Destination Diary Croatia (2019 Edition)

by Trav | Jun 5, 2019 | Podcast

After visiting Croatia three times over the last five years, Trav and Heather continue to fall more and more in love with this wonderful country.

In today’s episode, they’ll tell you where you can find the best seafood they’ve ever eaten, how to make sure you are able to get into Plitvice Lakes (they didn’t!), and what beach has both urban exploring and crystal clear waters – plus tons more!

Today’s episode has been sponsored by our friends at Tortuga Backpacks. Check them out for the best travel backpacks!

Today’s episode has also been sponsored by our friends at Suavs.  Check them out for the best travel shoes out there!

Click here to download the episode directly.

What are your favorites in Croatia? Was it worth it? Let us know @ExtraPackofPeanuts!

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Important Links

Zagreb:

• Accommodations
  • Hotel Accaddemia – Clean and nice hotel in a great location that’s walkable to everything – the pedestrian walkway is right outside your door – with a grocery store downstairs and paid parking (10 euros/night)

• Eating
  • Pizzeria Karijola – A local fave, this pizza place is in a neat “hidden” courtyard with big pizzas (for about $8-10) and a second-floor wine bar.
  • Mali Bar – Located in the same courtyard as Pizzeria Karijola, come here for inventive, unique tapas from a TV famous Croatian chef.  It’s not necessarily cheap, but it’s good and fun.
  • Pingvin – This place is cheap and has some of the best sandwiches in Zagreb.  Like the locals say “you haven’t been to Zagreb if you haven’t eaten at Pingvin.”  And since it’s open until 4 am, you’ve got plenty of time to go.
  • Chocolat 041 – A decent gelato place that is definitely the best in Zagreb.  The chocolate is especially tasty (based on the name, it better be).

• Drinking
  • Cogito Coffee Shop – Cute, hipster coffee shop tucked away in a small courtyard in the heart of downtown.
  • Tolkien House – Cool craft beer spot right on the park with a nice outdoor patio and some funky decorations.
  • Craft Room – Right near Tolkien House, head here to get more of your craft beer fix.

• To Do
  • Gric Tunnels – Originally built in WW2 as a bomb shelter and later used during the Croatian war, these tunnels were opened to the public in 2016 and cool to walk through.
  • Museum of Broken Relationships – The name says it all.
  • Drazen Petrovic Museum – If you’re a sports fan, you’ll want to visit this small museum dedicated to one of Croatia’s most famous basketball players ever.
  • Nikola Tesla (not the car company) Museum – Go here to learn about one of the father’s of electricity.

Split

• Accommodations
  • House Sandra – where we stayed in 2019
  • Natasa’s Apartment on AirBnB – where we stayed in 2015

• Eating
  • Buffet Fife – local’s establishment with good fried calamari and some of the most reasonable prices in Split.
  • Mano Pizza and Pasta – Pizzas are decent but the pastas are very good.
  • Popaj’s – the best fast-food chicken sandwiches, which are perfect for a picnic or snack.
  • Luka Gelato – the best gelato in Split, hands down.  Especially the peanut.
  • Kruscic Bakery – small bakery churning out great bread and pastries, but get there earlier in the day to ensure you get some.

Korcula

• Accommodation
  • Dreamer’s Club in Lumbarda – Incredible views and beautiful interior decor in an eco-lodge.

• Eating
  • Konoba Aterina in Korcula Old Town – Get the incredible baked eggplant, any pasta, and the appetizer sampler for 2 (that really feeds 4).
  • Konoba More in Lumbarda – Incredible location jutting out into the water with good seafood (obviously), especially the grilled and fried calamari.
  • Maestral Cafe – breakfast spot with a crazy rich hot chocolate.

• To Do:
  • Head to Vela Przina beach
  • Double up on wineries by hitting Winery Grk and Popic Winery – they are right next to each other.
  • Go to Korcula Old Town (if you stay in Lumbarda) or vice versa.

Peljesac Penninsula

• Eat/Drink
  • Vitacaea in Trstenik has the best seafood…in the world.  Get the seafood sampler, take a tour of the kitchen, and prepared to be in heaven.
  • Grgic Winery in Trstenik for great views
  • Matuska Winery in Potomje for some of the best reds in Croatia.

• To Do
  • Drive through the tunnel near Matuska Winery and then follow the crazy cliff road to Trstenik
  • Visit the Walls of Ston which are the 2nd longest preserved fortification system in the world (behind the Great Wall of China).

Dubrovnik

• Accommodation
  • Marijana’s Apartment – The most amazing views of Dubrovnik and free parking!

• Eating
  • Nistha is a great vegetarian restaurant even if you’re not vegetarian.
  • Pizzeria Tabasco has the best pizza in Dubrovnik.
  • Gossip, Dolce Vita, and Peppino’s in that order for decent gelato.

• Drinking
  • Buzz Bar is expensive ($6-7 beer) but perched on the outside of the city walls, so well worth it for the view.
  • D’Vino Wine Bar for a cozy, fun experience with good charcuterie.

• To Do
  • Walk on top of the city walls.
  • Hike up to the Fort and be aware that your ticket for the city walls gets you in here for free (but not vice versa)
  • Head to the Museum of Love Stories (especially if you want to the Museum of Broken Relationships in Zagreb).
  • Visit the amazing beach in Kupari which is surrounded by old abandoned hotels you can explore.
  • Visit the abandoned Belvedere Hotel, which unlike the ones in Kupari, is within walking distance of Old Town Dubrovnik and where they filmed the battle scene between Prince Oberyn and The Mountain in Game of Thrones season 4.
  • Drive up to the top of the cable car (or walk if you want to exercise).  Look for signs for Bosanka and follow that road up.
  • Drive down to Kotor, Montenegro for some incredible seaside scenery.

• Jetto App – Referral Code: EPOP
• Want to follow our adventures? Check out our Instagram’s at  @PackOfPeanuts, @HeatherSherry, @TravelingWhitMyles, and @Let’sJetto