Italy vs Croatia: Where Should You Go?

Bella Italia versus the less touristy land of Croatia, growing in popularity each year. It’s a luxurious problem to have, choosing between these two rich vacation destinations of Europe, but it is not an easy choice when it comes to your next touring adventure! 

The good news is that no matter whether you decide to visit Croatia or visit Italy, you can be sure that you’ll have an amazing holiday, surrounded by unspoilt nature, historical towns and cities and pristine beaches.

Are you ready to stamp your passport? Take a look at the most popular tours travelling to Italy and the most popular tours travelling to Croatia. 

Italian highlights vs Croatian highlights

Both Italy and Croatia are famous for their azure blue oceans, making them great destinations for beach holidays, combined with visits to pretty historical towns to soak up some history and the modern-day culture.

Do you want to travel through Italy being part of a small group tour? Check our options here.

Of course, Italians are most famous for yummy ‘Mama Mia’ Italian food, great red wines and cappuccinos. The English of the locals might not be perfect but they sure are masters of body language. Italy is home to some of Europe’s most amazing cities with countless wonders of the Roman Empire to admire and the rugged landscape is beautiful! (Also, you can also check out our collection of cultural tours of Italy)

Rome

This ancient city is without a doubt one of the highlights of Europe, where art, Roman architecture and the rich Italian culture meet. Home to the Vatican, the world famous Colosseum, the Pantheon and many, many more historical sites to blow your mind away, Rome can simply not be missed during your Italy trip!

Have a relaxed mindset. Nothing is going to be on time in Italy. Make sure that you eat lunch early, as many restaurants and cafes are closed for siesta in the afternoon and re-open for dinner. And most importantly: don’t drive in Rome. Just don’t.  I think everyone can find something for themselves in Italy. Foodies will be happy, nature loves will find great hikes, waterfalls and beaches, those interested in culture will be in 7th heaven and couples can always enjoy romantic cities. – Anna, Anna Everywhere

Venice

Another iconic Italian holiday destination that is certainly as romantic as Paris. This floating city, built on more than 100 small islands in a bay of north Italy, is ruled by beautiful canals, countless traditional Venetian gondola boats and stunning architecture and bridges from ancient times.

Florence

Florence is the capital city of Italy’s much-loved Tuscany region, and it is the birthplace of the Renaissance. Those who appreciate art, culture and Renaissance architecture should not miss out on visiting this sprawling city. 

Milan

Milan is the fashion cosmopolitan of Europe. This chic and sophisticated designers’ city is a shopping paradise, combined with a lively nightlife, lots of museums, and again, gorgeous Gothic and Roman architecture.

The Italian beaches

No, we didn’t forget about the beautiful beaches that Italy has to offer. Of course, at some point you have to get out of the city and head off to one of Italy’s islands, simply enjoying the laid-back beach vibes, drinking the best Italian wines and munch a whole lot of Italian food. Italy is surrounded by water, giving you lots of options – in the south, there are beautiful islands to be visited such as the Tremiti islands, Sicily and Sardinia.

Everyone can enjoy Italy in different ways. It’s quite family-friendly, Italians love babies and kids. But can of course be extremely romantic, too. We loved visiting the prosecco wine region about an hour outside of Venice. It has yet to be infiltrated by tourists and is extremely authentic and lovely–though not as English-speaking as touristy cities are. Also, Pack lightly and if you’re going in the summer, pack very lightweight clothing. Comfortable shoes that are easy to walk on cobblestone and up big hills are helpful as well. – Katie, Katie Lara

Croatia features countless islands, beautiful rocky beaches, medieval towns with ancient city walls and no less than eight beautiful national parks. The popular series Games of Thrones chose Croatia as their filming set, gaining Croatia popularity in the last few years. It is quite amazing to see the magnificent cultural and natural heritage sites with your own eyes, taking you back to an era long bygone.

Dubrovnik

While strolling around in this ancient walled city, you will feel as if you are transported back in time to the Middle Ages. The series Games of Thrones regularly uses this beautiful city as their filming location and you will soon know why.

