Things to Do in Croatia

One of the foremost landmarks of Dubrovnik’s atmospheric Old Town, the bell tower stands at the eastern end of Stradun, the main thoroughfare, and looms over Luza Square. The 31-m (102-ft) stone tower is topped with a stumpy dome and flanked by some of Dubrovnik’s most spectacular architecture, including the lovely Sponza Palace, St Blaise Church and Orlando’s Column. Constructed in 1444, the tower was badly damaged in the earthquake of 1667 and began to lean alarmingly; by the 18th century it had fallen into disrepair and it was not until the late 1920s that repair work began and the tower acquired its present shape and clock, the face of which resembles an octopus and also portrays the phases of the moon. Consequently, very little of the original tower has survived to the present day except the two-tonne bronze bell, which was cast by master metalworker Ivan Krstitelj Rabljanin from nearby Rab Island. The bell is bracketed by two bronze figures – now tinged green with age – known locally as the ‘zelenci’ or the ‘green ones’ and who strike the bell on the hour every hour – their much-restored originals are now on display in the Rector’s Palace along with the original clock mechanism.

Located inside the gates of Diocletian’s Palace, the Cathedral of St. Domnius is a massive octagonal cathedral built in Roman times as the Mausoleum of Diocletian. The structure was converted to a church in the 7th century and mass is still held here today, making it one of the oldest Catholic cathedrals in the world still in use in its original structure.  

The Cathedral of St. Domnius is most often visited on a tour of Diocletian’s Palace. Admire the cathedral’s massive wooden doors, which are carved with scenes depicting the life of Christ, view the 15th-century altar of St. Anastasius, and browse the cathedral treasury’s wide array of gold and silver artifacts, including shrines containing the remains of various saints.

The Cathedral of St. Domnius is located in the heart of Diocletian’s Palace at the intersection of the two main streets, Cardo, which runs north to south, and Decumanus, which runs east to west.  You can only visit the Cathedral of St. Domnius on foot, as the cobblestone streets of Diocletian's Palace is a pedestrian-only zone.

The Cathedral of St. Domnius can be visited year-round, although the cathedral does have limited visiting hours in winter. Diocletian’s Palace can get very busy during the summer months, so visit first thing in the morning if you wish to avoid the crowds.  

Diocletian was known for his brutal treatment of Christians and, rather ironically, a section of the mausoleum he built to glorify his life and legacy now serves as a mausoleum for Christians massacred during his ruling. Diocletian’s remains were removed from the mausoleum when it was being converted to a cathedral in the 7th century, and no one knows what happened to them. 

The imposing, daffodil-yellow Neo-Baroque edifice of HNK Zagreb dominates Trg maršala Tita, the northeastern link in the network of parks around Zagreb’s Donji Grad (Lower Town), which forms the city’s cultural district. The theater was designed by Austrian architects and opened by Austro-Hungarian Emperor Franz Joseph I in 1895; it is punctuated by towers on each corner and topped with a copper dome.  The interior is equally opulent, a riot of marble, gilded columns and frescoed ceilings – also by Austrian artists – interspersed with busts of composers and opera singers 

The scarlet-and-gold auditorium has the capacity to seat 800 and the repertoire includes a full season of ballet, orchestral and opera. As well as being the home of the Croatian Radio Symphony Orchestra, HNK Zagreb attracts big-name performers and theater companies from all over the world. In the square outside the theatre stands “The Well of Life,” a vast bronze sculpture by 20th-century Croatian master Ivan Meštrović in 1905.

Built into the eastern flank of Dubrovnik’s fortified walls adjacent to Fort Revelin, the 14th-century Dominican Monastery is designed in a combination of Romanesque, Gothic and Renaissance architecture that is seen in several of the city’s palaces and churches.

