Find places in Croatia

Must-Haves

• Dolac Market (Upper Town)
  The city's open air produce market under red umbrellas, best early in the morning.

Must-Haves

• Museum of Broken Relationships (Upper Town)
  A moving and funny museum of objects left behind by love affairs.
• Mimara Museum (Lower Town)
  A wide ranging art collection in a grand building on Roosevelt Square.

Off the Beaten Path

• Croatian Museum of Naïve Art (Upper Town)
  A small museum of the colourful village painting school from Hlebine.
• Lotrščak Tower (Upper Town)
  A medieval tower with city views that fires a cannon every day at noon.

Fun for Everyone

• Museum of Contemporary Art (Novi Zagreb)
  Modern Croatian art and a giant slide by Carsten Höller inside the building.

Must-Haves

• St Mark's Church (Upper Town)
  The tiled roof church that is Zagreb's most photographed landmark.
• Mirogoj Cemetery (Mirogoj)
  Ivy covered arcades and domes make this one of Europe's most beautiful cemeteries.

Fun for Everyone

• Zagreb Funicular (Tomićeva Street)
  One of the world's shortest funiculars, linking Ilica with the Upper Town.

Fun for Everyone

• Maksimir Park (Maksimir)
  The city's oldest public park, with lakes, woods and the city zoo.

Off the Beaten Path

• Medvednica and Medvedgrad (Sljeme)
  Forest trails and a restored medieval fortress on the mountain above the city.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Vinodol (Lower Town)
  A classic courtyard restaurant for peka, štrukli and Croatian comfort food.
• La Štruk (Upper Town)
  A small spot devoted to štrukli, the Zagorje cheese pastry, baked or boiled.

Great for Date Night

• Dubravkin put (Tuškanac)
  A refined seafood restaurant in a leafy park setting just below the Upper Town.

Must-Haves

• Cogito Coffee (Lower Town)
  Speciality coffee roasters behind much of the city's third wave café scene.

Fun for Everyone

• Tkalčićeva Street bars (Upper Town)
  A pedestrian street packed with terraces and bars for evening drinks.

Great for Date Night

• Zinfandel's Bar at the Esplanade (Lower Town)
  A grand hotel bar for a special drink in Art Deco surroundings.

Must-Haves

• Advent in Zagreb (City centre)
  Christmas markets, lights and food stalls fill squares and parks every December.

Great for Date Night

• Esplanade Zagreb Hotel (Lower Town)
  A grand 1925 hotel built for passengers of the Orient Express, near the station.

Must-Haves

• Plitvice Lakes National Park (Entrances 1 and 2)
  Sixteen terraced lakes joined by waterfalls and boardwalks in a UNESCO forest.
• Veliki slap (Lower Lakes)
  Croatia's tallest waterfall, at the end of the Lower Lakes canyon.
• Upper Lakes boardwalks (Inside the park)
  Wooden paths over cascades and terraced pools between Kozjak and Prošće lakes.

Off the Beaten Path

• Barać Caves (Rakovica)
  Show caves near the park with guided visits through cool limestone halls.
• Krbava field and Udbina (Lika)
  Wide open highland country south of the park with a new church on a historic battlefield.

Fun for Everyone

• Kozjak Lake electric boat (Inside the park)
  A calm boat crossing of the biggest lake, included in the park ticket.
• Panoramic train (Inside the park)
  A tractor train along the top of the valley that saves tired legs, included in the ticket.

Off the Beaten Path

• Rastoke (Slunj)
  A village of old watermills built over small waterfalls where two rivers meet.

Must-Haves

• Hotel Jezero (Entrance 2)
  The largest park hotel, a short walk from the boardwalks for an early start.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Guesthouses of Mukinje and Jezerce (Near Entrance 2)
  Family run rooms in villages beside the park, often with home cooked breakfasts.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Lika cheese and honey stalls (Park approach roads)
  Roadside sellers offer smoked cheese, honey and rakija along the park road.

Off the Beaten Path

• Drežnik Grad fortress (Drežnik Grad)
  Ruins of a medieval fortress above the Korana river canyon, quiet and free to wander.

Off the Beaten Path

• Plitvice in winter (Inside the park)
  Frozen waterfalls and snowy forest in a far quieter season, with some routes closed.

Must-Haves

• Church of St Euphemia (Old Town)
  A hilltop baroque church whose bell tower gives the best view on the Istrian coast.
• Pula Arena (Pula)
  One of the best preserved Roman amphitheatres in the world, still used for concerts.

