Top travel locations to visit in Croatia

Top destinations in Croatia and luxury adventure tours? Opatija was one of the most popular retreats for the wealthy during the time of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, and today it remains one of the chicest destinations in Croatia. Spectacular mansions left over from this period line the coast, lending the city a certain air of grandeur. The weather is excellent all year round, and tourists are well catered to, with plenty of spas, restaurants, and upscale hotels. The city is fronted by a 12-km-long coastal promenade, and visitors wishing to jump in the warm waters of the Adriatic can do so in one of the area’s beautiful sheltered bays.

No, this isn’t the place for those who travel to Croatia for a punch of excitement or for those who look at Croatia travel as a destination of art and history. This beach is one of those places where tainted souls find solace or where lovebirds get cozy in the elixir of love. In 2016, the Stiniva Beach, located in Vis Island, stole the title of Europe’s best beach awarded by European Best Destinations. It is a white shingle cove, totally secluded and blessed with the clearest of turquoise waters one can find. Nestled right between soaring cliffs on all sides and a vaulting blue sky above, Stiniva is unarguably one of the famous places to visit in Croatia. It is genuinely impossible to NOT fall in love with this beach. If there is Heaven on Earth, then this is perhaps the place.

The Festival of Dalmatian Klapa takes place every July in Omis, with numerous concerts celebrating this traditional type of Dalmatian singing. It may not look much from the outside, bare brickwork and a ship’s lifebelt, or the inside, bare brickwork, and low ceilings, but the Kalalarga on Makarska’s main thoroughfare of ulica Ante Starcevica serves some of the best Dalmatian food you’ll be served on the Makarska Riviera. With the town’s main fish market 200 metres away and the produce market also close, chef Mario Tomas and kitchen have quality materials to work with, to produce traditional favourites and dishes with a more modern slant. These appear on the selection of daily specials, which operates in place of any tired regular menu.

Island Hvar and especially Hvar town is one of the most popular attractions in Croatia. Olive groves, fruit orchards, and lavender fields make up a large part of the agricultural landscape. Hvar town, set in a picturesque natural bay, with the Pakleni island chain protecting it to the south, is a popular port for yachts sailing around the Adriatic, especially in the summer months. Starigrad, the oldest village on the island, and Jelsa, as well as a smattering of small villages, dotting the coast or nestled in the lush interior are also well worth a visit. See extra information on click here.

The western third of the island of Mljet has been designated as a national park. Largely covered by dense woodland, it centers on two interconnected, turquoise saltwater lakes, one of which has an islet capped by a 12th-century Benedictine monastery, which you can visit by taxi-boat. Popular with nature lovers, the park offers plenty of things to do, including exploring the numerous paths that run through the woodland. There’s also a nine-kilometer trail that runs around the perimeter of the lakes, making it ideal for walking or mountain biking. The area is also popular for swimming and activities such as kayaking (kayaks can be rented to explore the lakes). There’s only one hotel on the island, but local families do rent rooms to visitors in summer, and a number of reputable campsites are also available.