See & Do
Split
A "must-see" town on the Dalmatian coast, Split is a vast open-air museum. The street tiles are worn smooth by centuries of wear, although many of them are now covered by one of a hundred or more vibrant outdoor cafés.
The Roman Diocletian's Palace facing out to sea is the centrepiece of the old town. At 210m by 180m it's truly monumental. Colonnades, palace gates and passageways guide you through the fortress. A squad of local painters and artists sell their wares in the palace's giant underbelly.
The rest of the town is a dream to archaeologists and to modern-day people-watchers alike who can soak up the vibrant atmosphere of the city. Split is also something of a transport hub with the overnight train leaving regularly for Zagreb and regular ferries to Hvar, Brac and Dubrovnik.
Solin Roman Ruins
Sprawling Roman Salona is nestled in vineyards 6km north-east of Split near to the city of Solin. Once you're among the ruins it's easy to see why it's touted as Croatia's most important archaeological site. Around the town you can walk at will among the remnants of an amphitheatre, several basilicas and a tree-lined city wall.
Solin also contains the tombs of Christian martyrs who died before the faith spread over the rest of the nation. The main graveyard lies just outside the city at Manastirine, and excavated tombs of the early martyrs can still be seen. The 5th-century basilica that stands above the site is known as the "Cathedral of the Martyrs".
The number 1 bus leaves every 30mins for Solin from the bus terminal in front of Split's train station.
Dubrovnik
At the far southern end of Croatia's awesome coastline, Dubrovnik is the crown jewel of the nation's tourist industry. No visit would be complete if you didn't take a stroll around the city walls that stretch 2km around the old town and offer a glimpse of one of Europe's best-preserved medieval cities.
The streets below bustle with artisans, students and visitors who frequent the more modern restaurants, bars and cafés. The narrow paved lanes also open up to sumptuous buildings, the highlight of which is the Rector's Palace, which now contains a museum demonstrating the medieval wealth of the city. The bohemian city is also home to some of Croatia's hippest shops.
Lokrum Island
Lokrum Island's big attraction is its crystal clear, mostly calm water. Some daredevils have taken to cliff jumping into the sea on the south of the island, a spectacle that always gets a few cheering crowds. There are some lesser jumping points too if you don't fancy an Acapulco-style plunge. Rocky beaches surround the island and are split into Textile and FKK (naturist) sections. You have been warned.
Paths lead around the attractions, which include a botanical garden full of sweet Mediterranean herbs, a couple of open-air cafés and a pretty little harbour. Boats costing HRK15 leave Dubrovnik every hour for the ten-minute hop to Lokrum.
Hvar
Few scenes in Croatia rival a sunset over Hvar's harbour and 13th-century townscape as seen from a pavement café.
This delightful town is on the western tip of the island of the same name, an easy ferry ride away from Split, Korcula or Brac. The whole scene is rendered even more magnificent by the presence of a giant Venetian fortress and a smaller Napoleonic castle up in the hills.
The town is truly alive with bars, restaurants and seemingly spontaneous concerts every few hours in the tourist season from May until September. Hvar's microclimate is legendary as the fragrant hills behind the town hold up all the cloud, making this the sunniest place in all of Croatia.
A note on one of Hvar's weather notice boards informs the visitor that the island has recently been elected as one of the ten most beautiful islands in the world alongside Bora Bora, Tahiti, Zanzibar and Capri. Hvar also serves as a base for visits to the naturist islands off its coast, and as a stop for island-hopping yachts.
Palmizana
Palmizana is one of the numerous islands and beaches dotted around the Dalmatian coast.
It's the largest island in the chain, and is clearly visible from the Venetian castle above Hvar old town, just a short hop away by boat. Palmizana is quieter than the more popular islands of Stipanska and Jerolim, which are slightly closer to Hvar town. Launches costing HRK30 return hop over to Palmizana from Hvar harbour in the morning and return at around 16h00.
