Sightseeing in Croatia
Croatia is a very popular travel destination in the southern European Balkans. The unique location on the Adriatic coast with countless beaches, the warm climate and the hospitable Croatia make this versatile country a dream vacation paradise.
Croatia has many beautiful small islands that invite you to linger and relax. The rich Croatian cuisine, excellent hotels and the breathtaking nature of the country offer holidaymakers from all over the world an ideal combination of relaxation and adventure holidays.
In the following we present you the most exciting tours, the most beautiful attractions and the best sights in Croatia.
1. Plitvice Lakes National Park
This unique national park in the interior of Croatia is an absolute highlight and one of the most popular sights in Croatian. The Plitvice Lakes National Park has a total of 16 different, cascading lakes, which are connected by majestic waterfalls. The natural wonder was already included in the UNESCO list of world natural heritage in 1979.
This magical place has a unique charisma and is a breathtaking natural spectacle, scenes from the Karl May films were filmed here in the 1960s. There are a number of different hiking trails that lead through the 296.85 square kilometer park. The 78 meter high Veliki Slap waterfall is particularly worth seeing. The national park is the largest in Croatia and has millions of visitors every year.
2. Old Town of Dubrovnik
One of the most beautiful cities in Europe is Dubrovnik in the south of the country directly on the Adriatic Sea. In particular, the picturesque, car-free old town has developed into one of the most important sights in Croatia and is also visited by numerous cruise ships in summer. The old town of Dubrovnik has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1997. Numerous films and parts of the globally successful series “Game of Thrones” were shot in front of this wonderful backdrop.
The city walls of Dubrovnik, which are around 1940 meters long and up to 6 meters thick in some places, are popular tourist attractions. It is the best preserved medieval masonry in all of Europe. It is worth taking the cable car (Dubrovnik Cable Car) from the old town up to a viewpoint on Mount Srd. There are great bays and beaches around the city that are definitely worth a visit.
3. The island paradise of Hvar
Hvar is one of the many Croatian islands that is located in the middle of the Adriatic Sea. There are many beautiful hotels and restaurants on the island. The beaches invite you to linger and take a refreshing dip in the sea and the old town of Hvar also has a lot of sights to see. In addition to the harbor and the great promenade and a Renaissance main square with a remarkable cathedral, the old city walls also offer great photo opportunities for visitors to the island.
Hvar is also known as the “Pearl of the Adriatic”, which is mainly due to the crystal clear water and beautiful beaches. In the north there are mostly shallow sandy beaches, in the south it is more pebble beaches surrounded by pine forests. Wine-growing is still an important industry in Hvar today. The island is known far beyond the country’s borders for its excellent red wine. Olives, lavender and rosemary can also still be found in the hinterland.
4. The Blue Grotto
One of the most famous sights in the country is the Blue Grotto. This impressive natural spectacle can be found on the island of Bisevo in the Dalmatia region. The Modra Spilja (Croatian name of the blue grotto) is a cave about 24 meters long and up to 16 meters deep. It has two entrances, one above and one under water and can only be reached with the help of rowing or paddle boats.
Inside the cave there is a magical picture that can hardly be described with words: the interplay of light, water and color creates an almost unreal work of art. You just have to see this one. Day trips are offered as guided tours, for example from Split, mostly combined tours with a visit to Hvar. The play of colors is particularly beautiful in light seas with only a few waves.
5. Visit to the capital Zagreb
The diverse capital Zagreb offers a whole range of beautiful sights in Croatia, especially for art and culture lovers. With its approx. 800,000 inhabitants, Zagreb is a big city, but it is quite manageable so that all landmarks and attractions are within walking distance. The city is known for its many museums and art galleries.
It also has many other sights such as the Parliament Building, the Zagreb Cathedral, the Botanical Garden or the famous Ban Jelacic Square. There are also great restaurants and cafés in the capital that offer typical Croatian cuisine.
6. Amphitheater in Pula
The sixth largest amphitheater in the world is located in the beautiful city of Pula. This building was built in Roman times and is 2000 years old and is the oldest and most important landmark of the city. Numerous events, cultural events and concerts are still held here today.
The amphitheater can therefore not only be visited, you can also find out about the current program before your visit and thus experience an event in this dreamlike setting up close.
7. Zlatni rad – the most beautiful beach in Croatia
Probably the most beautiful beach in Croatia “Zlatni rad” is located on the island of Brac in the Dalmatia area. This stretch of beach is covered with fine pebbles and has the shape of a horn, which is why it is also known as “the golden horn” in German.
It protrudes a few hundred meters into the sea, which is why you have a wonderful and wide view of the water and the island from this beach. There are a few beach bars in the immediate vicinity, so that you can enjoy the sun and the view with a cool cocktail.
8. Jama Baredine – cave on the fallow field
This approx. 132 meter deep stalactite cave near the city of Porec in Istria is also one of the country’s most popular attractions. It is one of the protected natural monuments and has five so-called halls, all of which are filled with fascinating stalactite sculptures.
This miracle of nature is known worldwide and extremely interesting. Finds from the cave are also displayed in showcases in the various halls. A tour of the Baredine Grotto takes about 40 minutes and is also offered in German.
9. The smallest town in the world – Hum
Located in central Istria there is another unique attraction: the city of Hum, officially the smallest city in the world. To enter the city, the path leads through a copper city gate, which seems like the gate to another time. You can quickly see that this small town with only around 20 inhabitants is a fascinating place of its own.
The houses and alleys in medieval style bring their visitors back in time. Hum also has a beautiful church (Maria Himmelfahrt) which is also worth a visit.
10. Dreamlike islands of the Kornati islands
This national park is also something very special. It consists of 89 islands and reefs and primarily serves to protect the diverse flora and fauna. The Kornati, as this national park is called, is a unique paradise for bathing enthusiasts, boaters and, above all, divers. The almost untouched underwater world and the fantastically beautiful little bathing bays offer visitors an exclusive insight into nature.
However, diving is only allowed in the designated diving zones. Especially in the warm summer months, the island park is full of boats and ships marveling at the beautiful landscape from the sea. There are countless restaurants and cafés on the larger islands, waiting for their guests with delicious food and cool drinks. The delicious, freshly prepared seafood and fish specialties are particularly recommended.