Zagreb, Croatia’s largest city and capital, is the most common arrival city for international flights and worth visiting for a day or two before heading to Croatia’s awesome sites. In addition to walking its charming old town, there’s plenty of things to see and do in Zagreb. It’s full of beautiful historical architecture, has a lively nightlife on its famous Tkalciceva street, a great cafe culture, tons of unique and interesting museums, as well as opportunities for hiking and more. Zagreb is also a great place to experience genuine Croatian culture as it’s located away from the top tourist spots. This post covers the best things to see and do…

Zadar, one of the oldest cities in Croatia, sits on the Adriatic coast about two hours north of Split, basking in Croatia’s abundant sunshine. It was once a Roman colony and in the 16th century, the largest fortified city under Venetian rule, so in addition to a seaside vacation spot, lively cobblestoned streets lined with cafes, some quirky, modern installations, and nearby islands to visit, there’s history and ruins to explore. This post covers the top things to do in Zadar. Explore the Old Town Of Zadar The Old Town of Zadar sits on a small peninsula jutting out into the Mediterranean. It’s surrounded by the ruins of 16th century…

Plitvice Lakes National Park is an absolute stunner, with its 16 cascading, interconnected, multi-hued, lakes and over 90 waterfalls. This must-see Croatian park, located between Zagreb and Zadar, is an UNESCO World Heritage site and a natural wonderland. With more than 73,000 acres of protected land, it’s also big, so plan to spend at least a half day here. With 7 different trails, that range from 1.8 miles (3km) to 11 miles (18km) in length, three entrances and two ferry points, understanding the layout can be a little confusing. And although there is signage, directions are still somewhat vague. I spent a day and a half wandering here and created…

Hvar island is about an hour ferry ride from Split, making it an ideal day trip (although staying two or three is even better)! There are several great cities to visit on Hvar, but it’s main town, and the capital, is Hvar Town. This coastal city has a picturesque bay, sandy beaches tucked along the coast, a 16th century Venetian hilltop Fortress, beautiful historical buildings, and an enchanting, playful chain of islands of its own, the Pakleni islands. Hvar Town is also known as a coastal party spot, so it’s not unusual to see yachts in the bay area, sometimes with celebrities. Yet this charming town still retains its laid…

In the 4th century AD, Roman Emporer Diocletian selected Split as the location to build his retirement Palace. He chose well, as this area is stunning. Set on a picturesque bay with mesmerizing Mediterranean views, surrounded by pine-forested mountains, and close to incredible islands along the Dalmatian coast, Split is idyllic. Today, the ruins of Diocletian’s Palace are known as the world’s most complete Roman Palace remains. Visiting the palace is not only one of the top things to do in Split, you really can’t miss it, as it takes up most of Split’s historic core. The palace isn’t the only attraction here though. There’s also the lively promenade, full…

Island hopping along the Dalmatian coast in Croatia is the ultimate holiday getaway. Enjoying the Adriatic’s crystal-clear water, beach after beach tucked along the coastlines, never-ending sunshine, and eating amazing food while exploring a different island each day is intoxicating. There are 79 islands and over 500 islets along the 3,600 miles (5,800 km) of the Dalmatian coast, with the most popular being Hvar, Brac, Vis, Korcula, and Mljet. Each brimming with charming old stone houses, churches, beaches, and delicious food, yet each with a different twist. I was in Croatia, researching how to do island hopping on my own when I got lucky and found a job teaching yoga…

UNESCO listed old town Dubrovnik is a must-see, one of the finest, most well-preserved, medieval towns in the world. It’s so picturesque, it’s the top visited spot in Croatia and has been used as a set for the Game of Thrones and several movies. This post covers the highlights, the best things to see and do in Dubrovnik, and how to get there. About Dubrovnik Built between the 11th and 17th centuries, Dubrovnik once rivaled Venice in trade. With its strategic port location, it continued to prosper, until devastated by an earthquake in the 17th century. Rebuilt, it was again severely damaged, this time by civil war in the 1990’s.…