Historic towns and unspoilt nature are among Croatia’s top attractions. The vibrant capital Zagreb is home to some of the country’s best museums, galleries, restaurants and shops. Along the coast, ancient port towns are dotted with stone buildings from the Venetian era, while numerous pebble beaches offer things to do such as scuba diving, water skiing and windsurfing. On the Adriatic coast, the blissful islands of Croatia are a paradise for sailors and those who just want to relax and enjoy the Mediterranean sun.
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1 Dubrovnik old city walls
Dubrovnik, Croatia’s most glamorous tourist destination, is located in the beautiful Old Town, surrounded by sturdy medieval defensive walls and declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Any first sightseeing tour of the city should start with a walk around the ramparts (the complete circuit measures two kilometers), which contain forts, towers and cannons along the route. From high on the walls you can enjoy a beautiful view over the roofs of the old town and over the glittering Adriatic Sea. Wear comfortable walking shoes and bring bottled water and a camera.
Accommodation: Where to Stay in Dubrovnik
2 Diocletian’s Palace in Split
Split, Croatia’s second largest city after Zagreb, grew up within the ancient Roman walls of Diocletian’s Palace. It overlooks the Adriatic Sea and was built by the Roman Emperor Diocletian, who lived here in 305 AD. Retired. The square has four monumental gates, three from the land and one that originally opened directly onto the water. Within the walls are the sights to see, including the beautiful Peristyle (an arcaded courtyard), where you can also admire the Cathedral of St. Domnius with its elegant bell tower. The old town is pedestrian only and has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Accommodation: where to stay in Split
3 Hvar Town
Many tourists visit Croatia to explore the blissful Dalmatian islands, the most fashionable of which is Hvar. Here, trendy Hvar Town is home to some of the country’s best hotels and best seafood restaurants. The car-free old center dates from the years under Venetian rule (1420-1797) and consists of a spacious main square overlooking a 16th-century cathedral, a pretty fishing port and a hilltop fortress. Hvar Town is popular with sailors and celebrities, as well as travelers who come here to enjoy the beaches and water sports. It is served by ferry from Split.
Accommodation: where to stay in Hvar
4 Plitvice National Park
Croatia’s most visited land attraction, Plitvice National Park, encompasses steep forested hills surrounding 16 emerald lakes linked by a succession of thundering waterfalls. A network of footpaths and wooden bridges cross the park and the entrance ticket includes boat trips across the lakes. Thanks to its lush unspoilt nature, the park is a haven for wildlife, including wolves and bears (although they are timid so you are unlikely to see them) and owls, eagles and falcons. There are several hotels on the edge of the park if you want to stay the night. You can visit Plitvice on organized sightseeing tours by bus from Zagreb and Zadar.
Official site: www.np-plitvicka-jezera.hr
Accommodation: Where to Stay in Plitvice National Park
5 Zagreb’s Gornji Grad
In the Croatian capital, Zagreb, the medieval center is the main sightseeing area Gornji Grad (Uppertown). Here are attractions including the cathedral with its neo-Gothic facade and twin towers; the Croatian Sabor (parliament); the Church of St. Mark with its colored tiled roof; and the 13th century Tower of Lotrščak, which you can climb for fantastic views over the city’s rooftops. Also make sure you grab most people’s favorite, the loved one Museum of Broken Relationships.
Accommodation: where to stay in Zagreb
6 Sailing in the Kornati National Park
Spread over an area of 35 kilometers long and 13 kilometers wide, this archipelago includes more than 80 scattered islets. Rocky and dry with little fertile soil, the islets are practically uninhabited, although there are some simple stone cottages that were originally built as one-room shelters by local fishermen and shepherds, but are now used as holiday retreats or seasonal seafood restaurants. The best way to explore the islets is by private sailboat (the nearest charter base is in Biograd-na-Moru). It is also possible to visit the Kornati as a day trip by excursion boat from Zadar or Šibenik on the mainland.
