12 Best Places To Visit In Croatia In 2025
Are you looking for a list of all of the best places Croatia has to offer? You’ve come to the right article.
Croatia is a beautiful country situated along the Adriatic coast in southeastern Europe. Not only does it have picturesque islands like Greece, but it has national parks, charming medieval cities, and more. I spent 7 days in Croatia, and have put together this list of all of the must-see places to help you plan your trip.
Here are 12 amazing places you won’t want to miss in Croatia.
This article contains affiliate links. This means that if you choose to purchase through these links we may earn a commission. This helps keep our content free, at no additional cost to you.
Dubrovnik
Nicknamed the “Pearl of the Adriatic”, Dubrovnik is a postcard perfect city you must visit while in Croatia. The Old Town is protected by these massive 13th century stone walls, and the city’s bright orange rooftops contrast with the sparkling blue sea.
The city in and of itself is a tourist attraction, and one of the best things to do is to walk the ancient city walls.
Other fun things to do in Dubrovnik are riding the cable car, kayaking around the city walls, going on a Game of Thrones walking tour, or hopping on a 10 minute ferry to Lokrum island. You only need a day to see the city’s highlights, but it’s worth spending 2 days in to fully enjoy it.
Plitvice Lakes National Park
Nestled in the center of the countryside, Plitvice Lakes is Croatia’s largest and most famous national park.
It’s a protected UNESCO World Heritage Site, and home to these spectacular turquoise blue lakes, waterfalls, and cascades formed by these natural travertine barriers. This was the most beautiful place I visited in the country, and a definite must-see.
There’s easy hiking trails, and boat and train rides (included in your tickets) that will allow you to see the park in a few hours. Check out our complete guide to visiting Plitvice Lakes for more details on what to see and do in the park!
Split Old Town
Split is Croatia’s second largest city, and home to the ancient Roman ruins of Diocletian’s Palace. It has an old town centered around the ruins, with old stone buildings, narrow alleyways, and historic sites like the St Domnius Cathedral.
In Split, you can go on a historic walking tour, stroll the seafront promenade with gelato, and watch the sunset from the hilltop park (Forest Park Marjan). Split’s old town is right by the sea, and it also happens to be Croatia’s main ferry port.
So if you plan on going island-hopping, this is the place to stay. I stayed in Split for a few nights, and used it as a base for all of the amazing day trips.
Hvar Island
Located just a 1-2 hour ferry from Split, Hvar is Croatia’s most popular island. It has a lively seafront promenade lined with beach bars, crystal clear beaches, wineries, medieval fortresses, and more.
It’s one of the best Croatian islands to spend a night in, and rent bikes or scooters to explore around. Although it’s known as the party island, it had a pretty laid back vibe when I visited, and was not as crowded as Split.
Check out our Split to Hvar guide for details on how to get there by ferry.
Pakleni and Elaphiti Islands
Croatia has over 1,000 islands, with many being small islands that are only accessible by boat tour. From Split, you can go on a boat tour to the Pakleni islands, a chain of islands with turquoise blue waters, hidden coves, and seafood restaurants.
From Dubrovnik, you can go on a tour to the Elaphiti Islands, a small archipelago of islands with small villages, and seafood restaurants.
There are blue and green caves similar to the “Blue Grotto” in Italy that you can visit from either city as well!
Zadar Old Town
Zadar is a little historic city with beaches, unique churches, museums, cake shops, and a marina with these two interesting art installations.
One is a sea organ instrument that makes music from the waves crashing, and has steps leading into the sea. It’s right next to the “sun salutation”, a large blue circle with underground solar panels that create a light show at sunset!
Alfred Hitchcock once described Zadar as having the most beautiful sunset in the world, and it was by far the most charming city I visited in Croatia.
Krka National Park
Krka National Park is a stunning national park tucked in the pine forests with cascading waterfalls formed by the Krka river.
The park has easy hiking trails, souvenir shops, and picnic areas by the waterfalls. It’s less than an hour’s drive from Split, and easy to get to by Flixbus or group tours.
The park’s main ticket office is located in this small town Skradin. From Skradin, you’ll hop on a short boat ride (included in your tickets) to reach the park.
Although you can’t swim in the waterfalls, Skradin has a city beach where you can swim in the Krka river. Skradin also has restaurants, a vintage car museum, small medieval fortress, and wineries within a 10 minute drive!
Mostar, Bosnia
Although it’s not a Croatian city, Mostar is one of the most spectacular day trips you can do from Croatia.
Mostar is a medieval town in Bosnia and Herzegovina, with arched stone bridges that run over the Neretva river, mosques, and a lively bazaar. It was one of the most surprising highlights of my trip, and it looked straight out of a postcard.
If you want to shop for souvenirs before heading out of Croatia, it’s well worth a visit. There’s cafes on every corner where you can try traditional Bosnian coffee, and restaurants overlooking the beautiful Neretva river.
It has a variety of cheap hotels, and is easily accessible by bus and group tours from Split and Dubrovnik.
Istrian Peninsula (Pula and Rovinj)
Pula is a medieval city steeped in history along the Istrian peninsula in the westernmost part of the country. It’s home to one of the world’s most well preserved Roman amphitheaters, and it was built before the Colosseum!
It also has a variety of historic sites, crystal clear beaches, museums and a zoo. Beyond Pula, you can visit the charming fishing village of Rovinj along the Istrian peninsula. Rovinj has a picturesque old town with colorful houses, churches, and a lively farmer’s market.
Korcula Island
Korcula is a beautiful island with an old town that juts out into the sea on a peninsula, and thought to be the birthplace of Marco Polo!
The old town has medieval stone buildings, churches, wineries, and narrow alleyways with cobblestone streets. It’s less crowded than Hvar, and the ideal place to visit if you love wine, and wandering around old towns.
Zagreb
If you love exploring European cities, it’s worth visiting the capital, Zagreb. Zagreb is the most inland city that has an old town with charming cobblestone streets, medieval churches, and museums.
It’s only a 3 hour drive from Pula, and the ideal airport to fly into if you plan on visiting the Istrian peninsula. However, it’s relatively far from Split and Dubrovnik, which is why I didn’t end up visiting it.
Croatia Attractions Map
Summary
Croatia is the most popular Balkan country to travel to after Greece, but remains an underrated European travel destination.
It has everything from ancient cities to national parks, and breathtaking islands off the coast.
For more ideas on how to spend your time in this beautiful country, check out our 7 day Croatia itinerary!
Related articles you may be interested in: