It’s hard to figure out what are the best places to go in Croatia. For a small-ish country, it sure offers a LOT of options from the beaches to the national parks. But after working as a tour guide throughout the country for 6 seasons, I’ve learned a quite lot about Croatia, and I’m here to help you discover which Croatia destinations are right for you.
Even throughout working as a glorified party guide on sailing tours, I was still able to discover new gems each and every week between sailing the Adriatic and each week off traveling. This country can be fantastic for young people and partiers… but it also has just as much to offer for couples, honeymooners, and families. It’s one of the many reasons I came back to Croatia so many years in a row… It’s incredibly versatile.
This beginner’s list of the best places to visit in Croatia is organized into subsections, primarily based on different locations and key information. Check out my guide to planning a trip to Croatia first for preliminary info.
If you are looking for more in-depth guides, I have linked those too (in most of the destinations below)! Or, check out the 3 links below if you want to road trip, sail, or visit a festival.
- How to Choose a Croatia Sailing Tour: breaking down all the different sailing companies and which are best
- Western Balkans Road Trip itinerary
- Guide to festivals in Croatia
Quick Overview of the Best Places to Go in Croatia for 4 Different Reasons
Here’s a quick overview of the reasons you might want to visit Croatia: to have a romantic getaway, to go to the beach and swim, to party or visit a festival, or to immerse yourself in nature + adventure. I explain each destination in more depth below.
Best Places to Go in Croatia for Couples
These are some of the most romantic places to go in Croatia.
- Korčula – more low-key and scenic
- Vis Island – also low-key and full of beautiful coves and restaurants
- Rovinj – a coastal part of Istria, which is known as Croatia’s Tuscany. Best of the coast and the hills.
- Zadar – History, views, and one of the best sunsets in Croatia.
Best Places to Go in Croatia for Beaches
You must know that Croatia is very rocky, and most coasts have rocky outcroppings along the sea. There are some beaches but most are pebbly.
- Makarska – 2km of (pebbly) beaches
- Brač – home of the famous Bol triangular beach
- Dubrovnik + Surrounding Islands – have some great beaches including the only sandy beach around, Šunj on Lopud Island
- Split – There are some pebbly beaches where you can get comfy south of Bacvice
- Pag – Zrce is a famous party beach, or you can find more remote beaches like Ručica, which looks like Mars!
Best Places to Go in Croatia for Young Adults
These are spots for nightlife, social activities, meeting people, and festivals – which is what young adults normally look for!
- Do a Sailing Tour -Many Croatian sailing companies have tours handcrafted for young adults and young professionals.
- Hvar – Most popular island for young adults, great bars, and a famous club on a tiny island
- Zrce Beach – has 5 super-clubs on the beach and hosts lots of festivals
- Tisno – hosts many festivals throughout the year
- Dubrovnik – has some fun bars and famous Revelin club in a fortress
- Split – has tons of bars and clubs. I even wrote a Split nightlife guide.
Best Places to Go in Croatia for Adventure + Nature
- Šibenik – a great base to visit Krka National Park
- Mljet – half the island is a national park, and you can hike, bike, swim, and kayak around saltwater lakes
- Makarska – Great base to climb Mt. Biokovo and surrounding rocky mountains over the coast
- Plitvice National Park – Famous waterfall park with tons of hiking and walking
- Motovun – stunning village on a hill where you can hunt for truffles
Getting to + Around Croatia
To get between all these places to visit in Croatia, book routes in advance on Bookaway. Croatia has a few trains, but I do not recommend them! Busses and ferries are the way to go.
The main airports in Croatia are Split and Dubrovnik in the south and Zagreb in the north. There’s a smaller airport in Pula. Don’t forget travel insurance for your trip – I use Heymondo.
The Best Way to Visit Croatia
I would be remiss if I didn’t begin this article by telling you that the absolute BEST way to explore Croatia is by doing a sailing tour. Instead of worrying about booking different hotels, getting different ferries, and packing up your bag 4-5 separate times, imagine if you could get on a boat, unpack for a week, and see dozens of different destinations? It’s an easy choice.
