Visit in September or October and you still get all the things we love about Croatia from the sparkling Adriatic waters to the long sunny days, beautiful islands and excellent food and wine, but, more importantly, without the suffocating crowds of peak season.

The opportunity to get one last taste of summer during shoulder season (those blissfully uncrowded months outside of peak-season madness) is particularly hard to beat. The sea is still wonderfully warm after a summer spent soaking up the sun, temperatures are perfect for exploring and the crowds of July and August have begun to disappear. Suddenly, those impossibly pretty coves feel a little more private, beaches are less crowded, restaurant tables are easier to come by and wandering around historic towns feels considerably less like a frantic exercise in human traffic management.


Without the crowds, hotels and resorts have greater availability, while bars and restaurants can take their time, resulting in service that feels more relaxed, attentive and unhurried. There is something wonderfully luxurious about not feeling rushed, whether that means lingering over lunch, securing the table you actually wanted or enjoying a cocktail without wondering when the next booking is due to arrive.

Shoulder season is also the perfect time to explore. Cooler temperatures make hiking, cycling, sailing and discovering Croatia’s national parks far more enjoyable. And then there is the food. September and October bring the autumn harvest, making this an especially delicious time for food-focused travel, with the country’s seasonal produce at its best.


In other words, shoulder season offers the Croatia we always want to experience…  just a little bit quieter. And isn't having fewer people around rather the point of luxury travel?
Shoulder season allows Croatia to breathe which, in turn, gives visitors permission to do the same.

Luxury link: www.croatia.hr