Top 10 Best Places to Visit in Croatia

Last Updated on July 30, 2024 by Mrunal & Jiten

Stunning is one word to describe the amazing coastline of Croatia. A sunny place with beautiful beaches and rich cultural heritage, you should put this on top of your bucket list this holiday season!

Top 10 Best Places to Visit in Croatia

Zagreb

Zagreb is a midpoint of road, rail, and air networks in central Europe. It is also known for its many fascinating tourist attractions. The Upper Town is where all the attractions are—the Presidential Palace, the Croatian Parliament called Sabor, St. Mark’s Church, and museums. The place has an old-world charm with cobbled streets and gas lamps.

The Lake Jarun is perfect for rowing and windsurfing. The amazing museums in this city have artifacts dating from ancient times to the present day.

Do not miss the aesthetic art collections here. Medvednica is a 3,500-foot mountain accessible by hiking. The views from the top are amazing, and so is the food in the restaurants and cafes there.

Mljet

Mljet is an exotic island in the Mediterranean with breathtaking views at every turn. Odysseus is a unique blue cave where the light reflects blue at the bottom.

You can either swim to this cave or go by boat. Mljet National Park, with two beautiful lakes, is a perfect place to bike, hike, and swim. The island is also known for its white and red wine, olives, and cheese.

Istria

The Pula Arena here is said to have been built by fairies! It is the cultural center of this beautiful peninsula where many important events are held. The sixth-largest amphitheater is in Istria and looks spectacular under the stars.

Other historical attractions are the Temple of Augustus, the Arch of Sergii, the Twin Gate, and the Gate of Hercules. Istria is a picturesque city of lovely hills and hilltop towns with beaches. Rovinj is a lovely town with cobblestone streets and interesting art galleries.

Motovun lies within a forest valley. Brijuni National Park has many attractions, such as the Safari Park, where you can see footprints of extinct dinosaurs and some exotic animals.

Sibenik

Located near the Adriatic Sea, Sibenik is a historical town. Its biggest two attractions are UNESCO sites—St. James Cathedral and St. Nicholas Fortress built during Venetian times. Barone is a walled fortress with many interactive exhibits and a visitor center. Heritage walks lead you to other attractions here. Zlarin is a car-free island accessible by ferry.

Dubrovnik

Dubrovnik is a walled city with medieval bearings. It is the location for the filming of King’s Landing in Game of Thrones. The city dates back to the 7th century with three gates—Ploce, Pile, and Buza. The city walls are an astounding 1,940 meters long and 25 meters high.

A walk atop these walls will give you amazing views of the garden below and the entire city. Inside the fortress are Irish pubs, beach clubs, and wine bars to relax with a glass of wine, watching football or listening to music. A cable car option to Mount Srd is available, as is the facility to kayak along the coastlines and nearby islands.

Split

This city is famous for its ancient buildings and views of the Adriatic Sea. The Diocletian Palace and the Riva Promenade are tourist hotspots. You can go on an island-hopping spree to Brac, Solta, and Hvar. Mild rapids on the Cetina River make a rafting trip exciting.

Attempt cliff jumping or hiking with waterfalls and lovely greenery keeping you company. Split also provides an exciting opportunity to snorkel through a shipwreck bay.

Hvar Town

This tiny, nondescript village comes into the limelight in summer when yachts anchor here. Hvar Town has great wine, lavender fields and pine trees, ancient towns, beaches, and hills.

It has been voted one of the top 5 European islands by readers of Conde Nast recently. Stroll along the harbor and the waterfront promenade or visit nearby Pakleni islands for some fun time.

Rijeka

The city delights with historical architecture, natural attractions, and seaside fun. Trsat is a hilltop castle. It has many period exhibits that will enthuse history students. St. Vitus Cathedral, with marble pillars, archways, and wooden pews, is a beautiful church named after the patron saint of Rijeka. Sablicevo is a pebbled beach with blue waters.

The village of Kastav comes alive with the Kastav cultural summer festival and winter carnival parades. Opatija is another beautiful seaside village to add to your Rijeka must-visit list.

Cres Town

Cres is part of the Cres and Losinj Archipelago, once an important harbor due to its close proximity to Istria. The city architecture has been highly influenced by the Venetians, as seen in its churches, towers, town gates, and palaces.

Lubenice is a historic village perched on a 378-foot cliff populated with chapels and other monuments. Its beach downhill is among the top 15 most beautiful beaches in the world. Valun is a fisherman village where the Austrian TV series “Meet the Sun” was filmed. Other villages of note in Cres Town are Punta Kriza, Osor, and Martinscica.

Plitvice Lakes National Park

Plitvice Lakes National Park has a network of beautiful lakes and caves formed as a result of waters flowing over limestone and chalk cliffs over thousands of years.

The network has been formed in upper and lower layers, creating beautiful rock formations. Sixteen interconnected lakes are divided by moss and algae. There are wooden boardwalks to stroll and admire the beauty of this wonderful ecosystem.

When to Go

The best time to visit Croatia is between June and September, the best time for boating or swimming in the islands.

How to Reach

There are many flights from Ahmedabad, Mumbai, and Delhi to major cities in Croatia.

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