🇭🇷Croatia

Dubrovnik's Old Town walls

Nearly two kilometers of medieval fortifications encircle Dubrovnik's old town, walkable in full for sweeping views over the terracotta rooftops and the Adriatic beyond. The city gained wider fame as a filming location for King's Landing in Game of Thrones. Visiting early morning or off-season helps avoid the cruise ship crowds that can otherwise fill the narrow streets.

Plitvice Lakes National Park

A series of sixteen terraced lakes connected by waterfalls, their water an intense turquoise from dissolved minerals, all linked by wooden boardwalks that wind directly over and beside the water. It's Croatia's oldest and largest national park and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The site is popular enough that arriving early makes a real difference to the experience.

Split's Diocletian's Palace

A Roman emperor's retirement palace that gradually became the living heart of the city of Split, with shops, homes, and cafes now occupying its ancient walls and courtyards. The basement halls, once used for storage, are remarkably well preserved and open to visitors. It's one of the most complete Roman structures still in daily use anywhere in the world.

Hvar Island

A lavender-scented island known for its lively harbor town, a hilltop fortress overlooking the Pakleni Islands, and some of the sunniest weather in Europe. It's a popular stop on Adriatic sailing routes, with a livelier nightlife scene than most other Croatian islands. Quieter villages further inland offer a slower pace away from the main harbor.

Krka National Park

Centered on a series of waterfalls along the Krka River, with the Skradinski Buk cascade historically open for swimming beneath the falls, though rules on this have changed in recent years. Boardwalk trails wind through the surrounding forest, and boat trips connect to the medieval Visovac monastery island. It's often visited as a quieter alternative to the more crowded Plitvice Lakes.

Rovinj, Istria

A former fishing town on the Istrian peninsula, its pastel houses stacked toward a hilltop church in a layout often compared to an Italian coastal village. Cobbled lanes lead down to a harbor still used by local fishing boats. The wider Istria region is also known for truffles and olive oil, worth exploring beyond the town itself.