I am a software engineer, and I have the liberty to work remotely from anywhere in Europe. It is a month of August; just the thought of all the heat and sun makes me sweat already. We did a quick internet research, and Croatia came out to be one of the cheapest and best destinations in the summer (spoiler alert, it was not very cheap when we booked the hotels, but we had booked the tickets already. I know four software engineers ought to do a better job on googling; I so much fear the AI takeover). We were looking for a place near water. Anyplace with good internet, we would be fine.
So the plan was to do a Workation; travel around and party on the weekends; work on the workdays; get in the water as much as possible; and chase the sunsets, of course.
We booked a flight from Koln to Zadar and drove right away to Split. Now Split is a very pretty city. When you hear Croatia, the first cities to come to mind are Zagreb, the capital, and Zadar. Zagreb was a 3-hour drive from Zadar, but after being in so many European cities, I am not particularly thrilled with the idea of going out of my way to visit a city. Dubrovnik is also a very popular city to visit, especially amongst the GOT fans, but seriously, after that ending? So, we decided on Split. There is a highway, of course, you can take to get to Split from Zadar, but we decided to take a bit longer, more picturesque route along the coast, winding along the scenic Dalmatian coast. The drive along the coast was so satisfying and so beautiful. We even got out of the car and took dips a couple of times in our journey. There were virtually no one; just imagine having the entire beach to yourself.
To do in Split
Split in August turned out to be a very busy place, filled with young people, especially Brits. The beaches are occupied, and there are also boat parties you could go on. Just a heads up: if you cannot swim, it’s not made for you. They take the boat in the middle of the ocean, and you can jump into the water when the ocean is ~25 m deep. You can get drinks on board and dance and talk to people, but I am not a fan (drinking, yes, but I couldn’t since I was driving), so it was incredibly boring for me. Just once when you let your friends plan the trip, right? *smh*
There are pretty good beaches in Split: Kasjuni Beach, Ježinac Beach, and Bacvice Beach, amongst others. All of these beaches are facing west, hence the amazing view of Sunset.
You can also visit the Old City in the morning or before lunch. I would not say it’s a must if you have been to other European cities; I don’t think it has much to offer, but you are here anyway, right? We spent two evenings on Split, and the majority of time, we spent in and around the water. It was a perfect summer weekend.
Next to Zadar
The plan was to fly in and out of Zadar. We came to Split only for the weekend; we are still on Workation, remember?
Enroute to Zadar, we planned to pass through Krka National Park, and it’s a must. It was really amazing; there was green and so much water everywhere; you can easily spend 3 to 4 hours there. And the waterfall is so picturesque.
We had read that you could take a dip in the waterfall; just the thought of taking a dip in fresh water after being tortured by the salty water was so fulfilling. But it turns out that thread was some 9 years ago. Apparently, they prohibited swimming there as there were too many dead bodies to clear. Wicked huh?So, we did look stupid roaming around in our swimsuits, but hey, who cares? We had lunch in one of the cafes and drank some beers—not me, of course—but it was a really nice day out. This is a must-do when in Croatia.
And finally to Zadar!
So the plan in Zadar was to work during the day and go out in the evenings. So we didn’t go around the city much. Zadar has the most beautiful sunset in the world, Alfred said so. And boy, he knew what he was talking about. I have traveled to more than 30 cities in Europe, 12 countries, and haven’t seen sunsets more beautiful than these. I don’t have enough words; the pictures speak for themselves.
The Greeting to the Sun, a solar-powered light installation, added a touch of magic to the evening, illuminating the waterfront with a mesmerizing glow.
For sunsets, Sea Organ is the place to be. The place is quite occupied, so you want to be there, at least 30 minutes before the sunset. There are a lot of beaches in Zadar as well; you can go and enjoy the dip in that heat. It was a true experience of “fyaka,” (btw, which is my new favorite Croatian word), that delightful state of blissful idleness that seems to permeate every corner of Croatia.
So that’s it. That’s us chasing sunsets, and I don’t think there’s a better place on earth to do that. We did everything—the ocean, beaches, waterfalls, forests, and sunsets!
P.S. Don’t forget to pack your swimsuit, sunscreen, and a good camera. You’ll need them!