August, and winter temperatures ranging from 9 to 18C. This stretch of Croatia’s coast is backed by the high peaks of the Dinaric Alps, which rise to 1,800 metres, and where winter rainfall can be particularly heavy. Picture-perfect snow-capped mountain tips are the norm for much of the year. The coldest months of the year on average are January and February, and the rainiest months are generally November and December, with the summer months being fairly dry.

All inclusive holidays in Croatia

All inclusive holidays in Croatia are a deservedly popular option with UK holidaymakers seeking attractive resorts, beautiful scenery and beach holiday relaxation. Captivating resorts appeal to families, couples, single travellers and groups of friends. Croatian all inclusive hotels typically come with attractive pools, good restaurants and easy access to beautifully clean beaches. Hotels frequently lay on entertainment and activities for children. All inclusive packages are less common than in countries like Spain and Portugal but an ever-growing number of Croatian hotels now offer all inclusive deals. 

Self-catering in Croatia

Croatia's blessed with a wide variety of places to stay, offering  something suitable for everyone, from hotels of varying levels of luxury to self-catering apartments.

Many hotels offer the choice of traditional hotel rooms and apartments with catering facilities such as kitchenettes – so you can cook for yourselves, or take advantage of the hotel’s restaurant if you don’t feel like cooking every night.

More commonly, you’ll be able to opt for an apartment in a purpose-built block within a resort, so you can shop in local supermarkets for food to cook in your self-catering accommodation, with the freedom of enjoying a night out at the local restaurant  when you can’t be bothered to cook or if you’ve saved enough to push the boat out.

If you like to try and save money on eating out, all-inclusive or self-catering offer the best options. While all-inclusive can work out to be more expensive than eating at cheap restaurants during the high season, bargains can be had if you travel at times other than UK school holidays, and once you’ve paid for your all-inclusive trip you can, in theory, enjoy your week or fortnight away without putting your hands in your pocket.

Self-catering usually offers the best value for travellers year-round, as long as there are food and beverage shopping opportunities, so you can get everything you need to eat and drink without having to go to bars and restaurants.  

More useful information

• For official Croatia tourist information click here - Croatian National Tourist Board
• The FCO occasionally release travel advisory warnings for Croatia. Check the latest on the Foreign Travel Advice website.