Places To Visit in Croatia & Is It Worth Visiting?

Croatia is a fantastic country with many places to visit. It has an interesting history dating back to the Roman era and features many top attractions. Croatia has both inland and coastal destinations to visit, including the Dalmatian coast.

I have spent well over a year exploring the country over multiple visits with my dog. Hiking in the Croatian countryside and along coastal paths is my happy place when visiting, and there are plenty of options for quiet time, especially at sunset.

Where to go in Croatia by Trip Type

• For a first trip: Zagreb, Split, Šibenik, Pula
• For islands: Mali Lošinj, Veli Lošinj, Cres, Stari Grad
• For nature: Krka, Ogulin, Knin, Fužine
• For quieter places: Karlovac, Osijek, Mali Lošinj

Places to Visit in Croatia

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I have visited a few places in Croatia and found them to be fascinating. You can also find many tour options on the GetYourGuide website.

Zagreb: A Vibrant Capital City

The capital, Zagreb, is a lovely city with lots going on. You can explore many interesting buildings and parks. Zagreb has a beautiful cathedral, the iconic St Mark’s Church, and some interesting museums.

I really enjoyed seeing the Habsburg architecture throughout the city. The upper town is also beautiful to explore, with churches, towers, and a tunnel complex beneath. It is also a wonderful place to dine out, with many great restaurants.

Split: a Historic City By the Sea

Split is a city on the Croatian coast that has a rich history dating back to Roman times. The city has lots of interesting attractions and nearby beaches. Seafood is on the menu in most restaurants in Split. For me, the highlights of the city are the historic buildings in Split’s old town.

Diocletian’s Palace, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, makes up much of Split Old Town. There are lots of places of interest within the palace, including impressive gates. Also, you can see the cathedral, an impressive tower and other historical sites. There are also lots of coastal walks and route options on Marjan Hill.

Krka National Park

One of my favourite attractions to visit is Krka National Park near Sibenik. Krka National Park is home to some fantastic waterfalls, which were a big draw for me. I visited by bus and enjoyed exploring the park, including the main waterfalls. There was a guided trail, which meant you got to see all the good bits.

Mali Lošinj

Mali Losinj is a stunning town on the island of Losinj, in the Adriatic Sea. The island is a fantastic place to visit for a relaxing or active holiday. There are lots of options for small beaches in the town and the rest of Losinj Island. Some of these are rather quiet and great places to visit for relaxing and a swim in the sea.

There are also countless hiking trails along the coast and in the hills that overlook the town. The town centre is pretty and has many tall ships moored up, some of which you can take a boat trip on. We found the island to be a great place to dine out, with lots of restaurants with sea views.

Šibenik: A Great City Break

A perfect place for a city break is Šibenik, as it has a bit of everything. We enjoyed over a week in the town and really enjoyed it. Šibenik is by the sea and is a handy port for some island hopping. There are also lots of historic buildings throughout, including palaces, 4 fortresses and an epic UNESCO-listed cathedral.

Šibenik also has fantastic options for meals out or drinks with water views. It is also a fantastic base camp for adventures in Krka National Park, which is popular with visitors who come to see its epic waterfalls.

Pula: A Fantastic City

If you like the sea and top-drawer food, then Pula is a great destination for a city break. Pula is a big city in the Istria region and is rather popular, with many things to see. The highlights being the amphitheatre and the Temple of Augustus in the old town area.

The city also has some brilliant forts atop various hills. I found the coastal parts of Pula are also rather nice and good for hiking and water activities. There are many restaurants serving Istrian specialities, including seafood and truffles.

Ogulin: A Small Town in The Countryside

Ogulin is a small and pretty town in Karlovac County in the northwest of the country. It’s easily reached by train, with a few direct trains from the capital. Beautiful countryside, including forest and mountains, surrounds the town. The area is fantastic for people who enjoy outdoor pursuits, including hiking, mountaineering and wild swimming.

The principal tourist attraction in Ogulin is the castle, which doubles up as a fairytale museum. Ogulin is also home to Dula’s Abyss, where the River Dobra disappears underground into a labyrinth of caves.

Karlovac: The City of Parks

Another place to visit in Croatia is the city of Karlovac, which is a short train ride from the capital. Karlovac is also the home of the famous Croatian beer, Karlovačko.

There are a few tourist attractions to see, including museums, a castle, parks and the rivers. There are beaches on the rivers which are great for wild swimming.

