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.
36 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Souvenir store
Green Market, known locally as Pazar, is Split's principal open-air market situated near the eastern edge of Diocletian's Palace. The market occupies a long rectangular space where vendors sell fresh produce, regional specialties, and everyday goods.
Ribarnica
Fish Market, known locally as Peškarija, is a covered seafood market in central Split near the waterfront. It is a working food market where residents and visitors encounter the daily trade in Adriatic fish and seafood.
Matejuška
Matejuška Harbour is a small historic fishing port on the western end of Split’s Riva waterfront. Its boats, stone quays, nets and working maritime setting offer a close look at the city’s coastal character.
Splitska sinagoga
Split Synagogue, known locally as Splitska sinagoga, stands as a Jewish house of worship in the coastal Croatian city of Split.
Crkva svetog Martina
Church of Saint Martin, or Crkva svetog Martina, is a small church within Diocletian's Palace in Split.
Kašjuni
Kasjuni Beach, locally called Plaža Kašjuni, is a pebble beach on the southern side of Marjan Hill, west of Split’s historic centre. Pine-covered slopes frame the bay, creating a greener and quieter setting than the central waterfront.
Plaža Ježinac
Jezinac Beach, locally known as Plaža Ježinac, is a coastal bathing area in Split along the Adriatic shore. It belongs to the city’s network of seaside spaces and offers a straightforward setting for swimming, sunbathing and a short coastal break.
Firule
Firule Beach, locally called Plaža Firule, is a coastal beach in Split on the eastern side of the peninsula. It lies between the city centre and the Bačvice area, making it an easy seaside addition to an urban day.
Froggyland is a compact museum in Split devoted to taxidermied frogs arranged in human scenes. The attraction offers an unusual alternative to the city’s Roman monuments, waterfront views, and church interiors.
Palača Cindro
Cindro Palace is a historic residence within Split’s Diocletian’s Palace complex. The palace is associated with the Cindro family, a prominent noble family in Split, and represents the later residential layers built into and around the ancient Roman structure.
Palača Milesi
Milesi Palace, known locally as Palača Milesi, is a historic palace within Split’s UNESCO-listed Diocletian’s Palace complex.
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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