Croatian family holiday
Trogir is a town with soul, and despite the tourist crowds in August, it has a lived-in feel with locals sipping coffee on the Riva (waterfront) alongside visitors from every corner of the globe, adding to the town’s already cosmopolitan air. Large yachts and rugged wooden oldtimer boats line up on the Riva. At sunset the warm stone paved quay is lined with artisans, performers and people simply strolling along with an ice cream in their hand, watching the world go by - a typical Croatian scene.
We drove to nearby Krka National Park and navigated our way whilst admiring the sweeping coastal views. This was my first visit to Krka and despite having visited the waterfall’s notorious big brother, Plitvice, I was not in the slightest bit disappointed. We scrambled over slippery boulders to reach the deeper water for a swim, reflecting on how useful a pair of waterproof shoes would have been for this!
From Trogir, we travelled by bus to nearby Split, the second largest city in Croatia. This seaside city is home to Roman Emperor Diocletian’s Palace. It’s rumoured that this location is to be used for the filming of the forthcoming new series of ‘Game of Thrones’ and this otherworldly backdrop will not disappoint fans of the series.
From Split we took a ferry to the island of Hvar which has become one of Croatia’s most notorious hotspots, described by Conde Nast as one of the top ten islands in the world and billed as the ‘new St. Tropez’. Celebrities come here to party the night away, alongside yachters and in-the-know backpackers or holidaymakers. Bars like Carpe Diem have given this small town international notoriety yet this has not spoiled the town’s picturesque charm. Cafes and restaurants spill out onto the largest piazza in Croatia and you can instantly see the town’s appeal in its jumble of pretty narrow streets and dazzling architecture.
Whilst on Hvar we chartered a speedboat and skipper to take us to neighbouring Vis and Bisevo Islands. We stopped first at the Blue Caves, where you enter by boat through a narrow, low entrance so everyone has to crouch down on the bottom of the boat. This delighted the children onboard, who felt part of a real adventure. Once inside you can sit up and admire the view - crystal clear water infused with natural sunlight reflected from the seabed - this is surely Mother Nature just showing off how beautiful the world can be?!
We headed next to Stiniva beach on Vis, a real gem of a hidden cove which opens up like an amphitheatre once inside and is a magnet to those looking for a cold beer (there’s a bar!) on a picture perfect beach. Next stop was the green caves, which the boat motored right into, and dropped anchor so we could swim. The cave was cool and shady, with only one intense patch of sunlight slanting through a hole in the cave roof. Our final stops were at the Pakleni islands just off Hvar, including Milni beach and the sandy Palmizana beach.
Finally, it was back to the mainland and a day trip to Drevnik Veliki Island. This is an island that’s truly off the beaten track, with one small shop, two restaurants and a small cluster of pretty stone houses. We swam in shallow coves, caught sprats in our fishing net and ate delicious fresh seafood before it was time to get the ferry back to Trogir - a truly perfect day.
There are so many options in Croatia; it has something to suit everyone whether you’re looking for a relaxing beach holiday, a family break, an island hopping cruise on a small boat or more adventurous pursuits such as rafting and cycling. If you’d like some great suggestions for a Croatia trip to suit your style and budget, please do not hesitate to get in touch with me.