This post contains product affiliate links. These are mainly on items/hotels/tours that I personally endorse & love. I may earn a small commission if you make a purchase, but at no extra cost to you.
Ready for the best adventures in Croatia? From abseiling down Dubrovnik city walls to diving the Kornati Islands, check out these adventures!
Croatia might conjure up images of island hopping, beach bumming and nowadays walking around Dubrovnik pretending you’re an extra in Game of Thrones. But I’ve found it’s the lesser known adventures in Croatia that often make my highlights of the country over the last few years.
With that sprawling coastline along the sparkling Adriatic Sea, you won’t be shocked to hear that the watersports are world-class. Windsurfing, white-water rafting, scuba diving, , kiteboarding, kayaking – I’ve done all this and more on the water in Croatia.
The dramatic landscapes of canyons, cliffs, hills, mountains and forests also provide phenomenal settings for adventurous activities. And you don’t have to travel far from the history and culture-rich towns and cities to enjoy them.
Activities and tours in Croatia range from action-packed white-water rafting on the Cetina River to a scenic jeep safari in Hvar. There are unusual things to do like abseiling down Dubrovnik Old City walls too – how many people can say they’ve done that!
So, if you’re planning a holiday in Croatia, I definitely think you should find time for some adventures. Allow my 13 suggestions of adventurous things to do in Croatia to inspire the thrill seeker in you!
Planning a trip to Croatia? Then make sure you read my guides on the best day trips from Dubrovnik, the best day trips from Split, and where to stay in Dubrovnik too. And as a little more inspiration, here are some of my favourite photos of Croatia to really get you excited for your holiday.
Contents:
Adventure activities at a glance
Before we get into the detail, here’s the quick version. I’ve sorted these by where you’d base yourself, because a few of them are a long way apart and it’s worth knowing that before you start planning.
| Activity | Base yourself in | Season | Effort |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sea kayaking | Dubrovnik | Apr to Oct | Easy |
| Abseiling the city walls | Dubrovnik | Year round (groups of 15+) | Easy |
| Jet skiing | Dubrovnik | May to Sep | Easy |
| Ziplining | Omis | Apr to Oct | Moderate |
| White-water rafting | Split / Omiš | Apr to Oct | Moderate |
| Canyoning | Split / Omiš | May to Sep | Hard |
| Rock climbing | Omiš | Spring and autumn best | Moderate |
| Hiking Biokovo | Makarska | Apr to Oct | Hard |
| Jeep safari | Hvar | May to Oct | Easy |
| Windsurfing and kiteboarding | Bol, Brač | May to Sep | Moderate |
| Scuba diving Kornati | Murter / Zadar | May to Oct | Moderate |
| Cycling Dalmatia | Anywhere coastal | Apr to Jun, Sep to Oct | Moderate |
| Sailing | Split or Dubrovnik | May to Oct | Easy |
Adventure Activities in Croatia
Sea kayaking in Dubrovnik
The Adriatic Sea is generally calm and wave-free, which makes for perfect sea kayaking conditions. Head down to the beach on any day and chances are you’ll spot a selection of brightly coloured kayaks out on the water.
The great conditions here mean that you can be a complete novice and still have a go at sea kayaking, by yourself or with a group tour. I chose to go on a tour mainly because it’s always a fun group activity and the instructors lead you to the very best spots along the rugged coastline.
Anyway, kayaking under the walls of Dubrovnik is one of the best things you can do in the city and it offers such a different perspective. I’d definitely recommend this activity for anyone looking for a bit of an adventure!
A 3-hour sea kayaking tour of Dubrovnik costs €32 and gives you the chance to exploring the coast and walls of the city. This tour includes all equipment, a knowledgeable guide, insurance and even a little snack.
Alternatively, there are some incredible day trips from Dubrovnik if you’re looking for a few other tours in Croatia further afield!
Abseiling down the Dubrovnik city walls
Why just admire the ancient Old City walls in Dubrovnik when you can abseil down them? This is one of the more unexpected adventure activities in Croatia but one of my favourites.
The abseil only takes about 30 minutes – a bit longer when you add in time for safety briefing and preparation. This makes it one of the best adventurous things to do in Croatia if you’re short on time. Unlike other activities, there’s no day tripping out of the city required.
You scale the walls down to the city’s main street, Stradun – it’s quite a way to make an entrance! One thing: lots of tourists will take photos of you so watch out for that! You can find out more about abseiling in Dubrovnik here.
