Main Square, Trogir, Croatia by Hervé

Top sights to see in Trogir

Trogir old town is in fact an island that is connected to the mainland by one bridge and one foot bridge. Another one connects the nearby island of Čiovo.

St. Lovro Cathedral known simply as Trogir Cathedral is a dominant feature and the most important monument of Trogir. This beautiful building, built in Venetian style, really worth paying a visit. It will return you back to the 13th century, when its construction started. You will also have to stop (at least for a while) at the Central Square that offers a live and historical picture of this place.

Trogir Cathedral from the main square by Hervé

Another on the list is St. Michael Bell tower. But the list does not stop here. Kamerlengo Fortress, St. Dominic Monastery, North Gate, The Church of St. Peter and Loggia-Doorway are also a few sites that fill your life with the unforgettable moments.

Then there is a town museum, Palace Cipiko, Church of St. Barbara, Vitturi Tower, Chapel of Ivan Orsini, Marmont’s monument and City Hall too.

Walking Tour

Why not take up a tour on your own? You can enjoy historic sites on the way and even do a lot of shopping if you wish to. You can walk around the whole town within 15 minutes as the island’s perimeter is just about 1 kilometer long. However if you wish to stroll through all its narrow streets hidden by the town walls, it can take a couple of hours.

Kamerlengo Fortress, Trogir by Hervé

Private tours

If you wish to, you can charter boats and yachts for some unforgettable moments in the beautiful Adriatic sea, around the medieval town of Trogir and the nearby small island of Čiovo.

Cooking Class

You can also join one day cooking class and learn some tips and tricks of Croatian cuisine. If you just want to try some local food there are many places to enjoy Italian or Croatian specialties. Furthermore, you can hit any café, bar or restaurant on the go and witness peaceful and leisure time.

Last but not the least are the beaches, lavender-covered islands as well as Roman ruins to take your breath away. There is something for everyone in this perl of Croatia.

The post Trogir – one of the best preserved European medieval places appeared first on Europe Explored.

If you wish to get there, you can take a boat from Hvar that is availed by none other than Villa Meneghello and you can reach the resort on the island.

Pakleni islands, Croatia by Rui Ornelas

What to do in the Palmižana resort

You can visit beautiful botanical gardens of the island. There are wonderful exotic plants like agaves, laurels, eucalyptus, opuntia cactus, succulents and cacti, olives, mimosas and many other aromatic plants as well as herbs. You can also check out rosemary on each and every slope. This is why the island is also known as Island of Rosemary.

There is a tourist complex on the island that facilitates a lot of group activities and workshops like diving, jewelry, art as well as undersea photo safari etc. The place is ideal for people of all age groups and preferred by honeymooners too.

If you wish to check out antique stuff or shipwrecks or amphorae collection, you can check out the same at Meneghello family. The island also offers treasures like undersea landscape, corals as well as fishes. You can enjoy the shades of old pines or views from terraces of bungalows and restaurants etc. There is also a marina with the capacity of approximately 200 boats.

You can indulge in sailing, wind surfing too. The weather conditions are favorable and all you need is just go for it. If you think these sports are not for you, then try shopping, bars or restaurants.

You can take your children along as there is no automobile on the island except bicycles and of course, boats. Have fun with them and share activities. You cannot miss it.

The post Palmižana – holiday and honeymoon resort on the Island of Rosemary appeared first on Europe Explored.

To reach Bol, all you have to do is fly to Split and then take a boat from Split harbour. If you reach there in high season, then chances are that you may get a flight to Brač island airport too.

Zlatni rat beach, Bol, Croatia by roberfunk

What to do

Basically, Bol is small. You can go from north to south in approximately 40 minutes. You can take local bus or scooter/car on hire for exploring the island. It is advisable that you carry flat shoes because Bol is accessible very easily by walking as everything falls in close proximity and also since the town is on a hill.

You can go windsurfing, diving or enjoy water sports. The beaches are very beautiful too. Other than that, you can enjoy tennis at any of the twenty-six clay tennis courts that offer wonderful sea and mountains views. You can also try your hand at kitesurfing. Of course, there are experienced instructors for both kitesurfing and windsurfing. If not, then just enjoy the most beautiful beach called Zlatni rat, which is also a main feature of this town. Thanks to this beach, Bol is the largest, most visited and most popular resort on the island. You would probably not find anyone who haven’t visited this beach when staying at island of Brač.

