
As some of my readers probably already know, Andrew and I had a wonderful trip to Croatia back in May. While we all are bidding farewell to summer, I thought it would make sense to share our travel memories. So I am inviting you to virtually join our trip to Croatia, May 2023 (Part 2).

Croatia, May 2023 (Part 2)
But first of all, if you missed my previous posts, please make sure you check them: Ajvar – Balkan Pepper Spread and Croatia, May 2023 (Part 1). Also, in the first chapter of the Croatian blog, I talked about about our first 5 days in Croatia, including Zagreb, Pula, Poreč, and Rovinj.
Labin and Zadar
After spending three nights in Pula, we jumped in our rented car to go to Zadar where we rented an apartment for another two nights. On the way to Zadar, we stopped in Labin – an old quiet town which I would say slightly off the beaten path spot. Old streets and authentic ambience with its colorful old town houses with many pretty decorative details – that’s what you can expect in Labin. We spent here less than two hours, but we did love the place; it’s certainly our personal top five among all towns and villages we visited.




Our next home for two nights became Zadar (and this time we had our place with the view to old town!) Zadar is a city on Croatia’s Dalmatian coast, best known for the Roman and Venetian ruins of its peninsular Old Town, including several Venetian gates in the city walls.


Plitvice Lakes National Park
We did not spend much time in Zadar (basically two evenings/nights) because we dedicated one day for a trip to the Plitvice Lakes National Park – one of the oldest and largest parks in Croatia. And it is surely one of the most essential attractions along with Dubrovnik. Despite some drizzle and quite fresh day (it was around 12 degrees C), the park was quite busy. But even though we both are not not a fans of crowds, that’s a must destination. Just keep in mind if you are visiting Croatia between June and September, it will be a hot spot.




Šibenik and Trogir
After two nights in Zadar our next destination was Split with two beautiful stops – Šibenik and Trogir. These towns probably are not as famous touristic destinations as Split or Dubrovnik, but if you are planning your trip to Croatia, I would encourage you to include them in your schedule.
Šibenik is a historic town located in central Dalmatia. Unlike other cities along the Adriatic coast, which were established by Greeks, Illyrians and Romans, Šibenik was founded by Croats.
The central church in Šibenik, the Šibenik Cathedral of St. James is on the UNESCO World Heritage List. In the city of Šibenik there are four fortresses, each of which has views of the city, sea and nearby islands. We visited on of them – St. Michael’s Fortress – in historic town center, and the view is simply spectacular!

In our humble opinion, it’s one of the best places we visited in Croatia.
Trogir is a town on the central Adriatic coast of Croatia known for its preserved old town, with the mix of Renaissance, baroque and Romanesque buildings. The historic center of Trogir has been included in the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites for its Venetian architecture.








Split
Split become our next stop for two nights. It is the second-largest city of Croatia after Zagreb and the largest city in Dalmatia.
Since the 1970s the historic center of Split has been on UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites. The old town is basically the maze of of streets and cobblestoned lanes – it’s quite easy to get lost. In fact, as our apartment was located in the heart of old town (with a fabulous view!), we had a few moments trying to find our place :)









Kaštela
Just 20 kilometers from Split, there’s another beautiful fortified village of Kaštela with the Kaštel Stari (the name means “Old Castle”) being the major attraction. This place may be off the beaten path, but it’s absolutely worth visiting.




After spending two nights in Split, we jumped…no, not exactly in a car this time but on the ferry (with the car, though) to explore two beautiful islands and then head to Dubrovnik, the final destination of our trip. But that’s going to be another chapter next week!
Cheers!

Hi – I’m Ben, a blogger, recipe developer, and food photographer. I’m glad you’re here! I hope you will enjoy hundreds of delicious recipes and a pinch of havoc in the kitchen.
Your travelogue of Croatia is like a visual feast! The photos are stunning, and your descriptions make me feel like I’m right there exploring these beautiful places with you. Croatia seems to offer a perfect blend of history, culture, and natural beauty. I can’t wait to read about your adventures on the islands and your visit to Dubrovnik.
Gorgeous photos! I do remember the cats, they are everywhere. Interesting point about the cats, is many of them are feral but socialized, and are quiet friendly.
A great vacation.
Velva
I love the photo of you at the Plitvice Lakes National Park on the boardwalk – so sweet! Second would be the one of you looking lovingly at the cat in Labin! All the photos of you and Andrew make me smile – just so happy. I love how you both love cats so much! As for Croatia — it is so beautiful. I have always wanted to go to Split, and your photos really confirm that desire. Thanks for sharing – and on to Part III!
David Scott Allen recently posted…Recipe for Tagine of Swordfish, Oranges, and Black Olives
Thanks so much for sharing these photos and memories, Ben. We haven’t been to Croatia (yet) so it’s certainly been fun to see the photos. And I agree – the off the beaten path places are the best way to really get a feeling for a country!
David @ Spiced recently posted…Honey Roasted Pears
We had a very similar plan for 2020 so if we ever get there I will make sure to re-read this as you have some places listed we did not consider :)
Tandy – Lavender and Lime recently posted…Kansui
Thanks Ben. I always love seeing pictures and reading the stories of places I want to visit, but have yet to visit. Seem you guys both had an amazing time!
Neil recently posted…Easy Slow Cooker Chicken Curry
So beautiful!! I love your photos!!! We traveled abroad this summer, too, but next year it may be Canada again—the east this time instead of the west.
we loved croatia when we were there years ago. Spent a few nights in dubrovnik and then in zagreb. So beautiful and historic.
Looks like a lovely holiday! Thank you for sharing all the photos. I see you found plenty of cats to visit too. :-)
Tasia recently posted…Raspberry Brownies
Wow.. looks like a beautiful country and you did so much. Beautiful photos!
Such a beautiful country! And you took some really amazing pictures, Ben. Cats there are so friendly, aint they?
angiesrecipes recently posted…Cucumber Spaghetti Salad with Dill Dijon Dressing