Croatia is a real treat as a holiday destination, offering many, many incredible destinations to visit. It can be quite daunting to pick your favourites, especially if you’re limited with time and don’t have weeks at your disposal.
This blog post will introduce you to the top 10 most beautiful locations in Croatia which surely deserve a spot in your itinerary. Believe me, none of these places will disappoint you!
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1. Dubrovnik
Dubrovnik is in its well deserved first spot. This medieval town has a wow factor which many other towns don’t, not only in Croatia but in the world.
The magnificent and perfectly preserved city walls will make you feel as if you’re in a movie.
The gorgeous red rooftops, narrow streets and glorious crystal sea will sweep you off your feet. There are many things you can do and see in Dubrovnik, but the old town is the main event!
Tickets for the city walls are around 35 euros in the summer, but are significantly cheaper during shoulder and off-season. Along with the city walls, make sure to have dinner on mount Srđ and go to a club or a bar in the old town.
2. Plitvice lakes NP
One of the prettiest national parks in Europe is Croatian. The gorgeous Plitvice lakes are located halfway between Zagreb and Zadar and are under UNESCO’s heritage protection.
The national park consists of 16 lakes which are divided into Upper and Lower lakes. The lakes are of various sizes, some being as small as ponds, while others offer boat rides which last over 30 minutes. It’s helpful to read a detailed guide and decide which path you’d like to take during your walk through the NP:
You can buy entrance tickets online or on the spot, but if you’re going in summer, it’s much safer to buy them online. I would personally advise you against going in the summer time, since it’s the busiest and most expensive during that part of the year.
During summer, adult tickets are 40 euros and children’s tickets are 16 euros. If you decide to come off-season, tickets are going to be much cheaper for both adults and children.
3. Hvar island
Gorgeous Hvar is Croatia’s most popular island, and it certainly deserves the hype it gets. Hvar island is an absolute beauty, appealing to people of all ages to come and enjoy its luxuries.
Along with the stunning old town, Hvar offers great night life for the young and an amazing culinary scene for the more mature guests.
Once you’re there, make sure you visit Fortica (Spanjola) – this well-preserved 16th century fortress will gift you with some of the most memorable views of Hvar and the Adriatic.
Along with the fortress, make sure you visit Stari Grad and Jelsa, 2 small towns located on/near the island of Hvar.
Lastly, don’t miss out on some stunning beaches on the island. Rent a scooter and beach hop around the island. Some of the beaches you shouldn’t miss are Velo Zarace, Dubovica, Jagodna, Vaiana, and so on!
4. Grožnjan
If you ever want to feel like stepping into a fairytale, you need to visit Grožnjan. This magical town in Istria will take you back to the 16th century in an instant.
Believe it or not, as beautiful as it is, Grožnjan still isn’t overcrowded with tourists, so you can enjoy it during any part of the year.
Grožnjan is really small, so you won’t need to take the whole day to see it – it can be a perfect stop on your way to other Istrian towns like Rovinj or Pula.
In the summer time, you can enjoy various art and jazz festivals and buy some of the local art pieces as a souvenir.
5. Rovinj
Often giving Dubrovnik a run for its money, Rovinj is recognized as one of the most beautiful towns in Croatia.
Istria is an incredibly beautiful peninsula, and Rovinj is its crown jewel. This much loved and very Instagrammable town will leave you speechless once you see it.
All the colourful houses and the iconic bell tower of St. Euphemia church make for some the most picture-perfect scenery you could see, so definitely bring your camera with you.
There are several interesting things you can do in Rovinj, such as have a drink right next to the sea at Mediterraneo Bar, or climb the 60-meter bell tower at sunset for some of the most magical sunset views in Croatia.
6. Korčula island
One of Croatia’s most magical islands is the island of Korčula. If you’re searching for a perfect blend of rich history, stunning nature, and beautiful beaches, Korčula is perfect for you.
Korčula’s old town is sometimes called “Little Dubrovnik” because of its charming resemblance to Croatia’s most well-kept medieval town.
The marvelous old town has narrow, cobbled streets, beautiful churches, and impressive stone buildings. Some of the most famous buildings on the island are Cathedral of St. Mark, Marco Polo House, and Veliki Revelin Tower.
Korčula is known for its beautiful beaches so make sure you don’t miss out on some amazing swimming opportunities. Beaches like Vela Pržina, Ispod Duvana, and Bilin Žal are totally worth your time.
7. Zadar
Zadar is another beautiful and very loved Croatian town. Situated in northern Dalmatia, it’s still fairly close to the capital of Croatia, Zagreb.
Zadar’s old town is one of the most charming old towns in Croatia. The most impressive building in the old town is the church of St. Donatus, but you can also catch a glimpse of other churches, as well as the remains of a Roman Forum.
The most unique attraction in Zadar is its sea organ. The sea organ is an art installation on Zadar’s waterfront. It consists of several underwater pipes which produce melodic sounds each time a wave hits them.
It’s pretty incredible listening to the sea making music, and it’s worth coming to Zadar just to hear this!
8. Brijuni NP
Croatia is widely known for insanely beautiful national parks, and NP Brijuni is one of them. Situated near Istrian peninsula, Brijuni is only a ferry ride away from Fažana, a small town near Pula.
If you want a relaxed and peaceful national park to explore, Brijuni should be your no. 1 pick.
Brijuni NP is quite large, consisting of 2 bigger islands and 12 smaller ones. You’ll need at least a day to explore the biggest island in the national park – Veliki Brijun.
If you like active exploring, you can rent a bike or a golf cart, both of which will make you see more of the park in a shortest time span.
One of the activites you MUST do while in Brijuni NP is visit the park’s safari. There are several various animal species living there in nature and you can take photos with zebras, llamas, ostriches, donkeys and many more.
You can buy the tickets to the NP online or in Fažana, and the tickets include the ferry ride and the tourist train. During summer months, the price of an adult ticket is 40 euros, and a children’s one is 15 euros. The tickets are much cheaper during off-season in spring and autumn.
9. Vis island
Another island on our list is Vis, and it’s still a well-kept Croatian secret. Vis town is another wonderful Croatian town with narrow, cobbled streets, historic buildings, and incredibly vibrant restaurants and bars.
Along Vis town, you should visit the lovely Komiža, a small village on Vis island where they filmed several scenes for Mama Mia!
After exploring the villages and towns, make sure you do a beach tour since Vis is known for stunning beaches.
Some of our favourite beaches are Stiniva, Srebrna, Stončica, Grandovac, Lucica, and Kamenice.
10. Šibenik
Šibenik is a beautiful and historical town situated between Zadar and Split. It has a lovely old town and gorgeous national parks nearby.
Read more >>> THINGS TO DO AND SEE IN SIBENIK IN ONE DAY
Some of the main buildings you should visit in Šibenik are the St. James Cathedral, which is the most popular landmark of Šibenik, and St. Michael’s Fortress, which offers incredible panoramic views of the Adriatic Sea.
There are 2 national parks easily reachable from Šibenik. Firstly, only a short ride from the city there is Krka national park famous for its waterfalls. Secondly, Kornati national park is only a boat ride away from Šibenik.
Read more >>> KRKA NATIONAL PARK GUIDE
Lastly, there are several beautiful beaches in and around Šibenik, and here are a few: Banj, Jadrija, White beach, and Plava beach.