I have an entire article detailing how to choose the right Croatia sailing tour for you. Check it out.
Best Places to Go on Croatia’s Southern Coast: Dalmatia
Below I have outlined the most visit-worthy places in Croatia. I’ll tell you what is special about each destination and what kinds of travelers would enjoy it. I have specific guides to many of the places, so you will find links to these as well if you want to know more about each destination like more things to do and where to stay!
First up is the most well-known part of Croatia: The Dalmatian Coast. “Dalmatia” covers the southern coast and some of the most famous Croatia destinations, which I have outlined below. This would be the place for a European honeymoon destination!
DUBROVNIK
Why Visit Dubrovnik? Dubrovnik is a fairytale city manifest in real life. With red-roofed buildings sprawling between towering concrete walls, directly next to the sparkling blue Adriatic sea… it’s easy to see why this city was named ‘the Pearl of the Adriatic.’ It’s a truly unique Croatia destination with so much to offer for ALL kinds of travelers.
Dubrovnik is one of the most prominent destinations in Croatia – perhaps THE most! Having been an independent republic called “Ragusa’ for over 450 years and 600-year-old town walls, Dubrovnik has a powerful and unique pull.
What to Do Here: Walk the walls, take the cable car, learn about its tumultuous history, take tons of adventure tours on the water and mountain, go swimming, hiking, and kayaking, relax on the beach, get lost in the tiny alleyways, go clubbing, do a Game of Thrones Tour, eat delicious Croatian food
Days Needed: 2-4
Things to Know: It can get extremely busy with cruise ships and tourists in peak season, so try to visit in the off-season or when a cruise isn’t in. It is ABSOLUTELY worth visiting for the sheer beauty of such a well-preserved seaside walled town.
Learn about more things to eat, stay, and do in Dubrovnik in the post below.
ŠIPAN/ELAPHITE ISLANDS
The Elaphite Islands (Kolocep, Lopud, and Šipan) are a small group of islands just off the north coast of Dubrovnik, and they are stunning. If you have extra time in Dubrovnik, I highly recommend checking out the caves, the blue cave, and the serene little towns of these islands.
For a day on the water with just your group, family-run local operator Garitransfer runs private boat tours from Marina Frapa in Dubrovnik – the Elaphiti Islands, the Blue Cave and beyond – from €200 per boat for up to 12 guests. This is honestly a steal!
Šipan has a stunning fortress hike – the one in the feature photo of this post! Lopud is also home to the only sandy beach in the area, Šunj. The Elaphite islands are best visited as a day tour or boat rental from Dubrovnik – you don’t need much more time than that.
SPLIT
Why Visit Split? Split is the second-largest city in Croatia (after the Capital, Zagreb) and the largest on the coast. It’s home to Diocletian’s Palace – an Ancient Roman palace which forms the entire city center. It’s also one of the largest ports and most obvious places to go in Croatia.
Days: 1-3 (Best as a base for day trips)
What to Do Here: Get lost in the alleys of Old town, Learn about Diocletian’s Palace, wander through the cellars, climb up Marjan Hill, visit the beach, swim, kayak, SUP, eat delicious food, and go clubbing!
Learn more about things to do, eat, stay, and explore in Split at the button below.
Things to Know: Split may be large in size, but is mostly suburbs without that much to do, honestly! This is why I recommend Split as a hub for some amazing day trips in the area. It’s got fantastic food and nightlife, but other than that the best things to do would be having a swim at the beach or doing a ton of day trips to surrounding islands and National Parks.
OMIŠ
Why Visit Omiš? Omiš is an adorable little town at the base of the Cetina River and the massive rocky mountains behind it. You can find lots of souvenir shops, alleyway restaurants and cafe’s, homemade flavored rakijas and spirits, great hiking, and other adventures.
What to Do Here: A lot of adventure tours from Split actually take place in Omiš. You can go zip-lining, rock climbing, river rafting, hiking up to a fortress above town, and more! It’s a very adventurous and mountainous Croatia destination. My favorite activity (perhaps in all of Croatia) is the zipline here – check my Croatia zip lining post to learn more!
