Are you considering visiting Croatia, but you’re not sure what the country has to offer? Or have you already booked your trip to Croatia, but you’re still wondering what to see, what to do, or where to go? Then you are in just the right place. We examined some of the best attributes of this alluring and beautiful country that make it the perfect travel destination for any traveler. Here are our top reasons to visit Croatia.
1. Breathtaking Nature
Croatia’s natural beauty is truly breathtaking, and it’s one of the attributes of Croatia that the locals are really proud of. If you are a nature lover, then you will simply fall in love with Croatia’s beautiful islands, picturesque beaches, crystal clear turquoise sea, lush greenery, landscapes of pine trees, olive trees and vineyards, stunning waterfalls, lakes, and mountains.
2. Rich History and Culture
Croatia is brimming with history and culture, and it is home to ten UNESCO World Heritage sites, including the Pаlасе оf Diосlеtiаn in Split, the оld cities of Dubrоvnik аnd Trogir, thе Euрhrаѕiаn Basilica in Pоrеč, thе St. James Cаthеdrаl in Šibеnik, and the Stаri Grаd Plаin оn thе island of Hvar. If you are interested in sightseeing and exploring historical attractions, then you should not miss a visit to Croatia and its numerous buildings and structures of special architectural and historic interest, monuments, churches, cathedrals, and ancient ruins spread all over the country.
3. Long, Warm, Sunny Summers
Croatia is one of the warmest destinations in Europe and as such, summer vacations here are enjoyable and perfect for swimming, sunbathing, beach hopping, water sports and all kinds of outdoor adventure activities, as well as enjoying a myriad of outdoor events and festivities.
4. Islands
If you are interested in island hopping, there is no better place to do so than in Croatia. With over 1000 islands, there are plenty of options available to you. To enjoy some of the most beautiful islands in the Mediterranean, you can book a boat tour to take you around or you can rent a private boat or yacht. Sailing in Croatia is probably the best way to experience the coastline. Sail away and explore gorgeous beaches along hidden coves, as well as charming coastal towns and villages! Some of the most popular and accessible Croatian islands are Brač, Hvar, Korčula, Pag, Vis, Krk, Rab, Cres, Lošinj, Mljet, Dugi Otok and the Kornati islands.
5. Picturesque Beaches
Croatia has almost 6.000 km of coast, shared between the mainland and the many islands that make up the country. If you don’t mind the crowds, you might want to check out some of the most popular Croatian beaches almost everyone knows about: Zlatni rat beach (Bol, the island of Brač), Lovrečina Bay (the island of Brač), Zrče beach (Novalja, the island of Pag), Banje beach (Dubrovnik), Bačvice beach (Split), Queen’s beach (Nin), and Saharun or Sakarun beach (Dugi otok island). If you prefer to have less people around you, choose any of the still famous but more secluded beaches: Lubenice beach (Lubenice, the island of Cres), Betina Cave (Dubrovnik), Dubovica beach (the island of Hvar), Divna beach (Pelješac peninsula), or Stiniva beach (the island of Vis). And if all you want is some peace and quiet while immersed in nature, just go find your own small private beach with no one around. Though there are a few sandy beaches in Croatia, most of the Croatian beaches are pebbly or rocky. Whatever your preferences are, one thing is for sure, you will have more than enough quality beaches to enjoy while visiting Croatia!
6. Water Sports and Outdoor Adventure Activities
If you are more into active and adventure holidays, then look no further. With a whole range of water sports and outdoor adventure activities available to try out, Croatia is a perfect destination for you. Go snorkeling, scuba diving, sailing, sea kayaking, canoeing, windsurfing, standup paddleboarding, parasailing, paragliding or hanggliding, and enjoy your holidays in Croatia, while experiencing the thrill of adventure.