The Picturesque Village of Veli Losinj

Veli Losinj is a colourful and picturesque village on the island of Losinj. It’s a fantastic place to visit, with plenty of activities, including hiking and water sports. The nearby coast has many small beaches where you can relax or have fun.

The town centre is very pretty and has some interesting sights. There are colourful churches, towers, and some splendid viewpoints.

Rijeka: A Historic Port City

Rijeka is the third-largest city in the country and a major port. As well as being an important ferry port, Rijeka has plenty of nice architecture to see, including many Habsburg-style buildings. Other top sights include the city’s lovely cathedral and Trsat Castle, which overlooks the city.

Rijeka also has a fantastic market which sells lots of delicious seafood and locally grown fruit and vegetables. We also found Rijeka to be a great place to eat out, especially the restaurants that serve seafood.

Cres Island

Another fantastic island to visit is Cres, particularly the town of Cres. The town is a beautiful place with a medieval centre and a picturesque harbour area. Cres is easily reached from both Rijeka and Mali Losinj by ferry or by bus.

Cres town is small; however, it’s lovely to explore, and there are plenty of local walking options, including coastal paths. There are many restaurants serving fresh fish from the Adriatic Sea.

Matulji & Opatija

The small towns of Matulji & Opatija are just outside Rijeka and near the coast. Matulji is the cheaper of the two for accommodation and requires a 25-minute steep walk to the seaside or a short bus trip. It has many eateries and cafes to dine in, which are quite cheap compared to other coastal towns.

Near the sea is Opatija, a beautiful place with lots of Habsburg architecture and pretty parks. The coast path from above Matulji is beautiful with lots of boats and interesting features to see. There are also some nice beaches for a swim or coastal activities.

Osijek: The 4th Biggest City

One of the lesser-visited cities is Osijek, the country’s 4th biggest city. Osijek is in the Slavonia region and is relatively close to the borders of Bosnia and Serbia. Osijek is a historic city with a beach on the river, lots of Art Nouveau architecture and a fortress.

The city has the river Drava running through it and is surrounded by farmland. The region’s agriculture reflects the quality of produce in the city’s markets. The Slavonia region has a unique, delicious cuisine. You can find many restaurants in Osijek serving local specialities.

Knin

Knin is a town in the mountains on the main train route between the capital and Dalmatia. It is a pretty place with some excellent features. The principal attraction is Knin Fortress, which overlooks the town and has over 1,000 years of history.

Knin is also a great place for outdoor activities, and there’s lots of countryside to enjoy. This includes walks along rivers and waterfalls, as well as some long cycling routes.

Fužine: A Rural Village

Fužine is a small and pleasant village near Rijeka. We chose the village for a budget stop while getting to see local village life. It has lots of hills/mountains nearby for hiking.

Fuzine is on the shores of a lake, which is popular for hiking and water sports. There are also some interesting tourist attractions nearby, including caves and a cowboy town that was used to film a movie.

Stari Grad

The pretty town of Stari Grad is on the island of Hvar. It is a great option for a break or a day trip from the nearby city of Split. Stari Grad has a picturesque town centre and harbour with a few interesting attractions.

Also nearby is the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Stari Grad Plain. This is a great site for a walk to see all the historic ancient Greek farming structures and vineyards.

Stari Grad also has some fantastic places to dine out, serving Dalmatian cuisine. For drinks, there are bars, cafes and wineries.

Trogir

Trogir is a popular town that has come up many times in conversation, so I took the plunge. The town centre is on a small island that links the mainland to the larger Čiovo island. Trogir’s centre is UNESCO-listed, with lots of pleasant buildings, and its proximity to the sea enhances the experience.

Trogir has nearby beaches, great places to walk, and plenty of accommodation options. We also found plenty of places for drinks or dining out.

Is Croatia Worth Visiting?

Croatia is one of my favourite countries to visit, and I’ve spent a lot of time exploring it. We have enjoyed over a year of on-and-off exploring and are very keen to return. Our visits to Croatia included some destinations with fantastic tourist attractions and smaller, less-visited places.

You can get here by train from Hungary and Slovenia, and many cities are on the rail network. The trains in Croatia are not the quickest to cover ground; for example, getting from Zagreb to Split takes 8 hours.

I’ve always found the fun activities and the vibe relaxing. Hospitality is great, especially in bars and restaurants. I plan to see more of the country, including Hvar town, Rovinj, Plitvice Lakes National Park, and Dubrovnik.