Rick Steves Croatia & Slovenia

by Rick Steves, Cameron M. Hewitt

Stroll Dubrovnik's ancient walls, hike the idyllic Julian Alps, and set sail on the glimmering with Rick Steves on your side, Croatia and Slovenia can be yours! Inside Rick Steves Croatia & Slovenia you'll Make the most of every day and every dollar with Rick Steves Croatia & Slovenia .

Genres: Travel, Nonfiction, Reference, Guidebook

820 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 16, 2007

About the author

Rick Steves is an American travel writer, television personality, and activist known for encouraging meaningful travel that emphasizes cultural immersion and thoughtful global citizenship. Born in California and raised in Edmonds, Washington, he began traveling in his teens, inspired by a family trip to Europe. After graduating from the University of Washington with a degree in European history and business, Steves started teaching travel classes, which led to his first guidebook, Europe Through the Back Door, self-published in 1980.
Steves built his Edmonds-based travel company on the idea that travelers should explore less-touristy areas and engage with local cultures. He gained national prominence as host and producer of Rick Steves' Europe, which has aired on public television since 2000. He also hosts a weekly public radio show, Travel with Rick Steves, and has authored dozens of popular guidebooks, including bestselling titles on Italy and Europe at large.
Beyond travel, Steves is an outspoken advocate for drug policy reform, environmental sustainability, and social justice. He supports marijuana legalization and chairs the board of NORML. He has funded housing for homeless families and donates to anti-hunger and arts organizations. In 2019, he pledged $1 million annually to offset the carbon emissions of his tour groups.
Steves is a practicing Lutheran with Norwegian ancestry and continues to live in Edmonds. He has two adult children and is in a relationship with Reverend Shelley Bryan Wee. Despite health challenges, including a prostate cancer diagnosis in 2024, Steves remains committed to his mission of helping Americans travel with greater purpose, empathy, and understanding of the world. His work reflects a belief that travel, done right, can be both transformative and a force for peace.

Reviews

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have used several Rick Steves guidebooks in my travels. Rick Steves's strength is always in opinionated suggestions about where to go, what is worth your time, what place will be full of tourists, and how to have fun in places that at first don't seem inviting. I welcome his approach via a via more even handed guide books like Rough Guide or Lonely Planet, which will exhaustively cover everything, but not necessarily help me decide the best places for me to spend my limited time. These guide books are good for focusing in on reasonably priced, authentic, small hotels, and for experiences at each destination. They cover opening times and costs very well, and are excellent guides for Traveller's driving themselves or using public transportation since they tell you so much about how to get to and from a place. They are inconsistent with restaurant suggestions. I always use a few guide books. For Europe, I turn to Rick first because he helps me choose my itinerary and hotels. Other guide books are better for active pursuits (LP, Fodor's) and shopping (fodor's) and I use all sorts of guides for food advice. I haven't gone to Croatia yet, but I trust Rick's advice will help me have a great trip next year.

[Shannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

The best traveling book series. Download his free podcasts for walking tours and other tourist sites.

I used this while spending 4 nights in Slovenia and 7 nights in Croatia. It was particularly useful for comparing lodgings, finding quality restaurants, learning how to travel in Croatia and getting a historical overview.

[Matt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Preparing for a trip this year to Croatia. Using a Rick Steve’s guidebook is the best way to have a memorable and fun trip. He is aces in my book and this guide is spot on again.

[Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my first Rick Steves travel book and I see why he's so popular--this was incredibly helpful!

[Annette · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lets be honest here. Did I read this book from cover to cover? No, it's a travel guide, not a novel. I've gone through the pertinent sections over and over, and will probably continue to do so over the next months and will then pack it for our trip. We used a Rick Steve's for a trip to England a few years ago, and found it most helpful.
Now, as we plan for our upcoming trip to Croatia, I'm using this book for itinerary ideas, tips about customs, currency and other practicalities, lodging and restaurant ideas. Using this book and travel forums, I think we'll be as prepared as possible for our dream vacation this fall!! The only thing is, I wish Rick had audio walking tours for cities in Croatia like he does for London.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

**3.5 stars**
While I love the amount of information Rick provides, sometimes his books get to long for me. 800+ pages is a lot to get through! His chapter on the history of Yugoslavia and it's demise was extremely interesting. I was flabbergasted at the racial and religious atrocities committed to almost every side of the argument...and that these horrible things were going on in the 1990s! I obviously was not keeping a close eye on current events during my college years and learned many things about the Balkan history from this book.

