The good news is that Croatia officially has the cleanest bathing water in Europe, according to a recent European Environment Agency report.
The even better news is that it doesn’t have to cost an arm and a leg to enjoy the warm, crystal-clear sea.
Croatia is blessed with a glut of smart, good-value hotels – and, what’s more, there are plenty of low-cost flights from the UK.
Here’s our pick of the best deals.
OPULENT IN OPATIJA
Opatija (above) sometimes doubles as Nice, France, in films, due to its chic, French Riviera-style vibe
Overlooking Kvarner Bay, Opatija was one of the earliest seaside resorts in Croatia, with the first tourists arriving in the 1840s. The town sometimes doubles as Nice, France, in films, due to its chic, French Riviera-style vibe.
Hotel Palace Bellevue is in pride of place with an elegant neo-baroque facade, plus an indoor pool and spa. The beach is directly opposite.
Book it: Doubles from £119 B&B (liburnia.hr); returns to Rijeka, 24 miles away, from £114 (ryanair.com).
DREAMY DALMATIA
About 40 miles south-east of Split, the small town of Tucepi enjoys a pretty, pebble beach fringed with pine trees. A mere 50 metres away, Hotel Villa Marija is a family-run boutique-style hotel with big rooms, many with balconies and sea views. There’s an indoor pool, gym and a restaurant. This is perfect for exploring the Dalmatian coast, and day trips to Split and the island of Brac.
Book it: Doubles from £110 B&B (hotelvillamarija.com); returns to Split from £140 (easyjet.com).
GRADUATE TO NOVIGRAD
The Istrian town of Novigrad has a lovely part-sand, part-pebble beach and an exquisite, historic town. Rivalmare Boutique Hotel is by the beach, and the gourmet restaurant Libeccio is popular with locals and the region is famous for wines, olive oils and truffles.
Book it: Doubles from £122 B&B (rivalmare.hr); returns to Pula, 41 miles away, from £98 (easyjet.com).
PERFECT PEBBLES
Orebic has a traditional old town, fine white pebble beaches, and a regular, fast ferry to whisk you across to the pretty island of Korcula (a 14-minute journey).
Stylish, waterfront Hotel Aminess Bellevue is an easy stroll from the centre and comes with a pool and a terrace that’s just a few paces from the Adriatic. Day trip excursions to Dubrovnik and the island of Mljet are possible.
Book it: Doubles from £94 B&B (aminess.com); returns to Dubrovnik, 65 miles away, from £135 (ryanair.com).
PARK LIFE
Krka National Park (pictured above) is ‘famous for cascades, lakes and Visovac island’
Just three minutes’ walk to the entrance of Krka National Park, famous for cascades, lakes and Visovac island, you’ll find Hotel Vrata Krke. Expect spacious rooms, a restaurant, plus indoor and outdoor pools.
You can catch a bus from outside to historic Sibenik, seven miles away on the Dalmatian coast.
Book it: Doubles from £99 B&B (expedia.co.uk); returns to Zadar airport, 50 minutes away, from £125 (ryanair.com).
BEAUTIFUL BRAC
The V-shaped beach at Bol on the island of Brac is Croatia’s most famous – with blonde shingle overlooked by pine woods plus beachside cafes. Bluesun Borak Hotel is a ten-minute walk along the promenade to the beach. Refurbished in 2022, it has an outdoor pool, tennis and bikes for hire. Boat trips are possible to the island of Hvar.
Book it: Doubles from £140 B&B (bluesunhotels.com); returns to Split, 43 miles away, from £154 (easyjet.com).
ROMAN HOLIDAY
The Romans called Porec ‘Parentium’ and the Roman core of this seaside town is close to the UNESCO-listed Basilica of St Euphrasius, dating from the 6th century with elaborate mosaics.
It’s great for walks by the sea and there’s a catamaran to Venice for day trips that runs three times weekly. Valamar Riviera Hotel is on the waterfront in the old town, with two restaurants and a free five-minute boat service to Sveti Nikola island’s beaches.
Book it: Doubles from £138 B&B (valamar.com); returns to Pula from £98 (easyjet.com).
SCINTILLATING SUNSETS
The north Dalmatian town of Zadar rejoiced when filmmaker Alfred Hitchcock stated it boasted the world’s most beautiful sunsets – and they are striking, with the sky often a blaze of great scarlet streaks. Villa Nico is a friendly boutique hotel on the beach in the Diklo neighbourhood, three miles from Zadar’s centre, but easily reached by bus. Easy for visits to Split, Krka National Park and the unspoilt islands of Ugljan and Dugi Otok.
Book it: Doubles from £85 B&B (booking.com); returns to Zadar from £125 (ryanair.com).
ARISTOCRATIC HIDEAWAY
Hotel Neptun on Veliki Brijunon island has attracted the likes of Angelina Jolie (pictured)
On the island of Veliki Brijun, Hotel Neptun was the choice of the elite in the Austro-Hungarian era and has attracted the likes of Angelina Jolie.
