5 Best Places to Visit in Croatia

Croatia's second largest city, Split, is located along the stunning Adriatic coastline in Central Dalmatia and serves as a practical base from which to explore the entire country. With a population of 200,000 residents, this quaint town, which perfectly combines ancient and modern architecture, has plenty to offer.

Covering roughly 38,000 square meters and occupying more than half of Split's Old Town, Diocletian's Palace is the city's main attraction site. Built in 4th century AD, this UNESCO World Heritage monument is one of the world's best preserved Roman ruins. As you walk through this maze-like palace, enjoy the many boutique shops, restaurants, bars and coffee shops that the palace hides.

If you rather prefer your coffee with view, take a stroll outside of the historic center and soak in the sun in the plethora of coffee shops along the Riva promenade.

Visitors in Split will find plenty to suit their preferences from the vast museums and churches, to the beautiful Marjan forest park that offers bike rentals and calming nature walks.

Outside of the historic Old Town, Split has many family friendly beaches such as sandy Bačvice beach where you can often see residents playing the popular game of picigin.

The best time to visit this unique and lively city is during the summer when you can take in everything that the city has to offer its visitors, including all the amazing islands around Split.

Whether you've first heard of it as King's Landing or as one of the most beautiful cities in the world, there is no arguing the entrancing effect that Dubrovnik has on its visitors.

Located on the southern point of the Adriatic Sea, Dubrovnik was established in the 7^th century and has been ruled by Hungarians and Venetians. With the nickname "Pearl of the Adriatic," Dubrovnik presents plenty of sightseeing opportunities.

The historic Old Town is packed with antique features such as the white cobblestone streets, gorgeous churches, and the famous Stradun street. Cutting through Old Town, this marble covered street connects the eastern and western gates of the city and houses many restaurants, cute cafes and boutique stores. If you are looking for a bit of exercise during your vacation, we recommend walking the walls surrounding the city that span over 2 kilometers.

Being such a popular tourist destination along with being a small city, we recommend visiting this beautiful city during the off season during the months of April-May and September-October where you will still have the luxury of warm weather accompanied with fewer crowds.

Located only a few hours and an easy drive from Croatia’s capital city, Zagreb, Plitvice National Park is considered one of the most beautiful natural wonders of Croatia. This 300 square kilometer park consists of 16 interconnected lakes that range in colors of blue, turquoise, and gray which are connected by cascades and roaring waterfalls.

An entrance ticket includes boat rides across the lakes and gives access to exploring 18 kilometers of networked hiking trails through lush forests that many wild animals call home. Plitvice National Park is great for exploring in all seasons, but it’s best to keep in mind that that park is busiest during the summer months, so spring or autumn are more ideal to enjoy in peace.

For those that would like to spend the night in this marvelous park, there are a few hotels located just around the edges of the park.

With an average of 115 days of sunshine per year, Hvar is maybe best known for being the sunniest location in Croatia. Hvar Town, Hvar’s main city, is an alluring attraction for those looking for a trendier vacation.

The gorgeous, car-free main square, dotted with plenty of upscale cafes, is overlooked by a 16^th century fortress that is open to visitors during the day and offers a great exercise opportunity to the top via stairs. Additionally, many other historic sightseeing locations surround the main square, such as St. Stephens Cathedral and the 17^th century Arsenal, which today is used as a theatre. Hvar town is also well known for its lavish lavender fields that fill the air with relaxing scents, along with being home to a plethora of top sea-food restaurants and exquisite hotels.

Hvar in itself doesn’t have many beaches, so it’s best to make a day trip and take a boat, either privately or with one of the many daily excursions that local boat owners offer, to the Pakleni islands or Blue Cave. Another way to visit other popular cities on Hvar, such as Stari Grad or Jelsa, is by taking a quick bus ride from Hvar town. Being such a popular island and offering so much to its visitors, Hvar island attracts many visitors during the season, so it’s best to visit this island during the warmer off-season months to still be able to enjoy all the water activities that the island and its surroundings have to offer.

The quickest and easiest way to get to Hvar town is by ferry from Split.

Easily accessible from Split, Krka National Park is a protected nature reserve that easily leaves all its visitors in awe. The true beauty of this park, aside from the gorgeous limestone lakes and caves, is the 800-meter-long waterfall, Skradinski buk. Unlike Plitvice National Park, Krka offers visitors a treat of allowing swimming in the Krka river and some waterfalls during the summer months.

Visitors can enjoy the park by foot following trails of boardwalks or by riverboats to and from waterfalls. One of the many hidden treasures Krka has to offer is the 860 species of rare and endangered flora and fauna encompassing the park. In the middle of the river systems, visitors can uncover the small island of Visovac that is home to Franciscan monks who reside there.

Near the park, is the small town of Skradin. This beautiful town provides visitors with plenty of sightseeing opportunities and a quick history lesson.