THE 25 BEST THINGS TO SEE AND DO IN CROATIA

Croatia is one of our weaknesses within Europe. The reasons are several: it has beautiful beaches, charming stone villages, a rich and varied cuisine, ancient and vibrant history, natural wonders, very interesting archeological sites, nice people and good prices. Who gives more? In this post we will tell you what they are the best 25 things to see and do in Croatia. Although it could be 250, or 2,500! We hope it helps you when planning this trip!

1. If you are a fan of Game of Thrones you are taking a long time to visit Croatia: throughout the country there are a few locations from the most beloved series of all time. Most of them are concentrated in Dubrovnik and Split (thousands of scenes of "King's Landing", "Slave Bay" ...) were filmed, but there are many more throughout the country, such as Sibenik which corresponds to Braavos, or Klis where Meereen settled.

2. Croatia does not have as many islands as Greece, but the ones it has are the beautiful sea. One that always appears in the wish lists is the Hvar Island, the longest in the Adriatic. Did you know that there is a Spanish fortress? Actually its name is due to the help of some Spanish engineers for its construction. To arrive it is best to take a boat from Split (it takes one hour and costs about € 7).

3. And speaking of islands, there is a great reason to visit the Brac Island: bathe in one of the most amazing beaches in the world, that of Zlati Rat, also known as “Golden Horn“.

4. Another cool island is Korcula, where Marco Polo himself was born. If you visit Korcula during Holy Week you can soak up the festive atmosphere that you live, and if not, let yourself fall in love with its small but flirtatious medieval historical center.

5. But if you are looking for a complete destination, where take a dip in spectacular beaches and with cultural visits a stone's throw away, point this name: Istria. Here we tell you what are the best beaches in Istria.

The beaches of Croatia have nothing to envy to Greece!

6. Do not fall into the error of thinking that everything is beaches in Croatia, eh? If you are more than climbing, trekking and mountain, maybe a visit to the Paklenica National Park Be your perfect plan. You can arrive on an excursion from Zadar.

7. By the way, they say that in Zadar you can enjoy a movie sunset... Is it because of its curious organ of the sea, which works thanks to the wind and waves? An experience

8. We return to Istria, but we completely change the script. We take you to meet one of the best preserved Roman amphitheaters and most impressive in the world: that of Pula.

9. Very close to here is, for us, the most charming town in Croatia (Adriatic, Mediterranean, worldwide). We talk aboutRovinj. If you have the opportunity to go, don't think about it. Tip: stay to see the sunset and fish dinner in one of its many restaurants.

10. Not as famous as Dubrovnik, but for us Split is the great jewel of Croatia. Sleep within the walls of Diocletian's Palace, walk its streets and imagine being a character from Game of Thrones, discover unique corners or drink something in its flirtatious coffee shops ... it's the most! Our visit to Split.

Diocletian's Palace is one flip after another!

11. Although, of course, visiting Croatia without going through its most acclaimed city would be a real crime: Dubrovnik is pretty to rage. The negative side is that you will have to share it with a few more tourists. Of course, after a walk through its historic center, you will quickly forgive it. Our visit to Dubrovnik.

12. If you are in Dubrovnik and have plenty of time we recommend you do two excursions to two different countries: to Mostar (in Bosnia) and to Kotor (in Montenegro). Both can be done for free by renting a car or on a tour.

13. If Split and Dubrovnik are the two urban stops that you cannot miss in Croatia, the Plitvice Lakes are the natural wonder more important. It is a set of 16 lakes connected to each other by waterfalls, you can imagine, it is a site pass! Admission costs 55 kunas in low season (about € 7.5) and 150-250 kunas in high season (€ 20-33) (more info). Yes, it is worth it, even if it is a crowd, so it is best to get up early as much as possible. Our visit to the Plitvice Lakes.

14. Another national park that we recommend is theKrka National Park. In this case the rates also depend on the season, between 30-110-200 kunas (More info). We believe that the Plitvice Lakes are more beautiful, but this national park has a plus: you can take a dip in its lakes.

15. Visit the capital of Croatia: Zagreb. A city that probably won't leave you indifferent. Here you can not miss the Church of St. Mark, famous for its roof adorned with the shields of Zagreb and the Kingdom of Croatia. Our visit to Zagreb.

16. If you are visiting northern Croatia and you feel like you have plenty of time, a very good idea is jump to Ljubljana, the capital of Slovenia. From Zagreb there are cheap and frequent buses with Flixbus.

17. One of the most important attractions in Croatia is the Mljet National Park which, in addition to having dreamlike scenarios, boasts a record: it was the first protected area in the Mediterranean. The entrance to the park costs 70 or 125 kunas, depending on the season. We did not go -_- but we do not see the time to return to meet him. If you want more info you can read this post from our friend Carla.

18. Enjoy the Croatian cuisine, a combination of Mediterranean flavors and influence from Eastern Europe. Some of the typical dishes What you have to try are:

• The pasticada: a stew of stewed meat that is accompanied with gnocchi
• The brodet: usually a fish stew with rice
• The cevapi: spicy sausages so typical of the Balkan area
• The burek: savory pie stuffed with the most varied ingredients ... for us the spinach and feta is the best!
• In Istria, in addition, it is almost obligatory to try some dishes based on white truffle and in general, if you go along the coast, get crammed with fish!
• And to top it off, thanks to its proximity to Italy, you can also enjoy very good pastas and pizzas.

19. From Split there is a very interesting day trip toTrogir, a small city full of history. To get there you will have to go through the ancient roman city of Salona, well worth a stop.

20. From Trogir there are boats that make a alternative island-hopping for some small islands and nothing touristy:Šolta, Drvenik (where the Blue Lagoon is located) and Čiovo. Our island hopping experience.

The villages of Croatia are full of beautiful super-beautiful corners, be sure to visit them.

21. Did you know that in Croatia there is the second largest wall in Europe? We talk about the ston wall which is 7 km long. The first? The Hadrian's Wall in Scotland.

22. There is also an impressive fjord: the Lim fjord (Limski Kanal), designated as the most beautiful fjord in Croatia, which penetrates inland about 10 km in the Istrian Peninsula. You can visit sailing in a tourist boat or enjoying it from the heights (there are several viewpoints along the road). By the way, on the slope of this fjord there is a very peculiar place: the Pirate Cave. According to legend, the pirate Henry Morgan hid here a treasure that he brought from his travels in the Caribbean, and that was never found. Today what you find here is a bar, where you can have a snack or shoot a cannon.

23. One of the greatest inventors of all time, Nicholas Tesla, was born in Croatia. More specifically in Smiljan, where there is a museum in which to learn more about this unique genius. Highly recommended the rental of the audio guide.

24. Another very curious museum is the Museum of Broken Relationships, where hundreds of memories of all kinds of lovers and love relationships are preserved. Admission costs 40 kunas (€ 5.4).

25. Rijeka (Fiume) It is a city that, although at first sight does not attract attention, its recent history is very interesting. If the curious places are cool, dedicate a couple of hours to this place.

So far our list of the 25 best things to see and do in Croatia. If you think we have forgotten any, you know: leave us a comment and we will expand the post. One thing is clear: Croatia is a destination, don't miss it.

* Photocredit cover: by Ivan Ivankovic on Unsplash

Video: 10 Best Places to Visit in Croatia - Travel Video (May 2024).