Croatia looks like it may be the next big thing in European travel – the beautiful country has history, recreational facilities and plenty of nature but has not yet been overrun by tourists – here are the top Croatian locations to visit.
1. Dubrovnik
“The Pearl of the Adriatic” and one of the country’s most famous cities, Dubrovnik is a fortified city with winding narrow cobbled lanes perched on a cliff top overlooking the sea. The city is rich with Baroque and Renaissance architecture in its pedestrian-only Old City.
There are sidewalk cafes, elegant restaurants, all the tourist amenities you could ask for and the city is framed by the green mountains (Dinaric Alps) behind the city and the white sand beaches below.
2. Hvar
Take a ferry ride out to the UNESCO island of Hvar, one of 1,000 Croatian islands. It is considered the Mediterranean’s best preserved ancient Greek landscape with rural beauty in the islands olive groves, fruit orchards, vineyards and farms.
Hvar town is a quaint town on the edge of a bay, the rest of the island has a number of small villages like Starigrad and Jelsa.
3. Split
The Roman remains in Split have put it on the map but it also has the longest coastline of any Croatian city with the Riva promenade running along the water front. The magnificent Roman UNESCO Diocletian’s Palace is a unique and well preserved architectural masterpiece used for shops, restaurants and luxury apartments.
The pine forest in the Peninsula Park adds green to the city. Visit the underground caverns, the St. Domnius Cathedral and see the Grugr Ninski Statue – the historic harbor town of Trogir is a popular day trip from Split with Venetian buildings and palaces and a 13th century island fortress.
4. Zagreb
This city looks like many of the beautiful Western European cities with many medieval buildings but with an Eastern twist. Zagreb is the country’s largest city it is located on the slopes of the Medvednica Mountains and the Sava River snakes through the city.
The city has a rich cultural life with historic theatres, a cathedral and impressive museums. The city has urban parks, pedestrian streets and a deep and interesting history.
5. Plitvice Lakes National Park
For natural beauty visit this untouched paradise which has 16 lakes and lush forests, it is located near the Bosnia Herzegovina border in the mountain karst area. The cacophony of colors, green trees, bright blue lakes and the many colored leaves make this a nature lover’s dream.
There are a number of animals like the brown bear, lynx and wolf as well as a variety of birds including owls and eagles. See the many waterfalls, prehistoric caves and flora and fauna as you follow the marked paths through the park.
Contributed by Sofia
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