Days: 1-2 Days or take day tours from Split or Makarska
Things to Know: Omiš is about 45 minutes from both Split and Makarska.
Omiš was actually owned by a family of pirates in the 12 and 1300’s who were so powerful that the Venetian and Ottoman conquerors would pay them a ransom to pass by their territories. The pirates would attack any ship that sailed by and would actually retreat into the Cetina River to hide!
MAKARSKA
Why Visit Makarska: Makarska is honestly my overall favorite place to go in Croatia. I think this because overall it has everything: the sheer beauty, amount to do, number of adventures, beautiful scenery, and nightlife.
It is situated at the base of the tallest mountain on the Croatian coast (Biokovo mountains) and the mountain view honestly looks like a fake backdrop. There are 2km’s of beaches here and SO much food too!
What to Do in Makarska: Makarska surely has some of the best shopping, swimming, and scenery in the country. It’s terrific for adventure activities such as jet skiing, parasailing, cliff jumping, swimming, and playing on inflatable obstacle courses. You can find lots of great food with a view and some fun nightlife too.
Days: 1-4+
Things to Know: The entire mountainous stretch of coastline around Makarska is called the Makarska Riviera, and it’s all simply beautiful! Omis (above) is also a part of this and you can zipline from Makarska as well. If you want much more info, I also have a specific guide to Makarska – linked below.
MLJET ISLAND
Why Visit Mljet: Mljet is one of the best places to go in Croatia to relax and escape the crowds. There are only a few small towns and most of the island is a National Park. You can find two massive saltwater lakes and a tiny monastery on an island. There are some beautiful coves and caves and swimming spots.
What to Do in Mljet: Visit the Sveti Marija Monastery on an island, kayak, bike, swim, hike, jump into Odysseus cave, rent a car and explore coves and tiny towns
Days: 1-2 max
Things to Know: The saltwater lakes of Mljet National Park were actually created by the monks living on the island. They dug a channel to the sea from the big lake so they could harness the power of the tide! So these lakes are tidal and you can float through a small channel between them when the tide is moving.
HVAR ISLAND
Why Visit Hvar: Hvar is truly one of the best places to go in Croatia – the sheer natural beauty, amazing swim spots, and most importantly – nightlife. Hvar Town has crazy nightlife, and people come specifically for this. The rest of the island is more serene with wineries, lavender farms, hills, and coves. Some of Dalmatia’s best clubs and bars are in Hvar – and some great food, too!
What to Do in Hvar: Explore the island, party next to the sea, go swimming, lay on the beach, kayak around islands, hike to the fortress, take a boat ride, enjoy crazy bars, go wine tasting, explore hidden coves
Days: 2-5+
Things to Know: Hvar Town is party central, so be aware of that when you go – and get amongst it! There are some amazing venues, including a club on a tiny island. Check out the best Hvar nightlife here. The rest of Hvar is more relaxed and equally beautiful.
BRAČ ISLAND
Why Visit Brač: Brač is the largest island in Dalmatia, located on the southern coast of Croatia. It is famous because white limestone is quarried here, which is used in most Croatian old towns (you’ll notice the smooth light stone that pretty much EVERYTHING is made out of) and is also shipped all over the world.
What to Do in Brač: The most popular activity is visiting Bol, a famous V-shaped beach that changes shape with the currents. You can see it on a day trip from Split. You can also visit Supetar, one of the biggest towns on Brač, bordering the channel between Brač and Omis. Milna is a tiny little village with a tiny authentic winery and a few cafes and bars.
Days: Day stopover/Day trip – 1 day
Things to Know: Brač stone has been used in the houses of Parliament in Budapest and Vienna, the palace in Stockholm, and even the White House in the USA! Oh, I love fun facts. You can buy lots of souvenirs of white Brač stone – earrings, bracelets, other jewelry, and other home decor like clocks and candle holders
VIS ISLAND
Why Visit Vis: Vis is the tenth largest Adriatic island, and is home to many peaceful getaways, coves, bays, and famous blue caves. As a previous military base it has another layer of depth to explore, both metaphorically and literally as you can explore underground military tunnels.
