Fodor's Essential Croatia: with Montenegro & Slovenia
For over 80 years, Fodor's Travel has been a trusted resource offering expert travel...
Croatia’s splendors extend from the deep-blue waters of the Adriatic coastline to the waterfall-laced mountains of the Dinaric Alps and throughout its medieval towns. From Dubrovnik’s walled city where baroque buildings are surrounded by centuries-old forts to the lively islands of Brač and Hvar, this Central European country is an exciting blend of glamour and tradition. Croatia’s vibrant, historic cities, sprawling vineyards, gorgeous beaches, and thousand-plus islands give travelers plenty of places to dance, sip wine, sail, and soak up the sunshine.
Fodor's Essential Croatia: with Montenegro & Slovenia
For over 80 years, Fodor's Travel has been a trusted resource offering expert travel...
Find a Hotel
Top Destinations
Top Destinations
Southern Dalmatia
A region would be lucky to have just one sight as majestic as Dubrovnik. In Southern Dalmatia, the walled city is only the beginning. Head...
Central Dalmatia
Central Dalmatia’s untamed natural beauty encompasses rocky coastal beaches, steep mountains, and a terrain dotted by olive groves, vineyards...
Istria
Discover a thousand years of rich Istrian history in the hilltop fortresses, early Christian churches, Byzantine mosaics, and Baroque palaces...
Zagreb and Environs
Zagreb has become a full-fledged hot spot in tourism in recent years, thanks to its year-round festivals, world-class cuisine, and historic...
Kvarner
Majestic scenery and natural diversity characterize the Kvarner region: the mainland is dominated by a stretch of coast backed by high-rising...
Slavonia
Somewhere beyond the sea, there is a region called Slavonia. There is no coastline here, which has always meant fewer tourists. What it offers...
Northern Dalmatia
Safely protected from the northern Adriatic shore and continental Croatia by the imposing Velebit Mountain, northern Dalmatia offers a whole...
Dubrovnik
Nothing can prepare you for your first sight of Dubrovnik. Completely encircled by thick fortified walls, with a maze of gleaming white streets...
Zagreb
The capital of Croatia, Zagreb has a population of over 800,000 people and is situated at the extreme edge of the Pannonian Basin. The city...
Split
Split's ancient core and its centuries of history are spectacular. This is a city whose heritage dates back to prehistoric times and across...
Zadar
Dalmatia's capital for more than 1,000 years, Zadar is all too often passed over by travelers on their way to Split or Dubrovnik. What they...
Excursions North of Zagreb
A favorite excursion to the outskirts of Zagreb is to the heights of Sljeme and its observatory. And then there is the peaceful spa town of...
Rijeka
Water is the essence of Kvarner, and the region's largest city expresses this simply. Whether in Croatian or Italian (Fiume) the translation...
Osijek
Croatia's fourth-largest city is an often overlooked treasure trove of cultural and architectural attractions. There are music and food festivals...
Rovinj
It is hard to imagine how Rovinj could be more romantic than it is. In a fantastic setting, with centuries-old red-roofed houses clustered around...
Pula
Today an industrial port town and Istria's chief administrative center (pop. 58,000), as well as a major tourist destination, Pula became a...
Korčula
Southern Dalmatia's largest island, Korčula is quietly emerging as the most sophisticated and alluring island in the region. First settled by...
Poreč
A chic, bustling little city founded as a Roman castrum (fort) in the 2nd century BC and swarming with tourists more than 2,000 years later...
Hvar
The island of Hvar bills itself as the "sunniest island in the Adriatic." And it even has the figures to back up this claim—an annual average...
Varaždin
Situated on a plain just south of the River Drava, Varaždin (pop. 50,000) is the most beautifully preserved Baroque town in this corner of the...
Krk
It's no surprise—since Krk is one of the largest Croatian islands, hosts the regional airport, and is connected to the mainland by a bridge...
Lošinj
As you approach the southern tip of Cres, you'll see the steep slopes of Osorčica Mountain on nearby Lošinj. Sheltered by the Alps to the North...
