Despite spending the last decade as Europe’s fastest-rising holiday destination, Croatia still doesn’t feel like a place that has been thoroughly worked over by the tourist industry. With new developments kept on a human scale and businesses retaining a pronounced local flavour, the Adriatic coast emphatically retains a unique character. Whether you’re interested in unspoiled Mediterranean islands, edgy urban culture, Game of Thrones location tours or simply splashing around in the Adriatic’s famously clear waters, Croatia is a place to discover many different landscapes and experiences.
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| Stiniva Beach |
A renewed respect for natural ingredients has become the watchword of Croatian cuisine, with locally sourced foodstuffs, wines and olive oils standing up increasingly well to globalization.
Croatia has a growing reputation for niche festivals – not just in the party-the-weekend-away music events held on beaches and in ancient forts up and down the coast, but also in the mushrooming number of arts festivals and small-town cultural shindigs. And in Zagreb and elsewhere, a raft of new galleries and art attractions has given the country a cool and contemporary sheen.
Top 10 Places to Visit in Croatia
1. Dubrovnik
Nicknamed the “Pearl of the Adriatic,” the old city of Dubrovnik is one of the prominent places to visit in the Mediterranean. Located at the southern tip of Croatia off the Adriatic Sea, Dubrovnik was established in the 7th century on maritime trade. With orange rooftop houses sitting in contrast to the blue sky, Dubrovnik presents many sightseeing treasures. The historic district, the Old Town, is stuffed with many historic features such as the old, defensive walls, cobblestone streets, magnificent palaces and stunning churches. Just outside the Old Town are popular beaches like Banje and Lapad, while the nearby island of Lokrum offers even more beaches.
A natural wilderness of azure lakes, tumbling waterfalls and forested mountains, the Plitvice Lakes National Park is one of Croatia’s most celebrated National Parks and UNESCO Natural Heritage sites. Take a hike around the 16 interconnected lakes, learn about the naturally formed travertine dams and keep your eyes peeled for brown bear and lynx prowling through the woodlands.
2. Plitvice Lakes National Park
The plitvice lake national park is another amazing wonder within Croatia. With sixteen interconnecting waterfalls, and beautiful flora and fauna, visiting the Park is quite a unique experience.It’s possible to stay right by the park itself, or just outside, so you can easily spend a good couple of days exploring its various trails. There’s also a boat tour within the park, as well as a shuttle bus that runs regularly, so you don’t have to spend all your time hiking around.As one of Croatia’s top attractions, the Park attracts a large number of visitors in the summer months but its size means large numbers are quite bearable. However, the Park is actually open year-round so it’s also more than suitable a destination during winter (and quite stunning to see in the snow) – and there’s even a very small ski resort nearby; the expert skiers amongst you will be disappointed, but it’s quite suitable for beginners or families. (Not to mention that skiing in the rather unique surroundings is rather exciting.)
3. Istria
Okay, so we’re cheating a little bit by naming an entire region, but as so many of Istria‘s resorts are perennially popular (it’s easy to see why) we thought we would include the whole lot as one destination. The region was totally unscathed by the war so was still visited even during that time, and just after was quick to promote its tourist offerings once more.With good transport connections including flights to Pula or to nearby Italy, it is easy to reach the area. Most Europeans drive down from their home country, but there are also bus connections to Italy as well (from Trieste) and a summer catamaran service that connects several Istrian ports to Venice – a quick and easy easy of combining that fantastic holiday destination with this one in Croatia.
Porec is one of the top resorts – there’s a good selection of resort type hotels there – though our personal favourite is the charming Rovinj (shown above) and its wonderful harbour. Both of these have a number of sights for you history buffs, but don’t forget to visit the Pula to view the amazingly well-preserved Roman amphitheatre.However, Istria’s (relatively!) undiscovered secrets are its wonderful inland, hilltop towns and villages. These include Motovun, which is gaining recognition of its annual film festival, and Buzet, which is famed for its truffle festival every autumn. And not forgetting Hum – (unofficially) considered to be the world’s smallest town, with only 22 inhabitants.