What do Do in Vis: Rent a bike and ride up to Fort George, check out the monastery beach, explore old towns, check out Komiža, grab a scooter and zoom around the island to lay your eyes on amazing views, take a military tour
Time: 1-2 Days
Things to Know: Vis was opened to tourism in 1990 – previously it was a military base for former Yugoslavia and a hideaway for Marshall Tito and submarine base during WWII! You can explore military tunnels and visit the submarine docks.
KORČULA ISLAND
Why Visit Korčula: Known as the ‘mini-Dubrovnik’ because of its smaller walled town, Korčula is just as gorgeous but more low-key. You’ll learn some fascinating history and have time to relax with amazing views + wine.
What to Do in Korcula: You can watch a cultural sword dance called Moreska, eat tons of fresh seafood, take part in wind sports, check out some enjoyable nightlife, explore the old town, visit the Marko Polo museum and house, visit Vela Spilja cave in Vela Luka, explore wild bays
Time: 1-2 days
Things to Know: You’ll want to stay in Korčula Town rather than Vela Luka, which is better for a day trip. Korčula Town has more to do and a charming old town. Read about more things to do below.
Places to Go in Croatia North of Split/The North Coast
Although most sailing tours only touch on the places to go in Croatia I have mentioned above, the fun doesn’t stop there! There are tons of other gorgeous regions of Croatia it would be a shame to miss out on.
In no particular order, here are some other must-see cities and national parks in Croatia that are worth noting when researching where to go in the country. Many are included in my Balkans Road Trip Itinerary as well if you are thinking about road tripping.
Krka National Park
Why visit Krka National Park: Krka (pictured above) is one of two well-known waterfall parks in the country. This is the one you can swim in. Krka is a beautiful National park with different levels of waterfalls and forest trails to explore.
Days: Day trip/road trip from Split/Zadar
What to Do in Krka: Swim near the waterfalls, relax in the sun, walk through the park’s trails
Things to Know: Krka is the closest to Split so would be a good day trip from Split! Day tours usually take you to the waterfalls and a few other viewpoints and points of interest, and will include an amazing included homemade lunch (depending on which company you use).
Visit Krka as a Day Trip from Split, or as a day trip from Zadar! It’s about an equal distance from both.
Šibenik
Days: Day Trip/Road Trip Stop
Overview: Many tours to Krka also stop in Šibenik for an hour or so. Šibenik is another scenic coastal town characterized by a quaint stone old town full of alleyways and cafes, along a port full of boats looking out to the Adriatic.
It’s a good stopover for an hour or two on your way somewhere else or on the tour linked above. You can visit the old church, walk along the water, and try some local wine and seafood.
Plitvice Lakes National Park
Why Visit Plitvice Lakes National Park: This is the other well-known waterfall park in Croatia, perhaps more well-known than Krka. You cannot swim in this one, but it is much larger than Krka and has pathways and trails that you could walk around all day! There are dozens upon dozens of beautiful waterfalls atop the clearest and most turquoise water you can imagine (are you seeing a theme in this country?!).
Days: 1-Day Trip/Road Trip Stop
What to do in Plitvice Lakes NP: Walk in a counter-clockwise direction around all the lakes and waterfalls.
Things to Know: Plitvice is very, very overrun with tourists, and is borderline unsafely crowded in high season. My pro Croatia tip? Go before or after peak season, in May/June or September/October. Read more about visiting Plitvice Lakes in my Balkans road trip guide.
Plitvice is best visited as a day tour, and can be booked from Split or Zagreb. It’s about equidistant between Zadar and Zagreb.
Tisno
Days: 3-4 for a festival or 1 for a road trip stopover
Tisno Overview: Tisno is not too far from Šibenik and plays host to many of Croatia’s sunny summer music festivals. It’s a small coastal town known for a seaside festival venue.
