croatia solo female travel itinerary

• PR & Marketing
• Privacy Policy

Girl about the Globe

Making solo travel easier.

Solo Travel in Croatia

Types of Girl about the Globe (GatG) – Beach, Festival, Historical, Movie Game of Thrones), Party, Sailing GatG

Croatia is a gorgeous destination to explore. If you are planning to solo travel Croatia, below is our guide on solo female travel Croatia, including the best places to stay in Croatia, where to go in Croatia and the best Croatia tour companies. Find out how to get from the airports, the best way to get around Croatia and things to do in Croatia for solos.

All companies included have been recommended by solo female travellers from our solo community and come with our Solo Female Friendly endorsement. Just choose the relevant section for your Croatia solo travel or read the full article.

N.b. For every booking made through this article, I donate money to projects helping vulnerable girls about the globe. Thank you for helping to make a difference to their lives. 

 Tip – If you prefer company for your solo travel to Croatia, I recommend one of these G Adventures Croatia tours . They have tours for solo travellers of all ages.

Places To Go in Croatia

Tours in croatia, accommodation in croatia, travelling around croatia, croatia itinerary, croatia guide book, what to pack for croatia, best time to visit croatia, travel insurance for croatia, airports in croatia, travelling onwards, conscious travel in croatia.

• Map of Croatia
• Plan a Trip To Croatia

Related Posts

View of Dubrovnik from the cable car

Croatia is a popular tourist destination with Old Towns, history and plenty of seafood. This country is so open to tourism that it is easy to solo travel in Croatia; that's why we've given it 4 out of 5 stars. It is a popular tourist destination with great infrastructure, good transport systems and so many places to stay.

No matter which destination you visit, you're likely to meet other travellers too. The country is popular with Australians and New Zealanders who you are guaranteed to meet if you decide to do a sailing trip around the party islands in Croatia. 

Is Croatia safe to travel alone? Yes. Croatians are proud of their country and heritage. The younger people generally speak English if you need any help whilst in the country. The whole country is not only beautiful but has a comfortable vibe for solos.

Just be prepared that the customer service may not be what you're used to, and the beaches aren't sandy. Croatia is a wonderful country to explore independently but you may prefer a group tour for your Croatia travels. 

About Croatia

Croatia was once a destination kept under the radar, but nowadays sees this Mediterranean country rapidly growing as a tourist destination with old towns, diverse islands and a vibrant night scene all adding to its appeal for both older and younger solos.

Sharing borders with Slovenia, Hungary, Serbia, Montenegro, and Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia is part of former Yugoslavia. The country declared independence in 1991 causing the Croatian conflict which lasted until 1995. Nowadays this peaceful country attracts those who come for the dramatic Dalmatian coastline, Renaissance walled towns and of course, its Croatian charm.

* Before you travel, check what paperwork or visas are required for Croatia .

Game of Thrones used Dubrovnik's Old Town as one of their filming locations

Known as the ‘Pearl of the Adriatic,’ the City of Dubrovnik i s a UNESCO World Heritage Site and its timeless beauty makes it a mecca for history lovers. Dubrovnik is the best place to visit in Croatia if you have never been to the country before. 

Once a great trading hub, the city is now one of the biggest tourist destinations in the Mediterranean city with outside cafes and a quaint marina. One of the main draws of Croatia tourism to Dubrovnik are the Game of Thrones locations. Movie GatGs will recognise many of the settings in this city which starred in the popular series. 

This Croatia city has a magical feel about it. Meander through the secret alleyways of this gorgeous old town and get lost in its timeless beauty, or just people watch whilst tucking into some fresh seafood al-fresco style. The city walls are some of the best preserved in Europe and are best seen early in the morning or at sunset where you can walk along the ancient walls for views of the old town and the sea. 

Other things to do in Dubrovnik include learning more about the city’s past with a scenic cable car ride and a visit to the war museum, a must see in Croatia to understand its past. Looking out at one of the most iconic images of Croatia, it’s hard to believe that this was once a town that had been bombed less than thirty years before.  * Related Post: Solo Travel in Dubrovnik

Lokrum 

Rich in history and easily accessible by boat from Dubrovnik, it’s easy to see why Lokrum , Croatia was chosen as a destination with its rugged cliffs, olive groves, and pine tree forest trails that lead to the beach. The island was once a settlement for the Benedictine monks and the Benedictine monastery is one of greatest importance in the Dubrovnik area.

Can there be a prettier place than Plitvice Lakes?

Plitvice Lakes

For nature GatGs the tranquility of the Plitvice Lakes are hard to beat.  Known for its lakes, alpine forests and heavenly waterfalls, Plitvice National Park has some of Europe’s oldest woodlands and was once called “the devil’s gardens,” because of its dense forests. W ell sign-posted hiking trails lead you through this stunning landscape and its turquoise-coloured lakes.

As one of the country's most popular tourist attractions you could easily spend a whole day here losing yourself within its natural beauty. It's easy to see why it's one of the best places to visit in Croatia. 

The party island of Hvar

For festival GatGs,  Croatia has made quite a name for itself on the festival scene. You'll find festivals throughout the country and islands.  Visit in the summer and you’ll be dancing to world class DJs in your flip flops. Hvar town is a mecca for partygoers and has some of the best nightlife in Croatia.

There is even a tiny  party island with an exclusive nightclub that you have to take the ferry to.  Head to the northern side of Hvar to Stari Grad , one of the oldest towns in Europe where you can sample  some of Croatia's best wine.

A colouful tram in Zagreb

Although Dubrovnik is one of the most visited places in Croatia, Zagreb is the capital. This is the largest city with plenty of parks and Habsburg architecture to admire. One of the things to do in Zagreb includes trying a local coffee. Zagreb is one of the best cities to visit in Croatia for a vibrant cafe culture.

Even in the winter you’ll find locals sitting al fresco underneath heated lamps sipping their coffee or whiling away their evenings in one of the bohemian bars at Tkalciceva Street. Zagreb is home to the Museum of Broken Relationships. For any of us that has ever had a failed relationship, this museum is sure to bring back some memories. 

Located at the foothills of Mt. Medvednica, Zagreb has an Upper and a Lower Town. The small funicular railway that runs between the two makes it easy to get around. The Lower Town is where you’ll find many of the museums and if you visit in the summer you can take part in one of the cultural festivals too; one of the free things to do in Croatia. 

St Donatus Church in Zadar

Zadar   is a city rich in heritage with a history that dates back 3000 years.  Marble streets gleam back at you as you wander past Roman ruins, ancient monuments and archaeological gems from the Renaissance and Medieval times.

It is also home to the Sea Organ, a unique piece of architecture that plays as the waves come in, and the Monument of the Sun which lights up after dusk. If you're looking to skydive Croatia, Zadar has one of the most panoramic locations and beautiful views of the mountains, making it one of the best places in Croatia to paraglide and skydive . 

Rovinj is a little gem which many people miss off their Croatia itinerary. This charming fishing port on the west coast of the Istrian peninsula, has an Italian flair.  It was once of the most important towns in Istria under the Republic of Venice and is now a romantic Mediterranean town. But you don’t need a partner to visit this small coastal city and its Croatia sights, just yourself and your sense of adventure will do.

Al Fresco dining in Split

Female solo travel in Split Croatia, for the  gateway to the islands. Split is where most of the sailing trips depart from such as Sail Croatia yacht charters . But there is another reason for visiting Croatia’s second-largest city. Diocletian’s Palace is one of the best things to do in Split. It is one of the most impressive Roman ruins in the world and this ancient fortress now forms the Old Town of Split.

Marble was imported from Greece and Italy and even sphinxes were sent from Egypt to build the palace.  Renaissance-style palaces, Gothic palaces and 13th-century Romanesque churches also make up part of the complex. Inside the Old Town, you'll find cafes, shops and bar-hoppers amongst the few thousand residents who live within the UNESCO-protected remains.

For views of the Old Town, climb the bell tower of the Cathedral of Saint Domnius, one of the iconic symbol of the city. If you are hopping on. a sailing trip, seeing the Old Town from above before your trip is a Croatia must see.

To head to the seaside, choose Baska Voda , a day trip from Split and a former fishing village where you can hike or just hang out on the beach. There are villages nearby where you can sample their artisan delicacies then head back to Split for the evening.

If you're looking for a nice beach, head to the island of Brac . Zlatni Rat beach is one of the best beaches in Croatia. It isn't sandy as it's made of pebbles but it is long and golden and referred to as the ‘Golden Horn beach.' Brac Island is the longest island in central Dalmatia and the ferry from Split only takes about an hour. 

Explore the Croatian islands

Croatia's Islands

Other top things to do in Croatia is to take a day trip to the lesser-known destinations. Visit Trogir , a Croatian island which resembles a small Split with a pretty fortress and medieval streets to wander around. Or explore the architectural gems of Sibenik , a coastal destination which is fast-becoming a place to visit.

From here you can Krka National Park , another of the country’s regions of nature and one of the country's beautiful national parks. 

If you choose to go island hopping, Vis is the furthest island from the coast and was once a military base. Mljet  is an island to escape the crowds and fall in love with nature. Known as the “Green Island” Mljet National Park is abundant in vegetation with panoramic coastlines and reefs to explore.

Rab is also one of the greenest islands in the Adriatic and has a historic town dating back to 360 BC. Then there's  Lastovo which remains relatively untouched and is off the beaten path (or sail) with an air of Croatian mystery.

The Brijuni Islands are perfect for the history GatG. These fourteen small islands on the Istrian peninsula make up the Brijuni National Park with geological and archaeological sites. You can also see dinosaur footprints here!

There are so many natural Croatia attractions. If you love medieval history, walled old towns, islands, partying and festivals then you simply have to experience solo travel Croatia. 

G Adventures Croatia  

Travel to Croatia on your own and you'll be able to navigate your way around but if you feel more comfortable in a group for either part of your Croatia trip or the whole duration, G Adventures is a responsible tour company which mainly caters towards budget travellers. Most tours to Croatia have an average of 12 people and there is no upper age limit. Once you book your trip you pay extra for any excursions you want to do when you’re there.

Starting from 7 day trips from Zagreb to Dubrovnik you can explore Croatia overland or on a sailing trip. If you are planning to explore the Balkans, they also offer trips to Montenegro and Bosnia. If you have longer than 2 weeks you can travel with them down to Greece or explore 9 countries within a month with their classic tour. I have personally used G Adventures and recommend them as a solo female friendly company. 

* Click here for the full itineraries, prices, and start dates

Intrepid Travel Croatia

Intrepid Travel is similar to G Adventures with an average of 12 people on each tour. Over 50% of people using their trips are solo travellers. As well as G Adventures, they also offer the best tours of Croatia but tend to have a more comfortable style of accommodation hence the trips can appear a bit more costly than G Adventures.

Their Croatia only tours start from an 8 day Croatia Sailing Adventure from Split to Dubrovnik, to a 29 day Vienna to Dubrovnik trip, combining a tour in Croatia with neighbouring countries. With both tour companies you share a room with someone of the same gender or you can pay extra for your own room. Read our   Intrepid Travel Reviews

Travel Talk – If you’ve ever wanted to sail around the Mediterranean but have no experience as a sailor, then hop aboard a Travel Talk sailing tour instead. Sail from Dubrovnik to Split in 8 days or Split to Dubrovnik in reverse. Breakfasts and lunch are prepared onboard daily and you get to spend the evenings in a different port. Aimed at 18 to 39-year-olds, the sailing trips are week-long and as a solo, you get paired up in a cabin. 

* Check Croatia sailing tours and prices  

Local Tours

• Secret Zagreb – Explore the secret side of the city on a Secret Zagreb Walk, join a ghost tour and learn about notorious witch hunts and dark Croatian writers or take their Badass Women of Zagreb day tour and learn about some of Croatia's most remarkable women.
• Zadar Walking Tour – You can easily do your own walking tour around Zadar especially the Old Town but if you prefer the chance to meet others and learn about what you are seeing join a walking tour like this one. 

Get Your Guide – Get Your Guide helps you to find top-rated activities and tours in worldwide destinations including Croatia. Choose from a 2-hour Game of Thrones tour in Dubrovnik, a visit to Diocletian’s Palace in Split, or a walking tour in Zagreb. Some of the tours require a minimum of 2 people but there are plenty to book as a solo including small group full day tours with a tour guide, and it’s really simple to use. Just check the reviews, price and availability then book online for your solo trip to Croatia. * Check all prices and day tours in Croatia

Depending on what type of accommodation in Croatia you are looking for, you can find anything from a bed in one of the youth hostels to studio apartments just outside the Old Town of Dubrovnik. Even universities open up their rooms during the summer months so you can get a private room for a bargain price.

Beach hotels, self-catering villas in Croatia and 5-star resorts cater from the budget-conscious including camping to the more luxurious traveller looking for a more indulgent Croatia vacation. There is also Airbnb where you can stay with locals. 

All of the accommodation below have been recommended by solo female travellers from our Girls about the Globe community and come with a Solo Female Friendly endorsement. For more destinations and other Croatia hotels, click here for a list of the best accommodation in Croatia for solos.

• To book, check prices or availability for all accommodation Croatia

Dubrovnik – Hostel Angelina Old Town

It may be small but this hostel is only a few hundred yards away from the beach and Pile Gate, and in a really convenient location. There’s a shared kitchen area and fab views from the upper floors. The staff are helpful and on hand to give you any tips about the city and organise some events at the hostel.

There is a large kitchen where you can cook your own meals and eat on the terrace. The beds are comfortable and if you choose a private room you may be in the annex building with some of the dormitories.

• Prices from £18 per person per night for a bed in a mixed dorm
• To book, check prices or availability for Hostel Angelina Old Town  

Dubrovnik – Hotel Adria

Escape the Old Town and stay in Gruz instead. This 4 star hotel offers views of the bay and the Elafiti Islands and is only a short bus trip from the Old Town. Watch the ferries come into the bay whilst enjoying some local cuisine or the buffet breakfast (which is additional). If you need to unwind after a days’ sightseeing, go for a dip in the swimming pool or relax in the spa.

If you’re hiring a car there are parking spaces at the hotel. They also arrange your airport shuttle if you don't have car rental. The rooms are extremely clean and come with air conditioning, a satellite TV and a hairdryer. Choose from a standard double or twin room. You can also upgrade to a sea view or half board option.

• Prices from £38 for a double room with a private bathroom
• To book, check prices or availability for Hotel Adria

Split – Downtown Hostel

In a good location with very friendly staff, Downtown Hostel is within the Palace of Diocletian. It’s also close to the beach, just a 10 minute stroll away. There is a shared kitchenette, modern bathrooms, and the hostel offers bike hire so you can explore more of the area.

Because of its location, expect to hear music until the early hours but you can always meet others in the common room for some company in the evenings. The 24 hour reception is ideal if you are arriving late into Split, and the bus station and ferry is nearby making it easy to arrive or depart from. Choose from a bed in a 4 or 8 mixed dorm room, or upgrade to a double room with your own private bathroom.

• Prices from £14 a night in an 8-bed mixed dorm
• To book, check prices or availability for  Downtown Hostel

Zagreb – Main Square Hostel

Aptly named after its location, you’ll find this cool hostel in the main square close to the popular Ban Jelacic Square and bars and restaurants. With bright rooms and high ceilings you’ll have lots of privacy in the boxed-shape beds. The rooms are en suite too.

The hostel has a nice vibe and it’s a great place to relax and chat to other travellers in the lounge area. The staff are accommodating and will help will any advice you need on Zagreb and are on hand 24 hours a day.

They have 4, 6 and 8 bed dorms including a female-only one (6 beds) or you can chose a double room with a balcony if you need more privacy.

• Prices from £11 for a bed in an 8 bed dorm
• To book, check prices or availability for Main Square Hostel

Zagreb – Swanky Mint Hostel

Located in the centre of Zagreb, this funky hostel is ideally based for those wanting to sightsee. The staff are really friendly and there is a downstairs bar to mingle with others. The lockers aren’t that big though so take a padlock with you to lock your bags. They have different size dorms from 4 beds to 11 beds plus a 6-bed female dorm; or pay extra for a studio or double room.

• Prices from £20 for a bed in an 8 bed dorm room
• To book, check prices or availability for Swanky Mint Hostel

If you are touring Croatia on your own, hiring a car is easy but the Croatian drivers do drive a bit erratically so take care on your road trips driving in Croatia. There are one-way systems in Split which can be a bit confusing.

The country is beautiful to drive around. The Croatia coast and the road from Split to Dubrovnik is a stunning scenic one which takes you through the border of Bosnia. To hire a car I recommend pre-booking your car hire so you can collect your car when you arrive at the airport. If you are taking it one-way you may encounter a one-way fee. Check prices for renting a car in Croatia here

If you are planning on travelling Croatia without a car, t he country is well connected with the Croatia bus network making it easy for travelling to Croatia alone. The bus from Split to Dubrovnik takes approximately 3 hours and costs £17. Be prepared to pay extra for your bags and to not have air-conditioning. Find out more about Croatia buses

Public transport also includes train travel which connect the major Croatia cities. Seat61 has great information about individual train journeys including the Split Zagreb train that takes over 6 hours.

There isn't a Dubrovnik Zagreb train so you have to either take a bus or ferry to Split then a train from there.  But if you are short on time then taking a tour or hiring a car for the day is the best way to travel around Croatia to visit places out of the way.

If you’re planning on spending some time on the islands then consider a sailing trip. Not only is this a great way to see more than one island but you also get to sleep onboard a yacht and experience the coastline. Sail Croatia as a solo traveller and you usually have to share a cabin with someone else or you can pay a supplement to have a cabin to yourself. 

How to get around Croatia islands

You'll find many people backpacking through Croatia who choose to go on a sailing trip. These are a great way to see the country and the best way to travel through Croatia stopping off at islands, sunbathing on the yachts and sharing lunch and dinner with like-minded others.

But if you are on a budget then the cheapest way to see the islands are by the Croatia ferries. Taxi boats can take you anywhere you want to go. You can reach Dubrovnik from Split by taking a 4.5 hour ferry ride. The ferry costs approx £30. There are also car ferries from Split to Vis. 

One of our favourite travel tips is to use Use Rome2Rio to check your journeys

There are so many lovely places to see that you should definitely spend a week here. Even Dubrovnik itself is worth 2 days in Croatia at the very minimum but it isn't one of the cheapest places in Croatia so you may prefer to move on after a few nights.

If you live in Europe you can visit one of the cities for a 3 night break. Whether you are planning a 10 day trip to Croatia or looking for a 2 week Croatia itinerary, h ere are examples of a Croatia solo itinerary to help:

Croatia itinerary 8 days (7 nights):

• Stay in Split and do day trips to the islands from there.
• Zadar (3 nights), Sibenik (2 nights), Split (2 nights)
• Dubrovnik (4 nights), Split (3 nights)

10 day Croatia itinerary:

• Zagreb (3 nights), Dubrovnik (4 nights), Split (3 nights)
• Split (3 nights), Hvar (3 nights), Dubrovnik (4 nights)
• Dubrovnik (3 nights), Tisno (1 night), Zadar (2 nights), Pula (2 nights), Zagreb (2 nights)

Croatia itinerary 14 days:

• Dubrovnik (3 nights), Split (3 nights), Zadar (3 nights), Pltivice Lakes (2 nights), Zagreb (3 nights)
• Zagreb (3 nights), Plitvice Lakes National Park (1 night), Zadar (3 nights), Split (3 nights), Trogis (1 night), Dubrovnik (3 nights).

If you need a guide book for your travels, our Girl about the Globe Guide to Croatia is written by solo females for solo females. We have chosen the best destinations in Croatia for women travelling solo, included all of our favourite must-sees, restaurants, bars, and recommended accommodation for you to stay in, and added a few solo and local tips too.

We know that not every woman travels the same so we’ve split this guide into different types of solos. Find out how to escape the crowds, the best places to interact with the locals, where to go for the best view and what to do in the evenings. Follow our 7-14 day itinerary for a recommended route and discover the best of Croatia, one solo footprint at a time.   * Find out more about our Croatia guide book here

Now you know what to do in Croatia, what do you pack? We have created a guide of our favourite travel products to help you decide what to take. One of our favourite travel products for Croatia is P20 suntan lotion. This is perfect if you are planning a sailing trip around the Croatian islands. Find out why we love this below and click on the link to discover all of our favourite travel products:

*  Click here for all of our recommended travel accessories for solos

Riemann P20 Suntan Lotion

* Buy P20 from Amazon  

Your budget may determine when you can visit Croatia. The most expensive time to go is during the school holidays in July and August. If you don't like crowds or the heat then avoid these two months and travel before or after instead.

The best time to solo female travel in Croatia is May and June or September. October is still a great time to go here if you’re not planning to sunbathe as the weather is slightly cooler for sightseeing.

The best cities in Croatia to visit in the winter months are Dubrovnik and Zagreb where there are still activities in the low season. Seeing the frozen Plitvice Lakes is stunning.

Croatia is popular with cruise ships so you will find that Dubrovnik’s Old Town gets busy with passengers disembarking ships between March to October, the peak season. Plan your trip and Croatia sightseeing around the cruise ships for a quieter holiday.

This chart shows the average maximum day temperatures for Split (from January to December).

Croatia is a safe country to explore but travel insurance is always recommended especially if your Croatia travel itinerary involves a rental car or sailing trip.

True Traveller and World Nomads are two insurance companies which can cover travel to Croatia. True Traveller is available to UK and European residents, and World Nomads is available to over 100 countries worldwide, including the USA and UK. For digital nomads, Safety Wing is a nomad insurance that covers people from all over the world.

All companies allow you to buy insurance when you are already on the road and offer different plans depending on your needs including additional adventure cover.

* Check insurance cover and prices for True Traveller

N.b. World Nomads provides travel insurance for travellers in over 100 countries. As an affiliate, we receive a fee when you get a quote from World Nomads using this link. We do not represent World Nomads. This is information only and not a recommendation to buy travel insurance.

There are nine airports in Croatia of which seven operate as international airports. Low cost airlines such as Easyjet, Vueling, Wizz Air and Germanwings fly into Croatia.

If you are looking for a cheap flight to Croatia, low cost airlines also fly into Zagreb. Below are 5 of the main airports and how to get to and from each one. For all other airports check Rome 2 Rio.

From Dubrovnik Airport –  From the airport it takes 25 minutes in a taxi into Dubrovnik and will cost you approx £40. Save your pounds by taking an airport shuttle instead which stops at Pile Gate (easy to access the old town) and also the Gruz Port bus station. The bus takes 30 minutes and costs £6. It departs hourly. 

From Pula Airport – Taxis cost £16 and take 8 minutes or there is a shuttle for £11 which only takes 15 minutes. You need to pre-book the shuttle. Check here for details 

From Split Airport – Line 37 bus operates from the airport to the city. They depart every 30 minutes and cost £3 for the 40 minute journey. Click here for timetables . Taxis are quicker and will cost you £40 for the 25 minute journey.

From Zadar Airport – Zadar has its own airport but it’s easy to get here from Split or Zagreb. A taxi costs £20 for the 12 minute journey. There are airport buses from Zadar which run from the airport terminal to the Old Town and bus/train station. These cost £3 and take approx 20 minutes. Check bus schedules here  

From Zagreb Airport –  Buses run from the airport to Zagreb’s main bus station. Bus company Pleso Prijevoz leaves 30 minutes from early morning until 8pm and takes 30 minutes costing £5. From the main station you can take tram 6 to the city centre.

Taxis cost approximately £29 for the 20 minute journey. You can also book a bus shuttle on demand. The prices differ depending on your destination. Click here for details  

* Feel more confident when you solo travel in Croatia with someone waiting for you at the airport when you pre-book a transfer with Hoppa ,

Croatia borders Slovenia, Hungary, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia and Montenegro.  Being on the border of so many countries means that you have a wide choice of places to travel to next. You can even travel across the water to Italy.

If you are exploring more of Europe, the best way to travel to Croatia is by bus from these countries. When you are traveling around Croatia and driving to Dubrovnik you do cross the border of Bosnia and Herzegovina so you'll need to have your passport ready. 

To Italy – You can reach Italy by ferry from either Hvar which goes to Pescara, Zadar to Ancona,  or Rovinj to Venice. Direct Ferries have timetables.  

To other European countries

Buses – International buses run from Zagreb to other European countries such as Austria, Italy, Germany, Switzerland and Slovenia. Travel from Dubrovnik to the Bay of Kotor (a stunning place).

Train – You can also take a train which although may be a bit slower, can be a good way of seeing the scenery. Trains go to Germany, Slovenia, Serbia, Bosnia, Hungary and Austria. The main train station in Zagreb takes credit cards and the staff speak good English.

Where can I go from here?

• Bosnia – 50 mins
• Austria – 1 hr 10 mins
• Serbia – 1 hour

Social Impact Programs

Batana Eco-Museum – What started as an effort to preserve local traditions has ended in the construction and opening of a wonderful museum dedicated to keeping the community’s heritage alive. Not only does the museum do an amazing job in raising awareness of the batana boat’s history, but also strive towards innovating cultural tourism and through programs implement sustainable development within the local community.  

Invisible Zagreb – Similarly, to Invisible Ljubljana, this tour through Zagreb’s many streets is led by current or former homeless people. Discover the city through their personal stories of living on its streets and learn about extreme poverty and life on the streets. The tours are free but do not forget to tip your guide afterwards!  

Stay Eco in Croatia

Hotel Slavija  

I have stayed at this hotel in Split multiple times ever since I was a child. Not only is it the oldest operating hotel of the city, but it is located in the center of the Diocletian Palace. When you wake up, go outside onto your balcony and look down. Winding streets, grand Roman temples, and the sound of distant church bells will greet you! The hotel caters organic and local food, recovers and reuses rainwater and have installed solar thermal panels. Furthermore, they offer discounts to anyone who is a member of associations connected to nature and culture. – Sara Schmidt.

• Prices from £128 / €149 per night for a double room
• Check prices, dates and availability: Hotel Slavija

Crna Punta Lighthouse  

If a standard hotel sounds a bit boring to you, why not sleep in a lighthouse? This beautiful lighthouse turned accommodation, is surrounded by forests and the ocean and nothing else! True isolation and true bliss! Enjoy the private beach, pick fruits and mushrooms along the forest path, and appreciate the little green touches such as solar thermal panels and water flow reducers that make this place special and sustainable!  

* Check prices, dates and availability: Crna Punta Lighthouse

Issues affecting v ulnerable girls in Croatia  

• Croatia has made progress in terms of gender equality, but some sectors are still in need of improvement. Women do well in education on all levels. Nevertheless, they earn significantly less than their male counterpart and overall, less women are employed. Read more…  
• Children in Croatia face abuse and poverty. Especially, Roma children are often discriminated against and deemed inferior which accelerates the already high school- drop-out rate and illiteracy rate.
• Child marriage is a common issue in Croatia, with many girls, especially of Roma descent, being forced into marriage when pregnant. Read more…  

• Can I drink the water? Yes but check with your accommodation before you drink the tap water or take your own water filter with you.
• Is tipping expected? Yes. Leave at least 10% if you can. 
• Fixed price or barter? Usually fixed price. 
• Any ATMs?  Yes. 
• Which side of the road do they drive ? The right-hand side. 
• Good for vegetarians?  Yes.
• Any seven wonders of the world?  No but Dubrovnik's Old Town should be. 

Croatia Map

Plan a Trip to Croatia

If you are ready to plan a trip to Croatia here are some useful links to help you plan your Croatia holidays including airlines which fly there, where you can volunteer and eco accommodation.

Budget Rating – £45 a day

Current Time in Zadar

Capital – Zagreb

Population – 4.253 million

Language Spoken – Croatian

Local Currency – Croatian Kuna

Do I Need a Visa?

Vaccinations Required

Useful Info

Airlines to Croatia

Best Time to Go  – July & August

Which Plug Do I Need?

UNESCO Sites in Croatia

Events & Festivals in Croatia

Local Cost Guide

Local Customs & Etiquette

Did you know?  Scenes from the Game of Thrones were filmed in Dubrovnik.

Useful Croatia phrases

If you’ve ever wanted to camp on island then Eco Camping Glavotok on the island Krk offers eco camping just minutes from the beach. They offer sports activities and horse riding to keep you entertained.

Obonjan Island is the idea place to go glamping. It is one of the islands in the Sibenik archipelago, and offers accommodation in an eco-friendly bell tent or a boutique forest lodge, all within a natural island landscape.

Stay in an eco shelter in Bisevo and help support a social entrepreneurship project. There is no running water, instead they collect the rainwater. You’ll definitely need a torch, trekking shoes and mosquito repellent for this adventure. There is a minimum stay of 3 nights. 

Volunteering

Volunteer in dolphin conservation and assist in the researching bottlenose dolphins to understand why they have declined by 50% in the last 50 years. This program is located in Funtana on the coast and is for 11 days. 

Cultural Experiences

Experience the culture of Croatia during their May to September festivals.

Learn how to cook Croatian style on the island of Brac with Culinary Croatia . You’ll learn the art of peka, and how to make the lamb dish vitalac, plus other techniques which date back to the Bronze age.

Sample the olive oil and wine on a day trip from Split. The island of Solta is known for its olive oil, honey and wine. Cruises take 45 minutes to reach the island and leave in the mornings and the afternoons.

Local Projects

SOS Children’s Villages have been working in Croatia since the Croatian War of Independence. They work with families who have children with mental and physical disabilities, and started a more recent programme in response to the refugee crisis.

Suncokret Center for Community Development is a non-profit organisation which was founded during the postwar period to help deprived members of the society. They give eco workshops to teach construction with natural materials and permaculture, and arrange international volunteer camps.

Mind Body & Soul

Head to the Istrian peninsula at Istarske Toplice for hot springs and thermal spas.

Summersalt Yoga offers yoga retreats with a difference. They combine yoga with their passion for surfing and stand up paddle boarding. Spend a week on a full immersion of mind, body and soul with meditation, massages, and delicious vegetarian food. They also give back to world communities and make an impact as part of the B1G1 organisation.

Suncokret Body & Soul Retreat is a unique boutique holistic yoga retreat on the island of Hvar. Take part in their holistic retreat where you can experience the cultural sites of the island to enhance your whole personal experience.

Treat yourself at the luxurious wellness and spa centre at  Hotel Dubrovnik Palace.  

Issues in the Country

Children from the Roma community face discrimination in Croatia. Not only do these children have the highest school drop-out rate in the country but their families suffer the highest rates of mortality and unemployment. 

• Solo Travel in Dubrovnik
• Things To Do in Hvar
• Best Accommodation in Croatia for Solos
• 5 Reasons to do Tandem Skydiving in Croatia
• Sailing in Croatia
• Best Croatian Islands To Visit
• Solo Travel in Slovenia
• Solo Travel in Europe

10 thoughts on “ Solo Travel in Croatia ”

hi there, i only have 5 days in croatia and will be based in dubrovnik. ( July 5-9) Was hoping to do Montenegro for a day visit ? does it make sense ? And Island hoping from dubronivk – what would make sense too ? Shame that i feel i can’t possibly visit Hvar/ Split … Your advice for how to maximise my 5 days would be fantastic!

Hi Lena, You can visit Montenegro from Croatia. There is a bus that takes you to Kotor which is a gorgeous place. There is more info in the Croatia guide 🙂 https://girlabouttheglobe.lpages.co/girl-about-the-globe-s-guide-to-croatia/

Hello! I am going to visit Split and Dubrovnik beginning of May. Do you have experiences there at this time of the year? I was thinking that on one hand it will be nice because the big summer crowds will not be there, but on the other hand maybe the cities will be less lively so maybe it will be harder to connect with locals or other solo travellers. Do you have any advice?

Hi Anisa, I visited in July and it was busy. I would imagine that May is also busy as it’s also the cruise ship season. If you stay in hostels or join tours you’re bound to connect with other solo travellers. You could also join Couchsurfing and ask if you can meet someone for a coffee during your stay. Have you joined our Facebook community? It’s a good place to post your question too. Here’s the link to join: https://www.facebook.com/groups/369115206621307/

Hello. Can i visit Dubroni, Zagreb, and Split in 1 week itinerary?

Hi Cristine, yes but you may only get to spend 2 nights in each. There is a bus direct from Split to Dubrovnik x

I am planning a 10 day trip to Croatia. I want the trip to be relaxing but also having the opportunity to explore and immerse myself in the culture. Out of your 10 day sample trip itineraries, which one should I lean more towards?

Hi Laura, that’s great that you are going to Croatia. It’s such a lovely country. If you are looking for relaxing I would suggest this itinerary: Zagreb (3 nights), Dubrovnik (4 nights), Split (3 nights). You could spend a day less in Split if you wanted to see more of the other two places or add an extra destination into it. The Plitvice Lakes are stunning and definitely worth visiting. Have an amazing time x

Hey! I’m planning a solo trip to croatia potentially the first week of September. I was planning to fly into split but I haven’t got much further than that! I’m seeking a beach holiday, filled with food and drink. Any suggestions would be very welcome. Thanks x

Hi Sian, that’s great that you’re planning a trip to Croatia. Sign up the newsletter to receive our free Croatia ebook. I would combine Split with a couple of the islands. I loved Hvar. I recommend joining our Facebook group and asking the same question too to get other recommendations. Here’s the link to join: http://www.girlabouttheglobe.com/GatGFacebookCommunity

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Your Solo Travel Journey….

Most popular post, g adventures review, join our gatg facebook community, contact us....

[email protected]

Search the site...

The small print....

Girl about the Globe Copyright © 2012-2024

Web by Eldo Web Design Ltd

Solo Female Travel in Croatia: All You Need to Know

01/12/2024 by Olivia Loren Leave a Comment

This is a guest post by Olivia Loren, a Croatian travel blogger.

If you’re a solo female traveler contemplating an adventure in Croatia, you’ve clicked on just the right post.

As a woman that has been living in and traveling throughout Croatia for the last decade, I feel especially qualified to offer insight and advice about solo female travel in this gorgeous Mediterranean nation I call home.

Located in southern Europe, Croatia is a dream destination for any independent traveler seeking the perfect blend of nature, culture, and adventure. Not only is the country picturesque and charming, but the feeling of freedom and safety it offers solo female travelers simply can’t be beat.

In this post we’ll be covering all you need to know about solo female travel in Croatia, including must-visit destinations that will steal your heart, the best time of year to go there, how to navigate the country, and of course, tips on connecting with like-minded travelers:

Table of Contents

Why Choose Croatia for Solo Female Travel

Croatia has a lot to offer. Aside from its obvious beauty and jaw-dropping locations on the surface, there are a number of other reasons this country is ideal for women who want to wander solo .

It’s easy to communicate

While the official language of Croatia is, of course, Croatian , you’ll find that most people know some level of English, and many actually speak it fluently. This is partially because Croatia is a popular tourist destination, so in all of the major cities, like Zagreb, Dubrovnik, Split, and Zadar, you’ll find it easy to communicate with the locals.

On top of that, English is taught as a second language in elementary schools starting from the first grade, and most programs on television are in English with Croatian subtitles. So overall, English is a language that’s widely understood and spoken, making it easy for solo female travelers to get around.

However, it’s still a good idea to get familiar with some basic Croatian phrases , as the locals will truly appreciate your effort.

It’s safe

Did you know that Croatia ranks among the top 15 safest countries in the world ? It’s true — the nation is peaceful, with a very low crime rate. This makes it a great destination for solo female travelers, or anyone looking to dip their toes into the world of independent travel.

It’s easy to navigate

Unlike much of Western Europe, where train travel is a common mode of transportation, in Croatia, you’ll want to use the buses. Flixbus is the cheapest way to get around the country — we’re talking one-way tickets for as low as €4. The buses are newer, clean, and most importantly, air-conditioned; they also have Wi-Fi.

