Blessed with one of the most spectacular coastlines in Europe and dotted with more than 1,200 islands, Croatia dazzles visitors with its beauty. Between its eight national parks and ten Unesco world heritage sites, the country is a heady mix of natural wonders, fabulous beaches, thriving culture and rich history.
From Dubrovnik’s Renaissance splendour and Pula’s Roman monuments to the Adriatic’s hidden coves and the imposing Velebit Mountains, this kind of holiday destination defies Instagram – instead offering real-life adventures and experiences. Whether you want a beach getaway, cultural break, active holiday or all three at once, these itineraries will get you started.
From ziplining across canyons to strolling around award-winning vineyards,
there are plenty of ways to savour this Adriatic powerhouse
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If you’re not renting a car, make use of Croatia’s extensive bus network. Trains connect some of the major cities, and the large number of ferries makes it easy to go island hopping.
While July and August draw the huge summer holiday crowds, May, June and September are considerably quieter and cheaper. You can still swim in the Adriatic as late as October.
In Dalmatia, try pasticada, slow-cooked beef served with gnocchi, or the street food snack of soparnik, a pizza-like chard pie. Seafood fans should look out for brodet fish stew and squid-ink risotto.
Tips
CHOOSE YOUR TOUR
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How to get around
Discover Croatia’s historic
cities
2-3
DAYS
1-2
weeks
Go island-hopping
on a beach holiday
5-7
days
Find your adrenalin
fix on land
or on water
1
WEEK
waterfalls, lakes, rivers and mountains
5-6
DAYS
Istria’s
wine and olive oil routes
WHEN TO VISIT
MUST-TRY REGIONAL DISHES
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Historic
cities
Kaštelet Beach
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Varazdin is known for its beautiful baroque architecture
Let’s split
Croatia’s second city combines culture and Roman architecture with an idyllic setting
Zagreb is one of Europe’s great underrated capitals, an elegant place of Habsburg squares, medieval lanes and a café culture to rival Vienna.
Start off in its medieval upper town exploring the pocket of imaginative museums, including Zagreb City Museum, The Croatian Museum of Naive Art and the poignant Museum of Broken Relationships.
Wander over to the 13th-century Lotrscak Tower and stroll along the Strossmayer Promenade before taking the cute little funicular – all 66m of it – to the lower town and its 19th-century Habsburg avenues. Stop for a coffee in Ban Jelacic Square before hopping on the tram that will take you to the sleek Museum of Contemporary Art on the south side of the Sava river.
It’s well worth tacking on an extra day, taking a bus northwards to the handsome town of Varazdin near the Hungarian border and losing yourself in its beautiful baroque architecture.
Step back further in time and get a taste of Dalmatian life over a long weekend in Split. Croatia’s second city was where Roman emperor Diocletian had his palace built at the turn of the 4th century. Its remains have long been populated by residents with cafés, shops and apartments, and used for summertime classical concerts.
Combine an afternoon at Kastelet Beach with a visit to the nearby Mestrovic Gallery, where works by Croatian sculptor Ivan Mestrovic are on display in his sumptuous former summer home.
Duration
2-3 DAYS
Discover historic cities
Soak up some culturE
beach holiday
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There are wild places where bears and wolves roam
Trying to narrow down the choice along Croatia’s Dalmatian coast is a tough one. Dubrovnik is an obvious starting point, and for good reason. Its Old Town is pure enchantment, circled by more than a mile of medieval and Renaissance walls, and filled with baroque beauties including the Rector’s Palace, which was rebuilt in the 15th century.
You certainly get a hefty dose of culture to go with your lazy days of swimming, sunbathing and snorkelling.
Once you’ve checked out the local beaches – not just Banje Beach and Sveti Jakov, but also Lapad Bay and along the peninsula of the same name – get the little ferry across to Lokrum island for a picnic and a swim.
It’s just as tempting to do a jaunt around the Elaphiti islands, either on a day trip or – even better – spending a night or two on Kolocep, Lopud or Sipan.
Island hopping in central Dalmatia is just as appealing, thanks to an extensive ferry network from Split. Hvar, Croatia’s sunniest island, has the mellow towns of Stari Grad and Jelsa to go with buzzing Hvar Town and countless beaches tucked into the craggy coastline.
