Places in Croatia you didn’t know you wanted to go to
Hey there! Let me let you into a little known secret about a gorgeous country. It’s got miles and miles of beautiful coastline, over a thousand islands and islets, stunning nature, amazing ancient sights, high octane adventure experiences, intriguing events and parties and it’s name is…Croatia!
Oh wait, you already knew…?! Huh. I guess my work here is don…no wait! How about I introduce you to some places in Croatia you didn’t know you wanted to go to? Good, right? (Phew!)
Places in Croatia you didn’t know you wanted to go to – the islands
The island of Vis
Sure, you have your Bracs, your Hvars, your Korculas but what about somewhere further away from the mainland where far fewer visitors go to? Let me introduce you to the gorgeous island of Vis which is an absolutely beautiful slice of heaven in the Croatia Adriatic. One of the furtherest away from the mainland, Vis was also closed to foreigners until just over 30 years ago. That means that unlike its neighbours (although neighbouring islands aren’t all that close) and regions on the mainland, the island was slow to develop tourism.
All this means a very tranquil place to visit and relax on. Spend your days exploring the island and its little coves and beaches. Spend some time in the two main settlements, Vis Town and Komiza, and make sure to stroll the promenades in both, stopping off for coffee, a glass of cold wine and some black ink risotto. (Perhaps not all at the same time.) Hike or bike up to the highest point, Hum, and see for miles around. Explore some of the unusual sights – the submarine tunnels and Tito’s “Cave”. And make like a beautiful person and rock up to Fort George which is a two hundred year old British fort because…well, why wouldn’t there be a two hundred year old British for here?!
Additionally, have you ever thought “ooh that Greek island in Mamma Mia 2 looks gorgeous, I want to go there!”. That island is actually Vis. Yes, really. So perhaps you did know you wanted to visit, you just didn’t know it was the Croatian island of Vis!
The island of Lastovo
As under the radar as Vis is, maybe it’s not enough. Maybe you’ve already heard of it, been there, explored it and bought the red and white checkered t-shirt.
So why not try Lastovo? Lastovo is in fact is similar to Vis in that it was also closed off to foreigners until 1989, and is also a little further away from the mainland. (It takes 3 or 4 hours from Split by either catamaran or ferry or around 3 hours from Dubrovnik by catamaran.)
Explore the gorgeous nature of the island – the island group makes up one of Croatia’s nature parks – and like on Vis, spend your time enjoying the little beaches and private bays that can be found here. Thanks to low levels of light pollution, Lastovo is also an excellent place for stargazing – it is actually called “the island of bright stars”.
Stari Grad, island of Hvar
Okay, so now you think I’ve lost my mind if I’m choosing somewhere on the island of Hvar for this list. But hear me out.
So many visitors to the Croatian islands swing by Hvar Town and that’s rightly so. But it can be just that little bit too popular, so if you have your heart set on the island, why not visit and stay in Stari Grad instead? Just as easy to reach, this town has a charming harbour to offer you just the right amount of laid-back, atmospheric Hvar island life.
The island of Ciovo
Perhaps some don’t even consider Ciovo a “proper” island…and maybe others don’t consider Ciovo at all! Ciovo is actually connected by bridge to the mainland, and by another bridge to gorgeous Trogir. Whilst Trogir is unbelieveably pretty, with its quaint cobbled streets taking up its own little island, Ciovo is more of a pure holiday destination – small villages offering holiday rentals, beaches, retaurants and cafes. You would mostly come here to holiday proper, no museums in sight! But with its location a very short drive from Split Airport, a direct boat (from Slatine) to Split and its direct connection with the mainland making it easy to get to other places (by car), Ciovo should definitely be considered for a laid-back vacation.
Places in Croatia you didn’t know you wanted to go to…coastal towns
Omis
I feel somewhat for Omis as it’s often overlooked as a destination, which is a real shame! Omis is located just 20 kilometres from Split so perhaps it feels like its too near to Split but not far enough as a destination in its own right, as the towns of the Makarska Riviera are. Or maybe it’s the pirates of Omis keeping some people away? (I joke…although the powerful Omis pirates were long-feared, they haven’t ruled for almost 600 years.
But why not come here?! You absolutely should if you have any interest in high-energy activities such as river kayaking and rafting, canyoning, rock climbing and many more – most taking place in or near the River Cetina that flows through the town and close by. When you’ve almost exhausted yourself doing all of that, save a sliver of energy for the zipline that stretches above the river canyon – it’s one of the best ziplines in Croatia.
And with a charming beach in the centre of town, plus many excellent eateries and great accommodation options, Omis is perhaps now the place you know you want to go to!