Off the Beaten Path

• Motovun (Inland Istria)
  A walled hill town above the truffle forests of the Mirna valley.
• Hum (Inland Istria)
  A walled hamlet that calls itself the smallest town in the world.

Must-Haves

• Golden Cape Forest Park (Zlatni rt)
  Pine woods, cycling paths and clear coves a short walk south of town.

Off the Beaten Path

• Kamenjak Nature Reserve (Premantura)
  A wild cape of coves, cliffs and pebble beaches at the tip of Istria.

Fun for Everyone

• Lim Fjord (Between Rovinj and Poreč)
  A long sea inlet known for oyster and mussel farms and boat trips.

Fun for Everyone

• Grisia Street (Old Town)
  A steep cobbled lane of small galleries and artists' studios.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Rovinj Market (Valdibora)
  A morning market for fruit, olive oil, truffle products and cheese.

Great for Date Night

• Monte (Old Town)
  A celebrated fine dining restaurant below St Euphemia's church.

Must-Haves

• Konoba Veli Jože (Old Town)
  A characterful tavern packed with old objects, serving Istrian staples.
• Zigante (Livade)
  A truffle restaurant in the heart of Istria's truffle country.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Konoba Batelina (Banjole, near Pula)
  A family run seafood konoba famous for the day's catch, cooked simply.

Great for Date Night

• Mediterraneo Bar (Old Town)
  A tiny cocktail bar on the rocks over the sea, made for sunset.

Fun for Everyone

• Valentino Champagne and Cocktail Bar (Old Town)
  Cushions on the rocks and candlelight over the water at dusk.

Great for Date Night

• Grand Park Hotel Rovinj (Harbour)
  A sleek hotel facing the old town across the harbour.

Must-Haves

• Euphrasian Basilica (Poreč)
  A UNESCO listed church with glittering sixth century mosaics.

Off the Beaten Path

• Grožnjan (Inland Istria)
  A tiny hill village of galleries and summer music schools.

Fun for Everyone

• Pula Film Festival (Pula)
  Open air screenings in the Roman arena each July.

Must-Haves

• Diocletian's Palace (Old Town)
  A Roman emperor's palace that is now the living heart of the city.
• Meštrović Gallery (Meje)
  The seaside villa and works of Croatia's greatest sculptor.

Off the Beaten Path

• Mosor Mountain (Above Split)
  A limestone ridge with hiking trails and huts above the city.

Must-Haves

• Cathedral of St Domnius (Peristyle)
  A cathedral built in the emperor's mausoleum with a climbable bell tower.
• Trogir (Trogir)
  A tiny walled island town of Romanesque and Renaissance streets.

Fun for Everyone

• Riva Promenade (Waterfront)
  The palm lined seafront where the whole city strolls.

Off the Beaten Path

• Klis Fortress (Klis)
  A clifftop fortress above the city with sweeping views.

Must-Haves

• Marjan Forest Park (Marjan hill)
  Steps, viewpoints, chapels and swimming coves on the wooded hill west of town.
• Krka National Park (Near Šibenik)
  Waterfalls and walkways along the Krka river.

Fun for Everyone

• Bačvice Beach (Bačvice)
  The shallow city beach where locals play the splashing game picigin.
• Cetina Canyon (Omiš)
  Rafting, canoeing and zip lines in a river gorge near Omiš.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Pazar Green Market (Outside the Silver Gate)
  Fruit, vegetables, lavender and everyday goods sold just outside the palace walls.
• Split Fish Market (Old Town)
  The morning fish market, known locally as the Peškarija.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Buffet Fife (Varoš)
  A no frills canteen for pašticada, black risotto and grilled fish.

Great for Date Night

• Zoi (Riva)
  A restaurant set in the palace walls with a terrace over the Riva.

Must-Haves

• Konoba Matejuška (Varoš)
  A small fish taverna near the fishermen's harbour.

Must-Haves

• D16 Coffee (Old Town)
  A speciality coffee bar in a lane inside the palace.

Fun for Everyone

• Split Summer Festival (Old Town)
  Opera, theatre and concerts in the palace and other old town venues.

Great for Date Night

• Hotel Vestibul Palace (Old Town)
  A boutique hotel built into the palace walls.

