An Accessible Guide to Croatia Vol1: Dubrovnik, Split, Makarska, and Zagreb.
Table Of Contents Chapter 1: A Great Holiday in Dubrovnik 1 Things to Do 2 Accessible Accomdations Dubrovnik 5 How to Get Around 5 Chapter 2: For a Great Holiday in Split 6 Things to Do 6 Accessible Accomodations Split 8 How to Get Around 8 Chapter 3: A Great Holiday in Makarska 9 Things to Do 9 Accessible Accommodations Makarska 10 How to Get Around 10 Chapter 4: For a Great Holiday in Zagreb 11 Things to Do 11 Accessible Accomodations Zagreb 13 How to Get Around 13 Summary 14
With the reputation for incredible natural beauty, historical architecture, and delicate food, Croatia has become the European top seaside destination. It is a perfect place for you to enjoy the sunshine, limpid waters, wide beaches, colorful urban culture and Game of Thrones tours. Travelling here is easy since Croatia is hard at work to provide accessible activities to enjoy during vacation. The country isn t originally designed with wheelchair users in mind, but the various ramps and helpful people in the area will help provide you with plenty to do and see. Use this simple and indepth guide to understand what to see, things to do, accessible accommodations and how to get around in Dubrovnik, Split, Makarska, and Zagreb. Chapter 1: A Great Holiday in Dubrovnik Dubrovnik has everything you d want from a vacation spot. They have beautiful weather that ll let you comfortably sit outside for hours. Croatian wines there will please even the pickiest palate, and their fresh seafood will let you think back on it all with fond memories and a watering mouth for many months to come! Page 1
Things to Do Trsteno Arboretum Trsteno Arboretum, an outdoor museum of trees, was built at some point before 1492, making it one of the oldest arboretums in the world. The gardens there are filled with all sorts of beautiful plants, making it a lovely place to spend your day. This specific arboretum is also fascinating as it served as part of the set in both the third and fourth seasons of Game of Thrones. Most paths in the arboretum are broad enough to accommodate wheelchairs. Rector s Palace and Cultural History Museum After enjoying the outdoor activity, Rector s Palace and Cultural History Museum will attract your attention. It was created with beautiful Venetian- Gothic architecture, allowing you a glimpse into the past before you ve even entered. The museum has all sorts of artwork that spans from the 15th to the 20th century. It also provides a special wheelchair that allows wheelchair users complete access to all parts of the museum. Photo Credit: Cultura Page 2
Dubrovnik Sea Aquarium As a collection of tanks built right into the city walls, Dubrovnik Sea Aquarium is an impressive place with turtles, eel, seahorses, lobsters, sea anemones, corals, crabs, and more! The aquarium is comfortably within the walls of St. Ivan, a medieval fortress. It allows you to see quite a bit of sea life along with a healthy dose of incredible architecture. Since the aquarium is in the walls, it s easy for wheelchair users to roll along and look at all the tanks have to offer. Dubrovnik Cable Car The cable car is wheelchair accessible and will give you views from an altitude of 405 meters. Once you ve made it up to the upper station after a 4-minute ride, you can make use of binocular telescopes, a panoramic restaurant, souvenir shops, and bathrooms. Everything up at the station is wheelchair accessible, including the bathroom. Page 3
Copacabana Beach Travelling to Dubrovnik, you definitely need to experience the beaches! Among them, one of the best options is Copacabana Beach. The beach is a beautiful, pebble-strewn area with plenty of cafes and restaurants to choose from. The fresh sea air and friendly staff make it a popular place to relax! It s the perfect area to settle back and enjoy your vacation to the fullest. The beach also has a wheelchair lift available for use for your convenience. It s the only beach in Dubrovnik with a lift, making Copacabana one of the best options available. Page 4
Accessible Accomdations Dubrovnik Whether you want stylish accessiblewheelchair friendly apartments in the heart of the city, sprawling homes or hotels for your entire traveling party or catamaran for the proper nautical experience, Handiscover has you covered! Just choose from our list of access levels that fit your need then book it to start planning your Dubrovnik holidays. Photo: Handiscover- Catamaran Manuela How to Get Around Dubrovnik has many new buses that have started running in the past few years that provide a comfortable mode of transportation. Most of the buses have a ramp at the middle door to allow you to roll up into it. Some of the buses have low-floor that can go down to pavement level so that you could roll aboard easily. There are also vans with lifts that you can rent for traveling around Dubrovnik. If you re looking for a wheelchair accessible transfer from the airport, check out for some helpful information at www.absolutecroatia.com Page 5
What to see and Things to Do Chapter 2: For a Great Holiday in Split Come to experience the largest city in the Dalmatia Region. Residing on the Adriatic Sea, Split is dotted with coastal towns and also serves as a bustling transportation hub. Because of this, Split offers you many great and accessible selections. Discover this typical Mediterranean city with Handiscover today! Things to Do Ivan Mestrovic Glleryce With awe-inspiring art, immaculate gardens, a villa, and cloister, the Mestrovic Gallery is not to be missed. Roam the halls here to learn more about the history of the building and the sculptures, paintings, and furniture of the artist, Ivan Mestrovic. As one of the most popular attractions, the gallery is considered to have disability access and be wheelchair friendly. Page 6
What to See and Things to Do Diocletian's Palace Photo Credit: Diocletian's Palace Marjan Built at the turn of the 4th-century, this towering ancient artifact houses many modern shops. Perfect for both history lovers and urban explorers alike, the Palace offers something for everyone. Shop in one of the many small boutiques within its walls then enjoy a 360-degree view of the city from the top of the peristyle. This Label accessible palace offers multiple areas of wheelchair friendly access. West of the Old Town, this peninsula is dotted with Mediterranean shrubs and thick pine trees along multiple pedestrian paths. Enjoy incredible sea views and enjoy a meal at Vidilica Cafe and spend time at the Bene recreation ground. The paths have wheelchair accessibility and are flat and reasonable to traverse even with limited mobility. Page 7
