Tourists’ gripes and highlights in Croatia this summer 

Hvar

From the pristine coast, to cultural wonders and delightful cuisine, Croatia has long been a magnet for tourists seeking sun-soaked adventures and historical treasures. 

As Croatia farewells another summer, Pun kufer delved into the tales of tourists’ gripes and delights from the Croatian experience this summer.

Judging by tourist forums and blogs, tourists in Croatia mostly complain about – other tourists. They long for the times when visitors avoided Croatia and went to Spain and Italy to find more space for themselves. 

Crowds annoy them, and they also complain about transportation by buses and ferries. However, amidst the complaints, there are many praises – primarily due to the beautiful nature.

Dubrovnik

“Croatia used to be cheap, a niche destination because people mostly flocked to Spain and Italy. Now, hordes of tourists are everywhere. Catamaran tickets sell out early, and you can’t buy them online in advance. Airbnb and hotels are fully booked. 

Tourist traps are everywhere – they’ll charge you 7 euros for a bottle of water. You can’t even get Uber. Long lines lead to every cash register. All places, from restaurants to attractions, are full of tourists, and moving through rivers of tourists on staircases is terrible.

I also don’t understand why transportation is so confusing despite Croatia being a tourist hotspot. 

The ferry schedule is confusing. 

There are approximately four different operators with different working hours. Ticket booths are not easy to find because Google doesn’t display them. When you try to buy tickets online, it says they’re unavailable without an explanation, but when you arrive at the counter, you can buy tickets without a problem.

Ferry from Split 

For bus stations that run from Stari Grad to Hvar Town, you have to ask the locals because you can’t find them online.

And yes, it’s ironic that as a tourist, I’m complaining because the place is touristy, but if I had known all of this, I wouldn’t have come to Croatia,” said a disappointed visitor on Reddit, to which other forum members advised him not to travel during peak crowds or choose quieter destinations because Croatia has a long coastline where everyone can find a place to their liking.

The tourist who is bothered by tourists is not the only one who has complained about Croatian transportation:

“Traveling by bus in Croatia is a lottery, especially in the middle of the season when they often run late. There are all sorts of drivers: from those who will help and joke to the rude and arrogant ones.”

Visitors to Plitvice Lakes National Park also complain about the crowds. 

Crowds in Croatia’s most visited national park in September, while there is still a decent number of tourists in the country. Who would have expected that:

“The Plitvice Lakes National Park in Croatia was a disappointment. I expected fewer crowds on a Monday morning in September (not the peak of the season, not the weekend). Reality: a park absolutely packed with hyperactive, selfish visitors who are constantly yelling. At one point, I was trapped on the trail and desperately tried to squeeze through the people to see the waterfalls,” said a tourist who was advised to visit Krka National Park instead if crowds bothered him.

A visitor from Denmark complained about the rain that falls every day at Plitvice Lakes, even in summer, as well as the lack of toilets in the national park. 

Plitvice Lakes National Park

He liked Zagreb because of the good hostel crowd, but he said not to spend more than two days in Dubrovnik because the crowds are unbearable due to the cruise ships that bring hordes of people. He also disliked restaurant staff who stand in the street and pull passersby by the sleeve. 

The Dane did praise Croatian roads but thought the tolls were expensive, and drivers were aggressive and fast. Additionally, he warned about minefields in the forests, both here and in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Croatian highway

On the list of what impresses tourists are the beautiful nature and architecture, as well as the fact that due to the low crime rate, you can walk freely at night without fear of being robbed.

Split

Low prices and generally friendly people are also a plus, Pun kufer concludes.