It’s affordable

While Croatia may not be the cheapest destination in Europe , it is still possible to explore the country without breaking the bank. If you plan carefully and visit outside of peak season, you’ll be pleasantly surprised to discover that it is relatively affordable. From cheap public transportation and an abundance of hostels in major cities to low-cost meals and discounts on attractions (even more if you’re a student!), there are plenty of ways to save.

When to Go and What to Bring

The best time to visit Croatia depends on what you’re looking to get out of your trip. Here is a quick breakdown of what to expect from each season:

Summer is arguably the most popular time to visit if you want to spend your days sailing, relaxing on the beach, and island-hopping. However, this is also the most expensive time of year and the busiest. Despite the spike in prices and number of visitors, summer is the best season to meet other solo travelers along Croatia’s coast.

Spring and fall

If you want to avoid the crowds (and prices) that come during peak season, spring and fall are better times to visit. The temperatures are still mild, and it’s easier to score affordable accommodation. You’ll still have opportunities to meet other like-minded travelers in places like Zadar, Split, and Dubrovnik.

If you prefer solitude and are looking to take a trip that will allow you to enjoy lots of alone time, it might be better to visit in the off-season (November, January, and February) when there are far fewer tourists. Alternatively, you could seek out lesser-known destinations, but know that those places also usually come with less infrastructure and support.

Croatia’s capital city of Zagreb is a solid option as a year-round destination. There are events and festivals going on all the time, and the Christmas market is one of the best in Europe! It’s the place to be if you plan to travel to Croatia in December.

What to Bring to Croatia

Once you’ve decided what time of year you want to travel to Croatia, the next step is packing! Croatia has four seasons and a mild, Mediterranean climate. While you can generally get away with wearing what you want, you should know that Croatian women love to dress up. If you want to blend in with the locals, leave your athleisure at home and opt for nicer outfits and sandals or clean white sneakers.

Summers are typically hot and dry, with temperatures usually hovering around 30°C (85°F). Dresses are always great pieces to have in your luggage, because they are versatile and will help keep you cool on hot days. Winters can be quite cold and wet, so make sure to bring plenty of layers and warmer items like sweaters and a waterproof jacket .

Fall and spring temperatures vary, so it’s a good idea to bring lightweight items that you can mix and match depending on the temperature. No matter what season you are visiting Croatia in, a comfortable pair of walking shoes are an absolute must.

Don’t worry too much if you forget something on your Croatia packing list — you should be able to purchase most items in the country.

Best Places in Croatia for Solo Female Travelers

For a European capital city, Zagreb is incredibly safe for solo female travelers. With just around one million residents, it is small enough to feel local, yet large enough to have all the amenities and resources you need. The city center is well connected by a tram system, but also so walkable that you likely won’t even need public transportation.

Compared to other major cities in Croatia, Zagreb is by far the cheapest. You can sip coffee for less than €2 in most cafés, and find affordable food options all around town. If you’re working remotely , you’ll be pleased to know that Zagreb has a number of digita nomad–friendly cafés where you can find reliable wifi and good drinks.

Plus, you’ll never run out of things to do! Aside from hosting a large number of festivals each year, Zagreb is bursting with museums, galleries, and gorgeous green spaces worth exploring. While most people spend only two days in Zagreb, I promise you’ll want to stay longer!

Things to do in Zagreb:

• Join a free walking tour
• Explore the vibrant café scene
• Get your international food fix on Tkalciceva Street
• Wander around the charming Upper Town
• Take a day trip to Plitvice Lakes National Park
• Go hiking or skiing on Sljeme

Split, Croatia’s second largest city, is a popular spot for visitors to base themselves in when exploring southern Croatia. If you’re short on time and want to make the most of your stay, Split is the perfect jumping-off point for visiting Croatia’s most popular islands and attractions.

While it has less going on than Zagreb does in the off-season, it’s a great place to stay during the fall or spring, when the weather is more favorable and there are more opportunities to meet people.

Things to do in Split:

• Take a guided tour of Diocletian’s Palace
• Hike around Marjan Hill Park
• Take a dip at one of the city’s many beaches
• Go on a tour to the breathtakingly beautiful Blue Lagoon
• Join a boat party tour to explore the nearby islands
• Visit Klis Fortress for panoramic views from above

Dubrovnik is one of Croatia’s most stunning destinations — the walls are seriously impressive in real life! Not only that, but its Old Town is packed with lots of bars and great options for hostels, plus there are tours galore, making it super easy to meet other travelers. Also, its manageable size makes getting around a piece of cake.

Things to do in Dubrovnik:

• Walk the city walls
• Grab a drink at the cliffside Buza Bar
• Spend a day exploring Lokrum Island
• Discover filming locations on a Game of Thrones tour
• Go on a pub crawl
• Take a day trip to Bosnia & Herzegovina or Montenegro

Zadar is not as popular as the other destinations on this list, but it is a favorite among digital nomads and solo travelers. This seaside town is located about halfway between Zagreb and Split and feels much more local than busy spots like Dubrovnik or Split.

The city boasts a unique blend of ancient Roman ruins and modern architecture, and is the first in Croatia to have its own Digital Nomad Village . So if you’re looking to base yourself in Croatia for a bit and want to be near the coast, Zadar could be the perfect spot for you.

Things to do in Zadar:

• Check out the free public art installations: the famous Sea Organ and the Greeting to the Sun
• Join a walking tour to learn more about the Roman ruins scattered around the Old Town
• Go island-hopping around the nearby Kornati Islands
• Take a day trip to Krka National Park

Where to Stay in Croatia

When searching for accommodation in Croatia as a solo female traveler, try to stay in or close to the city center. Not only will this make getting around easier, it’s also where most of the action is, and you’ll have more chances to meet people. While staying in a residential area can be nice, usually there will be more locals and families going about their daily activities rather than nomads and travelers.

If it’s your first time traveling solo or you just want to be able to meet people more easily, consider staying at a hostel. Zagreb, Split, Dubrovnik, and Zadar all have hostels that are well located and safe for female travelers. Some even offer private rooms, which allow you to get the social experience of a hostel without having to share close quarters with strangers if that’s not your thing.

How to Stay Safe as a Solo Female Traveler in Croatia

Be aware of your surroundings

Even though Croatia is considered a safe country, you’ll still want to keep your wits about you . Be aware when walking alone at night, use the buddy system, and if you plan to party, keep an eye on your drink at all times. While it’s unlikely you’ll run into any issues, better safe than sorry!

This all is not specific to Croatia but goes for traveling anywhere in the world, especially as a solo woman.

Know where your possessions are at all times

Generally speaking, it’s not smart to carry large amounts of cash with you, or even your physical passport. Unless you’re crossing the border, having a copy of your passport should be sufficient. 

There have been reports of pickpocketing in Split, especially during the month of July, when Ultra Europe takes place. At this time, there is usually a huge influx of tourists, making the city more crowded and allowing for more opportunities for petty theft.

Don’t be afraid to ask for help

Most Croatians are kind, friendly, and willing to help. Whether you’re lost or confused about directions, or are in immediate danger, don’t be afraid to ask for assistance. If you have a serious emergency, you can dial the emergency number for Croatia, which is 112.

How to Meet Others While Traveling Solo in Croatia

There are tons of ways to meet people while traveling solo in Croatia:

• Facebook groups – This is the easiest way to get started before you even land in Croatia! Join groups like Girl Gone International or Gals Who Travel to connect with other female travelers in Croatia. If you are staying in Croatia longer, you may even want to seek out local expat or digital nomad groups. Doing a quick search on Facebook should give you some great options.
• Hostels – Many hostels offer fun activities like pub crawls, boat trips, and city tours, giving you the chance to meet lots of people from all over the world and start making friends right away. Hostels also usually have common areas where you can socialize in a relaxed setting.
• Free tours – Most major cities have free walking tours, and if you’re staying at a hostel, they might even have one of their own!
• Apps – BumbleBFF , Meetup , and Eatwith are just a handful of apps you can use to meet new friends while traveling in Croatia and beyond.

As you can see, Croatia is practically made for solo female travelers! Not only is the country safe, but it also offers an abundance of opportunities to meet new people, discover incredible destinations, and immerse yourself in exciting cities.

Whether you’re a seasoned solo traveler or just getting started on your journey, Croatia is the perfect place for your next adventure.

About the author: Olivia is an American with Croatian roots who moved to Zagreb in 2014 for a study-abroad program and never looked back. She has been living in Croatia ever since and enjoys helping other people plan epic vacations to the country she now calls home. She created the blog Inspired by Croatia to share itineraries, local tips, and exclusive insights for discovering Croatia off the beaten path.

*Some links in this post are affiliate links that support this site at no extra cost to you when you purchase through them. Everybody wins!

About Olivia Loren

Olivia is an American with Croatian roots who moved to Zagreb in 2014 for a study abroad program and never looked back. She has been living in Croatia ever since and enjoys helping other people plan epic vacations to the country she now calls home. Her blog, https://www.inspiredbycroatia.com, shares itineraries, local tips and exclusive insights for discovering Croatia off the beaten path.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

 subscribe to our newsletter

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed .

The Fearless Wanderess

Let’s Get Social

The ultimate croatia solo female travel guide.

This gorgeous Balkan gem nestled on the Adriatic Sea is becoming more popular every year, and with good reason. From deep teal waterfalls tumbling over towering mountains, to the clearest turquoise ocean water you’ve seen outside of the tropics, Croatia abounds with natural beauty.

But wait – that’s not all! Croatia is jam-packed with culture, history, and delicious cuisine that will refresh your senses in between hikes and swims. Awaken your inner archaeologist with ancient Roman ruins that rival those found in Italy!

With all of this to offer, the best part is that Croatia is also incredibly safe for solo female travel.

From my time road-tripping from the northern Istrian peninsula to the south into Montenegro, I put together this ultimate guide to Croatia solo female travel. With this guide, you can find out about the best places to visit in Croatia, as well as how to get around, staying safe, and average costs of travel in the country.

So whether you’re looking for a nature adventure, a beach vacation, culture and food, or a good party, Croatia definitely will not disappoint. This hidden gem belongs on every solo female traveler’s bucket list! So what are you waiting for? Keep reading to discover the amazing country of Croatia!

The Ultimate Croatia Solo Female Travel Guide: Page Contents

• Best places to visit in Croatia
• Top things to do in Croatia
• What to expect in Croatia: climate, language, money, and more
• Is Croatia safe for solo female travel?
• How to stay safe in Croatia as a solo female traveler
• Average costs in Croatia
• How to get around Croatia
• Tours & activities in Croatia I recommend
• Essential gear for a trip to Croatia
• Favorite Croatia booking resources
• Latest & most recent Croatia posts

The Ultimate Croatia Solo Female Travel Guide:

Best places to visit in croatia.

Top Things to Do in Croatia

Related: Ready to book your flight to Croatia now?! Search now using the tool from one of my favorite flight-booking search engines, Skyscanner !

What to Expect in Croatia

As a solo female traveler, language in croatia.

The official language in Croatia is Croatian.

However, because of its proximity to other countries in the region and recent history, it’s not uncommon to hear Bosnian or Serbian also spoken in some areas of the country. Especially in more touristic areas, most people speak English well. As with any destination you visit, still try to learn basic phrases in the local dialect to be respectful!

Money in Croatia

Although Croatia belongs to the European Union, Croatia uses the Croatian Kuna (HRK). 1 USD = 7.06 HRK at the time of writing.

💳 Cash or card?

In larger cities like Zagreb, Split, and Dubrovnik, credit cards like Visa and Mastercard are widely accepted. However, smaller establishments on the mainland and most establishments on the islands don’t accept credit cards. In these cases, be prepared to pay cash for your stays. I always carry around a small change purse in addition to my wallet to organize my cash.

Click here for my favorite 0% foreign transaction fee credit cards with travel rewards!

Croatia uses the same Type C 230V plugs as the rest of Europe. Get my favorite universal plug adapter here !

Climate in Croatia

Croatia has a climate on par with other countries in the southern Mediterranean. The weather will depend somewhat on whether you’re in the mountains or on the coast, especially during the cooler months. Summers are generally very hot in the 80s-90s Fahrenheit and sunny with minimal rain. This makes Croatia a perfect beach destination. However, it can be nearly unbearable in the middle of the day if you’re in the city!

For more detailed information about the climate of your particular Croatia solo female travel destination, visit this website .

Related: Wondering what to pack for Croatia solo female travel so you’re prepared for the climate? Check out my Ultimate Backpacking Packing List for Summer in Europe !

Best Time to Visit Croatia

For a beach vacation, May-August are the best months to visit Croatia. It’s important to note that the northernmost part of the coast (Istria and Rijeka) might get thunderstorms and rainy days, even in the summer. However, this is a lot rarer along the Dalmatian coast farther south.

I would suggest visiting in May or June to get the best weather without it getting too hot. I found in mid-June it was already getting too hot for my liking. You may also be able to avoid some of the regular summer crowds by visiting in May.

Best SIM card for Croatia

I always recommend getting a local SIM card at your destination to save money on roaming fees. The best SIM card to get in Croatia is the T-Mobile prepaid SIM. For $14, you get unlimited data and a little bit of calling time. And bonus – you can use this in the rest of the EU for your Europe solo travels without extra fees! The T-Mobile 4G/5G network is the best in Croatia so you’ll always be connected. Get your SIM card at the airport when you land for the easiest experience.

Is Croatia safe for female solo traveling? Yes! Croatia is very safe for female solo traveling. Croatia is actually one of the safest countries in Europe and the world. Landing 17th on the Global Peace Index , Croatia has a rating of 1.48 as of 2021. In comparison, the United States ranks 122 out of 163 countries, with a rating of 2.34. Violent crime is very rare in Croatia. Petty theft in cities is the most common type of crime.

The Ultimate Croatia Solo Female Travel Guide: How to Stay Safe

As stated above, Croatia solo female travel is generally very safe. However, there are still some basic precautions you should take. These apply for all solo female travel in general, not just in Croatia!

Avoid walking around alone at night

Make friends at your hostel and go out with them. Stay in a group when it’s dark to avoid any unwanted attention or trouble.

Keep your wits about you

When you’re unfamiliar with where you are, it’s just not a good idea to get too drunk. This is especially true when you’re solo traveling, and especially especially true when you’re a solo traveling woman. If you choose to drink on your Croatia solo female travel tour, always make sure you’re alert and aware. You want to be able to respond appropriately and remove yourself from a situation if something goes wrong.

Keep an eye on your drink

Keep an eye on your drink at all times. It’s uncommon, but just like anywhere, your drink could be “spiked” with drugs or other unknown substances by other partygoers. If you’re really concerned about this, watch the bartender pour/make your drink.

Use the buddy system

If you’re out at a bar or club, go to the bathroom with a buddy. This will make sure you both have an eye on each other and no one gets lost.

Keep your passport locked up

Don’t ever bring your physical passport with you unless you’re traveling to another country at that moment (like, you’re going to the airport). Your passport is much more likely to get stolen on you than it is to be stolen from or damaged in your accommodation. If you really need to have your passport photo page with you, carry a photocopy instead.

Don’t carry large amounts of cash

It’s just not smart to have a bunch of physical money on you. Split your stash and only bring what you need. Keep the rest in your hotel or hostel. Likewise, only bring the credit and debit cards you need when you go around town. I try not to carry around cards with direct access to my bank accounts unless I’m planning to withdraw cash on that particular excursion from my accommodation.

Carry a flashlight in rural areas

If you’ll be staying in smaller villages or more remote areas of Croatia, bring a headlamp or flashlight. If you’re walking home at night when it’s dark, you’ll be happy to have one. Not only will it make you more visible to oncoming drivers, but will also help you avoid stepping on anything you’d rather not – like snakes!

Don’t be afraid to ask for help

Coming from a girl who is naturally terrible at asking for help, do not be afraid to ask for help from a local, or anyone, especially if you’re in immediate danger. Be confident and assertive.

Ask accommodation staff for important notes

Sometimes where you’re staying is perfectly safe, but there might be a nearby attraction that is locally infamous for robberies. To make sure you’re properly informed, ask your accommodation staff if there’s anything important to know regarding the safety of the area you’re staying in.

Related: Protect yourself and your belongings with travel insurance from World Nomads . They cover over 150 activities while you’re abroad! Get a quote, make a claim, or buy or extend your policy while on the road. I’ve been using them for over 3 years and never travel without it!

Average Costs

Accommodation

• Budget hostel: $10-18/night in a dorm room
• City-center hostel: $19-35/night in a dorm room
• Mid-range hotel: $81/night
• Luxury hotel: $210-1,000+/night

Transportation

• Local bus ride: $1-2
• One-way intercity bus ticket: $13-19
• Taxi: $3-7/mile
• One-way ferry boat: $4-14
• Rental car: $70-140/day for automatic transmission, small-medium car (starts at $50/day for manual)
• One-way, nonstop domestic flight: $50-112
• Budget meal at a local restaurant: $6-14
• Three-course meal at a mid-range restaurant: $13-38
• Domestic beer: $2
• Cocktail: $5

Activities & Tours

• Guided hike: $50-60
• Boat day trip: $60-120
• Pub crawl: $15-26

Overall Average Spend

Budget hostels, local meals, mostly free activities: $36-75/day

City-center hostels, mid-tier restaurants, mostly free activities: $70-160/day

Mid-range hotels, mid-tier restaurants, a few paid activities: $140-220/day

Luxury hotels, high-end restaurants, daily paid activities: $600-1,000+/day

• Suggested daily budget: $50-75/day

How to Get Around

If you’d like to cross something off the #bucketlist and explore Croatia solo female travel by train , consider getting a Eurail pass ! This will allow you to connect your train travels in Croatia with other countries in Europe , including direct lines to Austria , Czechia , Germany , Hungary , and Slovenia . The all-in-one ticket allows you to travel 33 countries across Europe in an easy, convenient, budget-friendly way. Note that the national rail system in Croatia connects all major cities except Dubrovnik. If you want to get to Dubrovnik, you’ll have to take a train to Split and then a bus to Dubrovnik. Overall, I personally wouldn’t recommend the trains in Croatia as the best option unless you’re on an Interrailing trip already.

Intercity buses, as well as buses between cities, are the most affordable option for getting around Croatia. If you’re staying outside the walkable city centers, you can get a local bus into town for as little as $1-2. For getting between cities, Flixbus is the best option. Their fares are extremely affordable and the buses are comfortable with AC, power outlets, and toilets. Most tickets on Flixbus between major cities in Croatia will cost less than $15. I especially like to use these buses to get between cities and their airports.

If you’re interested in day trips from Dubrovnik (or other cities) to the national parks, you can also use a bus to get there. This is best done through a tour operator like GetYourGuide or Viator .

While not the cheapest option, a rental car is hands-down the most convenient way to see Croatia. Cars are especially useful for exploring more rural areas and taking as many photography stops as you want. If you’re an avid hiker and most of your time in Croatia will be spent seeing national parks, I highly suggest a rental car. It will make things a lot easier. Just consider that gas costs nearly $7/gallon in Croatia in 2022.

Other helpful tips for renting a car in Croatia:

• The majority of cars in Europe, including Croatia, are manual. If you can’t drive manual (like me), make sure to check that the car you book is an automatic. Unfortunately, this usually costs more.
• Only get as big a car as you need. Croatian city streets can be tiny and you want a car that can fit through those narrow roads easily. You also don’t want a bigger car to guzzle gas unnecessarily.
• Always book with a reputable rental company with good reviews. And make sure to actually read the fine print before you drive the car away. It’s just not worth doing a cheaper, shady deal to save a few bucks. I am embarrassed to admit I did this in Saint Martin, and it became a legal and logistical disaster when our bags, and then rental car, got stolen at the beach. I’m lucky I had travel insurance or else I would have been left to pay $1,000’s for the rental car damage in addition to replacing my stolen camera!

Rentalcars.com has a great interface for finding and booking the best deals on rental cars all over the world from reputable companies!

Tours & Activities I Recommend

Essential gear.

Related: Looking for a Croatia packing list this summer? Check out my Ultimate Backpacking Packing List for Summer in Europe !

Favorite Booking Resources

These are my favorite companies to use while traveling in Croatia. They consistently return the best deals and user experience. I’ve mentioned some of these already above, but have condensed them into a one-stop-shop list for your convenience here:

Flight booking tools

• Skyscanner – a great tool for finding the cheapest flights with lots of filter options.
• Kiwi.com – one of my favorite flight search engines, especially when you’re really flexible with the dates you travel. Kiwi allows you to choose specific dates, date ranges, or length of travel to multiple destinations at once so comparing prices is easy. Their Nomad tool is also handy if you’re planning multiple flights in a row and aren’t sure about the cheapest order in which to do things!
• Google Flights – I’ll often start with this tool to get a broad overview of flights available. Their discovery map tool is also helpful.

Accommodation booking tools

• Agoda – Agoda has got some fantastic deals lately. Using their booking system, I was able to stay in a presidential suite at a 4-star resort in Mauritius for practically half the price offered on most other sites!
• Booking.com – a gold standard in accommodation booking. If a hotel is anywhere, it’s probably on Booking.com. I also really love Booking’s loyalty program Genius, which has allowed me to score some pretty sweet deals in some of my favorite Croatia solo female travel destinations.
• Hostelworld – also a gold standard in accommodation booking, but for hostels. If you want to get the best, most comprehensive reviews of hostels from travelers just like you, check Hostelworld first. Then see whether Hostelworld or Booking.com gives you a better deal with loyalty rewards.

Transportation tools

• Rentalcars.com – the most comprehensive rental car search tool to price compare between the top reputable companies.
• FlixBus – my favorite way to travel by bus across Croatia and Europe. Coaches have heating and AC, toilets, and charging ports. You can often get between cities in Croatia for less than $15 with FlixBus.
• Eurail – if you’re looking to ride the rails through Europe before or after your Croatia solo female travel tour, the Eurail pass is an excellent option. It’s an all-in-one ticket that allows you to visit 33 countries across the continent in comfort. The Eurail pass is the non-EEA-citizen version of the Interrail pass.

Guide- and attraction-finding tools

• GetYourGuide – if you’re interested in finding guided tours at your destination, GetYourGuide is the way to go. From food tours to private walking tours, you’ll definitely find something you’re interested in. Seeing reviews from other travelers and booking is easy.
• Intrepid Travel – if you want to go on a group tour in Croatia, Intrepid Travel offers the best. Their tours are small, intimate groups led by local guides and with a small ecological footprint.
• Viator – Viator has tons of activities, experiences, and tours available for thousands of destinations around the world. They’re a great way to add a fun activity onto the itinerary.
• TripAdvisor – TripAdvisor has loads of travel booking tools, but my favorite use for them is looking up top-rated restaurants by other travelers. Their tour/activity recommendations can be decent. However, their lists of top attractions at certain destinations might not be more than “which attractions will be the most crammed with tourists?”

Favorite $0 foreign transaction fee travel rewards credit cards

• Chase Sapphire Preferred – my first travel rewards card, this $0 foreign transaction fee card has mighty rewards for the frequent traveler. At the time of writing, meet the $4,000 spending minimum within the first 3 months and get 80,000 bonus miles worth at least $800 to put towards flights, hotels, and more! In addition, this card has excellent insurance to cover expenses if your flight gets delayed or cancelled, or your baggage gets delayed or lost.
• CapitalOne Venture Rewards – my current favorite travel rewards card with $0 foreign transaction fees. Besides their price prediction and protection travel booking portal, I love their comprehensive car rental insurance. At the time of writing, earn 60,000 bonus miles worth over $600 when you meet the $3,000 spending minimum in the first 3 months.

Travel insurance tools

• World Nomads travel insurance – after getting covered for the thousands of dollars in rental car damage and my stolen camera after thieves stole my belongings on a beach in Saint Martin, I never travel without it. Sh*t happens sometimes when you travel. Don’t risk it.

• Destinations
• Terms & conditions
• Opt-out preferences
• Privacy Statement (US)

Solo Travel in Croatia: Why I Love and Recommend it

Thinking about solo travel in Croatia?

I’ll be the first to tell you- go for it. 

Croatia was somewhere that I daydreamed about for years. Not surprising, given I live in Canada and our winters last, well, forever. So when I finally got to Croatia, it was perfection.

I spent about three weeks playing in the sea and lounging on sunny beaches, exploring ancient cities and swimming in waterfalls. I visited four cities; Zadar , Split, Hvar , and Dubrovnik and would highly recommend Croatia’s Dalmatian Coast as a perfect destination for any solo traveller. Here’s why.

psst: Looking for a travel credit card with lots of perks (like lounge access) that will also allow you to earn points for travel? This is what I use and recommend. 

Solo Travel in Croatia is Safe

If you were to ask me where I felt the safest travelling alone, one of my top answers would be Croatia, specifically the town of Zadar. This is mainly because it’s mostly locals and not as busy and hyped up as Split and Dubrovnik).  However, I never had an issue, or even thought I may have an issue, at any point of my time exploring the country.

As a solo female traveller I am used to standing out and being harassed by the men; whether they mean to be threatening or not. But it didn’t happen once in Croatia. Sure a few said ‘hi’ to me or came over to talk, but they were always respectful (even at the clubs). Maybe I was just incredibly lucky, but I’m not going to complain because it was pretty awesome and a huge perk as a solo female traveller. 

My feeling of safety wasn’t just in terms of not being harassed. I never felt like I needed to be overly alert. Either in terms of protecting myself or my belongings. I walked around by myself at night and even went swimming in the sea alone at 1am on my last night- just because I could and I wanted to. It didn’t occur to me til after the fact that it was a dumb thing to because I was alone. It’s definitely not something I would have considered doing anywhere else.

Croatia is Easy to Get Around

One of the biggest reasons what I recommend solo travel in Croatia is because getting around the country on your own is a breeze . Renting a car is obviously an option but there’s no need to with the train and bus system. There are generally two types of buses: the fast buses and the slow ones. If you are in a rush, the fast ones are the best option. However if you have some time I highly recommend the slow ones. The drive is significantly more scenic (especially along the coast!). Buses do not have toilets but still stop for a break at a large station (just make sure you have coins as you do need to pay!)

To get to the islands you take the ferry. Again there are multiple choices, some a little faster than others but the main perk about there being so many options is that you don’t have to wait forever to get where you are going.

There are also plenty of public buses to the main attractions as well. For example to Krka or Plitvice National Park. You can also join tours to these sites as well but should there not be enough numbers you can always hop on a bus and go on your own. Your plans needn’t depend on anyone but you. 

Plenty of Accommodation Options to Fit Your Travel Style

Hostels are generally a solo traveller’s best friend: they are budget friendly and allow you to meet people. But plenty of hostels are also party palaces and can end up leaving you exhausted and frustrated. While Croatia’s cities definitely have party hostels, there are plenty of low-key options as well. One of my favourites was Helvetia Hostel in Hvar. It’s run by a family who, while encouraging you to go out and enjoy Hvar’s famous night life, are quick to enforce silence for those staying in at night. Hostels like these are a great option and allow those who don’t like the party atmosphere (or need a break from it). 

Of course, if hostels really aren’t your thing there are plenty of guesthouses, hotels, and resorts to choose from. If you are looking to book, try booking.com. I use them regularly for my own travel as many properties are refundable if your plans change.

There are Lots of Opportunities to Meet Other Travellers

One of the biggest concerns about solo travel in Croatia (and everywhere else) is how to meet people. Obviously, hostels are an obvious choice but, even if you choose not to stay in a hostel, you will have plenty of opportunities to meet other travellers throughout Croatia. As well as the group tour options to some of the country’s attractions, there are plenty of city walking tours and pub crawls for those looking for a night out.

Croatia’s coast is also popular for sailing tourism and plenty of solo travellers climb aboard for a multi-day sailing and island hopping adventure. If you are looking to join a sailing tour in Croatia, check out the options from Intrepid Travel. I sailed with them in Greece and it was one of the best experiences ever. 

Of everywhere I’ve been, I found Croatia to be one of the easiest places to make friends.

Solo Travel in Croatia can be Budget Friendly

Croatia isn’t nearly as cheap is it used to be post Game of Thrones hype and, of course, now that is uses the Euro. That being said, there are still a things you can do to help lower costs, especially as a solo traveller in Croatia. 

Here’s some simple tips for keeping on a budget travelling through Croatia’s coastal cities. – Consider staying outside of the old city itself (I stayed in a hostel in a local neighbourhood outside of Zadar- a 25 minute walk to Old Town but right by the beach, bus station, grocery store, and beach bar!) -Eat local; there’s lots of delicious and fresh food in Croatia but stay away from ocean-side restaurants or restaurants flaunting the view- they up the price, but not the quality! -Check out multiple companies before signing up for an activity or tour -Visit during the shoulder season (May/June/September) before tourist season starts, but before things start to close off for the winter. It’s cheaper and less crowded. You’ll also be thankful for the (slightly) cooler temperatures during these months. -Plan on staying in Split and Dubrovnik during the week. There’s a major influx in tourists on weekends mainly because of sailing trips. It’s not only cheaper during the week, but it’s also less crowded.

Final Thoughts on Solo Travel in Croatia

As you can no doubt tell, I loved my time in Croatia and would absolutely recommend it to any traveller. Travelling alone isn’t always easy, but if you are considering solo travel in Croatia I definitely think you should give it a shot. I hope you like it as much as I did. 

Ready to Book Your Trip?

Don’t forget travel insurance!

Please do not travel without travel insurance! I’ve had to use it multiple times throughout my travels and it has saved me thousands of dollars. You can learn more about travel insurance  here . If you are looking for a provider I love and recommend  SafetyWing . For Canadian readers, take a look at  SoNomad.

Book your accommodation

I love and recommend  booking.com  for accommodation. They have a range of hostels, guesthouses, hotels, and resorts. Plus, the platform has a great loyalty program that means the more you book, the more you can save. 

Book your tours

My go-to tour provider that I love to recommend is  GetYourGuide . They have options all over the world and partner with local companies for everything from day trips to food experiences and even airport transfers. 

Get connected

If you want to have data while travelling for online maps or any other needs, an esim is one of the easiest solutions. I’m a big fan of Airalo and have used their sim cards around the world from Brazil to Uzbekistan, Greece to the USA. It’s really easy- you download the app, pick what country you want an esim for, and after you purchase it follow the installation instructions. You can use promo code HANNAH3326 to save $3USD on your next esim purchase. 

Not sure what to pack?

I have destination-specific guides for some countries but you can also check my  travel essentials  and  camera gear  if you are looking for some ideas. 

Looking for a travel buddy?

Check out my group trips!

25 Comments

[…] accommodation, and tours, is incredibly traveller friendly. I loved my time exploring Croatia’s Dalmatian Coast and I don’t think I’ve ever felt safer as a solo female traveller than I did in […]

Question what’s the estimated cost??

Depends totally on your budget but I found Croatia pretty affordable compared to, say, somewhere in Western Europe like France or even Greece. I wrote a guest post for a fellow blogger breaking down cost. It’s geared towards mid-range travellers rather than budget travellers but I share some money saving tips and it will give you an idea. You can find it here: https://www.moneywehave.com/how-much-does-it-cost-to-go-to-croatia/

Did you pre-plan what hostels you would stay at when you visited Croatia or did you fly by the seat of your pants? I’ve wanted to get an idea of how much a hostel might be for island hopping, but unfortunately I can’t find any on any hostel booking site (they maybe have 1 or 2 hostels per island).

Hi Karlie, I pre-planned because I was there during the busy season. If you will be too I definitely recommend booking in advance!

Hi Hannah, I’ll be solo for a couple weeks at the end of June, is it actually necessary to pre book the hostels as I don’t really know where in Croatia I will be at any certain time.. any help is appreciated 🙂

Hi George, if you aren’t too picky or on too much of a budget you should be ok to book a couple days before. That being said June is high season, so things may book up quickly. It’s kinda a toss up but if you are willing to be flexible you should be ok! (PS don’t skip Zadar, its great!)

My girlfriend and I are planning to go during high season (only time we BOTH could get off work) would you pre-book your ferry trips to the islands? Or would you recommend booking them when you arrive….Im just worried with it being high seasons that ferries may fill up quickly and we may not be able to get to some islands that we want to!

Thanks in advance!

Depends on where you are going. Ie there are many ferries that go out to Hvar from Split, so thats fine. But If doing Hvar to Dubrovnik like I did, book in advance. I left it till I got there and grabbed the last ticket- and that was mid Sept. Croatia is AMAZING though- enjoy!

Hi Hannah I am thinking of going to Croatia in September alone. I am thinking of flying to split then doing 10 days – which places would you recommend in that time ? And is it possible to get some recommendations for hostels to meet other people ?

Thank you 🙂

Hey Anna! I went to Croatia early September and it was gorgeous- great weather, but not quite as crowded. You can easily do Split, some islands (Hvar is great) and Dubrovnik in your 10 days. If you feel like venturing out a bit more I highly recommend Zadar- its my fav (north from split but still on the coast). For Zadar I loved the Drunken Monkey Hostel, in Hvar I used Hostel Helvetia which was great for meeting others. I think in Split I stayed in Diocletian Palace hostel which was ok and I can’t remember where in Dubrovnik but it wasn’t great so no loss there. If you can, do a day trip to Krka (from Split or Zadar) you can swim in the falls- its beautiful!

Thanks Hannah! Very helpful advice . I am now thinking of missing out Dubrovnik do you have any other places you would recommend going ? So I am flying to and from split. Plan to visit split, zadar, hvar at the moment and I have 10 days. Thanks!! Really appreciate it

I haven’t been, but I have heard great things about Makaraska as well. That being said I think you will have lots to see and do in those 10 days even if you don’t add anywhere else. There are some great boat trips you can take from Hvar Island for the day, and Krka and Plitvice are both close to Zadar.

Croatia is just amazing I did it last summer and I fell in love. And yes if someone is wondering it is really safe – I never felt in danger for one week there.

glad you loved it as much as I did 🙂

is it safe for brown faces though? is it racist?

I didn’t notice any racism. The locals are mainly caucausian but I came across a number of travellers of different races during my visit and it never came up in our discussions.

[…] of beaches, nature, and historical towns makes it a popular choice for all kinds of travellers, and Croatia is great for solo travel.  That all being said, it is a popular destination so if you plan on coming during high season […]

Hi Hannah! I’m doing a small solo stop-over in Croatia at the end of my family Europe trip in middle-May. I was wondering if you had any recommendations of MUST-SEES since I’m there for such a short time?

I definitely want to do hostels but wanted a mix of both party/quiet time but still want to be able to meet new people.

Do you suggest booking tours in advance, or just wandering around the city and seeing what I run into due to my time frame? I’m so excited and am happy to hear it’s a safe place to be solo-wise. Thanks for any advice!!

If you are short on time I suggest just doing your own thing and exploring a bit. Zadar and Hvar were by far my favourite spots. I found Split and Dubrovnik more expensive, touristy, and not as friendly.

Hi Hannah! I am looking to do a Croatia trip in 2020. I’m debating on May, June, or September. I have decided to do something for my 50th birthday to treat myself. Would you recommend a hostel for someone in that age range, or would a hotel be better? Lodging recommendations would be appreciated! I definitely need a quiet atmosphere to sleep because I think I’m the world’s lightest sleeper, LOL. From what I’ve read, it seems that flying into Italy, and catching a connecting flight to Croatia may be a more economical option. Any advice for a first-time solo International traveler is appreciated!

