8 things I wish I’d known before going to Croatia

Are you thinking about going to Croatia this year?

Then keep reading. Croatia is a brilliant place to go at any time of year. It's got everything you could possibly want, blue seas, stunning cities and loads of gorgeous national parks. Your only problem will be deciding which area you should go to. Here are a few things I wish I had known before hitting the Dalmatian coast. Be prepared for rocky beaches White sand beaches aren't really a thing in Croatia. Most of the seaside resorts are either based around jagged cliffs or rocky shores. Come prepared and make sure you have sensible sandals or jelly reef shoes to make getting in and out of the water easier. You can't swim in all the national parks Croatia's national parks are absolutely out of this world and definitely worth a visit. One thing that is important to note however is that you can't swim in every national park. We went to Plitvice which was lovely but it was very hard to resist going for a dip in the blue pools after walking around in 30-degree heat. Krka on the other hand, allows tourists to swim in designated areas of the park. So, decide what you would rather do and choose your park wisely. Don't spend all your time in Split Most flights from Ireland will take you into Split. It's a great central place to get your bearings and chill out for a few days but don't make the mistake of spending all your time there. Smaller islands like Hvar, Korcula and Brac are just a quick boat ride away and have lots of fab things to see and do. Bring a raincoat Croatia's weather can be a little bit temperamental at times. Don't be surprised if you witness a tropical storm (or two) during your stay. It's definitely a good idea to bring a waterproof jacket or rain poncho because when it rains it POURS! Don't skip Zadar Zadar is a lovely walled city that a lot of tourists tend to overlook (which can actually be a bonus). It's got some lovely historic churches and cathedrals, great restaurants and of course the unforgettable sunset. Every evening as the sun goes down multicoloured solar panels light up a huge area of pavement along Zadar's coast. There are also man-made indents along the stone quay that create music as the air is pushed in and out of them by the lapping sea. It's the perfect spot to just chill out and take it all in. Do your own Game of Thrones Tour If you're a GOT fan then you are going to love Croatia, especially Dubrovnik. Loads of scenes from the show were shot in the historic city and it is not hard to see why.

You don't need to sign up for one of the all-inclusive (and expensive) GOT tours. You will see most of the filming locations simply by strolling around the city itself or walking along its walls. Don't forget to visit the island of Locrum just off the coast of Dubrovnik, which even has its very own iron throne.

Wear shoes in the nightclubs  Trust me on this one. Because you can smoke in Croatian night clubs you really don't want to be standing on any half-lit cigarettes in your sandal-clad feet. They also allow glasses on the dance floor and the last thing you want to be worrying about is stepping on some broken glass. Try to catch a festival Especially if you're going in summer. Croatia has tonnes of fantastic festivals and you'll be kicking yourself if you don't check out at least one during your trip. Some of the most famous ones include  Hideout, Sonus, Ultra Europe and Soundwave.