wear this there: what to pack for croatia, montenegro, & slovenia
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a comprehensive style and travel guide for croatia, montenegro, & slovenia
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we spent three glorious weeks this summer in the balkans, road tripping along the adriatic coast through montenegro, croatia, and slovenia. we feasted on fresh fish, calamari, and squid, paired with local wines and spritzers. we took private boats (to escape the crowds) along the bay of kotor and the elaphiti islands, coasting along dramatic cliffsides to sparkling blue grottoes and hidden beaches. we reunited with friends in hvar and partied ‘til sunrise, rode scooters in search of beautiful, pebbled beaches and vineyards on an almost suffocatingly hot day in korcula. we spent some days doing nothing but rotating between basking in the sun and jumping into the refreshing adriatic sea. we walked the impressive fortress walls of kotor and dubrovnik and wandered the charming streets of hvar, korčula, and ljubljana. we explored waterfalls and glistening mountain lakes in croatia and slovenia and soaked up sunsets set to the chime of the church bells from our lakeview suite in bled.
UPDATE: a lot of you are here because of this pin on pinterest! thanks for stopping by my blog! i’ve linked this dress below (first one in the carousel) so you don’t have to scroll through the whole blog to find it! (but i’ve also included lots of other cute vacay wear if you’re interested in continuing!)
this dress is 100% worth it. every time i wear it, i get so many compliments! it’s one of my favorite pieces in my wardrobe! it sold out quickly last year, but they just restocked, so get it before it’s gone again! (it’s the first dress pictured below) i’ve also linked a couple of other cute ones.
if that one is sold out in your size, here are some other cute options from the same brand:
also, check out similar options at a variety of price points below:
ok, now that’s taken care of, back to the rest of my blog!
as with all trips, some days were better than others. some days we spent battling crowds of tourists or drunk college students in the ever more popular croatia. we had our disagreements and days when that summer heat just got to us. but most days were perfect, to the point where you wish you could stop the sun just as it sinks down into the horizon hovering above the sea to stay in the moment, in that day, for even just a few hours longer. those are the days that make every trip, every moment of planning and saving, every moment that doesn’t go right, all worth it.
diving into the sparkling, cyan blue waters of the fjord-like bay of kotor and surfacing up to the sun drenched sky above, surrounded by the dramatic, imposing mountains was a joy in life i will never forget and desperately wanted to last forever.
montenegro, the world’s third newest country, and lesser known counterpart to its famous neighbor, croatia, should not be overlooked. our biggest mistake was not spending more time in this breathtaking country. we drove the span of it entering from serbia heading west to the beautiful bay of kotor, passing through small farms, charming mountain villages, wild forests, and lush, dramatic valleys. while remnants of its soviet era past are still visible, the country’s natural beauty surpasses almost everywhere else i’ve been.
the best way to take in the insane beauty of the bay of kotor is by boat. we arranged a private charter through our airbnb that picked us up right at our dock and then spent the day coasting along the dramatic black mountains, exploring the pristine blue grotto, drinking local beers, and basking in the midday sun.
another highlight is hiking the fortified walls of kotor to the castle of san giovanni (also known as st. john’s fortress). the views are unparalleled. it’s definitely a hike (and you bet i did it in this maxi skirt (with sneakers) for the gram), but totally worth the workout. tip: go early in the morning (around 7 or 7:30 AM), even before it opens to beat the heat and other tourists. you can enter the walls before it’s open because it is just a turnstile gate with one side wide open and then you don’t even have to pay the admission price (which I think is only $8).
for lunch or dinner, venture down into dobrota and eat by the sea with breathtaking views of the surrounding mountains. here are my two top recommendations for restaurants with a view in kotor. we ate at konoba bonaca for lunch one day and really enjoyed it. the food was very good and the setting even better. for dinner one night we made reservations at mudra art cuisine (if you want one of the tables out on the pier, which have the best view, i recommend reservations, otherwise, you probably don’t need them). our dinner at mudra was one of the best meals we’ve ever had. everything was delicious and ingenuitive. it is a prix fixe menu, but such a reasonable price for the divine food. beyond that, the service was incredible. our waitress was amazing, and we got to know the manager, Pavle, who has such an amazing background in restaurant management, from hotspots in nyc to the prestigious aman resorts. he was just an awesome local guy to talk to and get to know more about both, himself and montenegro. if you make it a point to eat anywhere on your trip to the balkans, you need to go here. it blew away even the michelin star restaurant we went to in croatia.