This sandy beach is over 600 meters long and consists of shingle spit in the shape of a triangle. An interesting fact is that this spit changes its shape depending on the tides. Zlatni Rat beach is lined with pine trees and is popular especially among the fans of windsurfing and other water sports. The town of Bol is situated on quite a long part of the coast, so in addition to the beach Zlatni Rat it also offers other pebble and sandy beaches. To the west it is followsed by the naturist beach Paklina.

Bol town, Brač, Dalmatia, Croatia by Roni Marinkovič

What to See

You can witness wonderful ancient monastery and other historic buildings by Venetian rulers. You can also check out Vidova Gora that happens to be the highest point from where you can enjoy views of Dalmatian coast.

If you are food lover, then you will not be disappointed. You can check out old wine cellar, cafes, cocktail bars as well as restaurants that offer the famous brac lamb and fresh fish. Places to visit are Topolino, Maza, Varadero’s and Podrum etc. that offer reasonably priced food and drinks.

Today Bol is a popular tourist center and one of the first places on the list in terms of quality of service, cleanliness of the beaches, offers cultural and sporting activities. The seafront promenade is ideal for a romantic evening walks, local restaurants and bars invite you to sit back with a good wine or tasting local specialties. Sports-minded individuals will appreciate twenty tennis courts and a large tennis stadium with 1820 seats. Bol is also ideal for lovers of soccer, volleyball, basketball, cycling and increasingly popular extreme sports like trekking, paragliding or rock climbing.

If you’re a fan of hiking, you can take the output of the Vidova Gora mountain, which rises to an altitude of 780 meters.

The post Bol – a famous seaside resort on Adriatic Sea | Dalmatia, Croatia appeared first on Europe Explored.

Croatian National Theater, Zagreb, Croatia by snupix

Although Zagreb is not on the list of the main tourist attractions in the country, it is definitely worth a short visit. The history of this city dates back to the 11th century, when it was a place of two separate medieval cities – Kaptol and Gradec. Kaptol was the center of religious power and the bishopric. Gradec was declared a free royal city, which was the start of its administrative and economic growth. Both cities had their own walls, moats, towers and gates, and were separated by the river Medveščak. These two cities were often fighting against themselves. The events of this period are still commemorated at the street called Krvavi Most (Bloody Bridge) – a place of the former bridge.

In 1880 Zagreb suffered extensive damage after a strong earthquake. Many important monuments which are now the pride of the city, were built after this date.

The place is basically accessible through airplanes, trains, car and buses too. Hence, travelling to/from Zagreb is pretty easy and it should not be a tough task for you to book tickets.

Even the public transportation of this place is pretty efficient and developed. However, if you wish to have your own private transport facility, then you can take taxi service to move around and visit different places in Zagreb.

Ban Jelačić Square, Zagreb, Croatia by Delaina Haslam

Places to visit

• You can start with Lower and Upper Town. From religious and commercial to cultural, you will find a lot of tourist sights there. There, you can visit Old Town gate and Strossmayer Setaliste.
• If you like cycling, lake rowing and jogging, you can visit Maksimir Park and Zoo. There are eating joints, places for long walks by lakes or through forest. Other than that there is Mazuranic Square, Zrinjevac Park, Botanical Gardens, Square of Marsal Tito, King Tmislav Square and two lakes, namely Bundek and Jarun. A variety of activities are hosted at these two lakes, like sports, barbecue, windsurfing, workshops, firework festivals, music festivals, concerts and horticultural shows etc.
• Other places include museums like Muzej Mimara, Arheoloski Muzej, Klovicevi Dvori, Moderna Galerija and few more. Then there is Mirogoj cemetery and Medvedgrad fortress on Medvednica mountain.
• You can take up participate in Snow Queen Trophy if you are in Zagreb in January. It is a Ski World Cup Race. While in summer months you can take up guided cycle tours around the city, known as Blue Bike ZagrebByBike.
• If you wish to buy souvenirs, you can visit Millennium for jewelry, pottery and crystal etc, GEA Gallery for handmade stuff and Turisticki Informativni Centar, if you wish to buy books, crystals, pottery and postcards etc.

Gradec, Zagreb, Croatia by Suradnik13

Zagreb is also a metropolis full of greenery, providing a number of different parks and gardens. Right in the heart of the city you can find a unique park system, called “Green Horseshoe” (Zelena potkova). You can visit a large botanical garden established in the English style.

