Croatia

Croatia is a country of Mediterranean abundance – beautiful walled towns, an enviable climate, scattered olive groves and wineries, and over a thousand islands dotting its sparkling Adriatic coastline. This is a western European nation with one foot in South Slavic culture, positioned on the Balkan Peninsula surrounded by Italy, Slovenia, Hungary, Serbia, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Montenegro. Fall in love with its distinguished historic cities and discover some lesser-known amazing sights around the country’s handful of different regions.

Where to Go in Croatia

Dalmatia is by far the richest and most well-known touristic region of Croatia. On the mainland, you’ll find the popular destinations of Dubrovnik and Split, with their pristine old town centers and historic draws like Dubrovnik’s city walls and Diocletian’s Palace in Split. Also don’t forget the quirky trendy city of Zadar, the fabulous old quarter of Sibenik, and the splendid waterfalls of Krka National Park. To explore the area’s myriad islands, a yacht charter is an excellent idea, or you can choose day trips from the main cities. Island highlights include Hvar, Korcula, Brac, Vis, the Kornati Islands, and Mljet – all offering some of the Adriatic’s best beaches and idyllic harbor towns, as well as excellent seafood and local wines.

North of Dalmatia, the Kvarner gulf region is beloved by outdoor enthusiasts and has its own associated archipelago of islands including Rab, Krk, Cres and Losinj. Come for characteristic fishing villages, the stimulating port city of Rijeka, the grand belle époque villas of the Opatija Riviera, and hiking or cycling around Mount Ucka. Farther inland from the Kvarner coast is one of Croatia’s most-visited natural beauties, the lush curving walkways and stunning waterfalls of the Plitvice Lakes.

Tucked into the northern Adriatic next to Italy, the peninsula of Istria is especially known for its top-notch gastronomy and blended heritage. Come for stone piazzas reminiscent of Italy, medieval hilltop towns like Motovun and Groznjan, the Roman theatre of Pula, the golden mosaics in the basilica of Porec, truffle-hunting in Livade and wine-tasting in Momjan.

The capital city of Zagreb is located in Central Croatia, which has more of an Eastern European feel than the glittering coastal regions. Enjoy intriguing architecture covering various periods from Medieval to Habsburg to Socialist, along with vibrant street art and modern art installations. Like Vienna, café culture thrives at independent establishments with outdoor terraces packed on sunny weekends. Also in this region, you can visit the museum of Kumrovec showing village life at the turn of the 19^th century, the sleepy hill town of Samobor, and the outdoor playground of Zumberak Nature Park.

The northeastern chunk of the country is not often mentioned in travel itineraries, but it gives an excellent window into rural Croatian life and folk traditions. As a former territory of the Austro-Hungarian empire, Slovenia is blessed with fairy-tale castles, wooded countryside, flowing rivers, and vine-covered hills. Come for castle-gazing, birdwatching at Kopacki Rit Nature Park, eating authentic local dishes and taking some time to slow down.

Typical First-Time Itinerary for Croatia

One of our most-requested itineraries for this area includes Croatia, Slovenia and a taste of Montenegro too! It’s best to book early for Croatia as this is a very popular destination and the hotels fill up fast. Even if you come in the height of the busy summer season, you can charter a yacht, providing the easiest way to get around all the wonderful islands and see much more! If you have the time, you won't be disappointed by exploring further into the Balkans and enjoying this slice of paradise in Europe.