My husband and I enjoyed two weeks of visiting Croatia with our two dogs. Despite Croatia being known for its beautiful clear seas and hundreds of islands, there are many reasons why you should roadtrip Croatia with dogs.
We got to visit most of the coast, drive on scenic highways, and visit many unique regions in Croatia. It was the best way to visit the best cities in Croatia such as Split, while also being able to bring our dogs with us.
My favorite region was Istria where we got to see the Pula Arena and enjoy little hidden gems like Bale.
1. Easy travel with dogs
If, like for us, your dogs are part of the family you know how important it is to find ways to include them in your travel plans! This is the main reason why we chose to rent a car.
Initially we had considered visiting the islands but when researching about how to travel around Croatia with dogs, we realized it was easier with a car. The train system is not as robust as in other European cities and the buses don’t always allow dogs. This is at the discretion of each individual bus driver. The roads are well maintained and easy to drive around, with well located parking lots to visit the cities.
Croatia was very dog friendly. Every restaurant we went to accepted dogs. Some musems were pet friendly, even though we sometimes had to carry them. All national parks we went to in Croatia were pet friendly, including Plitvice! Many public beaches in Croatia are also dog friendly and easy to get to. Be aware our dogs were turned away from most churches and the Nikola Tesla Memorial Centre.
Find your own car
2. Discover incredible towns
While driving from Pula to Rovinj we saw a sign for Bale and decided to take a quick detour. The old stone walls, cobbled streets, and wooden covered windows transported me to a time of Roman trade routes and Venetian rule. The old medieval castle is an amazing backdrop to incredible scenic views of the surrounding fields.
Not only was the city a less known destination if you want to avoid all the crowds, but it also had some of the best food we have tried. Don’t miss La Grisa for amazingly inventive and delicious Istrian dishes.
Other cities you need to visit are: Pula with the amazing Arena which is dog friendly; Rovinj and Trogir with the old medieval town feel; Rastoke that looks like a fairytale village; and Split where the city itself is inside Diocletian’s Palace.
3. Visit Plitvice Lakes National Park
No Croatian trip is complete without a visit to the famous Plitvice Lakes waterfalls. There are two parks with waterfalls and lakes: Krka and Plitvicka. If you have time for both, visit them. But if you only have time for one, go to Plitvice. You can’t miss the cascading water to clear blue lakes, the green background of trees, and peaceful roar of waterfalls as you walk the trails. Photos do not do it justice.
We stayed in Zadar, which was less than a 2 hour drive to Plitvicka’s Entrance 2. The park has multiple trails with options to use the buses and boats as well as walk. There are planks around some parts that allow to see the lakes and waterfalls up close. Be careful as they might get hot and there were other dogs around. It does get very hot on some of the paths so make sure you bring enough water for you and your dogs.
Do not miss going to Plitvice Lakes as it really was one of the best dog friendly activities and a dream come true for me.
Tickets are €40 for adults during high season. Check out more information on the official Plitvice Lakes website.
4. Visit local Croatian farms and try Croatian olive oil
There are so many registered family farms, or OPG, in Lika-Senj County. Here you can buy local products like cheeses, honey, and vegetables. We stopped at OPG Ana Milkovic where my husband went into their house for some cheese and came out with 1kg of one of the most delicious soft cheeses you’ll try. It was a sort of mix of panela and queso fresco that we finished in a few days! Don’t forget to bring cash and don’t be shy, go up to their house and knock!
Driving around we also saw many olive oil manufacturers. Croatian olive oil is delicious and worth trying. After driving Chiavalon, we finally stopped and it’s become a favorite! We not only bought their Atilio oil but also fig jam, tomato sauce, and the best cocoa hazelnut spread I’ve had in my life.
5. Scenic Drives along the Croatian coast and Croatian beaches
You can always drive on the highways to get faster from one place to another, or you can take the coastal highways and have an amazing scenic drive admiring Croatia’s beautiful seas. My husband and I chose to drive the scenic route from Pula to Zadar and the views were AMAZING!
