Croatia is a country made for lightly packed summers. The Adriatic coast is long and varied, with walled old towns, limestone stairs, ferry rides between islands, long lunches by the water and evenings that stretch late. What you wear needs to handle heat, stone streets, sea spray and a good dinner on the same day, and it needs to fit in a bag you can carry on and off a boat. This is how we would pack for it.
We are a Bondi boutique, on Hall Street since 1995, and we dress women who love the sea. Croatia is a natural extension of that, and this packing edit is part of our wider thinking about European summer dressing. If you are planning a bigger trip, our Euro summer packing edit sets out the full capsule idea, and this guide narrows it to the Dalmatian coast. Tuchuzy ships worldwide, including to the United States, so you can order well ahead of a trip wherever you live.
Know the Coast Before You Pack
Croatia is not one climate or one kind of trip. Dubrovnik is a walled city of stone streets and many steps, Split wraps around a Roman palace and a busy waterfront, and islands such as Hvar mix harbour dining with swimming coves. Summer days are hot and bright, evenings are warm and long, and a lot of the sightseeing is done on foot. That means breathable fabrics, shoes that cope with polished stone, and a layer for the boat or the breeze after dark.
One practical note: some churches and religious sites ask visitors to cover shoulders and knees, so a light layer in your day bag is useful. We cannot give you rules for every site, so check before you go, but a linen shirt or a scarf solves most of it.
The Linen Core
Linen is the foundation of a hot-weather trip. It breathes, it dries quickly and it looks better rumpled, which is a gift when your suitcase is small. Our linen collection is the place to start. The Chosen by Tuchuzy Deconstructed Linen Pant in white is a relaxed, low-rise, fully lined pant that works over a swimsuit, with a tank for lunch or with a fitted top for dinner. The Asym Twist Linen Top in butter is 100 percent linen with twisted-strap detailing, and it dresses up a pair of white trousers or a skirt in seconds.
For an evening piece, the Linen Resin Halter Mini Dress is a plunging halter mini in airy linen with an open back and a resin-stone detail at the bust. It is the dress we would pack for a harbourside dinner on a warm night. For more pieces in the same family, browse the Chosen by Tuchuzy collection and the Chosen by Tuchuzy dresses edit.
Swimwear That Earns Its Space
On a coast built around water, swimwear is the most-worn thing in the bag. Two one-pieces and a bikini cover a week. The Hunza G Square Neck Swim in black is the label's iconic one-piece, in a crinkle fabric with natural stretch and a one-size fit that suits UK 6 to 18 (US 2 to 14). It dries quickly and packs small, and it works as a bodysuit under linen. Explore the full Hunza G one pieces and Hunza G bikinis, and the wider luxury swimwear edit if you want other labels.
If you swim in the sea a lot, rinse your swimsuit in fresh water after each swim and dry it flat in the shade, as we describe in our guide to washing swimwear. Sea salt and sunscreen are the enemies of good swim fabric.
The Dress for the Long Evening
Every trip needs one dress that makes an ordinary dinner feel like an occasion. A flowing maxi suits the Adriatic well, and the Janthee Mona Dress in verdora is a floor-length halter in lightweight chiffon with a deep adjustable V-neckline and a low back, cut slightly longer than most and easy to shorten. It is described as a golden-hour dress, which is exactly what Croatian evenings are. For more choices, see the holiday and vacation dresses collection and the maxi dresses edit.
Shoes, Bags and the Small Things
Old-town stone can be uneven and slippery when polished by centuries of feet, so choose flat sandals with a secure footbed and good grip rather than anything with a high heel for sightseeing. Our footwear edit leans into flat leather sandals and slides. Add a bag that closes securely for crowded streets, with options in the designer bags collection, and a towelling tote from the beach bags edit when stock allows. A good pair of designer sunglasses is non-negotiable, and a hat from the hats collection keeps the midday sun in check.
Island Days and Ferry Rides
Moving between islands by ferry or boat is half the charm of the coast, and it changes how you pack. Choose a soft bag rather than a rigid case, keep your swimsuit near the top so it is accessible for a spontaneous swim, and wear the linen pant over it so you are ready for either. Decks and harbour edges are windy, so a loose shirt that doubles as a cover-up and a sun layer is worth its small space in the bag.
If you are planning a day on the water, think of the outfit as a swimsuit, a layer and a way home. Our guide to boat day outfits goes deeper on the practical details, from footwear to bags. Pack less than you think, because most of the joy of this coastline is travelling light between warm water and a long table.
A Seven-Day Capsule
Here is the whole trip in a handful of pieces. Two swimsuits, one of them a Hunza G one-piece. The white linen pant and a second pair of shorts or trousers. Two tops, one the butter linen twist and one a simple white tank. The halter mini for a casual dinner and a maxi for a special one. A light shirt or scarf for religious sites and boat breezes. Flat sandals, a pair of sunglasses, a hat and a bag. Everything mixes, everything packs small and nothing needs ironing.
Dress the day in layers of ease. Morning in a swimsuit and linen pant, lunch by the water in a tank and shorts, afternoon in a shirt for any sightseeing, and evening in the halter or the maxi with gold jewellery from the designer jewellery edit. That is a full day without a change of bag.
Your Questions Answered
What should I wear in Croatia in summer? Lightweight linen, swimwear that dries quickly, a couple of easy dresses and flat sandals. Keep a light layer for evenings and for religious sites.
Do I need to dress up for dinner? Rarely formally. A nice dress or a linen set with gold jewellery is usually right, with the exception of a particular restaurant that asks for more.
What shoes work on old-town streets? Flat sandals with grip. Avoid thin heels and smooth soles on polished stone and steps.
Can I order for my trip if I live in the United States? Yes, Tuchuzy ships worldwide from Bondi, including to the United States. Order early to allow for delivery before you travel.
Can I try things on before I go? If you are in Sydney, visit us in Bondi Beach and we will help you pack. You might also enjoy our guides to what to wear in Greece and what to wear in Italy.