If you hop just east of Italy, on the other side of the Adriatic Sea, you’ll find Croatia, a country full of amazing food, sights, culture and a history stretching back thousands of years!

It is a country with an enormous diversity, from large cities to small medieval villages, along with beautiful beaches, blue waters and wild forests.

If you’re by any chance heading in that direction, here’s our top pick of the most beautiful cities and towns that you absolutely must visit in Croatia!

(Don’t forget to download our free PDF of the Croatian Cities Bucket List at the bottom of this article!)

Take a look at the map for an overview of all the cities we list in this Blog post:

Rovinj is one of the most beautiful picturesque cities in Istria!

It began its history as a settlement during the time of the Venetian Republic. 

Because of this, you will notice that the old town has a strong resemblance to Italian architecture, as well as similarities in the gastronomy and language.

The city of Rovinj is bilingual, with both Italian and Croatian considered as official languages. A very small part of the population also speaks Istriot, an old Romance language.

• You can expect large crowds from June to September because of it’s charm, location and magnificent sunsets!

• Rovinj can be a perfect starting point to explore the whole of Istria, but keep in mind that having a car will be the best and easiest option for you in terms of transportation.

Pula is the largest city in the Istrian Region, and in driving distance (about 45 minutes) of Rovinj!

The city sets itself apart from the rest of the country, as it has been destroyed and rebuilt several times over the centuries. The various occupations of Pula have left their mark as a cacophony of different architectures, and because of that it doesn’t have quite the same charm as other cities you’ll visit in Croatia. It does however have more than its fair share of amazing history. 

Here you will see several ancient monuments and structures dating all the way back to Roman times, such as the Pula Arena and the Arch of the Sergii!

• Pula is very easy to reach thanks to its airport, and there is even a ferry to and from Venice that operates during the summer months!

• Along with Rovinj, it is also another great starting point to visit the rest of the Istria region. 
  

If you are a foodie like us, Volosko must be high up on your list!

This small fishing village is considered to be one of the best destinations in the country to explore Croatian cuisine, and is well known for its local styled taverns and gourmet restaurants.

You can also enjoy really amazing beaches in the surrounding area, as well as a 12km Lungomare promenade that stretches all the way to the beautiful cities of Opatija and Lovran. Taking this walk along the coast of Istria is one of the best ways to really take in the beauty of this region!

• Volosko is known as the birthplace of Andrija Mohorovičić, a world renowned geophysicist, who’s house and legacy are still present in the city and are worth exploring!
  

Zagreb is the capital of Croatia, and is situated in the center of the country.

I have to say that, because during our first visit to Croatia we just stayed a few hours in the capital, we did not fall in love with the place. However, we soon realised how wrong we were after returning to Zagreb a second time!

When we really took the time to explore the city as it deserved, we were amazed by its energy and jovial atmosphere!

• We really recommend that you explore the fast-paced lifestyle of Zagreb, with its bustling bars and restaurants. Don’t skip the capital and take your time to visit! 
  

Located on the Dalmatian Coast, Zadar is high on our list as one of our favourite cities in Croatia! 

Know for its famous Roman and Venetian ruins, Zadar is much calmer than the other large cities in the area. It is a good and more quiet alternative to tourist hotspots like Dubrovnik. 

A few years back, because of the general lack of tourism, the city tried to innovate and created some very interesting attractions. The most famous is the “Sea Organ”, opened to the public in 2005. It consists of a system of pipes located under a large marble staircase by the seaside. As the waves pass through it, they push air through the pipes and emit musical notes! 

Another interesting and famous attraction is known as “Monument to the Sun” or “The Greeting to the Sun”, from the artist Nikola Basic. Also located by the waterfront, it consists of a large solar panel disc on the ground that represents the Sun. During the day it absorbs sunlight, and then turns on at night as a light-show!

• If you want interesting architecture combined with innovative but also traditional attractions, then Zadar is the place for you!
  
