Croatia from the UK

Best time to visit

Monthly breakdown for the UK travellers planning a Croatia trip.

Best value

May · Jun · Sep · Oct

Peak season

Jul · Aug — Hotter, busier and more expensive

Getting there

Flight time

~2.5–3 h

Why Croatia?

Croatia's Dalmatian coast draws British holidaymakers with clear turquoise water, walled old towns and pine-covered islands, most of it within three hours' flying time from the UK.

Dubrovnik's fame from Game of Thrones sits alongside a genuinely well-preserved medieval centre, while Split offers a livelier, more affordable base with regular ferries out to Hvar, Brač and Vis.

A growing spread of direct summer routes from regional UK airports has made island-hopping or a week's sailing far easier to plan than a decade ago, and prices still generally undercut equivalent coastline in Italy, France or Spain.

Where to stay

• Split — Croatia's main coastal hub, built around a Roman palace, with the busiest ferry connections to the central Dalmatian islands.
• Dubrovnik — The walled Old Town that anchors most Croatia itineraries, popular for its ramparts walk and Game of Thrones filming locations.
• Zadar — A quieter alternative to Split or Dubrovnik, known for its Roman ruins, sea organ and shorter queues outside peak season.
• Zagreb — The inland capital, better suited to a short city break than a beach trip, with a compact old town, museums and café culture.
• Rijeka — A working port city and gateway to the Kvarner Gulf, less polished than the Dalmatian resorts but handy for Opatija and the Istrian coast.

Expect roughly £60–90 a night for a mid-range hotel room outside July and August, climbing sharply in peak summer; a sit-down meal with wine runs about £15–25 a head, and a week's bareboat yacht charter starts from around £1,200–1,800 split between a group.

Plan your trip

• Croatia travel guide
• Events in Croatia

Package holidays vs booking independently

Compare packages from the UK-based operators against building your own trip.

Partner links — we may earn a commission on bookings at no extra cost to you.