I can’t comment for May or June but I went in early September and it was still really hot! End of the month some more seasonal things did start to shut down though (beach clubs etc). If you need quiet I definitely don’t recommend hostels-they can normally be quite loud. I’d do a hotel or maybe an airbnb instead. Look for somewhere central in the old town areas and you’ll be close to all the attractions and good stuff. Flights to Italy might be cheaper for sure, but then consider how you will get from Italy to Croatia. Another flight? Public transit? Keep that in mind!

[…] felt more local than touristic and had more than enough to keep me busy for a few days. Plus, as asolo traveller in Croatia, I loved how safe I felt in Zadar. In fact, I ended up returning to Zadar for my final days in […]

Hi! What hostel did you stay in in Zadar? It sounds great 😊

I stayed at the lazy monkey!

Leave a Comment Cancel Reply

By leaving a comment you agree with the storage and handling of your name and email address by Eat Sleep Breathe Travel. *

Dreaming of Adventure?

Sign up to the Eat Sleep Breathe Travel mail list and stay up to date with all the latest travel tips and stories.

Croatia Solo Travel 2023: Your Ultimate Itinerary for the Perfect Escape

Are you seeking a solo adventure filled with sun, sea, and serenity? Look no further than Croatia!

With its safe and easy-to-navigate landscape, this captivating country is the perfect destination for independent exploration.

Immerse yourself in the rich culture and history of cities like Split, Dubrovnik, and Zagreb. Indulge in mouthwatering cuisine, mingle with fellow travelers at affordable hostels, and soak up the breathtaking scenery along the coastline.

Get ready to experience ultimate freedom as you embark on an unforgettable solo journey through Croatia.

Page Contents

Key Takeaways

• Croatia is a safe and easy place for solo travel, with a positive safety rating and a high level of English spoken.
• The country offers affordable options for accommodation and transportation, making it accessible for solo travelers on a budget.
• Croatia has a well-developed backpacking infrastructure, plenty of hostels and affordable public transport options.
• There are opportunities to meet other travelers and socialize in Croatia through activities such as shared dinners at hostels, Facebook groups, Couchsurfing events, and mobile apps like Bumble BFF and EatWith.

What Makes Croatia the Ideal Destination for Solo Travel?

Are you considering Croatia as your next solo travel destination? Well, you’re in luck because Croatia offers a beautiful and diverse landscape that is perfect for exploring on your own.

From stunning coastal cities like Split and Dubrovnik to picturesque islands like Korčula and Mljet, there are plenty of must-visit destinations for solo travelers.

And if you’re looking to meet other travelers along the way, you can join group tours or try various socializing methods to make friends in this vibrant country.

Explore the Beauty of Croatia on Your Own

Explore the stunning beauty of Croatia on your own and experience the charm of its old towns and diverse islands.

As a solo traveler, Croatia allows you to discover hidden gems at your own pace. From the ancient ruins of Split to the idyllic Dalmatian Islands, there are countless destinations waiting to be explored.

Immerse yourself in the beauty of Korčula Island with its charming cobblestone streets or venture to Mljet Island for a tranquil retreat surrounded by untouched nature.

Budgeting is made easier with affordable accommodation options like hostels and Airbnb rentals.

Whether you choose to relax on pristine beaches or embark on thrilling adventures, Croatia provides an unforgettable experience for solo travelers seeking freedom and adventure.

Safety Tips for Solo Female Travelers in Croatia

When traveling alone in Croatia, it’s important for solo female travelers to prioritize their safety. Croatia is generally considered a safe country for solo travel, but it’s always wise to take precautions.

Here are some safety tips for solo female travelers in Croatia:

• Stay in well-reviewed accommodations: Research and book accommodations that have good reviews and are located in safe areas.
• Purchase travel insurance: Make sure you have adequate travel insurance coverage that includes medical expenses and emergency evacuation.
• Be cautious when meeting new people: While it can be exciting to meet other travelers or locals, use your judgment and trust your instincts when interacting with strangers.
• Stay connected: Keep your phone charged and have emergency numbers saved. Share your itinerary with someone back home and check in regularly.

Remember, the best way to travel safely as a solo female traveler is to be prepared, stay aware of your surroundings, and trust yourself.

Enjoy your solo travel experience in Croatia while staying safe!

Must-visit Destinations for Solo Travel in Croatia

One of the must-visit destinations for solo travelers in Croatia is the historic city of Dubrovnik. This picturesque city, known as the ‘Pearl of the Adriatic,’ offers a unique blend of ancient architecture, stunning coastal views, and a vibrant cultural scene.

Here are five reasons why Dubrovnik is an ideal place to travel alone:

• Explore the Old Town: Wander through the narrow streets of Dubrovnik’s well-preserved medieval Old Town and discover its rich history and charming atmosphere.
• Walk the City Walls: Take a stroll along the impressive walls that surround the city and enjoy panoramic views of the Adriatic Sea and red-roofed buildings.
• Visit Lokrum Island: Escape to this peaceful island off the coast of Dubrovnik. Explore its lush botanical gardens, swim in crystal-clear waters, and relax on secluded beaches.
• Experience Game of Thrones: If you’re a fan of the popular TV series, embark on a Game of Thrones tour to visit iconic filming locations in Dubrovnik.
• Enjoy Sunset at Buza Bar: End your day by sipping cocktails at Buza Bar, perched on cliffs overlooking the sea. Watch as the sun sets over this magical city.

Dubrovnik truly offers an unforgettable experience for solo travelers seeking the freedom to explore Croatia’s beauty and history.

Join Group Tours to Meet Other Travelers in Croatia

Joining group tours in Croatia is a great way to meet other travelers and make new connections while exploring the country.

Not only do group tours provide an opportunity to socialize, but they also offer convenience and access to hidden gems that may be difficult to discover on your own.

By joining a group tour, you can benefit from the knowledge and expertise of local guides who will take you to the best destinations and share insider tips along the way.

To give you a better idea of what to expect, here is a table showcasing some popular group tour options in Croatia:

Whether you’re interested in exploring ancient ruins, soaking up the sun on pristine beaches, or immersing yourself in Croatia’s vibrant culture, there is a group tour for every traveler.

So don’t hesitate to join a group tour during your solo adventure in Croatia and create unforgettable memories with like-minded explorers.

How to Meet People and Make Friends in Croatia?

To meet people and make friends in Croatia, consider staying in a room within a local’s home on Airbnb or Homestay. This will give you the opportunity to connect with locals and experience their culture firsthand.

Here are some ways to meet people and make friends while traveling solo in Croatia:

• Join group activities such as free walking tours or organized day trips.
• Attend social events like Couchsurfing meetups or language exchange gatherings.
• Use mobile apps like Bumble BFF or EatWith to connect with fellow travelers or locals with similar interests.
• Take part in workshops or classes, such as cooking classes or traditional craft lessons.
• Visit local cafes, bars, and restaurants frequented by locals rather than tourists.

Creating Your Perfect Croatia Solo Travel Itinerary

From exploring Dubrovnik, the Pearl of Croatia, to discovering the hidden gem of Zadar, and taking day trips to beautiful destinations, such as Hvar, we’ll provide you with ultimate tips and insights for getting around this captivating country.

Exploring Dubrovnik, the Pearl of Croatia

Dubrovnik, known as the Pearl of Croatia, offers a variety of attractions and activities for solo travelers to enjoy. Explore this stunning coastal city filled with historical charm and breathtaking views.

Here are five must-do experiences in Dubrovnik:

• Walk the ancient City Walls: Get a bird’s-eye view of Dubrovnik’s red rooftops and crystal-clear Adriatic Sea as you stroll along the centuries-old fortifications.
• Visit Stradun: Immerse yourself in the bustling atmosphere of Dubrovnik’s main street, lined with shops, cafes, and historic landmarks.
• Take a cable car to Mount Srd: Enjoy panoramic vistas from the top of Mount Srd and capture unforgettable photos of Dubrovnik’s terracotta roofs against the backdrop of the sea.
• Explore Lokrum Island: Just a short boat ride from Dubrovnik, discover this nature reserve island with lush gardens, peacocks roaming freely, and hidden coves for swimming.
• Relax at Banje Beach: Unwind on one of Dubrovnik’s most popular beaches while soaking up the sun and taking refreshing dips in the azure waters.

In Dubrovnik, every corner tells a story. Embark on an adventure through its narrow streets, admire its architectural wonders, indulge in delicious local cuisine, and create memories that will last a lifetime.

Ultimate Solo Travel Tips for Getting Around Croatia

When exploring different destinations in the country, it’s important to research and plan your transportation options in advance. Croatia is a great destination for solo travel, offering a mix of stunning landscapes, rich history, and vibrant culture.

To ensure safe and smooth travel throughout Croatia, here are some essential tips for getting around.

Firstly, public buses are an easy and affordable mode of transportation in Croatia. They connect major cities and towns, making it convenient to explore different regions.

Additionally, renting a car provides more flexibility and allows you to venture into remote areas at your own pace.

If you want to visit the picturesque islands along the Croatian coast, ferries are a scenic way to travel between them. Frequent ferry services are departing from various ports.

Lastly, consider taking domestic flights if you want to save time traveling long distances within Croatia.

With these transport options at your disposal, you can navigate Croatia with ease as a solo traveler.

Discovering the Stunning Beauty of Hvar

Discovering the stunning beauty of Hvar is a must for any traveler exploring the Dalmatian Islands. Located off the coast of Croatia, this enchanting island offers a combination of natural wonders and vibrant culture.

Here are five reasons why Hvar should be on your solo travel itinerary:

• Crystal-clear turquoise waters invite you to swim, snorkel, or simply relax on pristine beaches.
• Lush lavender fields fill the air with their intoxicating scent and provide breathtaking views.
• The charming Old Town with its narrow streets, historic buildings, and bustling local markets.
• Stunning sunsets that paint the sky in hues of orange and pink, create a magical atmosphere.
• Vibrant nightlife scene where you can dance under the stars at beachfront clubs or sip cocktails at trendy bars.

With its stunning beauty and diverse attractions, Hvar promises an unforgettable experience for solo travelers interested in Croatia’s captivating landscapes and vibrant culture.

Zadar: A Hidden Gem for Solo Travelers

Zadar, a hidden gem for solo travelers, offers a mix of historic landmarks and picturesque coastal scenery. This charming city in Croatia is perfect for those seeking freedom and adventure.

Start your exploration by visiting the ancient Roman Forum, where you can wander through centuries-old ruins. Don’t miss the unique Sea Organ, an architectural wonder that produces music from the waves of the Adriatic Sea.

For breathtaking views, climb up to Zadar’s iconic Bell Tower and take in the panoramic vistas of the city and coastline. As you stroll along Zadar’s vibrant waterfront promenade, indulge in delicious seafood at local restaurants or grab a drink at one of the trendy bars.

With its rich history and stunning natural beauty, Zadar is a hidden gem for solo travelers in Croatia.

Day Trips to Beautiful Destinations in Croatia

Visiting the nearby destinations in Croatia offers solo travelers the opportunity to explore beautiful landscapes and experience diverse activities.

Here are some incredible day trip options for you:

• Plitvice Lakes National Park: Immerse yourself in the stunning beauty of cascading waterfalls and crystal-clear lakes as you hike through this UNESCO World Heritage site.
• Krka Waterfalls: Marvel at the majestic waterfalls and enjoy swimming in the emerald green pools of Krka National Park.
• Trogir: Step back in time as you wander through the narrow cobblestone streets of this charming medieval town, known for its well-preserved Romanesque-Gothic architecture.
• Hvar Island: Soak up the sun on one of Croatia’s most popular islands, known for its vibrant nightlife, picturesque beaches, and lavender fields.
• Dubrovnik: Explore the ancient city walls, stroll along Stradun Street, and take in breathtaking views from Mount Srđ.

Whether seeking natural wonders or cultural treasures, these day trips will surely leave you with unforgettable memories while enjoying your solo adventure in Croatia.

Ensuring a Safe and Hassle-Free Solo Travel Experience in Croatia

Croatia, with its stunning coastline, rich history, and vibrant culture, is a dream destination for many travelers. And if you’re planning a solo trip to this beautiful country, you’re in for a treat.

However, solo travel can sometimes feel daunting, especially if you’re in a foreign country.

But fear not! With a little preparation and some insider tips, you can ensure a safe and hassle-free solo travel experience in Croatia.

Here’s how:

• Do your research: Before you embark on your solo adventure, it’s essential to do thorough research about the country, its customs, and the places you plan to visit. Familiarize yourself with the local laws, customs, and emergency contact numbers. Knowing the basics will not only keep you safe but also help you blend in with the locals.
• Choose the right accommodation: When traveling alone, it’s important to choose accommodation that offers safety and security. Opt for reputable hotels, hostels, or guesthouses that have good reviews and are located in safe neighborhoods. Consider staying in well-lit areas and close to public transportation for added convenience.
• Share your itinerary: While solo travel is about independence and freedom, it’s always a good idea to share it with someone you trust. This way, someone back home will know your whereabouts and can reach out to you if needed. Additionally, consider registering with your embassy or consulate so that they can assist you in case of an emergency.
• Stay connected: Having a reliable means of communication is crucial when traveling alone. Make sure your phone is unlocked and capable of using local SIM cards. This will not only help you stay connected with loved ones but also allow you to access important travel apps, maps, and emergency services.
• Be cautious with your belongings: Petty theft can happen anywhere, so it’s important to be cautious with your belongings. Keep your valuables, such as passport, money, and electronics, in a secure place like a money belt or a hotel safe. Avoid flaunting expensive items and be mindful of your surroundings, particularly in crowded areas.
• Stay alert and trust your instincts: While Croatia is generally a safe country, it’s always important to stay alert and trust your instincts. If something feels off or unsafe, remove yourself from the situation. Avoid walking alone at night in unfamiliar areas and be cautious when accepting offers from strangers. Your safety should always be your top priority.
• Learn the basics of the local language: While many Croatians speak English, learning a few basic phrases in the local language can go a long way in bridging the gap and showing respect for the culture. Simple greetings, “please” and “thank you,” can make a positive impression and help you navigate daily interactions more smoothly.
• Use reliable transportation: Getting around Croatia is relatively easy, thanks to its well-connected transportation system. When traveling solo, opt for reliable and licensed transportation options like buses, trains, or taxis. If you decide to rent a car, familiarize yourself with local driving laws and be cautious on the roads.
• Embrace solo-friendly activities: Croatia offers many solo-friendly activities to enrich your travel experience. Join guided tours, cooking classes, or local meetups to meet fellow travelers and locals. Engaging in group activities will not only enhance your social interactions but also provide an added layer of safety.
• Trust the locals: Croatians are known for their warm hospitality and friendly nature. Don’t hesitate to ask for help or recommendations from locals. They can provide valuable insights into the best places to visit, eat, and experience the true essence of Croatia.

The Importance of Travel Insurance for Solo Travelers

When traveling solo in Croatia, it’s important to prioritize your safety by considering the importance of travel insurance.

Here are five reasons why travel insurance is crucial for solo travelers in Croatia:

• Medical emergencies: Travel insurance can cover medical expenses if you get injured or fall ill during your trip.
• Trip cancellation or interruption: If unforeseen circumstances force you to cancel or cut short your trip, travel insurance can reimburse you for non-refundable expenses.
• Lost or stolen belongings: Travel insurance can cover lost or stolen luggage and personal belongings, giving you peace of mind while exploring Croatia.
• Emergency evacuation: In case of a serious injury or natural disaster, travel insurance can cover the cost of emergency medical transportation.
• 24/7 assistance: With travel insurance, you’ll have access to a helpline to assist you with emergencies or concerns while traveling alone.

Don’t leave home without travel insurance – it’s an essential investment for a worry-free solo adventure in Croatia.

Navigating Around Croatia With Ease

Now that you have your travel insurance sorted, let’s talk about how to navigate around Croatia with ease. As a solo traveler, it’s essential to feel confident and independent when getting around this beautiful country.

Fortunately, Croatia offers various transportation options that will make exploring a breeze.

One of the easiest and most affordable ways to travel within Croatia is by bus. The country has an extensive network of buses that connect major cities and towns. You can easily book your tickets online or at the bus stations.

If you prefer more flexibility and want to explore remote areas, renting a car is a great option. Remember that some historical Croatian cities are pedestrianized so public transport might be a cheaper alternative.

For island-hopping enthusiasts, ferries are the way to go. Croatia has numerous ferry routes connecting its stunning islands, allowing you to create your own unique itinerary.

Lastly, if you’re short on time or simply want a hassle-free experience, consider taking domestic flights between coastal cities.

With these transportation options at your disposal, navigating around Croatia as a solo traveler will be smooth sailing!

Recommendations for Solo Female Travelers in Croatia

One of the best ways to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience for solo female travelers in Croatia is by following basic safety precautions.

Here are some recommendations to make your solo trip to Croatia even better:

• Start by researching the safest areas to visit in Croatia.
• Stay aware of your surroundings and trust your instincts at all times.
• Dress modestly and respect local customs, especially when visiting religious sites.
• Avoid walking alone at night, especially in unfamiliar or poorly lit areas.
• Keep emergency contact numbers handy and share your itinerary with someone you trust.

Croatia is a safe country for solo travel, with a low crime rate and friendly locals. By taking these simple steps, you can have a memorable and worry-free experience exploring this beautiful destination.

Unforgettable Walking Tours in Croatia

For an unforgettable experience, don’t miss the opportunity to take part in these walking tours while exploring the beautiful destinations of Croatia.

Croatia is one of the safest and most popular destinations for solo travelers, making it a perfect choice for your solo adventure. Whether you’re an experienced solo traveler or traveling to Croatia alone for the first time, these walking tours will provide you with a complete guide to solo travel in Croatia.

From the historic streets of Split to the stunning landscapes of Plitvice Lakes National Park, these walking tours will allow you to immerse yourself in the rich culture and natural beauty of this incredible country.

Explore charming cobblestone streets in Korčula Island, hike through Biokovo National Park in Makarska, or wander along the scenic coastline in Dubrovnik. With each step, you’ll discover new places in Croatia that will leave you awe-inspired.

Joining a walking tour is not only a great way to see the sights but also an opportunity to meet other like-minded travelers from around the world. Share stories and create lasting memories as you explore together.

In addition to being safe and enjoyable, these walking tours are designed for freedom-loving individuals who want to experience Croatia at their own pace.

Enjoying the Company of Other Travelers in Croatia

Joining a walking tour in Croatia is a great way to meet other travelers and create lasting memories as you explore together.

Here are some reasons why enjoying the company of other travelers in Croatia is such a rewarding experience:

• Meeting like-minded people: When you join a walking tour, you’ll have the opportunity to connect with fellow solo travelers who share similar interests and passions.
• Sharing unique experiences: Exploring Croatia’s typical attractions, such as the party islands and stunning beaches, becomes even more enjoyable when you have others to share the experience with.
• Discovering hidden gems: Travelers on these tours often uncover lesser-known places to visit in Croatia that may not be on typical tourist itineraries.
• Budget-friendly options: Walking tours are well set up for solo travel budgeting in Croatia, allowing you to save money while still experiencing the best that this beautiful country has to offer.
• Creating lifelong friendships: The bonds formed during these tours can lead to lifelong friendships and future travel adventures.

Planning a Solo Trip to Croatia

Creating the perfect croatia itinerary.

When planning your solo trip to Croatia, it’s important to create the perfect itinerary that allows you to explore the diverse islands, historic towns, and vibrant nightlife of this rapidly growing tourist destination.

Here are some key elements to consider when creating your Croatia itinerary:

• Start in Split: Begin your journey in Split, the second-largest city in Croatia. Explore its rich history by visiting Diocletian’s palace and taking a group tour. Don’t forget to relax at the beach and indulge in the local restaurant scene.
• Island hopping: Take advantage of the Dalmatian Islands’ beautiful island hopping opportunities. With over 79 islands to choose from, ferries leave daily from Split. Consider renting a motorbike for budget-friendly transportation or join a boat tour to meet other travelers.
• Makarska: Make sure to visit Makarska, a port town known for Biokovo National Park and its stunning sunset walks along the sea. For partygoers, Deep Makarska is a unique club set in a beachfront cave.
• Korčula Island: Explore Korčula Island with its charming cobblestone streets and activities like wine tasting and cultural site visits. Stroll through the streets and sample the local cuisine while enjoying easy accessibility from Makarska and nearby islands.
• Mljet Island: Experience tranquility on Mljet Island with its untouched nature and Mljet National Park featuring two saltwater lakes. Hike trails, rent bikes, or kayak around the lakes for an idyllic getaway.

Essential Travel Tips for Solo Female Travelers

For solo female travelers in Croatia, it’s important to prioritize safety and be aware of your surroundings. Croatia is a great place to travel solo, with its stunning landscapes, rich history, and friendly locals.

When planning your solo travel itinerary for Croatia, there are some essential travel tips to remember.

First and foremost, make sure to stay safe by taking precautions such as avoiding isolated areas at night and keeping your belongings secure. It’s also recommended to have travel insurance in case of any unforeseen events or emergencies.

Additionally, research the local customs and dress appropriately to respect the culture. With these tips in mind, you can confidently explore Croatia as a solo traveler and have an amazing experience without any worries.

Exploring the Beauty of Split and Dubrovnik

To fully immerse yourself in the beauty of Split and Dubrovnik, don’t miss exploring the ancient Roman ruins, strolling along the charming cobblestone streets, and taking in stunning views of the Adriatic Sea.

Croatia solo travel offers a sense of freedom as you navigate through these captivating cities.

Here are five things to experience while exploring the beauty of Split and Dubrovnik:

• Visit Diocletian’s Palace, a UNESCO World Heritage site that showcases impressive Roman architecture.
• Wander through the narrow streets of Old Town, filled with vibrant cafes, shops, and historical landmarks.
• Climb up to Marjan Hill for panoramic views of Split’s coastline and nearby islands.
• Take a boat tour to explore the picturesque Elafiti Islands or visit Lokrum Island just off the coast of Dubrovnik.
• Indulge in local cuisine at traditional restaurants or grab a bite at bustling food markets.

With each step you take, you’ll discover hidden gems and create unforgettable memories in these enchanting Croatian cities.

Croatia as a Safe Country for Solo Travelers

A desirable destination for solo travelers, Croatia offers a high level of safety and English proficiency. Regarding solo travel in Croatia, there are many things to see and do.

Whether you want to explore the historic city of Split, hop between the stunning Dalmatian Islands, or relax in the port town of Makarska, Croatia has something for everyone.

To make your solo travel experience even better, here are some tips and highlights: dress up to blend in with the locals, research ahead for veggie or vegan food options, and consider doing most things without a tour to have more freedom.

With easy transportation options like buses and ferries, traveling through Croatia is convenient and affordable.

So book your flight to Croatia and get ready for an unforgettable time!

Croatia may be known for its stunning landscapes and rich history, but it also offers a safe environment for solo travelers.

With a positive safety rating and low levels of crime, you can feel secure walking down the streets at night.

Plus, with a high level of English spoken by locals, communication won’t be an issue during your time in Croatia.

As a solo traveler in this beautiful country, you’ll find it’s relatively affordable, with options for cheaper accommodation and transportation.

Whether you choose to stay in hostels for a social experience or explore less popular destinations on your own, Croatia provides the perfect backdrop for your solo adventure.

So pack your bags and get ready to make unforgettable memories in this charming destination.

Top Destinations for Solo Travel in Croatia

When exploring Croatia alone, you’ll find that Split, Dubrovnik, Zadar, Istria, and Zagreb are some of the top destinations for solo travelers.

Here’s what you can expect in each of these places:

• Split: This vibrant city combines ancient Roman ruins and socialist-era architecture. Explore Diocletian’s palace, take a group tour, relax at the beach, or enjoy the local restaurant scene.
• Dubrovnik: Known as the ‘Pearl of the Adriatic,’ Dubrovnik is a stunning destination with its fortified walls and picturesque streets. Join a bar crawl, visit Lokrum Island, or walk the City Walls.
• Zadar: Experience unique attractions such as the Sea Organ and solar light shows at the Greeting to the Sun. Explore Roman ruins and take an island boat trip to the Kornati islands.
• Istria: Visit charming towns like Rovinj and Pula. Wander through colorful streets, discover ancient landmarks like St. Euphemia Church, or explore Austrian wellness retreats in Opatija.
• Zagreb: Discover unique museums like the Museum of Broken Relationships. Enjoy affordable dining options in this bustling city or stay at the Swanky Mint hostel for a modern experience.

Croatia is a great place to go in the summer, offering plenty of sightseeing opportunities and incredible landscapes whether you choose to travel by car or public transport.

Making the Most of Your Solo Travel Adventure in Croatia

To make the most of your solo travel adventure in Croatia, it’s important to research ahead of time and find suitable food options for your dietary preferences.

Here are some tips to help you enjoy your culinary experience:

• Research restaurants and cafes that offer vegetarian or vegan options.
• Explore local markets for fresh fruits, vegetables, and other plant-based products.
• Learn basic Croatian phrases to communicate your dietary needs to locals.
• Pack some snacks and food items that cater to your specific dietary requirements.
• Consider booking accommodations with kitchen facilities, so you can prepare your own meals if necessary.

Exploring Off-The-Beaten-Path Destinations in Croatia

If you’re looking for a unique and less touristy experience, consider exploring some off-the-beaten-path destinations in Croatia.

While popular cities like Split and Dubrovnik offer incredible sights and experiences, there are lesser-known places that can provide a sense of freedom and adventure.

One such destination is the charming town of Makarska, located south of Split. With its beautiful sunset walks along the sea and delicious dining options, it offers a more intimate coastal experience.

Another hidden gem is Korčula Island, known for its charming cobblestone streets and local cuisine. Strolling through the streets and sampling traditional dishes will give you a taste of authentic Croatian culture.

For nature lovers, Mljet Island is a tranquil oasis with untouched landscapes and peaceful surroundings.

Explore Mljet National Park’s hiking trails or rent bikes to discover its beauty at your own pace.

These off-the-beaten-path destinations will allow you to immerse yourself in Croatia’s natural beauty while enjoying the freedom to explore without the crowds of tourists.

Croatia as a Great Destination for Experienced Solo Travelers

For experienced solo travelers, you’ll find that Croatia offers a multitude of hidden gems and unique experiences to explore.

• Discover the ancient Roman ruins and socialist-era architecture in Split.
• Island hop through the stunning Dalmatian Islands, with over 79 to choose from.
• Experience the beauty of Makarska, with its port town charm and Biokovo National Park for hiking.
• Explore Korčula Island’s charming cobblestone streets and indulge in wine tasting.
• Relax on tranquil Mljet Island, known for its untouched nature and Mljet National Park.

In Croatia, you have the freedom to uncover these off-the-beaten-path destinations at your own pace.

Whether wandering through historic cities or embarking on thrilling outdoor adventures, Croatia provides an enticing playground for experienced solo travelers seeking new experiences and a sense of freedom.

How to Travel Around Croatia on Your Own?

Getting around Croatia on your own is easy and affordable. There are options like buses, ferries, and trains available to explore the country at your own pace.

Buses are a popular mode of transportation, offering frequent routes that connect major cities and towns. They are comfortable and reliable, making it convenient to travel between destinations.

Ferries are another great way to get around, especially if you want to visit the beautiful Dalmatian Islands. With over 79 islands to choose from, you can hop on a ferry from Split and easily explore different islands.

Trains are also available in Croatia, although the service is limited mainly to Zagreb and Central Europe.

Regardless of your choice, traveling alone lets you discover Croatia’s stunning landscapes and vibrant cities at your leisure.

Must-see Travel Destinations in Croatia for Solo Travelers

When exploring Croatia alone, you’ll want to visit the must-see destinations for solo travelers.

Here are five destinations that will give you the freedom to explore and enjoy your solo adventure:

Congratulations on choosing Croatia as your ideal destination for solo travel!

With its safe and easy-to-navigate environment, Croatia offers you a memorable experience.

From the stunning cities of Split and Dubrovnik to the breathtaking landscapes of Zadar and Istria, there’s something for every solo traveler.

Soak in the beauty of this country while enjoying affordable accommodation options and exploring at your own pace.

Don’t forget to blend in with locals, try delicious vegetarian or vegan food options, and create unforgettable memories.

Embark on your solo adventure in Croatia today!

FAQs | Croatia Solo Travel

What is the best time to visit croatia for solo travel.

The best time to visit Croatia for solo travel is during the shoulder seasons of spring (April-May) and autumn (September-October). The weather is pleasant, the crowds are smaller, and the prices are more affordable than the peak summer season.

Is Croatia safe for solo female travelers?

Yes, Croatia is generally safe for solo female travelers. However, it is always important to take precautions and practice common sense while traveling alone. Be aware of your surroundings, avoid dark and isolated areas at night, and trust your instincts. It is also recommended to dress modestly and respect the local customs.

How can I meet other travelers in Croatia?

There are several ways to meet other travelers in Croatia. You can join group tours, stay in hostels or guesthouses to meet fellow travelers, participate in organized activities and excursions, or connect with other travelers through online communities and forums.

Do I need travel insurance for solo travel in Croatia?

It is highly recommended to have travel insurance when traveling to Croatia or any other destination. Travel insurance covers medical emergencies, trip cancellations or disruptions, lost or stolen belongings, and other unforeseen circumstances that may arise during your trip.

What are some tips for solo travel in Croatia?

Here are some tips for solo travel in Croatia: 1. Plan your itinerary in advance and research the destinations you want to visit. 2. Stay in safe and well-reviewed accommodations. 3. Familiarize yourself with the local customs and traditions. 4. Learn a few basic Croatian phrases. 5. Take necessary precautions to protect your belongings. 6. Stay connected and inform someone back home about your itinerary. 7. Be open to new experiences and be respectful towards the locals.

How can I get around Croatia as a solo traveler?

Croatia has a well-developed transportation system that makes it easy to get around as a solo traveler. You can use public buses, ferries, and trains to travel between cities and towns. Renting a car is also an option if you prefer more flexibility and independence.

What are the best destinations for solo travel in Croatia?

Some of the best destinations for solo travel in Croatia include Dubrovnik, Split, Zagreb, Hvar Island, Plitvice Lakes National Park, and Zadar. These places offer a combination of natural beauty, cultural heritage, vibrant nightlife, and opportunities to meet other travelers.

Can I rent a car as a solo traveler in Croatia?

Yes, you can rent a car as a solo traveler in Croatia. Having a car gives you the freedom to explore remote areas and off-the-beaten-path destinations at your own pace. Make sure to have a valid driver’s license and familiarize yourself with the local traffic rules and regulations.

What are some common solo travel tips for Croatia?

Here are some common solo travel tips for Croatia: 1. Pack light and bring essentials like sunscreen, comfortable shoes, and a reusable water bottle. 2. Stay hydrated and protect yourself from the sun. 3. Try the local cuisine and indulge in traditional dishes. 4. Respect the local customs and traditions. 5. Stay informed about any travel advisories or safety concerns. 6. Take necessary precautions to protect your belongings. 7. Stay connected with a reliable means of communication.

What is the availability of accommodation options for solo travelers in Croatia?

Croatia offers a wide range of accommodation options for solo travelers. You can choose from budget-friendly hostels, guesthouses, and private rooms, as well as luxurious hotels and resorts. It is recommended to book your accommodations in advance, especially during the peak travel season.

• https://www.thesoloist.travel/solo-travel-blog/ultimate-10-day-croatia-itinerary-solo-female-travel
• https://www.wheregoesrose.com/solo-travel-in-croatia/
• https://www.girlabouttheglobe.com/solo-travel-croatia/

A passionate solo traveler, embarking on thrilling adventures to explore the world's historical ruins. Fascinated by the intricate tales woven into ancient stones, she delves deep into the history of each site, unearthing the emotional stories that resonate through time. With every journey, Hayden strives to connect with the human experience of the past and share its profound significance with fellow explorers. Join her on a captivating expedition to unlock the secrets of bygone eras.

Related Posts

10 best adventurous things to do in greece: outdoor activities you can’t miss, scotland solo female travel: embrace the magic and adventure, leave a reply cancel reply.

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed .

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.

• Living In Croatia
• Croatian Recipes
• Balkan Recipes

Home > Traveling Croatia Solo – Tips For The Solo Croatian Aventure

Traveling Croatia Solo – Tips For The Solo Croatian Aventure

Written by our local expert Ana

Croatian born Ana is an avid traveler who is always looking for the next travel story from the Balkans to share. Her passion is creating travel itineraries and in-depth guides.

Experienced solo traveler Mandie makes solo travel to Croatia less scary with these solo Croatia travel tips.

Croatia is an ideal destination for solo female travelers, offering a safe environment, easy communication in English, affordable options, and a variety of must-visit destinations. The best time to visit Croatia depends on personal preferences, with summer being popular for beach and island activities, spring and fall offering fewer crowds and lower prices, and winter providing solitude. Zagreb, Split, Dubrovnik, and Zadar are recommended as great places to stay, and there are various ways to meet other travelers, such as through Facebook groups, hostels, free tours, and mobile apps.

What You Need To Know

• Croatia is a safe country for solo female travelers, ranking among the top 15 safest countries in the world
• English is widely spoken, making communication easy, and it’s beneficial to learn some basic Croatian phrases
• Buses are the primary mode of transportation in Croatia, and Flixbus offers affordable travel options with modern amenities
• Croatia can be explored on a budget, especially outside of peak season, with various ways to save on transportation, accommodation, and attractions
• The best time to visit Croatia depends on personal preferences, with summer being popular for beach activities, spring and fall offering fewer crowds, and winter providing solitude
• Zagreb, Split, Dubrovnik, and Zadar are recommended as excellent places to stay, each offering unique attractions and experiences
• Solo female travelers can meet others through Facebook groups, hostels, free tours, and mobile apps designed for connecting with fellow travelers

When I first mentioned to my parents that my first solo travel plans included Croatia, their faces blanched. He flat-out grimaced when discussing it with the next-door neighbor and suggested I skip Croatia and head to Greece instead.

“Is that…safe?” my mother asked.

Unfortunately, like many Americans who remember the breakup of the former Yugoslavia, their concept of Croatia was a war-torn country still suffering from the aftermath.

Anyone who has ever been to Croatia recently can tell you this couldn’t be further from the truth. There’s a reason this country has become one of the most popular tourist destinations in Europe. In my opinion, as a solo female traveler, Croatia might be the safest and arguably most picturesque of the Balkan countries to travel through.

Croatia is also where I began to come into my own as a true solo traveler.

The first two months of my solo trip were spent volunteering in exchange for room & board, which was an excellent way to ease into my first long-term solo trip. I spent several weeks at each destination with hosts who graciously took me under their wings & showed me the sights.

Then I reached the end of my Workaway projects and the beginning of the unscheduled section of my trip. I was excited, I was terrified, and I was heading toward Croatia .

Your confidence as a solo traveler is something that develops the longer you’re on the road. In Belgrade , I overcame my fear of public transportation without knowing where my stop would be. In Mostar , I got over my fear of bargaining in street markets. In Sarajevo , I overcame my fear of approaching strangers and asking if I could join them for a while.

It wasn’t until I arrived in Split that I felt I had found my stride.

At least, what I thought was Split. It turns out that following a large group of giggling girls on holiday was not the best strategy for determining which bus stop to get off at.

This is how I accidentally wandered around the lovely seaside town of Makarska, looking for a road that didn’t exist. When I realized my error, I also learned something else…I didn’t even care.

Maybe it was the friendly people who spoke enough English to try to help me out. Perhaps it was a clean, rocky beach stretching out before me. (I could sleep on the beach if I had to, right?) All I knew was that I finally had confidence in myself as a solo traveler. It didn’t matter where I was; I could figure it out.

When I finally got to Split (yes, the real Split), it felt like I had stepped back into medieval times. I had no idea how to find the hostel I’d booked, but I couldn’t be bothered with such trivial facts.