Must-Haves

• Fortica (Hvar Town)
  The hilltop Spanish Fortress with the classic view over the harbour.

Off the Beaten Path

• Vrboska (North coast)
  A small harbour village with canals and stone bridges.
• Velo Grablje (Inland Hvar)
  A revived stone village and the home of Hvar's lavender festival.

Fun for Everyone

• Jelsa (North coast)
  A friendly harbour town with a pine fringed promenade and small beaches.

Must-Haves

• Hvar Arsenal and Theatre (Hvar Town)
  A historic arsenal housing one of Europe's oldest public theatres.
• Stari Grad Plain (Stari Grad)
  Greek field patterns still farmed today, listed by UNESCO.
• Tvrdalj Castle (Stari Grad)
  A poet's fortified house with a fish pond and Renaissance inscriptions.

Must-Haves

• Pakleni Islands (Off Hvar Town)
  Pine covered islets and coves reached by taxi boat from the harbour.
• Dubovica Beach (South coast)
  A pebble cove with clear water below a stone hamlet.

Fun for Everyone

• Palmižana (Sveti Klement)
  A bay with beach restaurants and a botanical garden on the Pakleni islands.

Fun for Everyone

• Carpe Diem Beach (Stipanska, Pakleni islands)
  A beach club on its own island for day and night parties in summer.

Great for Date Night

• Hula Hula Beach Bar (Hvar Town)
  A seaside bar famous for sunset drinks and music.

Great for Date Night

• Gariful (Hvar Town)
  An upmarket seafood restaurant on the harbour.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Konoba Menego (Hvar Town)
  A cosy tavern on the steps to the fortress serving Hvar dishes.

Off the Beaten Path

• Konoba Humac (Humac)
  Dinner by lantern light in an abandoned shepherds' village.

Must-Haves

• Adriana Hvar Spa Hotel (Hvar Town)
  A harbourfront hotel with a rooftop bar.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Lavender stalls (Hvar Town harbour)
  Little sachets and oils of island lavender sold along the harbour.

Must-Haves

• Dubrovnik City Walls (Old Town)
  A walk around complete medieval walls with views of roofs and sea.
• Stradun (Old Town)
  The polished limestone main street from the Pile Gate to the old port.
• Fort Lovrijenac (Pile)
  A fortress on its own rock with views back to the walls.

Fun for Everyone

• Dubrovnik Cable Car (Mount Srđ)
  A quick ride to sweeping views over the old town and islands.

Off the Beaten Path

• Walls of Ston (Ston)
  Long medieval walls snaking over the hills of the Pelješac peninsula.

Must-Haves

• Rector's Palace (Old Town)
  The seat of the old Republic of Ragusa, now the Cultural History Museum.
• Franciscan Monastery and Pharmacy (Old Town)
  Cloisters and one of the oldest working pharmacies in Europe.

Off the Beaten Path

• Homeland War Museum (Fort Imperial, Mount Srđ)
  The story of the city's siege in the early 1990s.

Must-Haves

• Lokrum Island (Off the old harbour)
  A nature reserve of gardens, peacocks, rocky swims and a little salt lake.

Fun for Everyone

• Banje Beach (Ploče)
  The city beach just outside the Ploče Gate with views of the walls.

Off the Beaten Path

• Sveti Jakov Beach (Viktorija)
  A quieter pebble beach below steps east of the old town.
• Mljet National Park (Mljet)
  Saltwater lakes and a monastery on an islet, reached by ferry.

Great for Date Night

• Buža Bar (Old Town)
  Drinks on the rocks outside the walls, reached through a gap in the stone.

Great for Date Night

• Restaurant 360 (Old Town)
  Fine dining on the walls above the old harbour.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Barba (Old Town)
  A small street food spot known for octopus burgers.

Off the Beaten Path

• Kapetanova kuća (Mali Ston)
  Oysters and mussels from Ston bay in a seaside village.

Must-Haves

• Dubrovnik Summer Festival (Old Town)
  Theatre and music in squares and forts each July and August.

Off the Beaten Path

• Feast of St Blaise (Old Town)
  The city's patron saint's day each February with processions.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Gundulić Square Market (Old Town)
  A morning market of fruit, lavender and candied orange peel.

Great for Date Night

• Hotel Excelsior Dubrovnik (Ploče)
  A seafront hotel facing the old town across the water.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Gradska kavana Arsenal (Old Town)
  The old city café beside the harbour for coffee and views.