Croatia

Croatia

• About Croatia

  Croatia is fast developing a reputation as one of the best holiday destinations in Europe. Great culture, history, superb food and value for money form part of the attraction along the wide choice of Croatias stunning coastal and island resorts.

  Croatia has almost 6,000km of spectacular coastline and over 1,000 islands to explore so there are plenty of opportunities to indulge in classic sunbathing beach holidays or enjoy sailing, windsurfing and other water sports.

  The Mediterranean climate along the Adriatic coastline ensures Croatia has some of the sunniest weather in Europe so you can see why visitors are flocking. There are also plenty of other attractions within this beautiful country, including lots of natural splendour inland and some wonderfully preserved ancient towns and cities.

• Popular Destinations

  Zagreb

  An architectural delight offering medieval and modern buildings influenced by a range of styles. The fabulous buildings are complimented by the fact that in Zagreb there are more museums per square foot than in any other city in the world. Zagreb, Croatias capital since 1557, is also very much alive in the present, with a vibrant night-scene and café culture plus superb local restaurants.

  Dubrovnik

  Dubrovnik great Southern city is one of unrivalled beauty with some wonderfully preserved buildings. As such, it is developing a reputation as a great city for honeymoons and romantic trips. Its 13th Century Old Town, which remains virtually unchanged over 800 years, is something special. High ramparts surround this ancient centre and there are two grand entrances which lead on to the citys main promenade.

  Solin

  The ancient city of Solin, formerly known as Salona, is the best known archaeological site in Croatia. Salona was the Roman capital of Dalmatia around the time of Julius Caesar and includes the remains of a large Roman amphitheatre.

  Trogir

  A beautiful historical town full of fascinating architecture, monuments and art from the Greek and Roman eras onwards. Superb Romanesque churches plus Renaissance and Baroque buildings from the Venetian period make this town a very special place indeed. The entire Trogir Old Town is a UNESCO world heritage site. The wider surroundings of Trogir, including the Ciovo Riviera, are characterized by superb green landscapes, islands and beaches.

  Plitvice Lakes

  Sublime National Park set in wooded hills includes 16 lakes connected by picturesque waterfalls. 18km of wooden footbridges help you enjoy this World Heritage site.

  The Kvarner Riviera

  Centred around Croatias main port: Rijeka, popular resorts include: Opatija, Lovran, Crikvenica, Kraljevica and Novi Vinodolski.

  Cavtat

  Cosmopolitan resort with bars and cafes, palm trees, whitewashed houses and beaches. Cavtat is linked to Dubrovnik by boat and bus.

  Mljet

  Beautiful Adriatic island covered with forest, farmland, vineyards and charming villages. Mljet National Park also includes coves to explore and two saltwater lakes. Many tourists visit Mljet on day trips from nearby Dubrovnik.

  Cres

  The second largest island in the Adriatic - 155 square miles in total. Along with Losinj and another 28 smaller islands its forms a major island grouping. Both islands are accessible by ferry from Brestova in Istria or Valbiska on the island of Krk. The main resort is the town of Mali Losinj, which includes a beautiful harbour, good beaches and great windsurfing territory.

  Rab

  Island covering 90 km2 is one of the greenest and most picturesque in the Adriatic with its thick pine forests and pleasant sandy beaches. Three ridges protect the island from cold winds, ensuring the climate remains mild. The main town of Rab is medieval in character with some buildings dating back to 13th Century Venetian rule.

• Geography

  Croatia is both Central European and Mediterranean situated between Central and Eastern Europe. It borders Slovenia, Hungary, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and lies on the East Coast of the Adriatic Sea opposite Italy.

• Getting There

  The main airports are Zagreb, Pula, Split, Dubrovnik and Rijeka. Several European low-cost airlines provide flights to Croatia including German Wings and HLX. You could also consider flying with someone like Ryan Air to the Eastern Coast of Italy and then travelling by car. Italy also runs ferry services to Croatia from Venice. Rail connections are available from any major city in Europe via Zagreb. Most visitors drive to Croatia though and the best route from Northern Europe is via Germany. In Croatia you will find excellent public transport including regular bus services connecting towns and cities.

• Climate

  Inland expect hot summers and cold winters with plenty of Mediterranean sunshine in the long summer months along the Adriatic coast. Some wet weather can be expected in winter.

• Accommodation

  Hotels are good value in Croatia and have been developing their excellent reputation in recent years. The high season, July and August, is more expensive as are first-class hotels in general. From April to May and September to October prices are heavily reduced. The best value accommodation consists of staying in private apartments and rooms which are very popular in Croatia. Alternatively, camping is a good option with over 100 sites along the Croatian coast alone. All Croatian towns provide a tourist office which will arrange accommodation and provide general information.

• Safety

  Croatia has relatively low crime and as tourism has developed there are few reported problems for visitors. Obviously though, use common sense precautions especially when travelling at night. Croatian police and military provide advice and help to tourists.

• Key Facts

  • Full Name - Republic of Croatia
  • Capital City - Zagreb
  • Population - 4,500,000
  • Time Zone - GMT +1
  • Main Language - Croatian
  • Religion - Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Islam
  • Currency - Croatian Kuna
  • Government - Parliamentary Democracy.