The monastery’s church was rebuilt several times over the centuries and was used as an army depot during Napoleon’s occupation of Dubrovnik in the late 18th century; today its single nave features a massive painted Gothic cross by Paolo Veneziano, dating from around 1384, St Dominic by 19th century painter Vlaho Bukovac — widely regarded as Croatia’s finest artist — and sparkling contemporary stained glass in the apse.

The elaborate 15th-century Gothic cloister of the monastery surrounds a shady garden that was used as stabling for French army horses and their troughs can still be seen between the cloister’s pillars. The well in the garden provided water for Dubrovnik’s residents when the city was under siege in 1991. An important collection of religious art hangs in the museum, including Titian’s sublime Mary Magdalene; other paintings of note are Nikola Božidarević’s altarpieces and triptych plus Lovro Dobričević’s bloodthirsty St Peter the Martyr, which portrays the saint with a hatchet in his head. The monastery can be visited when touring Dubrovnik’s defence walls and is included on several museum tours of the city.

Founded in the early 11th century on the island of Lokrum 600 meters from the mainland and the city of Dubrovnik, the monastery came to be after monks fled the great fire that destroyed the capital in 1023, vowing to honor Saint Benedict should he protect their lives and the island that offered them shelter. They, later on, started to cultivate exotic plants and sour fruits there and continued to do so until the 19th century. Many locals like to think that the island is haunted; rumor has it that after having been forced out of their beloved monastery upon orders of the French army, the monks put a curse on anyone who would ultimately try to seek and claim it as its own. And indeed, future owners all ominously met severe misfortune and calamities, from tragic shipwrecks to bankruptcies.

The monastery was built and expanded over several centuries, which explains the presence of a variety of architectural styles. Nowadays, however, only ruins remain of the original Romanesque structure, with rubbles of the two original churches along with some frescoes and stone reliefs. The cloisters of a later-built Gothic structure still exist and give a better sense of what it must have been like to live in the monastery back in the Renaissance days. The ruins are open to visitors, and a day trip to Lokrum shouldn’t take more than a few hours as the islet is barely over a mile wide. In fact, there are no hotels on Lokrum and, therefore, it is not possible to stay overnight.

Croatia’s capital city, Zagreb, is divided into two parts, Donji Grad (Lower Town) and Gornji Grad (Upper Town). The modern center of Zagreb, Donji Grad is home to several museums, gardens, and historic buildings. Among the highlights is Lenuci’s Horseshoe, a series of seven interconnected parks that encircle the district’s top sights. 

The best way to explore Donji Grad is on foot. Take a guided walking tour to see the district’s highlights and learn about Zagreb’s rich history from a local guide. Zagreb is also bike friendly, so book a guided bike tour to see more of the city than you could in a day on foot. Most sightseeing tours of Zagreb include a visit to both Donji Grad and Gornji Grad.   

Located in the center of Zagreb, Donji Grad can be reached on foot or by car, bus, bike, or tram, or by funicular from Gornji Grad. Trams are by far the easiest and most efficient way to travel around Zagreb. Most tram lines lead to the city center, making it easy to arrive in Donji Grad from nearly anywhere in Zagreb. 

If you’re looking for warmer temperatures, April through September are the best months to visit. Rain is common in early spring, and Zagreb gets its fair share of snow and sub-zero temps during the winter months. Several music, theater, and film festivals rock downtown Zagreb during the summer months, making it a particularly lively time to visit. Winter is also a festive time, with numerous holiday festivities and Advent-themed tours. 

Brainchild of 19th-century urban planner Milan Lenuci, Lenuci’s Horseshoe is a U-shaped network of seven landscaped park squares in central Donji Grad. Walking Lenuci’s Horseshoe is one of the best ways to explore lower Zagreb. Along the route you’ll pass lovely landscaped parks, several museums and monuments, and important landmarks such as the Croatian National Theater and the Academy of Dramatic Art.  

