18 Best Places to Visit In Croatia in 2023

Here is Top Travel entirely dedicated to one of the wildest countries in Europe: discover together the 18 great places to visit in Croatia!

This is what Croatia promises; the country is very close to Italy, well connected to the main Italian cities through low-cost airlines, suitable for all budgets and all types of tourists, from those seeking relaxation to those who want to explore the beautiful coastline

Adriatic or go into the pristine nature of the islands, to those who wish to immerse themselves fully in the culture and local traditions or those looking for a holiday of the purest Mediterranean lifestyle.

Croatia is a country that is amazing at any time of the year.

In fact, in this Top Travel, we will discover the ten places to visit in Croatia not only in summer but also throughout the year.

Apparently, during the summer, the country lives its highest expression of tourism (this is not raining), but the other seasons are not to be underestimated and, with these ten positions, we will try to speak globally of one of the fascinating Balkan countries in absolute.

Croatia is wild, a mix of ecosystems and territories still relatively healthy and untouched.

In the hope that the development of tourism (the primary source of income of the nation) does not change these natural balances let’s start to discover without further delay the places to visit in Croatia with relative motivation …

1- NATIONAL PARKS 

In Croatia, there are two of the most beautiful national parks in Europe (unfortunately they are not in the ranking of the most beautiful national parks on the planet, but believe it is worth visiting them!).

I’m talking about the Plitvice Lakes National Park and the Krka National Park.

The former is located near the border with Bosnia and is a veritable paradise of turquoise lakes, lush forests and incredibly beautiful waterfalls.

You can cross streams and ponds over wooden platforms which makes everything even more fascinating.

The second park is located in Northern Dalmatia, and here you will also be surrounded by waterfalls and wild natural environments.

Perhaps one of the best times to visit the parks is at the beginning of autumn when there is not so much crowd, and nature offers spectacular colors.

2- THE OLD CITY OF DUBROVNIK

When one thinks of Croatia, the charming coastal town with its red roofs and narrow streets is at the top of the list.

The Old Town should be visited, perhaps following the ancient walls that surround it in a warm and eternal embrace.

The historic center of Dubrovnik is full of shops and restaurants, as well as breathtaking views and features. I also recommend a boat tour and kayaking. Dubrovnik is one of the top destinations in Europe for tourists. Also, one of the most beautiful historical centers in Europe!

3-DUGI OTOK, THE LONG ISLAND

Dugi Otok is wild, and perfect for a holiday immersed in nature.

Apparently in recent years has become a bit ‘more ” mainstream,” given the growing number of tourists, but remains one of the most intact and true corners of the country.

The most beautiful beach?

Sakarun!

The best time is between May and June when there are still many tourists present! You will love the crystal clear water. 

4- CAPE KAMENJAK, IN ISTRIA

Cape Kamenjak is a peninsula in the southernmost part of Istria wholly transformed into a nature reserve where it is forbidden to build houses and especially in tourist villages.

The only way to explore it is by car, by paying an admission ticket of € 5 or by bike.

Inside there is a real parallel world, made of ancient pine forests, dirt roads sun-drenched and incredible rocky beaches.

Reaching the beaches is not easy: you pass through pine woods, steep slopes and sometimes challenging to follow roads, but this is the price to pay if you want to reach some of the most beautiful stretches of coast in Croatia.

Surely I’ll talk later about Cape Kamenjak, for today it ends up among the places to visit in Croatia!

5- BEACH PARTIES IN HVAR

If you are looking for fun and want to frolic then Hvar is another place to visit in Croatia.

Summer is the best time to go from here; you can find a lot of festivals in Spiaggito, trendy clubs and so many people looking for fun.

If you are not this type of person, always looking for fun and parties, it does not matter; I recommend the same Hvar: the town itself is beautiful, also offers a rich gastronomic panorama and dozens of restaurants where you can eat typical dishes of Croatian cuisine.

So I recommend Hvar not just for the nightlife!

6- BRIJUNI OTOK

Here is another island to visit absolutely.

Brijuni (in Italian Brioni) is an archipelago of 14 islands located on the west coast of Istria and is one of the Croatian national parks to visit.

The main island has a long history: it was originally inhabited by the Romans, then it became one of the favorite places of the Venetians, and finally, Tito himself built his villa there.

On the main island, more than 200 dinosaur footprints are dating back to the Cretaceous period,   ancient Roman villas, a safari park and dozens of isolated beaches.

The main island is uninhabited, but you can get there by comfortable ferries that leave regularly.

7- ZAGREB CHRISTMAS MARKETS

Croatia can also be visited beyond the summer period.

For this, I recommend the Christmas markets in Zagreb, according to many, among the most beautiful in Europe!

Zagreb under Christmas changes its face entirely and gets a unique charm.

Maybe it will be of the climate (entirely different from the coastal one) and the atmosphere muffled by the snow.

Another point in favor of the Zagreb markets is the costs: the prices are relatively lower and indeed you will save more here than in Central Europe.

8- PULA AND ITS HISTORICAL WONDERS

Pula is one of the most beautiful cities in Istria and throughout the country.

What is extraordinary about the city is its historical overlap: in Pula, there are Roman monuments, such as the magnificent Amphitheater or the Forum of Augustus, a Venetian fortress that dominates the city from above, palaces built during the Austro-Hungarian domination and Nazi architecture and Soviets that are little harmonized with the rest.

