Croatia

With charming medieval towns, miles of breathtaking Adriatic coastline with over a thousand islands, and myriad opportunities for hiking, cycling, sailing, kayaking, and more, it is easy to see why Croatia is one of Europe’s hottest destinations.

The country’s long history with centuries of Greek, Ottoman, Italian, and Austro-Hungarian influences, has left its mark on the traditional cuisine. Croatian cooking is based on local ingredients with variations depending on the season and region. Croatian wine making goes back to the ancient Greek settlers who arrived on the Dalmatian coast in the 5th century BC and praised the high quality of wines produced on the islands.

If you are a first-time visitor or only have a week to spend, you will be best off focusing on the southern Dalmatian coast, splitting your time between the must-sees of Dubrovnik and Split with their UNESCO-protected old towns and maybe adding a day-trip to one of the islands like Hvar, Korcula, or Brac. This is the most-popular part of Croatia and also the most crowded, especially in the summer months, so plan well ahead.

With 10 – 12 days in Croatia, you will have enough time to add the northern regions of the country as well – the Istrian Peninsula with its Roman ruins, historic hill towns, vineyards, and olive groves, and the capital city of Zagreb with its cosmopolitan and Austro-Hungarian ambience. Roughly half-way between Split and Zagreb, the Plitvice Lakes National Park is definitely worth a stop to explore its trails and plank walks in the lush valley, and admire the lakes and waterfalls.

Alternatively, with two weeks to spend, you may consider exploring some of Croatia’s neighbor countries (which were also once part of Yugoslavia) and add some time in Montenegro, Bosnia-Herzegovina, or Slovenia. Get in touch and we will tell you how.

Get a lot more information on travel to this amazing destination from the CROATIA DESTINATION GUIDE!

Croatia

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