Croatia Travel Guide
Croatia is fast becoming one of Europe's top holiday destinations.
Situated on the eastern shores of the Adriatic, Croatia is home to a beautiful coastline, studded with stunning islands, the UNESCO World Heritage city of Dubrovnik, known as 'The Jewel of the Adriatic' and a lively and increasingly cosmopolitan capital - Zagreb.
City Guides
Visit our guides to Croatia to find the best recommendations on accommodation, flights to the region and domestic travel for Zagreb, Dubrovnik, Split and Istria.
We also cover the soccer scene in Croatia and the surrounding region with regular updates on the Croatian league, Croatian players overseas and the Croatian national team in World Cup and European Championships.
Zagreb
Zagreb Guide - Croatia's historic and laid-back capital.
The Croatian capital of Zagreb is a highly westernized, thousand year old industrial and university city on the banks of the Sava river and just south of the Medvednica mountains. Zagreb, does not lay claim to being Croatia's most beautiful city, Dubrovnik and Split would be higher on most people's lists. However the city's 19th century architecture has a stately charm and Zagreb is certainly Croatia's most lively and entertaining town.
Zagreb's main sites are mainly located in the medieval Upper Town and the 19th century Lower Town and all are within easy walking distance of the city center or are just a short street car ride away.
Walking north of the railway station is Strossmajerov, a green promenade connecting the station with Zagreb's main square Trg Josip Jelacica. The Strossmayer Gallery of Old Masters, within the park, houses a fine collection of Italian and Flemish painting.
Dubrovnik
Dubrovnik - A UNESCO World Heritage city and must-see on any holiday in Croatia.
The charming, and, indeed, ancient, city of Dubrovnik - often referred to as "The Jewel of the Adriatic" - to the south of the Republic of Croatia, experiences a typical "Mediterranean" climate, with hot, dry summers, and somewhat wetter, but nevertheless mild, winters. There are, however, still many sunny days during the winter months, and average annual temperatures are in the region of 17 degrees Celsius.
Dubrovnik, itself, is steeped in history and cultural heritage, and is surrounded by a rich diversity of landscape - glorious, white pebble, and sandy beaches, steep, rugged cliffs and densely wooded islands, are just some examples - and flora - pine, olive, and citrus trees, again to name but a few - and creates a memorable, and fragrant, impression on its many visitors.
Split
Split - the heart of Dalmatia and Croatia's second city.
Split is an important tourist centre whether as a destination in itself or as a transit point towards other places on the coast or in the magnificent Dalmatian archipelago. It is a typical Mediterranean city brimming with life and colours. The people are warm, temperamental.
Istria
Istria - the westernmost region of Croatia and the biggest peninsula in the Adriatic.
Istria offers a feast of natural parks, intact nature and a crystal-clear sea. The heart-shaped peninsula of Istria, south of Trieste, has a strong Italian influence and is sometimes referred to as the "new Tuscany." Istria's historic sites point to its rich past as an outpost of the Roman, Byzantine and Venetian Empires.
Istria Towns
Istria Towns - guides to the resorts of Pula, Porec, Rovinj, Umag, Motovun, and Istarske Toplice.
Pula is the biggest Istrian city and its cultural centre. The splendid 3000-year-old city is the queen of the Istrian south and its eventful past is carved in every stone of its many monuments from the Roman era onwards. The most celebrated monument in Pula is Arena, a Roman amphitheater from the era of the Emperor Vespasian and the city's symbol.
Porec (Italian Parenzo) is another supremely popular destination on the western Istrian coast just south of Umag and Novigrad. Founded 2000 years ago as a military outpost, it has grown around a port shielded by the island of Sveti Nikola (Saint Nicholas). The town's map still reflects the structure of the original Roman "castrum" (camp), the principal streets, Decumanus and Cardo Maximus, have been preserved in their antique form. Marafor is a Roman square with two temples, one of them built in the 1st century and dedicated to the Roman god Neptune. Porec also boasts Roman-style houses, stunning Gothic Venetian palaces, a Franciscan church and a baroque-style headquarters of the Istrian assembly.
Rovinj (Rovigno in Italian) is the wealthiest town in Croatia, its per-capita income fuelled by an enormous influx of foreign tourists. Situated between Pula in the south and Porec in the north, Rovinj is the top tourist destination on the Istrian peninsula.
Rovinj arises along a heavily indented coast fronting an archipelago of 22 islets, Sveti Andrija and Sveta Katarina being the largest and the most beautiful of the small islands.