What to See in Croatia

UNESCO World Heritage Sites

Croatia has 7 ("main") sites inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage list. Almost all are located along the coast:

Old Town of Dubrovnik ★★★★ (1979)
Damaged during the Yugoslav conflict, the historic heart of the city has been restored and offers a remarkable collection of beautiful Gothic, Renaissance, and Baroque monuments, churches, monasteries, palaces, and fountains.

Hvar ★★★ (2008)
This Dalmatian island is one of the Adriatic’s most tourist-friendly (and upscale) destinations. It boasts a rich ancient and medieval heritage (particularly in the town of Hvar), a long-standing agricultural tradition recognised by UNESCO (in the Stari Grad Plain), beautiful landscapes, small coves with lovely beaches, and a lively atmosphere that has contributed to its reputation.

Plitvice Lakes National Park ★★★★ (1979)
Located in northern Dalmatia, this is the most famous of Croatia’s national parks. With its stunning landscapes and numerous lakes and waterfalls, it is a UNESCO World Heritage site and considered one of Europe’s most beautiful parks.

Poreč Basilica ★★ (1997)
In the historic centre of the city, this 6th-century episcopal complex, representative of Byzantine style, is a UNESCO World Heritage site.

St. James's Cathedral, Šibenik ★★ (2000)
This 15th–16th century building is a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its representation of the monumental arts of the period, blending Gothic and Renaissance styles.

Historic Centre of Split ★★★★ (1979)
With its stunning Diocletian’s Palace, churches, palaces, fortifications, and narrow streets lined with old buildings, the historic centre of Split is a UNESCO World Heritage site. It’s also a lively place.

Trogir ★★★ (1997)
This "historic" city is located opposite Split. Its magnificent architectural heritage, particularly medieval, has earned it a place entirely on the UNESCO World Heritage list.

The Interior

This is Slavonia and central Croatia.

Durdevac Castle ★
It's a small 15th-century castle near the Hungarian border.

Trakoscan Castle ★★
A stunning 14th-century castle perched by a lake. It is located just a stone's throw from Slovenia and is the best-preserved castle in Croatia.

Veliki Tabor Castle ★★
A 12th-century fortress-museum located in the north of the country, not far from Slovenia.

Osijek ★★
The main city of Slavonia, with beautiful Baroque buildings, old quarters, and a large cathedral. The Kopački Rit nature reserve is on its outskirts.

Samobor ★
A town with a well-preserved medieval appearance about thirty kilometers west of Zagreb.

Slavonski Brod ★
The city, located on the border with Bosnia-Herzegovina, is known for its 18th-century Austrian fortress.

Varazdin ★★
It's one of the most visited cities in the interior of Croatia for its beautiful architecture and historic urban centre.

Vukovar ★
On the Danube, at the Serbian border, Vukovar is above all a "symbol city" of the conflict in the former Yugoslavia.

Zagreb ★★
Though not one of the most touristy cities, Croatia’s large capital boasts a historic centre and around twenty museums.

Natural Heritage

Kopacki Rit ★
This vast marshland, a designated nature park along the Danube near the Serbian border, is home to numerous bird species. It can be explored on foot, by horseback, or by boat.

Istria

Bale ★
One of Istria's beautiful medieval villages. It is located about fifteen kilometres from Rovinj.

Buzet ★★
In the heart of inland Istria, just a stone's throw from Slovenia, this is a charming little hilltop town dating back to the medieval era.

Grožnjan ★★★
A small artists' and musicians' village known for its summer artistic events. It is also one of the most beautiful in the Istrian interior.

Labin ★
Together with Rabac, its coastal extension, it is a seaside resort in Istria.

Novigrad ★★
North of Poreč, not far from Slovenia. A seaside town with medieval remains, including part of its original walls and an old urban centre.

Opatija ★★
One of the oldest and most elegant resorts on the Adriatic, not far from Rijeka.

Pazin ★
The main town in central Istria. You can see a 10th-century castle and small gorges on the outskirts of the town.

Poreč ★★
A large town on the Istrian coast with a small old centre and, above all, a UNESCO-listed basilica.

Pula ★★
The city, located at the southern tip of Istria, boasts a charming old centre and a stunning Roman amphitheatre. Several beaches can be found in the surrounding area.

Rovinj ★★★
Directly connected by ferries to Venice, this Istrian coast town—often described as "the must-see of the region"—boasts a stunning old center. You can go climbing and enjoy the beaches in its surroundings.

Umag ★★
A large picturesque town in the northwest of Istria with its old quarters.

Vrsar ★★
A popular and family-friendly seaside resort in Istria, located on its western coast.

Natural Heritage

Cape Kamenjak ★
South of Pula. A rugged, wild area known for its coves, especially popular in summer when it gets very busy.

Baredine Caves ★
These are quite beautiful caves to visit in the Poreč region.

Lim Valley ★★
A narrow river and its estuary between Poreč and Rovinj, often described as a fjord due to its shape.

The Coast

Biograd na Moru ★
A seaside resort a few kilometres south of Zadar.

Dubrovnik ★★★★
This is the "historic" city of southern Dalmatia and one of the most visited destinations in the Mediterranean. The "Pearl of the Adriatic" is a UNESCO World Heritage site for its Old Town (partially restored after the 1990s conflict). Several beaches nearby.

Makarska ★★
This is the main seaside resort of the Makarska Riviera. Beyond sea pleasures, you can hike in Biokovo Nature Park, go canyoning, rafting, and kayaking on the nearby Cetina River.