There were winding stone streets to explore—romanesque churches, medieval fortifications, Gothic, Renaissance, and Baroque-style palaces to discover. A certain palace built by former Roman Emperor Diocletian ( that just happened to be featured in HBO’s hit series Game of Thrones ) was waiting for me.

It was a dream come true for a fantasy-loving, World of Warcraft-playing, medieval-obsessed nerd girl.

After getting delightfully lost several times before finally locating my hostel , I realized something: I was exactly where I was meant to be.

I was in a city where I had no idea how to find anything. No one around me was speaking English. Tourists were milling around busily, and I was standing there snapping 1,587 pictures of Roman architecture. I had never felt more at home.

Brands We Use And Trust

Skip Ahead To My Advice Here!

Croatia Solo Travel Tip #1: Understand What Solo Travel Is About

Solo travel is great, but it’s not for everyone. You’ll find it relatively easy to meet people in Croatia, but not always. If you’re highly sociable and struggle to spend time alone, solo travel isn’t for you. However, if you enjoy your company and find it easy to talk to people you’ve never met, you’ll have a ball.  

Croatia Solo Travel Tip #2: Create A Rough Itinerary

You’re rolling your eyes and wondering what happened to spontaneity. Having a plan doesn’t mean you can’t be spontaneous occasionally, but it pays to know what you want to see and when. That way, you’re sure you’re not going to miss out on anything, and you can search for trips that head off in your desired direction.  

Croatia Solo Travel Tip #3: Go At Your Own Pace

There is SO MUCH to see and do in Croatia, from the beautiful Dalmatian coastline to the culturally rich  capital of Zagreb . Don’t hesitate to switch up your itinerary if your schedule allows it. Try to stay flexible because it’s likely that you’ll learn about some fantastic destination that hasn’t been on your radar when talking to other travelers and wanting to go. And don’t be afraid to slow down; book an extra few days in a town you love and relax. It’s easy to get burned out trying to make it everywhere and see everything. A slow, flexible trip is the best way to travel through Croatia.

This is the freedom that travelers are always talking about the freedom to do exactly whatever it is you want to do and go wherever you want to go. The freedom is always inside our heads, but many of us don’t fully embrace or accept it until we become travelers.

Croatia Solo Travel Tip #4: Understand Where The Crowds Are

Crowds are a) annoying and b) a little scary when you’re alone. You can overcome these two things by understanding where the biggest crowds are. For instance, Dubrovnik in summer is super-busy , sometimes to the point of wanting to get out of the place! If you want to head there, you can go in the spring or autumn, and it won’t be as busy. Do your research .  

Croatia Solo Travel Tip #5 : Remember That Croatia Is Hugely Seasonal

Most solo travelers will head to Croatia during the summer months. That’s because Croatia isn’t a year-round deal for the most part. It’s seasonal in terms of what is open and how easy it is to get around.  

November to February is cold in Croatia , and it can rain, be very windy, and even snow. You probably won’t find direct flights to the coast at this time. March to May starts to warm up, and places begin to open. Travel gets a little easier, and you can usually find fantastic deals around this time. As a solo traveler, April into May is a great time.  

The peak summer months of June to August are crazy busy. The crowds will sometimes drive you mad, but it’s also the best time to meet people and get a suntan . Of course, it’s also the easiest time to get around regarding availability, but prices are higher.  

As we move into autumn, from September to October, you’ll get a similar experience as in the spring. The weather is a lot easier to handle, prices are lower, and you’ll be able to move much easier. However, things do start to close at the beginning of October.  

Croatia Solo Travel Tip #6: You Can Buy Everything You Need

You don’t need to take your entire life’s belongings with you when you head to Croatia. There are lots of shops, lots of them. You can buy everything you need. Just take the basics and pack a capsule wardrobe . That way, you won’t drag a huge case around and find some fun picks in markets and boutique stores.  

Croatia Solo Travel Tip #7: Take Public Transportation

Croatia has a top-notch infrastructure and consistent public transportation . Bus travel is an easy and affordable way to get around the country , and it’s also a great place to meet other travelers and locals alike.

When I got off at the wrong stop in Makarska, it was easily remedied because there were buses to anywhere I wanted to leave about every half hour. Also, most drivers speak enough English to point you in the right direction and are friendly and helpful.

Croatia Solo Travel Tip #8: Hostels In Croatia Are High Quality

Once upon a time, hostels were not the most incredible places to stay , but everything has changed. Croatia has plenty of unique and affordable community housing, from party hostels (usually those with a bar on the premise) to quiet, more laid-back options. For the most part, hostels in Croatia are pretty good quality, and if you prefer to, you can usually book a private room. While dormitory-style sleeping arrangements may not float everyone’s boat, they are easy to meet new friends and find a temporary travel buddy.

If you’re content with a little more solitude, check out rooms or apartments on Airbnb. If you prefer a good, old-fashioned hotel room , try to avoid the larger resorts, as they tend to attract families and package tours. Staying close to the city center is always a good idea because it tends to be easier to find, and there’s plenty to do within walking distance (always a plus for when you’re sick of planning things out on your own).

Croatia Solo Travel Tip #9: Use Technology To Make Connections  

The great thing about solo travel in Croatia is that plenty of people like you – all traveling around and doing their own. You can spend time alone, but if you want to meet up with others, you can use apps. For instance, Bumble BFF helps you meet people in the same area as you, and EatWith enables you to find social dining experiences so you don’t have to eat alone.  

Croatia Solo Travel Tip #10: Take Free Walking Tours

Tour guides tend to have a wealth of knowledge regarding where to eat, what to do, and how to avoid tourist traps wherever you are. They are a great way to get to know a city’s history and culture and provide plenty of opportunities to meet other solo travelers with whom you might have something in common. I try to take a walking tour in every city I visit, and the ones I went on in Croatia were informative and fascinating.

I climbed up about a million stairs to get to a ‘cross on a hill’ that someone on the walking tour told me about – an experience I would have missed otherwise!

Croatia Solo Travel Tip #11: Join A Group Adventure Or Day Trip

There’s no shortage of options for the active traveler in Croatia , and almost every city offers organized small group tours. Go diving, cycling, hiking, kayaking, or parasailing. Take a Game of Thrones Tour tour in Dubrovnik or Split and meet some other fans. Busabout offers affordable sailing trips along the Dalmatian coast. Group adventures are a great way to make new friends when you’re sociable.

You can start on a group day trip, then stay on your own, as I did in Zagreb . After a scheduled group tour, I waited two extra days just because I felt like it. I explored the Upper City and visited the Museum of Broken Relationships. I walked through cemeteries because, hey, I like cemeteries. I sat atop the wall near the Iron Gate, drank my coffee & wrote in my journal. I spent a ridiculous amount of time hiking up (and getting repeatedly lost on) Medvednica Mountain in search of Medvedgrad Castle. 

Move This Adventure To Your Inbox & Get An Instant Freebie

No spam. Unsubscribe at any time.

Female Solo Traveler Tips

As a female solo traveler, there are a few extras you need to think about. It’s unfortunate that in this day and age, we still need to do this, but safety is paramount.  

Croatia is a safe country, but as anywhere in the world, there is always the odd bad apple. By keeping your wits about you and following these easy tips, you’ll navigate the experience happily and safely.  

• Plan and leave a rough itinerary with someone you trust at home. That way, someone always knows where you are.  
• Check the news regularly for any local issues that it’s essential to know about.  
• English is widely spoken in Croatia, but if it’s your first time as a solo female traveler , perhaps avoid going to rural places where English might not be that common.  
• Take a self-defense class before heading off on your trip – it’s always helpful!
• Check social media for other female solo traveler groups and take their advice if they’ve been to the same place(s) you’re planning on going to.  
• Check the clothing the locals are wearing and try to blend in.  
• Don’t be too trusting! You might want to make new friends quickly, but not everyone has the best intentions at heart. Just hold back your trust until they’ve earned it.  
• It goes without saying that you shouldn’t travel with valuables and don’t go flashing your new iPhone around when you’re out and about.  
• For the most part, male attention in Croatia isn’t troublesome, and the overwhelming majority of guys will be respectful. However, that doesn’t mean you should let your guard down.  

During my stay in Split , I sat alone in cafes drinking Croatian wine and people-watching along the Riva. I hopped on a bus to Omiš , a small coastline town with a magnificent sand beach , and spent a day there on a whim. I sampled approximately 13 different flavors of freshly-made ice cream. I visited Game of Thrones filming locations & probably spoiled the last season for anyone who would listen to me ramble on about it. (How are there people who still don’t know about the Purple Wedding?)

I sunbathed on rocks & jumped off them into the salty sea. I stayed in a terrible hostel but still made good friends. I hung out with them when I felt like it, and when I didn’t, I sat down by the water and read my book. I didn’t apologize to anyone for wanting to do my own thing.

I realized what travel is truly meant to be: an experience that is profoundly and uniquely personal.

Split may not be the most popular city in Croatia , but it meant so much to ME.

I found my freedom in Croatia. I got my ‘travel legs.’ For that, Croatia will always hold a special place inside my heart.

• What to Pack For Croatia: The Ultimate Croatia Packing List
• Is Croatia Safe To Travel? Helpful Safety Tips
• Best Croatia Travel Deals & How To Get Them
• Car Rental Tips And Deals
• LGBT Travel Tips For Croatia

Comments (18)

Interesting reactions, I have definitely not ever thought of Croatia as dangerous and its such a popular vacation spot lately. Great tip about the free walking tours – we do these in cities all the time, great for couples and families as well!

I know, anyone who’s ever been to Croatia would laugh at people thinking it’s dangerous, but people who have never been out of the US can have somewhat of a “the world is a scary, dangerous place” mentality. I’m happy to say that my mother has completely reversed her stance and now wants to visit Croatia. :)

Ok, I’m totally geeking out that you got to see the filming locations of Game of Thrones. Any Pedro Pascal sightings?

Oh, I geeked out, too. 100%. Sadly, I did not see the gorgeous Pedro. If I had, I’d like to pretend that I would have been dignified and not chased him down begging for a selfie, but I think we all know that’s not true.

Another great post Mandie, I’m glad that Split holds a special place with you. It is such a great place to be alone in :) and these tips are great for whenever you travel. :)

Thanks Sammi!! And you’re totally right, these tips can really be applied to solo travel anywhere. :)

It does take a little while to get comfortable with not knowing, or not understanding your surroundings, doesn’t it? I bounced a bit in Japan before I settled in Kyoto, and that was before I had a real working knowledge of the language. Lovely pictures as ever. If I could travel the world, I surely would. One country at a time. ;)

Lovely post, it’s always great to hear of people overcoming their fears. I have never thought of Croatia as a dangerous destination, even though I have spent my childhood listening to news of the Yugoslavian conflict. I have another personal tip to add, I know it might sound strange, but here it is: follow the touts. You know those people waiting at bus stops and train stations offering rooms for the night? Some of my best memories of travelling around the Balkans happened as a result of following the touts. Or maybe I was just lucky?

I was wondering about that – if they were legit or not. I think it’s probably hit of miss because one person told me they got ripped off by one, and another group told me they got an amazing apartment for hardly more than I’d paid for my hostel. Now I’m bummed I already had rooms lined up or I totally would have tried it! :)

Great tips and it’s great that you got to relax and travel slowly.

I’ll admit that until this last year when I started reading Chasing the Donkey and other Croatian-based blogs, I also imagined it as a war-torn country. Now, I’m longing to go there. It sounds like it was a wonderful experience for you. Great tips.

Beautiful guest post! I never thought of Croatia as dangerous either… maybe it’s because I’m too unaware of recent war history and too immersed in the travel blogging world. Because all I ever hear of it are of beautiful crystal blue waters and medieval towns! Sadly I didn’t fit in Croatia on my 1st Europe trip, but I”m already dreaming of when I can return to Europe and go there!

Great tips! I did my first solo travel in Croatia too! I went on a backpacking trip to Slovenia, Croatia and Italy and I got the same question about Croatia from my mum..:D I couchsurfed the whole time and it was quite the adventure. I am not sure how I had the courage to do that lol I haven’t travelled solo in a while now, but I remember how liberating it was. If you indeed arrived to the wrong town, oh well, it looks pretty too. Fun times :)

Great post! I love finding free walking tours or taking a day trip somewhere. So wonderful to tour around the city or places nearby! I know some people still have question marks about Croatia but I would definitely visit in heartbeat. It’s on my list and I cannot wait. Split is at the top of the Croatian list.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed .

Subscribe To Unlock Your FREE Customizable Travel Packing List & All Our Best Tips!

Unlock Your FREE Customizable Travel Packing List!

Subscribe Now For Instant Access To Stress-Free Packing

Croatia Itinerary Ideas

Croatia is my favorite country in the world. I am absolutely besotted with this Adriatic coastal paradise. Croatia is stunningly gorgeous, has friendly hospitable people, and an intriguing culture. When I speak of Croatia, know that I am incredibly biased and blinded by love so forgive my overly flowery language. I will try to control myself and give you some reasonable Croatia Itinerary Ideas.

Whether you want to simply island-hop, sail around the Dalmatian coast, or stroll around cities brimming with old-world charm, you have so many options in Croatia. I think 2 weeks is a solid amount of time to get the know the country, 9 days will do if you are in a rush. A month would be perfect but that’s not a reality for most people, sadly. Here is my advice for how to spend your time with options for shorter or longer stays. I always believe that travel itineraries should be tailored to the traveler and are not “one size fits all”, which is why I provide options so you can design your own perfect trip.

Table of Contents

Two Weeks in Croatia Itinerary

I think the ideal situation, considering the unique shape of Croatia, is to fly into either Zagreb or Dubrovnik and out of the other. You can do this itinerary in either order and skip things that don’t interest you. I added them for ease of travel from one place to the next. These are some of the more popular and well-known places but I will advise you on lesser-visited places as well. I am also biased towards a more relaxed pace since I hate constantly checking in/checking out and packing/unpacking that is required when you move from place to place quickly. So I am going to provide options for those who want a more chill itinerary and those who don’t mind always being on the move.

• Day 1 Arrival in Dubrovnik

Depending on when you arrive, you may have time to stroll around and enjoy Dubrovnik a bit or you may just want to rest. I’m easily entertained simply by wandering around the medieval maze of stone-walled streets that make up this little jewel of a town.

• Day 2 Dubrovnik

Dubrovnik has recently been listed as the most over-touristed city in the world and usually, I detest those kinds of places but I ADORE Dubrovnik and I cannot tell anyone not to go there. I recommend being choosy about WHEN you go to maximize your enjoyment. Dubrovnik is endlessly appealing.

I personally think you need a minimum of one full day here. I dislike that cruise ships stop here (it is way too small) so if you are unfortunately here on the same day as a cruise ship, make this a day trip day or schedule your old city activities early or in the afternoon after the ship passengers leave (typically around 4pm)

I have now been to Dubrovnik 4 times and never get bored. Here are my recommendations for all things Dubrovnik.

One of my personal favorite things was the Game of Thrones tour . There are many to choose from. You can even do a self-guided one if you look up the various sites but the one I did was REALLY fun. You can read about it in the link I provided and the link to actual tour to book is there as well.

Day 3 Dubrovnik with Day Trip

There are many delightful day trips from Dubrovnik OR you could just have a relaxing beach day. A trip to Lokrum Island is a lovely way to spend the day or if you don’t plan to do this later, a wine-tasting day on the Peljesac Peninsula. I don’t love the long day trips to other countries but you do have the option of visiting Kotor and Budva in Montenegro or Mostar in Bosnia. I personally think all of these places deserve more time (especially Bosnia) but if you don’t think you will be back in the region anytime soon and want to “do it all”, I can understand. Here is my post about my short but fantastic visit to Bosnia .

Check out one of these tours below!

• Day 4 Korčula

Korčula is my favorite island (so far) and not to be missed. On this itinerary, you have two days but I recommend more if you can. Spend one-day exploring Korčula town and the other visiting another part of the island.

Day 5 Korcula

Explore outside of Korčula town. If you love wine, a highly suggest a bike tour through the Lumbarda region. Korčula is the “white-wine” island and has a variety called Grk not grown anywhere else. You can do this guided or self-guided. If you have more time and a car, drive around the island and visit other villages and beaches. If you love nature you can ferry to the nearby island of Mljet which is mostly a national park.

If you have the time take a day or more in the Peljesac Peninsula on the way or way back from Korčula, if this works into your itinerary. Peljesac is a short ferry ride from Korčula and could be a day trip from Korčula with a tour if you don’t have your own car. More about this below.

Day 6 Ferry to Hvar

Hvar is probably the most popular and most visited island. It is famous for being a party island and has a vibrant nightlife but does happen to be beautiful and picturesque as well. If you are here in shoulder season you will avoid the party scene.

Depending on the timing of the previous day you may want to spend a day or half-day on a different island. Both Vis and Brač are accessible by ferry from Hvar. (pronounced “Veece” and “Bratch”) The trip is just under an hour. Or you could just enjoy Hvar, perhaps book a sailing tour around the island.

Day 8 Ferry to Split

Split is not my favorite place in Croatia, but it is the hub for ferries to various islands so it is kind of unavoidable. Definitely visit Diocletian’s Palace which dates back to 4th century AD under Roman times. It is more of a neighborhood fortress than an actual Palace. It forms half the town of Split. Fun fact for Game of Thrones fans, this served as the city of Meereen.

Day 9 Drive to Plitvice Lakes

If you are planning to spend the entire next day in Plitvice as I recommend, definitely try to stop in Zadar on the way. I liked Zadar much more than Split. Zadar has a captivating medieval walled old-town that manages to be both cosmopolitan and historical simultaneously. It has world-class sunsets and the wonderfully odd sea organ.

I suggest driving to Plitvice and spending the night there so you can start early the following morning.

Day 10 Plitvice

Plitvička jezera are world-famous and you can see why. I recommend taking your time and hiking around the lower falls on the path as well as the upper falls. Budget around 4-6 hours here. The national park plitvica jezera website has great information for planning including various tour routes. You can do a combination of hiking, an electric boat ride and a panoramic train.

You spend another night here or if you are pressed for time this can be a stop on the way to the next destination.

Day 13 Zagreb

Zagreb is an underrated city in my opinion and definitely worth checking out. It is a nice spot to land and get acclimated before exploring the rest of the country OR a great way to spend your last day in this country that you are sure to fall in love with. It is less expensive than many coastal cities and has some world-class dining and a cool funky vibe.

Day 14 Depart from Zagreb

Oh what a sad day. But you will definitely be back, right? Or you can extend your trip from here to Belgrade or Ljubliana. This region has so many fantastic options. The Balkans are one of my favorite parts of the world and you are sure to fall for it as I did.

FYI for this trip or any trip, I love using the Rome2Rio website for options on how to get from place to place.

Croatia Itinerary “Add-Ons”

Pelješac peninsula.

If you are a wine lover, particularly a red wine lover, you need to spend a day here (or more if you have time). Not only is the wine fantastic but the scenery is breathtaking with some really pretty beaches. This is where one of my favorite wines in the world is grown…Dingac. It is home to the town of Ston where you can see one of the largest preserved fortified walls in the world as well as a place where you can taste fresh oysters plucked directly from the sea in front of you.

I drove myself from Dubrovnik to Korčula and then back to the mainland so I drove up and then back down the peninsula with different stops each way. As I mentioned above you can see this in a day as a tour from Dubrovnik or from Korčula.

FYI Pelješac is pronounced “Pel-ya-shatz”. It took me an entire week to learn this.

Makarska Coast

If you have more time consider a visit to the Makarska Coast. This is in between Split and Dubrovnik. It is far less touristed than other parts and has lovely beaches and Makarska is a picture-perfect town with the mountains in the backdrop. I stayed in the village of Čaklje at an apartment rental with the best sea view. I almost never left the balcony, especially with the wine I bought in Korcula! But I digress.

Makarska is a great overnight stop to break up a trip between Dubrovnik and Split. I stayed two nights transitting between Pelješac and Zadar.

Krka National Park

Krka is in the region between Zadar and Split and is a beautiful nature area with waterfalls somewhat like Plitvice but receives less visitors. You can do this as a day trip from Split either independently or with a tour. The most popular area is Skradinski Buk, which is a waterfall and a stunning emerald pool where they used to allow swimming but now do not in order to preserve the natural environment. I would allow at least a half day for this national park.

Istria isn’t the easiest part of Croatia to get to unless you are coming from Italy or Slovenia. Istria is that little triangle of land between Italy and the Balkan Peninsula (go look at a map if you are geographically challenged). That’s why Istria isn’t typically included on the average Croatia Itinerary and is more likely to be visited if one is in Slovenia or Venice. Istria is sort of its own “sub-country” and has a unique vibe that incorporates Italian and Austrian culture. The food and wine are fantastic.

If you are visiting Croatia using any of the above itineraries and want to see Istria, you will need 2 additional days to see Rijeka and Opatija which are not too far from Zagreb but to see more in Istria such as Pula and Rovinj, you would need a total of 4-5 days more. I have some Istria options in itinerary below including how to depart Croatia from Istrian towns.

1 Week Croatia Itinerary Options

In only one week I would not attempt to see the north and the south unless you don’t go to any islands. So if it is not an “island time” of the year, perhaps that would be feasible. Otherwise, I would choose either the north or the south to focus on in one week for a less hectic holiday. Keep in mind that some of these itineraries have you going from place to place each day which is not my preferred style but wanted to throw it out there. You can easily edit these to your preferred speed.

I will not count arrival day in the week but if that is your reality, simply take 1 day away from a place that interests you the least. If you prefer islands to cities, prioritize those. If you prefer a chill island to a party island, spend more time in Korčula over Hvar. I think a half day in Split is plenty but if you want more time, you can easily adjust this schedule. Personally, I’d add a day or half-day more in Dubrovnik if you can.

It’s probably easiest NOT to have a car for these itineraries involving the ferry because you don’t have to worry about car ferries. Car ferries give you fewer options and in Hvar, it doesn’t dock in the main town which is where you want to focus with limited time.

Croatia Southern Itinerary with Islands

• Day 3 Ferry to Korčula
• Day 5 Ferry to Hvar
• Day 7 Ferry to Split
• Day 8 Departure from Split

Croatia Northern Itinerary (with Hvar Island)

• Day 1 Arrival in Zagreb
• Day 2 Zagreb
• Day 3 Plitvice
• Day 4 Zadar
• Day 5 Split and ferry to Hvar

Croatia Northern Itinerary with Istria (No Islands)

In this itinerary, you can skip either Plitvice or Zadar and focus entirely on Istria if you want more time in each of the cities.

• Day 5 Opatija
• Day 7 Rovinj
• Day 8 Departure from Rovinj. Istria is not a convenient place, unfortunately. From Rovinj you can ferry to Venice and fly out from there OR take a bus to Ljubliana or Zagreb and fly out from there. Hopefully, you can find evening flights to give you time to ferry or bus. Both Zagreb and Ljubliana are 3-4 hours by bus. The f erry between Rovinj or Pula and Venice each take between 3-4 hours depending on which ferry.

Croatia One Week “All-Over” Itinerary (No Islands)

For this one a car is probably handy except if you plan to stay inside the old city of Dubrovnik. You cannot bring a car in there. You can either hunt for a spot outside the city or just drop off the car at the airport and be rid of it, then Uber back and forth to the city.

• Day 1 Arrival Zagreb
• Day 5 Split
• Day 6 Dubrovnik
• Day 7 Dubrovnik
• Day 8 Departure from Dubrovnik

Croatia Basic Information

Getting to croatia.

Most of my readers are from the United States and as far as I know, the only nonstop flights from the US to Croatia are to Dubrovnik on United Airlines. Most visitors from the United States will likely have to connect through London, Frankfurt, Munich, Vienna, or Rome. If you end your trip in Zagreb as I suggested in one itinerary, you will then have access to the train to other major cities. For example, Zagreb to Ljubliana (which is my favorite city in Europe) is under 3 hours. Zagreb to Belgrade (highly underrated) is under 4 hours.

The official language of Croatia is Standard Croatian, a widespread dialect of Serbo-Croatian which was the language of the former Yugoslavia. English is widely spoken and I actually found people here more likely to speak English than in Italy or Spain.

A few handy words:

“Hello” Zdravo Since this is hard for many English speakers, Bok is another informal greeting or the widely used

Dobra Dan “How are you”

Dobra Vecer

“Thank you” Hvala (pronounced “VAH-lah”

Živjeli Cheers (pronounced “JIV-e-li”)

As of January 1, 2023, Croatia is using the euro. Previously it was the Kuna (HRK). Hotels and most restaurants accept credit cards but like most places in Europe, Amex is not widely accepted. Visa and Mastercard are the most accepted. It is always a good idea to carry cash as many small vendors don’t have credit card capability.

Croatia is an extremely safe country. I have been 4 times (3 of those solo) and feel completely at ease walking or driving alone, even at night. I don’t recommend driving at night simply because it is harder to navigate and see (especially if you are in your 40s like me). People are extraordinarily helpful and friendly. Any mumblings you heard about the Balkans war from your friends that mean well but don’t know better are rubbish. The war was in the ’90s. It’s literally not a factor in your safety as a tourist.

When to Go to Croatia

Croatia is truly an all-year destination however it depends on what you are looking for. If you are a beach enthusiast then you probably prefer the warmer months. July and August are the most crowded times and therefore the most expensive. I personally hate to travel during peak tourist season so if you want warm water to swim in with slightly less expense and crowds, look to early June or mid to late September.

Spring and fall are both ideal times to visit if you aren’t looking for tons of beach/swimming time. Just keep in mind that the further away from summer you are, fewer things on the islands may be open and ferry schedules will be significantly reduced. For example, I went to Hvar in April and there were no parties like they are famous for in the summer and it was challenging to even book a sailing tour. However, it was pleasant weather and peaceful on the island. Fall is truffle season if you time it right you see the beautiful golden colors. I’m sure Plitvice is a stunner with fall colors.

If you are doing an island-hopping yacht trip, June and July are probably best. August is when many other countries in Europe take summer vacations and is an extremely crowded time.

If you don’t mind the cold and want to visit cities with the least amount of crowds and spend time in cozy cafes and have the lowest prices, winter is a nice option.

How To Get Around Croatia

I think renting a car is the easiest way unless you plan to island hop. You can take ferries from the mainland in both Split and Dubrovnik and then take ferries between islands as well. This is the website for Croatia Ferry Information . From Split and south on the Dalmation coast you can take the bus. In the north, you can take the train from cities like Zagreb and Split but there is no train south of Split. Many people opt to charter a small yacht for their group of family to sail around the islands which sounds delightful.

If you are hesitant to drive in another country I completely understand but I will tell you that Croatia was one of my favorites to drive in and one of the easiest. Here is a guide to international car rentals that I hope helps.

A few tips for driving in Croatia

• Download maps ahead of time when you have wifi
• Bring a backup charger for your phone (using maps drains the battery fast)
• Go Slow (let people pass you and don’t feel pressured)
• Give yourself plenty of time to get to your destination. The Google directions times are always way too ambitious.
• Avoid small streets. You can get stuck (this happened to me…complete nightmare). When looking for parking in a village best to park on the outskirts and walk a bit. The further inward to villages you go it becomes the kind of streets only locals know how to navigate
• Book hotels and lodging that have parking or that will help you find parking. In Zadar, the apartment host met me outside the old city and helped me navigate. Her father actually had to drive my car back out of the city when I left. Typical Croatian hospitality.

I hope you find this helpful and that you love Croatia as much I do. What places would you add to this? What was your favorite?

About The Author

Cherene Saradar

Cherene is a travel expert with 30 years of experience in over 100 countries and 7 continents. She has traveled solo to over 50 countries. She is also a nurse anesthesiologist with over 20 years of healthcare experience. Her passions include wildlife travel and visiting wine regions of the world.

Related Posts

My Puglia Road Trip Itinerary

Maybe you’ve heard of Puglia or Apulia, the region in the “heel of the boot” …

One Week in Slovenia Itinerary

I have now been to enchanting Slovenia twice. It is a little country packed full …

Ayaan | 21st Mar 24

Hello Cherene We are 6 Girlfriends planning on traveling to Croatia , we are avid hikers, wanted to do hiking along with sailing and have a good cultural experience. Plitvice is a must do place to hike. What’s the best way to see the country. Need your guidance Thank you ahead.

Cherene Saradar | 24th Mar 24

Hello, All my best guidance is in this post. Do you have a more specific question? Definitely you can hike in Plitvice. You can hike Mt Srd above Dubrovnik and you can also hike on the island of Brac. For Sailing I would charter a boat if you are a small group. Sorry I don’t have a specific recommendation for this but I’m sure google will help you!!!

Leave A Comment

Cancel reply.

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed .

T his post may contain affiliate links, which means I may receive a commission, at no extra cost to you, if you make a purchase through a link. Please see my  full disclosure  for further information.

Croatia Solo Travel: The Ultimate Guide

The world is just too big with too much to offer to wait around for someone to go on an epic adventure with you.

Whether you are planning a solo trip because your friends just can’t get off work, or you simply love being able to explore without having to accommodate anyone else, solo travel can be one of the most rewarding experiences.

One country that has been recently been rising in popularity among solo travelers in Europe is Croatia .

Croatia is a spectacular destination bursting with jaw-dropping landscapes, amazing history, and delicious food. Combine this with its excellent travel infrastructure and safety, and you’ve got an ideal destination for exploring on your own.

Whether you are an experienced solo traveler or someone who is looking to get a taste of traveling on their own, Croatia offers an incredibly rewarding solo travel experience.

In this guide, I’ll be breaking down Croatia solo travel including the safety of travel in Croatia, how to get around the country, the best locations for solo travelers, and more. Everything you need to know about solo travel in Croatia is right here in this guide!

Table of Contents 👇

Is Croatia Safe?

As a solo traveler, you might be asking yourself: Is if safe to travel to Croatia?

The answer is: Yes!

Croatia is absolutely safe to travel to and is actually one of the safest countries in the world. Overall crime levels are low in this Mediterranean nation and violent crime is rare. The U.S. State Department has also given Croatia a “Level One” travel advisory, which means that visitors should “exercise normal precautions when traveling”.

Is Croatia Safe for Women?

One of the things I hear most about when it comes to living in Croatia is how safe the country is for families, and for women as well.

It is not uncommon to see a woman walking alone at night, even in larger cities like Zagreb. For many women, this would not be the case back home.

As a female myself, I can honestly say that I have never felt unsafe in Croatia. There are, of course, exceptions to this rule (as there is with everything else), but generally speaking, Croatia is a very safe destination for solo female travelers.

Croatia Solo Travel: Is It for You?

Croatia solo travel is for anyone that wants to experience the beauty of the country at their own pace.

By embarking on a Croatia solo travel adventure, you will have the freedom and flexibility to do exactly as you please. If you want to check out every single one of Zagreb’s amazing museums, you can do just that. If you absolutely fall in love with a place and want to extend your stay, you can do that too.

It’s your trip!

In addition to traveling at your own pace and making your own rules, Croatia solo travel is a wonderful choice for these reasons as well:

• Awesome travel infrastructure (especially for first-time solo travelers). Cities and towns in Croatia are exceptionally well-connected by a large number of bus and ferry routes. Not only can you get from point A to B for a relatively modest price, but these routes are also simple to figure out. All of the information you need can be found at the local bus terminals or on the bus terminal website (if you are traveling by bus, of course).
• Wide range of accommodations for every budget. There are hotels for every single budget, hostels in most major destinations, affordable private apartments, and even luxury glamping sites in Croatia . Whether you want your own place, or you want to share a dorm with other travelers, you can definitely find something to fit your needs. The two major sites for finding accommodation in Croatia are Airbnb and Booking.com .
• Croatia is easy to travel . Thanks to the excellent travel infrastructure, a wide range of accommodations, and the fact that English is widely spoken, Croatia is an easy country to travel to. Most information can be found online, and if you are unable to find it online, a local will likely be able to assist you once you arrive.

What About the Langauge?

Many people who plan to travel to Croatia are concerned about the difficulty of the language.

The Croatian language is practically incomprehensible if you are unfamiliar with it, which might turn some solo travelers off. However, most Croatians (under 50 years old) speak very good English. Growing up with movies and TV shows in English (with Croatian subtitles) and taking mandatory English classes starting in first grade makes them some of the best English speakers in the region.

However, just because most Croatians speak English does not mean you should not at least attempt to learn a few Croatian phrases!

Common Phrases in Croatian

Although you can get by speaking entirely in English during your stay in Croatia, the locals really do appreciate it when visitors at least attempt to learn a few phrases in Croatian. Below, you will find a list of the most common phrases that can help earn you brownie points with the local community.

• Good day – Dobar dan * This phrase is commonly used when entering shops or when a waiter greets you at a restaurant
• Goodbye – Doviđenja
• Please – Molim
• Thank you – Hvala
• Yes – Da
• No – Ne

Trust me, by making an effort to say “hello” or “thank you” in Croatian, you might just make someone’s day!

How to Meet People in Croatia

Meeting people in Croatia is just as easy as it is anywhere else you would travel solo!

While Croatians aren’t necessarily known for being the friendliest people in Europe, you will meet lovely people during your stay and you will find that most locals will be happy to help you.

Meeting people in Croatia will happen organically through hostels, meetups, or expat groups.

Other Ways You Can Meet People in Croatia

Visit croatia on a group tour.

Visiting Croatia (or anywhere, really) on a group tour is a great way to meet new people. There are plenty of group tours available through Contiki , G Adventures Croatia , Busabout , and more. Whether you love to party or want to sail the dazzling Adriatic Sea, you will definitely find a tour that is perfect for you.

Group tours are awesome in that they provide a natural environment for meeting like-minded individuals while traveling.

Day Trips and Local Tours

Another great way to meet people is by joining a day trip or a local tour. Whether you are snapping shots of filming locations on a Game of Thrones Tour in Dubrovnik or sampling local snacks on a food tour in Zagreb, you can be sure to meet lots of other friendly travelers.

As always, hostels are one of the most ideal places for making friends while traveling. There are plenty of hostels in Croatia’s major cities that offer dorms and private rooms as well.

If staying in a hostel isn’t your thing, keep an eye out for hostel group tours or activities that you can join in on even if you’re not staying at that particular hostel. Some hostels, like Swanky Mint in Zagreb, even have bars, making them a great place for socializing. Here’s a full list of my top recommendations of where to stay in Zagreb , including the best hostels for solo travelers!

Reach Out on Social Media

A lot of times, you might know someone who knows someone traveling, or even living, in a certain place. The same goes for Croatia. A simple story on Instagram stating that you’ll be in the area might just spark an introduction.

Best Places for Croatia Solo Travel

Where are the best places for solo travel in Croatia? We’ve got you covered!

While there are many places worth visiting in Croatia, below you’ll find a list of the best places for traveling Croatia solo.

Zagreb is Croatia’s capital city that is often skipped by many travelers who are heading directly to the coast. Though it may be small, Zagreb is a charming city that is worth exploring for a day or two , or even serving as a base for long-term travel!

This city successfully blends history with modern amenities and is very well connected to the rest of the country as it is to major destinations in Europe. Unlike the Dalmatian coast, Zagreb is a city that is lively all year round. No matter what time of year you choose to visit, there will always be something exciting going on whether it be a Christmas Market or summer festival.

Read More: The Ultimate Zagreb Itinerary

Istria is an entire region in Croatia that makes up the western peninsula of the country. You will find that it is similar to Italy in many ways, from its architecture and charming Italian piazzas to its endless olive groves and vineyards. This is one of my personal favorite areas in all of Croatia.

In Istria, it is best to base yourself in one of the larger cities along the coast like Pula, Rovinj, or Porec. This will give you the opportunity to mingle with other travelers while still having easy access to Istria’s charming hilltop towns and villages .

