Croatia is across the Adriatic Sea east of Italy, yet it’s not on most people’s top of the list of places to visit in Europe. I’ve made my way to Europe twice now, once to visit Italy, and once was a twofer visiting Paris, France and Istanbul, Turkey. I’d love to visit Europe again sooner than later, but Chris has insisted we pay attention to another continent before making our way back to Europe.
That said, Croatia is top of the list for our next Europe vacation! I try really hard to maximize flights, so I’d probably try to combine it with a trip to Germany and Greece as well as those are neighboring countries I’d also love to see. I’m also not opposed to doing what I call a “short blast” trip – that’s what our Paris/Istanbul trip was. I really wanted to cross seeing the Louvre and Hagia Sophia off my travel bucket list, and we didn’t want to be away from the kids for too long, so we spent 2.5 days in both cities. We were in and out and back in no time! Maybe we could do something similar with a trip to Croatia?
Top Sites on my Croatia Wishlist:
- Plitvice Lakes
- This is top of the list, and the whole reason Croatia ended up on my radar to begin with. I LOVE waterfalls. Which is kinda funny because I don’t love most water activities. But a beautiful waterfall at the end of a hike is hugely satisfying to me. And swimming is forbidden to protect the ecosystem, which is A-OK by me!
- There are 16 terraced lakes connected by a series of cascading waterfalls. The barriers are formed by natural dams of travertine (natural limestone with mineral and organism deposits), which also results in the vibrant colors of blue and green.
- There are miles of wooden pathways and bridges to stroll along,
- The tallest waterfall is called the Veliki Slap. I just know my poor drawing of this place does not do it justice! Look it up and see for yourself that this place is worthy of being at the top of anyone’s travel bucketlist!
- Dubrovnik City Walls
- These are a complex system of forts, bastions, and towers for defense purposes. It was constructed mostly between the 13th and 17 centuries out of limestone.
- You can walk the entire perimeter of the walls, which is just over 1 mile. This sort of activity is right up my alley – I hate when I’m not allowed to touch and climb! Walking along the walls is how I would transport myself back in time to the city’s medieval roots.
- Enjoy the panoramic views of the Adriatic Sea as you walk along!
- Game of Thrones fans would be happy to note that this was a filming location for the series.
- Roman Amphitheater in Pula
- Built in the 1st century AD, this is the only remaining Roman amphitheater with all four walls intact. It’s in the top 6 for world’s largest surviving Roman arenas.
- I honestly didn’t know before doing this research that there were any Roman amphitheater’s aside from the Colosseum in Rome. I LOVED my visit to the Colosseum, so I imagine I’d love the Pula Arena too.
- The other 4 are: El Djem in Tunisia, Nimes Arena in France, Arles Amphitheater in France, and Verona Arena in Italy
- Zlatni Rat Beach
- Also known as the Golden Horn, located in Bol on the island of Brac, the crystal clear sea ranging from turquoise to dark blue make it reportedly one of the most beautiful beaches in the Mediterranean.
- The shape changes depending on the wind and tides. Sometimes the tip rotates enough to create a small pool!
- Split’s Diocletian Palace
- A massive retirement complex created for Roman Emperor Diocletian back in about 300 AD.
- Covering over 7 aces, there are four fortified gates, and the walls go up to 28 meters high.
- Includes shops, cafes, restaurants, and even residences within the walls.
- Sea Organ in Zadar
- This is an experimental musical instrument combined with architecture located on the Zadar peninsula. It is made of pipes running under marble stairs and creates music from the sea waves.
- Reviews of this marvel mostly highlight the peaceful and magical sounds created by the pipes. I’d love to see it at sunset!
I was originally only interested in visiting Croatia to see the Plitvice Lakes, but I can see myself enjoying 3-5 days visiting all of what Croatia has to offer. From enjoying the cascading Plitvice Lakes to traveling back into Croatia’s medieval past, I know it’ll be an amazing adventure!
