Is Croatia worth visiting? – TWO MOST OVERRATED DESTINATIONS & WHERE TO GO INSTEAD IN 2026

We’ve split this guide into two parts:

Firstly, let’s take a look at what overtourism is and why you should care.

Europe is the global leader in international tourism, absorbing roughly two-thirds of international vacation travellers each year. Tourism here grew steadily throughout the 2010s, with Europe reporting a peak of 743 million international visitors in 2019 and was set to exceed this number in 2024 having recovered from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic – this did actually happen with Europe receiving 1% more international arrivals in 2024 than 2019, and 5% more compared to 2023. Spain was the European country with the most international tourists.

Obviously, many Europeans make their livelihood from tourism, yet The Old Continent has also witnessed increasingly devastating side effects of this “windfall”. Overtourism refers to the negative impacts that occur when there are too many tourists in one place at one time. Some of these include environmental damage, congestion, strain on resources, and cultural loss.

Large numbers of tourists can literally trample the environment in popular destinations.

Their impact can include pollution, littering, and damage to natural habitats and ecosystems that are sacrificed to erect new hotels, amenities, and vacation homes.

The city of Barcelona in Spain is a prime example of a city that has been impacted by overtourism.

The city has seen a significant increase in the number of tourists in recent years, with 32 million visitors in 2019 alone, compared to a population of just over 1.6 million. That’s 20 tourists for every one resident, including local children and retirees.

The impact of overtourism on Barcelona's environment has been significant.

The city's air quality has deteriorated due to the high volume of traffic, particularly from cruise ships, which emit multiple times more sulphur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide than the city’s cars each year. Both of these gases have severe impacts on human health, and cause acid rain and acidification of the seas.

Likewise, the city's beaches have been severely affected by overtourism.

Every year, 65,000 cubic metres of sand needs to be replaced due to erosion caused by tourism. Between Barcelona and Vilanova i la Geltrú, which is 46km south, trash accounts for 38% of a typical fisherman’s catch. The metropolitan area of Barcelona has itself become the second-biggest culprit when it comes to emptying plastic waste into the Mediterranean, according to a 2019 report from the World Wildlife Fund.

To address its housing crisis, in 2023, Barcelona implemented a rent cap mechanism that sets a maximum rent for new leases depending on factors such as the condition and size of the property. Even though rental prices dropped by 3.2% in 2024, there were 17% fewer new rental contracts, meaning that the overall availability of rental properties keeps diminishing.

Mounting frustration has led to widespread protests, the first in the late summer of 2024. In response, the Catalan government announced that it would double the regional tourist tax by the end of 2025, raising it to €15 ($16) per night per visitor. Yet, Barcelona is still full of tourists in 2025, so residents protested again in April 2025, when more than 12,000 residents marched through the city demanding urgent reforms.

The situation is critical in other parts of Spain as well. In Madrid, people marched to show their frustration with the housing crisis that forces young people to live with three roommates, only for their rent to still consume 40-60% of their salary.

Overcrowding in popular vacation spots can make it difficult for locals to go about their daily lives and for tourists to enjoy their experience.

The city of Venice comes to mind, the popular canal city flooded with 30 million visitors annually. This number is staggering, considering that Venice has a permanent population of just over 50,000.

The influx of tourists has caused a range of problems, from overcrowding in popular areas to damage to historic buildings and canals.

One of the most significant impacts of overtourism in Venice is the congestion in the city's narrow streets and canals.

During peak season, the city's famous St. Mark's Square can become so crowded that visitors can barely move. The congestion also extends to the city's waterways, with long lines of gondolas clogging the canals. No wonder that the city’s population has declined by more than two-thirds, with 1,000 fewer residents every year.

It would seem that Venice has heeded UNESCO warnings of “irreversible damage” to its historic centre and, as of 2024, introduced a €5 entry fee for daytrippers between 8.30am and 4pm in spring and summer. The policy is designed to respond to the particular problem facing Venice, which is that around 80% of its tourists come just for the day.

Tourist hotspots are often a bit remote or historic, which gives them a picturesque look.

But that also means that local water, energy, and waste management systems were often built years ago for much smaller communities.

One example of a waste management crisis due to overtourism in Europe can be seen in the Balearic Islands, which are located in the Mediterranean Sea and are a popular destination for island hopping tourists, especially during the summer season.

These islands, which include Mallorca, Menorca, Ibiza, and Formentera, have a combined population of just over one million but receive around 14 million tourists per year. This influx of visitors has created a significant waste management crisis, as the islands' infrastructure struggles to cope with the amount of waste generated.