Zadar is a small city located on the Croatian coast just halfway between Zagreb and Split. Zadar boasts amazing beaches , has a low-key vibe, is not overly touristy, and is home to some pretty cool Roman ruins. The city also has some pretty unique monuments like the world’s first and only Sea Organ and “The Greeting to the Sun”.

Split is a popular choice among travelers as it is a major transportation hub. If you are planning to visit any of Croatia’s islands, you will most likely be departing from Split’s ferry port. Don’t let that fool you into thinking Split is just a place for a quick overnight stay! It’s easy to spend 3 days or more in Split .

The old town of Split was built into the ancient remains of Diocletian’s Palace, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, making it worth thoroughly exploring before skipping off to the islands. Plus, Split’s beautiful beaches will keep you entertained for days!

Dubrovnik is by far Croatia’s most popular destination thanks to its stunning Old Town that served as the set of King’s Landing on Game of Thrones . If you’ve seen photos of Dubrovnik, know that the town is one-hundred times more breathtaking in real life!

The architecture and the atmosphere are simply magnificent. However, with its massive popularity come massive crowds too, and much higher prices in Dubrovnik . For this reason, it is best to avoid visiting the city on a day trip as this will only guarantee that the city will be packed with tourists. During the summer, Dubrovnik is best enjoyed in the early mornings and in the late afternoons.

Hvar Island is an iconic destination on every Croatia travel itinerary . While this island is known for its high-class visitors, there are plenty of activities and places to explore that are more casual and budget-friendly as well. The island is best explored by renting a scooter, allowing you to visit charming towns and gorgeous Hvar beaches at your own pace. Just watch out for sharks in Croatia !

Read More: The Only Hvar Island Travel Guide You Need

Pag is known as Croatia’s party island and is the place where many young people love to go to experience the famous nightclubs in Novalja. In addition to an unforgettable party scene, the island offers some pretty unique landscapes and hidden beaches worth checking out.

Croatia Off the Beaten Path

There is much more to Croatia than the destinations mentioned above. The cities mentioned are simply recommendations for first-time visitors and solo travelers coming to Croatia.

Of course, there are many off-the-beaten-path destinations that are worth combining with the more popular and touristy locations. Depending on what your travel style is or what you wish to experience, you may be interested in visiting Trogir , Šibenik , Gorski Kotar, Varaždin, or some of the many other hidden gems Croatia has to offer .

There is also an entire region that is often left unexplored by tourists but is well worth visiting. This region is located in the northeastern section of the country and is known as Slavonia. Slavonia is home to some pretty incredible cuisine and also Europe’s largest wetland known as Kopački Rit. A few places worth visiting in Slavonia include the town of Osijek, the traditional villages of Baranja, and the city of Vukovar to learn more about Croatia’s history.

Getting Around Croatia Solo

Croatia by car.

The absolute best way to explore Croatia is definitely by renting a car . If you are planning on staying in Croatia for a short amount of time but want to see the most the country has to offer, then renting a car in Croatia is the way to go.

This is the most ideal way of traveling through Croatia as the country is relatively small, and most places can easily be reached in just a few hours. Plus, as with any road trip , renting a car will allow you to stop at interesting destinations along the way.

The highways in Croatia are in great condition and the road signage is very clear, so you should have no problem navigating.

However, you will want to be a little more cautious when driving in smaller cities as the roads tend to be narrower and the traffic denser. Oftentimes you will find many one-way roads (for example in Zagreb) as well as roundabouts. As long as you are alert you should be fine.

Croatia by Bus

If you’re not up for renting a car, Croatia has an excellent bus system. The buses in Croatia are first-class and offer an incredible amount of connections both within Croatia and the surrounding countries.

There are frequent buses that cover both short and long distances between the largest cities all the way to the tiniest villages. I recommend booking through Flixbus because they have great connections and are the most affordable. Their buses are also newer, have air-conditioning, and some even offer wifi.

In almost every large town and city, there will be a bus terminal ( autobusni kolodvor ) that sells bus tickets. There, you will be able to see the current bus timetables and purchase your tickets. Depending on the time of year you visit, bus prices may fluctuate, so it is best to check the latest pricing online or at the bus terminal itself.

Information for the major bus terminals can be found here:

• Zagreb Bus Terminal
• Split Bus Terminal
• Dubrovnik Bus Terminal

Croatia by Train

The train system in Croatia is quite limited and is not as well connected as the bus system. There is also no train service that travels along the Croatian coast, making this option unsuitable for most visitors. For this reason, I rarely ever recommend planning to explore Croatia via train.

Croatia Travel Tips: Advice for Solo Travelers

Croatia is generally a very safe country and violent crime is a rarity. However, it is important to use common sense and trust your gut just as you would anywhere else.

Combine Destinations

When traveling to Croatia, I recommend combining more popular destinations with those that are off the beaten path. This way, you get the opportunity to meet people in the busier locations, while still enjoying more local experiences in destinations that are less traveled.

Many travelers also like combining a visit to Italy and Croatia into one trip!

Stay in the Town Center

When booking your accommodation, I recommend staying in the town center if possible. This will often lead to unplanned discoveries and introduction to new people (or potential friends).

Choose Your Timing Carefully

The time of year you visit has the chance to make or break your visit to Croatia. If you can, I highly recommend visiting during the shoulder seasons, which includes the months of May and June as well as September and October.

Another thing to keep in mind is that the number of flights flying into and out of Croatia is reduced before and after the summer season. For this reason, it might be difficult to find good connections to destinations like Pula, Split, Dubrovnik, and Zadar. This is just something to take into consideration when planning your trip to Croatia.

Croatia is Officially Part of the Schengen

On January 1st, 2023, Croatia officially entered the Eurozone and the Schengen. What this means is that you can visit Croatia on a Schengen Visa, but once your visa expires, you will need to leave Croatia. It also means that Croatia’s former currency, the Kuna, has been officially replaced with the Euro.

Pickpocketing

Pickpocketing and petty theft happen much less in Croatia compared to other European nations, however, you still want to keep an eye on your belongings at all times. Being aware of your surroundings is important no matter where in the world you are, so a few key rules to follow are:

• Never let your purse hang from the back of your chair
• Don’t keep your phone or wallet in your back pocket
• If you’re at the beach, leave your belongings in a place where you can see them while swimming

Cash is King

While you can use credit cards in most shops and restaurants in Croatia, you will still want to carry cash with you. The majority of bars and cafes throughout the country are cash-only. If you are in a smaller town or village, you can expect to pay with cash at restaurants and even some local boutiques.

Remember: the official currency of Croatia is now the Euro, so you will want to have cash in Euro.

ATMs throughout the country are plentiful, as are money exchange offices, so it should not be a problem to withdraw or exchange cash if you need to.

Where to Travel After Croatia

Croatia’s central location makes it an excellent base for exploring the rest of Europe. It is in close proximity to a large number of fantastic countries worth exploring that can all be reached in just a few hours. If you are looking to continue traveling, you absolutely can.

Here are some nearby countries worth visiting:

Just north of Croatia is the beautiful country of Slovenia. Its lovely capital of Ljubljana is a short 2.5 hour bus ride from Zagreb , or it can be reached by car in just over an hour. Slovenia is a country that offers tons of natural beauty and is dotted with stunning national parks and alpine villages.

Austria, Vienna in particular, is a very popular destination among Croatians as it can be very easily reached by car. Vienna is a beautiful city made up of stunning architecture and gorgeous imperial palaces like Schönbrunn, the main summer residence of the Habsburg monarchy. This capital city can be reached in just over four hours by car when traveling from Zagreb.

Hungary is an incredible, yet underrated country in Europe that is definitely worth visiting. The capital of Budapest is just a 3.5 hour drive from Zagreb and is a cool city filled with hidden bars, unique neighborhoods, and magnificent architecture.

If you are traveling in the Istria region of Croatia, you may notice that it is quite reminiscent of Italy. That’s because Istria was once part of Italy! You can easily extend your trip from Croatia to Italy by hopping over to Venice via ferry from Rovinj or Pula. Alternatively, driving to Venice from Rovinj will take just over 3 hours by car.

Bosnia & Herzegovina

When traveling throughout southern Croatia, you might consider extending your trip to Bosnia & Herzegovina. The fascinating city of Mostar is a popular day-trip from Dubrovnik where people flock to admire the bridge and historic old town. If you have time, spend a few days exploring the rest of the country by checking out Kravice Falls and paying a visit to Sarajevo.

Montenegro is a gorgeous country located just a short drive away from Dubrovnik, making it the perfect choice for extending your travels. Montenegro offers many incredible experiences including the impressive Bay of Kotor, the beautiful Durmitor National Park, and the enchanting medieval town of Budva, just to name a few.

Croatia Solo Travel: Final Thoughts

Croatia is a country that, although growing in popularity, is still somewhat of a hidden gem. Its incredible food, breathtaking natural beauty, and great travel infrastructure make it an excellent choice for all types of travelers. Even more so, Croatia’s safety makes it a top destination for those who love exploring solo, or for those who are looking to embark on their first ever solo adventure.

Have more questions about traveling Croatia solo? I can answer them and give you personalized advice in a one-on-one call .

You Might Also Like:

• The Ultimate Packing List for Croatia
• How to Say Hello in Croatian
• The Most Epic Croatia Road Trip
• How to Spend 10 Days in Croatia
• Plitvice Lakes or Krka National Park: Which Should You Choose?

Croatia Travel Planning Guide

💸 What is the currency in Croatia? As of January 1st, 2023, the official currency of Croatia is the Euro and NOT the Kuna (which is also the name of the national animal of Croatia ). 🇭🇷 What language do they speak in Croatia? Croatian is the official language of Croatia . Learn some phrases in Croatian before your trip with the Ling app ! 🚑 Should I buy Croatia travel insurance? 10000% YES – Seriously, don’t leave home without it . You never know what can happen on the road. I like SafetyWing because they provide excellent coverage for as little as $1.50 a day. 📱 Will my phone work in Croatia? Maybe – check with your provider to see if you’ll have service while traveling Croatia. If you don’t have service (or it’s too expensive) I recommend getting an eSIM like Airalo . Airalo allows you to have data while traveling without the high costs of roaming. They have super affordable plans available for 190+ countries, including Croatia. Download the app and get your plan before you leave home so that you have data as soon as you touch down in Croatia! 🏨 What’s the best way to book my Croatia accommodations? For Croatia hotels, Booking is by far the best site. 🛫 What’s the best site to buy Croatia flights? I always use Skyscanner to find the cheapest flights. 🚗  Is it safe to rent a Car in Croatia? Yes! – In fact, renting a car in Croatia is one of the best ways to see the country! I recommend Discover Cars because they check both local and international rental companies to ensure you get the best deal. (Get your Croatia road trip itinerary here ) 💦 Is it safe to drink the water in Croatia? Tap water in Croatia is completely safe to drink , so bring your reusable water bottle and fill up! 🪪 Do I need a visa for Croatia? Depending on where you are coming from you may or may not need a visa to enter Croatia. Check the official Republic of Croatia Ministry of Foreign Affairs website for more information on who should apply for a visa.

Fueled by her passion for travel and her Croatian heritage, Olivia left the USA in 2014 to study abroad in Croatia where she has been living ever since. She founded Inspired by Croatia to share travel tips, destination guides, and exclusive local insights about the country she now calls home.

Similar Posts

Are There Sharks in Croatia? 2024 (Local’s Guide)

Wondering if there are sharks in Croatia? Find out about shark attacks in Croatia and other animals you should worry about in the Adriatic Sea.

What is the Drinking Age in Croatia? (Local’s Guide)

This is the ultimate local guide to drinking in Croatia. Find out the drinking age in Croatia, whether or not you can drink in public in Croatia, and more.

What Language Do They Speak in Croatia?

Wondering what language do they speak in Croatia? Discover the Croatia national language along with some basic phrases to use during your visit!

15 Best Books About Croatia

Tales about life in Croatia, fictional novels set in Croatia, and the best travel books about Croatia – you’ll find them all here.

Best Airport to Fly Into Croatia

Figuring out the best airport to fly into Croatia can be tricky. This guide breaks down the best airports in Croatia and the pros and cons of each.

Tipping in Croatia in 2024: Yes or No? LOCALS Answer

Curious about tipping in Croatia? Find out what the etiquette is for tipping at restaurants, cafes, tour guides & more straight from the locals.

10 Best Places in Croatia for Solo Travel

Croatia has become one of the highlights of the European summer travel season – with its rich history, beautiful architecture, and abundant islands. But where are the best places in Croatia for solo travellers?

The Croatian coast is a popular, safe and easy place to visit solo thanks to its well-developed tourist infrastructure. Transport links, excursions and English-speakers easy to find. It an undaunting proposition for solo travellers. It’s fun, too! You’ll find party towns and islands popular with backpackers and solo travellers.

But it’s also easy to get off the beaten path in Croatia – just head inland or to one of the smaller lesser-known islands. In fact, you could spend a whole summer exploring Croatia and still not have seen half of it

If you’re apprehensive about solo travel in Croatia though, there are some go-to destinations where you’ll find everything you need for a stress free solo trip – including hostels, cheap rooms/dorms, easy flight or ferry connections, friendly beach bars, a youthful nightlife scene, good public transport, and a range of activities and tours suitable for solo travellers.

The hostel scene is getting better year by year, although many hostels in historic areas lack proper communal areas and/or kitchens so do check before booking if this is important to you.

Thanks to its seaside setting and immaculately restored UNESCO-listed medieval old town, Kings Landing – sorry, Dubrovnik, is arguably Croatia’s unmissable destination. A day or two is enough for Dubrovnik – the old town itself is fairly small and quietens down in the evening once the cruise ship and day trip crowds have dissipated (Dubrovnik is not a party town). But it’s worth tagging on a few days if you can as the day trip options are excellent – island hop the Elaphiti islands, taste wine and oysters on the Pelješac Peninsula, kayak around the coast, or visit Mostar or Kotor by bus.

Food and accommodation in Dubrovnik don’t come cheap though, and you’ll pay a premium to stay in the old town. Old Town Hostel and City Walls Hostel are the best hostels within the old town and both feature some quirky decor. 

Croatia’s second city of tourism is the beautiful Split, which you are likely to pass through as Split has an international airport and is the gateway to Croatia’s most popular islands. Split is an attractive destination in its own right though, with beaches nearby and the Diocletian’s Palace, an ancient Roman palace which is inhabited and forms part of the fabric of the city rather than being a preserved monument.

There’s a bit more of a buzz here than Dubrovnik, and it’s the main ferry port for the central Dalmatian islands (Hvar, Vis, Brac). Flashpackers will want to check out minimalist Gravitas or Book’n’Hook hostel which is close to the beach.

The inviting coastal city of Zadar was overlooked by tourists for a long time but has come into its own recently as an alternative to Split and Dubrovnik. An alternative which is slightly more chilled, less busy, with a slice of local life (and some decent nightlife to boot).  Buzzing bars, art installations (such as the Sea Organ) and a regeneration success story. It’s the main ferry port for the northern Dalmatian islands, which are a great choice for off-the-beaten-track island hopping.

Boutique Hostel Forum is the nicest hostel in town, whereas The Mellow Monkey is a classic backpackers’ haunt with an emphasis on social fun.

Missed off many itineraries due to its inland position, make a break for capital city Zagreb if you want to switch things up a bit. As well as cafe culture and beautiful streets with a Central European feel, you’ll also find Croatia’s edgiest urban scene. Expect creativity, clubs, great coffee, and a cool alternative streak. A hipster haven, essentially. Zagreb is blissfully free of the kind of crowds that descend upon Dubrovnik and Split in the summer, but bear in mind it does become a ghost town in August when most of its population heads to the coast.

There are plenty of great hostels in Zagreb – Swanky Mint was one of the original boutique hostels in the region and it has everything you could want in a hostel, including a pool, welcome drink and free walking tours.

Croatia’s premier summer destination is the stylish island of Hvar – think beautiful people, superyachts and upmarket nightlife. It’s swiftly becoming a party destination to rival the Med’s most glamorous: Mykonos and Ibiza. It’s also an obscenely pretty island, with the beautifully preserved Hvar Town providing the focal point. The interior of the island is dotted with lavender fields and rustic vineyards.

Hvar has the best range of hostel accommodation out of all the islands. Top choices are the centrally located White Rabbit , and The Shaka with its surfer vibes and ocean views. For something a bit more off-grid check out the beachside Castaway Eco Village .

Up in the north of Croatia is Istria and its gateway city, Pula. There’s an international airport in Pula which is well served by Europe’s budget airlines. Pula’s distinctive feature is the Roman amphitheatre which is one of the best-preserved examples in the world (imagine the Colosseum but with no crowds).

The city is lively and a great base for exploring Istria region, highlights include its Italian-esque medieval hilltop towns, gorgeous beaches, uninhabited Brijuni Islands, and the colourful seaside towns Rovinj and Poreč. It’s a top foodie and slow travel area. Truffles and SUP are big here. And some of Croatia’s biggest festivals (Outlook and Dimensions) are held at nearby Fort Punta Christo.

Crazy House Hostel and Riva Hostel are both friendly and central.

Pag is where the young and the wild and the free come for all-night beach parties rather than historic sites. Specifically, they come to Novalja Town and nearby Zrće beach. Over the summer it hosts numerous electronic music festivals including Sonus and Hideout.

The rest of the island is quiet and undiscovered, with a barren lunar landscape, mysterious light, and empty beaches with crystal clear water. It produces some amazing cheese too.

Get the party started early at lively Hostel Zrće , which has a resort feel with its pool and plenty of open space (perfect for recovery time).

Šibenik is not as well known as some of the other destinations. But it’s beautiful harbourfront was used as a filming location for Braavos in Game of Thrones (my personal favourite of all the kingdoms for its Mediterranean vibe). Sibenik is the perfect base for taking lots of day trips on the mainland:  Zadar, Split, Primosten, and the waterfalls at Krk National Park and islands of Kornati are only a short trip away. If you’re looking for a hidden gem but still somewhere big enough to keep you entertained then Šibenik is for you.

There are also a disproportionate number of great hostels with a fresh clean design in Šibenik. Hostel Scala has a pool and private rooms.

The Dalmatian island of Korčula is known as Croatia’s wine island (as well as the home of Marco Polo, or so the story goes). One of the southern Dalmatian islands, it’s best accessed from Dubrovnik and can be visited as a day trip but if you’re a foodie then you’re going to want to stay longer because this whole area is one giant treat. Hire a bike and cycle around the island’s easy-going vineyards, or take a day trip to nearbyPelješac Peninsula for oysters.

Stay at the relaxed Hostel Korčula which is right by the harbour and in close proximity of several excellent gelaterias.

It’s a toss-up between northern city Pula and coastal secret Omiš for the final place on this list. Omiš is somehow still under the radar despite its stunning scenery –  which is reminiscent of Montenegro’s Kotor Bay – at the mouth of the River Cetina. Huge limestone karst cliffs provide the town’s backdrop – once a hiding place for pirates, these days it’s a fun playground for adventure activities. You can try white water rafting, canyoning and rock climbing and even paragliding. Omiš is also great value compared to many of Croatia’s more popular destinations.

Hostel Omis is run by the same friendly management who run Hostel Korčula. There are also several campsites on the outskirts of town if you want to continue the outdoors vibe.

10 Most Beautiful Beaches in Croatia

10 Best Greek Islands for Solo Travellers

3 Days in Dubrovnik: A Relaxed Itinerary

Korcula – Croatia’s Wine Island

Enjoyed this post? Click to save to Pinterest:

Share this post:

Solo Female Travel in Croatia — Is it Safe?

Adventurous Kate contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase through these links, I will earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Thanks!

Of all the best countries for a woman to travel solo, Croatia is one of my absolute favorites. After traveling to more than 80 countries, Croatia is forever in my list of top five favorites, often battling for the #1 slot with Italy.

I love traveling in Croatia. It’s one of the world’s most beautiful countries, it’s filled with so many interesting places to explore, the food and wine are excellent, and it’s one of my favorite places for photography.

But many women feel like Croatia is a “harder” destination, best reserved for a later trip. Why? Well, the local language is incomprehensible. It’s more “exotic” than most traditional Mediterranean destinations. It’s Eastern Europe (though really, don’t say that, it’s Central Europe). There were bombs falling on Dubrovnik as recently as the 90s. Don’t those qualities make Croatia a tough destination? Wouldn’t it be easier to travel solo in Spain, perhaps, or Greece?

Not at all. In fact, I’d argue that Croatia is a much easier destination to travel than Spain or Greece, and arguably easier than most of the countries in Europe.

Why Travel Solo to Croatia?

Solo travel in Croatia lets you go at your own pace. Spend an entire afternoon in the Museum of Broken Relationships if you want. Breeze through Dubrovnik in half a day if you want. Eat the black truffle pizza at Jupiter Pizzeria in Pula there nights in a row if you want. This is your trip and when you travel solo, you can do whatever you want.

Croatia is a very easy country to travel. English is widely spoken, there is very good travel infrastructure, and you’ll find hotels, restaurants, and tours for every price range. The roads are easy to drive, there is public transportation everywhere, and you’ll find plenty of information online, too.

Croatia is filled with so much beauty. The natural beauty, from the mountains and waterfalls to the cliffs of the coast, has inspired artists for centuries. But there’s so much beauty built by humans, too, from the old towns of Rovinj and Dubrovnik to the sprawling cathedrals and hill towns that seem perched far above the planet.

In most places in Croatia, you get excellent value for money, which is especially important when you’re paying for everything on your own. While historically Croatia has been an affordable alternative to places like Italy and France, prices are steadily creeping up, especially in Dubrovnik, Rovinj, and other popular resort destinations. You’ll get the most value in small beach or inland towns, which will be cheaper than small beach or inland towns in much of Western Europe.

Croatia is the kind of destination that will make your friends jealous. You are going to get the most killer Instagram photos of all time.

Is Croatia Good for First-Time Solo Female Travelers?

Yes, Croatia is a great choice for first-time solo female travelers. Usually, I recommend that first-time solo travelers do their first trip in a place where English is the local language, but Croatia works just as well because everyone speaks it! (Unlike France or Spain, Croatians realize that the average foreign tourist will not speak Croatian and adjust accordingly.)

You will find occasional people who don’t speak English — taxi drivers, bus station employees, shop owners — but 95% of the time it’s easy to get your point across. If you stick to the tourist trail, you be able to get along just fine.

Croatia also has very good travel infrastructure. There are hotels at a variety of price levels all over the country. There are bus and ferry connections all over the place (the train is limited in Croatia but good for a few routes). If you choose to drive, the roads are in excellent condition. There are restaurants and tours all over Croatia that cater to tourists from a variety of countries.

Taking a group tour can be a great way to get to know Croatia. I recommend taking group tours by land, and I recommend small ship cruises, like sailing cruises or small ocean cruises.

I do not recommend taking a large ship cruise in Croatia. These are major contributors to overtourism, they’re terrible for the environment, and they ensure that you will only visit destinations when they are at their most packed.

Large ship cruises in the Adriatic tend to visit small ports that are not built for thousands of tourists at once, like Venice and Kotor. If you’re set on cruising, consider a small ship or sailing trip instead.

G Adventures offers more than a dozen tours to Croatia.  I have traveled with G before and recommend them, as they employ local guides, focus on sustainability, and keep their tour sizes small. Here are some of their Croatia tours:

• Sailing Croatia: Split to Dubrovnik (8 days, Split to Dubrovnik)
• Croatia Adventure: Zagreb to Dubrovnik (7 days, Zagreb to Dubrovnik)
• Dalmatian Coast and Montenegro Sailing (15 days, Split to Dubrovnik)
• Sailing Croatia to Italy (10 days, Zadar to Venice)

Is Croatia Good for Experienced Solo Female Travelers?

Absolutely, Croatia is wonderful for more experienced solo travelers!  Croatia is just as interesting and beautiful even if you’ve traveled extensively. Even after all my years of traveling the world solo, Croatia remains one of my favorites.

There is one caveat — you will probably hate being in the thick of tourist crowds, and the crowds are their worst at Dubrovnik during the day in high season. It’s one of the most touristy places on the planet. But that’s just one place and keep reading this post for how to avoid the worst of the crowds.

If you’re an experienced solo traveler, you may enjoy getting off the beaten path more than others. You might prefer beaches and islands that draw a more Balkan crowd, like Pag or Makarska. I would definitely recommend renting a car. And if you want to get really off the beaten path, head to Slavonia, the northeast region of Croatia that gets a tiny fraction of tourists compared to the rest of the country!

Where to Go in Croatia

There are so many different options! Most travelers will start their trips in one of the four major air hubs: Dubrovnik, Split, Pula, or Zagreb. From there you can explore in different directions.

Dubrovnik is the most visited place in Croatia, and for good reason. It’s a stunning city along the ocean with an old town so beautiful and perfect that it was the setting for King’s Landing on Game of Thrones . With its popularity comes the tourist crowds, but Dubrovnik is best in the late afternoon and evening.

Zagreb is a cute and underrated capital city. It has a beautiful old town, lots of interesting restaurants, and a cafe scene that rivals the rest of the Balkans. If you’re visiting during December, Zagreb is known for its Christmas markets.

Split is another popular city to visit. Much of the pretty old town is the remains of Diocletian’s Palace, giving you a chance to say you’ve slept in a UNESCO World Heritage Site! Split is a major transportation hub but busy and beachless — it’s better for a daylong visit than a longer stay.

Zadar is my personal favorite place in Croatia. I adore this small city! It’s low-key, covered in pastels, not very touristy, and home to Roman ruins and two quirky attractions: the Sea Organ and Sun Salutation. Hitchcock once said it was home to the best sunset in the world; see if you agree!

• A Place Like Zadar

The Plitvice Lakes and Krka National Park are home to the most beautiful natural scenery in Croatia. The Plitvice Lakes are filled with waterfalls in every direction and have a well-earned UNESCO World Heritage designation. Krka National Park actually lets you swim in their lakes and has fewer but larger waterfalls.

Rovinj is another of my favorite places. This pastel-perfect town on the western coast of Istria looks like part of Italy (in fact, it was once part of Venice). The old town is filled with swirling streets that build to a hill. Come here to sip a coffee while bathed in sunshine.

The Istria region is a unique Italian-flavored part of Croatia.  This heart-shaped peninsula is home to hill towns, wineries, and olive groves. Some people refer to Istria as “Italy on a budget” — and you can’t argue with $10 truffle pasta dishes. A great place to explore by car.

Croatia’s islands are justifiably popular places. Each island has its own personality and character, and here are some of the more popular islands:

• Hvar is known as a stop for the moneyed and party-loving set, but also has some quiet areas for getting away from it all.
• Brač is home to Croatia’s major sandy beach, Zlatni Rat, and gleaming white stone villages like Pučišća.
• Korčula claims to be the home of Marco Polo and has a tiny but lovely old town, including a bar built atop the crumbling pillar of the city walls.
• Vis is a tiny but welcoming island that is often not on travelers’ itineraries. It’s home to its own blue grotto.
• Mljet is within striking distance from Dubrovnik and it’s home to a national park filled with bright turquoise saltwater lakes.

Slavonia is Croatia way off the beaten path. This northeast section of Croatia, south of Hungary, is culturally different from the rest of the country. You’ll find wildlife and vegetation in Kopacki Rit, Europe’s largest wetland area, and you’ll see very few tourists.

This is just a taste of Croatia — there are plenty more destinations. I loved the low-key city of Šibenik, and loved listening to the musicians in Groznjan, and hung out on the beach in Makarska, and even dropped by Hum, “the smallest town in the world.” Go find your special place.

Read More: 2 Week Croatia Itinerary

Is Croatia Safe?

Croatia is a very safe country — no less safe than your hometown or the vast majority of Europe. The major things you need to be cautious about are petty theft and pickpocketing, especially in tourist-filled areas like the city centers of Split and Dubrovnik.

For many people, Croatia will evoke images of turmoil as Yugoslavia dissolved, or of bombs falling on Dubrovnik in the early 1990s. Those days were terrible for Croatians — but they’ve been over for a LONG time.

I find that 90s conflicts cast a long shadow, particularly to people from the United States. If you mention that you’re traveling to South Africa, or Cambodia, or Kosovo, Americans will often ask if you’ll be dealing with the fallout from the end of Apartheid, or Pol Pot’s regime, or ethnic cleansing by the Serbs. Those conflicts are so far in the past, yet they stay on people’s mind. Croatia often evokes the same reaction. But travel to Croatia today and you would have no idea anything ever happened in the first place.

Today, most of staying safe in Croatia is down to common sense. Keep your valuables on you while in transit. Lock up your valuables in your accommodation. Be cautious of your drinking. Don’t trust people too quickly. Give your itinerary to someone at home and check in with them.

Top 10 Travel Safety Tips for Women

Travel and Safety Tips for Croatia

Time your visit to Croatia carefully. High season along the coast is from June through the end of August, and this is when prices are at their highest and the places are most crowded — however, for many people, this is the only time they have free to travel.

If you’re able to, I recommend traveling to Croatia in late September or even early October. The weather in September is wonderful and the water is at its warmest, but the kids are back in school and it’s significantly less crowded. June is a solid choice, too, especially early June.

May and October are good shoulder seasons — the weather will not be super hot, but it will be warm, especially the further south you go. July and August are peak season and I recommend avoiding Croatia’s coast then if you can.

Some travelers like to visit in the off-season, especially Zagreb for its famous Christmas markets in December, but keep in mind that much of the coast will be closed for the season then.

Croatia can be tough to fly to from the US.  Your best option is to connect via elsewhere in Europe, like the UK, Germany, or France. Use Skyscanner to find the cheapest options.

If you’re having trouble finding a logical route, consider pricing out a return flight to a hub like London, Amsterdam, or Frankfurt, then finding separate return flights to and from Croatia. Keep in mind that you’ll need to pick up your luggage when you arrive and check in again, so give yourself a good layover in both directions.

Many flight routes to Croatia only operate during the summer. Particularly flights to Dubrovnik, Split, Zadar, and Pula. Keep this in mind when planning your trip.

Croatia is part of the EU, but not part of the Schengen Area.  If you’re starting to run out of time in the Schengen Area (they permit you 90 days within six months) Croatia is a great place to spend time. There are no open borders between Croatia and any other country, including the little bit of Bosnia that bisects the coast.

Consider getting a SIM card in Croatia.  Having the internet on your phone is great for finding your way around and hailing Ubers when you need them. Getting a local SIM card is usually much cheaper than putting your home phone on an international plan. T-Hrvatski Telekom is one phone company with good packages for travelers in Croatia.

Dive into Croatian cuisine. Keep in mind that much of Croatian cuisine is regional and you can’t find everything in every part of the country. Some of my favorites: Pag cheese from the island of Pag, which is the perfect starter to any meal; all the cheap truffle dishes in Istria; and  kremšnita , or cream cake, in the Zagreb area. The seafood on the coast is plentiful and glorious. And if you’re a picky eater, don’t worry — you can find pizza everywhere.

Know that most of Croatia’s beaches are rocky, not sandy.  This doesn’t make them any less beautiful, but it does make them less comfortable. Most beaches in Croatia have options for renting chairs. Most Croatian beaches are pebbly; some, like in Rt. Kamenjak in Istria, are more like giant slabs of rock. One of the most famous sandy beaches is Zlatni Rat, or Golden Horn, on the island of Brač.

Stay out of the Old City of Dubrovnik during the day. Why? Because it gets incredibly crowded, everyone else will be there, especially if there are a few cruise ships in town at once. You can follow the cruise ship schedule here.  My advice is to spend the day on the beach, or kayaking, or exploring outside of town, then go into the Old City right before sunset and into the night.

Use Split to break up your trip.  While Split is a major flight hub, I don’t recommend spending your whole trip there. It’s a nice old city but there is no beach and it’s very touristy, particularly with young tourists looking to get drunk for cheap. Instead, I recommend using Split as a stopover point. The first time I went to Split, I dropped off the car I had rented from Pula, spent a night there, and hopped on a boat to explore the islands.

You can day trip to Montenegro or Bosnia, but the immigration lines are LONG during high season. If you’re visiting during the summer, I recommend visiting Kotor in Montenegro or Mostar in Bosnia as part of a multi-day getaway, or you’ll spend too much of a single day waiting in line at immigration.

It’s okay to sunbathe topless in Croatia. This isn’t a taboo like in other countries. Croatia also has a number of nude beaches if you’re interested in trying that out.

Dress to blend in with Croatian women. In Croatia as well as Europe as a whole, women rarely wear shorts or athletic sneakers. Instead of shorts, they tend to wear skirts, dresses, or pants. Women tend to dress neatly and be well put-together. In the summertime, it helps to pack light fabrics that don’t wrinkle easily.

It’s polite to cover up (shoulders to knees) if you’re visiting a church. Only wear swimwear at the beach. Clothing rules are relaxed in and around beach areas.

For shoes for Croatia,  The Walking Company  is my go-to for comfortable shoes that are cute. I strongly recommend black ABEO flats , which have fantastic arch support. I own and love these tasteful, comfortable black sandals . If you want to wear sneakers, go for something more fashionable than athletic.  I own these white sneakers from Cole Haan  and they are perfect for Croatia.

Consider bringing a Speakeasy Travel Supply scarf .  These beautiful scarves have a hidden passport pocket in them, which is great for when you’re on public transit (or traveling to Montenegro or Bosnia for the day). I love these scarves ( I even designed my own! ) and they are so good at keeping your valuables hidden. They’re also extremely chic and they come in different fabrics for all kinds of climates.

Pickpocketing in Croatia doesn’t happen as often as it does in Paris or Barcelona. Keep an eye on your belongings at all times and especially be cautious on public transportation and in the city centers of Dubrovnik and Split.

If you carry a purse, hold it close to you. I recommend a crossbody purse, made out of a tough material like leather or fake leather, that zips shut. I recommend many purses in this post.  Never let it hang behind you — always keep it in a place where you can see it, and keep your hand on it if you’re in a crowd.

If you carry a wallet without a purse, don’t keep it in your back pocket. This is obvious to thieves and they will grab it and run.If you use a small backpack, lock it. I use a Pacsafe backpack where you can lock the compartments shut.

Keep your valuables locked up in your accommodation and only take with you what you need that day.  I do this with my Pacsafe Travelsafe and I consider it the most important thing I pack . Keep an extra debit card and at least $100 or 100 euros hidden in obscure parts of your luggage.

Get an extra debit card. You should have two debit cards to two different bank accounts. If you only have one, I recommend you get a debit card from Transferwise . Keep a few hundred dollars in your account, hide the card deep in your luggage, and use it if your primary debit card is stolen.

Never leave your bags anywhere unattended. Even if you’re used to asking someone to watch your things while you use the bathroom in a coffeeshop at home, be cautious about doing that in Croatia. Take your belongings with you. If you’re keeping your bag under the table or otherwise out of sight, keep it between your feet or hook the strap around one of the chair legs.

Don’t carry tons of cash around with you. You can use credit cards throughout Croatia, and carrying lots of cash leaves you vulnerable to theft. You don’t want to be the traveler who loses her wallet and the $500 in it.

Only use ATMs at banks during the day, indoors. Don’t use standalone ATMs in convenience stores. Not only do they leave you susceptible to robbery, if your card gets eaten, it’s a lot easier to retrieve it from a real bank’s ATM.

If someone robs you, GIVE THEM WHAT THEY WANT. Nothing is worth your life.

Be cautious of the heat in Croatia. It’s easy to discount just how hot it gets in Croatia, especially if you’re feeling cool in the wind on a sailboat. Use sunscreen, hydrate continuously, stay in the shade when you can, and be careful not to drink too much.

