With spring break coming soon, I can't help but think about where I wish I could go on vacation (even though I won't be vacationing this spring break). One place that people seem to overlook when planning trips to Europe is Croatia.
Though I'm definitely biased since my family lives there, I'm a citizen there, and I speak the language, Croatia's beauty is still undeniable and it makes an amazing vacation destination.
For such a small country, it's an incredibly diverse place, with plains, mountains, and islands. Drive an hour in any direction and you'll probably find a different kind of landscape.
So here are my top 11 picks for places across Croatia that you should visit!
1. Plitvice Lakes National Park
This is probably the most beautiful place I've been to in my life. The entire park spans over 73,000 acres containing gorgeous waterfalls, caves, and 16 different lakes.
Being a UNESCO World Heritage site, the people there are very concerned with conservation and making sure the water stays as blue, clear, and vibrant as it has always been.
There are several different paths you can choose to hike. I'd suggest going when it's warm outside, but it also looks amazing in the winter.
It's one of Croatia's most famous tourist destinations, so most tours or bus routes will make stops at Plitvice.
2. Dubrovnik
I've actually never been to Dubrovnik, but it's been on my bucket list forever. This is arguably Croatia's most famous city, with Mediterranean cruises constantly stopping here.
Dubrovnik is a city right on the Adriatic sea. It's known for its Old Town, which is surrounded by stone walls built in the 16th century. It features buildings from the Baroque, Renaissance, and Gothic periods.
All the King's Landing scenes in the "Game of Thrones" TV series are filmed in Dubrovnik, so "Game of Thrones" centric tours have begun to emerge in the city as well.
3. Zagreb
Zagreb is the capital of Croatia and Croatia's biggest city. It features your typical big-city high-rises, parks, museums, and lots of shopping.
Some of its more popular destinations include the Gornji Grad, or Upper Town, which features St. Mark's Church, and Ban Jelačić Square.
Another interesting sight to visit in Zagreb is the Museum of Broken Relationships, where people from around the world leave objects that somehow have to do with one of their broken relationships and write the story behind the objects for visitors to see.
4. Villages of Istria
Istria is a region of Croatia that features landscapes very similar to those of Tuscany in Italy. It has the same lush, rolling hills. There are countless hilltop villages in this region that all look like they've come out of a fairy tale.
One example of such a village would be Motovun. Though it's definitely a bit of a climb to get to Motovun, sitting at a cafe's outdoor table while looking at the view from the top of the hill is well worth it.
5. Hum
Hum is also one of Istria's hilltop towns. However, this town is actually the smallest town in the world!
With a population of 21, Hum features a few streets, a restaurant, some gift shops, and a 12th-century church. The entire town has a very medieval look, with stone buildings and cobbled streets. Though there aren't many people, the people that are there are incredibly friendly.
It takes following the signs through a lot of country land to get there, but its small-town charm makes it a worthwhile place to visit, even if only as a brief stop.
6. Opatija
Opatija is also a part of Istria, though on the coast. Often referred to as Croatia's Monte Carlo, it is a very rich area spotted with boutiques, palm trees, and villas.
It is a bit more expensive to stay in Opatija, though, so I'd suggest staying somewhere nearby and driving over to Opatija. When I was there, we stayed in the nearby city of Lovran, which was also beautiful.
7. Split
Split, like Dubrovnik, is a city on the Dalmatian coast. This is also a fairly popular tourist destination because it houses ruins from the ancient Roman era.
Roman Emperor Diocletian built a palace in Split in the year 305. Tourists can still come and see the palace today.
Like any Dalmatian city, there are beautiful stone streets, delicious restaurants, and an amazing view of the Adriatic Sea.
8. Zadar
Zadar is yet another Dalmatian town that has an Old Town with a surrounding wall, Roman and Venetian ruins, and a great view of the Adriatic.
An attraction that sets this town apart is a sea organ that plays music when the sea's waves hit tubes underneath some marble steps. Also, there is a Monument to the Sun, which is a large circle of glass plates on the ground that collects sunlight during the day so that it can glow at night.
9. Islands
Honestly, any Croatian island you go to is likely to be breathtakingly beautiful.
There is an island for every taste, whether you'd prefer more stone buildings and cobbled streets or a resort and white-pebble beaches.
If you like the first option, I'd recommend the island of Prvić, which is small and much less touristy. For the second option, I'd recommend the resort town of Bol on an island called Brač, which features one of Croatia's most famous beaches, Zlatni Rat (or Golden Cape).
Any island you choose is an amazing place to relax and take in the ocean and/or do any water-based activities, like sailing, windsurfing, scuba diving, etc.
10. Šibenik
Šibenik is yet another magnificent, old city on the Adriatic coast. There isn't much left to say about these cities. They're beautiful, fascinating to explore, and the food there is amazing. (Seriously, you haven't lived until you've had Croatian ćevapčići.)
11. Northern Croatia
While I've been talking about a lot of the southern Croatian coastal cities, northern Croatia has its perks too.
There are so many cute villages, cities, and farms in the northern regions. Places like Varaždin and Trakošćan both have gorgeous castles and museums you can visit.
Also, there's Krapina, which is home to a site where Neanderthal fossils were found. It has now been turned into a museum.
I hope this has inspired you to want to travel to Croatia and see the beauty of these places in person!
