2 Best Sights in Central Dalmatia, Croatia

Situated on a 3½-km-long (2-mile-long) peninsula covered with pine trees and Mediterranean shrubs, 178-meter (584-foot) Marjan Hill has been a protected nature park since 1964. It's known as the "lungs of the city" because of all its greenery and the fact that locals flock to it on weekends as a nearby recreational area. Stunning views await at the top, with rocky beach areas circling the peninsula. Paths crisscrossing the grounds are suitable for biking and jogging. Eight small churches also dot Marjan Hill, including St. Jerome (sv. Jeronim), which was built in the 15th century into a rock face and includes Renaissance-style stone reliefs on the walls. Beaches on Marjan are more relaxed and offer shade, but there is limited access for cars, which helps preserve the wilderness of the park. Bike rentals and water sports are available.

After you've spent a few days swimming and lying on the beach, this park is a great place for an afternoon picnic with kids. A small animal park shelters a wide variety of domestic animals including ducks, pigs, goats, turtles, peacocks, parrots, and cows. There are even donkeys that kids can pet and ride. The park is about 3 km (2 miles) from Sutivan toward Mlin and has a large playground, a barbecue area, a restaurant with produce from the on-site garden, and a botanical garden with a fountain, as well as an amphitheater for performances and events.