4. Zaltni Rat Beach, Bol
Nestled around a small marina, Bol is a charming old town made up of historical stone houses connected by meandering streets. The town is an especially good place to visit during the summer, and the most popular attraction here by far is the Zlatni Rat beach. This stunning pebble beach protrudes into the Adriatic Sea, shifting with the tides and providing plenty of space for swimmers, sunbathers, and the many windsurfers that the area attracts. A charming tree-lined promenade runs between the beach and the town, and plenty of bars and restaurants can be found along the harbor.
5. Historic City Of Trogir
Surrounded by medieval walls, the UNESCO-protected historic city of Trogir lies on a small island and is a treasure trove of Romanesque, Renaissance, and Baroque architecture. Charming Italian pizzerias and traditional konobas (local restaurants) fight for space on its with narrow, cobblestone streets, while lively outdoor cafes entice visitors with fresh seafood and foamy cappuccinos along the broad seafront promenade overlooking the Dalmatian Coast.
6. Hvar
Considered one of Croatia’s more upmarket islands, you’ll often read about various celebrities and the well-to-do holidaying on Hvar each year, but don’t let that put you off. (Although, this may well be a draw to some holidaymakers!)Hvar is very well-known for its wonderful weather, with the highest annual average hours of sun in the whole of Croatia. The island is also famous for its lavender growing in amongst its beautiful landscape, so you can imagine a pretty heady combination of great weather and beautiful and aromatic surroundings as you relax on the island.
There’s a number of stylish hotels located in Hvar Town, and a handful of sights (although not too many – avid sightseers should really go elsewhere), whilst its wonderful harbour is a very pleasant place to while away your time in early evening, people- and yacht-watching.There’s a few beaches close to Hvar Town, though our recommendation is to head to the nearby small group of islands, the Pakleni islands (local boats will take you there) for a relaxing day out.
7. Pula
Located at the southern tip of the Istria peninsula in the Adriatic Sea, Pula is a popular destination that has been attracting tourists as far back as ancient Roman times when fans flocked the city’s amphitheater to watch gladiator fights. Having been ruled by various government powers over the centuries, Pula today belongs to Croatia, and is best known for its wealth of Roman ruins and mix of cultures.
8. Visovas Monastery
One of the best reasons to visit the gorgeous Krka National Parklies on Visovac island in the middle of Visovac lake. About 6km upstream from Skradin, Visovac island is the site of aFranciscan monastery that dates from 1576. I would venture to say that it may be the world's most stunningly located monastery. The austere walls and towering bell tower are protected by a circle of cypresses that point to the sky like swords. Beyond the tiny island lies the trout-filled waters of the lake which, in turn, is protected by high karstic cliffs. The effect is magical.
The religious use of Visovac island began at the turn of the 15th century when it was used as a hermitage. Franciscan monks soon arrived, building a church in 1576 which was reconstructed in the 18th century. From the 16th to 19th centuries, the monastery amassed a rich collection of paintings, reliquaries and folk costumes. Don't miss the rare illustrated copy of Aesop's fables which was printed in 1487. It's one of only three in the world.
The monastery treasures are exhibited in a small museum and outside is a lovely, flowering garden attended by the 10 monks in residence. Mass is held at 11am Sunday all year.
9. Motovun
Most people visit Croatia for its unquestionable coastal charms, but few of them know that further inland, the scenic landscapes and hilltop medieval hamlets of Istria resemble the Tuscany of yesteryear. One such place is Motovun, a quaint walled town perched on top of a hill above pretty vineyards, truffle-rich forests, and the 53-km-long Mirna River.
10. Split
Another top attraction of the Dalmatian Coast, Croatia’s second-largest city is a major port and an important starting point for island-hopping cruises and day trips. The magnificent UNESCO-listed Diocletian’s Palace is the city’s top attraction, but there are also plenty of opportunities to enjoy outdoor activities in Split with white water rafting, rock climbing and sailing tours all available.
Game of Thrones Filming Locations
You can’t leave the country without visiting at least some of the Game of Thrones filming locations. Among the most evocative are Minceta Tower (walls of Dubrovnik) – used to depict the House of the Undying; the town of Kaštel Gomilica (just outside Split) – used as a backdrop for the Free City of Braavos; Diocletian’s Palace in Split; as well as Dubrovnik Old Town and various locations around the city, which illustrated King’s Landing, Qarth, and Slaver’s Bay in Season 2.
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