Zadar’s Church of St Donatus is a sight to behold, its towering circular walls rising out of a plaza scattered with Roman ruins. Commissioned by Donatus of Zadar (the church’s namesake come the 13th century), the Pre-Romanesque building dates back to the 9th century, and now stands as a classic representation of Byzantine Dalmatia architecture. 

With a captivating and grand exterior, the interior might seem relatively austere. But there’s more here than just a humble church: given that it is built atop the Roman forum, you can still pick out ancient remnants from those times, including two preserved columns, and even a sacrificial altar. Moreover, St Donatus is especially loved for its impressive tower-top views — that stretch across the city to the sea and islands beyond — and as a concert hall, for which it is used given its phenomenal acoustics. 

Hidden away at the foot of Marjan Hill just west of downtown Split, Bene Beach makes a tranquil alternative to the busy city beaches. It’s a scenic spot, with its rocky shore bordered by pine trees and only accessible on foot, and makes a popular choice for families in the summer months thanks to its patrolled swimming area.

As well as cooling off in the ocean, Bene Beach is a starting point for kayaking tours, while the surrounding Marjan Forest Park offers tennis courts, football pitches and ample opportunities for hiking or cycling. The beach itself is equally well equipped, with a terrace restaurant, changing rooms and showers, plus children’s playgrounds and a water slide.

In a country full of scenic landscapes, epic countryside and incredible coastal views, Cetina Canyon still manages to stand out. Travelers who venture to this destination where placid turquois waters meet sheer rock cliffs will find stunning natural beauty and a true state of ultimate calm and relaxation.

Travel by private speedboat across the river to a tiny restaurant area where it’s possible to enjoy a bite or a drink with a serious view. Dare devils can fly across the landscape on the Omis Zipline or descend the cliffs on a canyoning adventure.

With its startling blue light and luminescent waters, it's easy to see how the Blue Cave earned its name. The natural wonder is hidden in the sea cliffs along the coast of Bisevo Island and is made even more enticing by its remote, difficult-to-reach location. The effort is rewarded with stunning scenery and endless photo opportunities.

The only way to explore the Blue Cave is by boat, and the most convenient way to visit is as part of a guided tour of the surrounding islands. Full-day speedboat tours leave from Split, Trogir, and Hvar, and often take in the five islands of Vis, Hvar, Bisevo, Ravnik, and Budikovac, stopping at attractions such as Stiniva Cove, Smokova Bay's beach, and the Green Cave. For a more personalized experience, opt for a private or small-group tour.

The Blue Grotto is located in Balun Bay on the Croatian island of Bisevo along the Adriatic Coast. The only way to reach the island is by small boat from the island of Vis. From Split, it's roughly a 2.5-hour journey by speedboat to Vis, followed by a short transfer to Komiza on the island's west coast, which is the departure point for official Bisevo boats. 

Weather permitting, it's possible to visit the Blue Cave year-round, but the most popular time is during the summer months of June to September. Visiting in high season means you will likely have a wait time of up to an hour to enter the cave. Low season visitors will probably be able to head straight inside, although fewer choices for tours and boat departures are available at this time of year. For the most spectacular views and photographs, plan your trip between 11am and 12pm, when the sunlight hits the water at just the right angle.

One of 26 natural caves dotted around Bisevo island, the Blue Cave was accessible only to divers until 1884, when an artificial opening was created to allow small boats to cruise through. At certain times of the day, the mesmerizing light, created by sunlight refracting through the water and bouncing off the white limestone floor, appears to coat the entire cave in iridescent blue.

Croatia is gaining a reputation or its stunning coastlines and idyllic beaches. And while the tiny island of Budikovac is still relatively untouched, it is without a doubt, the perfect escape from the energy of the mainland. Travelers who find their way to the picturesque pebble beach, protected bay, shallow waters and relaxing lagoon that exist here will be overcome with a sense of natural beauty and pure peace. 

Visitors will quickly learn that only a single person lives on Budikovac Island. He is also responsible for the single restaurant that runs at this destination that attracts travelers looking to get off the beaten path and into incredible Croatia.