montenegro is a place i wish i could keep all to myself, unspoiled by mass tourism. but unfortunately, the secret is already out. our airbnb host said more and more cruise ships are entering the tiny bay and the small walled town of kotor becomes more crowded with tour groups with each passing year. so go sooner than later to this small gem of a country and give yourself time to explore all it has to offer.
our next stop on our roadtrip was croatia. croatia has its charms. it is undeniably beautiful, with diamond sparkling coastlines, enchanting towns, and unforgettable sunsets, but all of this beauty comes with a price: crowds and lots of them. the fame of game of thrones has brought more tourists than ever to explore the walled city of dubrovnik and the charming town of hvar attracts a young and wild party crowd with its famous, late night clubs.
we still enjoyed ourselves in these hotspots, but it took a little more effort. we were especially lucky to be in hvar with our friends who are basically locals there. we had some of the most amazing meals, experiencing the local cuisine and enjoyed vip service at the clubs so we didn’t have to wait in the long lines surrounded by drunken college students. we also stayed across the island from hvar town at a charming villa on a private bay. it was the perfect base to explore the island and some of our favorite days were spent there, drinking spritzes and lazing about by the sea.
dubrovnik was absolutely gorgeous and i still recommend it to anyone, despite all of the tourism. the limestone city is nothing short of incredible, with a history to match. walking the city walls was one of the highlights of our trip, with stunning views of both the adriatic sea and the terracotta roof-topped city within. tip: if you hike the walls, get in line before they open (around 7:45 AM) or go right before close to enjoy the sun setting over the walled city.
one day, we decided to take a private boat tour to the elaphiti islands in order to escape both the heat and the crowds that descend upon dubrovnik midday during high season. our boat took us all along the archipelago, passing tiny little towns, stopping at a pristine blue grotto for snorkeling and a refreshing swim and then to a secluded beach where we sipped on rosé and had the best calamari of our lives, all while looking out over diamond like, sparkling water.
our last stop in croatia was korčula, a beautiful island with vineyards, olive groves, stunning beaches, rolling hills with tiny villages, and a beautiful walled old town, that stood the test of time in countless battles between the byzantines, greeks, venetians, and austro-hungarians to name a few. the little town is famous for its connection to marco polo, where he was imprisoned by the genoese and subsequently wrote his famed tales of travel in the far east. we stayed at a beautiful airbnb right on the water where we spent time paddle boarding, drinking wine (surprise!), eating local cheese and charcuterie, and falling asleep under the shade of a striped umbrella. we explored the island on scooter, did wine tastings, and enjoyed handmade pasta dinners cliffside by the sea. it was a perfect end to our croatian journey and we were ready for some cooler temps and mountain air.
our final stop on the itinerary was slovenia, a breath of fresh air. if this country isn’t on your bucket list, add it asap. there’s something so magical to this place. ljubljana is a city we could actually see ourselves move to, the lifestyle, the farmers markets, the environmental efforts, the cafes along the river, it was like a small amsterdam, but somehow better. we met the most amazing locals (and their dogs!) at an outdoor wine bar on our first night in ljubljana. they told us all about life in the charming city. we exchanged stories while drinking wine on the steps of the capitol building after all the bars in the old town had closed, then ventured to the “underground” scene to an area with amazing graffiti art and hipster bars surrounding a playground where people were smoking and drinking until the sun came up.
the city itself is beautiful and everything you imagine a small european city to be, with charming cafes lining the cobblestone streets mixed in with beautiful, renaissance and baroque style architecture, funky boutiques, and a medieval castle on the hill overlooking it all.
after experiencing a bit of urban life in slovenia, we headed into the mountains and with rolling vineyards and stunning alpine lakes, we fell equally in love with the countryside of this beautiful place. we did some hiking in the beautiful slovenian wilderness to alpine lakes and crystal blue mountain streams.