One thing worth knowing before you get your hopes up. The operator only runs the abseil for groups of 15 or more, so it’s not something you can just book for two of you on a Tuesday. If you’re travelling with a big group, a stag or hen do, or a corporate trip, it’s brilliant. Otherwise it’s worth emailing ahead to ask whether they’ve got a group you can tag onto.
Jet skiing in Dubrovnik
For a hit of adrenaline along the Adriatic, hire a jet ski with Garitransfer, a family-run operator at Marina Frapa in Lapad (going since 2008). No licence is needed, so you can open the throttle past the city walls and out toward the Elaphiti Islands.
Once you’re out on the water, the whole perspective on Dubrovnik changes. You get that classic postcard view of the Old Town walls rising straight out of the sea, but without a single other tourist in the shot. It’s just you, the throttle and a stretch of properly clear blue water.
Head out towards the Elaphiti Islands if you’ve got the full half hour, since the coastline out that way is quieter and a lot more dramatic than what you’ll see hugging the marina. Just keep an eye on the ferry traffic, especially in peak season when the water gets busier than you’d expect. Prices cost from €80 for 30 minutes, with free cancellation up to 48 hours.
Ziplining over the Cetina Canyon
The zipline just outside Omis is the one I’d point people towards if they only do one adrenaline activity in Croatia. It sits in the Cetina canyon about 3km upriver from town, near the ruins of the Viseligrad fortress, and it’s made up of eight steel cables running a total of 2,100m down through the gorge. The longest single wire is 700m and hangs 150m above the ground, which is high enough that the river below turns into a thin green ribbon.
You start with a short training session on a couple of 25m practice wires, where the guides show you how to brake and how to sit in the harness properly. After that it’s a walk to the first platform and then you work your way down the canyon, wire by wire, with an instructor at every start and finish point.
Allow around two and a half to three hours for the whole thing. A group of ten with two guides is the standard setup, and transport from the office in Omis to the start point and back is included.
One practical thing. There’s a fair bit of walking between the platforms on loose rock, so wear proper shoes rather than trainers and take water with you. In July and August I’d book a late afternoon slot, because there’s very little shade up there in the middle of the day.
Ziplining the Cetina canyon costs €80 per person, and the minimum age is 7 so it works for families with older kids too. Booking is worth doing in advance in peak season, and most operators offer free cancellation up to 24 hours before.
White-water rafting on the Cetina River
I love the adrenaline rush you get with white-water rafting and the Cetina River is up there with my top places to do it. You can spend a good three hours in the raft here, on a route that’s exciting without being too intimidating.
The river flows through a spectacular canyon, which had some of my favourite scenery in Croatia. Forest, caves, waterfalls, rock formations – it’s all on view as you bump your way along the rapids. We also stopped at a few calmer spots for a quick swim.
White-water rafting on the Cetina River was one of the tours in Croatia I did as a day trip from Split. There are loads of tour operators who arrange trips from the city including transfers, which are less than an hour each way. It’s also a fantastic way of meeting some like-minded travellers too!
A 4-hour white-water rafting tour costs €38 and takes you on an amazing route of grade 2/3 rapids. This tour includes all equipment hire, professional guides and transfers too.
Canyoning on the Cetina River
As well as white-water rafting, the Cetina River is a prized place for another of the best adventures in Croatia – canyoning. Carved out over thousands of years, the many pools, lakes, cliffs and even subterranean tunnels are the perfect canyoning setting.
It’s one thing to tumble down the river in a boat, but a whole other thrill to throw yourself in. I’ll be the first to admit there are points along the way that are nerve wracking, but be brave and give it a go. I promise you won’t regret it!
This is another of the tours in Croatia that you can do from Split, so an ideal choice if you’re basing yourself there.
A canyoning tour of the Cetina River costs €50 and it is one of the best Croatian adventure activities. This tour includes all equipment, a professional guide and transfers too. Oh, make sure you bring a change of clothes for afterwards too.
For those of you looking for something a little more extreme, a little something to really push the boundaries, then you’ll want to take a look at this tour.
Rock climbing at Omis
While you’re in the area and sniffing out adventurous things to do in Croatia, spend some time in Omis. This town is where the Cetina River meets the sea and it’s great for rock climbing.
Being such a hotspot for the sport, there are plenty of instructors and routes on offer. So you’ll be comfortable climbing whether you’re a seasoned pro or complete beginner. And I promise you there are a lot of beginners here.
It’s an epic view as you climb up to the top. You can look out over the city, towards the sea or at the Cetina River canyon. Being so close to the sea also has the bonus of being able to cool off with a dip after a hard climb.