Accessible Accomodations Split Label Photo: Handiscover- Split Luxury Penthouse with Jacuzzi Experience Split as a local would when you book one of our many disabledfriendly vacation rentals. Choose from luxury apartments in the city, modern hotels and quaint cottages for your holidays! Choose from features such as step-free entrances in hotels and apartments, in room hoist and wheel in shower and Handiscover will direct you to holiday rentals to suit your needs. How to Get Around Public transport in Split offers speciality seating but often don t include ramps to get onto the bus. One of the best ways to get around Split is to get a Blue Badge parking sticker and rent a car and/or hire a driver. Taxis are another option. Then, ask Handiscover what other options may be available near your rental! Page 8
Chapter 3: A Great Holiday in Makarska One of the most popular destinations in Croatia, Makarska boasts dozens of cultural and historical attractions along with charming villages. Enjoy the mild climate, blue waters, and authentic Croatian cuisine. Let Handiscover help you experience the city the way it was meant to be enjoyed! Things to Do Omis Tour Take the Omis tour which takes you along the coast to the mountains through idyllic scenery until you reach the small town of Omis. Here you will enjoy an authentic meal of Balkan delicacies served in a restaurant built in an old stone watermill. Makarska Observatory Located right in the town center, the Makarska Observatory offers an amazing view for anyone with interest in astronomy or who simply wants to see a little further. Elevated on Glavica Hill, the observatory is surrounded by a ring of pine trees to block out light and provide optical view Page 9
Biokovo Moutain Considered a top destination for visitors, Biokovo offers many options for outdoor explorers including hiking and rafting. Take in the beautiful scenery and relax on or near this lovely spot. The majesty of Biokovo mountain could probably take your breath away. Accessible Accommodations Makarska Start your search by browsing a variety of rentals in Handiscover.com. Then choose which options you need such as the number of guests, wheelchair access and more. Choose from dozens of apartments, rooms, and entire homes that offer spectacular views of the beaches and waters around Makarska. Finally, book your stay and get to planning! How to Get Around Stay in Makarska and still be just a short bus trip away from popular Dubrovnik and Split. Once in the city, you can take taxis, the bus or even a ferry to other islands. Then, consider hiring a driver or renting an accessible vehicle to make sightseeing even better. Page10
What to See and Things to Do Chapter 4: For a Great Holiday in Zagreb As the capital and the largest city in Croatia, Zagreb has something to explore and enjoy for every traveler. No matter how large or small your travel group is, there is something to explore for everyone from the dazzling shopping centers, museums, beaches and more! Accessible Zagreb vacation rentals are plentiful in this bustling metropolitan area. Start planning your holidays with Handiscover today! Things to Do Tkalciceva Street Home to some of the city s most exciting nightlife, Tkalciceva street has a little bit of something wonderful for everyone. Roam this street filled with cozy cafes, authentic shops and more. First, stop at Agava restaurant to sample the traditional beef stew called pasticada. Then, visit the Oliver Twist Pub which features authentic 19th-century decor, coffee drinks, and liquors. The full, smooth center street makes this reasonable to navigate for many mobility impaired and outdoor seating at many restaurants are wheelchair friendly. Page11
Markov Trg (St Mark s Square) Once Zagreb s main square, the area now holds the Sabor (parliament) building and the iconic Crkva Svetog Marka (St Mark s Church), known for its recognizable red, white and blue tiled roof. The square itself is considered accessible, and many buildings within it are fully or partially wheelchair friendly. TRG BANA JELAČIĆA (BAN JELAČIĆ SQUARE) Since the 19th-century this pedestrian-only square has served as a central meeting space for the city. Considered to have wheelchair accessibility, the square offers a variety of dining and sight-seeing options for all visitors. Perhaps one of the most unusual museum themes, the Museum of Broken Relationships gives you exactly what the name suggests. Here, people from around the world have given a symbolic piece of a broken relationship along with a story in order to find closure. Photo Credit: Museum of Broken Relationships Page 12
Accessible Accomodations Zagreb Whether you want cozy apartments of cottages or luxurious hotels, Handiscover has accommodations for you! Search for special features you may need then explore our selection of posh apartments, modern hotels and convenient vacation rentals that meet your requirements. Finally, simply select your travel dates and book your holiday rentals. It s that easy! Never let your holidays be limited again because of inadequate accommodation options. How to Get Around Largely built in the 15th century, Croatia does pose some issues for travelers with disability issues but Zagreb, as a capital city has better services. Stairs are a common sight around the city but are manageable with a helping hand. Steep ramps are also a possibility in certain areas and newer attractions tend to be more disabled-friendly. Explore the city through bus travel for the most easily accessible mode of transport. Cabs are also available but may require assistance getting in. The gorgeous beaches are also an option with the majority having ramps to access the beach. Page 13
Summary Are you ready to head over to Croatia? With their rich culture, historic sites, and fun activities, it would be a great country to spend a vacation. We also provide comfortable accommodations that fit your requirements. Search our Croatia accommodations here. Hopefully you will enjoy Volume I of accessible Croatia. Volume II will come later so that you could have a better understanding about what to see and things to do in Croatia. Please look forward to it and experience beautiful European seaside. Discover the World with Handiscover! Are you signed up to get more Accessible Destination Guides? sign up Page 14