Opatija
In the late 19th century, Opatija (Abbazia in Italian) was among the most elegant and fashionable resorts in Europe. Its history as a resort...
Brač
Well-connected to Split by ferry and catamaran services, the island of Brač makes for the perfect offshore escape. While it makes for a delightful...
Rab
Rab presents an utterly fascinating landscape. When you drive southward, down the Magistrala, you see that the island resembles the humped back...
Orebić
Backed by the rocky heights of Sveti Ilija (3,153 feet), Orebić straggles along the coast, facing across a narrow sea channel to the island...
Vukovar
There’s no doubt that a visit to Vukovar hurts. As you visit the sights, the story of what happened here will slowly unfold, made even sadder...
Požega
In the center of a fertile, vineyard-rich valley in Požega-Slavonia County (one of the smallest in Croatia), lies the area that the ancient...
Cres
Twisting down the entire length of the Kvarner Bay on its western side is Cres, whose latest claim to fame is that it is the largest of all...
Pag Island
Telling an urbane resident of architecturally well-endowed Zadar that you are headed to Pag Island for a night or two will make them think you...
Excursions South of Zagreb
...
Eastern Istria: Labin and Rabac
More travelers are taking time to explore Istria's newest must-stay tourist destination, Labin-Rabac. Located on the eastern coast, these sister...
Cavtat
While Dubrovnik’s streets are being polished under the shoes of thousands of visitors per day, Cavtat’s pine-covered trails seem comparatively...
Lopud
Sometimes you need a break from the city crowds, and the lush, laid-back Elafiti Islands are happy to provide a retreat. Historically, the 13...
Trogir
On a small island no more than a few city blocks in length, the beautifully preserved medieval Old Town of Trogir is connected to the mainland...
Šibenik
The trademark of Šibenik is its Gothic-Renaissance cathedral, built of pale-gray Dalmatian stone and designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site...
Novigrad
Imagine a mini Rovinj of sorts, not quite so well preserved, it's true, and without the hill. This is Novigrad—a pretty little peninsula town...
Mljet
Mljet is a long, thin island—37 km (23 miles) long and an average of 3 km (2 miles) wide—of steep, rocky slopes and dense pine forests, more...
Vis
Closed to foreigners until 1989 due to its use as a military base, the distant island of Vis is relatively wild and unspoiled. Built around...
Čakovec and the Međimurje
At the northernmost tip of Croatia, between the Drava River to the south and the Mura River to the north, the Međimurje region looks small on...
Murter and The Kornati Islands
Built near the ruins of the 1st-century Roman settlement of Colentum, Murter has that unmistakable tourism-driven hustle and bustle in midsummer...
Motovun
It is an understatement to say that a day exploring the undulating green countryside and medieval hill towns of inland Istria makes a pleasant...
Nin
On a tiny, 1,640-foot-wide island in a shallow, sandy lagoon that affords a spectacular view of the Velebit range to the northeast, Nin is connected...
Kopački Rit Nature Park
The unspoiled Baranja region, whose name means "Mother of Wine" in Hungarian, is located in northeastern Croatia on the borders of Hungary and...
Grožnjan
Close to Motovun and a reasonable drive from Poreč, Novigrad, Rovinj, or Umag, Grožnjan is among Istria's preeminent and most beautiful hilltop...
Makarska
This city's seafront promenade, lined with palm trees and cheerful open-air cafés, looks onto a protected bay dotted with wooden fishing boats...
Ðakovo
Đakovo is a peaceful little town, where the din of bicycles and the dribbling of basketballs on a Sunday afternoon outdo the roar of cars. The...
Sali and Telašcica Nature Park
The largest and most westerly island of the Zadar archipelago, facing the open sea, Dugi Otok culminates at its southern end with a spectacular...
Samobor
That Samobor has been one of the capital's top weekend haunts since before the turn of the 20th century without really being on the way to anything...