  
  

  
  

Unlike most cities on the Dalmatian Coast, Sibenik was founded by native Croats, and it is the oldest Croatian city on the Adriatic Coast.

It was later conquered, lost and recaptured over and over by different civilisations such as the Greeks, Romans and Venetians. You can see Sibenik’s history reflected in its streets, stone walled old town and large fortresses, that were made famous by the series Game of Thrones. 

• Sibenik is often chosen by travelers as a good starting point to explore and visit two of the most famous national parks in Croatia, Krka and Plitvice. Be sure to add them to your bucket list when visiting Croatia because they are simply stunning!

• The city is usually not too crowded, making it ideal if you’re looking for some peace and quiet, while still enjoying the Croatian coast and the incredible nature!

Less than an hour away from Sibenik is the historic town of Trogir.

This Unesco World Heritage was founded by Greek colonists in the 3rd century BC, and has since then been conquered and governed countless times by various kingdoms and civilisations.

Throughout its history, the old medieval town has preserved traces of Greek and Roman architectural influence, with minimal modern intervention. A walk through the old town is like a walk back in time!

• Trogir is all about the small historical city centre, the beautiful churches and its fortress, and it’s a pleasure to walk through the narrow streets or by the waterfront in the early morning before the tourists arrive!
  
  

Split is Croatia’s second largest city, and is well known for its ancient history mixed with modern lifestyle and attractions!

The old town is a Unesco World Heritage because of the historical Diocletian’s Palace, an Ancient Imperial Roman palace built around the 4th century AD.

While the city itself makes for an amazing experience, we have mainly used Split as a home base for island hopping, because it is a central location that makes it extremely easy to access ferries and boats heading to various locations, including Italy!

All of the islands in the area are very culturally different even though they are so close to each other, and are all worth visiting.

• If you’re in Split, we recommend that you visit the islands of Hvar, Brac and Vis. 
  
  
  

Down the Dalmatian coast, another 60 km from Split, is the city of Makarska. 

Its the perfect city if you’re looking for a beach and nature destination!

Although it has become increasingly popular over the years, you can still find wild and challenging trails around Biokovo Mountain. Makarska is the entry point to the Biokovo Nature Park, and the starting point for the majority of the paths. 

• If you enjoy a busy resort town with beautiful blue waters then this is the place for you!

• If however you can’t stand large crowds, avoid Makarska in the middle of summer. The city becomes extremely busy, and it can be a little overwhelming at times.
  

Ston is a great destination if you’re looking for an escape from the chaos of the cities!

The most famous feature is the large stone wall that surrounds this small Croatian settlement, which is considered to be, as of today, one of the largest fortifications in the world!

• The town is actually divided in two separate villages, Ston and Mali Ston, both surrounded by the same long wall.

• The town is easily reached from Dubrovnik by car and bus, as well as from Split and Zagreb!
  
  

Dubrovnik, known as the Pearl of the Adriatic, is arguably the most famous city in Croatia.

It was made even more famous in recent years by being used as the filming location for King’s Landing in Game of Thrones, as well as Star Wars Episode VIII.

As a Unesco World Heritage Site, the old town of Dubrovnik feels almost like an open-air museum with centuries upon centuries of history all around! It most certainly deserves its fame as pretty much everything you look at has a story behind it.

• When in Dubrovnik take advantage of island hopping, as this city is the best starting point to visit the islands of Kolocep, Sipan and Lopud!

  
  

• Keep in mind that during the summer months the town can get extremely crowded. It can be very overwhelming at times, with the amount of tourists that descend on the city! 
  
  
  
  

We have created a free PDF of this document that you can save and have with you when planning your trips to Croatia!

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Croatia is a real Pearl of the Adriatic, and still ranks high among our top destinations! 

We definitely recommend you visit and enjoy all it has to offer. With its scenic nature, bustling cities and small and quiet towns, it has something to see for everyone, and all still at an affordable price.

It is a MUST for anyone visiting Southeast Europe!

Until next time, keep on travelling!

Luca & Ana