Love International, Electric Elephant, Beats Beer and Boogaloo, and Suncebeat are all held here. View my festivals guide below!
Why Visit Zadar: Zadar is a popular walled city to visit on the mid-coast of Croatia. Its town center is set on ancient ruins along the water – an Ottoman fortress with some ancient Roman ruins scattered around as well. Like fairly everywhere else, there are lots of cool bars, cafes, and shops in the alleys of old town, and some open-air clubs as well.
Days: 1-2
What to Do in Zadar: Explore the ruins in town, visit some interesting museums such as the Museum of Illusions, go canoeing or kayaking, watch the sunset from the sea organ, check out local restaurants
Things to Know: Zadar is perhaps most famous for its ‘sea organ.’ This is a little pier with holes drilled in at different widths and lengths so that when the waves crash up against it they play different notes. It’s quite amazing really, and a must-see in Croatia.
Check out my guide to Zadar for more info about things to do, tours to take, and more.
Pag Island/Zrce Beach
Why Visit Pag Island: If the south wasn’t enough of a party, Zrće (pronounced zur-chay) takes care of the rest of Croatia’s party reputation with seaside superclubs and festivals. Many say the northern islands of Croatia look like the moon, in that they are white and hilly and mostly devoid of vegetation.
Days: 2-4+ or for a festival
What to Do in Pag: Pag is actually well-known for its cheese of the same name, and you can take some food + wine tours that taste and appreciate Pag’s production. Pag is also home to one of the only naturally occurring olive tree groves in the world, which you can visit for a small fee. Many people enjoy birdwatching, going to the beach, (Ručica Beach is amazing – pictured above), and kayaking.
Things to Know: Zrće Beach is like Vegas meets Ibiza on the coast of Croatia, and can be crazy. Novalja is the best place to stay for festivals in Zrce. Check out some of the best festivals in Pag here and my guide to Hideout Festival. Other parts of Pag are quite relaxed and calm.
Zagreb, Croatia’s Capital
Why Visit Zagreb: Zagreb is Croatia’s capital, and as I like to say, the ‘other half’ of Croatian culture. The coast is all about the sun, sea, and Mediterranean vibes, but Zagreb is almost like another country! Zagreb is a larger landlocked capital city in the north that feels totally different and has a rich history.
Days: 2-3
Things to Do in Zagreb: explore town, take a bike tour, taste wine, food tours, day trips to Slovenia and Plitvice Lakes
Things to Know: Zagreb is one of the best places to go in Croatia because it’s more similar to Eastern Europe and has beautiful little cobblestone streets and massive cathedrals with colorful baubles. I wrote about my first time visiting Zagreb below.
Places to Visit in Croatia on the Istrian Peninsula
Istria is a hilly peninsula on Croatia’s northernmost coast, which is often compared to Tuscany. This is the ‘foodie’ region of Croatia, and is known for massive amounts of food, oil, wine, rakija, and truffles, too!
Similarly to what I said about Zagreb, Istria presents Croatia’s ‘third’ different ‘personality,’ with scenery differing completely from Dalmatia and also from the area surrounding the capital. Here are a few of the best places to visit in Istria, Croatia.
Motovun
Why Visit Motovun: Motovun is an incredibly unique and iconic hilltop medieval walled town, and is also where the largest truffle ever found in history was located. It really feels like Tuscany with rolling hills for miles around and amazing sunsets.
Days: 1-2
Things to Do: Eat your body weight in truffles, cheese, oil, and wine, and gaze out at incredible views over rolling hills. Take a truffle hunting tour, walk the walls, and eat some more.
What to Know: It’s a hike to get up to the town, but there are regular buses. It might be worth staying IN the town for convenience, although there are some lovely countryside airbnbs around. Check my guide for more info.
Pula
Why Visit Pula: Pula is a city characterized by an ancient Roman Colosseum, where they hold events (Such as Outlook and Dimensions Festivals). Some of the best olive oil in the world is produced here, and Pula is home to an Olive Oil museum. The historic town is bustling at night, with alleyway restaurants and eateries full to the brim with locals and travelers alike.
