Country guide
Croatia meets the Adriatic in two parts that barely resemble each other: an inland north around Zagreb, the capital and the main cultural and economic centre, a...
Photograph · Diego Delso · CC BY-SA 3.0
Reviewed by Elena Voss · Roavina Travel Editor
Croatia meets the Adriatic in two parts that barely resemble each other: an inland north around Zagreb, the capital and the main cultural and economic centre, and a coast whose archipelago carries over 1,000 islands and islets.
The whole country is 56,594 square kilometres, divided into twenty counties across four administrative regions, with a population of nearly 3.9 million as of 2026. Split, Rijeka and Osijek are the other cities of any size — the first two on the water, the last inland in the east. Slovenia, Hungary, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro all border it by land, Italy only by sea.
Checked 2026-08-25
Every city catalogued in this country so far, ranked by how much there is to see.
Photograph · dronepicr · CC BY 2.0
Seasonal closures come from recorded opening hours.
Ranked by importance — sitelinks, pageviews and heritage status, not editor preference.
58 places match
Category
Typical visit duration
Interests
Dioklecijanova palača
Diocletian’s Palace is the Roman imperial complex at the heart of modern Split, Croatia. Built for Emperor Diocletian in the late third and early fourth centuries, it combined a fortified residence, military stronghold and imperial retreat.
katedrala svetog Duje
The Cathedral of Saint Domnius, or Katedrala svetog Dujma, stands at the heart of Diocletian’s Palace in Split. The building began as the mausoleum of Emperor Diocletian in the fourth century and was later transformed into a Christian cathedral.
Splitska Riva is the central waterfront promenade of Split, Croatia, running along the edge of the historic core adjacent to Diocletian's Palace.
Peristil
Peristyle Square, known locally as Peristil, is the central open space of Diocletian's Palace in Split, Croatia. This rectangular courtyard formed the ceremonial heart of the Roman emperor's retirement complex, built in the early fourth century CE.
Park-šuma Marjan
Marjan Forest Park is Split’s broad green retreat on the wooded Marjan peninsula, immediately west of the historic centre.
Zvonik svetog Dujma
Saint Domnius Bell Tower rises beside the Cathedral of Saint Domnius in the Peristyle area of Diocletian’s Palace. The medieval campanile is both a working religious structure and one of Split’s most recognisable viewpoints.
Jupiterov hram
The Temple of Jupiter, locally known as Jupiterov hram, stands within Diocletian's Palace in Split's historic core. This ancient Roman temple ranks among the best-preserved structures of its kind from the imperial period.
Podrumi Dioklecijanove palače
The Basements of Diocletian's Palace, known locally as Podrumi Dioklecijanove palače, constitute the subterranean level of the ancient Roman palace built for Emperor Diocletian in the fourth century CE.
Bačvice
Bačvice Beach is a sandy beach located on the eastern edge of Split's city centre, within easy walking distance of the historic Diocletian's Palace.
Galerija Meštrović
The Mestrovic Gallery is Split’s dedicated home for the work of Ivan Mestrovic, one of Croatia’s major modern sculptors.
Zlatna vrata
The Golden Gate, known locally as Zlatna vrata, stands as a historic landmark within Split's ancient urban fabric. This monumental entrance formed part of the defensive enclosure of Diocletian's Palace, the UNESCO-listed Roman complex that defines Split's historic core.
Grgur Ninski
The Gregory of Nin Statue is a monumental bronze sculpture located in Split, Croatia. It depicts Gregory of Nin, a medieval bishop who championed the use of the Croatian language in religious services.
Narodni trg - Pjaca
Pjaca People's Square, locally Narodni trg - Pjaca, stands as the main public square in Split's historic core. It occupies the space where the Roman camp's command area once lay, later becoming the medieval heart of civic life.
Voćni trg
Fruit Square, known locally as Voćni trg, is a historic public square in Split, Croatia. The square takes its name from the fruit market that historically operated in this space.
Muzej grada Splita
Split City Museum, locally Muzej grada Splita, is a municipal museum institution in Split, Croatia. It preserves and presents the urban history of Split from antiquity through the medieval period to modern times.
Etnografski muzej
The Ethnographic Museum Split sits in the city’s historic core and introduces travellers to the material and social traditions of Dalmatia.
Arheološki muzej
The Archaeological Museum in Split, known locally as Arheološki muzej u Splitu, stands as a significant cultural institution in Croatia's second-largest city. It preserves and presents archaeological finds from the Split region and broader Dalmatian area.
Galerija umjetnina
Gallery of Fine Arts Split, or Galerija umjetnina Split, is an art museum in Split, Croatia. The gallery gives a cultural counterpoint to the Roman remains of Diocletian’s Palace and the busy waterfront.
Hrvatski Pomorski muzej
The Croatian Maritime Museum occupies Split’s Gripe Fortress and explores the Adriatic through the objects, technology and traditions of seafaring.
Muzej hrvatskih arheoloških spomenika
The Museum of Croatian Archaeological Monuments is a museum in Split dedicated to preserving and presenting Croatia's medieval archaeological heritage.
Kaštelet Meštrović
Ivan Meštrović's Kaštelet is a historic property in Split associated with the renowned Croatian sculptor Ivan Meštrović. The site forms part of the broader Meštrović legacy in the city, which includes multiple cultural institutions.
Sustipan is a coastal park and promontory on the Marjan peninsula, west of Split's historic core. The site occupies elevated ground above the Adriatic, offering views toward the harbour and islands.
Zapadna obala
The West Coast Promenade, known locally as Zapadna obala, is a waterfront walkway in Split, Croatia. It runs along the western edge of the city centre, offering views of the Adriatic Sea and the port area.
Marmontova ulica
Marmont Street, known locally as Marmontova ulica, is a prominent pedestrian thoroughfare in Split, Croatia.
Trg Republike
Prokurative Square, known locally as Prokurative, is a prominent public square in Split, Croatia. The square features distinctive neo-Renaissance architecture with red-orange facades reminiscent of Venetian design influences.
Seven to ten days can pair Zagreb with one Adriatic region or focus on Split, nearby islands and one inland park. Dubrovnik, Istria and central Dalmatia are separate bases; ferry waits make a rapid checklist of coastal towns less efficient than it looks.
Croatia belongs to the Schengen Area, while document and visa requirements still depend on nationality. Consult the Croatian foreign ministry before travel and check the passport used for every border leg, particularly when the route crosses non-Schengen neighbours.
Zagreb, Split and Dubrovnik are common gateways. Coaches and cars are central to coastal travel, trains are more useful inland, and ferries follow seasonal schedules; confirm whether the selected sailing carries vehicles and reserve constrained summer departures.
May, June and September combine warm coastal conditions with less pressure than peak summer for many routes. Island ferries and accommodation are more seasonal outside that window, while inland weather differs, so verify the exact transport dates before building an island sequence.
Croatia uses the euro. Cards are common in cities and resorts, but cash can still help at markets, small island businesses and local services; check whether a ferry, parking machine or accommodation deposit accepts the chosen payment method.
Call 112 for emergencies; Croatia uses Type C and F electricity at 230 V. Treated public tap water is recorded as safe, though local notices remain authoritative, and coastal itineraries should keep current ferry, heat and wildfire information available.
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