Make a holiday villa or apartment in Croatia your home away from home

HomeAway can help you track down the holiday villa or apartment in Croatia that fits your holiday plans. Croatia is a beautiful and historic country, with a wide range of landscapes. Most holidaymakers head for the coast, which stretches from Istria down to Dalmatia and features blue flag beaches and impressive ancient cities. Croatia holiday homes range from preserved historic stone buildings to contemporary family accommodation, and most rentals will let you take advantage of the fantastic summer weather by providing patios, terraces and gardens. To find your ideal Croatia apartment you could specify luxuries in your search, such as air-conditioning or a pool, or necessities such as on-site parking and washing appliances.

Things to do

-Beaches. Croatia’s Adriatic coast is known for its calm and clear waters, with more than a 100 of the country’s beaches awarded Blue Flag status. There are sandy bays, coves and islands to choose from – highlights include the island of Creveni Otok, which is a 15-minute ferry-ride from Rovinj and provides pristine beaches lined with unspoiled pine forest.

-History. Croatia is blessed with historical landmarks from a range of eras. Dubrovnik for example is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with a beautiful medieval old-town home to gothic and Renaissance palaces and towers. Pula on the Istrian Peninsula has well-preserved Roman heritage, with a forum and large amphitheatre.

-Outdoor recreation. Croatia is home to eight national parks, with large expanses of beautiful upland scenery. Many visitors hire bikes to explore the picturesque rural landscapes around Istria. Hikers should head for pine-covered Dinaric Mountains, with peaks like Biokovo, Veliki Risnjak and Ucka, which can be climbed via walking paths.

-Watersports. Between the months of May and Novmeber Croatia is a world-class destination for diving thanks to its warm and sheltered waters. Off the Istrian peninsula there’s varied sea life and a number of caves and wrecks to discover. Sea kayaking is growing in popularity; it’s a great way to explore the many islands in the archipelagos at Kornati and Elafiti.

-Food and drink. The Istria and Dalmatia regions produce what is regarded by many as some of the best olive oil in the world. Meanwhile on the coast the seafood is fantastic, with octopus, calamri, shrimp and scampi all served fresh. Inland the cuisine is more rustic, with dishes like the spicy kulen sausage, and the cobanac meat stew.

Weather in Croatia

Croatia has different climate zones due to the country’s varied landscapes. If you visit the Adriatic coast in summer you’ll encounter a Mediterranean climate, with warm and dry conditions from May through to October. Winters here tend to be mild, with a little more rainfall. Inland there’s a continental climate, with warm summers, bringing higher temperatures than on the coast, and cool winters. Temperatures can drop well below freezing in upland areas like Gorski Kotar and Lika during the colder months.

Travel to Croatia

If you’re heading for a holiday home in Croatia from abroad then there are international airports at Dubrovnik (DBV), Rijeka (RJK), Split (SPU), Zadar (ZAD) and Zagreb (ZAG). You can reach these destinations via low-cost airlines from across Europe. There are a number of railway routes across the country, with international connections to Slovenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Hungary and Serbia. By road, Croatian highways are noted for their high levels of upkeep and safety, with a recent addition linking Rijeka with Split. There’s also an extensive inter-city bus network, with Osijek in the east serving as an international hub.