Days: 1-2
Things to Do: Explore the town and of course, the colosseum (The Pula Arena is the second best-preserved colosseum after Rome), take a food tour, take a wine tasting bike tour, go kayak, visit Brijuni National Park (which has some of the best preserved dinosaur footprints int he world)
What to Know: Pula has an airport which you can fly into to tour Istria from.
Rijeka
Why Visit Rijeka: Rijeka is a fairly large and industrial Croatian port town that is a Croatian cultural hub. It’s the third largest Croatian City and packs in a lot to do and learn.
Days: 1-2
Things to Do in Rijeka: Walk the Korzo, head to the beach, go hiking, explore history from Roman to Italian to present day, go shopping, visit nearby Opatija resort town, visit Trsat castle
What to Know: Rijeka is technically not in Istria, but right across the bay. Once an Italian hub, Rijeka has a multicultural history and both industry and nature. It was the 2020 European Culture Capital!
Rovinj
Why Visit Rovinj: Rovinj is a smaller fishing village on the west coast of Istria with an inexplicable charm. It’s got a walled town on the water (similar to Korcula in the south) with tiny pedestrian streets lined with shops, churches, and outdoor terraces.
Days: 2-3
Things to Do in Rovinj: Explore the old town, go to the beach, hike in surrounding mountains, take a boat tour to surrounding islands, try some seafood, go kayaking, check out some ruins
What to Know: Rovinj is only about 30 minutes from the Slovenian border, which is about the same from the Italian border. This area is a fabulous cultural mix.
So, What Next? Where can you go from Croatia?
Depending on where you begin and end, many Eastern European and Balkan countries are easily accessible from Croatia. Here are some ideas, linked to blog posts I have written about them for more info.
To get around Croatia and travel onwards from it, book all routes in advance on Bookaway.
Slovenia has beautiful nature, green cities, and lakes galore. It’s very close to Istria.
Montenegro has stunning views, hikes, and nature. This is one of the most underrated countries if you ask me! Visit Montenegro from Dubrovnik; it’s only a few hours away!
Hungary – Trains can go directly to Budapest from many places in Croatia. The overnight train between Budapest and Split is quite a doozy, though… make sure you bring plenty of food and water and quite possibly some sleeping pills.
Bosnia + Herzegovina – Visit the historic Sarajevo or any of lots of amazing natural wonders in and around Mostar. There are also many tours to Mostar, Pocitelj, Medigorje, Kravice waterfalls, and Blagaj Springs (pictured above) from Dubrovnik.
Serbia – Visit lots of historical sites and the former Yugoslav Capital, Belgrade, the current capital of Serbia! Belgrade has an amazing music scene, a stunning countryside, and an amazing neighboring town, Novi Sad.
Need Help Planning Your Trip to Croatia?
Contact me! I have spent many summers here. I’ve seen the tourism grow with my own eyes, written over 15k words in this massive and multi-faceted guide to Croatia, and know the in’s and out’s of most of the country.
I would love to help plan private tours, sailing trips, or any general Croatia consulting! Pop me an email at kimmie@adventuresnsunsets.com and I’ll help you plan your perfect Croatian getaway!
Remember to Pin the best places to go in Croatia to your Pinterest Boards and share the knowledge!
Passionate, full-time travel blogger with over 230k on social media and 150kMPV blog. Extraordinary photographer with two DSLR's + a drone with a love for capturing candid moments, epic drone shots, and magical compositions. I'm a natural-born content creator originally from California, but I've been on the road for 9 years living, working, traveling, blogging, and photographing my way around the world. I recommend the most amazingly adventurous and unique + boutique travel experiences/stays and helpful products to my audience and write comprehensive guides on my website that have helped millions of travelers so far. I love to inspire people to plan their dream trips, and many readers have given feedback as such. The reach on my platforms continues to soar, especially when combining cutting-edge social content with optimized articles on my high-authority website.