Croatia is situated between central and eastern Europe bordering the Adriatic Sea between Slovenia and Bosnia and Herzegovina. With piercing turquoise seas and fairytale-like architecture, there is no denying Croatia is breathtakingly beautiful.
Why visit Croatia?
Beaches
Spanning most of the Adriatic Sea, you’re never too far away from the coast when traveling in Croatia. And even if it’s not pretty beaches you seek, stone castles and magnificent waterfalls await travelers of all kinds.
History
Croatia is full of historical sites. The country displays over 2000 years of history. You will find some things in museums, but most of the buildings are left as they were built and open to visitors. Diocletian’s Palace in Split, Pula Amphitheatre and the Dubrovnik City Walls are an absolute must for history lovers.
Island Hopping
Island Hopping is a great way to explore Croatia. This is typically done by sailing boats or catamarans, but you can also do it by kayaks. The Elaphiti Islands are particularly easy to explore by kayak, as they are quite close to each other, so it is possible to paddle between the many small islands.
The Culture
People
Croatians are truly free, with a well-deserved sense of national pride. Therefore, steer clear of calling them Yugoslav.
The family is still the basis of the social structure. The extended family is the norm and relatives remain quite close with both the mother and the father’s sides. The family provides its members with a social network and assistance in times of need. Even though it is becoming increasingly common for the nuclear family to have its own house, Croatians will take in elderly parents rather than send them to a nursing home. Weekends are considered family time. Few Croatians will allow business concerns to interfere with this important part of their lives.
Language
Linguists say the Croatian language is almost identical to Serbian, except that Croatian is written in the Roman alphabet, while Serbian is written in Cyrillic. Nonetheless, always call their language “Croatian,” and not “Serbo-Croatian,” as it has sometimes erroneously been called in the past; comparisons to anything Serbian can still be a touchy subject for some.
Religion
The Catholic Church plays a large role in Croatian society. Croatians are especially devoted to the Blessed Virgin (called "Gospa").There are sanctuaries throughout the country built in her honour.
The Food
Croatia is well known for its heterogeneous cuisine. Local Croatian foods you should try are Mljet lobster, Ston oysters, Kvarner scampi, Istrian truffles, veal and pork from Slavonia, turkey from Zagorje and Istria, extra virgin oil and pumpkin seed oil and of course wine.
Places I Visited
Dubrovnik
Dubrovnik is a city in southern Croatia fronting the Adriatic Sea. It's known for its distinctive Old Town, encircled with massive stone walls completed in the 16th century. Its well-preserved buildings range from baroque St. Blaise Church to Renaissance Sponza Palace and Gothic Rector’s Palace, now a history museum. Paved with limestone, the pedestrianized Stradun (or Placa) is lined with shops and restaurants.
Filming location
An ancient walled city on the coast that is as beautiful as it is popular. Dubrovnik became more popular when some of the scenes of Game of Thrones were filmed inside the walls.
Standing strong
Walls of Dubrovnik were built in the 13th century. During the 15th century were built 15 towers as a part of the city walls, some of them are preserved until today.
Famous for centuries
English poet Lord Byron was the first that described Dubrovnik as the “pearl of the Adriatic.”
Architectural Charm
The medieval stone buildings and churches in Dubrovnik Old Town are fascinating.
The View
No trip to Dubrovnik is complete without venturing around its world-famous City Walls, a monumental structure offering jaw-dropping views at every step
Makarska
Makarska is a port town on Croatia’s Dalmatian coast, known for its Makarska Riviera beaches, seafront promenade and nightlife. On a small bay between wooded headlands, the old town centers on Kačić Square. Ferries connect the port to nearby Brač island
Makarska Riviera
Makarska Harbour is dotted with cafes and restaurants, which allow you to enjoy the scenic palm fringed promenade. Small boats dotted around and in August, lots of tourists. Great family vibe. Beach is close by and even more market stalls nearby.
Makarska Harbor
Makarska Harbour is dotted with cafes and restaurants, which allow you to enjoy the scenic palm fringed promenade. Small boats dotted around and in August, lots of tourists. Great family vibe. Beach is close by and even more market stalls nearby.
Climate
Located at the foot of Biokovo mountain Makarska is protected from harsh climates. It has more than 2750 hours of sun per year, with temperatures reaching more than 68 degree Fahrenheit from June to September.
Split
Split, the second largest city in Croatia, is a mix of modern life and ancient history. With ruins dating back to the Roman Empire, a bustling waterfront, and fresh seafood served daily at many of the restaurants in town, Split is well worth a visit on a tour through Croatia.
Diocletian Palace
Diocletian’s Palace was built in 305 AD for the Roman Emperor Diocletian. This massive retirement complex sits in the center of the Old Town of Split
The Sphinx in Split was brought over from Egypt for Diocletian and is over 4000 years old.
St. Domnius Cathedral
St. Domnius Cathedral is located within Diocletian’s Palace. This is the oldest Catholic cathedral in the world, completed in the 7th century AD.
Filming site
If you are a Game of Thrones fan, the cellar is a filming site. Daenerys kept her dragons here when she was in Meereen.
Reconstruction of the Diocletian Palace
In AD 305, Diocletian retired to this splendid palace he had built near his birthplace at Split, on the coast of Croatia. This reconstruction drawing by the French town planner Ernest Hebrard was published in 1912
The Bell Tower
For the best view over the city, climb the Bell Tower.
What do you need to know about Croatia?
During my stay in Croatia I learned that the best way to really enjoy Croatia is by renting your own car, but if you can't afford a car, then the bus tours will take you to many popular tourist attractions. Also, Island hopping is a great way to to visit some of beautiful locations and this can be done with ferries or catamarans. There are also water taxis for shorter routes.
If you want to learn more about the things you need to know, click the link below:
Fun Facts
- Croatians used their Glagolitic script which is the oldest Slavic script.
- Croatian money is named Kuna because trappers used to trade their furs.
- Croatia has highest number of UNESCO Intangible Goods of any European country.
- Nicola Tesla was born in Croatia in the village Smiljan.
- Croatia has the richest collection of remains of Neanderthal people in the world.
- Croatian Slavoljub Penkala invented a mechanical pencil, called the Penkala in 1906. Today we call it “pen.”
- The Mag Light was invented by a Croatian named Maglica.
Credits:
Created with images by Buco Balkanessi - "Rovinj visit" • Davor Denkovski - "untitled image" • Sime Jadresin - "Croatian Flag" • Samantha Hentosh - "city in a castle" • Pranav Kumar Jain - "untitled image" • Alex Holyoake - "untitled image" • Inera Isovic - "Dubrovnik, Croatia" • Camilla Plener - "View in Dubrovnik" • Claudia - "untitled image" • Matthew Waring - "A boat taking tourist back to Dubrovnik in the evening" • Dimitry Anikin - "untitled image" • David Emrich - "untitled image" • Emiliano Vittoriosi - "untitled image" • GingerQuip - "thank you thanks card"