To all this, I add an incredibly vast gastronomic panorama and lovely beaches and close to the city center (you can reach by bus).

I stop here, also because I will talk about Pola dedicating a whole article later on …

9- THE BEAUTIFUL ROVINJ

Rovinj is another pearl of Istria.

I had in mind several cities to be included in the places to visit in Croatia, and I decided that leaving Rovinj out was crazy.

The city is beautiful and, like Pula, is enriched by an incredible historical overlap that makes it unique.

I advise you to get lost in the narrow streets of the old city, stop in a small restaurant (avoid those of the port, too touristy and expensive) and drink a nice glass of red wine before resuming walking.

10- FAZANA: THE PEARL OF ISTRIA

Fazana is the final gem: I passed by chance in this town 20 minutes from Pula, and I fell madly in love!

Fazana is a little reality kissed by the summer sun and a crystalline sea.

A town with pastel colors, narrow streets, many restaurants, and many ice-cream parlors … a haven of calm and tranquility overlooking the sea.

Now we talked about the top 10 places you must visit. I will also include some more destinations to visit if you got the extra time. Below are some more places to see and enjoy.

11- A flight on the island of happiness 

Between a summit expedition and games in the open sea

Among the favorite places of nautical tourism in Croatia, Rab called the island of joy, is a must. For an inland excursion up to the enchanting and grandiose view at the top of Kamenjak, the highest peak of the island, which embraces the Velebit (Babie Alps) and the Kvarner islands, or only to engage in exciting activities to practice in the open sea. An example? Tie the parachute to the motorboat, and experience the thrill of the parasailing parachute in the clouds of the sky. It will undoubtedly be an uncommon experience.

12- Mid-August Lunch based on Ston’s Oysters!

Serve it naturally, raw with a dash of local lemon, and enjoy this world-class gastronomic delight with a unique flavor, which contains and reflects all the riches of southern Dalmatia. The Ston Oyster is extinct, extinct in other parts of the world and present only in Morocco and Dalmatia in the Mali Ston inlet, where the mixing of water with seawater, strong currents, flow, and reflux waters favor the breeding of rare quality mollusks. It will be a superb and unforgettable lunch.

13- A naturist bath in the beautiful and secluded Moscenicka Draga

Naturism enthusiasts or naturists by chance, will find in this beautiful, quiet, seaside town outside Opatija, at the foot of the lush Ucka Mountain (Monte Maggiore) and overlooking the Kvarner Bay, a sense of isolation and peace, ideal for those looking for an intimate and relaxing holiday. A two-kilometer-long pebble beach, known as Sipar, is considered by many to be the most beautiful in the region, at the end of which are found rocks and inlets of incomparable beauty and privacy.

Nearby also is the beach of S. Ivan and the naturist beach Senjavac, where you can enjoy the freedom to immerse yourself naked in the crystal clear waters. After a busy day on a trip, you can relax at Five Elements Wellness & Spa, one of the best wellness centers on the entire Adriatic coast.

14- In Party in Zrce

Tireless “warriors” of disco nights? The party lasts 24 hours! In Zrce to “command” are the clubs, the Disc Jockey, the festivals, and the cocktails, and the fun is guaranteed from the morning … the morning of the day after! It is no coincidence that the beautiful Zrce is known as the “Croatian Ibiza,” with a white pebble beach in front of a blue flag-shaped sea.

15- A day in the Istrian lifestyle – cooking, crafts, music, hospitality

Many exhibitors with world-class olive oils, wines from the Labin area, cow’s milk cheeses, Istrian raw ham, and indigenous meat-based delights goat specialties, local fig-based products, and natural rosemary and Istrian fruit juices.

Experience one day as an Istrian, with the best of gastronomy and original handmade products by local artisans, every Friday from 8 pm to 11 pm in Rabac. Here you will discover Istrian hospitality, production, and local creativity, on the notes of live music.

16- Cycling on the Međimurje wine trails

Riding your bike, you start towards Međimurje, between plains, valleys, hills, and slopes woven of fairytale woods and mighty rivers. A journey along one of the many cycle paths is suitable for both amateur cyclists and cyclists.

Following the course of the Mura and Drava, you will find the cellars that dot the streets of Međimurje wine, where you can stop and taste local white wines, fresh and light like Graševina, Moslavac, Traminac and Rizling made with grapes matured on the sunny slopes of the region. Or, starting towards the unknown, you can discover the cultural heritage hidden in the dense bushland all around.

 17- Fall in love with the Sea Flavor Melodies

It will be the calm and relaxing atmosphere of the sea or the desire to cultivate traditional musical expression, but Dramalj and Jadranovo are the most suitable locations to host the musical event “6Th Melodies with a Sea Taste “.

Accompanied by the magical sound of the waves and caressed by a light breeze, you are enchanted by the unique interpretations of the musicians who make up a mosaic of melodies, songs, works, and operettas, in the romantic setting of Dramalj harbor and on the Pazdehova Mulina promenade in Jadranovo.

18- Water, freshness and fun

Swimming in the largest wave pool in the Mediterranean, fun in the Solaris Water Park near Sibenik, or the Aquacolors of Porec, the largest and most adrenaline water park in Croatia. And again in the Aquapark Čikat on the island of Losinj, in the Water Park of Umag, at the Water Park of Fažana and in the amusement park Mirnovec in Biograd Na Moru. Wherever you are, there will be a water park where the fun never ends!