Places in Croatia you didn’t know you wanted to go to – Cities
Osijek
If you’re planning a city break why don’t you skip Zagreb for once (although that’s hard, I agree) and the larger coastal cities and head to Osijek in eastern Croatia? Croatia’s fourth largest city has a number of fine sights, from the remains of an Austrian fortress to the second tallest cathedral in Croatia, a striking building constructed using red brick. A lovely riverside promenade is just the thing on a warm day, and if it’s properly warm you’ll want to spend some time at Copacabana Beach! (Yes, really!)
Befitting a large city, you’ll have plenty of accommodation to choose from as well as a fine selection of restaurants for dining out. Make sure you try the local beer – Osjecko (the oldest beer in Croatia) – as well as some craft beer options at Pivnica Runda.
But Osijek is also a great base for local day trips. Kopacki Rit Nature Park is only 15 minutes away and – perhaps not something many visitors expect – some excellent wineries are based in this region too. Head to the famous Ilocki Podrumi for wine tasting.
Places in Croatia you didn’t know you wanted to go to – Nature Parks
Vransko Lake Nature Park
Sure, you’ve got the highly impressive Krka National Park in this part of the world, but why not visit the unusual Vransko Lake Nature Park instead? (Or better still – as well as visiting Krka.) Lake Vrana is the largest lake in Croatia, and located just 1 kilometre inland – so it’s an unusual sight having these two large bodies of water that are almost side by side.
The park would be ideal for gentle hiking or even cycling, but if you’re a keen birdwatcher then bringing along your binoculars is a must. The northern part of the lake has been designated as an ornithological reserve, and an amazing 260 different bird species live, nest, winter or feed/rest here. Species (some endangered) for whom Lake Vrana’s ornithological reserve plays an important part in their survival include the purple heron, the Eurasian coot, the noustached warbler and the little egret.
A boat operates on the lake for an easy way of making the most of visiting, or you can also explore by kayak. Kayak rental is possible at Prosika at the southern part of the lake.
Places in Croatia you didn’t know you wanted to go to – Sights and Experiences
Trsteno Arboretum
Trsteno Arboretum is located close to Dubrovnik but perhaps overlooked as a potential day trip idea as it’s not one of the local islands (Lokrum; the Elafiti Islands) or a stylish little town such as Cavtat. But what the Trsteno Arboretum is is a large Mediterranean garden, the largest botanical garden in the whole of Croatia. Established as the gardens of a summer residence of a local noble family in the 15th/16th centuries, you can well imagine that today plant life is very well established. This makes for a very tranquil and even cooling experience, especially if you happen to be visiting during the height of summer. And if you are visiting during summer, you can even travel by boat from the main port in Dubrovnik.
Again, the Trsteno Arboretum is one of those places that you didn’t know you wanted to go to – but you’ve perhaps already seen! (Say what now?) The gardens “played” the King’s Landing gardens in a TV show called Game of Thrones – you may have heard of it…
Klis Fortress
Klis Fortress, close to Split, has a fascinating history that stretches far back over many centuries. Over the years, this part of the country has served as an important base to groups such as the Illyrian tribe the Dalmatae (from where the region of Dalmatia gets its name) and the Romans, before the Croats turned up to rule things from the 7th century onwards. Klis in fact served as the base for Croatia Dukes and Kings and nobility.
Last occupied during World War II, the fortress is now a fascinating place to visit to imagine its defensive role (you are free to roam the stone fortress as you like) that it played. But of course, you also come here to view Split from above, as well as other nearby towns and islands.
The Fortress is to reach from Split and can be done by public bus.
Trsat Castle
High up on a hill above Rijeka sits Trsat Castle, the largest castle on the Croatian coastline. Obviously once standing as a defensive structure that was originally built in the 13th century, although later fell into disrepair after it no longer need to serve its purpose.
You would pay Trsat Castle a visit to enjoy stunning views over the city of Rijeka and out across the Adriatic Sea to nearby islands such as Krk. Although you can reach Trsat by bus, why not make the “climb” up to it using the Petar Kruzic Stairs from central Rijeka – these consist of 561 stone steps. Make your way up using these and then reward yourself with a treat at the cafe with a view at Trsat Castle.
If you visit during December, Trsat Castle is adorned with wonderful twinkly lights as its celebrates its own Advent celebrations.
Sljeme
Sljeme is such an easy activity when visiting Zagreb that it would be a shame not to include this here! Head to northern Zagreb to the base station of the cable car to begin your ascent up to Sljeme, the peak of Mount Medvednica, the mountain that’s just north of Zagreb. The modern cable car is a fun experience in itself, but once you’re up on Sljeme you have rather amazing views in all directions over the rolling hills situated just beyond Croatia’s capital.
To keep things simple, enjoy a coffee or a warming meal at the restaurant here and head up the TV tower to go even “higher” up. If you want to spend more time here, it would be worth hiking and exploring the nearby Medvednica Nature Park. Wear your sturdy boots!
We have more information on how best to reach Sljeme and what to see and do once you’re up there here: Spotlight on: Zagreb Cable Car and Sljeme 360 Viewpoint.
