Top 8 Things to Do in Croatia

Croatia brings a fascinating cultural presence as the region was settled by Ancient Greeks, conquered by colonial Romans, occupied by Venetians, and defended against Ottomans. Music, dance, art, and architecture share elements of the Bronze Age and the Renaissance and feature ancient beauty and regal design. Whether wandering the Diocletian’s Palace or medieval city walls, Croatia’s heritage remains a living and tangible thing with intertwining layers of history, blended languages, and preserved treasures from the hinterlands to the crystal-clear Adriatic Sea.

Best Places to Visit for Cultural History: Split | Dubrovnik | Poreč | Pula | Trogir | Ston

Best Time to Visit: April | May | September | October

Croatia’s cuisine is famous for food-lovers interested in and intrigued by regional flavors. Cafes and restaurants highlight the diverse traditional dishes made with luxurious ingredients. From fresh seafood to decadent truffles, each dish reveals the depth of heritage connected to the topography, town, or city. The food of Croatia captures the essence of the country with a focus on seasonality and freshness. From the forests to the mountains, the plains to the sea, explore the connections of the many influential cultures through history.

Best Places to Visit for Food: Zagreb | Slavonia | Istria | Kvarner | Cres

Best Time to Visit: April | May | September | October

Croatian wine has incredible historic quality with different flavors cultivated around the country. The dynamic climate and the diverse landscape impact the vines' quality, whether from the Adriatic breeze or the shade covering rugged hills. With 64 distinct grape types and over 800 local wineries, Croatia has a long history of perfecting its wine production with a combination of flavors, textures, and aromas that are endlessly enticing.

Best Wine Regions to Visit: Slavonia | Kutjevo | Plesivica | Primosten | Istria

Best Time to Visit: September | October | November

Unspoiled countryside and stunning national parks help make Croatia a fantastic destination for cycling. Gently rolling hills, rural roads, well-maintained streets, and over 310 miles of mapped cycling routes in a single region alone bring amazing rides.  Immerse yourself in hilltop towns with views of shimmering harbors, sweeping vines, and hidden restaurants perfect for a rest stop. Cycling routes can take you through the hills, along the coastline, or around celebrated islands with plenty of opportunities to enjoy the breathtaking scenery perfect for a cyclist of any skill level.

Best Places to Visit for Cycling: Zadar Loop | Fransko Jazero Loop | Hvar Island | Istria | Konavle | Korcula Island

Best Time to Visit: March | April | May

Museums in Croatia move you beyond stately institutions and showcase the nation's diverse heritage, history, and culture from archeological collections to the Habsburg era, contemporary art to the modern artistic perspective focusing on broken relationships. The museums in Croatia peel back the cultural layers revealing the quirky and delightful, the surprising and the serious exploring the ideas of what a museum has been and what a museum could be, no matter what the gallery displays.

Best Places to Visit for Museums: Zagreb | Split | Dubrovnik | Zadar

Best Time to Visit: April | May | September | October

Croatia’s magnificent landscape has influenced each of its cities, and each destination brings a glimmer of the past while modern life goes on. The way the city is shaped can reveal its personality and how you can interact with the landscape. Dubrovnik’s city walls are remarkably different from Zadar’s marbled promenade. Each city possesses iconic beauty that captures Croatia's contrasting but connected spirit that joins the mountains to the islands.

Best Cities to Visit: Split | Dubrovnik | Zagreb | Zadar | Rovinj

Best Time to Visit: April | May | September | October

Croatia is tucked between the culture of Eastern and Western Europe with a collection of celebrated beaches, natural beauty, and picturesque cities. This diversity brings an array of food and wine, reflecting this mixture of cultures around the Mediterranean and Central European traditions. Savor the slow pace of dining, focusing on fresh and seasonal ingredients with hyper locality with each region specializing in something new.

Best Places to Visit for a Cooking Class: Zadar | Zagreb | Split | Trogir | Rovinj

Best Time to Visit: April | May | September | October

Croatia is a surprising powerhouse for hiking with over 1,000 miles of coastline and fantastic mountain peaks creating a unique maze of trails. Dry grasslands, lush forests, sparkling rivers, and rugged terrain only highlight the natural splendor intensified by thundering waterfalls and crashing waves. Hiking in Croatia can be as dramatic as a multi-day trek through the hinterlands to a simple hour walk along the shoreline for a fantastic immersion into Croatia’s natural beauty and cultural significance.

Best Places to Visit for Hiking: Paklenica National Park |  Odyssey’s Cave | Biokovo Mountain | Peljesac Peninsula | Ucka Mountain

Best Time to Visit: March | April | May

Croatia is an immersion into a Mediterranean fantasy for any type of traveler, whether looking for a romantic wine tasting or a family-friendly sailing excursion. With delicious truffles to medieval city walls, Croatia gives you endless history and culture easily reached by any number of transportation options. Zicasso’s Croatia Travel Guide can provide you insight into the many options for travel with Croatia with helpful tips and information. If you want to plan a trip, you can speak to a Croatia travel specialist by filling out a Trip Request or by calling our team at 1-888-265-9707.