Croatia’s most popular stretch of coastline is found between Split and Dubrovnik, a region known as Dalmatia. Besides sparkling clear water, this region is famous for its fresh seafood. Traditional regional dishes include salata od hobotnice (octopus salad) and crni rizot (black risotto made with cuttlefish ink).
The city at the northern edge of Dalmatia, Split is one of Croatia’s most dynamic urban beauties. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its ancient city dating back 1,700 years. Make sure to spend some time wandering its cobbled streets before hitting the beach.
Sunny and green, Hvar Island attracts the jet-setting yacht crowd, who come for its French Riviera flavor and drop-dead gorgeous good looks. Whether you are wandering the medieval Hvar town, swimming in a secluded cove or hiking past fields of lavender and timeless villages inland, it offers a well-rounded experience.
From Hvar it is only a 30-minute water-taxi ride to the Pakleni Islands, which make for a perfect day trip. The islands are famous for their gorgeous beaches, hidden coves and nude sunbathing (it’s completely accepted here).
The island of Korcula is another popular holiday spot, boasting a walled old town that looks like a mini version of Dubrovnik. Along with the usual Adriatic swimming holes and secluded beaches, Korcula’s inland area is filled with dense woods and rolling hills. The island is also famous for producing some of Croatia’s best wines.
Lorn Byron described Dubrovnik as the pearl of the Adriatic Sea and it is easy to understand why. It is one of Eastern Europe’s most dazzling cities with marble streets and baroque buildings that appear to almost glow in the strong Mediterranean sun. The city walls — built between he 13th and 16th centuries — are considered among the world’s most impressive.
Croatia’s capital, Zagreb, is another bustling historic city to explore. It is famous for its Saturday-morning and pre-lunch coffee drinking known as spica. To experience this, head to a Zagreb cafe terrace and order a macchiato. If it doesn’t quite taste like the one you order from Starbucks, it isn’t. Instead it is a rather a strong concoction of espresso-like kava that is diluted with milk — a bit of an acquired taste.
Croatia is home to eight national parks. Plitvice Lakes is one of the most beautiful. It is a World Heritage site that’s home to bears, wolves and 120 species of birds as well as 16 lakes and a dramatic waterfall.
There is no better way to explore the amazing islands sitting pretty in the sapphire sparkle of the Adriatic Sea than from the bow of a boat. Sailing and yacht charters can be arranged through a number of companies along the Dalmatian Coast.
The Romans first conquered the Croatian port city of Pula on the Istria peninsula back in 177 B.C. and the place still has an Italian vibe. Today it is famous for its well-preserved Roman Empire artifacts, including the sixth-largest remaining Roman Empire era arena. It once hosted gladiator battles, but now serves as a concert venue.
