Travel Guide to Croatia – Tips, Checklist & Advice

🧭 Survival (and Enjoyment) Guide to Croatia: How Not to Be a Tourist, but a Local Legend 🇭🇷
Welcome to Croatia! If you’re reading this, chances are you’ve already arrived, booked an excursion, or you’re just staring at Plitvice photos while your pizza gets cold. Either way — congrats! This guide will help you go from “tourist with a map” to someone who knows where to find the best fritule and why pomalo is the ultimate life philosophy.

🕰️ 1. Forget the schedule. Embrace the pomalo lifestyle.
If you came with an Excel itinerary, feel free to delete it now. In Croatia, things don’t run late — they arrive exactly when they should. That’s called pomalo. Even the waiter will tell you that as he finally brings your drink… after the ice has melted. But trust us — you’ll smile anyway.

🏖️ 2. The beach isn’t just for swimming
At the beach, people: drink coffee ☕, debate politics 🗣️, plan life, play card games 🃏, and preferably don’t swim before 5 PM. If you do, we’ll know you’re not from here. But if you stay till sunset with a beer and a towel over your head — you’re getting there.

🍽️ 3. Fries and pizza? Please.
Try brudet (fish stew). Peka (meat under the bell). Roast lamb. Local prosciutto and cheese. Fritule (mini doughnuts). And of course — gemišt (white wine + sparkling water). If a local says the wine is “easy to drink,” be prepared to end up playing guitar 🎸 at someone’s grandma’s house 🏠.

🚤 4. Boat trip = therapy + Instagram + lunch
Whether it’s to Kornati, Vis or just around a nearby island — you’ll get everything: wind in your hair, pine trees in your nose, and a seagull targeting your head just as you try to snap the perfect photo 📸. That’s Croatia. You’ll remember it forever.

🧓 5. When someone says “ajme meni” — everything’s fine
Locals say “ajme meni” about everything. The heat 🔥. The traffic 🚗. The weather 🌧️. July. Don’t panic. Until someone says “uff, this is bad,” it means all is well.

🗣️ 6. Learn these local gems:
Pomalo – already covered: relaxed, take-it-slow mindset

Fjaka – untranslatable, but you’ll feel it between 1–4 PM 😴

Marenda – Croatian version of brunch, greasier and with rakija 🥃

Ajme – universal reaction: from mosquito bite to wedding

No rush – seriously, there isn’t

✔️ Now for real: Your checklist for a stress-free Croatian vacation
📋 THE ESSENTIALS
1. 📱 Internet & SIM cards
If you’re not using EU roaming, grab a local SIM — it’s faster and cheaper.

2. 🚗 Parking & driving
Paid parking is the norm. Use apps like PayDo or Bmove. And STOP means stop — Croatians honk and brake.

3. 💶 Cash & cards
Cards are accepted almost everywhere, but bring some cash for markets, bakeries, and boat guys.

4. 🏥 Emergency & pharmacies
112 is the universal emergency number. Pharmacies often close in the afternoon or weekends — check ahead.

5. 🕒 Opening hours
Shops: usually 7–21h. Sundays = maybe closed. Restaurants? Lunch after 1 PM, dinner after 7 PM.

6. 🚤 Booking boat trips
Don’t wait last minute — boat tours fill up fast. Book online when you can, and check what’s included (lunch, drinks, guide?).

7. 🏖️ Beaches & sea
Bring: flip-flops, hat, SPF, and know this — there’s no sand, just rock. Also, no cannonballs after ćevapi. You’re not a dolphin.

🎒 What to pack for a boat trip (so you don’t borrow from everyone)
1. 🧴 Sunscreen (SPF 30+ minimum)
Sun above + sea below + breeze that fools you = crispy memories.

2. 🕶️ Shades + hat
Seagulls don’t aim for your face. The sun does.

3. 👙 Swimsuit + towel (two, ideally)
One for swimming, one for sitting. One always stays wet.

4. 🩴 Flip-flops or easy slip-ons
Wet sneakers? No thanks.

5. 🚰 Water & a small snack
Even if food is included, you’ll get hungry before the anchor drops.

6. 🎧 Something fun (but not loud)
Book, headphones, cards. No Bluetooth speakers. No one wants your techno at 9 AM.

7. 📱 Charged phone + power bank
Because when dolphins show up and your phone dies… rage.
Also: vertical for story, horizontal for memories.

🎉 Final words:
If you’ve made it this far — you’re no longer a tourist. You’re a guest who gets the good life.
If you liked this, there’s more. There’s the sea 🌊. The hills ⛰️. The konobas 🍷. The boat rides 🚤.

But first — pomalo. 😉

Ready to plan your own adventure? Visit our main site for boat tours, local tips and more: www.excursioncroatia.com