Croatia has crystal-clear blue waters, stone architecture straight out of a storybook, and some of the most beautiful islands in Europe. Once you’ve planned your itinerary and booked flights, the next step is to figure out what Croatia outfits to pack! We’ve now been all over the country, from the big cities to the small island towns. In this article, I’ll break down the typical fashion to expect, along with Croatia outfit ideas and what to wear for your next vacation.
Planning Your Croatia Trip
🏝 The Croatian islands are world-famous for a reason! Of course, we loved exploring popular islands like Korcula and Brac, but the beauty of the Northern Croatian Islands really impressed us.
⏰ How long do you need for your itinerary? If you are taking a quick flight from somewhere in Europe to one city such as Split, Zadar, or Dubrovnik, then the minimum you would need is three nights.
However, if you plan to include some of the islands in your vacation you’ll need more like 7 to 10 days. We even worked remote in Croatia for one month, which gave us more time to experience the local life.
☀️ While we love the big cities, our favorite destinations have been the small Croatia towns such as Trogir and Makarska. Consider a mix of both larger cities and smaller seaside towns for your trip.
⛴ The ferries might be confusing at first, but they are actually easy to use! There are both fast boats and slower car ferries that are less expensive.
If you’re traveling with a car in the summer, then you’ll 100% need to plan in advance. Foot passenger tickets should also be booked as soon as you know your dates, especially if you’re on a tight itinerary.
Jadrolinija is the largest operator and a great place to start. You can look into TP lines and Krilo as well depending on your route.
🌊 Swing season is the best time of year to visit! It’s easily half the price as peak season, the weather is still nice enough for your summer Croatia outfits, and it’s way less crowded. Our favorite months are May, June, September, and October.
The only word of warning is that you will want to stay flexible with your travel plans. A couple of times our boats stopped running all together between the islands because of the stormy conditions. Luckily, the accommodations on the islands are used to this and were very flexible.
Starting Your Croatia Packing List
Many travelers don’t realize that Croatia is quite an adventurous holiday destination. Yes, there are luxury hotels, beach clubs, and catamaran boat rides.
Still, between that you can go hiking, cycling, or swimming under waterfalls! This is why packing the right suitcase to fit your vacation style is super important. Wheeled luggage can be a hard thing to travel with in many parts of Croatia.
For example, the iconic streets of Dubrovnik are uneven and made up of rough stone. The city even asks travelers to carry their suitcases during certain hours of the day to not disturb residents with noise.
You might have more wiggle room if you’re renting a car in Croatia and road tripping down the Dalmatian Coast. DiscoverCars is an amazing website to compare prices and find the best deals for your holiday.
With that said, island hopping is when the luggage can get really difficult. You’ll need to consider hauling your bags onto a ferry or lifting it up seemingly never-ending medieval staircases. We’ve come into harbors many times and had over half a mile to walk to our accommodation.
Remember that if you are staying at a small bed and breakfast or airbnb, you’ll be without the services of a hotel. On the smaller islands, simply jumping in a taxi might not be an option. If they are available, the driver might only be able to take you so far with the maze of side streets and walking paths.
After reading these Croatia outfit ideas, I recommend to pack light and be really selective with what you take. Plus, you can always buy more clothes if you need to after arriving. They will make for a great souvenir to take home with you anyway!
→ How We Used the Split to Brac Ferry: Supetar, Bol & More
5 Must-Pack Croatia Outfits
1. Beach Day Swimsuits & Coverups
For us, Croatia is all about the beaches and swimming! I normally advise not to overpacking your swimwear. Nevertheless, in Croatia, I’m in and out of the water so much that it wasn’t crazy to use two or three swimsuits per day.
- Morning Swim
- Change for Lunch
- Post Lunch Swim
- Change for Dinner
- Evening Sunset Swim
This is what a typical day on the islands looks like. It’s good to have extra options in case your bathing suits haven’t dried yet. This is also a Croatia outfit that won’t take up too much room in your suitcase.
Don’t forget to pack casual coverups with your bathing suits. I really like loose thin dresses that cover my shoulders and give me some reprieve from the hot sun.
While the Croatian coast is a “beach destination,” know that it doesn’t mean you’ll be walking around the streets of Dubrovnik in a bikini. Once you get away from the beaches, the overall style is comfortable but slightly reserved.
There are several cities that have publicly stated proper clothing needs to be worn away from the beach. Be sure to take this into account when planning out what to wear in Croatia.
You’ll find this to be the case in the historic old towns, so it’s essential to include something to go over your bathing suit. Having some light beach coverups to head back to your accommodations are a must.
2. Lightweight Dresses or Skirts
This is a Croatia outfit for heading into town. Think about what you’ll need for an easy lunch or simply grabbing an ice cream on an afternoon stroll.
