Croatia is one of the countries I plan to focus on more in my future Balkan travels as so far I’ve seen only a few places in the country: Zagreb, Plitvice Lakes, Dubrovnik (including a few day trips from Dubrovnik) Zadar, Split, Sibenik, and Krka National Park, but there are just so many things to do in Croatia. And every reason to visit Croatia is actually a good one.

A fellow blogger, Eniko from Travel Hacker Girl, wrote the whole article why you should visit Croatia too. Read on and plan your own trip to Croatia soon!

---

Croatia became a popular destination in recent years thanks to the fact they shot several scenes of the famous TV series called Game of Thrones in the country. However, that is not the only reason people took a fancy on this beautiful country. There is a lot Croatia has to offer, so no wonder travelers choose it for their holiday.

While certain parts of the country like Dubrovnik tend to get really busy, there are still lots of undiscovered places and you can easily find hidden gems if you try hard enough. Here are 10 reasons to visit Croatia.

Adventure sports

Croatia boasts of adventurous activities. Being a coastal country it is a place for many water sports, like sailing, kayaking or diving. But there is so much more!

There are a lot of things to do in Omis, which is a paradise for adventure seekers. You can try zip lining over the Cetina Canyon, hiking up to Starigrad Fortress to take in the views or go rafting and canyoning on the Cetina River.

Fantastic mountain top views

Most people know Croatia for its beaches, but it also has some gorgeous mountains as well. Hiking in Croatia is a great way to stumble upon some impressive views.

Hiking up to Vidova Gora on Brac island will give you the chance to see the Golden Horn from the top. There are some lovely hiking trails in Omis as well for example to Starigrad Fortress. The city walls and cable car in Dubrovnik both offer unique views of the city.

Glorious Sunsets

You will not be disappointed by the sunsets that you will experience in Croatia. There are some popular places where people like to head during the golden hour. Admiring the sunset from the top of Mount Srd is one of the must things to do in Dubrovnik.

Companies organize sunset sailing and kayaking trips. This is a great chance to admire the views from the water. If you are after some romance, why not snuggle up at your balcony with a bottle of wine and enjoy the peaceful atmosphere as the sun sets.

Beaches

Many people visit Croatia because of its beautiful beaches. You will find that some are packed with tourists, like the symbol of Croatia the Golden Horn, but there are plenty of hidden bays and beaches as well, where you can have the whole place to yourself.

Most beaches in Croatia are rocky or has small pebbles, which is ideal for people for are not so fond of the sand getting everywhere on a beach holiday. However, sand lovers will also find places to satisfy their needs. Sunj Beach on Lopud Island is great for families with young children as it has a very shallow, sandy beach.

Island Hopping

Island Hopping is a great way to explore Croatia. This is typically done by sailing boats or catamarans, but you can also do it by kayaks. The Elaphiti Islands are particularly easy to explore by kayak, as they are quite close to each other, so it is possible to paddle between the many small islands.

Split is a great base to go island hopping by sailing boat. You can quickly reach Solta, Brac and the Pakleni Islands. They are all beautiful places, that are well worth a trip if you are in the country.

Rich in history

Croatia is full of historical sites. The country displays over 2000 years of history. You will find some things in museums, but most of the buildings are left as they were built and open to visitors. Diocletian’s Palace in Split, Pula Amphitheatre and the Dubrovnik City Walls are an absolute must for history lovers.

The capital city Zagreb is also great for sightseeing, as you will find many historical sites like St. Mark’s Square, Lotrščak Tower, Zagreb Cathedral and St. Catherine’s Church as well as numerous Zagreb museums.

Natural parks

Croatia boats of natural beauties. If you love the outdoors you should definitely visit some of the country’s national parks. There are 8 national parks in Croatia. They are Risnjak, Brijuni, Plitvice Lakes, Sjeverni Velebit, Paklenica, Krka, Kornati and Mljet.

The most popular ones are Plitvice and Krka. They both make a great day trip from Split. In high season they are packed with tourists, so you might want to head to some of the quieter parks instead. All of them are a great place for a walk, as they have gorgeous scenery and wildlife.

The Game of Thrones appeal

With the sudden hit of Game of Thrones companies quickly saw a business idea and started to organize Game of Thrones walking tours in the country. This is a great way to experience King’s Landing in Dubrovnik, Split and Trsteno.

You will most likely also stumble upon souvenir shops dedicated to Game of Thrones where you can even try what’s it like to sit on the Iron Throne! There is also lots of information online about the filming locations, so you can also find the places yourself.

Delicious food

Croatian cuisine is very delicious and varied depending on the region you visit. It can be divided into several different cuisines such as Dalmatian food, Istrian cuisine, and Continental Cuisine. The dishes have been influenced a lot by neighboring countries such as Hungary, Italy, and Turkey.

Along the coastline, seafood is very popular for obvious reasons. In Dalmatia, you will find fish, squid, octopus, and prawns on almost every menu.

But don’t be put off if seafood is not your thing! There are lots of traditional meals prepared from meat as well. Lamb, veal, pork, and prosciutto are all very popular. Cevapcici is a must try dish in Croatia. They are small sausages with a texture similar to meatballs and are made from different types of meat. A very tasty and affordable dish in Croatia!

Wine tours

If you are into luxury travel in Croatia and like the wine you will be pleased to hear, that Croatian wine is super delicious and won some rather prestigious awards in recent years. The country is becoming very popular for its wine production. If you go on a sailing trip by the coastline, you will see that on the sunny hillsides they grow lots of grapes.

Croatia is home to at least 130 native grape varieties. Some of this is made into wine. There are several lovely wineries in Croatia and many of them offer wine tours. Don’t miss the chance to go on one to sip some tasty wine and learn about how it’s made.

---

About the author: Eniko is a 25-year old Hungarian girl, who lived in 5 countries. She is now based in London and works as a full-time nanny. She spends her weekends exploring the UK, but also has a few bigger trips every year, mainly in Europe. She loves the outdoors and encourages people to have an active holiday.
Her blog https://www.travelhackergirl.com/ is mainly focused on bucket list experiences and outdoor activities such as hiking, skiing, kayaking and camping. She travels with her boyfriend Tom, who is great at landscape photography. You can follow Eniko on Instagram.

Further reading

I published many articles about Croatia that you might find useful when planning your trip there. Here are some of them:

• 33 Best Places to Visit in Croatia
• 25 Wonderful Things to Do in Zagreb, Croatia
• The Bay of Abandoned Hotels in Kupari, Croatia – the Urbex Heaven
• 23 Amazing Things to Do in Dubrovnik, Croatia
• How to visit Krka National Park in Croatia
• 11 Perfect Day Trips From Split, Croatia
• 17 Fantastic Things to Do in Hvar, Croatia
• Visiting the Abandoned Željava Air Base in Croatia
• 19 Best Things to Do in Rijeka, Croatia
• Visit Opatija, Croatia – the Charming Seaside Town
• and many more!

If you are looking for articles about a specific destination – check out the map with all the articles I’ve published (and their locations). You can also join my Facebook group about traveling in the Balkans and ask your questions there.

---

For the end I left a few announcements that might interest you:

• If you don’t want to miss new posts and news from me click here to sign to my newsletter! You can also follow me on Bloglovin!
• Join my Facebook group about Eastern Europe, the Balkans and former USSR and connect with fellow travellers and enthusiasts of these regions – just click here!

---