Forget Santorini and its blue domes and caldera views, the French Riviera with the exclusive beach clubs and retro appeal, and Barcelona with its jam-packed beaches and hostile attitude towards foreigners.
The top 2 trendiest Mediterranean getaways this year are claimed by one country, tucked away in the much-overlooked Balkan peninsula, in Southeastern Europe, and believe it or not, Americans can fly to both nonstop starting this year.
Last year, Croatia clocked the highest number of hotel bookings of any region in the European Union, with 34 million reservations across Airbnb, Booking, and Expedia, according to Eurostat data.
This year, it looks set to dominate the travel landscape once more, with United Airlines banking heavily on a Croatian summer, starting with the Pearl of the Adriatic:
Dubrovnik
Europe’s most sought-after fortified town, Dubrovnik, has been on the bucket list of many since it featured heavily on Game of Thrones as the fictional Westeros capital, King’s Landing.
For quite a few summers, United has flown the Newark (EWR) → Dubrovnik (DBV) route, capitalizing on the HBO show’s magnanimous popularity, and it’s showing no signs of slowing down anytime soon.
If you’re dreaming of wandering timeless cobbled lanes flanked by stone-built palaces that date back centuries, and marvel at imposing fortifications that straddle seas so turquoise that only the Caribbean rivaled it.
Yes, it’s crowded, and yes, it’s resembling more and more a medieval theme park nowadays, with historic place locations being renamed on Google to match their Game of Thrones equivalents—forget the Jesuit Steps, it’s Cersei’s Walk of Home—and GoT sightseeing tours surpassing actual valuable cultural expeditions in demand, but hey, this level of ancient allure doesn’t just dwindle overnight.
Away from the cruise visitor-dominated Stradun, there are numerous quieter, marble-paved back alleys to get lost in around Dubrovnik, paved with marble streets, and believe it or not, only a minority of tourists actually go inside the historic Sponza Palace, one of a handful of buildings in town that survived a devastating 17th-century earthquake.
There are a couple of hidden gems to keep an eye out for here, as well. The Franciscan Monastery is home to one of the oldest pharmacies in Europe, dating back to the 1500s, and a short ferry hop away, Lokrum Island is a lush Mediterranean escape with church ruins, botanical gardens, and quiet swimming spots.
Fly Nonstop From Newark (EWR) To Dubrovnik (DBV)
- Only one nonstop route operated by United Airline (seasonal service only)
- Direct flight: about 8h50 outbound, 10h10 return
- 1 flight per day in peak season (June through August)
- Typical roundtrip averages: about $1,100–$1,250
Before you book your flights to Croatia, make sure you use the Entry Requirement Checker to verify your have all your documentation in order. Europe is changing its travel rules this year, and Americans are particularly affected.
Don’t say we didn’t want you.
Split
The second-largest city in Croatia, and the go-to hub these days for partying and some sun-drenched fun (with a dash of Old World culture), Split will be serviced by nonstop Transatlantic flights for the first time ever this year.
Split Airport (SPU) is the most-anticipated addition to United’s ever-expanding Euro summer network, and it marks Croatia’s second nonstop link to North America after DBV. We’re still waiting on those Pula flights to be announced, but in the meantime, we’ll settle for this Adriatic powerhouse.
And hey, don’t get us wrong, we’re far from being mad at Delta’s destination of choice this year.
Split is half lively coastal resort, half ancient wonder spilling out the walls of a 3rd-century palace built at the orders of a Roman Emperor. The city quite literally started as the preferred summer retreat of Emperor Diocletian, and as the once-vast empire crumbled and fell, folks started moving into its wide courtyards and outer wings and occupying them.
It is now what we call Split’s Stari Grad, or Old Town, with medieval-era plazas flanked by coffeeshops and traditional stone-built townhouses (yes, they have the iconic green shutters), and winding cobbled alleys that seem to have no end.
The waterfront, Split, Riva, is where some of the trendiest bars and clubs are located, and your best bet for a good time on a weekend out in downtown Split, though if you’re truly here for sun, sea, and summer raving, you might want to take a boat out to a nearby island called Hvar.
We like to call it, personally, the Croatian Ibiza. Iykyk.
Alternatively, the more offbeat island of Brač, roughly 40 minutes away by boat, is more relaxed, with stone-cut towns hugged by the azure Adriatic, a lush countryside, and scenic pebbly beaches with maybe half the crowds you see in Split.
Fly Nonstop From America To Split (SPU)
- Only one nonstop route operated by United Airline (seasonal service only)
- Direct flight: about 8h45 outbound, 10h05 return
- 3 flights per week in peak season (Sun/Tue/Thu)
- Typical roundtrip averages: about $800–$1,150
Wondering whether it is as chaotic and a hotspot for pickpocketing as those Spain resort towns? This is Eastern-ish Europe, baby. Far fewer scammers to watch out for.
Here’s what travelers are saying about Split in particular:
Move over France, Italy, Spain: Croatia’s the hottest summer destination this year, but you don’t necessarily have to restrict yourself to either the touristy Dubrovnik or Split.
Here are 4 lesser known European islands for less crowds and cheaper prices.