My go-to for this occasion is a casual summer dress. It looks nice, feels lightweight, and is super comfortable in the hot sun. Between bathing suites and summer dresses, you really won’t have to include too much more in your luggage!
When thinking about colors, I love blue, soft pink, white, and gold. Dark and more earth-tone colors might be seen more at night, but aren’t as common for a summer style.
If you’re planning your day dresses, my advice is to keep it short. This is more for comfort and to keep cool.
3. Adventure Croatia Outfit
No trip to Croatia is complete without a few days of adventure! This might include hiking to the ancient Klis Fortress, visiting the waterfalls at the Krka National park, or taking in the views from the Biokovo Skywalk.
These are Croatia outfits you want to be comfortable, but also nice for photos. A pair of simple tan linen shorts work with almost any top and always look good in the Adriatic. It’s honestly a piece that I don’t think I travel anywhere without unless it’s a cold and snowy area.
Try and stick with the colors I mentioned before that go with a typical Croatia backdrop. Blue, white, soft pink and yellow, or even a light gold fits well.
→ How to Walk the Dubrovnik City Walls (Self-Guided Tour)
4. What to Wear in Croatia on Travel Days
One of our two week Croatia adventures was a 5 island itinerary that included the mainland. That meant we had many days of walking to the ferry, jumping on, and then finding our new accommodation.
If this is sounding similar to your plan, then you’ll need one or two Croatia outfit ideas for when you’re on the go. I love staying comfy with an athletic pair of shorts, simple top, hat to protect your face from the sun, and sneakers.
I never understood travelers showing up to a 2 hour speed boat looking like they were ready for a night out on the town! Depending on the ferry you book, it can be hot, the seats are tight, and there isn’t much room to walk around. That is unless you are on the slow car ferry where an upscale look would be even stranger.
I’m not saying this a must, but it’s more for comfort and having an enjoyable trip. This Croatia packing list tip is especially important if you are traveling in the high season when the weather is going to be super hot!
→ 5 Best Islands in Southern Croatia: Ferry Info, Tips, & Route Guide
5. Upscale Croatia Outfit For Nights Out
Croatia is unique in the sense that it can be quite relaxing and charming at the same time. Yet, there is also a side of Croatia that is more high-end and flashy.
In popular destinations like Split, Hvar Island, and Rovinj, you will certainly need some stylish pieces for your nights out. This is when you can experience upscale dinners and the wild Croatian nightlife in the summertime.
After the sun goes down is a perfect time to wear long flowing maxi dresses, colorful blouses, and nice shorts or skirt. There is a high-end vibe here without overcomplicating things. You don’t need to dress like you are going to Milan fashion week, but it should be more luxurious than your simple dresses for lunch.
This is just what I’ve seen from my own personal experience. At the end of the day, I also believe you should wear whatever you are comfortable in!
→ How to Spend One Day in Hvar Croatia (Steal Our Itinerary!)
Random Extras To Go With Your Croatia Outfits
Don’t Forget…
Water Shoes, Snorkel & Mask: Know that the majority of the beaches in Croatia are rocky or made up of small pebbles. Some places it might just be a platform where you jump into the water with no actual beach.
You can grab water shoes on almost every corner when you arrive, but it’s easy enough to buy a simple pair like this before leaving. If you aren’t used to the rocks, water shoes are a complete game changer. Also, a basic snorkel mask is great to see all the underwater marine life.
Watch Out For….
Heels and Shoe Choices: Many streets in Croatia in the old towns are rocky, rough, and uneven. High heels can be very difficult to wear in coastal cities like Sebenik.
In fact, we’ve seen travelers abandon them on multiple occasions and get stuck strolling barefoot. This is definitely something to think about when packing shoes with your Croatia outfits.
Don’t Overlook…
Beach Bags & Towels: Hotels will provide pool towels, but you won’t usually get one for the beach. This is one of the things I hate packing because it takes up room, but it is a necessity.
Due to this, I normally take a thin wrap that doubles as a towel which I can wrap around me for short walks. On that same note, make sure to bring a small beach or tote bag that can fold up into your luggage for daily use.
Have any questions about this article or want to share your own Croatia outfit ideas? Let us know in the comments below!
Safe Travels,
Brigitte & Jake
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We’re Brigitte and Jake! American travel bloggers currently based in Spain. If you can believe it, we started Nothing Familiar way back in 2015 on an Ipad in the Ecuadorian jungle. Ever since, we haven’t stopped traveling! We’ve now been to over 60 countries around the world, with our expertise being Europe and Southeast Asia. We love outdoor adventures, tasting local specialties, and island hopping through tropical destinations. Hopefully, our guides and authentic experiences will inspire you on your own travels!