Ston
The Pelješac Peninsula is Croatia at its best. You know that red wine you've been drinking since you got to Dalmatia? It comes from the vineyards...
Krka National Park
The Krka River cuts its way through a gorge shaded by limestone cliffs and dense woodland, tumbling down toward the Adriatic in a series of...
Vodnjan
Vodnjan may look a bit run-down at first glance, but there are five really good reasons to come here: its saintly mummies; its collection of...
Umag
Yet another onetime island, the peninsula town of Umag draws the fewest tourists of any of the major towns along Istria's western coast, even...
Paklenica National Park
For mountain scenery at its most spectacular and mountain tourism at its most advanced, you need go no further from Zadar than Paklenica National...
Omiš and the Cetina Valley
An easy day trip from Split, Omiš is a pleasant seaside town with a colorful open-air market and a conglomeration of old stone houses backed...
Ilok
Perched high on the western slopes of the Fruška Gora hills above the Danube and built around a medieval fortress, Ilok, Croatia’s easternmost...
Excursions in Lonjsko Polje
An excursion southeast of Zagreb to the Lonjsko polje region along the Sava River will bring you to an area that is rarely seen by most visitors...
Karlovac
Many tourists taste the beer, but few stop by for a taste of the city. Karlovac is much more than home to one of Croatia's most popular brews...
Lastovo
Very few Croatians have visited Lastovo, though they will all tell you that it's beautiful. Like Vis, Lastovo was a Yugoslav military naval...
Delnice
Delnice, which sits on the road between Rijeka and Zagreb, is a breath of fresh mountain air, especially in summer after leaving the crowded...
Veliki Tabor
On a lofty hilltop stands the massive fortress of Veliki Tabor. The main pentagonal core of the building dates back to the 12th century, whereas...
Benkovac
...
Prvić
Beyond Šibenik Bay lie the splendidly scattered islands of the Šibenik archipelago, five of which—Zlarin, Prvić, Kaprije, Obonjan, and Žirje...
Nacionalni Park Brijuni
When Austrian industrialist Paul Kupelwieser set off for Brijuni by boat from Fažana in 1885, the archipelago had long been a haven for the...
Nacionalni park Plitvička jezera
Triple America's five Great Lakes, shrink them each to manageable size (i.e., 536 acres in all), give them a good cleaning until they look virtually...
Sljeme
A favorite excursion on the outskirts of Zagreb is to the heights of Sljeme, the peak of Mt. Medvednica at 3,363 feet. ...
Jasenovac
Located where the Sava takes on the task of tracing Croatia's long east–west border with Bosnia and Herzegovina until taking a turn into Serbia...
Sisak
The unassuming little town of Sisak was the site of one of the more important battles in Croatia's history. ...
Marija Bistrice
Other than its famous pilgrimage site, there's not much of interest in Marija Bistrica. Definitely do this as a day trip, unless you want to...
Čigoć
The charming village of Čigoć is officially known as the "European Village of Storks" because it draws so many of the migrating birds each spring...
Krapina
Zagorje's quaint administrative and cultural center is on the tourism radar screen primarily as the home of krapinski pračovjek (Krapina...
Risnjak National Park
The northern outpost of the forested and karst-peaked Gorski kotar region, Veliki Risnjak is the major peak in this national park, peering over...
Kumrovec
The former Yugoslavia's late president Josip Broz Tito was born here in 1892, and his childhood home has been turned into a small memorial museum...
Trakošćan
Perched resplendently several hundred feet above the parking lot where the tour buses come and go, the romantic white hilltop Dvor Trakošćan...
Trsteno
A small village on the coastal road between Split and Dubrovnik (E65), Trsteno has been put on the map by its arboretum. ...
Bjelovar
...
Stubičke Toplice
Established in 1805 on the foundations of a Roman-era thermal bath and expanded into a full-fledged complex in 1930, this peaceful spa at the...
Bizovac
...
Dubrovnik
Nothing can prepare you for your first sight of Dubrovnik. Completely encircled by thick fortified walls, with a maze of gleaming white streets...
