Croatia’s coastline offers great locations for a beach holiday and inland you can explore cities or relax and enjoy one of its national parks. Visiting Croatia will also give you the chance to get off the beaten track. There are plenty of quiet coves and fishing villages for those that want to get away from the well-trodden tourist circuits. There are also plenty of historical remains to be seen and explored.
Croatia Tourist Board: The official website for the Croatian National Tourist Office – a useful resource for planning your trip to Croatia.
Know Before You Go: Travel advice for Croatia from the FCO.
Things to see and do
- Many people consider Dubrovnik to be the top sight. Renaissance architecture is everywhere and the entire place is enclosed by a magnificent circle of walls bordering the Adriatic.
- The Plitvice Lakes National Park is Croatia’s biggest natural attraction. It is located half way between Zagreb and Zadar. There are sixteen lakes in the park interconnected by waterfalls, stretching along 8km. The lakes are surrounded by hills and dense forests, populated by a vast array of wildlife. There are numerous trails around the park, making it ideal for walking and hiking.
- If you fancy relaxing on the beach for the day, there are lots of beaches with beautiful crystal clear waters.
- Admire the Venetian architecture in Korcula Town clustered on a peninsula and visit the surrounding area with idyllic villages hidden in the hills.
- Visit the active fishing port Rovinj and take a boat to the lovely offshore islands of Crveni Otok and Katarina.
- Mljet Island is great for those who want to get away from it all. People visit the island for the biking, hiking and swimming that it has on offer. It’s a quiet place with only one major road and no large towns.
- Diocletian's Palace is located in Split and is very much a city within a city. It is a great place to explore and offers a lovely location for a romantic evening stroll.
- Euphrasian Basilica located in Porec is worth a visit. The Basilica there has nine naves, marble columns and fine sculptures.
- Brela Beach is considered to be the best beach in Croatia. It stretches for 6km and is dotted with a series of private coves. The nearby town of Brela is also worth a visit with its subtropical greenery and mixture of old and new housing. It is an easy day trip from either Split or Makarska.
- It’s well worth visiting Zagreb, the capital of Croatia, on your way to or from the coast; it has a wealth of museums and restaurants, and has plenty of interesting architecture.
- Visit the Museum of Arts and Crafts and the Mimara Museum with its collection of paintings and sculptures.
- Visit Pula’s Amphitheatre, Rome’s gift to the Adriatic.
- Admire the waterfalls in the Krka National Park.
- Take a boat trip to the Kornati Islands.
Festivals and events
- At the International Carnival of Rijeka customs include the making of ‘ugly masks’ which scare away evil forces. Carnival events include concerts, exhibitions, parties, and performances, and the main event of the Carnival Parade where you can expect to see lots of floats, masks and streets full of spectators. (January-February)
- During the Split Carnival citizens of Split dress up in costumes, with the most popular being the Pierrot and Harlequin which are fitting for the Venetian theme of masked balls, firework displays and historic plays. (February)
- International Children’s Festival is held annually in Sibenik and covers work for and by children. (June-July)
- Split Summer, a festival for music and drama in Split. (September-August)
- International Festival of New Film in Split. (September)
- Dubrovnik International Film Festival in Dubrovnik. (October)
Time difference
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