Closer to Split, Brac’s southern town of Bol is next door to V-shaped Zlatni Rat beach and has some of the best windsurfing in Europe. There’s still a delicious feeling of remoteness on Vis island and its delightful beaches at Komiza and Vis Town.
Korcula is easy to reach from Split for Vela Luka’s beaches, and it’s only a 20-minute drive to exquisite Venetian-style Korcula Town and its beaches on the eastern side.
Duration
1-2 weeks
Go island-hopping on a beach holiday
Bask in the sun
adrenalin fix on land or
on water
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You can scale Dinara, the highest of Croatia’s peaks
High flyer
A zipline adventure gives you breathtaking views above the Cetina river
Follow the course of the Cetina river for one adventure after another. As it flows through canyons towards the Adriatic town of Omis, you’ll have plenty of places to go white-water rafting over rapids as well as kayaking on gentler stretches.
Take a canyoning tour near the village of Zadvarje and find yourself swimming under waterfalls and diving into clear blue pools.
Once you reach Omis, that’s the cue to go rock climbing on the giant cliffs that straddle the mouth of the river. And just a couple of miles before the town is one of Croatia’s longest ziplines, which lets you whizz across the canyon at speeds of up to 40mph.
If you’re a keen horse rider, head to the riverside village of Trilj further inland and explore ancient woodland on horseback in the shadow of the Dinaric Alps.
From Omis it’s a short drive to Makarska, one of the gateways to Biokovo Nature Park. Hiking and cycling trails snake their way through this dramatic limestone landscape, many leading to fabulous views of the Makarska Riviera. Set your sights on the summit of Sveti Jure which, at 1,762m, is the third-highest peak in Croatia.
If you want to tackle Croatia’s tallest mountain, veer back inland to mount Dinara in Dinara Nature Park. This rugged mountain within the country’s newest nature park soars to 1,831m and is within hiking distance of the Cetina’s vividly coloured source.
Duration
5-7 days
Find your adrenalin fix
on land or on water
Get active
waterfalls,
lakes, rivers
& mountains
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In the Velebit mountains, you’ll scale peaks that come with splendid views of the Adriatic
Wonder-fall
Explore the natural spectacle of Plitvice Lakes National Park
Eight national parks show the country’s natural landscapes at their most captivating.
The lakes (16 named but around 90 in total) that make up Plitvice Lakes National Park are a thing of wonder as they cascade into one another via immense waterfalls and rivers in a forested setting of otherworldly shades of blue and green. Follow the wooden walkways and footpaths through this glorious karst landscape, occasionally stopping to take an eco-friendly electric boat across the main Kozjak Lake.
The upper lakes are more remote – wild places where brown bears, lynx and wolves roam.
Less than two hours south of Plitvice is Krka National Park, whose waterfalls are just as magnificent. Join a boat tour from Skradin along the Krka River and you’ll be dropped off at the thunderous Skradinski Buk waterfall. From here you can explore the hills on foot and take in superb views of the river and more waterfalls, especially the series of cascades known as the Necklaces.
This same limestone landscape carries on up the Adriatic coast to Paklenica National Park and, further on, Northern Velebit National Park. Here in the starkly beautiful Velebit mountains, you’ll scale peaks that come with splendid views of the Adriatic.
In complete contrast to rocky Velebit, lusciously green Mljet National Park on the southern Dalmatian island of Mljet near Dubrovnik takes you into a tranquil place of pine-shaded footpaths and two saltwater lakes.