It’s safe to drink tap water in Croatia. I recommend you bring a reusable bottle  and filling up as you go instead of constantly buying plastic bottles.

Bring motion sickness medication.  You might need it for the boat rides or for driving through winding roads in the mountains. Be sure to take it before you start feeling super sick, ideally before a boat ride if you get seasick. I recommend meclizine (the generic version of non-drowsy Dramamine).

Be careful about your drinking.  Drink less than you ordinarily would at home — two drinks is a good limit. Only take drinks from bartenders, never take a drink from a stranger, and always keep it with you and keep an eye on it. Be especially cautious in tourist-driven party zones like Hvar town.

Spend extra money on staying safe. If it costs you money to take an Uber rather than walk, or to stay in a guesthouse in a nicer neighborhood, do it. The peace of mind is always worth the extra money spent.

Get a digital guidebook and keep it on your phone.  Even today, I always keep a guidebook PDF on my phone, saved to the iBooks app — it’s great for calculating approximate time of journeys, knowing what days places are closed, and it lists medical centers you should go to in case of emergency. I’m a big fan of Lonely Planet guidebooks — get the digital version of Lonely Planet Croatia .

Most importantly, you have no obligation to be nice to anyone. Women often feel the need to be nice and please people at all costs. You don’t have to anywhere — especially so in Croatia. If anyone is making you feel uncomfortable, just leave. Trust me — you won’t be the rudest person they meet that day, and this isn’t unheard-of behavior in Croatia.

How to Get Around Croatia Solo

My top recommendation for traveling around Croatia is to rent a car. Seriously. Croatia is ideally explored by car — the roads are in excellent condition, the drivers aren’t too aggressive, and there are so many places to explore. One of the charms of exploring Croatia is enjoying tiny little villages, and with a car you can visit four or five in a single day.

Be sure to double-check that you’re renting a car with an automatic transmission. Automatics are not as common in Croatia as in the United States, and they cost significantly more. If you can drive a stick (and enjoy it), feel free to rent a manual vehicle!

One thing to keep in mind when driving to Dubrovnik is that a tiny bit of the coast, home to the town of Neum, is actually part of Bosnia. You’ll need to go through immigration along that highway — there’s no way around it. It’s brief and you won’t need to get out of your car, but you should have your passport ready.

The best ways to travel Croatia by public transportation are by bus and ferry. Buses will take you to the most of the major destinations in the country, and they will usually take you direct. Sometimes they have convenient stops along the route: for example, the bus from Zagreb to Zadar has a stop just along the Plitvice Lakes. Check out bus schedules here.

Ferries are the only way to get to the islands by public transit. You can also take them for a more scenic route along the mainland, but this will be slower and less direct than traveling by bus. Check out the ferry schedules here.

Trains don’t go to lots of destinations in Croatia. Most notably, TRAINS DO NOT GO TO DUBROVNIK. At all. While you can find trains along certain journeys — like from Zagreb to Pula or Zagreb to Split — often the buses are faster, easier, and run more often. If I were traveling in Croatia by public transportation, I probably wouldn’t take trains at all. Seat61 is a good resource for trains in Croatia.

Uber exists in several Croatian regions, including Zagreb and much of the Croatian coast. This is especially a good option for getting around a city with heavy luggage or getting back late at night.

How to Meet People in Croatia

You can easily meet people in Croatia! Croatians aren’t known for being the warmest or friendliest people in Europe, but you will meet lovely people through your stay, either organically or through meet-ups.

Visit Croatia on a group tour. I went on a sailing cruise with Busabout back when I was 27 and it was one of the most fun trips I have ever taken! If you’re still at the backpack-and-party stage of life, it’s a great way to explore Croatia. These days, you can find sailing cruises with companies like G Adventures .

Join tours and activities.  Day tours are a great way to meet new people! Whether you’re doing — yelling, “Shame!” on the Game of Thrones tour in Dubrovnik , or enjoying snacks on a food tour in Zagreb , or a catamaran cruise from Split to Brač with unlimited drinks , you’ll meet people excited to explore the local region.

Look for Couchsurfing meetup events throughout Croatia. Couchsurfing isn’t just for free accommodation — they also put on meetup events where everyone is welcome. Many major cities have weekly meetups, and they always draw a great crowd.

Consider staying at a social hostel.  There are tons of great hostels all over Croatia, from Fresh Sheets in the heart of Dubrovnik’s Old City  to Boutique Forum Hostel in Zadar , which looks more like a hotel. Many of these hostels offer private rooms, if dorms aren’t your thing, and quite a few of them offer tours and other activities. If there is a bar in the hostel, it will be a very social place.

Join a meetup on  Meetup.com . Whether you’re into travel, running, movies, board games, or just want to meet a group of nice people, there’s a Meetup for that. Check out what’s on offer in Croatia.

Put out feelers on social media. Often a friend of yours will have a cousin or friend living somewhere in Croatia who will offer to meet you for coffee, just so you know someone. Take advantage of this if you can.

Tinder. If you’re looking to date or hook up, have fun! If you’ve always wanted to date a guy or girl with dark hair and intense eyes, this is your chance. You might even find your own Dr. Luka Kovač from ER !

Best Things to Do on a Croatia Solo Trip

Go swimming in the waterfall-fed lake in Krka National Park . The Plitvice Lakes may be more famous — and more waterfall-y — but you can’t swim in them. Krka is where you can pose for Instagram shots in front of the waterfall, then take that luscious dip you’ve been craving. Get a ticket here.

Go wine-tasting. Croatia is home to several wine regions, and you’ll find vineyards to explore in Istria, on the Dalmatian coast, and even in the towns surrounding Zagreb. You can do a wine tasting day trip from Dubrovnik  or  from Zagreb , or head to D’Vino Wine Bar in Dubrovnik to taste a selection without leaving town.

Listen to the Sea Organ in Zadar. Zadar has two unique attractions in the city center: the Sea Organ and Sun Salutation. The Sea Organ is a natural organ that plays soothing music generated by the ocean waves; the Sun Salutation lights up the waterfront with a solar-powered disc of bright lights at night. These are two of the things that make Zadar so special to me.

See the sights from Game of Thrones .  Dubrovnik is where many scenes from King’s Landing were filmed, and you can learn all about them on a Game of Thrones tour ! The best part is when the guide holds up screen shots from the show and you can see exactly where they filmed. If you’re lucky, your guide might even have been an extra.

Feast on the black truffle pizza at Jupiter Pizzeria in Pula. I am a girl who knows her pizza and the black truffle pizza at Jupiter Pizzeria is one of my favorite pizzas on the planet. Make sure they use tomato sauce; though it lists the sauce on the menu, sometimes they have brought it to me without sauce.

Swim in the bright teal lakes of Mljet. Mljet is an island not far from Dubrovnik. It’s home to a national park with the brightest, most intense neon saltwater lakes. Swimming in these lakes is a far cry from swimming in the Adriatic — you’ll marvel at the silkiness and warmth of these waters. It’s even better when you do a day trip to Mljet from Dubrovnik by catamaran .

Visit the Museum of Broken Relationships in Zagreb. This is one of my favorite museums in the world. It began as a little collection of artifacts from people’s past relationships, complete with stories about them — and now the museum has traveling exhibits are all over the world, from New York to Tbilisi. Come here to laugh, marvel, and be deeply moved by these stories about love.

Party in Hvar. Beyoncé and Jay-Z go to Hvar. Ellen and Portia go to Hvar. And Hvar has some of the biggest beach clubs in all of Croatia! If you’re up for the crazy party-all-night experience, head to one of the clubs on off-shore islands; you can also have a fun party night at the bars in Hvar Town.

Chill out on Vis . Vis is the best island to visit if you’ve been to Croatia before — it’s so REFINED! So ELEGANT! So EXCLUSIVE!

Go on a sailboat — somewhere, somehow. Whether or not you choose to spend a week sailing down the coast or just do a day trip to a pretty island, there is nothing like watching the gray-green Croatian coast go by as the wind flies through your hair.

Drive around Istria and explore cute little towns. Istria is so different from the rest of Croatia — it feels more like Italy. Enjoy it by renting a car and spending several days exploring the villages. Motovun is a city perched precariously on a hill; Groznjan is filled with student musicians during the summer; Labin is a rainbow of colors; Bale has cool cafes.

Explorin g Rovinj, the Prettiest City in Croatia

Where to Travel After Croatia

Another advantage of Croatia is that it’s surrounded by several other fantastic countries.  If you want to add on one or more countries to your Croatia trip, you absolutely can. Here’s where you should go next:

Montenegro. Montenegro is a fantastic place to travel — in fact, I consider it the most beautiful country in Europe . And it’s perfectly situated right next door to Dubrovnik and the Dalmatian coast.

Many people day trip from Dubrovnik to Kotor, but I recommend you spend a few days based in Montenegro instead.

Montenegro is an incredible country, and you’ll be able to explore Durmitor National Park, going whitewater rafting, or even hitting up the Sea Dance festival in Budva if you’re visiting in July. I make no secret of how much I love Montenegro and it would far and away be my top choice for adding onto a Croatia trip.

Bosnia. Like Kotor, many people do a day trip to Mostar, Bosnia, to see the bridge and enjoy its beauty and history . If you have the time, head to Bosnia for several days and add in Sarajevo and a trip to Kravice Falls as well. Bosnia is a very underrated destination with incredible nature and so much history and culture.

Slovenia. Zagreb is a 2.5-hour train or bus ride from Ljubljana, Slovenia’s capital. You could day trip there if you really want to, but Slovenia is very different from the rest of the Balkans and deserves more than just a day. It looks and feels like Austria with alpine villages and window boxes filled with geraniums.

Enjoy the cafe scene in Ljubljana, one of my favorite capitals in Europe, or explore the bright blue lakes of Bled and Bohinj, or go underground in the Skocjan Caves. Here’s my Slovenia road trip itinerary.

Italy. If you’re traveling in the Istria region, Italy is a quick overland hop away; if you’re further south, there are ferries you could take across the Adriatic: to Bari in Puglia, Ancona in Le Marche, Cesenatico in Romagna, or Venice in the Veneto.

I adore Italy and have traveled to most of its regions — there is SO much to explore. If you’re traveling to Italy, check out my solo female travel guide to Italy here .

Albania, Serbia, Kosovo, and Macedonia. The other countries of the Western Balkans are fascinating and some of my favorite places to visit, especially Macedonia and Albania. They’re beautiful but rough around the edges, and while they’re cheaper than Croatia, they have poorer infrastructure.

If you’re a more experienced traveler and up for a bit of a challenge, they are awesome places to visit.

What’s it like to travel in Albania?

Briefly, Belgrade

Kosovo: A Warm Welcome to a Newborn Country

Magnificent Macedonia Will Surprise You

Travel Insurance for Croatia

A lot of people don’t think it’s necessary to get travel insurance for Croatia — after all, it’s a safe country with decent healthcare. But you need it.  If you get sick or injured on your trip, if you get robbed, or even if you have to be flown home, travel insurance will protect you from financial ruin. I use and recommend World Nomads for trips to Croatia.

I have thankfully never needed to call my travel insurance for help while in Croatia — but I do have a friend who had to visit the hospital after being stung by a wasp in Split, one who sprained her ankle after falling down the steps in Dubrovnik, and one who got her wallet stolen and needed to go to the police station.

While Croatia’s hospital prices aren’t anywhere near what the US would charge you, you could end up paying a lot of money for a serious medical issue. But travel insurance protects you and refunds you for your costs. It’s the kind of thing you don’t know you need until you need it.

My #1 Travel Tip for Croatia

Learn how to avoid the worst of the tourist crowds. There are parts of Croatia that are extremely overcrowded and parts of Croatia that are blissfully free of tourists. You’ll be much happier if you avoid the busy parts of major cities when they’re at their most packed. Here are four ways to do that:

1. Don’t take a large ship cruise in Croatia. I can’t say this often enough. Large cruise ships are one of the major causes of overtourism in Europe, particularly the Mediterranean. Many of the ports of the Adriatic are just too small to handle thousands of tourists pouring in at once, and you’ll only experience the destinations when they’re at their most packed and sweaty.

If you’re set on exploring Croatia by cruise (meaning that you only want to unpack once), consider doing a small ship or sailing cruise instead. You’ll be able to visit more offbeat destinations, you can stay in destinations like Dubrovnik overnight, and there’s nothing like the feeling of being on a small boat in the Adriatic.

2. Mix popular destinations with lesser-known destinations.  If you’re in Zadar, check out Paklenica National Park; if you’re in Zagreb, check out Plešivica; if you’re in Split, check out Šibenik. If you’re visiting islands for some beach time, consider booking accommodation away from the city center.

3. Consider visiting in the shoulder season. September is my top recommendation for when to visit Croatia, and much of Europe — the weather is summery, the water is at its warmest, the kids are back in school, and most tourists have gone home. June is great and late May and early October are warm in the south and a bit cooler up north. Avoid July and August if you can — it’s crazy.

4. Stay out of Dubrovnik during cruise ship hours. Luckily, there is plenty of stuff to do! Go kayaking around Lokrum Island, take a cable car up the hill, do a day trip to Mljet island. As soon as the sun starts to set, that’s when the big ships are leaving and it’s time to head back to town.

• Dubrovnik Survival Guide

Croatia is waiting for you!

Croatia has SO much to offer for solo female travelers. Whether you’re looking to cruise down the islands, drive from village to village, or gawk at the waterfalls, Croatia has something for every kind of traveler. But more than that, it’s a safe country and a smart destination even for women who have never traveled alone before.

Start planning your trip to Croatia and get ready to have the time of your life! Then come back and tell me all about it.

Planning a Trip to Croatia:

• Two Weeks in Croatia Itinerary
• What NOT to Do in Croatia
• Best Time to Visit Croatia
• 30 Stunning Mediterranean Islands To Visit In Your Lifetime

Croatian Islands and the Dalmatian Coast:

• How to Spend Three Days in Dubrovnik
• Why Korčula, Croatia, is the Coolest Island of All
• Vis, Croatia, is a Quietly Stunning Island
• The Waterfalls of Krka National Park
• 30 Fabulous Things To Do in Split, Croatia
• 29 Sunny Things To Do In Hvar, Croatia

Istria and the North:

• Guide to Rovinj, Croatia’s Prettiest City
• Places to Visit in Istria, Croatia’s Italian-Flavored Peninsula
• 21 Unforgettable Things To Do In Zagreb, Croatia

Have you traveled solo in Croatia? Share your tips!

• The Solo Travellers Guide To...

The Solo Traveller’s Guide to Croatia

Travelling to Croatia was once considered an alternative holiday. Now, we realise what we were missing out on for so long. An engaging blend of party islands, Unesco World Heritage-listed old towns and dreamy landscapes is a snapshot of what this charming country is all about. It’s well set up for solo travellers, as this dedicated guide will prove to you.

The lowdown for solo travellers in croatia.

Solo travel to Croatia is becoming easier, with a well-honed tourist trail joining the major spots. Female travellers should feel at ease, particularly with an engrained cafe culture that offers relaxed and plentiful places for holing up with a good book or chatting to locals and fellow tourists.

A Croatia solo trip overview

Occupying prime coastline between the Adriatic and the rest of its Balkan neighbours, Croatia is the top choice for solo travellers looking to contrast characterful cities with the rocky islands that have long been the stars of the show. Capital city Zagreb is worth checking out on an extended trip, but you’ll find a stronger flavour of traditional Croatian culture in towns such as Pula, Zadar and Rijeka – the European Capital of Culture 2020 and home to a clash of Cold War concrete relics and ornate ochre Austro-Hungarian villas.

Further west, the genteel spa resort of Opatija seduces with its Belle-Époque-era villas, while deeper south and backed by mountains lies Split, which is a tad less touristy than Dubrovnik. Split’s crowning glory is the Unesco-listed Diocletian’s Palace that wraps around the city centre, one of the world’s most impressive Roman-era landmarks.

Become a Culture Tripper!

Sign up to our newsletter to save up to $800 on our unique trips..

See privacy policy .

Islands-wise, you could either head straight for Hvar – a magnet for young travellers looking to party and the mega-rich looking to moor their multi-million-euro yachts. Or give it a miss and visit islands like Vis or Korčula – both featured on Culture Trip’s carefully curated eight-day Croatia adventure .

Where to stay in Croatia as a solo traveller

Croatia could be Europe’s mecca of heritage hotels – historical buildings meticulously transformed, with all their original structure and character maintained. If you’re willing to push the boat out a bit, you could spend your nights in villas, palaces, family estates and four-star hotels . If you’re looking to keep accommodation costs down, opt for hostels and family-run B&Bs instead – most offer great value for money and are of course great sociable stopovers for solo travellers.

What to do in Croatia as a solo traveller

For a relatively small country, there’s a disproportionate amount to do in Croatia. Selecting key sights will draw you to a particular region; just don’t blame us if you end up lingering longer.

1. Observe art of the elements in Zadar

Architectural Landmark

Cosmopolitan, coastal Zadar has playful architectural sites that function as art installations right on the shore. The Sea Organ is a set of steps leading into the water that harness the movement of the waves, transforming it into music. Further along, the sister installation, Greeting to the Sun , is a soporific solar-powered collection of glass plates that glow in different neon colours after sundown. Wander over to hop-scotch with other gleeful tourists or just to admire the illuminated waterfront.

2. Explore Tito’s animal-filled island

Natural Feature

3. Combine sightseeing and island-style nightlife on Hvar

Eating and drinking in Croatia

Croatian food is as diverse and delightful as its scenery. Maneštra is a popular Istrian soup made with beans, pork and corn – and an excellent match for the region’s white Malvasia and red Teran wines. Walk into any seafood restaurant and you’ll find crni rižot – a black risotto made from squid ink – on the menu, while meat lovers must try Dalmatian pršut (cured ham), which is often smoked in juniper wood and dried in the wind. If that doesn’t whet your appetite, maybe the herbaceous sheep’s-milk cheese produced on moon-like Pag will.

For restaurant recommendations, check out our top picks for Split and the best places to eat in Dubrovnik if you’re a vegetarian or vegan .

Getting around as a solo traveller in Croatia

You can travel by train from north to east, although buses are the main transport mode along the coast. For exploring the interior, you’ll need a car, which you can easily hire from all airports and some train or bus stations. Roads and toll motorways are in generally good condition up and down the country, with English-language signage and inviting bistros found along the way. Affordable ferries are the old-school way to hop around the islands, although high-speed ships also run from Split .

What to do to fit in – and not offend

Meeting people in Croatia couldn’t be more easy-going – Croatians are laid-back and welcoming of foreigners, and many young Croatians speak very good English. Don’t refuse the flavoured grappa “on the house” after a meal out – it’s the restaurant owner’s way of welcoming you to Croatia.

Solo travel doesn’t mean you have to be on your own all the time. Discover Croatia with our Local Insider and a small group of other culturally curious travellers, on our in-depth eight-day exploration of Croatia’s Adriatic Coast .

Culture Trips launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes places and communities so special.

Our immersive trips , led by Local Insiders, are once-in-a-lifetime experiences and an invitation to travel the world with like-minded explorers. Our Travel Experts are on hand to help you make perfect memories. All our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

All our travel guides are curated by the Culture Trip team working in tandem with local experts. From unique experiences to essential tips on how to make the most of your future travels, we’ve got you covered.

See & Do

A guide to sailing around istria and kvarner, croatia.

Guides & Tips

The ultimate guide to holidays in croatia.

The Best Snorkelling Spots in Croatia

A Guide to Sailing in and Around Croatia

A Guide to Sailing in the Kornati Islands, Croatia

How to Spend Seven Days Island Hopping Around Istria and Kvarner, Croatia

Sail Away From the Crowds in Croatia With These Secret Alternatives to Busy Marinas

Which Towns Should You Visit While Sailing in Croatia?

The Best Beaches on the Island of Korcula, Croatia

How to Spend Seven Days Island Hopping Around the Kornati Archipelago, Croatia

Film & TV

The best game of thrones locations you can visit with culture trip.

Beautiful Croatian Islands You Need to Explore by Boat

Culture trip spring sale, save up to $1,656 on our unique small-group trips limited spots..

• Post ID: 1002183204
• Sponsored? No
• View Payload

for Solo Travel Over 50

Ultimate Guide to Split Croatia Solo Travel (2024)

Rev. 4/2/24

Are you looking to explore some of the stunning Adriatic coast on your own terms? Then head to Split, Croatia. Compiled from my first-hand Split solo travel, this ultimate Guide to Split Croatia Solo Travel has all things Split travel tips with bonus budget travel tips, eco-travel tips, and more throughout. This is your one-stop-shop to plan an unforgettable solo Croatian vacation in Split.

Whether a single day trip or a full-on solo adventure, Split will wow you. This ancient city has stunning landscapes and beaches, gobs of history, incredible food and wine, and friendly locals. Better yet, Split a great jumping off point to explore surrounding islands like Hvar, Brač and Korčula, to name a few, as well as other Croatian gems like Trogir, Solin, Makarska and more .

Get ready to explore Split, Croatia.

This Split Travel Guide is intentionally written for the solo traveler, the first time Split traveler, and/or older traveler (I am over 50 and have been solo traveling FOREVER) in mind. Yet, anyone can use this travel guide it to plan and book Split Croatia travel.

Like this? Share it with others!

This post may contain affiliate links for your convenience. For products, the goal is to first provide direct links to eco-friendly, ethical, and sustainable companies, and then to those same type (i.e., Climate Pledge Friendly Certification ), of brands that use Amazon, if possible. Therefore, you may see multiple links for one option. Should you make a purchase through any link, I will receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. See my Disclaimers & Disclosures and Privacy Policy for more information.

Ultimate Croatia Solo Travel Guide

What is split croatia known for, best time to visit split croatia, getting to split croatia, getting around split, is split croatia safe to visit alone, split packing essentials, best place to stay for split solo travel, 5 must dos on split croatia video, more best things to do in split, day trips from split, best booking sites for split travel, how to get the best of split croatia in 3 days.

If you need more Croatia travel tips to supplement your solo travel Split Croatia planning, consult this ultimate Croatia Solo Travel Guide full of tips on culture, entry requirements, currency, tipping, using electronics, safety, and a lot more to plan solo travel in Croatia.

Croatia had been on my travel bucket list for many years. When finally able to go, I couldn’t decide which city to choose first to experience Croatia: Dubrovnik or Split. Choosing Split was one of the best decisions I ever made.

Want to know what an incredible time I had in Split? Don’t just read. Use my Best of Split in 3 Days Itinerary and you, too, will experience the perfect, first-time Split solo travel.

Unforgettable 3 Day Split Solo Travel Itinerary 2024

More europe solo travel guides & itineraries.

• The Ultimate Santorini Greece Solo Travel Guide
• Best of Zakynthos Greece in 3 Days Itinerary
• Ultimate Zakynthos Solo Travel Guide
• How to do a Rome in 3 Days on a Budget
• Best of Italy in 2 Weeks Itinerary (No Car Required)
• 7 Best Europe Beach Destinations for Solo Travelers

Croatia’s second largest city, Split is the largest city in Croatia’s Dalmatia region and situated nicely between mountains and the crystal clear waters of the Adriatic Sea and lovely Dalmatian Coast islands.

Split offers history, colorful architecture and Roman ruins, spectacular wine tasting and cuisine, outdoor land and water activities, and some of the best beaches in Europe , if not the world.

Split is best known for being the home of the Diocletian’s Palace , a UNESCO World Heritage site and a must see in Split. Built for the Roman emperor Diocletian, the palace consumes most of the Old Town. It was built in the fourth century AD, which also marks the establishment of the city of Split itself.

The area of Split is also known for being the origin of the zinfandel grape (no, it’s not from California or Italy), and where the famous Zlatni Rat Beach (Golden Horn) resides on nearby Brac Island .

Is Split Croatia worth visiting?

Considering the history of Split Croatia alone begs visiting Split. Ask any local, young or old, a question about Split, and they will proudly regale you with historical facts and stories, as well as provide recommendations on what to see in Split. Their knowledge and enthusiasm of their hometown and country is infectious.

Croatia had been on my bucket list for many years before I actually had time to carve out 3 days in Croatia . I had wrestled between Dubrovnik and Split for my first Croatia solo trip.

However, I couldn’t escape the lure of the history and thoughts of visiting the surrounding islands for beach time and wine tasting, so Split solo travel it was. The bigger problem was making my solo travel itinerary for just 3 days in Split .

There is much to see and do in Split. Yet, Split is a place in Croatia to take it slow, like lounging on the beach . If you have 4 days in Split, or a week in Split, even better.

The best time to travel to Split, Croatia depends on weather, costs, activities and events offered.

Split Croatia Weather & Costs

Like many European countries, peak tourist season in Croatia is June through August. The weather in Split Croatia is also at its hottest with an average of low 80F degrees and the least amount precipitation. These are, however, the most expensive months to visit Split.

After peak season may be considered the best time to go to Split Croatia. September and October offer warm weather and water, fewer tourists, and slightly lower travel costs.

April and May are lovely months to visit Split as well, but the water may be cooler.

November through March, Split’s winter, has an average temperature of 45F degrees but also fewer tourists and lowest costs. Split in winter would be when to solo travel on a budget.

My last solo travel in Split was in September, and it was lovely. To get the best Split solo travel experience, May to October would be when to visit Split.

Festivals in Split Croatia

I always suggest checking the local events calendar when planning solo travel.

There are festivals in Split Croatia year round. Consult them to know how they may impact or enhance your Croatia travel.

Is Split Croatia Expensive?

Split is not as expensive to travel as some other European cities, like Copenhagen or Paris .

For example, an inexpensive meal in a restaurant could cost 60 kuna, a bottle of import beer 18 kuna, or a cappuccino 12 kuna. Buying food in a store would cost less and make your single travel budget stretch further.

Split has budget city center accommodations and Split activities can be done inexpensively, such as a group boat tour to Blue Lagoon , or even free such as exploring beaches on foot.

Of course, luxury accommodations in Split and high-end activities, like taking a private boat trip to Blue Lagoon and islands , also exist.

The point is, Split can be enjoyed across different budgets.

Croatia Solo Travel Tip s

Croatia’s currency is the Kuna (HRK), not the Euro. Croatia is not yet a part of the European Union (at time of this writing). Manage your currency exchange wisely on your solo trip to Croatia.

There are ATM’s a plenty in Split for you to extract local currency, if need be.

Europe Solo Travel Tips & Ideas

• Top 10 Tips on How to Do a Solo Beach Trip
• How to Choose Your First Solo Trip Destination
• 10 Must Know Planning Tips for First-Time International Travel
• 6 Tips on How to Avoid Airport Lines
• How to Travel Carry-On Only

Flying into Split

Flights to Split Croatia arrive at the Split Airport (SPU) . The Split Airport has one main terminal and there are multiple airlines that fly to Split .

The airport is about 23 kilometers from the Split city center. If your hotel does not offer airport shuttle service, there are several other Split Airport transport options to get from Split Airport to the city centre.

Search for Cheap Flights to Split

Croatia eco travel tip s.

For only 2 to 3 hour flights to Croatia, or within, take the train or the bus to Split instead. It could also save time and money, and the scenery is much prettier.

Split Airport Transportation

Split airport taxis and rideshares.

An easy option is to take a Split Airport taxi or hire an Uber or Bolt rideshare , all available at the Split Airport. My Uber from Split Airport to Old Town cost 258 Kunas with tip (at time of writing), which is about the same cost as a taxi.

Catch your airport rideshare on the main street at the public bus stop. Taxi and rideshares from Split Airport to city center take 20-25 minutes, depending on traffic.

Note, when I take a ride share or taxi, I like to pick the driver’s brain for information on the location, get good activity or dining tips, or tips or what to do or avoid.

Locals are the best source of travel information. In Split, the locals are friendly, a wealth of information, and they love to share.

When hiring a rideshare, choose the  Bolt Green  or  Uber Green  options, or use  Carpoolworld , to support the use of electric cars and carpooling for cleaner transportation in Croatia.

Split Airport Transfers to Split

A budget friendly, more eco-friendly, and quick option is to hire a transfer from Split Airport to Split . Trips are 45 minutes to Old Town and the cost is very comparable to a taxi or rideshare. Plus, you can book a Split Airport to Split transfer in advance .

Split Airport Transfers to Outside Split

If you are staying on of the islands around Split like Brac or Hvar, or a little further outside of Split, there are more Split Airport transfer options.

Split Airport Transfer to Islands & More

The following are eco-friendly transportation options, however, will save you money if you are traveling Split on a budget.

Split Airport Train and Bus

There are public Split Airport buses available to take you to the Kastel Stari train station in Split where you catch the train to the Split main railway station next to the Port of Split.

The public Split Airport bus ride is about 10 minutes, with the total trip taking about 35 minutes and costing 25 Kunas, a very Split budget friendly method for getting to Split.

Split Airport Bus

Another budget friendly airport transfer is the Split Airport bus . For 40 Kunas, you can catch the #37 bus directly from the main terminal with a ride to the main Split bus station, next to the main railway station, taking about 35-40 minutes. You pay the driver on the bus.

Split Airport Car Rental

I advise against renting a car if staying solo in Split, or close to Split. Why deal with city center parking and additional petrol expenses? Here are better ways to get from the Split Airport.

If your Croatia travel involves off-the-beaten path travel, however, then renting a car at the Split airport may be best for your Croatia solo travel itinerary.

Explore Split Car Rentals

Bus to split.

Buses to Split arrive at the main Split bus station which are quick, inexpensive, and eco-friendly ways to get to Split from other countries or Croatian cities.

Train to Split

Same goes for trains to Split. Check the Split train tickets and schedules to the Split railway station next to the Port of Split.

Trainline Provides Cheap Train and Bus Tickets to Split

Ferry to Split

If you’re already in Croatia or coming from Italy, a Croatia Ferry may be an option for you on your solo travel to Split.

Is Split walkable?

Yes, Split is very walkable. In fact, many of the top things to do in Split are accessible by foot.

Old Town and the palace are only comprised of narrow, stone pedestrian streets packed with restaurants and cafes, hotels, boutique shopping, and never ending history.

If you want to learn more about Split or its incredible food and wine, consider a historic walking tour or Split food walking tour . There are private and group tours available. Again, group tours do provide that additional chance to meet others when traveling Split alone.

Best Split Group Walking Tours

Best split private walking tours, tour split by bike or scooter.

Looking for exercise while seeing more of Split? A large portion of Split is flat, but also surrounded by picturesque beaches and the Marjan Park, ideal for biking and/or scootering. Consider renting a bike in Split or scooter.

Save Time and Book Your Split Bike or Scooter in Advance

Want company riding around to enhance your Split, Crotia solo travel? Split has group bike tours . These tours are eco-friendly and a great way for solo travelers of all ages to to learn more about Split while meeting new people.

Best Split Bike Tours

More eco travel tips & ideas.

• 25 Must-Have & Eco-Friendly Solo Beach Trip Essentials
• 15 Eco Long-haul Flight Essentials for Solo Travel
• Top 10 Eco-Friendly Carry On Luggage
• 10 Best Eco-Friendly Personal Item Bags for Flying
• 10 Amazing Eco-Friendly and Sustainable Swimwear Brands
• 10 Easy Ways to Be an Eco-Friendly Traveler

Tour Split by Water

Considering Split sits on the crystal clear waters of the Adriatic, and flanked by multiple islands just begging you to explore, how could you even consider missing the chance to tour around Split by boat, kayak or other?

On my last solo trip to Split, I did boating to an Brac and swam at the Golden Horn Beach. I also did a morning kayak from Bene beach with cliff jumping while also swimming off Kasjuni beach. The group and tour was so much fun. I was the oldest person in the small group kayak tour and had a blast .

Day or night, Split boating and water adventures are a must on Croatia solo travel.

Best Split Boat Tours and Cruises

Best split water activities, split public transport.

The Split bus is another way to explore Split beyond Old Town.

The main Split bus terminal is a convenient 10 minute walk from Old Town. Split public bus tickets are inexpensive, bus lines run daily from 5am to midnight, and the Split public bus network is extensive opening up more possibilities for fun on budget Croatia solo travel.

Crime in Split is very low. Split is also considered very safe to walk alone day or night, so you don’t need to worry about safety in Split as solo female traveler. I never felt unsafe walking alone in Split on my over 50 single travel.

As always, practice general safety measures, such as walking on well-lit streets and keeping your belongings on you at all times, especially in crowded or touristy areas.

Other than that, you should consider Split one of the best places to go by yourself.

I’m not one to tell someone else how to pack, but there definitely some solo travel essentials I would recommend taking on your solo travel to Croatia, like the following.

This list of travel essentials combined can make your Split, Croatia solo travel easier and more memorable while being friendlier to the environment.

The Split city center, including the Old Town, is where it’s at for first time solo travel to Split, as indicated on the map below.

Many of the must do Split activities and attractions, including access to Split nightlife, are within minutes of walking or a quick bus ride away from the bus stops close by.

Of course, you can stay outside this section of the Split city center, but it may just add a little time to this Split, Croatia solo travel itinerary, depending on what you ultimately decide to see and do in Split.

Split Solo Travel Tip s

Have WhatsApp on your mobile device(s). Many smaller establishments and activities offices use this as a method of communication making it easier to make inquiries or booking and learn, or notify, of any scheduling changes.

Get the T-Mobile International Plan or something similar in price and features. I no longer work on WiFi only on international travel. I’ll use it when it’s there, but having access to roaming when needed for GPS and Google Maps is a game changer.

Split Hotels and More

There are many accommodations in Split city center across all budget types to choose from. Going in the off season, or booking well in advance, will get you the best Split prices.

Book a Travel Sustainable-rated property , or at least employs these methods into their business to reduce your travel carbon footprint.

Split Hotels

Hotels in Split range from budget to luxury.

For location, price, breakfast, amenities (including free-cancellation), eco-friendly and sustainable operations, and customer reviews and ratings, here are my best hotels in Split recommendations in or around Split Old Town ideal for over 50 solo travel on a Split 3 day itinerary (i.e., where I would stay):

• Cornaro Hotel
• Jupiter Luxury Hotel
• Heritage hotel Santa Lucia
• Hotel Slavija
• Starlight Luxury Rooms

I last stayed at Starlight Luxury Rooms conveniently located around the corner from Diocletian’s Palace . My room and bed were large and comfortable, the breakfast was incredible, and the hotel staff friendly and helpful.

In fact, ask for Mario. He was the bomb .  He had such great information, helped me with activities, and was accessible by a quick WhatsApp message.

2023 update: Starlight Luxury Rooms is now Travel Sustainable rated through Booking.com. I knew it was a matter of time considering their sustainable initiatives (below).

Reserve Split Accommodations Early for the Best Price

Split eco travel tip s.

In addition to Booking.com’s Split’s Travel Sustainable properties , Green Globe and Green Key Global also have eco-friendly certified lodging options.

Split Hostels

Hostels in Split city center can be a budget accommodation for over 50 single travel.  Using the same conditions above, with the ability to get a private room, my Split hostel for solo travel recommendation is Hostel Dvor .

It is in a good location and also employs some sustainability initiatives.

Split Budget Travel Tip s

Hostels in Split Croatia could start from around €20-30/night, depending on what amenities and location you want. Note, these are usually for a bed in a dorm room. A private room in a Split city center hostel could cost the same, if not more, than a budget hotel.

Reserve Split Hostel Early for the Best Private Room

So, what are the best things to do in Split as a solo traveler?

Start with these 5 Split must do’s in this video. After this glimpse of Split solo travel, you’ll be dying to book your flight to Split .

Ways to Do Split MUST DOs

You have to keep in mind Split’s ideal location, beaches and proximity to parks and islands that can keep you hopping, pardon the pun.