Makarska Riviera ★★★
This is the name of the coastal area stretching for around sixty kilometres from the south of Split to the Bosnian border. Highlights include beautiful coastal landscapes, pleasant beaches, and hiking opportunities.

Omiš ★★
This pretty port surrounded by mountains, with its ancient fortresses and old churches, marks the start of the Makarska Riviera.

Pelješac Peninsula ★★
North of Dubrovnik, this long mountainous spit of land offers beautiful landscapes, with beaches and hiking opportunities. You can also visit the Notre-Dame-des-Anges Monastery in Orebić, the peninsula’s main town.

Rijeka ★
It’s the largest port in Croatia, with some historic buildings and museums, as well as one of Europe’s most significant carnivals.

Salona ★
Known as Solin, Salona, or Salone, these are the remains of an ancient city that was once the capital of Dalmatia. They are located right next to Split.

Šibenik ★★
Between Zadar and Split, the city is best known for its UNESCO-listed St. James’s Cathedral in the heart of its old town. Several beaches nearby.

Skradin ★
This town is a gateway to Krka National Park. Largely destroyed during the war in 1995, its reconstruction has nonetheless created a pleasant setting.

Split ★★★★
Croatia’s second city offers a stunning historic centre with its famous Diocletian’s Palace. The site is UNESCO-listed, and there are several beaches nearby.

Trogir ★★★
This "historic" city is located opposite Split. Its magnificent architectural heritage, particularly medieval, has earned it a place entirely on the UNESCO World Heritage list.

Zadar ★★
A tourist town in northern Dalmatia, visited for its old centre, beaches, and lively atmosphere.

Natural Heritage

Zrmanja Canyon ★★
This short river flowing into the sea near Zadar is renowned for its rafting and canoeing opportunities, though it may lack water in summer.

Krka National Park ★★★
This park near Šibenik offers a chance to explore an area of waterfalls and canyons shaped by the Krka River. A monastery and several fortresses, often in ruins, are scattered along the route.

Paklenica National Park ★★
Not far from Zadar, this park with its birds and cave offers beautiful hikes as well as rock climbing.

Plitvice Lakes National Park ★★★★
Located in northern Dalmatia, this is the most famous of Croatia’s national parks. With its stunning landscapes and numerous lakes and waterfalls, it is a UNESCO World Heritage site and considered one of Europe’s most beautiful parks.

Risnjak National Park ★★
This is a mountainous park in the north of Croatia, yet close to the sea, where you can go hiking.

Sjeverni Velebit National Park ★★
A mid-mountain park between Rijeka and Zadar, perfect for hiking.

Bijakova Nature Park ★★ (or Biokovo)
This mountainous massif with high karst cliffs in the Dinaric Alps, located near the resort of Makarska, is known for its challenging hikes. The area also offers canyoning, rafting, and kayaking on the Cetina River.

The Islands

Brač ★★★
It's a large, pleasant island facing Split with beautiful beaches, caves, and opportunities for diving and hiking. Its size still allows for some preserved spots.

Brijuni ★
This protected archipelago of around fifteen islands off Pula, in Istria, is known for its landscapes and for having served as a secondary residence for Tito. You can also see some ancient ruins and a zoological garden.

Cres ★★
It is the largest island in the Adriatic. Visitors love it for its landscapes, inland lake, birds, villages, beach, and opportunities for hiking or diving.

Dugi Otok ★★
An island near Zadar visited for its landscapes, beaches, and diving.

Elaphiti Islands ★★
These are small islands (Sipan, Lopud, and Kolocep being the main ones) near Dubrovnik, popular for their landscapes and beaches.

Hvar ★★★
This Dalmatian island is one of the Adriatic’s most tourist-friendly (and upscale) destinations. It boasts a rich ancient and medieval heritage (particularly in the town of Hvar), a long-standing agricultural tradition recognised by UNESCO (in the Stari Grad Plain), beautiful landscapes, small coves with lovely beaches, and a lively atmosphere that has contributed to its reputation.

Korčula ★★★
This is the second most populous island in Croatia. Its main town, sharing the same name, boasts a remarkable old centre. Beyond its landscapes, the island offers diving opportunities and beautiful beaches.

Kornati Archipelago ★★
A collection of several dozen small islands in the central Dalmatian coast, nearly a hundred of which form a natural park characterized by high cliffs. The area is primarily visited by sailors or on small cruises.

Krk ★★
The largest and most populous of Croatia’s islands is very tourist-friendly. Located on the northern coast, it is connected to the mainland by a bridge. You can explore its small villages, beaches, and go diving.

Lošinj ★★
It’s one of the islands on the northern coast. Like its neighbors (Rab, Cres, etc.), it draws quite a few visitors for its beaches, landscapes, and villages.

Mljet ★★★
Between Korčula and Dubrovnik, Mljet offers a beautiful forested environment with part of the island designated as a national park, small villages, a charming monastery, beaches, and diving opportunities.

Murter ★
This island in the Šibenik region has pleasant coves and sandy or pebble beaches, making it popular with visitors without being as tourist-heavy as many others.

Pag ★★
This is a long island connected to the mainland near Zadar. It’s a destination for beaches, the old town of Pag, and above all, partying.

Pasman ★
Beaches and monasteries on this island near Zadar.

Rab ★★
One of the most tourist-frequented spots on the northern Croatian coast, known for its beaches, stunning landscapes, and the old town of Rab.

Šolta ★★
A small island off Split, popular with visitors for its water activities and fishing, as well as several ancient churches and historical remains.

Susak ★★
The small island near Losinj has become a tourist destination.

Vis ★★
The island is best known for its beaches and vineyards.