Visit Croatia – A Guide To Top Must-See Places And Landmarks
It’s not just about visiting Croatia. It’s about knowing what makes the country unique. To visit Croatia, you need a comprehensive guide about top must-see places and landmarks that will make your experience memorable.
Croatia opens its arms to visitors from all around the world every day. In Croatia, the fun never stops, even when night comes. People love to visit Croatia because of its many beaches and islands, the mountains and islands, and the friendly people.
Visit Croatia today, but first, learn about the country. You need to know about the sights and sounds of Croatia. There are famous and not-so-popular places to visit. Find out more about Croatia in this article.
About Croatia
The Republic of Croatia is a place to visit, a country on the edge of the Balkan Peninsula in the southern part of Europe. Croatia shares borders with Hungary, Montenegro, Serbia, Bosnia, Herzegovina, and Slovenia. And if you stand on the mountain ranges of Velebit, you can see Italy!
The country is divided into four historical regions – Croatia Proper, Dalmatia, Istria, and Slavonia. They are broken into smaller areas and form about 20 counties and 128 states. Croatia has more than 1,200 islands and numerous little towns and villages, making it a tourist’s dream.
What is Croatia known for?
There are lots of reasons why Croatia is famous, but here are the best three:
- Sports. The Croatian National Team is the envy of most countries. Croatia is known for its soccer, athletics, skiing, and tennis team. Croatian teams have won medals in Olympics as well as the world Championships.
- The Game of Thrones. Most of the seasons of this series were acted in Croatia. Specifically, the three Adriatic destinations – Dubrovnik, Split, and Rovinj, were the background for that film.
- Advent in Zagreb. Advent is a big thing in Croatia because almost 90% of them are Catholics. Zagreb has won the best Christmas Market Award for years because of how they showcase this important season.
Why Should You Visit Croatia?
Although there are many reasons to visit Croatia, these are the top 5:
1. Croatia has clean, fresh water. It’s so clean that you can drink water straight from the source.
2. It is a safe country for everyone. Children and adults stay out late with no worries about anything terrible happening to them. There are hardly any reports of robberies and domestic violence. This is because hardly any crime takes place in Croatia.
3. Relaxed way of life. Coffee breaks are traditional in Croatia and are mostly spent with family and friends. If the men are not drinking coffee, they’re having a beer with their friends and watching football games. The women enjoy some free time shopping together.
4. Family Traditions. Croatians like to celebrate holidays and birthdays with family and friends. They are mostly Catholics, so you will be sure that Christmas and Easter celebrations will be strictly adhered to.
5. Croatians are quite friendly. In fact, they like to chatter, especially if they like you. They will most definitely entertain you with coffee and a good meal at their family table if you visit their home.
Top 7 Must-See Places to Visit in Croatia
It isn’t easy to decide which places to rank as the top 7 must-see places in Croatia. This is because there are so many beautiful and unique places to see in Croatia. If you plan to spend a long time in the country, there would not be time enough to take in the beauty of nature at its peak. Here’s a list of top must-see places to visit in Croatia:
#1. Plitvice Lakes National Park
The Plitvice National Park is a UNESCO Heritage Site between the cities of Zadar and Zagreb. Because of its 90 waterfalls and 16 lakes connected, summers are always packed with visitors. Unfortunately, summer is not a good time if you’re hoping to stand long enough to appreciate nature and probably take a few pictures.
Spring and autumn are best because the water levels will be high, and the waterfalls and streams will be at their peak. Also, there won’t be many people around, and the leaves start changing color at this time. During winter, the snow makes the waterfalls look like scenes from a fairy tale.
#2. The City of Dubrovnik
There’s no city like Dubrovnik in the whole world! Not only is it a UNESCO Heritage Site, but it’s a well-preserved city with so many museums and monasteries. Indeed, Dubrovnik is usually overcrowded in July and August. Still, it’s a place where you can never be lonely alone. The city is enclosed by walls, and you can find people walking on these walls, maybe to avoid the human traffic or just for fun.
