Croatia

One of the premiere destinations and vacation hotspots of Europe, Croatia is a mix of old-fashioned glamour and authentic charm dubbed “the Mediterranean as it once was.” People go here for the wonderful beaches and sunshine, ancient architecture, folk traditions, and cultural treasures. The country is still in transition between Mitteleuropa and the Mediterranean, bouncing from a brutal civil war in the 1990s. Visitors on all budgets can find something memorable to see and do in the diverse landscape.

Croatia’s coast is where most of the trendy and hip places are and where you’ll find plenty of glitz and glamour, particularly in Hvar and Dubrovnik. Here you can sip cocktails while checking out the beautiful people and spotting the occasional celebrity. Fancy yachts are docked on the coast and come in droves. Peace and quiet can also be had at secluded coves and atolls in the style of Robinson Crusoe, as well as fishing villages and lighthouse islets in remote areas. There are also a number of safe beaches that are family-friendly and a lot of leisure activities and water sports for all ages.

In continental Croatia, there are over a thousand islands and the thing to do here is to stay in one of the rural hotels and explore the wild or go hiking, biking, paragliding, rafting, abseiling, or canoeing. There are many farmlands to tour and agro-tourism is a huge trend. Zagreb is also a notable place to visit, which has a lively café life, ancient attractions, contemporary art museum, and lots of festivals and events.

Croatia is also fast becoming one of Europe’s top culinary destinations and an important wine region. Fresh ingredients come from the land and sea and a lot of the food are sourced locally. A lot of family-run taverns and haute cuisine prepared by celebrity chefs provide visitors with tons of gastronomic options.