7. Trekking and Hiking
In addition to having stunning coastlines and beaches, Croatia is also blessed with spectacular national and nature parks with gorgeous mountains, forests, waterfalls, lakes, and rivers, where you can take guided or self-guided walks and hikes, and enjoy breathtaking scenery and wildlife. There are numerous well marked and well-maintained trekking and hiking trails all over the country, but the most popular walking and hiking spots in Croatia are Plitvice Lakes National Park, Paklenica National Park, Northern Velebit National Park, Risnjak National Park, Biokovo Mountain, and Učka Mountain.
8. Plitvice Lakes National Park
With its 16 terraced lakes and numerous gorgeous waterfalls, the Plitvice Lakes National Park is one of the oldest and by far the most popular of the eight Croatian national parks. World famous for its extraordinary natural beauty and the diversity and wealth of flora and fauna, it is also one of the 10 UNESCO World Heritage sites in Croatia. Although it is most visited in spring and summer when everything is green and vibrant, the Plitvice Lakes National Park is open throughout the year, offering the most amazing dramatic colors during the autumn months and fairy-like views of frozen lakes and waterfalls covered with snow during winter. So no matter what time of the year you are traveling to Croatia, make sure you visit Plitvice Lakes. Take a walk across the wooden pathways with the crystal clear water underneath your feet, and enjoy the views and sounds of rumbling waterfalls and surrounding nature.
9. Dubrovnik, the Pearl of the Adriatic
Dubrovnik, also known as the Pearl of the Adriatic, is one of the most attractive tourist destinations in the Mediterranean, located in the very south of Croatia. Its old town, surrounded by ancient stone walls, is one of the UNESCO World Heritage sites and best known for its steep and narrow cobbled streets and charming, red-roofed stone houses. You can take a walk along the city walls and enjoy breathtaking views of the old town and the crystal clear Adriatic Sea from above. Or you can just spend your time wandering the streets and exploring the many historic sights and attractions, art galleries, shops, restaurants, and bars.
10. Roman Amphitheater in Pula
If you want to see one of the world’s largest and best preserved Roman amphitheaters, you should visit Pula, a charming coastal town in the south of Istria, the largest Croatian peninsula. Locally known as the Arena, this beautiful oval amphitheater was built in the 1st century to accommodate the gladiator fights, and it was able to seat up to 20,000 spectators. Today, it stages various events, such as exhibitions, concerts, as well as film and music festivals.
11. Sea Organ in Zadar
Have you ever heard music played by the sea? If not, here’s your chance. Sea Organ in Zadar is one of the world’s most unusual tourist attractions. It’s a natural music instrument with a set of organ pipes built underneath the large stone stairs that descend into the sea. Driven by the sea waves and wind movements, this massive Sea Organ plays actual music out of nature. Right next to it, there is another artistic installation called Sun Salutation or Greeting to the Sun. Both were designed by the same local architect, Nikola Bašić. It’s a perfect spot to watch the most mesmerizing sunsets while at the same time enjoying the enchanting melodies played by the Adriatic Sea.
12. Nikola Tesla Museum and Memorial Center
Nikola Tesla, a true genius who is today admired and recognized as one of the world’s greatest inventors and engineers spent most of his adult life living in the United States, but he was born and raised in the village of Smiljan in today’s Croatia. His birth house has been transformed into a museum and memorial center, well worth a visit while in Croatia.
13. Game of Thrones Filming Locations
Even if you haven’t watched it yourself, you must have heard of Game of Thrones, one of the most discussed TV shows on social media, ever. And whether you are a true Game of Thrones fan or not, you might find it interesting to know that you can visit and explore many of the Game of Thrones filming locations in Croatia, not only in Dubrovnik (King’s Landing) but also in and around Split (Meereen), Trogir (Qarth), Šibenik and Kaštel Gomilica (Braavos).
14. Nightlife and Partying
Croatia caters to all sorts of tastes when it comes to partying, offering a variety of options to choose from. There are numerous bars, pubs, and nightclubs almost everywhere you go. And if you’re staying on the coast or on the islands, there are plenty of trendy beach clubs and party boats.
