Croatia Destination Guide
The major attraction in Croatia is its long coastline, with the well maintained renaissance towns along this coast. The western coast of the Adriatic Sea is one of the famous beach strips in Europe. In the interior of Croatia the major attractions are the towns of Zagreb, which is Croatia’s capital; Varazdin, the former Baroque capital of Croatia; and any number of medieval castles. Also popular with tourists are eight regions in Croatia which have been designated as national parks. They are protected and untouched by commercialisation. There are historical sites, churches and amphitheatres dating back to 50 AD and five UNESCO World Heritage sites in Croatia.
A beautiful country with warm and hospitable people, Croatia has many tourist attractions.
Croatia offers a wealth of wonderful things to see and do, and our Croatia Destination Guide below tells you all about the highlights. An ideal way of exploring the country and getting the most out of your holiday is taking one of our Croatia tours. For more general country travel information, our Croatia Country Guide will tell you all you need to know to plan your holiday! To check out specific things to see and do in destinations around the country, check out these sites:
Things to See & Do in Croatia
The tourism industry in Croatia is fairly well developed. 2005 alone saw approximately 10 million tourists visiting Croatia.
Zagreb, Croatia’s biggest city, has a host of historical sites, art galleries and museums. Many of these are Austro Hungarian in architecture and represent a harmonious blend of East and West European influences. The coastal city of Dubrovnik, which is called the ‘jewel of Croatia’, is another tourist attraction with many monuments and buildings of historical significance. The historical monuments in Pula, the ancient Roman ruins and churches in Split and Diocletian’s Palace also attract many visitors.
Follow the links below or scroll further down the page for details on some of the many interesting tourist attractions in Croatia:
Brela Beach
Cres
Dubrovnik
Hvar
Korcula
Lighthouses
There are eleven rent-a-lighthouse options along the coast of the Adriatic Sea. These are in Palagruza, Struga, Susac, Plocica, Sv. Petar, Prisnjak, Veli Rat, Porer, RT Zub, Sv. Ivan and Savudrija.
Museums
The Museum of Arts and Crafts in Zagreb documents the evolution of Croatian crafts over the centuries. The Mimara Museum is a repository of ceramics, sculpture and painting from all over the world, while the Mestrovic Atelier displays the powerful sculptures of Mestrovic, Croatia’s best known sculptor.
The city of Dubrovnik provides the opportunity to walk down the annals of Croatia’s history. The Rector’s Palace, the Memorial Room to the Dubrovnik Defenders at the Sponza Palace, the Maritime Museum and the War Photos Unlimited are some of the important places to see in Dubrovnik.
The Museum of Croatian Archaeological Monuments in Split displays early Croatian religious fine art. The Mestrovic Gallery showcases the 20th century sculptures of Croatia’s famous sculptor, Ivan Mestrovic.
National Parks
Mljet National Park, on the verdant and untainted Mljet Island, is another interesting place to visit. There are two saltwater lakes connected to each other and the Benedictine Monastery and the St. Mary’s Island located in the middle of the larger lake make a pretty picture. Tourists can cycle their way around this densely forested national park.
Kopacki Rit Nature Park is a birdwatcher’s delight. A secluded stretch of wetland, it is home to a number of migratory birds.
There are hiking and climbing opportunities at the Risnjak National Park in the hills of Gorski Kotar and the Velebit Massif in the Paklencia National Park in Northern Dalmatia.
The Kornati National Park offers a unique experience. This uninhabited, rocky archipelago of over 90 islands is spread out over 116 square miles (300 square kilometres) and is virtually devoid of plant life.
Nightlife in Croatia
But at all times around the year, Croatia has a throbbing nightlife. Baristas shake up exotic cocktails and DJs belt out the latest hits in music from Slavic to rock, soul, electronic and jazz and there is plenty of inexpensive beer! A night out at most of the casual spots will cost approximately 30 to 40 HRK. Multi purpose clubs, bars and cafes offering the latest in fashion, art and music function from noon till midnight, but many other dance clubs open only around midnight. There are also a few exclusive premium night clubs with forbidding bouncers.