There are a few cafés where the boat pulls up but aside from these the island is completely untouched. Paths criss-cross the island through herbaceous groves and take you to one of Palmizana's score of secluded coves. Many tourists bring a pair of sandals for avoiding the sharp rocks on their way out of the transparent water.
Be warned that there is a tradition of naturism throughout Palmizana and people sunbathe sans clothing on any of the island's many white sand beaches. However, it isn't recommended that you strip off if exploring the island - plenty of spiky scrub bushes overhang the narrow paths.
Korcula
Korcula town is not only a gem itself but also serves as a base for serving the rest of picturesque Korcula Island. As with so many of Croatia's charming island towns, Korcula, is surrounded by ancient city walls that enclose a maze of tiny medieval streets.
The stunning Cathedral of St Mark and the town's Greco-Roman museum are hotspots for visitors. Alternatively many sit and idle over the view of the bays from the top of the old house of travelling salesman Marco Polo, who was born here when the town was under Venetian control.
There are plenty of places to simply sit, eat and drink, making this one of the most relaxing spots in Croatia. Buses run daily around the island and boasts connect to Dubrovnik and Hvar.
Zagreb
Croatia's lively capital city is split into a bustling commercial area and a wonderfully preserved medieval sector known as Gradec, which has become the social heart of the city.
Gradec contains all the visitor's "must-see" places including the huge St Stephen's Cathedral and St Catherine's Church. It is also home to Zagreb's best cafés, bars, restaurants and nightclubs. Street markets abound in this area too, including the daily Dolac food market where you'll find an amazing array of locally produced goods ranging from home-made wine to field mushrooms to hedgerow berries.
To get a priceless view over the city head to the Lotrscak funicular railway, which connects Gradec with the economic centre of the city.
The Zagreb directly below Gradec is a shopper's paradise. The main streets of Ilica Jurisiceva and Zrinjskog Tomislava are lined with Italian chain stores, affluent department stores and trendy shops familiar to most European high streets. The lanes and squares in between are home to one-off boutiques, record and bookshops, and high-fashion outlets.
Splitvice Lakes
In the east of the country, close to the Bosnian border the Unesco Heritage lakes of Splitvice is one of the highlights you cannot effort to miss during your stay. The 13 lakes are connected with eachother by waterfalls and stream from high in the mountains to the lowland. The water is crystal clear and the nature is amazing. Close to the lakes there is enough accommodation to stay, so visit this great wonder of the world.
Rovinj
The Istrian Peninsula's proximity to Italy and Austria toward the north of Croatia's coastline means that it swarms with visitors in July and August. Rovinj is miles more relaxed than the nearby touristy towns of Porec and Pula however.
The old town will charm you into submission, as will the views of the 13 islets just out from the traditional harbour. The Cathedral of St Euphemia dominates the pretty town and is well worth a look.
Rovinj is rapidly becoming an artist's hangout - local painters sell their wares behind the cathedral. You'll be fitter at the end of your holiday than when you came as Rovinj's delightful cobbled streets are all on a steep incline. As with all of Croatia's coastal towns, there are plenty of places to take a dip in the clear sea when you've finished sightseeing.
Baska
Baska, on the southern end of Krk Island, is a step away from the main tourist bustle of the rest of Krk although it's still a popular resort.
People flock here for good reason though: a sun-drenched 2.5km-long beach. There are plenty of hiking trails leading up to the enchanting hills forming the backdrop to the beach.
Baska also has a walled old town, which rivals Krk town up the coast in allure and beauty.
Rab
Just south of Krk is the tantalising island paradise of Rab. It seems to have almost everything you could ask from a Mediterranean island including a sunny microclimate, stunning old towns, mountain walks, secluded sandy coves (a rarity in Croatia) and an abundance of fresh local food.
Rab town's ancient beauty means it does get busy in high-season (July and August) but it's not difficult to see why. The harbour is as picturesque as they come with cafés and restaurants spilling out onto the streets in the summer. Ferries depart for Baska on the south of Krk island, and for the mainland, throughout the day.