Hiking in the mountains of Makarska
Taking the heights up a notch, the mountains behind Makarska are home to Sveti Jure, which at 1,762m is the highest peak on the Dalmatian coast and the second highest in the whole of Croatia. This is Biokovo Nature Park, and it’s now part of a UNESCO Global Geopark too.
Wander on trails through olive groves, forests and vineyards to the limestone paths further up. Some of the walks are pretty strenuous so just make sure you’ve picked a route that suits your pace.
If you’d rather not hike the whole thing, the Biokovo road climbs almost to the summit and takes in the Skywalk on the way, a glass-floored viewing platform hanging off the cliff at 1,228m. Fair warning though, the road is narrow, steep and single lane with passing places, and the park only lets around 20 vehicles in per hour, so you need to book your slot online in advance. The Skywalk also shuts over winter.
This is actually one of my favourite adventurous activities in Croatia as all you need is a good pair of hiking shoes! Also, the views from the top of the mountains are simply incredible.
Jeep safari in Hvar
Hvar has a reputation of being all about partying. While it’s true that the nightlife is great, don’t miss the adventurous things to do in Croatia on offer here too.
The island is one of the most picturesque in Croatia, and jumping on a jeep safari is an exciting way to take in the scenery. As well as olive groves, vineyards and hilly landscapes, you get to see Hvar’s famous lavender fields and old, abandoned settlements and villages.
The gravel roads aren’t the smoothest, so maybe don’t plan this activity for the morning after a night at Carpe Diem! It is a fantastic way of learning more about the island though and obviously a lot of fun too.
Windsurfing and kiteboarding in Bol
Lots of places along the Adriatic coast are good for windsurfing and kiteboarding, but Bol is one of the best. The town is on the island of Brač and is known for the gorgeous beach Zlatni Rat or the ‘Golden Horn’ as it’s also called. It’s easily one of my favourite beaches in Croatia.
Here the conditions for wind and kitesurfing are near perfect, mainly thanks to the wind regularly blowing above 15 knots and the flat water. Stroll along the main road down to the beach and you’ll find countless instructors and rental places. If you’ve never given either sport a go before, this is a great place to dip your toe in the water – literally.
Scuba diving the Kornati Islands National Park
Are you looking for an amazing underwater adventure? Then look no further than the Kornati Islands National Park. The park sits in an archipelago between Zadar and Sibenik and takes in 89 islands, islets and reefs, with some of the best dive spots in the country and an abundance of marine wildlife.
One thing to know before you plan this. You can’t dive Kornati independently. Every dive has to go through an authorised dive centre with a park permit, in one of the designated zones, and there’s a 40m depth limit. Book it through a centre in Murter, Zadar or Sibenik rather than turning up and hoping.
Murter Island is usually the starting point for most dives. Around here you can see all kinds of impressive scenery as well as octopuses, sea sponges, crustaceans and lots of colourful fish.
One of the coolest parts is getting to explore the underwater wrecks, and there are a fair few in the area too. Francesca Wreck is completely covered in soft coral and a truly incredible sight. This is without a doubt one of the best dives in Croatia!
Cycling around Dalmatia
Anyone into cycling should definitely consider making it one of their main modes of transport in Dalmatia. The roads are generally excellent for bikes and it means throwing a little adventure into your experience while you get from A to B.
You get to admire the stunning scenery and some of the national parks are even bike-friendly, such as Krka. You can also take your bike on ferries between islands, so getting around on two wheels really is a pretty convenient option.
Alternatively, if you don’t fancy all the hill climbs, there are a number of e-bike tours on offer. This is a full-day e-bike tour around Krkr National Park which is pretty spectacular.
Sail Croatia
You might know Sail Croatia as a party tour operator. Well, they are a safe bet if you want to meet new people, socialise and party away the evenings.
But what you might not know is that they also offer active cruises based around cycling and hiking. So, you can enjoy the social side of Sail Croatia but also make sure you pack in as much adventure as possible.
One of their most popular trips is their hiking cruises where you get to take on some of the best hiking trails in the country. Plus, sailing between destinations ensures you get to see a decent chunk of the country in even a short 7-day cruise.
Are you struggling to decide between Croatia and Montenegro? Can work out which one you’d like to see first? Then this is the article for you!
Which of these amazing adventures in Croatia sound good to you? Tell me which you’d love to try in the comments below!
Like this blog post? Then make sure you Pin it for the future!