I feel much more prepared to enjoy my upcoming vacation and can't wait to explore both countries.

[Michael Huang · Rating 4 out of 5]

To appreciate the culture of the place you’re going to visit, you can (should) read about the history and what not. But when you are preparing for the actual trip logistics, I don’t think anyone does a better job than Steves, even in the age of internet and social networks. This book covers more than just Croatia and Slovenia as the title suggests. It also covers Bosnia i Hercegovina and Montenegro. It’s convenient to plan a trip to all these wonderful corners of the southeast Europe. This book turned out to be really handy for me at least.

[Elisa Tomlinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Full disclaimer, this book was 700+ pages, am I only read the the Croatia and Yugoslavia parts, since that’s where I’m traveling. I would have loved it if the ninth edition had come out three months earlier (it’s due in print this August), but I made the most of the eighth edition. I love Steves frankness about what’s worth it and what to skip and I LOVE LOVE LOVE his history lessons about nations and their leaders!!

[Kay · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was very useful in the preliminary stages of planning a two-week trip to Croatia this upcoming May. It not only helped me figure out where I wanted to go, but provided great transportation tips. I've used several Rick Steves guides, and while I don't like to depend on him completely, he undeniably knows his stuff when it comes to Europe.

[Nancy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I did not read this book cover to cover, just looked through and read mostly about the places we will visit in Croatia and Slovenia. It was very interesting and makes me more excited for the trip. The section, near the end of the book, "Understanding Yugoslavia" was especially interesting to me. I will likely look at this book again closer to the trip.

[Ginawuttke]

I am reading this to prepare for my trip to Croatia and Slovenia this summer.

[Robin Huff · Rating 5 out of 5]

I won't go to Europe without Rick.

[Michelle Sauvageau]

Love a Rick Steves guide book - excited to use his intel this June!

[Megan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rick Steves’ personal investment into all his travel media makes his travel books intensely helpful and enjoyable to read. In-person visits by Steves and/or his co-author or staff provide specifics on how to enjoy the process of getting between places, whether the food at any given restaurant is actually any good, how long an attraction takes, and how comfortable or safe or attractive an experience is. His works really help a traveler avoid tourist traps, save time and money, and find more genuine experiences in Europe. Our family will be traveling to Croatia in April, which will be the real test of the newest edition’s usefulness, but it’s already been of great use in the planning stages. The overview of Yugoslavian history is incredibly insightful for its relative brevity, and I particularly appreciate Steves’ walking tours of various towns and attractions. I’ve used them in other countries, and he’s never steered me wrong.

What I would appreciate, however, is more about traveling with families and children. My kids will be with us, at age 9 and 14. The reviews in this book seem to skew towards older adults traveling with one or two companions. Children and teens obviously must live in Croatia, so what are some of the things that appeal to their families? Where do they go to eat, play, and learn? What are places that my children are or are not allowed to go? For instance, there are many opportunities to visit wineries or take regional wine tours. While I wouldn’t subject my children to a day-long exploration of Croatia’s wine country, I can’t even tell if I could take a child into a winery if we want to stop by just one. Many museums in the US have a lot of outreach activities to make them more enjoyable and educational for children - do any of these museums in Croatia do the same? Did Steves even think to ask? Where are some safe playgrounds or quirky entertainment venues catering to children and families?

Bottom line: this book does a classic Rick Steves-brand job of showing Croatia (and environs) as dynamic, approachable, vibrant, and real, with cultural and historical appreciation and full of helpfully practical advise and gentle opinions, but he could to do a little more to increase the usefulness of this guide for families.