#3. Visit Porec
The Episcopal Complex of the Euphrasian Basilica is in the small town of Porec, on the west coast of Istria. It houses a church, baptistery, memorial chapel, a Bishop’s house, and an atrium. The complex is why Porec is known as the “Town of Mosaics.”
In Porec, you’ll find beaches like Pical Beach and Delfin Beach, among others. Some popular events in Porec are cycling and swimming competitions, as well as Jazz events in some of its neighborhoods. The best time to visit Porec is between May and October.
#4. Split
4a. Split is where the historical Diocletian Palace is. The palace is enormous, with four gates separating the quarters. The Golden Gate, called the Porta Aurea, is in the north, the Silver Gate, called the Porta Argentea, is in the east, the Iron Gate, called the Porta Ferrea, in the west, and the Bronze Gate (the Porta Aenea) in the south.
4b. You will see a Bell Tower at St. Dominus Cathedral. People pay a fee of 45 Kn to walk through the narrow staircase and take in the scenery from the top of the cathedral.
#5. Rovinj
Tourists love this little old town because of the Punta Corrente Park. Here, people enjoy jogging. Cycling and swimming. Climbers also enjoy rock climbing on the hard limestone rocks.
If you feel up to it, you can also go scuba diving in the waters where Baron Gautsch sank in 1914.
#6. Stari Grad Plain
The town of Stari Grad is on the island of Hvar. It boasts of the agricultural landscape that the people of Hvar are known for. The dry stone walls of Hvar are built without cement and are still intact from ancient times. Farmers in the 4th century used these dry stone walls to divide their lands and build shelters.
#7. The City of Zagreb
7a. Upper Town. There are lots of exciting activities in Croatia’s capital. When you visit Croatia, you can spend a whole day strolling through Upper Town and still not get enough of this beautiful and serene area. Upper Town is famous for its secret passages, art galleries, and fun bars.
7b. Downtown. The Jelacic Square Downtown connects the different neighborhoods of Zagreb. The skyscraper at No.1 Illica Street will give you a complete view of the city, and at the Mandusevac fountain, you will make a wish.
7c. Another place you cannot miss is the Museum of Broken Relationships. It’s a funny name for a museum, but it’s precisely what it’s called. All the items kept at the museum are souvenirs of broken relationships. People pay to listen to the stories accompanying each item, and it takes about an hour to move through the museum.
Best Time To Visit Croatia
The best time to visit Croatia is between June and September because the weather is usually lovely at this time. However, it would be good to skip August because this is when Croatia is busiest, and prices are highest.
Frequently Asked Question
What languages do Croatians speak?
More than 95% of the Croatian population speaks the Croatian language. Other languages include Serbian, Italian, and Hungarian,
About 80% of the population speak English as a foreign language.
Is Croatia a Schengen Country?
Presently, Croatia is not a Schengen member country. However, the government will soon join the Schengen Zone, having passed all requirements. Also, visitors from Schengen visa-free countries can enter Croatia with ETIAS (European Travel Authorization). Read also, Croatia Short Stay Visa – Types, Application, and Eligibility.
Does Croatia Have an International Airport?
There are about seven large international airports in Croatia, and there are direct flights from most European countries and other parts of the world. For instance, national carriers like Lufthansa, KLM, Air France, and British Airways, among others, offer direct flights to Croatia.
Similarly, Croatian Airlines, the country’s national airline and flag carrier, operates domestic and international flights within Europe.
What is the Croatian Currency?
The Croatian currency is Kuna (Kn). 1 Croatian currency is 0.13 Euro. Croatia is making plans to adopt the Euro as its foreign currency.
What is The Current Population of Croatia?
Currently, about 4,059,286 people are living in the country. In 2021, the Croatian population was 4,081,651 while in 2019 it was 4,105,267. There is a noticeable decline in population. Still, it may be because Croatia has witnessed a low birth rate in the past few years. However, Croatia will soon join the Schengen member countries, boosting its population and economy. Read more about Croatia here.
Conclusion
A lot is going on in Croatia, and it’s all waiting for you to discover. So, the best thing to do is to experience all the regions of Croatia. Taste their cuisine, try and learn their language, and make friends with the natives. Visit Croatia today. You’ll probably never want to leave afterward.