The post Zagreb – Croatia’s capital with an extraordinary number of the cultural institutions appeared first on Europe Explored.

• Most significant national park in 8 of Croatia’s.
• One of 5 fascinating waterfalls in the world.
• First natural place as part of UNESCO World Heritage

Plitvice Lakes National Park, Croatia by 29cm

There are approximately 200 beautiful waterfalls in this national park that spreads to some 200 km sq area. What’s more are about twenty lakes that add the magnificence and breathtaking views of this park.

Things to do

If you are planning to travel to Croatia, then you should definitely spend a day or two at Plitvice Lakes National Park. Here is a list of what to do:
A shuttle bus called Panoramic Train follows a specific route that you can take up. Simply walk through the beautiful wooden paths above water. If you wish to trek, then mountains offer wondrous lakes views. You can take up a climb. Once you decide to end it, hop into the bus and you can easily reach back to the entrance.
Otherwise, if you wish to, you can ride a boat. Smaller boats are available for rent and larger boats take travelers on pleasure ride. However, no other water activity or swimming is allowed in the park.

Wooden paths in Plitvice Lakes National Park, Croatia by Jimmy Harris

Accommodation

You can rent apartment in villages that are situated closer to the national park. These places are designed to make sure your stay is pleasurable and comfortable too. If not, you can check out hotel accommodation and pre-book accordingly. Do plan to stay for at least a day and a night minimum.

Food

Local restaurants located in closer by villages offer wonderful Croatian delicacies. If you want to eat in the park, Licka Kuca is there in the park itself where you can enjoy traditional Lika food.

Boat in Plitvice Lakes National Park, Croatia by ornello_pics

Flora and fauna

Some wildlife worth checking includes rare bird species, deer, boars, wolves and bears.

Plitvice Lakes National Park is open all year round, from 7:00 to 20:00 in summer, or from 8:00 to 16:00 in winter, when you can see the lakes covered by ice and snow. The basic admission for adults is 80Kn (€10) in winter and 110Kn (€15) in summer. For further information you can visit https://en.np-plitvicka-jezera.hr/

The post Plitvice Lakes – largest and most popular national park in Croatia appeared first on Europe Explored.

Reaching There

You can use airplane, train, bus, car, cruise ship and even ferries from selected points. Depending on what suits you better, you can book any of these means for reaching Dubrovnik.

Dubrovnik, Croatia by Michaelphillipr

Knowing The Ways To Navigate In The City

Since the old town is more a maze of little streets, you can make use of signs that are placed at entrances for reaching restaurants, shops and accommodation etc on any particular street/direction. You can opt for bus if you are not in the Old Town. If not, then you can check out car rentals.

What To See

There may be many people who think that Dubrovnik was damaged a lot during 1991-95, its war for independence. However, a lot has been repaired, with some marks left on stone houses’ walls etc.

Dubrovnik at Night, Croatia by Mr Hicks46

If you are in the Old Town, then you can check out Bell Tower, Rector’s Palace, Roland’s Column, Sponza Palace, Aquarium, Big Onofrio’s Fountain, War Photo Limited, Old Port, Pile Gate, Fort Lovriienac, Placa Stradun and Visia Dubrovnik 5D. You can further enjoy the view of city walls. A visit to these is highly recommended. There are 3 entrances; Custom’s House gate, gate by Saint John’s Fort and by Pile gate on Stradun.

Within these walls, you can visit Fort Revelin, Fort Lawrence, Fort St. John’s, Fort Minceta, St. Luke’s Tower, Aquarium, Maritime Museum and Bokar Fort. You can also visit churches while at Dubrovnik. Some of them are Church of St. Blaise, Franciscan Monastery, Dominican Monastery, Serbian Orthodox Church and Church of St. Sebastian.

Rector’s Palace, Dubrovnik, Croatia by Mr Hicks46

There are a lot of beaches and museums and you can also indulge in activities like sailing, boat trips, swimming, Cliff jumping as well as watching theatre, film, concerts and night clubs etc. at Lazareti.

The post Dubrovnik – a prominent and beautiful tourist resort in Croatia appeared first on Europe Explored.

It is a system of 16 lakes covering an area of ​​19.5 hectares. The lakes are interconnected by the rivers, cascades and waterfalls – these are around 90. Plitvice lakes are one of the most visited tourist attractions in Croatia.