Zagreb
The capital of Croatia, Zagreb has a population of over 800,000 people and is situated at the extreme edge of the Pannonian Basin. The city...
Split
Split's ancient core and its centuries of history are spectacular. This is a city whose heritage dates back to prehistoric times and across...
Zadar
Dalmatia's capital for more than 1,000 years, Zadar is all too often passed over by travelers on their way to Split or Dubrovnik. What they...
Rijeka
Water is the essence of Kvarner, and the region's largest city expresses this simply. Whether in Croatian or Italian (Fiume) the translation...
Osijek
Croatia's fourth-largest city is an often overlooked treasure trove of cultural and architectural attractions. There are music and food festivals...
Rovinj
It is hard to imagine how Rovinj could be more romantic than it is. In a fantastic setting, with centuries-old red-roofed houses clustered around...
Korčula
Southern Dalmatia's largest island, Korčula is quietly emerging as the most sophisticated and alluring island in the region. First settled by...
Pula
Today an industrial port town and Istria's chief administrative center (pop. 58,000), as well as a major tourist destination, Pula became a...
Poreč
A chic, bustling little city founded as a Roman castrum (fort) in the 2nd century BC and swarming with tourists more than 2,000 years later...
Hvar
The island of Hvar bills itself as the "sunniest island in the Adriatic." And it even has the figures to back up this claim—an annual average...
Krk
It's no surprise—since Krk is one of the largest Croatian islands, hosts the regional airport, and is connected to the mainland by a bridge...
Varaždin
Situated on a plain just south of the River Drava, Varaždin (pop. 50,000) is the most beautifully preserved Baroque town in this corner of the...
Lošinj
As you approach the southern tip of Cres, you'll see the steep slopes of Osorčica Mountain on nearby Lošinj. Sheltered by the Alps to the North...
Opatija
In the late 19th century, Opatija (Abbazia in Italian) was among the most elegant and fashionable resorts in Europe. Its history as a resort...
Brač
Well-connected to Split by ferry and catamaran services, the island of Brač makes for the perfect offshore escape. While it makes for a delightful...
Rab
Rab presents an utterly fascinating landscape. When you drive southward, down the Magistrala, you see that the island resembles the humped back...
Požega
In the center of a fertile, vineyard-rich valley in Požega-Slavonia County (one of the smallest in Croatia), lies the area that the ancient...
Orebić
Backed by the rocky heights of Sveti Ilija (3,153 feet), Orebić straggles along the coast, facing across a narrow sea channel to the island...
Vukovar
There’s no doubt that a visit to Vukovar hurts. As you visit the sights, the story of what happened here will slowly unfold, made even sadder...
Cres
Twisting down the entire length of the Kvarner Bay on its western side is Cres, whose latest claim to fame is that it is the largest of all...
Eastern Istria: Labin and Rabac
More travelers are taking time to explore Istria's newest must-stay tourist destination, Labin-Rabac. Located on the eastern coast, these sister...
Cavtat
While Dubrovnik’s streets are being polished under the shoes of thousands of visitors per day, Cavtat’s pine-covered trails seem comparatively...
Lopud
Sometimes you need a break from the city crowds, and the lush, laid-back Elafiti Islands are happy to provide a retreat. Historically, the 13...
Trogir
On a small island no more than a few city blocks in length, the beautifully preserved medieval Old Town of Trogir is connected to the mainland...
Šibenik
The trademark of Šibenik is its Gothic-Renaissance cathedral, built of pale-gray Dalmatian stone and designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site...
Čakovec and the Međimurje
At the northernmost tip of Croatia, between the Drava River to the south and the Mura River to the north, the Međimurje region looks small on...
Murter and The Kornati Islands
Built near the ruins of the 1st-century Roman settlement of Colentum, Murter has that unmistakable tourism-driven hustle and bustle in midsummer...
Vis
Closed to foreigners until 1989 due to its use as a military base, the distant island of Vis is relatively wild and unspoiled. Built around...
