5 Best Cities to Visit in Croatia

5 Best Cities to Visit in Croatia

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Croatia, officially known as the Republic of Croatia is a country in Southeast Europe. It shares borders with Slovenia to the northwest, Hungary to the northeast, Serbia to the east, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Montenegro to the southeast, sharing a maritime border with Italy. Its capital city is Zagreb which forms one of the country’s primary subdivisions of which we will discuss 5 of the best cities in Croatia. Croatia has an area of 21,851 square miles and a population largely comprising of Roman Catholics. Croatia was first internationally recognized as an independent state on 7 June 879 during the reign of duke Branimir. Tomislav became the first king by 925, elevating Croatia to the status of a kingdom, which retained its sovereignty for nearly two centuries. During the succession crisis after the Trpimirović dynasty ended, Croatia entered a personal union with Hungary in 1102. In 1527, faced with Ottoman conquest, the Croatian Parliament elected Ferdinand I of Austria to the Croatian throne. In October 1918, in the final days of World War I, the State of Slovenes, Croats and Serbs, independent from Austria-Hungary, was proclaimed in Zagreb, and in December 1918 it was merged into the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes, later renamed the Kingdom of Yugoslavia in 1929. Let’s take a look at the best cities in Croatia.

1. Pula

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With a wealth of historical sites dating back to the Romans, Pula has some lovely tourist attractions for visitors to enjoy. The undoubted crown jewel is the impressive Roman amphitheatre that dominates the centre of the city and there are numerous other historical sites of interest nearby. While the old part of town is quite picturesque, the modern section is more commercial and urban in appearance. Located right at the end of the Istrian Peninsula, there are some nice beaches just outside of Pula for visitors to sit back and relax on. In the summer, warm breezes caress the marble forums of the historic town centre; two-thousand-year-old temples loom large; orthodox churches glimmer white in the sun; triumphal archways honour the city’s age-old luminaries and clusters of Slavic locals sip frothy beers in the open-air bars that line the narrow side streets all around. Many tourists also opt to head to the stunning Brijuni islands which are situated not too far away from Pula.

2. Split

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An extraordinary place to visit, Split is the second-largest city in Croatia and has charisma and sophistication in abundance. Lying on the Adriatic coast, the palm tree-lined white waterfront is marvellous to walk along and the historic centre lying just behind it is mesmerizing for all the ancient sights that it contains. Originally the palace of Roman Emperor Diocletian, the city slowly grew from these auspicious beginnings into the Split we know today although the remains of Diocletian’s Palace itself are still the undoubted highlight. A lively place to spend some time, a plethora of nice restaurants and bars dot the old alleys and it is this lived-in feel that makes Split so compelling to visit. It’s not just a tourist site; it’s a home and a life to many Croatians. Despite its status as the de facto capital of Dalmatia and all the unceremonious urban sprawl that goes with it, sunny Split has done well to cling to its rich historical veneer. The architectural pièce de résistance of the city is unquestionably the central kernel of Diocletian’s Palace—a medley of marble arches, tight-knit alleyways, glimmering piazzas and peristyle constructions that bears a well-deserved UNESCO tag and draws floods of photo-hungry visitors in the high season.

3. Zagreb

This quirky capital city is a happening place thanks, mostly, to its vibrant cultural and arts scene that permeates everything. With museums, galleries, theatres and more, as well as a lively music scene and nightlife; Zagreb is certainly a fun city to spend some time. Although its Austro-Hungarian buildings contrast slightly with its Mediterranean feel, the residents of the city don’t seem to mind and they spend most of their time outdoors among the mountains and lakes that lie so enticingly near to Zagreb.

Forgetting the Stalinist sprawl of Zagreb’s outer districts and focusing on its core of Austro-Hungarian elegance, travellers to this buzzing Balkan capital are invited to lose themselves between cobblestone streets and rattling trams, subterranean beer bars and opulent Baroque palaces. In the city’s more historic Upper Town, a web of crisscrossing roads sits enfolded between the rises of the Kaptol and Gradec hills, rich with 13th-century church spires, hipster cafes and winding lanes dotted with overhanging street lamps wrought in steel filigrees. On the horizon, Mount Medvednica dominates, a treasure trove of ski runs, hiking trails, lichen-clad forests and mysterious medieval fortresses.

4. Zadar

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Located on a small peninsula, this lively city is a lovely mix of old and new and although it lacks the museum-like quality of some other Adriatic cities it certainly has its charms. With Roman ruins, thirty-four old churches and a plethora of historic buildings to be found in the old town, wandering around its centre is a peaceful endeavour. The vibrant bars and cafes that are found everywhere here reinvigorate the place and breathe life into its ancient streets. The two main attractions in Zadar are the interesting and innovative architectural installations named the Sea Organ and Sun Salutation. On one corner, the much-rebuilt facade of the Church of St Simeon fuses the gothic and the provincial baroque; nearby, the Byzantine rises of the Church of St Donatus’ Church stand stoic and strong, side-by-side with the crumbling remnants of a Roman forum. At the point where the town meets the crystal-clear shore waters, the rumbling tones of the Sea Organ issue forth from beneath the marble steps.

5. Dubrovnik

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Often described as ‘the Pearl of the Adriatic’, Dubrovnik is a gorgeous city to visit in Croatia. Lying at the foot of Mount Srd which towers above it, Dubrovnik’s stunning setting makes for fantastic viewing as its distinctive walls surrounding the picturesque old town jut out into the beautiful blue waters around it. Here you are greeted by a mishmash of ancient stone buildings, tightly knitted together with enticing narrow alleys running between them. Small bars and restaurants dot the place, hidden away among its wealth of historical sites. It is the most popular destination in the country and with good reason too. Though in recent years it has become inundated with tourists and prices have risen accordingly. No trip to Croatia is complete without having visited Dubrovnik.