Plitvice Lakes National Park, Croatia by 29cm

The lakes are surrounded by forested hills of the mountain massifs of Mala Kapela, Medvjedak and Lička Plješevica. The lakes are divided into two parts.

The upper part consists of 12 lakes and are situated in the Dolomite valley and are fed by the rivers of Bijela and Crna Rijeka. It is here where you can find one of the largest lakes of the park, Prošćansko lake, with an area of ​​68 hectares. It is also the highest situated lake, as we can find it at an altitude of 639 meters. The largest lake is that of Lake Kozjak covering an area of ​​81.5 hectares which is, with its depth of 46 meters, also the deepest one. The lakes are connected by beautiful waterfalls, from which the best are the cascade of Sastavci, that are 49 metres high.

The second part of the Plitvice Lakes consists of four lakes that are formed by water dropping into underground caves. There are 20 karst caves that can be found in this part of the lake system. The water of these lakes is rich in various shades of blue and green colors.

Plitvice Lakes National Park, Croatia by Silviapef

Forest around the national park is one of the best preserved of its kind in Europe. Since there is rare flora, there are several places that are protected and inaccessible to visitors of the park at all. There is also a number of endemic species, very interesting is a meadow with 42 species of orchids and 16 species of lilies. Forest have become a home to big predators such as wolves, lynx and bears. You can also meet wild boars, hares, foxes, weasels, martens, kingfishers and storks.

Plitvice Lakes National Park is changing persistently. The current appearance of the park may be a history in the few years. For example, in the last 35 years the water level of the lakes rose by 0.5 meters, which changed the contours and shape of the cascades. The total area of ​​the park is almost 300 square kilometers and thus lakes and waterfalls are just a tiny fraction of this unique area.

Plitvice Lakes, Croatia by René Krečmer

Currently, visitors can access just a part of the park. It is possible to see the lakes by following the trail which is 18 km long. You cannot leave the marked trails. Also swimming is prohibited in the lakes. The park is open all year round and the admission fee is about 10EUR in low season (November 1 – March 31) and about 15EUR in high season (April 1 – October 31). There is a mild climate in the park, temperature in July is around 23 °C, in January around 3°C when the park is usually covered with snow. The park is open daily from 7:00 to 20:00 in summer or from 08:00 to 16:00 in winter.

The post Plitvice Lakes National Park – the most famous national park in Croatia appeared first on Europe Explored.

By the fall of the great Roman Empire, the area where present day Opatija stands was under the control of the Byzantine Empire until the Slavs arrived in the area around the 7th century. By the 12th century, the Franks arrived and with them, the city flourished. However, it was not until the construction of the St. James monastery during the 15th century that the present day Opatija would be born.

Opatija, Istria, Croatia by Vzach

In 1844, the city of Opatija became one of the first resort towns along the Adriatic Sea when the Villa Angelina was constructed and opened its doors to guests for the first time. Soon after, the Grand Hotel Kvarner would open its doors and help mold the city into the resort town it is today.

The Villa Angelina still stands today and one can even visit it as it has since been turned into a museum. It is located in the middle of the town’s botanical gardens which are simply an awe-inspiring place to visit. The gardens cover 3.64 hectares and are home to more than 150 plant species. The Grand Hotel Kvarner still accepts guests on a regular basis and is still one of the most popular hotels in the city.

There are many medieval buildings located throughout Opatija as well as several prehistoric ruins to see while you are in town. In the nearby Učka Natural Park, artifacts dating back to the 1th century B.C. have been unearthed. There are many great locations of historical importance to visit when you are in Opatija.

The post Opatija – one of the first resort towns along the Adriatic Sea | Croatia appeared first on Europe Explored.

Now what would you say if this could all be but one day of your itinerary? Well, it could be, if you and your spouse choose to honeymoon in beautiful, historical Croatia!

Baška, Krk, Croatia / Photo by admin

In Croatia, you can enjoy both untouched, expansive scenery from rolling hills to mighty mountains to the picture perfect villages, or you can dance until dawn and enjoy world class shopping and the finest array of cuisines in the capitol, Zagreb, a lively metropolis of more than three quarters of a million people. Or a yacht charter; Croatia has a vast coast line, too!