Mljet
Mljet is a long, thin island—37 km (23 miles) long and an average of 3 km (2 miles) wide—of steep, rocky slopes and dense pine forests, more...
Novigrad
Imagine a mini Rovinj of sorts, not quite so well preserved, it's true, and without the hill. This is Novigrad—a pretty little peninsula town...
Motovun
It is an understatement to say that a day exploring the undulating green countryside and medieval hill towns of inland Istria makes a pleasant...
Nin
On a tiny, 1,640-foot-wide island in a shallow, sandy lagoon that affords a spectacular view of the Velebit range to the northeast, Nin is connected...
Makarska
This city's seafront promenade, lined with palm trees and cheerful open-air cafés, looks onto a protected bay dotted with wooden fishing boats...
Grožnjan
Close to Motovun and a reasonable drive from Poreč, Novigrad, Rovinj, or Umag, Grožnjan is among Istria's preeminent and most beautiful hilltop...
Ðakovo
Đakovo is a peaceful little town, where the din of bicycles and the dribbling of basketballs on a Sunday afternoon outdo the roar of cars. The...
Samobor
That Samobor has been one of the capital's top weekend haunts since before the turn of the 20th century without really being on the way to anything...
Ston
The Pelješac Peninsula is Croatia at its best. You know that red wine you've been drinking since you got to Dalmatia? It comes from the vineyards...
Umag
Yet another onetime island, the peninsula town of Umag draws the fewest tourists of any of the major towns along Istria's western coast, even...
Vodnjan
Vodnjan may look a bit run-down at first glance, but there are five really good reasons to come here: its saintly mummies; its collection of...
Omiš and the Cetina Valley
An easy day trip from Split, Omiš is a pleasant seaside town with a colorful open-air market and a conglomeration of old stone houses backed...
Ilok
Perched high on the western slopes of the Fruška Gora hills above the Danube and built around a medieval fortress, Ilok, Croatia’s easternmost...
Karlovac
Many tourists taste the beer, but few stop by for a taste of the city. Karlovac is much more than home to one of Croatia's most popular brews...
Lastovo
Very few Croatians have visited Lastovo, though they will all tell you that it's beautiful. Like Vis, Lastovo was a Yugoslav military naval...
Delnice
Delnice, which sits on the road between Rijeka and Zagreb, is a breath of fresh mountain air, especially in summer after leaving the crowded...
Veliki Tabor
On a lofty hilltop stands the massive fortress of Veliki Tabor. The main pentagonal core of the building dates back to the 12th century, whereas...
Benkovac
...
Prvić
Beyond Šibenik Bay lie the splendidly scattered islands of the Šibenik archipelago, five of which—Zlarin, Prvić, Kaprije, Obonjan, and Žirje...
Jasenovac
Located where the Sava takes on the task of tracing Croatia's long east–west border with Bosnia and Herzegovina until taking a turn into Serbia...
Sljeme
A favorite excursion on the outskirts of Zagreb is to the heights of Sljeme, the peak of Mt. Medvednica at 3,363 feet. ...
Marija Bistrice
Other than its famous pilgrimage site, there's not much of interest in Marija Bistrica. Definitely do this as a day trip, unless you want to...
Sisak
The unassuming little town of Sisak was the site of one of the more important battles in Croatia's history. ...
Trsteno
A small village on the coastal road between Split and Dubrovnik (E65), Trsteno has been put on the map by its arboretum. ...
Trakošćan
Perched resplendently several hundred feet above the parking lot where the tour buses come and go, the romantic white hilltop Dvor Trakošćan...
Kumrovec
The former Yugoslavia's late president Josip Broz Tito was born here in 1892, and his childhood home has been turned into a small memorial museum...
Krapina
Zagorje's quaint administrative and cultural center is on the tourism radar screen primarily as the home of krapinski pračovjek (Krapina...
Čigoć
The charming village of Čigoć is officially known as the "European Village of Storks" because it draws so many of the migrating birds each spring...