The data tells a story.

According to data from the Balearic Islands’ government, during the summer season, the islands generate around 4,500 tonnes of waste per day, which is a 70% increase compared to the off-season.

This waste includes not only household waste but also litter from beaches, restaurants, and other attractions. The waste management facilities on the islands are not equipped to handle this level of waste, which has resulted in overflowing bins and streets littered with trash.

Ultimately, that waste can end up in the sea, polluting the marine environment and threatening the islands' delicate ecosystems, not to mention making for yucky swimming.

In 2019, the government of the Balearic Islands adopted groundbreaking new laws pinpointing specific tourism-related waste, such as prohibition and reduction of items found on beaches and single-use plastics.

Pushed out by tourism development, cultural traditions may be watered down or commercialised for the market.

One example of cultural loss due to overtourism is Prague. Prague is a popular destination for tourists due to its beautiful buildings and rich history. However, the influx of visitors has put a strain on the city's infrastructure and architecture.

According to data from the Prague Institute of Planning and Development, the number of people visiting Prague increased from 4.1 million in 2000 to 8 million in 2019. This near-doubling has put a significant strain on the city's historic buildings, as the foot traffic and pollution from increased transportation has accelerated the decay of the city's facades and other architectural features.

Furthermore, the rise of short-term rentals and souvenir shops catering to tourists has caused a decline in the number of traditional Czech businesses, such as artisan shops and local restaurants.

This has led to a homogenisation of the city's cultural offerings, with many visitors seeking out the same tourist-oriented experiences rather than exploring the city's authentic local culture. In addition, the high volume of visitors has also led to increased prices for housing and other necessities for locals, leading to a pushout of long-time residents from the city centre. The pandemic gave Prague a bit of breathing space, but in 2024 the city was again visited by 8.1 million tourists, proving that the city needs to keep putting effort into balanced, sustainable tourism.

Yes, Croatia is worth visiting, as long as you understand what to look for and what to avoid. Travellers are increasingly seeking destinations that balance beauty with authenticity, places where you can still discover hidden coves, dine at family-run restaurants, and experience local culture without battling through crowds. A visit to Croatia can be just that, and when done right, represents the pinnacle of Mediterranean summer travel.

Croatia is safe for families and individuals. The country's 2025 Global Peace Index score is 1.520 in 2025, in 13th position worldwide.

Additionally, Croatia was ranked as the safest country in the EU to walk at night in 2024 and 2025. In smaller Croatian towns, such as Stari Grad or Jelsa it's common to see children playing outside in the evening while parents are at home. In most of Croatia, childhood is still as it should be – care-free and full of adventures.

Travel insurance isn’t mandatory to visit Croatia unless you require a visa to enter the Schengen Area. However, we recommend visitors to still obtain at least basic insurance to cover significant expenses in case of an emergency.

Medical expenses, unless something terrible happens, shouldn’t be too high. For example, a person without any insurance pays €46.50 for their first medical examination, while any check-up is €26.50. Clearly, prices are nowhere close to legendarily expensive medical procedures in the US, but if you are visiting Croatia, especially with kids, having a travel insurance policy can put your mind at ease.

Similar to other European hotspots, overtourism is becoming a real issue in Croatia as travellers rush from one tourist hotspot to another with a frantic, box-checking itinerary.

At Hvar Away, we encourage visitors to slow down their pace and enjoy a more relaxed, immersive visit to Croatia. Find out more below how you can embrace this approach while still discovering the country’s wonders – but without the crowds for a deeper, more sustainable, and enriching experience.

No nation in the EU relies more on tourism than Croatia, with its sun-drenched coast and medieval towns fuelling nearly a quarter of the country’s GDP. For locals in the crosshairs of this boom, the downsides are daily bread: skyrocketing rents, vanishing parking, and summer streets so clogged you can’t see the cobblestones for selfie sticks.

The biggest culprits are these two mega-attractions that, without careful planning, may promise more than they deliver.

Dubrovnik is a UNESCO World Heritage site and survivor of a brutal Serb siege in the 1990s, known for its medieval architecture and beautiful coastline.

More recently, the city gained fame as the main filming location for King's Landing, the capital of the Seven Kingdoms in the enormously popular TV show Game of Thrones.

Visitors can take a walk along the city walls, explore the Old Town, and take a cable car up to the top of Mount Srđ for panoramic views of the arguably the most famous Croatian city – all while imagining a fleet of dragons overhead.