Official site: https://www.kornati.hr
Accommodation: where to stay in Zadar
7 Romanesque churches of Zadar
Zadar’s car-free old town is built on a small peninsula. The top attractions are the beautiful Romanesque churches, built between the 9th and 13th centuries, and filled with religious paintings and ornate gold treasures. Be sure to check out the pre-Romanesque style from the 9th century Church of St. Donatus; the 11th century Church of St. Mary; and the Cathedral of Anastasia and the Church of St. Chrysogonus, both from the 12th century. Other things to see are the Museum of Ancient Glassand two modern installations, the Sea organ and the Greetings to the sunboth on the coast, close to the tip of the peninsula.
Accommodation: where to stay in Zadar
8 Zlatni Rat beach
The most photographed beach in Croatia has to be Zlatni Rat (Golden Horn) in Bol on the south coast of Brač. An unusual landform known as a “spit”, it consists of fine pebbles and runs 500 meters perpendicular to the coast. Depending on the local winds and currents, it moves and changes shape from season to season. Backed by a cluster of pine trees providing shade and overlooked by the rocky heights of Vidova Gora mountain, it is demarcated in summer with sunbeds and parasols. The sea is warm enough for swimming from June to September, and some people can do it in May and October as well. Additional beach attractions include water sports such as paddle boats, sea kayaks and banana boat rides. Zlatni Rat is also the best destination for windsurfing in Croatia. Brač can be reached by ferry and catamaran from Split.
Accommodation: Where to stay near Zlatni Rat Beach
9 Korcula Town
Korčula Town, the main settlement on the island of Korčula in South Dalmatia, is compactly located on a small peninsula. Protected by medieval walls and towers, the pedestrianized stone alleys are laid out in a herringbone pattern to provide shelter from the prevailing winds. It is full of centuries-old aristocratic stone buildings, built when the island was under Venetian rule. Main attractions are the Marco Polo Housesaid to be the birthplace of the famous 13th century explorer, and the Moreška sword dance, a traditional dance, performed for tourists just outside the city walls on summer evenings. You can reach the town of Korčula by catamaran from Split (daily) or Dubrovnik (summer only).
Accommodation: where to stay on Korcula island
10 Mljet National Park
The western third of the island of Mljet is a national park. Largely covered by dense forest, it centers on two interconnected turquoise saltwater lakes, one with an island covered by a 12th-century Benedictine monastery, which you can visit by taxi boat. Popular with nature lovers, the park offers plenty of things to do – numerous trails run through the forest and a nine-kilometre route runs along the edge of the lakes, making it ideal for walking or mountain biking, or you can swim or kayak to explore the lakes. The local culinary specialty is lobster. There is only one hotel on the island, but local families rent rooms to visitors in the summer. Mljet can be reached by ferry or catamaran from Dubrovnik.
Accommodation: Where to Stay in Mljet National Park
11 Rovinj
In northwestern Croatia, on the Istrian peninsula, the Venetian coastal town of Rovinj is made up of pastel-colored houses that form a pretty fishing port and is presided over by a hilltop church with an elegant bell tower. Besides the nearby pebble beaches, the main tourist attraction is the Batana Eco Museum on the coast, which tells the story of the Batana, a type of wooden boat used by local fishermen. There are also plenty of smart hotels, luxury seafood restaurants and art galleries. The locals speak a dialect, which combines both Croatian and Italian languages. The nearest airport is in Pula.
Accommodation: where to stay in Rovinj
12 Brijuni National Park
Remote from the Istrian peninsula, this archipelago of scattered pine-scented islets is a national park. The largest island, Veli Brijun, is covered in beautifully landscaped parks and open to visitors. The former president of Yugoslavia, Tito, hosted visiting foreign dignitaries here, and some brought him exotic animals as gifts, which can now be seen in the small safari park – elephants from India, antelopes from Zambia and zebras from Guinea are the main attractions. There are also two hotels, a golf course and the ruins of a Roman villa. To get here, take the national park boat (reservations required) from Fažana on the mainland, seven kilometers north of Pula.
Accommodation: Where to stay near Brijuni National Park
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