Bjelovar
...
Bizovac
...
Stubičke Toplice
Established in 1805 on the foundations of a Roman-era thermal bath and expanded into a full-fledged complex in 1930, this peaceful spa at the...
Southern Dalmatia
A region would be lucky to have just one sight as majestic as Dubrovnik. In Southern Dalmatia, the walled city is only the beginning. Head...
Central Dalmatia
Central Dalmatia’s untamed natural beauty encompasses rocky coastal beaches, steep mountains, and a terrain dotted by olive groves, vineyards...
Istria
Discover a thousand years of rich Istrian history in the hilltop fortresses, early Christian churches, Byzantine mosaics, and Baroque palaces...
Zagreb and Environs
Zagreb has become a full-fledged hot spot in tourism in recent years, thanks to its year-round festivals, world-class cuisine, and historic...
Kvarner
Majestic scenery and natural diversity characterize the Kvarner region: the mainland is dominated by a stretch of coast backed by high-rising...
Slavonia
Somewhere beyond the sea, there is a region called Slavonia. There is no coastline here, which has always meant fewer tourists. What it offers...
Northern Dalmatia
Safely protected from the northern Adriatic shore and continental Croatia by the imposing Velebit Mountain, northern Dalmatia offers a whole...
Excursions North of Zagreb
A favorite excursion to the outskirts of Zagreb is to the heights of Sljeme and its observatory. And then there is the peaceful spa town of...
Excursions South of Zagreb
...
Excursions in Lonjsko Polje
An excursion southeast of Zagreb to the Lonjsko polje region along the Sava River will bring you to an area that is rarely seen by most visitors...
Kopački Rit Nature Park
The unspoiled Baranja region, whose name means "Mother of Wine" in Hungarian, is located in northeastern Croatia on the borders of Hungary and...
Sali and Telašcica Nature Park
The largest and most westerly island of the Zadar archipelago, facing the open sea, Dugi Otok culminates at its southern end with a spectacular...
Paklenica National Park
For mountain scenery at its most spectacular and mountain tourism at its most advanced, you need go no further from Zadar than Paklenica National...
Krka National Park
The Krka River cuts its way through a gorge shaded by limestone cliffs and dense woodland, tumbling down toward the Adriatic in a series of...
Nacionalni park Plitvička jezera
Triple America's five Great Lakes, shrink them each to manageable size (i.e., 536 acres in all), give them a good cleaning until they look virtually...
Nacionalni Park Brijuni
When Austrian industrialist Paul Kupelwieser set off for Brijuni by boat from Fažana in 1885, the archipelago had long been a haven for the...
Risnjak National Park
The northern outpost of the forested and karst-peaked Gorski kotar region, Veliki Risnjak is the major peak in this national park, peering over...
All Destinations
Expand All Collapse All
Top Experiences
Top Experiences
Recent Forum Posts
Recent Forum Posts
-
B
Loaded Question-Croatia vs Greece
BAHItaly started Mar 15, 2023 |Last reply Mar 17, 2023 View Post 13 replies 319 views View Post -
L
Croatia too busy or just right?
Lindalenz9571 started Mar 5, 2023 |Last reply Mar 10, 2023 View Post 3 replies 276 views View Post -
W
Nine Relaxing Days in Croatia
Whitehall started Feb 22, 2023 |Last reply Mar 7, 2023 View Post 71 replies 2404 views View Post -
J
Croatia Montenegro Bosnia Itinerary
Jaymeyer20 started Mar 5, 2023 |Last reply Mar 6, 2023 View Post 2 replies 249 views View Post
Guidebooks
Guidebooks
Our worldwide travel correspondents bring you the best and most up-to-date coverage of over 7,500 global destinations.
Shop NowFodor's Essential Croatia: with Montenegro & Slovenia
For over 80 years, Fodor's Travel has been a trusted resource offering expert travel...
Fodor's Essential Croatia
Written by local experts, Fodor's travel guides have been offering advice and...