we ended our trip on lake bled, where we stayed at grand hotel toplice in a suite overlooking the famed lake below. we spent late afternoons on our balcony watching the sun sink behind the mountains (and drinking local wine of course). the hotel has wooden row boats that you can take out to the island and see the church, as well as a lovely lakeside lounge area for sunbathing and diving into the refreshing lake. most importantly, their breakfast buffet has three tables dedicated to pastries and desserts alone ; ). our relaxing stay at toplice was the perfect way to unwind after weeks of travel.
the adriatic coast is a spectacular corner of the world, with its tumultuous history, it hasn’t long been on the tourist track, but more and more people venture to the balkans every year and it’s easy to see why. with coastlines, mountains, and cities that rival the best of western europe and food and people that we’ll never forget, it’s become one of our favorite places in the world.
now, onto the style guide portion!
adriatic coast style guide:
what to pack for croatia, montenegro, and slovenia
i’m sure i’m stating the obvious, but it’s hot, so pack lightweight breathable clothes. think linens and cottons, flowy dresses, crop tops and shorts. you don’t really need any jackets or sweaters if you go at the height of summer, but in early or late summer/fall definitely bring a couple of lightweight sweaters and pants for the evening.
i packed for three weeks (over 21 outfits) with just a carry on. packing cubes are definitely my go-to’s when i need to pack efficiently. they seriously help keep you organized and compress your clothes so everything fits better. the only downside is they do cause more wrinkles, but I suppose you can’t win ‘em all.
when i pack for a trip like this, i plan all of my outfits for each day in advance. i literally lay them out all over my house and then walk around with a journal, noting each outfit in a grid organized by date and morning or evening. i repeated a couple of outfits, but other than that had a different outfit for almost every day. the major key is to only bring 1-3 pairs of shoes and always wear your bulkiest items on the plane, even if you look ridiculous.
here is my full packing list for croatia, montenegro, and slovenia:
perfect white dress:
if you follow me, you know, i never leave home without one, this particular one from reformation is my current obsession. i get at least three compliments on it every time i wear it.
crochet cover up:
crochet is the fabric of resort 2019. pair a fun crochet bottom with a crop top over your bikini for a bohemian chic summer look.
white crop tops:
these paired well with my crochet bottoms or jean shorts during the day, and a silk skirt for evening.
white cover up dress:
a white cover up is a must for any summer or beach vacation. here are some of my faves:
red dress:
a red dress is perfect to wear while exploring the whitewashed sandstone walls of dubrovnik. it also looks beautiful along the beach and can carry you into a nice dinner on the coast.
embroidered maxi dress:
i had my eye on this fillyboo dress for a while and finally splurged on it for this trip. it was the perfect dress to wander around the charming streets of seaside hvar and also can be thrown on as a cover up at the beach.
striped maxi dress:
a striped maxi dress that’s flowy and lightweight is a vacation staple. i wore mine three times on the trip. maxi dresses are just easy, comfy, and can be worn day or night.
white dress:
if you follow me, you know, i never leave home without one, this particular one from reformation is my current obsession. i get at least three compliments on it every time i wear it.
silk skirt:
whenever traveling to europe, i always bring something a little more dressy for a nice dinner out or evening on the town. i’m still super into this leopard silk skirt from réalisation par even though it’s literally everywhere. but you could also do a solid, floral, or tiger print silk midi skirt if you’re over the leopard trend. i’ve linked multiple options, including some more affordable styles below.
silky black dress:
another perfect item for a fancier evening out. glamorous yet understated. (i forgot to get a photo of the full dress)
button up cotton midi dresses:
i brought this dress in coral and black and wore both of them multiple times. they are so versatile, breathable, and comfy. plus this silhouette is super on trend right now. you can also take this look into fall by swapping your sandals for booties and adding a felt hat and cozy cardigan.
floral maxi skirt with crop top:
do it for the gram. this outfit might not be the most practical, but it’s oh so pretty. and, you can get away with it on vacation, especially in europe.
