Share a beer with your dog in Croatia
The croatian coast It has become the favorite destination of many, attracted by its spectacular blue and white beauty, mixed with a green and mountainous landscape and 'serial' cities. Split and Dubrovnik they are more dog-friendly than many European cities, and the coast and natural parks They will delight your dog.
The Croatian coast is one of those destinations that, despite becoming more popular every year r, still preserves a peace difficult to find on other European coasts. It is the ideal place to relax, enjoy the beach, sailing, and history. It doesn't matter if you have already been to Croatia, it's time for you to rediscover it through the eyes of your dog.
The king of the sea and of Croatia
For a complete route, the ideal is have a car , since moving around with a dog is never an easy thing if you depend on public transport. From Spain it is only a couple of days of travel, which you can also take advantage of to visit cities like ** Venice ** and Ljubljana, top destinations for traveling with a dog. Another option, especially if your dog weighs less than 10 kilos, is fly to Zagreb and rent a car.
Start by paying a visit to Monty's Dog Beach and Bar , in Crikvenica , north of Croatia. The beach is small, just like the city in which it is located, but it is worth it just for the experience . Like all the beaches on the Adriatic coast, it is a pebble beach. Our recommendation is that when you arrive in Croatia you get some sandals or water shoes. If your dog has delicate pads, you can also put some boots , but it is usually not necessary.
The Monty's Dog Bar Every year it is visited by travelers with dogs from all over the world, even from across the pond. It's about a project organized by the managers of a hotel for dogs near the city of Rijeka . The best? You will know that you are not disturbing anyone, since all the bathers are there for the same reason. In addition, your dog will have other dogs to play with. But the touch of grace is given by the bar menu: beer for humans and for dogs , and ice creams and sweets dog-friendly . Beer for dogs does not contain alcohol or gas, but is made with beef or chicken and other ingredients suitable for them. The bar also rents Go Pro cameras in case you want to record your dog taking a dip.
At the end of the day, Monty's has some reserved showers to be able to rinse the salt from your hair – not doing so can cause itching and skin problems – and dishes with water to cool off before continuing the route.
exudes happiness
Before you get to Split, do not forget to make other essential stops. **Plitvice Lakes National Park ** is the best known of the Croatian parks, a place to enjoy spectacular lakes, waterfalls and springs. It is so beautiful that it looks like science fiction. Unfortunately, your dog must be on a leash, but he is allowed to enter. It can be an ideal place to take a relaxed walk after a long and exhausting day at the beach. A detail to keep in mind if you plan to stop during your route is that the park closes the ticket office at five in the afternoon.
We hope that your dog likes to go by car, because we still have a long way to go. The best trick is to make each stop fun and exhausting, so that they can then rest for the rest of the journey. Come on, very similar to if you were traveling with children.
Another natural park that you cannot miss is the park of Krka , famous for its waterfalls. Here, we recommend patience, since getting to the park is not that easy. The park, the only one where bathing is allowed, has five entrances. It is important to inform yourself in advance, since depending on the ticket you will be able to access by car, by boat or on foot. The entrance that leads to the falls is the entrance of Skradin, from where you must take a ferry to access the park.
Dogs are allowed entry , but same as in Plitvice They must go on the leash except in the area of the monastery, where they can move freely –although not enter it–. The only place they are not allowed is in the Visovac island. In the event that you use the bus or ferry to get to the park, on the way you should wear a muzzle – always a basket, not cloth, so that your dog can pant if it is hot, and drink water through the muzzle.
When traveling with a dog, keep in mind that this type of visit is usually be enjoyed more in calmer months, What june or september , when the weather is very nice but not overcrowded. It is easier that in those months they also turn a blind eye when it comes to leash and muzzle rules, although you should always be prepared.
Krka
TIPS FOR VISITING CROATIAN CITIES
It's time to visit one of the most famous cities in Croatia, Split , protagonist of several sequences of Game of Thrones . In fact, it is quite likely that looking for accommodation you will find apartments and hotels that are advertised located near the scenes of the series. Unfortunately it is not always true.