[Jack Hrkach · Rating 3 out of 5]

Having checked "read" I must confess that I focused on the portion of the book titled Slovenia, as I have not yet visited Croatia - but I'll get to that part when I do visit, as I'm fairly sure I will.

As usual Steves is very selective in what specific places he writes about but that force allows him to be quite specific and that's why I continue to use his guides, along with Rough Guides, to help me navigate, not just geographically but historically, philosophically - thanks again, Rick!

I should note that the book also contains a section on Bosnia/Herzegovina, even if it excludes a village filled with my Hrkach distant kin, and so gently shoves the reader in the direction of an area of the former Yugoslavia much less visited than the extremely popular Croatia, and even less than the only beginning to be popular Slovenia. Well worth your time!

[Deanna Detchemendy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rick Steves is our go-to for Europe travel, and this was another positive experience. Advice and details were spot-on. The only squabble I had was with the soba "engagement" process. AirBnB and Bookings have clearly come to dominate that space since this book was published. I couldn't get a response from most owners using the emails in the book, but was able to get them through those sites. Also, we happened upon Kravice Falls in Bosnia and it was a delight -- mostly locals and exactly the kind of spot I kept thinking Rick would highly recommend as I ate my cevapcici alongside happy families with women wearing everything from skimpy bathing suits to full burquas. So glad I took this book's initial advice: Don't miss Slovenia. Or Istria. Or Dubrovnik. Wish I could go back right now...

[Gail · Rating 3 out of 5]

It’s great as an orientation guide to plan your itinerary. Also the history and the asides on each country, such as Slovenian honey, Istrian wines, etc. Good for restaurant suggestions but not so much for hotels. It needs to be updated as to currency requirements and needing cash. Almost everywhere took a credit card : That has changed if you don’t stay in apartments. Also missing Zadar as a tourist destination in Croatia.

[Stephanie Mason · Rating 4 out of 5]

I checked this out from the library, not because I'm planning a trip, but doing some research on Yugoslav history. I really appreciated the chapter on understanding the current/recent past of Yugoslavia. Steves does a good job of summing up a huge story into lay terms that us westerners can understand.

[Mia · Rating 3 out of 5]

My first Rick Steves guide (as last year was the first time I'd ever even heard of him). I won't be traveling without my Lonely Planets--and most likely never will--but I did learn a lot and found it well-written and helpful in a number of ways. I plan to supplement my LPs while traveling with my kindle version of this. Couldn't hurt.

[D · Rating 5 out of 5]

i bought several books for our recent trip, but none were so helpful as rick steves. all of his recommendations- the restaurants, places to visit, places to stay were right on the money. i even met the co-author on our trip and i now have a signed copy. indeed, i was starstruck.

[Jennifer Chin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I actually learned a lot of history from this book, even though Rick Steve's cutesy writing style sometimes really annoys me. Plus, it's a surefire way to identify American tourists in cities like Split and Dubrovnik.

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Indispensible as supporting info while touring the Balkans with Overseas Adventure Travel. What fun to be able to preview the upcoming sights and have a bit of background, even though we were going to be guided through a particular city or point of interest.

[Sidney · Rating 5 out of 5]

The summaries of the history of Croatia, especially its civil war, provided me with important background info before traveling there. The country's history is confusing, and our travel companions and I found that this guide made the history a little more understandable.

[Aileen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Buy this book if you are going to Slovenia. The notes are fantastic and help with planning.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

I used this book only for Slovenia. Although the section was short, it provided everything we needed.

[Pamela · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good guide to Croatia and Slovenia. Honest, well-written and informative. Would have liked better restaurant recommendations, but otherwise, perfection.

[Jon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Slovenia part of this book is great. The Croatia part is lacking information.

[Tasha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Can't wait for this trip! We've followed a lot of Rick's recs, and I learned a lot about the history of the region from reading. Come on, June 30th!

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

very informative. much better than fodor's. i highly recommend!

[Jordan Stephens · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've read this book cover to cover a couple of times now. Now time to go travel in order to properly rate this book!