Here are more must see Split attractions for your Split itinerary perfect for a single traveler. If you want to know how to see most of them on your first time Split travel, use my Best of Split in 3 Days Itinerary . It’s all in there. Easy peasy.

Churches & Cathedrals

• Saint Duje’s Cathedral (St. Domnius Cathedral)
• Crkva Gospe od Prizidnice
• Katedrala sv. Lovre (St. Lawrence Cathedral)
• Katedrala sv. Stjepana I. (St. Stephen’s Cathedral)
• Zupna Crkva Gospe Od Karmela , Bol
• Katedrala sv. Marko (St. Mark’s Cathedral)

Architectural Buildings & Historic Sites

• Diocletian’s Palace
• Peristil Square
• Jupiter’s Temple
• Saint Domnius Bell Tower
• Porta Caesarea , Salona
• Roman Ruins of Salona
• Tvrđava Fortica (Spanish Fortress), Hvar
• Klis Fortress , Klis

Split Landmarks, Points of Interest & Monuments

• Narodni trg (Pjaca Square)
• Trg Brace Radic (Fruit’s Square)
• Marmontova ulica (Marmont Street)
• Riva Harbor
• Statue of Grgur Ninski (Gregory of Nin)

Museums & Aquariums

• Ivan Meštrović Gallery
• Archaeological Museum of Split
• Split City Museum

Parks and Gardens

Get out and enjoy some incredible nature and hiking around Split.

• Marjan Hill
• Park Šuma Marjan (Marjan Park)
• Mali Kozjak

Split Beaches

Split is not short of spectacular beaches. Here are but some of the best Europe beaches you can find in Split accessible by foot, Split public transportation or a ferry.

Relax and sunbathe, or swim, snorkel, dive, kayak, parasail, paddle board, cliff jump or more.

Split Travel Tips

It can get hot in Split. Make sure you stay hydrated and wear your good marine and reef safe sunscreen all day.

For the best beach experience on your Split solo travel over 50, check out the 25 solo travel essentials for going to the beach alone and the top tips on how to do a solo beach trip .

Many beaches have lounge bars with lounge chairs and umbrellas. Some are even nude beaches. Heads up.

• Bačvice
• Kašjuni
• Kaštelet
• Ježinac
• Zlatni Rat (Golden Horn), Brač
• Nugal , Makarska

More Solo Beach Travel

• 25 Must-Have Solo Beach Trip Essentials
• Top Tips on How to Do a Solo Beach Trip
• Best of San Sebastian Spain in 2 Days (or 3) Itinerary

A must do in Split is taking a ride out to one of the following islands from Split. Here are some that are available to see:

• Hvar Island
• Brač Island
• Korčula Island
• Biševo
• Šolta Island
• Mljet Island
• Čiovo Island

Hvar, Brac and Korcula are ideal for a day trip from Split. There are daily, high speed ferries from Split to Hvar , Split to Brac , and Split to Korcula .

Each island offers its own charm, special beaches and activities. It may be hard to decide on just one. If you want to go to more than one island, there are island hopping tours from Split.

I suggest going to as many islands off Split as you can. Definitely go to at least one.

Best Island Tours from Split

Split croatia dining & entertainment, split restaurants.

Dining in Split can be hard only because of trying to choose from one of the kanobas (restaurants) and bars galore in Old Town and on the Riva. Wander the streets to find one or get a recommendation from a local.

Here is a list of restaurants in Split to get you started. For good meals that won’t break your bank, I recommend checking out Corto Maltese , Restoran Skalinada , or Konoba Varoš .

Definitely have the gelato at Gelateria Emiliana . Don’t be surprised if there is a line. It’s worth the wait.

What to eat in Split? Croatia’s long history is truly reflected in its cuisine that has Italian, Turkish, Hungarian and other influences.

Situated on the Adriatic, the Italian influence is heavy in Split’s cuisine. Popular are dishes of cheeses, prosciutto, bread with olive oil, and olives.

Seafood is also a large staple in Split dining, such as skampi, mussels, crabs, octopus, and the like. Dishes may be served with sides of spaghetti, njoki (gnocchi), or risotto. Beef and fish stews are also popular.

For dessert, try a fritula (traditional pastry like a powdered sugar donut) or rozata (pudding with caramel sauce).

By all means, do not lose out on tasting the local wines, like whites made from the Pošip white wine grape native to Korčula or luscious zinfandels. Croatia has amazing wines, and wine tasting, or taking a wine tasting tour from Split , is another Split must do.

Eco Travel Tips

Avoid using single-use plastics when dining, shopping and on food tours in Split to reduce plastic waste and your carbon footprint by bringing your own reusable collapsible shopping bags , collapsible water bottle , recycled plastic water bottle carry sling , and bamboo travel utensils so you’re prepared to travel with the planet in mind.

I always travel with the above items. Light weight and taking up very little space in my carry-on bags , I love the convenience and peace of mind these inexpensive, eco-friendly products provide.

Best Food and Wine Tours in Split

Best food and wine day trips from split, split nightlife.

Old Town, Marmont Street and the Riva is where it is at for bars and restaurants. Split nightclubs can also be found on the Riva and port area.

It’s safe to walk Split at night, even as a female traveler, so feel free to wander to find the right place.

More Wine Travel Ideas

• Best 3 Days in Split Croatia Itinerary
• Belize Solo Travel: 7 Things to Know Before You Go

Once on the Adriatic, you’re going to want see more of Croatia. Trust me.

For ease, I suggest taking a day trip from Split, or two, while keeping Split as home base. Start with any of the multiple islands around Split.

There are also top Croatia cities and parks, like Krka National Par k and Plitvice Lakes National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site , doable in a day trip from Split.

I highly recommend working at least one day trip from Split into your Croatia solo travel.

Taking one of the following group tours from Split, or more, is a very convenient way to see more of Croatia without a car.

More Top Split Day Trip Tours

Here is a summary of the best booking sites I recommend you use to successfully book your Split solo travel. I use just about all of these for most travel locations. I even gave you my suggested Split hotel.

These booking sites give you multiple travel options and awesome travel deals for all travel budgets. They will certainly help get a jump on your Split, Croatia solo travel.

For the best travel deals, always book early . Bundling airline and hotel reservations may provide additional deals.

• Cheap Flights to Split
• Cheap Ferries to Split
• Best Split City Center Hotels
• My Suggested Split Hotels
• Best Split City Center Hostels
• Split Train Tickets
• Split Bus Tickets

Don’t forget to use the ultimate Croatia Solo Travel Guide and Split ecotourism ideas to complete your Split, Croatia solo travel planning and booking.

You’re all set to get your Split solo travel on, right? Need some ideas on how to plan your days?

My 3 days in Split solo travel itinerary will definitely please. It even has suggestions on how stay longer on your first-time solo travel in Croatia.

Let Me Hear From You

I would love to hear if my ultimate Guid to Split Croatia Solo Travel was helpful to you. Post me your thoughts or questions in the Comments section below. Thank you!

More Travel Guides You’ll Like

Spend One Day in Ghent from Brussels Itinerary

One Day in Bruges from Brussels Not to Miss Itinerary

Day Trip from Paris to Versailles Tips and Tricks

Champagne Day Trip from Paris to Reims Without a Car (2023)

Ultimate Guide to Porto Solo Travel (2023)

Copenhagen Solo Travel Guide 2023

Things to Do in Nassau Bahamas on a Cruise

Leave a comment cancel reply.

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Deals of the Week   Unforgettable Asia   Up to 50% OFF

Croatia Tours for Solo / Single Travelers

250+ croatia tours for singles / solo travelers with 1,466 reviews.

Croatia Sailing Adventure

The facilities were clean at all times. The crew were helpful and attentive.

Sailing Croatia - Split to Dubrovnik

Great food and great company. Very well organized.

Sailing Croatia - Dubrovnik to Split

Fantastic trip and amazing guide, I can really recommend this experience to everyone who wants to explore the more quiet side of Croatia's coast.

Croatia Sailing Adventure: Dubrovnik to Split

It is a beautiful sea! My only wish is that we took more time sailing.

Croatia Sailing Adventure: Split to Dubrovnik

There was a good group of people aboard ship sharing a wonderful experience.

• Island Hopping

Premium Split to Dubrovnik

The beautiful Croatian coastline was a highlight of the tour.

• Coach / Bus

Croatian islands cruise + Land tour with Plitvice - from Zagreb

Plitvice Lakes is a must to see place! The food especially the fish dishes were excellent.

Pearls of Adriatic cruise

Went to many lovely places, awesome crew and the cooked meals were incredible.

• Road Cycling
• In-depth Cultural

Cycle the Dalmatian Coast

The cycling routes should be considered advanced. The hotels were substandard to hotels in the states.

• 10% deposit on some dates Some departure dates offer you the chance to book this tour with a lower deposit.

Pearls of Adriatic Deluxe cruise

The ship looked brand new- cabins were comfortable with plenty of storage and bathrooms were large with nice showers!

Cycling Croatia's Dalmatian Coast

Croatia by bicycle was beautiful. We enjoyed watching and listening to their interactions while be transported between rides.

Croatian Highlights Private Tour from Zagreb to Dubrovnik

This trip was phenomenal! It was the perfect start to our honeymoon and we can't wait to return!

Dalmatian Elegance (Classic, 9 Days)

The ship, the crew, and the food were all wonderful! There is nothing I can suggest to make this experience any better!

Creme de la Croatia Deluxe - 8 days

The food was incredible and abundant. The Katarina Lins is obviously well run, do not hesitate to go on one of their trips.

Croatia Island Sail (Premium, 8 Days)

• €100 deposit on some dates Some departure dates offer you the chance to book this tour with a lower deposit.

What people love about Croatia Solo Tours

Amazing trip, tour guide Dom was sensational, did a very good job at showing us all the landmarks and being an all round good host.

Captain was amazing. Great food and great company Lots of sailing when weather permitted Very well organized

Great scenery, lovely small group and friendly and helpful skippers. Wonderful holiday with one special moment after another.

More Tours in Croatia for Singles and Solo Travellers

• Adriatic tours (308)
• Dalmatia tours (238)
• Central Croatia tours (16)
• Kvarner tours (15)
• Istria tours (9)
• Croatian Islands tours (258)
• Plitvice Lakes National Park tours (5)
• Seniors tours (228)
• Young Adults tours (41)
• Croatia Travel Guide | All You Need to Know
• Best 7 Day Croatia Itineraries 2024/2025 (with Reviews)

Travel Styles

• Budget (38)
• Luxury (67)
• Singles and Solo (348)
• For Couples (133)
• Young Adults (41)
• Seniors (228)

Discover TourRadar

• Uganda Safari
• Zimbabwe Safari
• Central Kenya Budget tours
• Egypt with a cruise and Abu Simbel Premier
• 9 Days Palermo to Aeolian Islands.
• Volunteer in India (2-6 Weeks)
• Brisbane to Cairns Experience: Sand Dunes & the Whitsundays

• Work with me
• Privacy policy

• Years in review
• United Kingdom
• Bosnia & Herzegovina
• North Macedonia
• Philippines
• South Korea
• South Africa
• Africa Overlanding
• Central America
• New Zealand
• Solo Travel
• Budget travel
• Travel tips
• Travel itineraries
• Hidden gems
• Bucket list
• Travel resources
• Digital nomadism
• Blogging tips
• Start a travel blog

Europe , Solo travel

Solo female travel in europe – tips & tricks.

Table of Contents

This post may contain affiliate links to things like tours, hotels, Amazon associates and products. These help me earn a small commission at no additional charge to you.

This guide to solo female travel in Europe is long overdue since I have written already about solo female travel in Asia as well as many individual countries (see my solo travel archives for all of them). While it’s tricky to write a guide to a rich and diverse continent of 50 countries, I’m going to give it my best shot!

EUROPE QUICK LINKS Accommodation: Booking.com / Hostelworld Getting around: flight / car / bus / train Activities: GetYourGuide / Viator Travel insurance: True Traveller (UK & Europe residents) / Hey Mundo (all travellers) / Safety Wing (digital nomads)

I grew up in the UK so that’s one European country I know like the back of my hand. Given the ease and affordability of getting around Europe, I have explored as part of many city breaks and holidays. I’ve also done some longer multi-month backpacking trips (in 2019 I went from Germany to Bulgaria overland and in 2022 I did an epic 2-month Balkans trip). I also temporarily lived in Europe when the world events of 2020 brought me back from Mexico, where I’d been living previously. After spending 3 months living in Porto , Portugal and another 3 months in Split , Croatia, I know these cities and countries well and have fantastic memories!

In this guide, I’ll share my tips for women travelling alone including the best places for solo female travel in Europe

Is Europe good for solo female travel?

Yes, absolutely! I don’t think anyone will tell you otherwise. Europe is full of different countries each with their own long histories, languages, cuisines and cultures. Solo travel in Europe is a fascinating and rewarding option with so much variety in terms of cities, towns, islands, beaches, hikes and more! Although it’s a wonderful place to travel generally, it’s worth noting that Europe is great for women travelling alone. It’s safe (well as safe as our world can be) with fantastic infrastructure and well-travelled routes that have been traversed a million times before by women like you.

Is Europe safe for solo female travellers?

Absolutely! Europe, particularly Western Europe, generally has a positive safety rating which should set your mind at ease. Actually, I think many regions of Asia and Latin America are just as safe but get unfair bad reps… But that’s a bit of a tangent! The most common crime to affect women travelling alone in Europe is pickpocketing . This happens particularly in touristy places and especially in summer. I’ve had much worse experiences with this in Western Europe than East (particularly in Barcelona).

Read next: the ultimate guide to solo female travel

Is Europe ok for first-time solo travellers?

Yes, depending where you go. If you have never travelled alone before, you may choose to avoid more adventurous regions like the Balkans where you’ll rely on hot, slow buses that often drop you at the bottom of steep hills with no taxis to take you to your accommodation at the top! Places with great public transport like Portugal, Spain, Italy, the Netherlands and Germany are ideal for first-time solo female travellers who want an easy logistical experience.

Places like the UK, Ireland, the Netherlands, Portugal and Germany are easy for English speakers so make for an easy intro to solo female travel in Europe. Taking all this into consideration, it’s places like Portugal and the Netherlands with great English AND public transport (and hostels) that are the ultimate first-timer destinations. Seriously, if you can manage your hometown, I promise you can do these!

Good things about solo female travel in Europe

• Safe – aside from big cities like Paris, Madrid, Barcelona and London where you face the same threats as anywhere in the world (mainly pickpocketing), Europe is safe for female travellers. I find attitudes more old-fashioned as you head east but this won’t impact your safety
• Lots of English spoken – although it’s mainly the UK and Ireland that speak English as a first language, you’ll find fantastic English from Portugal to Germany and the Balkans. The places you’ll most want to brush up on the local lingo are France and Spain in my opinion because these languages are more common for tourists to know at least some of, therefore there’s more expectation from you.
• Great tourist infrastructure – in Lisbon there’s even a hostel designed for solo travellers!

Bad things about solo female travel in Europe

• Cost – after having travelled in Southeast Asia, the cost of European travel shocked me! But it’s only certain parts of Northern and Western Europe that are truly spenny. Parts of Eastern Europe are refreshingly affordable.
• Seasonality – many destinations are packed and expensive in summer and abandoned in winter, for example Croatia which I’d only recommend visiting from April-June and September-October. Luckily, not every destination is this seasonal but you need to do your research.

Regions of Europe

What’s hard about writing this guide to solo female travel in Europe is that the various regions are completely different. To summarise…

• Western Europe – the UK , France, Italy , Germany , Spain etc are the most popular travel destinations in Europe so therefore have some of the best infrastructure including trains and hostels, but also higher prices and crowds in summer. Although this region has developed attitudes toward women, I’ve experienced more crime (like pickpocketing) than I have in Eastern Europe.
• Northern Europe – the safest but most expensive countries in the world include Denmark , Finland, Sweden, Norway and Iceland. The Baltic countries like Latvia, Estonia and Lithuania are also often included in this definition.
• The Balkans – I’ve loved travelling in these beautiful and cheap countries although backpacking is a little more adventurous as tourist infrastructure is still developing. But there are plenty of hostels these days. Countries include Albania , Bosnia & Herzegovina , Montenegro , Serbia , Kosovo , North Macedonia , Bulgaria and Romania . I’ve sometimes found attitudes to women a little old-fashioned here, but I’ve always felt perfectly safe.
• Eastern Europe – the definition of this region sometimes includes the Balkans as well as the Caucasus countries like Georgia and Armenia. Although I’m yet to go, I hear they’re safe and affordable.
• Central Europe – places like Austria , Hungary , Poland , Slovakia , Slovenia and the Czech Republic have fantastic holiday and city break potential. Budapest and Prague are cheap with great hostels, nightlife and culture. Crime-wise, you’re mainly looking at pickpockets.

Best season to visit Europe

Summer (June-August) : for island-hopping and beach breaks, this is the time. But beware this season can be a scorcher: Portugal had temperatures of 45°C in 2022! If crowded and expensive Western Europe doesn’t appeal, head to the Balkans. Swap spenny Croatia and popular Greek islands for lesser-visited ones or, better yet, Albania or Montenegro. Spring (March-May) : one of the best seasons to go almost anywhere in Europe! You escape the crowds and heat, plus prices are lower. Winter (December-February) : this is a good time for city breaks and winter markets. Budapest, Prague and many German cities are atmospherically cold with mulled wine to warm you up! To chase the sun, visit Spain and Portugal and benefit from off-season prices. Autumn (September-November) : like the spring, this is another ideal time to go almost anywhere. Catch the tail end of island season in Croatia and Greece as prices drop, or enjoy pleasant temperatures in cities across Europe.

Cost of female solo travel in Europe

Since costs vary so much between countries, I would highly recommend researching your chosen countries individually. Here’s the best summary I can give… Hostels: approx €15-45 a night in Western Europe (with Portugal on the low end and Italy on the high end), between €10-20 in Balkan countries and €20-45 in the Nordic countries. Food: How long is a piece of string? In Albania, I could get a 3-course restaurant meal for €10 while in Copenhagen this wouldn’t get me a starter… So you’re going to have to research your countries individually! Transport: even in more expensive regions you can get a Flixbus across the country for €10! Transport is really efficient and affordable across Europe. At the time of writing, I live in Mexico where coach travel is much more expensive!

How to get around Europe

Getting around with all your valuables in tow is understandably a concern for many travellers. Here’s how I recommend you get around during solo female travel in Europe… Travel by train: in Western and Central Europe, the trains are fantastic. I use Trainline or Raileasy to buy tickets which is often necessary in peak season. As you go west, there are very few trains (apart from in Romania but they’re slower than buses). Travel by bus: these operate all over Europe. Around Western and Central Europe, the Flixbus is unbelievably cheap (although not always the most organised). Around the Balkans, you’ll rely on local operators that your hostels can usually advise on (and rarely need to be booked in advance).

Travel by car: lots of travellers visiting Europe hire cars but, for solo travellers, this is rarely going to be the cheapest or most relaxing option. But if you’re keen, you can use Rentalcars.com to compare prices. Travel by air: Europe has affordable budget carriers like Ryanair and Easyjet and you can get especially affordable fares off-season. I’ve flown to Poland and Zagreb from the UK for €10 before. But obviously, intercountry air travel should be avoided for environmental reasons and several European countries have banned short-haul flights now. Travel by boat: island hopping is popular in summery destinations like Greece and Croatia. I had a great time taking day trips from Split (Croatia) when I lived there to islands like Vis, Brac, Hvar and Korcula. You can opt for public ferries or island-hopping tours, usually on smaller boats (or catamarans) run by private companies. Likewise, from Athens, you’re well-connected to countless Greek islands.

Safety tips for solo female travellers in Europe

Wear a secure bag: consider the kind of day bag you bring. A shoulder bag or tote is fine for non-valuable items but not things like your phone, money, bank cards or keys to your accommodation. For these, I recommend a cross-body bag that can’t easily be snatched. Backup bank cards: if your bank card is lost or stolen, ensure you have at least one backup stored safely at your accommodation. I prefer to travel with bank cards connected to an app that I can quickly pause or cancel if necessary. I like Monzo and Starling (for UK travellers) and Revolut and Wise (available for various nationalities). Keep someone informed of your whereabouts: I recommend this everywhere, not just solo female travel in Europe. Sharing your itinerary or hotel booking with family or friends is a good idea, or consider sharing your live location with someone via your phone. Carry Euros in non-Euro countries: in the Balkans, I always carried some spare Euros; you never know when they’ll come in handy. In this region, there are often surprise charges at bus stations like platform fees and luggage fees. This is stressful if you’re leaving the country and have spent the last of your currency, so Euros might save the day.

Read next: more solo female travel safety tips

SIM cards for Europe travel

If you’re from the EU, you’re existing data package will work as usual. Everyone else (including UK travellers who this devastatingly used to work for and now doesn’t) will want to rely on Wi-Fi and download offline maps in advance… Or try to source a local SIM! I don’t have too much experience with getting SIM cards for this region in-person, however, I’ve recently discovered a fantastic new e-SIM platform called Airalo that lets you download online SIMs in advance for 200+ regions and countries. You can browse packages for European countries or get the Eurolink SIM that covers 39 countries. Connect as soon as you land!

Travel insurance for solo women travellers in Europe

Although Europe is safe for women travelling alone, I always advise getting travel insurance. It could save your life! Available to UK and European travellers, True Traveller offer 24-hour emergency assistance. You can buy cover when you’re already travelling and don’t need a return flight booked. I’ve used them for years and received my money back within days of submitting a claim. They’re fantastic! Get a quote . For travel insurance for other nationalities, I recommend Hey Mundo and for long-term digital nomad travellers, I suggest Safety Wing .

Visas & Schengen zone stays

For those without an EU passport, there are certain restrictions in place based on how long you can stay in the Schengen Zone which comprises 27 European countries. The limit is 90 days in a 180-day period. Be sure to calculate your days carefully (using a Schengen calculator if you wish) because you can get in trouble for overstaying. Many nationalities require a short-stay visa to enter; check if this is required for you. However, not every country in Europe is in the Schengen zone. Some that sit outside the zone (therefore not counting towards your limit) include the UK and most Balkan countries; see here for a full list .

Best places for solo female travel in Europe

To be honest, there are very few places in Europe you CAN’T travel solo. However, there are some that I believe are especially good, based on their impressive safety rating, decent infrastructure and abundance of budget accommodation where you’re likely to meet other travellers. These include…

Portugal: Lisbon, Porto and the Algarve

There are few better places in the world for solo female travel than Portugal! Lisbon and Porto are wonderful cities; it’s worth visiting both. Then, the Algarve is your beach paradise with opportunities to kayak and hike, or simply relax on the beach. Good things about solo travel in Portugal include the fact it’s super safe (and has been voted the 6th safest country in the world!) and has world-class hostels including some in Lisbon specifically designed for those travelling alone! It’s also easy to get around by train or bus. What to do in Lisbon (I suggest a 3 day Lisbon itinerary ):

• Visit historic attractions like São Jorge Castle and Carmo Convent
• Wander the cobbled streets, catch intimate fado shows and enjoy the nightlife in Barrio Alto
• Explore hilly streets in Alfama
• Take a half-day trip to Belem district for Jerónimos Monastery, the Monument to the Discoveries and Pastéis de Belém, the birthplace of egg custard tarts!
• Soak up views from the many miradouros (viewpoints)
• Take a day trip to Sintra for the iconic Sintra Palace.
• Read next: the ultimate guide to solo female travel in Lisbon

What to do in Porto (I suggest a 3 day Porto itinerary ):

• Go port wine tasting in Vila Nova de Gaia , easily reached by walking across the bridge. Plenty of port houses offer samplings and tours, or do your own tasting at any waterfront bar
• Tour blue azulejos (tiles) on buildings like Sao Bento station
• Watch sunset at Jardim de Morro amongst other places
• Soak up city views from the Clerigos Tower and Porto Cathedral rooftop
• Take a day trip to the Douro Valley known for striking scenery and delicious wine.

What to do in the Algarve:

• Hop between Lagos beaches like Praia Dona Ana and Praia do Caniçal and admire the views from Ponta da Piedade
• Hike the Fisherman’s Trail to Praia da Luz
• Take a guided kayaking adventure from Lagos through caves and around headlands
• Take a 3-island boat trip from Faro
• Go inside Benagil Cave  with an open roof
• Visit the adorable seaside town of Carvoeiro
• Surf in Sagres , a cute port town
• Visit Marinha Beach , sometimes called the most beautiful in the region
• Eat amazing seafood!

Budapest, Hungary

Budapest is a fantastic city because it blends historic and cultural attractions with cool and quirky neighbourhoods and bars so you don’t have to pick between historic and modern. Better yet, Budapest is affordable making it a good solo female travel destination in Europe for those who don’t want to do the hostel thing. The great public transport also means you never need to get taxis for one. Musts for your Budapest itinerary include a free walking tour, Buda Castle and Fisherman’s Bastion, crossing the Chain Bridge, a dip in Széchenyi Spa Baths (or one of the other spas), a river boat cruise, lunch at Central Hall Market (learn what to eat in Budapest here), views from the turrets of St Stephen’s Basilica and admiring Dohány Street Synagogue in the Jewish Quarter. You’ll need at least 3 days. For the evenings, head to quirky Ruin Bars in repurposed venues. If you don’t fancy going solo, stay in a hostel to meet other solo travellers or sign up for a bar crawl .

Prague, Czechia

Prague is such a cool and diverse city! Since I’d ticked off the tourist attractions on previous trips, my recent visit involved drinking at a quirky train bar where a toy train brings over your cocktails, playing video games in a retro arcade/bar, eating amazing Vietnamese food thanks to the big diaspora, and drinking Czech wine at the top of the Metronome with sunset city views. Things that make Prague – and the Czech Republic generally – a great solo travel destination include low prices (especially if you get away from the main tourist drag), efficient public transport and highly-rated hostels. Given how many tourists visit, there are countless bar crawls, free walking tours and other group activities that you can join. Also, this is a very safe country. Crime is almost nonexistent outside of the capital and usually limited to pickpocketing in Prague. The trams are great and cheap but just watch your belongings on crowded ones as well as busy public places. Navigating the country is easy and affordable by train or Flixbus.

Although many people just visit Prague, I can also vouch for the second city, Brno, as a great destination with history and culture (and a great boutique hostel, Wake up Wellness ), and Cesky Krumlov (pictured above) as an idyllic UNESCO town straight outta a fairytale!

Amsterdam, Netherlands

The downside to Amsterdam for solo female travel in Europe is that it’s undeniably expensive. However, if you can cover the costs (or find a budget travel solution like Couchsurfing, housesitting or volunteering with Workaway or Worldpackers ), you have a safe destination that’s world-famous and rightly so! Things to do during solo travel in Amsterdam include top-name attractions like the Anne Frank House, Rijksmuseum and cycling the canals, plus you can enjoy tranquil neighbourhoods like Jordaan known for its coffee shops and quality food. Browse at Albert Cuyp, a vibey local market, and unwind with a walk through Vondelpark. Overall, Amsterdam blends the vibrant and modern (the Netherlands has made great efforts towards gender equality and LGBT rights) with history, museums and outdoor spaces. A couple of days is enough to see the sights.

Slovenia is known for its amazing nature and I can safely say it doesn’t disappoint! Although Lake Bled steals the show, there’s plenty to do in Ljubljana (the capital city) and lots of great restaurants . This is one of the safest cities in Europe for women travelling alone so it’s easy even for beginner travellers. Lake Bled has hostels where you can meet other travellers to explore the lake with. Just be mindful of when you plan a trip because accommodation books out and gets very expensive over the summer. Although nearby Lake Bohinj wasn’t such a social destination, I loved visiting this less crowded lake town. Another destination is Piran on the north of the Istrian peninsular connecting Croatia. This idyllic town has wonderful scenery and amazing restaurants serving truffle pasta!

Italy – almost everywhere!

Solo travel in Italy is something you won’t regret! It may not be the biggest country in Europe but there are SO many places to go that you’ll want to plan your itinerary carefully. Highlights for a North Italy itinerary include Venice , Verona, and Milan while central highlights include Florence, Rome, Tuscany, Bologna and Cinque Terre. In the South, you have the Almfali Coast, Salerno and Naples. And this is just scratching the surface! It’s easy to get around Italy with trains and the Flixbus although you may struggle without a car in countryside areas like Tuscany and the Dolomites. Cinque Terre and the Almalfi Coast are notoriously expensive in summer so you may want to stay elsewhere (like Salerno) and visit on a day trip.

Ireland: Dublin and Galway

The only downside to Ireland is that it’s a VERY expensive country in Europe for solo female travel. If you can cope with the costs, you’ll have great craic, as the Irish would say! Dublin should be high on your Ireland bucket list but don’t overlook other destinations like small but colourful Galway where you can visit the Cliffs of Moher as a day trip . Ireland is a great year-round destination because, although it’s cold in the winter, there are so many cosy pubs with live music and hearty pub food awaiting. There are tons of hostels and bar crawls making it a social destination with great nightlife.

London, England

Although there are so many places to visit in the UK, many travellers just drop in to visit London. And that’s fair enough: as Brit, I’d say it’s an expensive country and not the most ‘backpackey’ or social. London is one of the most fantastic cities in the world so you can’t go wrong spending all your time there! The museums in London are world-class and mostly free! So are the galleries. There are also fantastic parks and green spaces, plus countless markets selling trinkets, crafts, antiques and food. There’s a great restaurant, pub and bar scene… Not to mention cool neighbourhoods, famous streets and big-name tourist attractions. You’d need years in London to explore it properly but you can pack in the highlights in five days or so. If you have the chance to head up to Scotland , you shouldn’t skip Edinburgh which is one of the most beautiful cities ever. I also loved spending a weekend in up-and-coming Glasgow ! Inverness and Loch Ness are other obvious highlights.

Berlin, Germany

Actually, there are countless places to visit in Germany. I love scenic Bavaria with places like Nuremberg and Wurzburg although it’s hardly a backpacker destination so it depends how much you like your own company. However, Berlin is one of Europe’s best cities for solo female travel. There are so many hostels and great nightlife if you want to partake. If not, there are museums covering war history, including the quirky open-air East Side Gallery, displayed on remaining sections of the Berlin Wall. The quirky attractions in Berlin never end, plus there’s unique regional food and, of course, great beer. Almost everyone speaks English and there’s efficient, affordable public transport. Another northern city in Germany I quite like is Hamburg .

Paris, France

There are few cities in the world more famous and iconic than Paris so of course it’s a must for solo female travel in Europe! Beyond the iconic attractions like the Louvre, Arc de Triomphe, Eiffel Tower and Notre-Dame Cathedral which of course you can’t miss, there are cool neighbourhoods and elegant libraries and cafes. Like London, you’ll never complete Paris without living there for decades, but you can certainly give it a try! It hardly needs to be said but the food is phenomenal in Paris. The bread, cheese and pastries are unrivalled (don’t miss the eclairs, croissants and macaroons) and there are classic dishes to try like duck confit, croque monsieur, onion soup and, if you’re feeling adventurous, escargot (snails!). There are casual bakeries and cafes if you feel awkward dining at a candlelit restaurant alone.

Nature and culture: Albania is a destination that has it all… At affordable prices! You can stay in fantastic hostels for less than €20 a night and eat in restaurants for less than €10. And with influences from Italy and Greece (as well as decent veggie options), the food is great!

Read next: is solo travel in Albania safe?

Best places to visit in Albania:

• Tirana – a decent base to start your trip (read about the best things to do in Tirana here)
• Himare – I love this lesser-known beach town on the Albanian Riviera
• Sarande and Ksamil – this beach region wasn’t my favourite (I preferred low-key Himare) but many will enjoy the chance to splash out and relax on gorgeous beaches
• Berat – a beautiful UNESCO heritage town and base to explore waterfalls, canyons and wineries in the countryside
• Gjirokaster – my favourite place in Albania! A picturesque town with crafts markets, wonderful regional food and fantastic views from the castle
• Theth mountains – this incredible region is great for hiking. The Theth-Valbona trail takes a day with an overnight stay either side in Theth and Valbona villages. You can organise your hike in the city of Shkoder and leave the majority of your luggage there (I recommend Wanderers Hostel ; they’ll organise your accommodation and transport into the mountains).

For islands, beaches, history and food, there are few better destinations for solo female travel in Europe than Greece! Many islands can be affordable and many are sociable with great hostels… So, depending on what you’re looking for, you just need to find the sweet spot of places that are both! If you’re the kind of solo traveller who likes to stay busy, Rhodes is a great option for solo female travel in Greece . For a sleepy paradise, don’t overlook Symi (2.5 hours from Kos) although note that it’s best explored by car. Paxos is another quiet island for me-time. Meanwhile, Mykonos is mega popular but only if you like to party! Santorini is iconic but very expensive and upscale. Corfu offers city pleasures AND island life but it’s best flown to (as geographically it’s beside Albania not the Greek mainland). The Greek capital of Athens is safe for solo female travellers not to mention a fantastic destination for history buffs due to the UNESCO Acropolis. Now, the city also has a modern scene from third-wave coffee shops to street art and nightlife. Although some areas are a little gritty, it’s easy to stick to the good ones.  

Croatia: Split & Dubrovnik

The best European cities for solo female travel in Croatia are Split and Dubrovnik because there are countless hostels to meet others and readily available island hopping tours.

Read next: solo travel in Croatia

Split boasts a preserved Roman Old Town and the wonderful Marjan peninsular with beaches and hilltop hikes. Island hopping destinations include Vis, Korcula, Hvar and Brac; take public ferries for day trips (or stay overnight) or book a boat tour visiting multiple islands in one day. Other Split day trips to Krka Falls and Klis Fortress are also essential! Dubrovnik has some island hopping of its own (Sipan, Lopud and Kolocep can be visited as part of an Elaphiti Island boat cruise or you can take the ferry to Lokrum for the day) but the main highlights are walking the City Walls for fantastic views and hiking or taking the cable car up Srd Hill for even better views! Both cities are expensive and crowded in the summer (and basically shut down in winter – especially Dubrovnik) so it’s best to visit in spring or autumn if you can.

Although these are the most popular places in Croatia to visit, I’ve loved backpacking the country solo in greater depth. Zadar is another favourite coastal city with unique day trips, while the Istrian peninsular has charming towns like Rovinj, Pula and Opatija plus copious opportunities to eat truffle pasta (although not as many hostels for solo backpackers). See my Croatia itinerary to plan a trip and all my Zagreb blogs if you find yourself in the pleasant capital!

Best experiences for solo female travellers in Europe

Now we’ve covered places, here are some ‘bucket list’ experiences that are bound to be memorable.

Hiking in the Alps – from Italy to Albania, this incredible mountainous region will take your breath away in more ways than one! Although hiking can be challenging, it’s worth it for the views. Outdoor spas in Budapest – with centuries of history, these baths are just as popular today as they were during Turkish occupation in the 16th century. Although backpackers visit Szechenyi in flocks for ‘sparties’ (spa parties), there are plenty of quieter bathhouses for a tranquil solo visit.

Hot air balloon over Cappadocia, Turkey – look down over the world-famous rock formations and fairy chimneys. Flights start from €150. Kayaking in Portugal’s Algarve – this excursion from Lagos is a lot of fun and only costs about €30. Paddle through caves with open roofs looking up to the sky. Visit the Blue Lagoon in Iceland – these unique bubbling pools of geothermal seawater are nourishing on the skin and unique to visit… like this whole magical island! Another incredible experience in Iceland is catching the Northern Lights. Island hopping in Greece or Croatia – whether you stay overnight on yachts on organised island excursions or DIY it by catching local ferries, a summer on these idyllic islands will be one to remember! Christmas markets in Germany – eat classic dishes like bratwurst and käsespätzle (cheesy pasta) and warm up with gluhwein (mulled wine).

