Best Places to Visit in Croatia: Coastlines, Old Towns & Island Life
By Haute Retreats Editorial — Edited by Angelica Crudo · Last updated: October 11, 2025
There’s a moment on the Dalmatian coast when the sea turns sapphire and the scent of wild rosemary drifts in from hillside terraces. Croatia seduces like that—old-stone towns wrapped in medieval walls, Roman palaces reborn as living cities, island coves where the water looks hand-blown. If you’re mapping your first (or fifth) itinerary, these are the best places to visit in Croatia right now—plus where to stay when you want privacy, views, and the unhurried rhythm that hotels rarely match.
1) Dubrovnik Old Town & City Walls
Best for: cinematic history and golden-hour walks
The “Pearl of the Adriatic” is defined by its 2-kilometer ramparts, a limestone ribbon that curls above Baroque facades and polished lanes. Walk the walls right at opening or just before dusk; Lokrum sits offshore like an emerald exclamation point and the light turns the city honey-gold. Duck into tiny konobe for grilled fish, then linger on Gundulićeva Poljana with a late espresso.
Where to stay: Villa Denise or Villa Regina (private pools, easy access to the Old Town).
Don’t miss: A cable-car ascent to Mount Srđ for a sunset panorama.
2) Plitvice Lakes National Park (UNESCO)
Best for: aquamarine daydreams
Sixteen linked lakes stair-step through a limestone canyon, their colors shifting from jade to electric turquoise. Boardwalks skim travertine waterfalls; morning and late afternoon offer softer light and fewer coaches. Take the upper-lakes route for mirror-still reflections, then the short boat hop to feel the spray on your skin.
Pro tip: Pack water shoes—plenty of splash zones; no swimming in the main cascades.
3) Split & Diocletian’s Palace (UNESCO)
Best for: living history with a side of wine bars
A Roman emperor built a retirement palace here; Split turned it into a city. Within its honeyed walls are cloisters, micro-boutiques, and wine bars opening onto marble peristyles. Wander early, when shutters creak open and stone warms in the sun; in the evening, the Riva promenade hums with gelato strolls and Adriatic breezes.
Where to stay: Base in Split for ferries to Hvar, Brač, and Korčula—an ideal springboard for island-hopping.
Plan a tailor-made Croatia itinerary and villa stay—talk to our Villa Specialists. Explore our Croatia Luxury Villa Rentals collection.
4) Hvar Town & Maslinica Bay
Best for: yacht-set summers and vineyard drives
Hvar does double duty: sunlit afternoons that stretch lazily into late dinners, and nights that sparkle along the palm-lined harbor. Hire a small boat to the Pakleni islets for pine-scented coves; inland, roads wind past lavender fields and stone hamlets. Shoulder season (May–June, September) delivers swim-ready seas without the crush.
Where to stay: Villa Pinus (Hvar) for terrace breakfasts and private dips.
Don’t miss: A sunset climb to the Spanish Fortress for harbor views.
5) Zlatni Rat, Brač
Best for: an iconic beach moment
Croatia’s most photographed strand is a wind-shaped horn of pale pebbles that subtly shifts with the currents. The water is glass-clear and the Bol promenade is made for evening passeggiata. Families stake out the pine shade; kiteboarders ride the afternoon breeze.
Where to stay: Villa Infinity or Villa Acona (Brač) for island-calm days and sea-view living.
Good to know: It’s a pebble beach—bring water shoes.
6) Rovinj, Istria
Best for: Venetian charm and truffle dinners
Rovinj rises from the Adriatic like a watercolor—cobbled alleys, laundry lines, and a campanile that recalls Venice across the sea. This is your base for Istrian wineries, olive mills, and truffle hunts; evenings are for seafood crudos and sunset spritzes along the harbor.
Don’t miss: A boat to the Lim fjord or a day trip to hill towns like Motovun.