Along the way there are beach towns you can stop in for lunch or dinner, like Crikvenica, or castles to visit like Trsat in Rijeka.
My favorite dog-friendly beaches were the ones inside national parks. If we hadn’t had a car, we would have just visited the accessible beaches from a city instead of one in the many national parks Croatia has to offer!
Kamenjak park has a secluded and rocky beach with a great beach bar, Safari Bar. This bar had the most amazing calamari sandwich I have ever had!
Being able to drive these scenic routes is definitely why you have to do a roadtrip.
Best pet friendly hotels in Croatia
Lone Hotel by Maistra Collection ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Rovinj
pools, amazing restaurants (Tekka is delicious), beachfront
Valsabbion Boutique Hotel ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Pula
beachfront, free parking
Old Town Inn ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Rijeka
great location in old town Rijeka
Hotel Miramare ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Crikvenica
close to Monty’s Dog Beach!
Hotel A’mare ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Zadar
walking distance from old Zadar
Villa Nepos Hotel⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Split
inside old city, renovated historic building, washing machine
The Pucic Palace ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Dubrovnik
renovated baroque palace, restaurants, close to everything
Hotel Jezero ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Plitvice Lakes
direct access to the park with free private parking
Final thoughts
Driving around Croatia lets you get off the beaten path to less visited cities like Bale. It also allows for more spontaneity, like seeing a castle from afar and changing the route to visit it.
We had unique experiences in Croatia, such as the small family run restaurant close to Plitvice. My husband said he ate the best pizza he’s ever had—yes, we live in Italy—and we got complimentary “house juice.” We have no idea what was in it except maybe a local fruit and mint. But we would never had had this opportunity if we had done a tour or visited by boat.
If we hadn’t had a car and gone around Croatia by bus, boat or by a pre-arranged tour, we would have missed discovering my new favorite hazelnut spread and the local Croatian farms. Doing a roadtrip around Croatia with dogs gives you the freedom to be spontaneous and experience the local Croatian culture.
Don’t forget to prepare your dogs for any type of travel!
For more dog friendly Croatia guides
Croatia With Dogs: All You Need To Know To Travel With Your Dogs
9 Dog Friendly Activities In Croatia
Pet Friendly Beaches In Croatia
8 Best Cities In Croatia You Have To Visit With Your Dog
What To Do In Split With Dogs: Top 5 Activities
Top 5 Activities In Pula, Croatia With Dogs
Plitvice Lakes With Dogs: A Guide To Exploring Croatia’s Natural Wonder
More on Dog Travel
How To Travel With Your Dog: The Essential 5 Tips For Dog Air Travel
Travel To Europe With A Dog: Complete Guide For Easy Dog Vacations
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Croatia is at the top of my bucket list for a road trip – so far, I’ve only seen Dubrovnik during a cruise stop. It’s great to hear how dog-friendly the country is, especially with every restaurant you visited welcoming dogs. That’s not always the case in Europe!
I was surprised, too as everything I had read said they wouldn’t be welcomed inside! coming from Italy which is very pet-friendly, I was happy we could enjoy some a/c in Croatia as well! Lol
I had a Croatia roadtrip planned for the spring of 2020….and well, you know what happened. I’ve never been able to reschedule it, but that trip is still high on my travel list!! Plitvice Lakes, especially.
You definitely should! Plitvice Lakes was a dream come true for me!
These are all great reasons to visit Croatia. It’s been on my bucket list for awhile. I’d love to see the views on the scenic drives and savor the Croatian olive oil. So many great finds here!
I love a good road – adding to my list.
We’ve generally avoided renting a car in Croatia, relying on ferries and public transport. That said, when we have our dog along, road tripping will make much more sense. Thanks for the tips also on places that are dog friendly that we can visit.
It looks like a great trip and your dogs are adorable. The olive oil and cheese looked delicious!