7 Reasons Why This European Country Is A Top Destination For Solo Travelers

7 Reasons Why This European Country Is A Top Destination For Solo Travelers

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Croatia is on the bucket checklist of many Americans country-hopping round Europe.

With its Mediterranean local weather that gives the coastal provinces with nice climate year-round, completely preserved historic cities, and a laid-back way of life, it competes with neighboring sunny spots Montenegro and Greece for the title of Southeast Europe’s high solo travel locations.

Despite Greece’s historical allure, and Montenegro’s trendiness, Croatia remains to be a favourite among the many majority, and on this article, we offers you 7 explanation why:

Sunset Over The Fortress In The Island Of Hvar, Dalmatian Coast, Croatia

It Is Perfectly Safe For Tourists

Eastern Europe has traditionally had a fame for being ‘less safe’ than the extra ‘developed’ West, however because the figures compiled by the U.S. State Department will inform you, we’ve now entered a brand new period the place decades-old misconceptions no longer apply.

As a part of the bloc, Croatia is one of many most secure nations for solo vacationers to discover, rating because the least dangerous total in a research performed by specialists at Bounce, who requested guests whether or not they felt secure touring Croatia, in a broader sense, and obtained a powerful sure for a response, ‘even at night and alone’.

A Typical Mediterranean House In Makarska, Dalmatian Coast Of Croatia, South Eastern Europe

Bounce‘s data corroborates that of the U.S. State Department’s Travel Advisory listings, the place Croatia is added as a ‘Level 1 destination’. This means security issues are minimal, and it’s about as secure as Norway, Finland, and even Iceland, thought of the safest to visit in the world.

Beautiful Nature And Beaches

The Croatian coast, a part of a wider historic area referred to as Dalmatia, is among the most stunning bathing zones not solely in Eastern Europe however the complete continent.

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Sandy Beach In Bol, An Island Off The Dalmatian Coast Of Croatia, South Eastern Europe

Situated on the Northern arm of the Mediterranean, mystically named ‘The Adriatic’, Dalmatia is a rugged, usually subtropical terrain boasting scenic coastal drives, interspersed with small, pebbly seashores and sandy crescents and a boundless pure wealth different Eastern powers discover onerous to rival.

If you’re a nature seeker, you must undoubtedly pay the Plitvice Lakes Natural Park a go to. Famous for its cascading waterfalls, flowing effortlessly within the dry, scorching summers and freezing over nearly fully throughout harsh winters, it’s a pure escape from the busy, overtouristed coast.

Plitvice Lakes In Croatia, Southeastern Europe

The Sljeme mountain, a brief one-hour drive from downtown Zagreb, can be to not be missed, what with its quite a few mountain climbing trails, meandering creeks, and abundance of wildlife. It is especially beautiful within the colder months when snow blankets the foggy pine forest.

Diverse Tourist Offer

Croatia is – maybe unsurprisingly – usually portrayed within the media as a summer season getaway.

Home to a collective of Adriatic islands lapped by the turquoise ocean and sharing a pan-Mediterranean tradition with its Italian, Greek, and Spanish counterparts, Croatia – at the least Dalmatian Croatia – feels certainly nearer to Southern than Central and even Eastern Europe.

(*7*)

With that being stated, lowering it to easily a seashore zone is a gross mistake.

As you may need guessed already, this can be a nation the place nature will at all times discover methods to shock you, whether or not it’s the lesser-explored alpine peaks that encompass the inland capital of Zagreb, the picturesque Danube basin, or the huge, lush-green forests protecting almost a 3rd of the nationwide territory.

Croatia is numerous, and as a lover of nature, you’ll by no means run out of parks to discover, mountains to climb, or rivers to kayak in.

Croatia Is More Liberal Than Other Eastern European Countries

LGBTQ Travelers At The Beach

Eastern Europe has been synonymous with conservatism and backward insurance policies with regards to Human Rights.

From the outright prohibition of homosexual marriage in some nations to the endemic post-Soviet corruption noticed in others, one may suppose Croatia and the likes of Hungary, Romania, or Moldova are all peas in the identical pod.

This couldn’t be farther from the reality: sure, Croatian society nonetheless has a option to go, particularly relating to its acceptance of same-sex relationships, the tradition may be very a lot liberal and Western-inclined, however the position of faith within the state, albeit influential, is much more restricted than in, say, Serbia.