7) Krka National Park
Best for: waterfalls with elbow room (if you time it right)
Krka braids emerald pools and cascades through a karst valley dotted with monasteries and viewpoints. Start early at Lozovac or Skradin and take the park boat upriver; the boardwalk loop rewards with quieter corners and bird calls echoing off the canyon.
Pair it with: A lunch stop in Šibenik’s stone-built Old Town.
8) Zadar: Sea Organ & Greeting to the Sun
Best for: artful sunsets and Roman fragments
Zadar’s waterfront hosts two of Croatia’s most imaginative installations: an acoustic sea organ played by waves and a solar “Greeting to the Sun” that glows after dark. Roman columns sprout from squares; cafes spill onto sun-bleached stone. Sunsets rival Santorini’s, minus the scramble for a ledge.
Need help choosing islands and timing? Our Villa Specialists craft week-by-week routes with ferries, skippers, and the right villa in each stop.
9) Pula Arena
Best for: Roman echoes under the stars
One of the Mediterranean’s best-preserved amphitheaters sits a short walk from Pula’s harbor. In summer, concerts and film nights animate the arches; by day, it’s a living classroom for history-minded kids and architecture lovers. Pair with a swim on the Verudela peninsula.
10) Korčula
Best for: stone-lace balconies and serious reds
Reputed birthplace of Marco Polo, Korčula Town is a pocket-sized Dubrovnik—slim lanes, sculpted portals, and loggias that frame the sea. Daylight hours are for kayaking to islets and tasting Plavac Mali and Pošip at family wineries; evenings, you’ll hear klapa harmonies drifting over the quay.
Don’t miss: A cycling loop through olive groves to Lumbarda’s sandy beaches.
11) Makarska Riviera (Brela & Baška Voda)
Best for: beach-and-mountain drama in one frame
Here the Biokovo range drops straight into a necklace of pebble coves and crystalline water. Families love the easy promenades and boat days to hidden inlets; hikers can ride the new Skywalk for vertiginous views over the coast.
Where to stay: Villa Bello (Brela) for elevated sea vistas and quick beach access.
12) Zagreb
Best for: café culture and festival season
Croatia’s capital is an easy bookend to a coast-first itinerary—Habsburg facades, pocket museums, and markets piled high with berries and cheeses. Base near the funicular to wander Gornji Grad’s lantern-lit streets; in summer, open-air concerts spill into parks and courtyards.
Don’t miss: A morning at Dolac Market, then espresso under red umbrellas.How to plan it
When to go: May–June and September pair warm seas with thinner crowds. July–August brings buzz on Hvar and Brač; book early and lean into late dinners.
Getting around: Combine a coastal base (Split or Dubrovnik) with island stays; ferries are frequent in season, and a skippered boat unlocks secret coves.
Where to stay: Villas give you your own timetable—breakfasts when you wake, a chef who learns your preferences, and space for multi-gen groups to gather without compromising privacy.
Related The Best Way to travel from USA to Croatia and What to expect
Where to stay (editor’s short list)
Dubrovnik: Villa Denise, Villa Regina — old-town proximity, pools, Adriatic views.
Hvar: Villa Pinus — terraces for long breakfasts, quick boat access to the Pakleni islets.
Brač: Villa Infinity, Villa Acona — island-calm and the Zlatni Rat postcard in easy reach.
Makarska/Brela: Villa Bello — mountain-meets-sea panoramas.
FAQs
How many UNESCO World Heritage Sites are in Croatia?
Ten in total (eight cultural, two natural), including Dubrovnik’s Old City, Plitvice Lakes, and Split’s Diocletian’s Palace.
Is Zlatni Rat a sandy beach?
It’s mostly fine pebbles; the water is crystal-clear—bring water shoes for comfort.
Dubrovnik or Split for a first base?
Dubrovnik delivers walled-city drama; Split is a living city inside a Roman palace with easy ferries to Hvar, Brač, and Korčula.
What’s the best time to visit?
Late spring and early fall for warm seas without peak-season crowds; midsummer for nightlife and festivals.
Related The 10 Best Beaches in Croatia
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