With their startling turquoise waters fringed by pine forests and set against a backdrop of distant mountain peaks, the Bacina Lakes are one of Croatia’s most enchanting and still-undiscovered natural wonders. The postcard-worthy views are just part of the fun – the seven lakes, six of which are interconnected, and the surrounding Neretva River delta, also offer an idyllic setting for outdoors activities.

As well as hiking around the waterside, the Bacina Lakes are a prime spot for fishing, with the freshwater lakes teeming with fish. Alternatively, water sports like canoeing, kayaking and stand-up paddleboarding have become popular in recent years, and make an excellent way to explore the lakes’ islands, swamps and fishermen’s villages.

Lying just east of Split’s historic UNESCO World Heritage-listed center, Bačvice is the most popular city beach with residents and visitors alike. Made of sand and shingle, it curves in a half moon around a wide bay and is backed with an assortment of buzzing beach bars, clubs and cafés, pastry shops and fast-food outlets. There’s also a top-end restaurant with views over the Adriatic Sea to be found in the Art Deco-style pavilion built in 2004 on the eastern flank of the beach.

A favorite with local families, Bačvice Beach is fully supervised by lifeguards, while sun loungers and blue parasols can be hired for a small fee. It offers play parks, table tennis, inflatable castles and water slides for young children along with mini-golf and paddleboats; other water-sports facilities include wind surfing, jet skiing, parasailing and banana-boat rides. The beach is also home to a peculiarly Croatian game; picigin resembles a game of volleyball played in the sea – there’s no net and the aim of the game is to prevent the ball from hitting the water.

An easy way for visitors to get to Bačvice Beach is to take Split’s hop-on, hop-off tour bus; it is also featured on walking tours of the city. The beach is also a recommended stop off on multi-day trips through Croatia and the Balkan.

A flamboyantly Art Nouveau building originally constructed for Croatia’s art offerings in Budapest’s Millennial Exhibition in 1896, the Art Pavilion (‘Umjetnicki Paviljon’ in Croatian) was taken down piece by piece and transported back to Croatia. There it was rebuilt on the verdant ‘Green Horseshoe’ designed by Milan Lenuci in the late 19th century and encompassing a string of parks, squares and monumental buildings in Zagreb’s Lower Town. Overlooking the manicured formal gardens and fountains of King Tomislav Square (Trg kralja Tomislava), the Art Pavilion mimics the nearby Croatian National Theatre in style, and its glass-topped dome is now a symbol of Croatian culture and one of the best-loved landmarks of the city. 

Painted in bright daffodil-yellow and adorned with stucco work and busts of Croatian artists and Renaissance Old Masters, the pavilion has a stately interior that was renovated in 2010 with ornate gilding, marble walls and floors and stained glass, with light flooding in from the central glass dome. Today it hosts a regular program of temporary art exhibitions, which can cover any medium from out-there Croatian video installations through to large-scale international exhibitions such as the works of Andy Warhol or the sculptures and lithographs of Alberto Giacometti.

A 10-minute walk north of Split's historic downtown is Croatia's oldest museum, which was founded in 1820.  

The incentive for the establishment of the museum was provided by the visit of Emperor Francis I to Dalmatia in 1818, which also included visits to Split and Solin (formerly Salona). The original museum building was erected in 1821 next to the eastern walls of Diocletian's Palace, but soon became too small to house the growing number of monuments.

The Archaeological Museum is a repository for artifacts -- jewelry, coins and pottery -- mostly unearthed at Salona in the hills above Split. The collection includes many religious objects used by the people who fled to the palace from Salona during the Avar-Slav invasion in the 7th century. It also displays heavier stone objects such as sarcophagi outdoors.

These 150,000 artifacts (ranging in date from prehistoric times, the period of Greek colonization of the Adriatic, the Roman and Early Christian periods to the early Middle Ages and the period of Croatian popular rulers) are arranged in separate collections. 