Split

Split is the second largest city in Croatia and it is a wonderful place where ancient and modern times meet. Within the atmospheric city walls, urban city vibes await, ruled by lively streets full of shops, bars, and restaurants.

Plitvice Lakes

The Plitvice Lakes National Park is one of the oldest national parks in all of Europe, and it is breathtakingly beautiful, like an enchanted fairytale forest you can get lost in forever. The park is ruled by colours of emerald green, azure blue, and tonnes of cascading waterfalls. A dream come true for every nature lover.

Islands in the Adriatic Sea

Croatia has no less than 1200 islands, making it a great island-hopping tourist destination. There are islands with glorious desolate beaches and wildlife such as Mljet and Losinj, islands with a rich history such as Korcula, where Marco Polo was born, and islands with buzzing nightlife such as Hvar. There is something for everyone!

Food & Drink

Food in Italy

Where to start? Food might even be the main reason why people travel to Italy. Everywhere in the world, we try to make Italian pizza and pasta, but of course, they are never as good anywhere else but in the country of origin. Wine lovers just can’t get enough of the tasty Italian Montepulciano wines and the local Italian spirits are also famous worldwide and much-loved such as Amaretto and Sambuca.

It’s easy and inexpensive to eat well in Italy. Splashing out on a fancy dinner is fun, but the quality of food is so exceptional even a quick bite in a cafe was a life changing experience. Our favorite meals were sitting outside a small restaurant we just happened to stumble upon, people watching and drinking a great glass of Italian wine! Italy has something for everyone! It’s an equally great place to visit for a student or a budget traveler as it is for people looking for a luxurious destination. – Kelly, A Side of Sweet

Food in Croatia

The food in Croatia is influenced by all of its neighbouring countries. Depending on where in Croatia you are travelling, you can enjoy Mediterranean cuisine reminiscent of Greece (especially if you are taking one of the sailing trips in Croatia that we have). In the north, the kitchen is ruled by the Slavic culture where they love to cook meat stews with potatoes and the like. If you are a meat lover, you will not be disappointed! The traditional local drink is Rakia, a strong alcoholic drink distilled from fruits. When Rakia is passed around, it is a sign of hospitality.

Do you want to travel through Croatia being part of a small group tour? Check our options here.

Budget

When it comes down to budget, Croatia wins over Italy. The local currency in Croatia is the Kuna and in Italy, it is the Euro. Prices are around twice as high in Italy. For instance, half a litre of draught beer costs around $4.40 in Italy and $2.05 in Croatia. Public transport is also more expensive in Italy with a taxi charging 89 cents per kilometre in Croatia and $1.64 in Italy.

You can also get a monthly pass for public transportation in both countries, and this is surprisingly a couple of dollars cheaper in Italy.

When it comes to accommodation, both countries have the option of camping, staying at affordable guesthouses and in cheap, midrange or high-end hotels. Again, this is a bit cheaper in Croatia than it is in Italy. On the other hand, Italy is still a more affordable holiday destination than many other countries in Europe such as their direct neighbour Switzerland, but also Germany, France, and the Netherlands.

For those looking to explore Dubrovnik, try to work around the busy cruise ship and sailing days. Do a bit of research ahead of time to see when the boats tend to arrive, and plan your visit around those dates. It’s a beautiful city, but it gets incredibly overcrowded. Make sure to get up early as well, before the masses come.  My favorite place was Zadar. Compared to the other coastal towns like Split and Dubrovnik, it had much more of a local rather than tourist feel. It was also more budget friendly, with lots to do nearby including Plitvice and Krka. I loved Croatia as a solo female traveler. It was easy to get around, there were plenty of hostels to chose from to meet other solo travelers, and I always felt safe; even at night. – Hannah, Eat Sleep Breathe Travel

We know you’re going to fall in love with both destinations. Take a look tours to Italy and tours to Croatia.