Croatia offers its visitors both a glimpse of Old Europe, with restored castles and ancient cities dotting its picturesque landscape, with all the charm and history of any of its European neighbors, as well all the comforts and amenities of the most up to date modern conveniences. You can have the best of both worlds, the Old and the Modern, in lovely Croatia.

Baška, Krk, Croatia / Photo by admin

And what better way to see a country that boasts so much beautiful coastline — hundreds and hundreds of miles of rugged cliffs and perfect beaches lining the Mediterranean sea — than by boat?

When you and your spouse arrange for a yacht charter Croatia spreads its beauty before you from the deep blue seas. There truly is no better way to explore this lovely land than by traveling up and down its coast and visiting both the continental mainland and also its many wonderful islands. With a yacht  charter Croatia becomes a country of both the land and the sea. Where else can you spend time in breathtaking mountains with views down to the Mediterranean sea below and then in hardly any time at all be sailing across the seas and looking back up at rugged mountains dotted with centuries old villages, churches and castles?

Baška, Krk, Croatia / Photo by admin

Croatia is a land that invites you to enjoy it in your own way. If you and your spouse want a relaxed honeymoon, there are beautiful beaches and resorts and the finest spas in Europe at your disposal. If you wish to start your marriage off with rugged outdoor activities, such as hiking and cycling in the summer and world class skiing in winter, you can do that too! And don’t forget about the sea — a yacht charter, Croatia’s coast line at sunset, and a bottle of local wine — perfection!

Jillian Johnson is a professional marketing content writer with an interest in writing about travel and leisure. Follow her @MissWritey.

The post Set Sail for Your Honeymoon in Croatia appeared first on Europe Explored.

Old Town harbour at night, Dubrovnik, Croatia by hozinja

There are so many awesome places to visit and fabulous things to do in Croatia that you would never be able to pack them all into one trip. However, while you’re there, don’t miss out on these three outstanding places and activities.

Dubrovnik

Dubrovnik is among the most romantic cities in the world. The southern-most point in Croatia is even more romantic than Paris. It’s surrounded by the clear, beautiful waters of the Adriatic Sea. The walls of the city were built in the medieval period. During the Croatian War of Independence, Dubrovnik was bombed heavily from 1991 to 1995. Most of the wreckage has been repaired, but you can still see residual mortar damage and bullet holes in the stone houses. While you’re in Dubrovnik, check out the Bell Tower. Bronze statues on top of the tower strike a gigantic bell on the hour. Rector’s Palace is home to a Croatian historical museum. Placa Stradum, also called Old Town, is in the center of the city. The perpendicular streets are lined with tourist shops and sidewalk cafes. Many of the buildings date back to the mid-1600s. At night, Placa Stradum is filled with people enjoying the pleasant weather and the excitement of the city.

Marina Kremik

After visiting Dubrovnik, go to Marina Kremik for a Croatia yacht charter from “The Split,” which is right in the center of the coastline. You’ll never forget leisurely sailing across the crystal clear Adriatic waters. Marina Kremik sits in a picturesque bay surrounded by vineyards that are hundreds of years old. These are the vineyards that produce the famous Babic wine. Kremik is one of the nicest ports in the entire world. It is well-lit and secure. If you love the sea, you will absolutely love Marina Kremik. The Kornati National Park and Split Airport are only about 30 km from the marina. Kremik has shopping, a seaside restaurant and all the facilities you need to sail around the Adriatic Sea.

Mljet, Croatia by Bruno

The Island of Mljet

The third must-see destination in Croatia is the Island of Mljet, which is famous for world-class SCUBA diving. Mljet has underwater caves, coral reefs and an abundance of unique, exotic sea life. It is home to the largest stony coral reef in the entire Mediterranean Sea. The elongated island is parallel to the Peninsula of Peljesac and directly across the Mljetski Channel, which is only eight km wide. Mljet is very close to Dubrovnik. Some people believe that Mljet is Homer’s fabled island of Ogygia, which was mentioned in his epic tale “The Odyssey.” It is where the goddess Calypso enchanted Odysseus and kept him as her lover for seven years when he traveled home from the Trojan War. There is a cave near Babino Polje that resembles Calypso’s lush hideaway. It is uncertain whether Mljet was Homer’s inspiration, but it is beautiful enough to be a mythical paradise.

Jesse Dugan and his team of expert writers guest blog for sites all over the web in several different categories. Follow him @JesseDugan

The post 3 Things You Must Do When Visiting Croatia appeared first on Europe Explored.