jean shorts:
i only wore these once, so probably could do without them, but i loved the peasant blouse and jeans look for exploring old town kotor. these could also be super versatile if you want to bring fewer dresses and more tops and pair them with these shorts.
peasant blouse:
love how statement sleeves on a peasant blouse give it a new modern feel, perfect for europe. plus peasant blouses are super on trend right now and into fall, pair it with jeans and mules to transition into colder days.
evening set:
i’m all about sets when on vacation. a crop top and pant or skirt set is perfect for nights on the coast.
statement sleeve set:
statement sleeves are still super on trend and a fun patterned set with shorts or skirt is the perfect outfit for summer in europe.
yellow pants:
where else can you get away with linen yellow pants except for on vacation? i love these and have worn them on multiple trips. they are the perfect pop of color to wear by the shimmering blue adriatic. my exact pair is sold out but i found some similar options. i like this pair but can’t link it below. i paired them with a free people bralette and a knotted white button up for a casual seaside look.
free people bralette:
white button up:
another vacation staple, perfect to tie on over dresses at night if there’s a cool breeze, pair with high-waisted shorts or pants, or just to use as a cover up over your swimsuit.
linen overalls:
cutest little outfit to wear while exploring a charming old european town like ljubljana. pair it with a puff sleeve top for the perfect look. you can also wear them as a coverup over your swimsuit. unfortunately mine are sold out, but there’s a pair on poshmark here or the brand (shop weworewhat) is restocking in a couple of months. i also found some other options:
puff sleeve top:
literally my obsession right now. can never have too many of these.
bright sundress:
a fun bright sundress is perfect to wear on a hot day exploring coastal towns.
striped midi dress:
a bardot striped dress always looks good on vacation.
playful sundress:
to change things up a bit, i brought a fruit patterned dress with puffy sleeves. it seemed perfect for wine tasting or sitting by the sea.
crochet top:
again, crochet is so on trend right now and it’s perfect to wear on warmer nights. pair it with linen pants for a casual summer outfit.
white linen/flowy pants:
another vacation staple, a nice pair of linen pants will be your go to on warm evenings by the sea.
swimsuits:
you’ll be living in them, so bring options! i always bring a mix of bikinis and one pieces and along the adriatic, the more fun and colorful, the better.
hats:
i brought one fun sun hat and bought a more classic panama hat there. visors and bucket hats are also very on trend right now.
headscarf and ponyscarf:
these are both fun summer accessories to pull your outfit together. plus they help keep your hair out of your face when it’s windy and you’re sweaty, which i was every day. prepare yourself.
sunnies:
right now, pretty much every style of sunglasses is in. go big, go small, go classic, go colorful, go for fun shapes, you name it.
sandals:
you will be living in sandals because of the heat. bring a super comfortable pair for all the exploring you’ll want to do and one other dressy pair for evenings. flatforms, two strap, sport sandals, and simple slides are all very in.
tennis shoes:
if you’re going hiking, you should bring a pair (especially in slovenia), otherwise, you don’t really need them. for walking the fortified walls of kotor, i recommend a sturdier pair of sandals if you don’t bring tennis shoes.
summer bag:
bring a tote for the beach and a summery bag for walking around town. rattan bags are especially perfect for the coast, or opt for something white/cream.
lightweight sweater:
i brought a lightweight cashmere camel sweater that i wore a few times at night, especially near the ocean or in the mountains in slovenia.
things I brought that I didn’t use:
black jumpsuit: it was too hot, just wore my dresses at night, or my white pants set (would be good for late summer/fall at night though)
jean jacket: again, too hot, but good for the plane
white tennis shoes: i was in sandals almost the entire time, so didn’t really need these, except for our time in Budapest, Serbia, and Romania which is not included in this blog.
black sweater: i also brought a thicker black sweater (it wasn’t chunky, just a bit more substantial than the thin cashmere one). i never wore it except on the plane – would be good for late summer nights/fall though.
and that’s a wrap and maybe the longest blog post ever. happy travels! and let me know if you have any questions! you can write below or send me a message on insta @wear_this_there.