Split is wonderful for traveling with a dog, like most Croatian cities, since the historic center is closed to traffic. In addition, a detail to keep in mind if you travel with a dog is that their white stone floors never get very hot, so your dog's paws are safe. In any case, when in doubt, it is always advisable try walking barefoot , or putting the palm of the hand. If it's too hot for you, it's too hot for your dog.
In Split you will find several accommodations that accept dogs . Although its policy on animals seems to have changed in the last year, one example is the Spalatino Apartment . The apartment is small, but very close to the historic center and has everything you need to spend a few days. Airbnb offers many accommodation possibilities when traveling with a dog, since it allows filter by homes that accept pets , and these do not usually put any objection on the size of the dog, nor charge an extra. Also, if you want to go out at night and your dog prefers to stay at home after a day at the beach and sightseeing, you can leave him alone. On the contrary, hotels usually do not allow it.
Split, perfect for walking with your dog
The essentials of Split are the diocletian palace , the promenade or la Riva , the golden gate with the famous statue of Grgur Ninsky (remember to touch his toe if you want to go back to Split!) and get lost in the beautiful streets of the city. If you're traveling with a small dog, you probably won't mind entering any historic sites. In the absence of an express prohibition –or even with it–, The entrance with large dogs will depend many times on the person who is responsible at that time, or how many people there are. At dinner time, the locals recommend the black risotto, a typical Croatian dish that you will find on practically all the menus on the coast, accompanied by seafood.
After a day in the city it is time to return to the beach. Although Split has beaches close to the city, these are often crowded and not all of them allow dogs. One piece of advice is to move to the area between Krvavica and Bilosevac. The coast is full of small coves of just a few meters, most of them nudists. Some are so small that if you arrive on time they can become a private cove. They are not very easy to find. Try searching Google Maps for the beach Bilosevac or Cuban Beach Bar . You will have to park the car in a pine forest and walk several meters along a dirt road. A sign indicates the “dog beach” later.
The beaches are covered with large stones, so lying down is not very comfortable. Many people, in addition to crabs, go prepared with inflatable beds or mats. The best thing for your dog is that in many of the coves, due to the vegetation, there are shaded areas , so it won't get too hot.
definition of happy dog
The last stop on the coast is the city of Dubrovnik . If Split is wonderful, the walled city of Dubrovnik is breathtaking, especially when you see it illuminated at dusk.
Although in general Croatia is a more dog-friendly what can be expected, Dubrovnik takes the cake. Not only for his pedestrian streets , for which it is common to see dogs walking alone before returning home, but also for the friendliness of the people you come across, always ready to give your dog a caress and offer a bowl of water.
In Dubrovnik it is best to get lost. Whether you stay inside the walls or on the outskirts of the city (much cheaper), the best thing you can do is start walking with your dog, you will only need one day to get to know the center. Access the city through one of its two entrances. In front of the Pile gate there is a car park , perfect to leave the car near the city. If you're lucky, Near the Ploce gate it is possible to park on the street.
Panchisimo
From the pile door, the main one, there is easy access to the walls that surround the city: almost 2 kilometers from which to observe the roofs of the medieval city and the Adriatic Sea. Also don't miss the Santo Domingo Monastery and the Onofrio Fountain. Around of the Light Square you will find the bell tower , the Sponza Palace and the Church of San Blas . The dome that stands out above the rest of the buildings in the city is the cathedral.
If you are in Dubrovnik with your dog, don't miss the gatsby restaurant . The best restaurant to go with your dog , since the owner is in love with these animals. Not only is the food good, but they will make sure your dog is as comfortable as possible. Do not be surprised if the owner of the restaurant decides to give you a walk around while you eat or have dinner in peace.
If you still have days to spare and want to explore the islands, from the main cities you can take a ferry to visit Hvar or Solta. The rules for traveling by ferry with your dog are usually the same in all countries: leash and muzzle, but make sure you confirm this with the company before boarding. It is also possible to rent a sailboat to navigate the islands. They tend to be more fussy about animals, but sometimes a compromise can be reached. Except in high season, when it is essential to book in advance, it is best to go to the port itself and talk to the captain or the rental company. And don't forget the life jacket for your dog!
Happy holiday dog on his Croatian boat