Country book · Europe

Croatia

A thousand islands and Roman stone

Croatia's Adriatic coast is a scattering of over a thousand islands, its walled cities carved from the same pale stone as Roman emperors' palaces. Inland, waterfalls cascade through national parks few visitors ever reach.

Myths

What's true, what isn't

Actually true

Diocletian's Palace is still a living city
In Split, a Roman emperor's retirement palace from 305 AD is now filled with homes, shops and bars.
The coast really does have over a thousand islands
Croatia has 1,244 islands and islets, though only about 50 are inhabited.
Game of Thrones filmed extensively in Dubrovnik
The city's walls doubled as King's Landing, and walking tours now trace the filming locations.
Croatia has won more World Cup medals per capita than almost anyone
The small country reached the 2018 final and took third in 2022, punching well above its weight in football.

Commonly believed, wrong

"Croatia is part of Italy's coast"
It has its own distinct Slavic language and history, though centuries of Venetian rule left an Italian architectural stamp on the coast.
"It's all coastline, no interior"
Plitvice Lakes and Zagreb's continental culture offer forests, waterfalls and a totally different inland character.
"It's part of the war-torn Balkans still"
Croatia has been an EU and Eurozone member since 2013 and 2023 respectively, thoroughly rebuilt and prosperous in its coastal regions.
"Every island is packed with tourists"
Many of the smaller islands, like Vis or Lastovo, remain sleepy and largely undeveloped.

Highlights

The best of Croatia

Dubrovnik's city walls

A complete circuit of medieval walls looking down on terracotta roofs and the Adriatic.

Plitvice Lakes National Park

Sixteen terraced turquoise lakes connected by waterfalls and wooden walkways.

Hvar and the Pakleni Islands

Lavender fields, yacht harbors and pine-covered islets just offshore.

Diocletian's Palace in Split

A 1,700-year-old Roman palace complex that's now the beating heart of the city.

Culture

Cultural riches

Klapa singing

A cappella harmony singing from Dalmatia, recognized by UNESCO as intangible heritage.

Venetian coastal architecture

Centuries of Venetian rule left loggias, bell towers and stone piazzas along the coast.

Necktie origins

The modern necktie traces back to Croatian mercenaries' neckwear in 17th-century France.

Island festivals

Summer brings olive harvest fairs, wine festivals and saints' day processions across the islands.

Food

What to eat

Peka

Meat and vegetables slow-roasted under a bell-shaped lid buried in embers.

Pašticada

Beef marinated for days and braised in wine and prunes, a Dalmatian celebration dish.

Black risotto (crni rižot)

Cuttlefish risotto stained deep black with its own ink.

Burek

Flaky pastry filled with meat or cheese, eaten for breakfast across the country.

Fritule

Small fried dough balls dusted with sugar, a festive holiday sweet.

Music

World-famous voices

2CELLOS

Cellos, rock covers, global tours.

Baby Lasagna

Eurovision 2024 sensation.

Oliver Dragojević

Dalmatian classics.

Severina

Pop star of the Adriatic.

Hladno Pivo

Zagreb punk-rock.

History

Important people in history

Tomislav

c. 910 — 928

First King of Croatia, crowned around 925, unifying Croatian duchies into a kingdom.

Josip Jelačić

1801 — 1859

Ban of Croatia who championed Croatian autonomy within the Austrian Empire, honored on Zagreb's main square.

Franjo Tuđman

1922 — 1999

Led Croatia to independence in 1991 and served as its first president.

Cities