Croatia has grown in popularity as a tourist destination in recent years, with its stunning natural sights crucial in attracting visitors.
Whether you’re searching for filming spots from the hit TV series ‘Game of Thrones’ – parts of which were filmed in Croatia – or you’re a nature buff, there’s plenty for all in this country.
If you’re hoping to treat yourself to an escorted holiday to Croatia in the near future, here are some of the natural wonders you must visit.
The Plitvice Lakes
There is so much to explore in this national park, which is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
With platform paths intertwining the 16 lakes, as well as rugged gravel paths taking you to spectacular waterfalls, there are hikes and sights for people of all ages and thirsts for adventure.
Venture to the Veliki Slap waterfall and you will find a small alcove tucked behind the cascade where you can feel the full force of nature and also take a dramatic snap or two!
Zlatni Rat
One of the world’s most beautiful beaches, it’s not hard to see why this formation is known as the ‘Golden Horn’.
Protected by the Croatian government, this stunning sandy expanse is situated near the town of Bol and features tall palm trees for sheltering under and adjoins the sparkling waters of the Adriatic Sea.
And there’s a good reason to come back time and time again, with the currents and wind often changing the shape of the ‘cape’, which often features a small pool in the middle of it!
Rovinj
This stunning port town has enchanted visitors for centuries and its narrow, cobbled streets remain largely unchanged from when they were first built.
A stroll through the old town and up to the Church of St Euphemia offers glimpses into this area’s Italian past as well as a 360-degree view across the terracotta rooftops and out into the ocean beyond.
It won’t take you long from up there to see clues of Rovinj’s past as an island before it was connected to the mainland in the 1700s.
Zadar
With all the views and delights of other parts of Croatia, but without as many crowds, this gorgeous spot on the Dalmatian Coast has it all.
Famous for its sunsets that drench the wide-open harbour in the last of each day’s light, one of Zadar’s biggest attractions is the Sea Organ, essentially a giant harmonica that sounds with the winds that roll in from the water.
The Krka National Park and aforementioned Plitvice Lakes are also a short journey away if you’re looking for adventure inland.
Others
Croatia is rich with history, both modern and ancient. Diocletian’s Palace is a wonderfully preserved Roman structure in Split that transports you back through the centuries, while Vukovar is a site for education on the Yugoslav civil war, with several areas still bearing the scars of that brutal conflict.
The Walls of Dubrovnik will be top of the list for those wanting a slice of King’s Landing, while the Blue Grotto in Balun Bay is the perfect spot for those who like to venture among the natural sites of the ocean.