Why take holidays in Croatia?

Why take holidays in Croatia?

Positives: Positioning itself as 'the new Riviera', Croatia tourism is one of the hottest new European trends, offering a rich culture, ancient walled towns and castles, lush mountains, dazzling beaches with 1,000 islands to visit, a classic sunny Mediterranean climate, agreeable and relatively unspoilt people, good seafood and wines and all at a low price compared to most of Europe [currency is the Kuna, not the costly euro].

Negatives: With 10 million visitors a year currently, [2.7 million visitors in July alone], Croatia suffers a shortage of facilities at peak times - despite its fast developing tourist infrastructure, so book necessities well ahead.

Furthermore some short-sighted locals see the tourist boom as a chance to fleece any naive tourist within grasping range, so treat Croatia like the third world as far as money is concerned, checking bills carefully and negotiating taxis and other services with care.

In short: One of newer countries in eastern Europe Croatia has been independent for only two decades and shares borders with Slovenia, Hungary, Serbia, Bosnia & Herzegovina and Montenegro, while facing Italy across the Adriatic Sea.

It has been a low-cost, sun-trap destination for neighbours such as Austria, Italy and Germany for a hundred years with its splendid beaches and sailing along 1,800 km of dramatic coastline with crystal-clear water, steady winds and endless little undiscovered islands.

Croatia encompasses many national parks with unspoilt lakes and dramatic mountains as well as striking historic towns with a rich cultural heritage such as Dubrovnik, Split, and the new capital of Zagreb, with no shortage of day activities or lively nightlife.

 

Dubrovnik's surrounding landscape, Europe.

Activities:

Croatia's coast and islands offer some good beaches, most water sports ranging from swimming or skinny dipping thru scuba diving, windsurfing and sailing.

Hikers, nature lovers and climbers have wide wilderness opportunities in the Velebit Range which includes Paklenica National Park, the canyons of Velika, Mala Paklenicathe and UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site of Plitvice Lakes, with its 16 turquoise lakes, numerous waterfalls, and spectacular karst [shapes and caves, but not peaks!] landscape.

Croatia also has ten Nature Parks [smaller and more individual than national parks] throughout the country such as Biokovo Mountain, Papuk Mountain and the unique wildlife area of Kopacki Rit, near Osijek, is worth visiting.

More serious climbing: For magnificent coastal mountains, try climbing Mt. Ilija [961m], or Sveti Jure [1762m] from Makarska.

Croatia is also a fine cycling country with numerous bike routes and easy rentals. There are many mountain biking tour specialists that organise both long and short tours around the country on the best routes.

Food and wine:

Croatian cuisine varies according to the region but the coastal area has historically been influenced by Greeks, Romans and Balkan dishes but today is dominated by Mediterranean styles, particularly Italian, with excellent pizzas, and fresh seafood.

Inland has more of a typically heavy Hungarian, Viennese or Turkish flavour, spicy meat dishes served with roast potatoes or baked noodles, heavy soup and various home-made cheese.

Croatian wine is not yet world-class, but is coming along nicely. Red wines such as Kastelet, Babic, Plavac and Istrian Merlot are worth trying.
Prosek traditional desert wine and Sljivovica plum brandy are well-known.

 

Zagreb street scene.

Main Attractions:

The North:

**Zagreb, the capital city of modern Croatia, has in fact been a political and cultural centre since medieval times and underrated by the majority of European tourists who tend to head for the south directly. Although Zagreb is not a love-at-first-sight urban space, it deserves more attention.

Zagreb's star attractions are:
- the grand neo-Renaissance architecture.
- its controversial but massive art collection in the Mimara Museum.
- the neo-Baroque Croatian National Theatre with Ivan Mestrovic's masterly sculpture The Well of Life standing in front.
- the charming Baroque quarter of Gradec and Kaptol.
- lively and bohemian Tkalciceva ulica [street], a pedestrianazed walkway lined with cafés and bars, great for dining, shopping and people-watching, especially in the evening. Cafe culture is big in Zagreb, like Vienna or Budapest.
- majestic Mirogoj Cemetery, designed by Croatia's most celebrated architect Herman Bolle, including a meditative sculpture garden.
- magnificent Medvedgrad, a medieval fortress on nearby Mount Medvednica, just north of the city with some superb walks.
- Zagreb's annual International Folklore Festival in July is worth checking out if you are ethnic music fan, or party animal, or preferably both.

**Porec, a small historic city on the western coast of the Istrian peninsula, hosts some of Croatia's most important religious monuments including the 6th-century Euphrasian Basilica with exquisite mosaics, regarded as one of world finest examples of Byzantine art. The Episcopal complex of the Basilica is a UNESCO's Heritage site and is in the old part of city.