Duration
1 WEEK
Enter a world of waterfalls,
lakes, rivers and mountains
Explore Croatia’s national parks
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Korčula
HVAR
Lokrum
Elaphites
Dubrovnik
Varaždin
Zagreb
SPLIT
Dinara Nature Park
Zadvarje
Makarska Riviera
Biokovo Nature Park
Plitvice Lakes National Park
Paklenica National Park
Krka National Park
Mljet National Park
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BACK TO
TOURS
BACK TO
TOURS
BACK TO
TOURS
BACK TO
TOURS
Northern Velebit National Park
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CROATIA
Five ways
to explore
Choose your escape:
Five ways
to explore
Choose your escape
CROATIA
I should rococo
The town square,
popularly called Korzo
Seat of culture
The Croatian National Theatre is worth a visit
State of the art
The Mestrovic Gallery
Roman holiday
Split has a climate fit
for an emperor
The greatest outdoors The area is a magnet for thrillseekers
Up you go
Dinara is the country’s highest peak
Float your boat
The riviera stretches
some 60km
Brooding
The mountains dominate the Dalmatian coast
Hiker’s paradise Velebit’s karst landscape is a Unesco biosphere reserve
Plain abseiling Rock
and sport climbing is
very popular here
Religious refuge A Serbian Orthodox monastery lies within the reserve
Enviably green A tranquil island of shady footpaths and saltwater lakes
Split personality
The island has mellow
and excitable sides
Worth exploring
Some historians claim Marco Polo was born here
Treasure islands
The Elaphiti are an
under-the-radar joy
King’s Landing
Its remarkable old town is guarded by mighty walls
Blissful getaway
The perfect spot for a picnic and a swim
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Call of nature A chain of waterfalls and lakes set
in wild woodland
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Wall-to-wall splendour
Get lost among Dubrovnik Old Town’s baroque buildings
BACK TO
TOURS
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wine and
olive oil routes
Pula
VODNJAN
Rovinj
Višnjan
Motovun
Gladiator, ready
The arena dates back to 27BC
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Take your pick
Enjoy an olive farm
tour in Vodnjan
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Port of call Rovinj was governed by the Republic of Venice for 500 years
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Pick of the bunch
The red grape teran is native to Istria
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Old as the hills
Motovun, meaning “hill town”, is of Celtic origin
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Pula has a splendid 27BC Roman arena
Grape expectations The Istrian peninsula is home to celebrated vineyards
Istria, that heart-shaped peninsula that dangles at the northern part of Croatia’s Adriatic coast, is rich with history but also famed for its fine local produce. Some of the country’s finest olive oils are made among its rolling hills, where you will also find award-winning vineyards creating full-bodied red teran and crisp white malvazija wines.
And then there are the highly prized truffles, whose pungency graces many Istrian dishes.
If you start in Pula at Istria’s southern tip, you can take in a tour of the city’s splendid 27BC Roman arena – one of the best-preserved amphitheatres in the world – before venturing into the region’s Tuscan-like interior of undulating hills and medieval hilltop towns.
Then head north, starting in Vodnjan to tour the village’s wineries and olive oil farms. Continue towards Visnjan for your next stop, before driving towards the bewitching hilltop town of Motovun.
It was in the forests north of Motovun where the then-largest white truffle in the world – which weighed a whopping 1.31kg – was unearthed in 1999 by Livade restaurateur Giancarlo Zigante. He decided against selling it for €1 million and instead fed 200 people at a giant feast.
While you’re dropping in on oil producers and winemakers you’ll be snacking on platters of prsut – Istrian air-dried ham – plump olives, umami-rich tapenade and a vast spread of cheeses.
As a final flourish, make your way to Istria’s west coast and take in the almost overwhelming beauty of Rovinj, whose Venetian-style old town is one of Croatia’s most enchanting.
Duration
5-6 days
Follow Istria’s wine and olive oil routes
Go on a culinary adventure
Photo: Aleksandar Gospic
Coast with the most The Velebit Mountains bring drama to the Adriatic shores
Photo: Ivan Sardi
Photo: Ivo Biocina
Photo: Zoran Jelaca
Photo: Filip Beusan
Photo: Aleksandar Gospic
Photo: Zoran Jelaca
Photo: Ivo Biocina
Photo: Julien Duval
Photo: Ivo Biocina
Photo: Zoran Jelaca
Photo: Aleksandar Gospic
Photo: Ivo Biocina
Photo: Vjeko Begovic
Photo: Ivo Biocina
Photo: Zoran Jelaca
Photo: Ivo Biocina
Photo: Zoran Jelaca
Photo: Ivo Biocina
Photo: Hrvoje Serdar
Photo: Ivo Biocina
Photo: Ivo Biocina
Photo: Aleksandar Gospic
Photo: Ivan Sardi
Photo: Denis Peros
Photo: Luka Esenko
Photo: Ivo Biocina
Photo: Predrag Vuckovic