In recent years, the city’s special beauty has drawn a significant influx of tourists, leading to overcrowding, environmental damage, and cultural loss.

According to data from the Dubrovnik Tourist Board, in 2019, the city received over 1.2 million visitors, with an average of 10,000 visitors per day during peak season. Everyone in Croatia believed 2019 would hold the record for years, but in 2024, Dubrovnik welcomed 12.5% more tourists than in 2019. Dubrovnik is a city with 41,562 permanent residents that took in a whopping 1.35 million guests last year – that’s more than 32 tourists for every local resident.

In 2025, however, the trend showed a slight easing. As of November 2025, Dubrovnik recorded just under 1.3 million arrivals and just over 4.1 million overnight stays, marking a small drop of about 1% in arrivals yet with a marginal rise in total overnight stays.

These numbers are still staggering considering that Dubrovnik covers only 143 km² (55 mi²), which is approximately 11 times smaller than Greater London.

Stradun, the main thoroughfare of the Old Town, becomes so thick with humanity that the street is divided in half, between those filing in one direction and those in the other – with hardly any room to cross or turn around. It is a far cry from the old days of Dubrovnik when children used to play games on the ancient flagstones in the summer.

The influx of tourists has caused a range of problems, including pushing out local and artisan businesses. There is no decent butcher shop in the town, for example, despite the decidedly carnivorous diet of most Croatian people. No bakeries where goods aren’t reheated from frozen. Only a few small groceries, closer in size to a bodega.

That is not to say that the city is bound to disappoint or that visiting means being complicit in its decline. Here are two tips for having an extraordinary – and more sustainable – visit:

#1: SLOW TRAVEL

If cruise ships epitomise highly 'extractive' tourism, slow travel almost always offers the more sustainable choice.

Even if you’re planning a more traditional visit to Dubrovnik, you can still adopt a slow travel philosophy for your Croatian getaway. It's about taking the time to connect with the local culture and community, allowing for a deeper understanding and appreciation of a destination. Slow travel champions the idea of staying longer in one place and exploring it in depth rather than skimming its surface.

Think dining in the restaurant the locals frequent with authentic Dalmatian cuisine, or discovering the work of emerging artists instead of queuing to see the most popular sites. Or consider ditching the “whirlwind sightseeing tour” in favour of a home base that is well-positioned for day trips. The area around Dubrovnik is packed with unforgettable excursions, including Pelješac, Lokrum, Cavtat, Kotor, Mljet, and the hinterland. Don’t be in a rush to leave!

#2: STAY OUTSIDE OF THE HISTORIC CORE

While the historic core may seem more convenient, keep in mind that all of its accommodations are tucked away down cobblestone alleys in a car-free zone with extremely scant parking for quite some distance.

In addition, most people don’t know that Dubrovnik is shaped like a boat.

There are steep ascents on both sides of the main thoroughfare, so you will probably be hauling your luggage up steep cobblestone alleys to a house with equally steep, narrow old stairs, built some centuries ago. Navigating all of this after a long flight in a crowded city, either in the raucous evening hours or the burning hot day… well, you see where we’re going.

There are alternative places to stay.

We recommend Lapad, about 3 kilometres (2 miles) from the Old Town.

It’s a good walk for the intrepid and well-served by bus and taxi. Lapad offers a quieter, more relaxed atmosphere with a range of accommodation options, from budget-friendly apartments to luxury hotels, such as Hotel Lapad.

One of the main attractions in Lapad is its long, sandy, beautiful beach, which is popular with both locals and tourists.

There are also several smaller beaches in the area, as well as a number of water sports and activities, such as kayaking, paddleboarding, and snorkelling.

Other popular attractions in Lapad include the pedestrian promenade that runs along the waterfront, the Lapad Bay Park, which offers stunning views of the surrounding hills and islands, and the Gruž Harbour (a hub for ferries and boats that connects Dubrovnik with other destinations in Croatia and along the Adriatic Sea coast).

Plitvice Lakes National Park, located inland in central Croatia, just a few hours from Zagreb, is also a UNESCO World Heritage site – and again, one of Croatia's most popular tourist destinations.

It is the oldest and largest national park in the country, covering an area of around 300 km2 and boasting a unique ecosystem.

While the park's stunning waterfalls, lakes, and forests have long been a draw for visitors, in recent years, the park has faced significant challenges related to overtourism.

During the peak summer season, the park can be extremely crowded, with long lines, congested walking paths, and overcrowded viewpoints. The sheer number of visitors can also have negative impacts on the environment, including increased pollution, erosion, and damage to sensitive ecosystems.