Foodie highlights

• Pizza in Naples – often called the birthplace of pizza, there are some restaurants where you’ll queue half the day to get in. Luckily there’s fantastic pizza to be found around the city. (Side note, Southern Italy is better known for its cuisine than Northern Italy although I did a fantastic pasta-making class in Milan !)
• Greek food – from souvlaki in Athens to fresh Greek salads found on every island, this is surely one of Europe’s most heavenly cuisines.
• Tapas and paella in Spain – you’ll find paella-making classes and tapas tours aplenty which can be useful for solo travellers to try numerous dishes without getting too full.
• Pastel de natas in Lisbon and Porto – not only did I write a guide to the best pastel de natas in Porto , but I made my own during a class. Obsessed!

• Wine tasting in so many places! France and Italy will always steal the show when it comes to wine but I’ve had amazing experiences all over. Memorable destinations include wine tasting in Slovenia (it was here I was introduced to delish orange wine!), Croatia (don’t miss Korcula Island) and Albania (the countryside vineyards near Berat are wonderful with homegrown olive and figs).
• Doner and falafel in Berlin – immigrants to Germany have enriched the food culture with delicious Middle Eastern cuisine.
• Truffle hunting in Istria – this peninsular comprising Slovenia and Croatia is known for truffles, usually sniffed out by pigs and dogs. If, like me, you find the tours a bit spenny, know you can eat amazing truffle pasta in restaurants for less than €10.
• Fish ‘n’ chips in London – I have to say British food gets a bad rep that’s not entirely fair… Have ya HAD an afternoon tea or English breakfast?
• Beer, chocolate, waffles and fries in Belgium ! No more needs to be said.
• Whisky tasting in Scotland – if you like whisky, this is the OG place to become a whisky snob.

How to meet new people on a solo Europe trip

• Stay in hostels – there are so many incredible hostels in Europe! Use Hostelworld to browse and book
• Take free walking tours – these are a great way to learn about destinations on a budget but also meet other people who are visiting the city and likely want to enjoy it together
• Join a bar crawl – especially in cities with great nightlife like Lisbon, Berlin, Prague, Budapest, Amsterdam, Barcelona etc
• Organised day trips to specific attractions – to out-of-town attractions like waterfalls, national parks and even islands, there’s usually a budget public transport option. But if you value meeting other travellers, companies like GetYourGuide and Viator are great
• Group activities – whether it’s cooking classes, dance classes etc, use your hobbies to meet like-minded people.

What’s the deal with tipping in Europe ? I hear that travellers from the US often find service in Europe slow but given the lack of tipping culture, it makes sense. After a good meal, 10% is obviously appreciated but you rarely feel pressured to tip. Tipping bartenders isn’t expected. Can you drink the tap water in Europe? It varies. In most of Western Europe, yes you can. In some of the Balkan countries, it’s not recommended. It’s best to Google it for each place you visit. If you’re visiting places where you can’t drink the water, it’s best to bring a reusable water bottle as likely your accommodation has a filtered reserve to fill up from. Alternatively, bring a filtering water bottle that makes any water safe to drink. Of course, you can always buy bottled but this is not the sustainable option.

Thanks for reading!

I hope you feel better informed about solo female travel in Europe.

Solo Asia travel guides:

• Solo travel in Thailand
• Where to travel solo in Malaysia
• What to know before solo Vietnam travel
• Solo travel in Bali
• Travelling solo in Taiwan
• How to travel alone in South Korea
• Where to travel solo in India for women
• Solo female India travel guide

Solo Americas guides:

• Visiting New York city alone
• Is solo female travel in Guatemala safe?
• Solo female travel in Belize
• Travelling alone in Cuba as a woman
• Solo female travel in Mexico
• Is Mexico City safe for solo women travellers?

TRUSTED RESOURCES FOR VISITING EUROPE Getting around by air – I use Skyscanner and search by month to see the cheapest dates. Driving in Europe – use Rentalcars.com to compare car rentals in European countries (and all around the world). For trains , I use RailEurope . The search feature allows you to compare prices, and they show live departure times on the website. For buses , I use FlixBus . Find journeys between European countries from €1!  Use Omio to compare trains and buses in one search. It’s so handy! For hotels and self-catering apartments, I use Booking.com . You can filter by review score and price to find the best-rated budget places. For hostels, I use Hostelworld.com . To save money on accommodation, I use Trusted Housesitters , a website that connects homeowners going away and travellers who can sit their homes & pets. Browse tours and activities on GetYourGuide . To stay connected, download an e-SIM with Airalo and connect when you land. Browse their packages for individual countries or get their Eurolink card for 39 countries . Need travel insurance ? I use True Traveller (for UK & Europe residents) since it’s affordable but covers everything you’d need including various activities, valuables and pre-existing conditions. Unlike some companies, they insure you if you’re already travelling / don’t yet have your flight home booked. Get a quote . For travel insurance for other nationalities, I recommend Hey Mundo and for long-term digital nomad travellers, I suggest Safety Wing . Check out my resources page for more travel discounts and budget tips from my 10+ years on the road!

Rose is a solo traveller from the UK who has been on the road since 2015. She wants to show other women that solo travel isn't scary and doesn't have to be expensive! Rose has lived in Mexico, Canada and all over Asia, seeking out food, bubble tea and street art wherever she goes!

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

You can see how this popup was set up in our step-by-step guide: https://wppopupmaker.com/guides/auto-opening-announcement-popups/

The Ultimate Solo Female Backpacking Guide

If you’re getting ready for your first solo female backpacking trip and don’t know where to start, I’ve got you covered!

I have traveled as a solo female traveler to numerous countries for over 7 years now, and I know it takes a lot of courage to finally book your first solo trip.

In fact, it took me years to gather the courage to book a ticket for my first solo trip!

I didn’t even know where to start with planning a backpacking trip, but I remember reading blog posts that simply said: “Just do it”.

I had a lot of questions, and I could not just do it. 

You probably feel the same and I am here to help!

Let’s jump right in with everything I wish I knew before my first solo female backpacking trip.

Disclaimer: This post may contain affiliate links, which means I may receive a commission, at no extra cost to you, if you make a purchase through a link. I hope you find the information here helpful!

planning your first backpacking trip: Step-By-Step

1. decide where to go on your first solo trip.

The first thing you will have to decide on when planning your first solo female trip is where you want to go.

You can choose any place you want to visit. However, some destinations will be easier to navigate as a first-time solo traveler.

I suggest two options for a first-time female solo traveler:

• stay close to home
• go to one of the most popular backpacking destinations

Go local or stay close to home

Your first option would be to start small and build confidence for longer trips and farther destinations. 

You can start as small as your hometown.

Look up what tourists usually do there and go for a walk. Visit your hometown with different eyes, take photos, and ask people to take pictures of you.

Depending on how big your town is, it might be uncomfortable to do it as you might run into people you know. In that case, go to the next one!

For my first trial solo trip , I went from my student town Leuven to the capital of Belgium, Brussels .

I even asked other tourists to take photos of me! It might sound frivolous to somebody who is naturally extroverted. To all my introverts, you know what it feels like!

My first real solo female travel trip was to Poland.

I have an in-depth guide on backpacking Poland where I explain why I picked that country if you want to read my reasoning behind choosing a country close to home for my first solo backpacking trip.

Go to the most popular backpacking destination.

When you are ready to fully immerse yourself in the solo backpacking world, the best thing is to go to one of the most popular backpacking destinations.

For me, that was Thailand .

Many people I met on that trip were on their first solo backpacking trip!

It is a country that is easy to navigate, despite it being a completely different culture super far away from Europe. (Which is where I am from, and I am writing from my perspective as a European). 

• If you want to visit Europe for your first solo backpacking trip, check out my guide on everything you need to know before you travel to Europe in the summer .

If you decide to visit one of the top backpacking destinations, you are almost guaranteed to have a good backpacking trip.

Because there is already a whole infrastructure built for the solo backpacker type of traveler.

There are plenty of hostels where you can stay and meet other people.

Social life is based around hostels, which usually organize day trips where you get to meet other travelers. They organize nights out, and they will even arrange your transportation.

2. Plan your itinerary

Once you know where you want to go, it is time to start creating a travel itinerary .

What experiences do you want to add to it?

It’s good to have an idea of what would you like to do on the trip, so you know how much is that going to cost you.

Also, you’ll have to check if your timing works with the weather, and whether you’ll be able to do things you want to do at certain times of the year.

For example, summer months are the worst time to visit Cambodia because it is in the middle of the rainy season. If you’re hoping for sunny beach days, you might be quite disappointed.

3. Start Saving Money

How much money do you need.

I can not stress this enough, you will need money to fund your travels.

As a solo female backpacker, I prefer to be on the safe side. To be safe means that I have enough money saved up for a trip and an emergency fund that can be easily accessed. 

When you have decided on your destination, you should check the transportation price to get there.

The next thing you should do is look up a suggested daily budget for that destination.

Multiply the expected daily budget by the number of days you plan to spend at your destination.

That is the minimum amount you should aim at having before embarking on your solo backpacking trip. 

However, if you want to feel safe, you should aim at having at least 30% more available , just in case!

Having enough money is what makes you independent. Solo female travel is empowering, but you will be able to make safer choices if you are not worried that you will run out of money. 

Also, keep in mind that you will have to get some things before your trip!

If you do not have a backpack, you will have to buy or borrow one. Maybe you will want to get some new travel outfits as well! Those before-the-trip essentials also add up! Budget for them as well.

How to save money for your first solo trip?

There are a lot of ways to save money for backpacking , but the first step is to switch your mindset to saving mode .

Start by setting yourself a small saving goal.

Divide things in your life into necessities and luxuries. Everything that goes into the luxury section should be limited while you work on your savings goal.

When you think of that second cocktail on Friday night as a day in SE Asia, it gets much easier to do it!

4. Figure Out What To Pack For Your First Solo Trip

Now you have your destination and your budget for the trip sorted out. You set up your savings goal, you are saving for your trip, or you already have all the funds you will need.

The next step is to figure out what will you need to bring with you.

Bring all the essential documents

Firstly, you will have to bring all the essential documents with you. Also, you will need to keep an eye on them throughout your whole trip. You are alone, nobody will remind you to check if you took your passport.

Be sure to check all the entry requirements for your destination.

These days, entry requirements change daily. Some countries open up, and others restrict entry.

Check that you have a visa if you need one and all the necessary vaccinations if your destination asks for them. 

Get your insurance

There is no easy way around this. Accidents happen.

You do not want your accident to happen when you are in a foreign country without insurance. Especially on your first solo female travel.

These days, some countries ask for proof of insurance to let you in the country, to begin with.

I use Safetywing because they’re so simple to set up, you don’t need to be in your home country when buying the insurance and the rates are quite affordable.

Take your electronics

Make sure that you have your chargers for your phone and camera if you will be taking them.

A phone will probably be enough to take photos but take your camera if you are an avid photographer.

Take an external charger or two! Your electronics will run out of battery, and you will wish you had them with you.

Pack a tripod/selfie stick for your photos. All of the photos on this post were taken by myself with my tripod!

If you are not going to be working on your trip, I do not think you will need your computer.

Pack weather and culture-appropriate clothing.

Depending on where you are going to go, you will need a different type of clothing.

Check the weather and pack accordingly. Do not overpack.

In my experience, you will need the same amount of clothes whether you are going on a 2-week or 2-month trip. Take advantage of the washing machines. 

A general rule I follow when I pack clothes for my solo backpacking trips is this:

• Enough underwear and socks for every day of my trip If my trip is longer than two weeks, I stop on 10-14 pairs, because after two weeks I will be doing my laundry.
• 2 bralettes I pack one black and one nude bralette. I only pack a sports bra if I know I will be doing something active.
• 2-3 bottoms that can easily match my tops Depending on the season, this is usually 2 pairs of pants and 1 skirt.  If I am traveling in the summer, I will take a pair of shorts, a skirt and a pair of long wide pants. If it is winter, it will be just 2 pairs of jeans, black skinny and blue mom-style jeans. I will usually travel in sports leggings, so that is an additional pair of bottoms.
• Enough tops that I can change every day The number of tops I take depends on whether I am traveling in the summer or the winter.  In the summer, I will usually take some dresses, so I will not need that many tops.  In the winter, I will usually take 2-3 jumpers, but I will also pack double the short-sleeved shirts or thermals to wear underneath them. That way, my jumpers stay fresh longer, and I change those thinner pieces of clothing underneath them every day.
• 2 dresses for summer If I travel in the summer, I will pack 2-3 summer dresses. Two will be everyday dresses, and one will be my fancy dress.  Sometimes I will pack a dress for the winter travels too. It will be my “nice outfit”. I can not be asked to explore and freeze in the European winters wearing a dress and tights.
• 2 pairs of shoes + flip-flops for hostels. I do not think you will need more than two pairs of shoes.  If I am traveling in the winter, I take a pair of boots that I will be wearing when traveling and sneakers. Not necessarily running shoes, I will take a nice pair of sneakers that can be dressed up or down. However, for up to a three-day trip, I would stick to just one pair. In the summer, I wear sandals instead of boots and still the same sneakers.  If you stay in hostels, you will want to pack flip-flops. Just trust me. You do not want to walk barefoot. FLip-flops are useful if you want to go to the beach, and they take up no space!
• A “nice” outfit I did not take a nice outfit when I was backpacking the Cyclades in Greece and I regretted it. I felt super underdressed when I went out for dinners in Santorini. At the same time, I never felt underdressed when backpacking Thailand! Research your destination and figure out whether you will need a nice outfit.
• Pyjamas Do not forget to pack something to sleep in, especially if you will be sleeping in dorms!

Also, keep in mind the culture of the place you are going to.

My packing list differed from when I went to Thailand from when I went to Morocco.

Keep your skincare and hair care routine minimal

Unfortunately, you should not take your entire cosmetics cabinet backpacking with you. When it comes to skincare and haircare, less is better! Figure out what are your essentials and take only them!

SPF is a must! Don’t forget that, especially as it can be much more expensive in some countries that you might visit.

There is no need to pack your hair styling tools. Check out my article on the best backpacking hairstyles for travel hairstyling ideas!

What kind of backpack to take for your solo trip?

I can usually fit all of my summer things for a 1-week trip in a Ryanair “personal item” sized backpack.

If I want my things to fit that backpack in the winter, I can not take any additional shoes and usually have to make do with one chunky jumper that I wear on a plane.

I know not all of us can fit clothes for a week in the free luggage-sized bag, but that is ok. There is no reason to feel bad about it.

My advice is to minimize the number of clothing items you bring with you, as you will probably not need as much as you think you will!

For a longer trip, I take my 40l or 50l backpack . The 40l can usually pass as a carry-on, while the 55l one should theoretically be checked in.

I do not travel with a suitcase unless I am going on a short trip where I will be staying at the same place.

Make sure that you can carry your bags

You might not be a minimalist packer like me, but please make sure that you can at least carry your bags.

There is nothing worse than not being able to navigate the world with your luggage because it is too heavy or too bulky. 

5. Figure out Transportation to your destination

You will have to figure out the best way to get to your destination. Some places are only accessible by planes while you can take trains and busses to others. 

Research the best, cheapest, and most sustainable way to reach your destination on your first solo female travel.

Figure out if you value comfort more than price. If you are traveling alone, you might find it easier to take one flight instead of multiple trains or buses. 

Make sure that you do not have to change your transportation in the middle of the night.

Or that you do not have to wait overnight if you have to take a different mode of transportation to your final destination. 

I looked at the flight recently that was landing too late for me to catch the last train of the day to my final destination. I would have to spend 6 hours at the train station to take the first train at 4 am. 30€ savings was not worth it, and I am an experienced solo traveler. 

While you are on your first solo female trip

6. getting around your destination.

You finally reached your destination! Great, but now what?

If you are traveling by plane, the first thing you will have to figure out is how to leave the airport and get to the city center and your accommodation.

I will usually check the airport website. They suggest different transportation options, including public transport.

If you want to be more comfortable, check the taxi rates before you are at your destination. Check how much the usual price is for a taxi ride, so you are not being scammed at the airport.

If you are traveling by train or bus, the same rules apply. Check on Google maps beforehand how to get to your accommodation. 

The benefit of figuring out the public transportation before you are at your destination is you will know what kind of ticket you will need and how much they cost.

Also, it is complicated trying to figure these things out if you do not have mobile data at your destination. 

7. Accommodation for your first solo backpacking trip

Where to stay when solo traveling.

Where you want to stay will depend on the type of your trip.

If you are backpacking, that will probably be a hostel. Don’t worry, you’re not too old for hostels !

If you are on a more luxurious trip, it will be a hotel or Airbnb.

Before you leave for your trip, do some research on accommodation options for your destination.

I like to have the first few nights booked, even on trips when I want to be spontaneous.

It is good to bookmark some of the most recommended and highest-rated hostels. That way you are not wasting time trying to figure that out once you are at your destination.

If it is your first time staying in a hostel alone , you might want to book a female dorm. You will be sharing a room with other women, and it can be a gentle way to ease into hostel life. 

Hostels can be loud and intimidating, so you can start by sharing a room with other women, or picking a room with fewer beds.

I don’t mind mixed dorms, but if I’m tired and want to sleep early I’d go for a female-only dorm.

Where in the city to stay?

I will always suggest staying in the city center for solo female travelers since that is usually where most of the attractions are.

You will be close to everything and my personal favorite reason for choosing the city center is you will not have to wonder how to get home at night.

As a solo female traveler, I like to do my best to stay safe. Most of the hostels are usually located in the city center anyway.

You might be tempted to choose cheaper accommodation outside of the city center but then you will have to factor in the transportation price that you will have to pay.

I never found it worth it to stay in a residential area away from the main events when traveling solo. 

8. Making friends when traveling alone

Even though you are traveling solo, you might want to make some friends on your trip.

Making friends while traveling solo can seem intimidating, but there are many ways to do it!

• Stay in hostels.  If you are a solo female backpacker and stay in hostels, it should not be too hard to make friends in hostels . If your hostel has a communal area, try to hang out there and start talking to people.
• Join group tours and free walking tours. You know I love free walking tours. They are a great way to get introduced to a new city. They are also a great place to meet people! You will spend the next few hours together, so why not make a friend? 
• Join online travel groups. There are a lot of Facebook travel groups these days. You can join some and ask if somebody will be at the same destination as you at the same time!

9. Traveling With Dietary Restrictions

If you are vegan like me, be prepared that it might be more challenging to find vegan food.

Some destinations are known as vegan paradises, while others do not even know what vegan means.

• Check the vegan culture in your destination, and be prepared for what you will find there.
• Write down the words for animal-based products in the local language. 
• Download the HappyCow app and bookmark some places that you see there.
• Just in case, take snacks from home. I always take a couple of emergency energy bars.

10. Stay Safe backpacking alone as a woman

In this section, I will point out some things that I know you already know. However, it is good to think of them before going on your solo trip. 

Stay cautious, smart, and alert

This part is not meant to scare you. I know you are staying safe at home, and that is all I am suggesting here.

Do not do things you would not do at home. Some people think that rules do not apply once they are abroad, but they do.

• If you do not know how to ride a scooter , do not rent a scooter.
• You would not drink and drive at home, do not do that when traveling.
• You would not tell where you live to a suspicious person asking you that at a bar at home, do not tell that to a random guy abroad either.
• If you would not take a drink from a stranger that you did not see where it comes from at home, the same applies to traveling.
• If you would not leave your things unattended at home, do not do that abroad.

It is really just common sense .

We can not control everything, but we can at least be smart and do the best we can about what we can control.

Even if you’re going to some of the best European party destinations , you can stay safe and enjoy the party!

I have a whole blog post on how to enjoy nightlife and parties as a solo female traveler , so check it out for more detailed information.

Let people at home know where you are 

I am not saying that you should get a location app to notify your family of your every move.

Also, I am not saying that you should call your mom every day. Although, she would probably appreciate that. 

Before you go, set some “check-in” rules with your friends and family.

What I mean by this is that if you are going to be unreachable, just tell people you are going somewhere where there will be no connection.

When I took a slow boat from Thailand to Laos, I did not have internet for 2 days. I let my family know that I would not be available for two days, so nobody panicked.

Solo female travel is empowering. You are away from home, but you do not want your family reporting you as missing while you are enjoying some time unplugging and being perfectly safe.

Sending a message to a reliable friend letting them know your location every couple of days is a responsible thing to do. You do not have to be dramatic and disappear from everybody. 

11. Mindset Work

You should be mentally prepared to be alone and that you are the one responsible for yourself.

It is not as scary as it sounds , and chances are you will not be alone most of the time. But, you should be prepared as if you will.

Know all the basics of the country you are visiting. Know the currency , where can you exchange money, and if the ATMs are widely available.

Download offline maps and write down the address of your accommodation. Have the route to your accommodation already figured out before you leave for your trip?

It is not embarrassing to be solo, you are always solo in your town, and you see people out and about by themselves everywhere.

You will have some meals alone, and nobody will judge you. You might take some tripod photos, do not let other people stop you from getting the best shot!

Everybody is living their lives, worrying about themselves, and you are living your best life!

Summary: tips for solo female backpackers

Planning your first backpacking trip as a solo female traveler is not easy. There is so much to consider, from picking the destination to figuring out the budget and that’s even before you go!

Solo travel and travel with friends are different. However, backpacking alone for the first time will be the most empowering and liberating experience and you’ll wish you did it sooner.

Now you know how to plan your first backpacking trip, where are you going first?

If you’re backpacking Europe, you need to know where is the best place to start backpacking through Europe ! 

Natali is the founder of She's Abroad Again. She is a solo female travel and backpacking expert who traveled to more than 30 country over 3 continents, mostly solo and on a budget! She is a lawyer turned travel blogger as she traded long office hours in Croatia for a digital nomad life and currenly calls France her home.

Similar Posts

7 Backpacking Hairstyles: Cute, Heatless, Easy Travel Hairstyles

Are you looking for quick and simple backpacking hairstyles? You came to the right place! In this article, I will show you the best hairstyles for traveling that are easy,…

How To Meet People While Traveling (From An Introvert!)

If you’re wondering how to meet people while traveling and make friends as an introvert, you have come to the right place! I know exactly how you feel as you…

The Ultimate Winter in Europe Bucket List (2024)

Are you spending winter in Europe and wondering what experiences should be on your winter in Europe bucket list? Look no further, I’ve got you covered! In this article, I…

Where Is The Best Place To Start Backpacking In Europe? (2024)

So you’ve decided to go on a big backpacking Europe trip this year, and now you’re stuck wondering where is the best place to start backpacking in Europe. You came…

How Much Does Backpacking Europe Cost In 2024?

Are you wondering how much does backpacking Europe cost? You came to the right place! Backpacking across Europe is an epic experience, and doing it on a budget is an…

How To Plan A Travel Itinerary Like A PRO Every Time!

If you’re getting ready for your first trip and wondering how to plan a travel itinerary, I’ve got you covered.  I am a full-time traveler and travel blogger, so I’m…

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

10 Best Places to Travel Solo as a Woman: U.S. Edition

And i even include women-owned lodging and safety tips.

PureWow editors select every item that appears on this page, and the company may earn compensation through affiliate links within the story. All prices are accurate upon date of publish. You can learn more about the affiliate process here .

Female solo travel is on the upswing. According to an American Express Travel trends report for 2024, Gen-Z and millennials view solo trips as self-care. And it makes sense—after staying put through the early covid years, people are restless to explore, and who has time to line up schedules and itineraries? Solo travel means your trip, your terms. And no doubt, independent travel can feel scary. So opting for a domestic trip is a smart baby step before you take off for that round-the-worlder you're dreaming of.

But when it comes to solo travel as a female, there are few extra things to take into consideration, namely, safety. So, in curating this list, I made certain that the majority of these destinations are extremely safe for women traveling alone and those that are deemed less safe (NYC, Chicago, Seattle) can be navigated safely by following the tips below. Another factor I took into account was ease of getting around. Every city or town on this list is easy to explore by walking or some other readily available means of transit (bike or scooter share) or public transportation. Also, each destination offers a variety of options for every type of solo traveler—the foodie, bar hopper, spa seeker, shopper, art and culture buff and outdoorswoman. Lastly, each boasts a strong presence of women-owned businesses and women-centered lifestyle offerings. Ready? Get packin'.

The 14 Best Luggage Brads of 2024, Vetted & Tested

1. New York, New York

• Where to Stay:  The Lowell (woman-owned; from $950/night), The Library Hotel (from $400/night), Civilian Hotel (from $179/night).

With the subway operating at all hours, getting around one of the world’s largest and most famous cities is quick and easy. Sheep Meadow on the west side of Central Park is a popular place to people watch or read a book. For theater, TodayTix.com has deals on last-minute shows on and off Broadway. Although Times Square is mind-boggling (literally), explore the neighborhoods beyond midtown via The High Line , a former rail line rife with artwork, fresh foliage, lounge stops, ice cream stalls and views of the Hudson River. For the best views of Manhattan across the East River, take the 7 train to Long Island City. If you choose just one museum, hit the Museum of Modern Art . Swing by female-owned Talea Beer Co. for a pint, The Well for a soak or sauna or The Strand for your new favorite novel. Music buffs, check the concert calendar . As the City that Never Sleeps, live music is on tap everywhere.

2. Newport Beach, California

•   Where to stay: The Pendry (from $395/night), Balboa Bay Resort (from $292/night), Doryman’s Oceanfront Inn (from $215/night).

This posh SoCal city delivers relaxation, adventure and shopping galore. Stroll or pedal the boardwalk on Balboa Peninsula, then ogle at the (9,000-plus) yachts in Newport Harbor via a Duffy Boat ride with mother-and-daughter-launched Sea Senorita . Maybe catch sight of the world’s largest animal (a blue whale) on a tour with Newport Coastal Adventure , explore the back bay on a SUP Glow tour with Pirate Coast Paddle Company or get rad on the waves at Newport Surf Camp . Hike the hilly coastline in Crystal Cove State Park after breakfast at the always poppin’ Beachcomber Café . Shoppers, Fashion Island is home to all your favorite brick and mortar stores, plus indy boutiques like woman-owned Talia and nearby, book cryotherapy or facial at Spa Pendry. For great eats, try Newport’s famous frozen banana from OG (1945) Sugar n’ Spice shack, the lobster roll and brunch cocktails at woman-owned Malibu Farm or the seafood tower at The Cannery .

3. Breckenridge, Colorado

• Where to stay: The Carlin (from $107/night), The Breckenridge Boutique Hotel (from $204/night), Woodwinds Lodging and Property Management (woman-owned, from $120/night).

This picturesque, historic mining town offers endless options for outdoor exploration, plus a chill, friendly vibe. There’s plenty of mellow hiking options, plus a women-run adventure company, VNTRbirds , offering female-only (including female-identifying) mountain bike skills clinics and fun women at Colorado Adventure Guides for hiking, rock climbing, mountaineering and rafting excursions. Hit up Sarah Barclay at Breckenridge Outfitters for a fly fishing lesson and Clairvergence for self-care and wellness: reiki, sound baths, acudetox and tarot card readings. Find namaste vibe at women-run Meta Yoga , a frothy pint from brewer Suzanne Nance at Breckenridge Brewery , an authentic bowl of pho from the Vietnamese sisters and mom team at Peak of Asia or a cocktail by Billie Keithley, liquid chef at Breckenridge Distillery . Not into the bar scene? Join a landscape painting class, build a trinket from recycled plastic sleds, check out live music or a theater performance though Breck Create . Downtown is walkable, there’s a free bus and in the summer, an e-bike share .

4. Tampa, Florida

• Where to stay: JW Marriott Water Street (from $299/night), Charming 1 Bedroom Airbnb (woman owned, from $115/night), Eclectic Cottage Airbnb (woman-owned, from $159/night).

Oft-overlooked for "beachier" Floridian destinations, Tampa has miles of protected paved path skirting the bay, where a jog, bike or scooter ride might yield a dolphin sighting. Explore from downtown through the Water Street district and Ybor City on the free Streetcar . Appreciate the entire panorama from Tampa’s highest rooftop, The Beacon , over a cocktail and some apps. Treat yourself to an aromatherapy massage or hydrafacial at the women-run spa at JW Marriott. Sip a cold brew by female co-founded Made Coffee , indulge in a sweet treat at woman-owned Bake n’ Babes or Sweet Mama’s Ice Cream . Also, woman-owned Vela Italian makes an amazing Benedict for breakfast, plus salads and pizzas for lunch or dinner. Get your water fix, too; Urban Kai and WhatSUP rent paddleboards and kayaks and offer group paddle tours and yoga.

5. Santa Fe, New Mexico

• Where to stay: Hotel Santa Fe Hacienda & Spa (Native American-owned, from $300/night), Bishop’s Lodge (from $799/night), Cozy Cottage Airbnb (woman-owned, from $68/night).

Whether your heart yearns for art, spice or an outdoor fix, Santa Fe has it all. Dried chilis hang from downtown lampposts and Native American artists line the exterior of the Palace of the Governors with handmade jewelry and ornaments. The Georgia O’Keeffe Museum brings a fascinating glimpse into the life of the famous American painter, while Meow Wolf is its own trippy experience. Soak up health benefits at woman-founded Santa Fe Salt Cave or explore Bandelier National Monument with women-dominated Great Southwest Adventures . Grab a cocktail over a lawn game and live music at Tumbleroot Brewery and Distillery , reserve dinner at the James Beard-winning Sazon , savor New Mexico’s famous green (or red, or “Christmas” combination) chili at woman-founded institutions Tia Sophia’s , Tomasita’s and Maria’s or go gluten-free at women-owned Sweetwater Harvest Kitchen . Whip up your own southwest cuisine at the mother-founded, daughter-run Santa Fe School of Cooking . 

6. Tucson, Arizona

• Where to stay:  The Downtown Clifton (woman-owned, from $109/night), The Armory Park Inn (woman-owned, from $199/night), Casa Bonita Tiny Home Airbnb (woman-owned, from $65/night). 

Surrounded by four mountain ranges, the most striking characteristic of this peaceful Southwest city is the saguaro cacti, which only grows in the Sonoran Desert. Entire hillsides feature these statuesque, multi-limbed plants, resembling armies of still, twisted soldiers. Soak up the Saguaro sights hiking Catalina State Park , Sabino Canyon or Dove Mountain. Home to the University of Arizona campus, downtown Tucson is walkable, but to venture afield, renting a car is your best option. More like a zoo, the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum is a must-visit and requires a drive through the jaw-dropping Saguaro National Park . Nosh on tacos by chef Maria Mazon at Bocas Tacos , the best-ever salsa and sangria at woman-founded La Hacienda or Coralie Satta’s grandmother’s scrumptious recipes at Ghini’s French Café .

7. Seattle, Washington

• Where to stay: The Maxwell Hotel (from $143/night), Cecil Bacon Manor Bed & Breakfast (from $102/night), Upscale, Elegant Cottage Airbnb (woman-owned, from $191/night).

Seattle emanates a safe, small-town vibe in neighborhoods like Queen Anne and Fremont on the outskirts of downtown (though, like any large city has its own issues with crime and an unhoused population). A light rail runs from the airport to downtown and Seattle was one of the first cities to launch a bike share program; both Bird and Lime e-bike and e-scooters can be found around the city. A foodie haven, Pike Place Market is where vendors (more than 250 of them woman-owned businesses ) fling fresh fish and a delightful chaos abounds. A chef-guided tour is the place to start, then hit the women-owned and managed Kamp Social House , Communion Restaurant & Bar and (vegan) Plum Bistro . Learn the art of coffee while caffeinating to your heart’s content in a coffee (and bakery!) crawl . Immerse in the water and fresh foliage surrounding the city with a woman-guided half-day guided hike to Twin and Snoqualmie waterfalls .

8. Asheville, North Carolina

• Where to stay: The Restoration Hotel (from $204/night), Cambria Downtown Asheville (from $152/night), Solo Traveler’s Dream Airbnb (woman-owned, from $47/night).

For suds connoisseurs, this pretty town in the Blue Ridge Mountains is especially appealing with more than 50 breweries. Burial Beer Co. and The River Arts District Brewery are among the best, but take a guided walking tour for samples of several and the potential to land a pint pal. With 22 miles of trails surrounding America’s largest home (8,000 acres), the Biltmore Estate , make a day of your visit. For real hiking, hit the Lunch Rocks Trail or take a group waterfall tour . Downtown Asheville is walkable and the ART bus system travels to nearby destinations. Get creative with a glass-blowing or painting class at the River Arts District, which also hosts live music and poetry slams. Grab a treat from woman-owned Stay Glazed Donuts & Café , have a (another) pint over amazing 12 Bones barbecue or zone out over pizza and a movie at Asheville Pizza & Brewing . 

9. Chicago, Illinois

• Where to stay: The Gwen Hotel (from $239/night) The Langham (from $396/night), Wicker Park Inn (woman-owned, from $208/night).

There are plenty of safe areas to stay (River North, The Loop, Lincoln Park) in the Windy City, an easy-to-navigate mass transit system and so much to do, see…and eat. Start with a guided food tour , a sampler of Chicago’s famous delights (hot dogs, deep dish pizza, Italian beef sandwich, the original brownie) as well as a crash course in the city’s layout and history. Get a unique vantage point from the water of Lake Michigan via a SUP or Kayak tour . Tackle the gamut of museums —the Field Museum, Adler Planetarium and Shedd Aquarium—at The Museum Campus and explore the architectural masterpiece that is Millennium Park , home to a constant lineup of workout sessions, live music and festivals. Join the parade of shoppers on Michigan Avenue, or for concerts, theater and (along with Second City ) comedy, visit The Chicago Theatre . Getting back to the food, especially the internationally inspired, upscale, female-powered variety, reserve an Italian dinner at Alpana , French at Brindille , Cajun at CheSa’s Bistro , or grab some casual fresh seafood at Brown Bag Seafood .

10. Salt Lake City, Utah

• Where to stay: Evo Hotel (from $110/night), The 1887 Hansen House Bed & Breakfast (woman-owned, from $199/night), Downtown Room Airbnb (woman-run, from $60/night).

Framed stunningly by the Wasatch Mountains, downtown SLC is somewhat wide-spread with long city blocks, but getting around town (including from the airport) is manageable by light rail , or by using the Greenbike share program. Outdoor explorers can hit the trails on the Foothills Trail System Plan . With that giant lake nearby, visit Great Salt Lake Marina for paddlesport rentals or bond with a group via a two-hour pontoon boat and swimming excursion . The Granary District is where to find the Evo Hotel , home to its own indoor skate park and indoor bouldering gym, The Bouldering Project . Sample local F & B at Woodbine Food Hall and mouth-watering cookies at woman-owned RubySnap . For pampering, book a facial or nail session at woman-owned SpaDAY and land your next favorite dress or scarf at woman-owned Zenzee.  

Tips for Women Traveling Solo

• Pack wisely. Use a packing list and stick to it. Limit items that take up a lot of space like shoes. Slogging around with a heavy bag will get old fast. Packing cubes are great for staying organized.
• Opt for a cross-body bag or purse , which is comfortable for walking and which protects against theft.
• Stick to well-lit, populated streets .When walking at night, avoid walking alone in places without crowds.
• Make sure the nearest public transportation stop is within a 10-minute walk. Plan in advance and know where and how to get to places.
• Join a group excursion. You just might find your soulmate or new bestie or even just a person to check in with on your wanderlust.

How to Travel with a Carry-On Only (Because It Can Be Done)

Freelance PureWow Editor