Croatia, Split, & Hvar

You would think a swimmer needs some time away from the water on their summer holidays… nope… you’d be surprised how much we love going to the beach.

Summer of ’22, I found myself along with seven of my friends planning a 2-week long trip to Croatia. I’m lucky to have friends from different parts of Europe. It provides me with a great opportunity to explore beautiful destinations off-the-beaten-path. Thanks to their local knowledge, we can venture beyond the typical tourist hotspots and discover hidden gems that I would have otherwise missed on my own.

We first travelling to Split. It may be the second largest city in Croatia, one of the smaller countries in Europe with a population of 4 million, but it still holds some of the most important pieces of history for the Roman Empire and the Adriatic Region. The Diocletian Palace, a palace that once was a villa for the Roman Emperor Diocletian, is smack-dab in the middle of the city. It’s actually the only ruin in the world that the UNESCO World Heritage Centre and the Country of Croatia allows people to live and work within it. The city is built around the palace, but all the stone walls, towers, gates, and underground alleys are in full use. You’re able to walk the same stairs the Roman Emperors walked almost two thousand years ago – such a surreal feeling.

I don’t think I have visited a place with better weather. Between exploring a new beach every day, and riding along the mountain side on 4x4’s to tiny towns and hidden rivers, I don’t think I saw a single cloud in the sky the entire time.

Croatians are also known for their national football team and historic castles. The scenery in Split is so theatrical, its often used in movies and TV shows. The Klis Fortress was the setting for most of the Game of Thrones series, and it was just as stunning in real life as it looks on film. One day, we took a bus tour to Krka Waterfall National Park, and passed the Fortress on the way. You know when you visit a place that is so breathtaking it doesn’t feel real? Yeah, Split is definitely one of those places.

Every day I tried a new type of seafood, and I couldn’t tell you which dish I enjoyed the best. If I were to write a Yelp review for any of the places I ate at, I would give them all 11 / 10’s.

The second destination of our trip was Hvar, an island that is an hour-long ferry ride away. Hvar is a big fishing community and is one of the most popular places to travel to for people in their 20’s. One day, we rented a private boat tour and spent all day out on the water, swimming in caves, snorkeling with fish, and enjoying one of the most beautiful coastlines. It is worth mentioning that the Croatian locals were some of the friendliest people I have ever met abroad. Not once did I feel uncomfortable or in danger, it is an extremely safe place to travel to.

Trips like these make me feel extremely fortunate to be able to see the world and travel with my best friends. Experiencing new cultures is very important to me, you can never have too many memories, or souvenirs. I will 100% be travelling back in Croatia again, and that’s no exaggeration!