Many try, despite warnings, to swim in the turquoise waters of the lakes, feed the fish, or leave food for other animals.

However, the biggest threats to the park’s survival come from its surroundings, rather than from within the protected area. In 2014, the local government rolled back laws preventing development in regions neighbouring the park.

The number of private apartments subsequently rose from 16 in 2009 to over 300 in 2017, with a jump in overnight stays from 600 to over 30,000 in the same period.

The new construction is not connected to any sewage system.

Instead, the houses get the water they need directly from the lake basin and empty their waste water into the surrounding land. This has resulted in the creation of what locals sarcastically refer to as Plitvice’s “17th lake” – a foul-smelling pool serviced by an unidentified drainpipe.

The municipality has little resources to cope with the problem.

It is the poorest and least populated county in Croatia, and the lion’s share of the income generated by ticket sales from the park goes directly to the state – only 6% remains with the local municipality.

In 2016, UNESCO prompted action by threatening to put Plitvice on the 'In Danger' list or to withdraw the site’s inclusion on its list of world heritage sites due to unsustainable tourism and construction practices. In response, park management limited the number of daily visitors, promoted off-season visitation, and introduced new trails and walking paths to distribute visitors more evenly throughout the park.

In 2018, UNESCO decided not to list Plitvice as 'In Danger'. However, the UNESCO Committee also stressed that visitation growth and infrastructure gaps still posed a 'potential danger' to the park’s status.

As part of their response, the park also hiked daily ticket prices to €40 per adult as of 2020. Prior to that, the ticket price was €33 in 2019, and €24 for the two years previous. In the years before that, the price was only €14.50.

Given the overwhelming demand to visit the park, these higher prices are likely a fair reflection of the park’s value, and also enable the area to invest in skilled staff and critical conservation measures.

You can support these efforts by visiting off-peak, doing your research on accommodation and meal choices before coming to Croatia, or visiting one of the lesser-known parks below.

Consider hewing a different path and visiting another park in Croatia’s impressive national system.

While these parks may receive fewer visitors than some of the more popular national parks in Croatia, they offer unique and breathtaking natural landscapes that are well worth a visit for those who are looking to get off the beaten path.

Thoughtful travellers are increasingly considering their impact on the destinations they visit. Like many Mediterranean countries, Croatia faces pressures from overtourism, water scarcity, and environmental degradation. Sustainable holidays can positively impact local communities. Here are our four suggestions for maximising your enjoyment while minimising your impact.

The Croatian coast remains unrivalled for summer travel, offering consistent sunshine, warm sea temperatures, and a lifestyle centred around leisurely enjoyment. Unlike northern European destinations where summer weather can be unpredictable, Croatia guarantees long, sun-filled days perfect for beach exploration and outdoor living. But summer also brings crowds and higher prices. Popular beaches become busy, restaurants require reservations, and accommodation prices peak. However, these months offer the most vibrant atmosphere with numerous festivals and events.

If your vacation schedule is flexible, try to visit Croatia late or early in the season. Visiting off-peak reduces pressure on infrastructure whilst providing a less crowded, more authentic experience. Local businesses appreciate extended season support.

For hikers and bikers, early spring (April and May) is the season when Dalmatia, one of the most beautiful regions of Croatia, really comes to life – since the summer heat can rob even the most determined outdoor adventurer of their enthusiasm.

June offers ideal conditions with warm weather (typically 25-30°C), quieter beaches, and lower accommodation rates. Schools remain in session, meaning fewer families and manageable crowds. This is perfect timing for couples and those seeking tranquillity.

September represents the Mediterranean's sweet spot: seas at their warmest, weather remains excellent (typically 25-28°C), crowds diminish as schools restart, and rates decrease. This is often considered the best time to visit Croatia. Fall is also a great time for boating, since most of the regattas and sailboat festivals take place after the summer.

Early October extends the season beautifully in southern destinations like Hvar. Temperatures remain pleasant (20-25°C), seas stay warm, and you'll have beaches largely to yourself. Accommodations are far cheaper at this time of year, and while some restaurants and other attractions are closed from October, many remain open or will serve guests upon request.

In general, locals are far more relaxed and open to friendship when you visit Croatia during the off-season.

Most Croatians of working age are hustling from dawn to dusk in the summer months, so the off-season is their time to reconnect with family and friends.

