We had dreamed about visiting the charming towns and cities of Croatia long before we actually got to visit. So when we finally booked the flights, we knew we wanted to see as many of the quaint towns as we possibly could whilst there. We visited more popular choices, such as Zadar and Split (two excellent choices if planning your own trip by the way), but we also discovered sleepier towns, oozing with charm but with fewer tourists. Here are just ten of our favourites.
ROVINJ
Considered the heart of Istria, Rovinj is the dreamiest of all towns in Croatia (in my opinion). It is an extremely picturesque fishing town, made up of pretty pastel-coloured townhouses and surrounded by the emerald green Adriatic sea. Once ruled by the Venetians, Rovinj unsurprisingly mimics Venice, packed full of cafe-lined squares and gorgeous cobbled streets, but the highlight is most definitely the harbour, where the boats sway in the breeze. Rovinj is an absolute must if planning your own trip to Croatia.
MOTOVUN
An hours drive from Rovinj, medieval Motovun is a walled town surrounded by beautiful Istrian countryside. Motovun is known best for the truffles that fill the forests nearby and for excellent wine and the souvenir shops that line the cobbled streets offer tasting sessions and samples. We walked along the walls of the town enjoying views of olive groves and vineyards in the surrounding areas. Much quieter than the coastal towns within the Istria area, we loved exploring this little town.
GROZNJAN
Overlooking the Mirna river valley, Groznjan is a perfect combination of the old medieval buildings reflective of its Venetian past and the new artistic flair that makes Groznjan so charming today. We loved wandering around the cobbled streets and took a walk along the olive orchards, stopping to pick figs from the trees and to admire the rolling hills. Groznjan felt like an undiscovered secret as we explored the town with fewer tourists than anywhere else we visited.
PULA
The biggest city in Istria is Pula. With the Adriatic sea on its doorstep, Pula’s natural surroundings are gorgeous, but the gem of the city is most definitely the preserved Roman amphitheater. The huge amphitheater as well as other roman ruins found throughout Pula adds an interesting historical charm to the otherwise commercial city that encourages many to name Pula ‘Little Rome’. We loved wandering around the streets discovering all the ruins and soaking up the laid-back atmosphere.
ŠIBENIK
Šibenik is one of the most picturesque coastal cities in the Dalmatia area. We visited only a few hours, wandering around the cobble stoned maze of shaded back streets and alleyways, but fell instantly in love with the city. The gem of the city is the cathedral of St James. Highlights also include the St Lawrence Monastery medieval gardens and of course St Michael’s Fortress, which overlooks the city and the water below. It is the perfect day trip from the more popular Dalmatian cities of Zadar or Split. You can see more about Šibenik here.
TROGIR
Gorgeous Trogir sits within medieval walls on an island accessible only by boat or bridge. The maze of marbled streets lead out to the seaside promenade lined with bars and cafe’s as well as the market selling local treats and handmade souvenirs. Trogir is the perfect day trip from close-by Split and is ideal for slowly meandering and enjoying the sunshine.
ZADAR
Zadar, in northern Dalmatia, is home to old Roman ruins, medieval churches and laid-back cafe’s and bars set on a small peninsula. Having gained popularity only in the last few years, Zadar is the ideal city break without the crowds. We spent our time exploring the streets and churches before spending a balmy afternoon on the waterfront, listening to the famous sea organ and enjoying the views across the water.
SPLIT
Split is a vibrant city where lively bars, restaurants and cafe’s sit within the historic walls of the city. Diocletian’s Palace is what draws tourists here and is where we sat, drink in hand, watching people dance in the square. The palm tree-lined waterfront is the best place to sit back with a coffee and watch the boats on the water. Split was definitely the busiest place we visited on our Croatian road trip, but for good reason. The buzzing atmosphere is magnetic and the nearby beaches mean travelers are treated to a beautiful combination of city and seaside in one place.
HVAR TOWN
Hvar town was the ideal place to base ourselves when we visited Hvar Island. We spent our time wandering the cobbled streets on the hunt for coffee, meandering along the the palm-lined promenade and sitting overlooking the sparkling harbour. In the evenings we snaked our way through the maze of candlelit, cobbled back streets, to find tucked away bars serving local wine. Hvar is infamous for party-goers and yachting-types, but when we visited in September, we found ourselves a sleepier, more charming town.
STARI GRAD
Also situated on Hvar Island, Stari Grad is the perfect place for those looking to stay somewhere quieter than Hvar town but with the same charm. The beautiful harbour and winding cobbled streets made this one of our favourite towns to visit on the island, ideal for a stroll in the sunshine. We only visited for an afternoon but could have happily stayed longer.
These are just some of the many gorgeous towns and cities that make up Croatia, each with their own charm. We can’t wait to head back and explore more. Do you think you would like to discover the quaint towns of Croatia?
