10 MOST BEAUTIFUL PLACES TO VISIT IN CROATIA (2026)

Don’t know where to go on your first trip to Croatia? I’ve got you covered! In this blog post, I’ll share my favourite and most beautiful places to visit in Croatia.

Croatia is a real treat as a holiday destination, with so many incredible places to explore. It can be quite hard to choose where to go, especially if you’re short on time and don’t have weeks to travel. That’s why I’ll introduce you to the top 10 most beautiful places to visit in Croatia that truly deserve a spot in your itinerary. As a local, I’ve visited many places around the country, and these are my must-see destinations!

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. I’ve spent many summers in Dubrovnik, and each time I get to explore the city walls I am amazed all over again.

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 40 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 Srd and go to a club or a bar in the old town.

2. PLITVICE LAKES NATIONAL PARK

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 national Park.

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. I know that many of you are visiting specifically during summer, so in that case I’d suggest going as early as possible to avoid the crowds.

3. HVAR

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 (but now a bit limited) night life for the young and an amazing culinary scene for the older guests. Once you’re there, make sure you visit Fortica (Spanjola). This well-preserved 16^th century fortress will give you 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 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. GROZNJAN

If you ever want to feel like stepping into a fairytale, you need to visit Groznjan. This magical town in Istria will take you back to the 16^th century in an instant. Believe it or not, as beautiful as it is, Groznjan still isn’t overcrowded with tourists, so you can enjoy it during any part of the year.  

Groznjan 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 up 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. KORCULA

One of Croatia’s most magical islands is the island of Korcula. If you’re searching for a perfect blend of rich history, stunning nature, and beautiful beaches, Korcula is perfect for you. Korcula’s old town is sometimes called “Little Dubrovnik” because of its charming resemblance to Croatia’s most well-kept medieval town. To me, Korcula is my absolute favourite island in Croatia. It’s gorgeous, but still not as crowded as some more popular ones!

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. Korcula is known for its beautiful beaches so make sure you don’t miss out on some amazing swimming opportunities. Beaches like Vela Przina and Bilin Zal 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 NATIONAL PARK

Croatia is widely known for insanely beautiful national parks, and NP Brijuni is one of them. Brijuni is only a ferry ride away from Fazana, 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 Fazana, 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

Another island on my 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 Komiza, 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 the best beaches are Stiniva, Srebrna, Stoncica, Grandovac, Lucica, and Kamenice.

Vis is also the perfect place to get a boat tour to Blue Cave, which is on the nearby Bisevo island. It’s the most popular activity in Croatia, and one you just must experience!

10. SIBENIK

Sibenik is a beautiful and historical town situated between Zadar and Split. It has a lovely old town and gorgeous national parks nearby. I highly recommend you explore the old town first, and add addtional stops nearby later. Some of the main buildings you should visit in Šibenik are the St. James Cathedral, which is the most popular landmark of Sibenik, and St. Michael’s Fortress, which offers incredible panoramic views of the Adriatic Sea.

Afterwards, explore one of the 2 national parks easily reachable from Sibenik. 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.

MY PERSONAL TAKE ON THE MOST BEAUTIFUL PLACES TO VISIT IN CROATIA

Croatia is incredibly beautiful, and even though I’ve shared my list of the 10 most beautiful places, there are at least 20 more I could easily add. Out of all of them, my absolute favourites are Dubrovnik, Plitvice Lakes, and Korcula Island. They always sweep me off my feet, and I truly believe every itinerary should include these three destinations!

CONCLUSION: MOST BEAUTIFUL PLACES TO VISIT IN CROATIA

These are just some of the beautiful places you can visit in Croatia. The country is full of charming little towns, gorgeous cities, incredible nature, and stunning islands. No matter how much time you spend here, you won’t be able to see everything. Not even I have, and I’ve lived here my whole life! Make sure to include at least a few of these spots in your itinerary, because they’re absolutely worth it.