Join them in one of the beautiful festivals celebrating food and wine that take place before the season or after the tourists go home, such as:

Opting for a thoughtfully chosen villa over a hotel is not just about indulgence. It is a quiet act of sustainable travel. Luxury villas and holiday homes deliver privacy and space that hotels cannot match, but they also keep your footprint lighter.

A single, self-contained home means one set of utilities running instead of a sprawling resort’s endless air-conditioned corridors, laundry cycles, and minibars. With your own pool and outdoor kitchen, you are incentivised to linger over long, low-waste meals made from market-fresh produce. Cooking for six generates far less packaging than six separate room-service trays. Concierge teams, often local themselves, curate low-impact adventures. These include private boat trips on fuel-efficient vessels, sunrise hikes to off-grid coves, or olive-oil tastings at nearby family groves. Such experiences spread euros directly into the community rather than a corporate ledger.

The deeper sustainability lies in authentic immersion that hotels simply cannot replicate. Villa staff, many born and raised within a stone’s throw of your terrace, become your private guides to a Croatia that mass tourism never sees. They point you to the fisherman’s stall at dawn, the unmarked trail to a pebble beach untouched by sun-lounger fleets, or the grandmother selling rakija from her garden gate. These encounters do not just enrich your stay. They keep money circulating in neighborhood economies and preserve the cultural fabric that overtourism frays.

By choosing a villa, you are not another face in a lobby queue. You are a temporary local, leaving lighter tracks and longer memories.

Supporting local during your stay is not just a courteous gesture. It is the surest way to ensure your visit nourishes the very communities that make Croatia unforgettable.

Dine at family-run konobas where the day’s catch is hauled in by the owner’s cousin, buy your tomatoes and figs from the morning fresh market, and hire a local guide from the village to lead you through ancient olive groves up to forgotten hilltop chapels. Every euro spent this way stays in local pockets, funding school supplies, boat repairs, and the next generation’s decision to stay rather than migrate to the cities.

If you prefer to be an insider rather than a tourist, our concierge team weaves local talent into your villa experience, and share the addresses of restaurants where only those in the know go. Our local private chefs grill fresh squid over vine-wood embers and pair it with Pošip from a nearby vineyard. We can arrange private wine tastings at local estates, often including tours and meetings with the winemakers themselves.

These encounters do more than delight the palate. They preserve recipes, dialects, and farming methods that mass tourism would otherwise flatten. By choosing local, your holiday leaves the coastline richer in both stories and soil.

Respecting resources and nature during your stay forms the bedrock of stewardship for Croatia’s fragile Mediterranean paradise. Water remains the country’s lifeblood, rationed by ancient waterways and summer droughts, so opt for navy-style showers, reuse towels without guilt, and let your villa’s drip-irrigation system tend the lavender instead of the hose.

In protected areas, stick to marked paths to spare the rare Adriatic lizard and endemic sage from trampling, pocket your picnic wrappers rather than trusting the wind, and skip the drone selfies that scatter nesting gulls.

These small disciplines ease the strain on overtaxed aquifers, curb plastic choking the sea grass, and safeguard the biodiversity that draws discerning travellers in the first place.

Travel as if the land must outlast your suntan, and you ensure the same crystalline coves and cicada evenings await the next quiet guest.

There are clearly many reasons to visit Croatia if you plan well. One of the keys is avoiding peak season crowds, but equally important is choosing the right locations.

Whilst the popular hotspots in Croatia we mentioned continue to draw huge crowds each year, many discerning travellers have discovered how to enjoy Hvar, Europe's sunniest and most enchanting island, without the overwhelming tourist masses.

Whilst Hvar Town, a global magnet for yacht travel and high-end thrills, does attract crowds throughout the summer – Hvar Island is a destination of remarkable diversity. From secluded coves where you have the shoreline to yourself to family-run konobas serving dishes honed over generations, from dolphin sightings to sunsets that turn the Adriatic molten gold, these moments are the ones that stay with you long after the holiday is over.

Hvar reveals its riches to the curious. Follow an unmarked dirt track to a hidden beach, charter a boat with a local skipper for a day of exploration, or chat with locals who will readily share their secret coves and coves. Approach the island not as a checklist of photo ops, but as an invitation to live, even just for a week or two, the unhurried rhythm of Croatian island life.

Discover where to stay on Hvar based on who you’re travelling with and travel style with our guide. Whether you’re chasing a vibrant atmosphere, nature, culture, or complete seclusion, we’ll help you find your perfect corner of Hvar. And wherever you land, you’ll find curated Hvar Away villas in each region for your ideal stay.

Why follow the crowds? Contact our helpful team to start planning your ideal getaway.