Within Brijuni National Park, it’s car-free – you get about by foot, golf buggy or bike. There are more than 600 plant species, free-roaming deer, a ‘safari park’, an 18-hole golf course and tennis courts. It’s 15 minutes by boat from the mainland village of Fazana.
Book it: Doubles from £155 B&B (np-brijuni.hr); returns to Pula, 15 miles away, from £135 (easyjet.com).
ISTRIAN GEM
On the beautiful west coast of Istria, Vrsar is a real find with a lovely old town and marina. Stay at Hotel Pineta, which is within walk of Casanova Beach Bar, named after the famous Italian lover who apparently visited in the 18th century.
Book it: Doubles from £88 B&B (maistra.com); returns to Pula, 30 miles away, from £135 (easyjet.com)
ROYAL FUN
Rab is an enchanting island with 25 sandy beaches in the often-overlooked Kvarner region. In 1936, King Edward VIII and Wallis Simpson moored their yacht in a hidden cove and asked permission of the mayor to go skinny-dipping (he agreed).
Hotel International is a traditional hotel on the waterfront in Rab Town.
Book it: Doubles from £120 B&B (hotelirab.hr); returns to Rijeka, 45 miles away, from £114 (ryanair.com).
PERFECT PULA
Pula has a huge Roman amphitheatre (above) – but also a cosmopolitan feel with an edgy music and arts scene
Pula’s massive Roman amphitheatre may be its claim to fame but this seafront city has an inviting, cosmopolitan feel with an edgy music and arts scene. Park Plaza Histria Hotel is luxurious, on the green Verudela peninsula about 15 minutes by bus from downtown. It’s got the biggest indoor pool in Croatia, an outdoor pool, two restaurants, two bars and a beach deck.
Book it: Doubles from £133 B&B (arenahotels.com); retu-rns to Pula from £135 (easyjet.com).
MAKE IT MLJET
Pomena Bay is a quiet spot in the island of Mljet with a handful of bars and restaurants, excellent walking and bike trails, plus boat trips to Dubrovnik.
Hotel Odisej is a simple hotel within the National Park in a quiet spot with a handful of bars and restaurants. It has a pleasant beach bar, restaurant, and bike hire.
Book it: Doubles from £90 B&B (adriaticluxuryhotels.com); returns to Dubrovnik from £135 (ryanair.com).
DON’T MISS OMIS
Omis is a top spot for white-water rafting, as seen here
Omis is a traditional Dalmatian town with a lovely old centre, narrow streets and open markets at the mouth of the River Cetina, a top spot for white-water rafting. Hotel Plaza is stylish, right by the sandy beach and a few minutes walk to the centre.
Book it: Doubles from £125 B&BV (hotelplaza.hr); returns to Split, 25 miles away, from £154 (easyjet.com).
SEAFOOD AND SAND
Home to long pebble and sand beaches and a pretty town centre, Crikvenica hosts a month-long festival dedicated to the local ‘blue fish’ catch from mid-September, with workshops, cookery demos and live music. Blue View self-catering apartments are stylish with two bedrooms and big balconies, and only five minutes’ walk to the nearest beach.
Book it: Two-bed apartments sleeping four from £110 a night (booking.com); returns to Rijeka, 15 miles away, from £114 (ryanair.com).
SUPERB IN SPLIT
Split, Croatia’s second city, has the UNESCO-listed Diocletian’s Palace, a delightful old town, Roman heritage, some great restaurants and bars – plus fine Adriatic views. The great value, four-star Dioklecijan Hotel and Residence has a rooftop pool, two restaurants, bar and a spa. It’s a 15-minute stroll from the old town.
Book it: Doubles from £163 B&B (dlhv.hr); returns to Split from £154 (easyjet.com).
KRK’S A CORKER
Pictured here, Krk Town has fortresses, small piazzas, narrow alleyways and a real buzz
Krk was the first place in Croatia to create ‘sea champagne’ by laying bottles of wine on the seabed to ferment. The capital Krk Town has fortresses, small piazzas, narrow alleyways and a real buzz.
It’s a 15-minute bus to Malinska, a pretty horseshoe-shaped bay with beaches, bars, restaurants – and Hotel Malin, an elegant spot with pools, a spa, two restaurants and a bar terrace.
Book it: Doubles from £151 B&B (malin-krk.com); returns to Rijeka, seven miles away, from £114 (ryanair.com).
DELIGHTFUL DUBROVNIK
Lord Byron was moved to dub Dubrovnik, above, in southern Croatia, the ‘Pearl of the Adriatic’
Dubrovnik was dubbed the ‘Pearl of the Adriatic’ by Lord Byron – and it’s little surprise it stuck. On Lapad Bay with direct access to a pebble beach, Hotel Vis has simple, spacious rooms. It’s a 15-minute bus ride to the old city.
Book it: Doubles from £129 B&B (booking.com); returns to Dubrovnik from £135 (ryanair.com). Seven nights B&B with flights from £984pp (sunvil.co.uk).
Unless otherwise stated, prices are for a night in September.