Notable exhibitions include the collection of stone inscriptions from Salona (around 6,000) and the collections of Graeco-Hellenistic ceramic objects, Roman glass, ancient clay lamps (around 1,600), bone and metal articles, as well as the collection of gems (the largest in the country). In addition, the museum houses an extensive collection of ancient and medieval coins (over 70,000) and a rich library with an archive.

Flowing for more than 60 miles (96 kilometers) from its source at Dinara on the Croatia–Bosnia and Herzegovina border all the way to the Adriatic Sea near Split, the Cetina River is a main player in Dalmatia’s adventure-sports scene. Its rushing rapids, waterfalls, and tunnels make it ideal for rafting and canyoning excursions. 

Travelers based in Split can escape the city for a day and try adrenaline-fueled activities at the Cetina River. Join a white-water rafting trip that traverses Class II and Class III rapids, as well as floating along stretches of scenic Croatian countryside. Alternatively, go canyoning with a guide, navigating your way along the river to reach waterfalls and natural pools. For travelers who would rather stay dry, consider ziplining across the river for a whole new perspective on the rapids below. 

The Cetina River empties into the Adriatic Sea at Omiš, about 16 miles (26 kilometers) east of Split, though most rafting tours take place farther upriver at towns such as Penšići. As public transport in this area is minimal, it’s best to go by organized tour. 

When to Get There 

Rafting and canyoning tours typically run from April to November and are dependent on weather and river conditions. Peak visitor months are July and August, but even then, the river remains uncrowded. 

Many canyoning tours along the Cetina River stop at the 160-foot-high (50-meter-high) Velika Gubavica waterfall. This scenic cascade, situated in the Cetina River canyon, offers the chance for visitors to rappel, cliff jump, and hike in the lush surrounds. Even for adrenaline-averse travelers, the waterfall is worth a visit, if only to admire its picturesque appearance. 

At Zagreb’s much-loved, indoor-outdoor Dolac Market, all manner of edible supplies and artisanal products are trucked in from the fertile farming regions of Croatia and displayed in myriad stalls sheltered by red umbrellas. The capital city’s premier market has been bustling for 80-plus years and attracts a loyal crowd of grocery-shopping locals as well as hungry visitors on the hunt for a cheap meal. In addition to being a great place for food shopping, it is also an excellent people-watching spot.

The market it divided into two main sections: a raised, open-air market square where producers sell fresh fruits, vegetables, and eggs; and a street-level indoor market for meat, fish, dairy products, and flowers. From early morning on, the market is abuzz with shoppers and traders, many of whom are on a first-name basis with their regular customers. The best place to observe the action is from one of the bars or cafés dotted around the edge where patrons dine on gableci (cheap and hearty lunches). Visitors can either explore independently or browse in the company of a local tour guide who can explain regional ingredients and specialties. Most Zagreb city sightseeing tours include a stop at the market.

Dolac Market is strategically located between the Lower Town (Donji Grad) and Upper Town (Gornji Grad), overlooking Trg bana Josipa Jelacica, Zagreb’s main square. Take the tram (lines 1, 6, 11, 12, 13, 14, or 17) to Trg bana Jelacica. The market is just a five-minute stroll away.

The market is open daily from 6:30am to 3pm (until 1pm on Sundays) and is at its busiest and buzziest on sunny weekend days. The best time to go is in the morning, when the baked goods are still warm and the finest fresh produce has yet to be snapped up. Many traders start packing up their stalls in early afternoon.

 

Dolac Market is the ideal place to delve into Croatia’s culinary scene. Among the must-try dairy products for sale here is sir i vrhnje (cream cheese), which is often served with a sprinkling of salt or spices. Other typical ready-to-eat Croatian meals you may see on menus here include grilled fish with a side serving of blitva (garlic-spiked sautéed Swiss chard and potatoes), grah (bean stew), and purica s mlincima (roasted turkey with baked noodles).