15. Music and Film Festivals
If you enjoy music and film, you should know that Croatia hosts some of the best festivals in Europe. Some of the most popular music festivals in Croatia are Ultra Europe Festival in Split, Outlook Festival in Pula, INmusic Festival in Zagreb, Dimensions Festival in Pula, Hideout Festival in Novalja, the island of Pag, and Love International Festival in Tisno. There are also many interesting film festivals, such as Motovun Film Festival, Animafest Zagreb (World Festival of Animated Film), Vukovar Film Festival, Fantastic Zagreb Film Festival, ZagrebDox (International Documentary Film Festival), Kinookus Food and Film Festival in Ston, and One Take Film Festival in Zagreb.
16. Museums
Croatia has a rich and fascinating cultural heritage, hence, the number and types of museums available in the country. Apart from numerous archeological, historical and art museums, there are also some not so usual and quite fascinating museums in Croatia that you might want to visit, even if you don’t normally consider yourself a museum lover, such as the Museum of Illusions in Zagreb, the Museum of Illusions in Zadar, Nikola Tesla Memorial Center, the Neanderthal Museum in Krapina, and the Museum of Broken Relationships in Zagreb.
17. Fairytale Castles
Croatia is home to numerous castles, remains of the castles and other fortifications that can be found all over the country. While many Croatian castles are unfortunately in ruins and left to deteriorate, there are quite a few castles in Croatia that are well preserved and complete, allowing you to peer into the interior chambers and take a nice walk around the building and the walls surrounding the castle. Some of the best preserved and most beautiful Croatian castles definitely worth a visit are found in the northern Croatia, such as Trakošćan Castle, Veliki Tabor Castle, and Maruševec Castle.
18. Lighthouses
With a long, indented coast and more than a thousand islands, it is no surprise that Croatia has numerous beautiful lighthouses, many of which are open to visitors, offering magnificent views of the turquoise waters of the Adriatic Sea. However, in Croatia, there are also a few lighthouses that you can rent for short-term private stays, such as Palagruža Lighthouse, located on a tiny, isolated island in the middle of the Adriatic Sea, Savudrija Lighthouse, the oldest lighthouse in Croatia, located at the northern end of the Istrian peninsula, or Struga Lighthouse on the island of Lastovo.
19. Hum, the Smallest Town in the World
Croatia is home to numerous charming little towns and villages where you can easily engage in conversations with the locals and learn about their life and traditions. And if you travel to Croatia, you could also take the opportunity to visit Hum, the smallest town in the world.
20. Dinosaur Footprints
Croatia is a small country with many tiny islands and the smallest town in the world, but also with some big dinosaur footprints. Yes, you’ve read it right. If you’re looking for a truly unusual experience of retracing the footsteps of dinosaurs, there are two places in Croatia you should have on your bucket list: the Brijuni National Park and the Cape Kamenjak Nature Park, both located on the Istrian peninsula.
21. Food and Drink
Whether you are a foodie or just someone who enjoys great wine, you will enjoy the delectable offerings of Croatia. Some of the best local dishes to try include pašticada, a slow-cooked beef served with gnocchi or homemade pasta and very popular in the Dalmatian region; peka, a mixture of meat or seafood baked on hot coal under a bell-like dome; and punjena paprika (stuffed peppers), peppers stuffed with a mix of minced meat and rice in tomato sauce, usually served with mashed potato. Also, try not to miss Dalmatian fish on the grill, the dry-cured ham pršut, Pag cheese, olives, and truffles. Apart from the local dishes, there is also a myriad of restaurants serving all types of international cuisines available as well, giving you great choices for dining. Croatia is also a great location for lovers of wine, as well as fruit and herbal liqueurs.
22. Coffee Culture
Coffee in Croatia is not just a drink. Drinking coffee while catching up with your friends, checking your social media accounts, reading newspapers or just watching people pass by is a delicious daily ritual you might even start to like while traveling in Croatia.
Finally, Croatia is easy to reach, affordable, and most importantly, safe, even for solo travelers. Now, come and see for yourself!