Enjoy Croatia with a clear conscience
Croatia is one of the favorite travel destinations of German-speaking countries and in some places is literally overrun by tourists in the high season. In this article, we want to show you alternative destinations and types of travel. Especially south of Split (except around Dubrovnik) you can still find many typical villages and beautiful beaches. The mountainous hinterland on the border is also relatively undeveloped in terms of tourism and well worth a visit. But there are also less touristy areas in Istria - especially outside the main season - which are mostly located in the hinterland.
If you want to travel (more) sustainably, you can make a difference through your choice of vacation destination, the way you travel and your choice of food and general behavior at your vacation destination. Those who give preference to local accommodation providers, small local restaurants and local stores, go on a discovery tour in the hinterland for local products and seek direct contact with local people have already made a major contribution.
We have searched the web for interesting information for us (and hopefully for our readers) on how to enjoy a sustainable vacation in beautiful Croatia.
Hiking and cycling
If you enjoy hiking or cycling, you can discover Istria starting from Trieste along the Parenzana - a disused old railroad line. The Parenzana leads past salt pans to the car-free artists' village of Groznan, from there through charming countryside to the lovely town of Motovun and then on to Porec. Further information can be found here.
Croatia offers many opportunities for hikers, for example in the Velebit Mountains, where you may even come across a brown bear(https://www.hps.hr/english/velebit-hiking-trail/) or you can hike along the Via Dinarica from Slovenia to Albania(https://trail.viadinarica.com/de/).
There are providers who offer tours for Croatia by bike and boat in Istria, the national parks of Dalmatia and more. One example is https://www.boatbiketours.de/reisen/land/kroatien/
Sea and beach
If you want more than just sea and beach, you can explore the Medimurje region in the hinterland with its idyllic villages and wonderful landscape. If you want to travel differently, you can also find agritourism offers on the internet.
There is also an eco version of AirBnB: https://ecobnb.de
If you want to spend your vacation on a small wooded island far away from the tourist crowds, the small Dalmatian island of Lastovo is the place for you! Most of the accommodation is privately rented.
Eco-Camping
Croatia is also a country of campers, and here too there are sustainable campsites(https://ecocamps.de/Region/kroatien/) that place a strong focus on preserving the natural environment, avoiding waste, generating sustainable energy and using regional products.
Like a hundred years ago
There are so-called ethno-villages where you can live in restored stone houses far away from mass tourism without cell phone reception, just like in the old days.
Arrival by bus and train
If you want to do without your own car, you can also travel from Germany and Austria by train and bus. It is only possible to take bicycles to a limited extent. You have to book early! Here you will find a wealth of information about traveling by train, train and ferry as well as rail savings offers.
We have described some of the seaside destinations that are easy to reach by train in an article:
https://news.pro.earth/2023/05/24/mit-dem-zug-ans-meer/
The editorial team wishes you a restful, relaxing and sustainable trip!
