Croatia is one of the most versatile countries I ever visited. It is best known for its dreamy beaches and its medieval towns by the sea. But it has a lot more to offer. Did you know Croatia counts alsmost 1200 islands? It has a charming capital, stunning cultural heritage and wonderful nature. Croatia is the perfect holiday destination for every type of traveler. When you’re visiting Croatia for the first time, it’s hard to choose where to go. So here is a short list for your visit to Croatia:

Bucket list – what you must do when in Croatia:

Explore Croatia’s capital, Zagreb

Zagreb, also known as Little Vienna, is often overlooked by those traveling Croatia. Simply because they probably don’t know yet that this is the perfect city trip destination. It has a relaxed vibe and you can find everything you need in Zagreb; delicious food, tasty cocktails, charming architecture, cute shops, beautiful parks, fresh markets and squares where the locals gather for events. Another plus: it’s super cheap! If you’re hip and trendy, book a ticket now to Zagreb, you won’t be disappointed!

Admire the lakes and waterfalls of Plitvice National Park

You can’t go to Croatia and not visit the lakes and waterfalls of Plitvice National Park. The color of the lakes changes constantly from blue to green to azure to emerald to sometimes grey. Make sure to visit the same places at different times. The same scenery changes constantly with the weather and the position of the sun. The park offers different paths leading next to and through the lakes and waterfalls. But there are also paths higher up that give you breathtaking panoramic views. Visit the park in the early morning when the crowds haven’t reached the park yet and you have the wooden paths to yourself.

Get lost in the narrow alleys of Sibenik

Sibenik is one of the small towns by the sea. Here you can wander the narrow alleys without the encounter of a single soul. But don’t be mistaken! This little town has a very vibrant festival culture and was also used as a decor for Game of Thrones (Braavos). It has a magnificent cathedral and is surrounded by four fortresses!

Swim at the waterfalls of Krka

Krka is another splendid national park where you can find amazing waterfalls. It is best to explore by foot and by car since some waterfalls take more than 3 hours to reach by boat. The big difference with Plitvice is that you can actually swim here! The water is freezing cold and the rocks make it hard to wade through the water but it is so worth it!

Be amazed by the cultural heritage of Split

Split is nothing like you expect it to be. It is ten times better! The biggest part of the old town is situated inside the walls of Diocletian’s palace. Wandering around Split is like walking through an open air museum. Read here what to see and do in Split.

Get inside the Blue Cave of Bisevo

From Split it takes almost 2 hours by speed boat to reach the cave, but the wet bumpy ride is so worth it! At Bisevo you will change into another smaller boat to be able to fit into the cave’s entrance. You need to bend down your head and then the boat glides into the cave. The blue glowing effect is created by light refraction of sunlight that enters through a crack in the limestone. A trip to the Blue Cave is often combined with a visit to the Green Cave, Vis and Hvar.

Enjoy the view of Hvar from the Spanjola Fortress

Hvar town is super charming and rather “chique”. Huge yachts are docked in the marina. The narrow streets are decorated with flowers. If you want something truly unique, you should make the steep ascent to the Spanjola Fortress. At the top you get an amazing view of the old town, its harbour and the Pakleni islands.

Climb the walls of Dubrovnik

No place can be compared with Dubrovnik. I truly understand why so many producers of movies and television series choose this location. The best way to explore this medieval treasure by the sea is by climbing its walls. Be there early in the morning because the sun gets hot and it becomes very crowded once the cruise ships unleash their passengers.

Bike and swim at Mljet

The greenest Croatian island that is still unspoiled and ready for you to be explored by bike! The salt lakes of the national park are fun to swim in. If you want more culture you can visit the Benedictine monastery and a church from the 12th century on the small island of Saint Mary. Here you can find a full report of my day at Mljet.

In the next coming weeks I’ll post more about each of these places!