A DJ plays to a party crowd at a beach

The proof is within the numerous LGBTQ bars and nightclubs that maintain popping up in city facilities like Zagreb and Zadar, the naturist-friendly seashores, the place you received’t be regarded down upon when deciding to reveal all of it, and the locals’ carefree perspective in the direction of life normally.

You might get the odd disapproving look from an aged Croatian nonna holding palms along with your same-sex accomplice in Split, however it’s extremely unlikely you should have abuse hurled at you.

Locals Are Friendlier To Tourists

Solo Traveler in Croatia

The unfriendliness of Europeans in the direction of Americans has turn out to be a working joke on social media channels.

Videos of vacationers re-enacting the rudeness of the French or the impatience of Italian waiters as they take your orders have gone viral repeatedly lately, and judging by Western Europe’s staggering overtourism charges, it’s no wonder they’d want locals ‘out’.

Croatia, however, has up to now been an exception, very like its shut accomplice Bosnia and Herzegovina. For years, most notably in the course of the nineties, vacationers famously averted vacationing in Croatia because of the bloody conflict ensuing from the break-up of Yugoslavia.

Historical Part Of Zadar With Cathedral Of St Donatus And Roman Forum Ruins, Zadar, Croatia

After surviving a interval when its stunning seashores turned empty, and the underground tunnels of the medieval fortress had been used as bunkers by the populace to guard themselves towards heavy shelling and artillery, Croatians have realized to admire the contribution of foreigners and the liberty they now take pleasure in following the traumatic Yugoslav years.

In reality, it’s so pleasant to overseas funding that it turned Europe’s first nation to launch a Digital Nomad Visa as early as 2021 when the continent’s borders had been nonetheless sealed shut attributable to COVID, and it’s now the ‘most liked’ digital nomad hub for 2023.

Male Digital Nomad Working From His Computer At The Beach, Caribbean Sea Or Mediterranean Or Indian Ocean

Tourists – and vacationer {dollars} – are greater than welcome, and so long as you present kindness and respect, and familiarize your self with the tradition, relaxation assured they are going to lengthen their Balkan friendliness to you.

Great Infrastructure

Croatia’s excellent infrastructure is among the important explanation why it has turn out to be a massively well-liked vacation spot for solo vacationers.

You might be wherever within the nation – the Istrian Peninsula, near Italy, or the distant Southern tip of Neretva, approaching the border with Montenegro – however you should have at the least one bus in availability to get you the place you have to be, in addition to a number of ferry and rail connections.

Aerial View Of Old Town Zagreb Depicting The Lower And Upper Towns, Zagreb Cathedral, And The Ban Jelacic Square On A Sunny Day, Zagreb, Capital City Of Croatia

Companies like Flixbus function throughout the complete nationwide territory, transporting prospects from the Zagrebi metropolis to the traditional ports of Split and Dubrovnik all yr spherical.

Trains are a bit trickier to navigate, as they run much less steadily and are principally restricted to Central and South-Central Croatia, however they’re an incredible possibility for touring at a slower tempo, taking within the surroundings in anticipation of the following cease.

Of course, if you happen to’re quick on time, you may at all times fly. Nearly all Croatian resort cities on the coast have a small home or worldwide airport that serves them, linking them to different tiny aerodromes and main worldwide hubs like Zagreb, Split, Zadar, and Dubrovnik.

Woman looking at Dubrovnik from above

A Set-Jetting Destination For TV Fans

Lastly, Croatia has risen to prominence up to now decade attributable to its affiliation with the best tv occasion of the twenty first century, Game of Thrones.

The metropolis of Dubrovnik, the place a great portion of the exterior King’s Landing scenes had been shot, is a pure movie set that includes winding cobbled streets flanked by centuries-old stone homes, big ramparts and fortifications, drawbridges, and hilltop forts.

If you’re a History buff or just a Game of Thrones fan, one can find your self stopping for footage and re-enactments of a number of the present’s most iconic moments at each flip.

rooftops of Old Dubrovnik Town Croatia

Cities like Split and Sibenik are additionally well-liked amongst guests eager on experiencing that Old World allure and gradual Mediterranean dwelling, although true, hardcore movie followers may need to lengthen their time in Zadar as an alternative, Hitchcock’s personal favourite coastal spot.

According to the legendary filmmaker, ‘Zadar has the most beautiful sunset in the world,’ and having sat by the Sea Organ because the Adriatic caressed my toes, on a balmy late summer season night, with the seas reflecting the blood-orange sundown, I really feel compelled to agree.

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This article initially appeared on TravelOffPath.com


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