The Ultimate Travel Guide to Croatia: History & Attractions

Game of Thrones' Dubrovnik, the waterfalls of Plitvice Lakes, the Venetian-walled city of Split, the lavender island of Hvar — Croatia packs extraordinary natural and historical wonders into Europe's most dramatic Adriatic coastline.

A Glimpse into History

Croatia's history is one of the most complex in Europe — shaped by the intersection of Western Christendom, the Byzantine and Ottoman Empires, Venetian maritime power, and the traumas of 20th-century Yugoslavia. Croats, a South Slavic people, settled the Balkans in the 7th century. The Kingdom of Croatia was established in 925 AD under King Tomislav and entered a personal union with Hungary in 1102 — the precise nature of that union (voluntary or coerced) was disputed for centuries. The Ottoman conquest of the Balkans brought devastating raids, and Croatia became the Antemurale Christianitatis (Bulwark of Christianity) — the frontier against Ottoman expansion. Venice controlled the Dalmatian coast from the 13th to 18th centuries, building the magnificent walled cities of Dubrovnik (the independent Republic of Ragusa until 1808), Split, Trogir, and Hvar that are Croatia's greatest heritage. The Habsburg Empire controlled Croatia from 1527 to 1918. The Kingdom of Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes (later Yugoslavia) emerged after WWI; WWII brought the brutal Ustasha fascist state (allied with Nazi Germany), whose crimes against Serbs, Jews, and Roma created historical wounds that contributed to Yugoslavia's violent dissolution. Croatia declared independence from Yugoslavia in 1991, triggering the Croatian War of Independence (1991–95) in which 20,000 died and 500,000 were displaced. EU membership in 2013 and adoption of the Euro in 2023 marked Croatia's full European integration. Game of Thrones filming in Dubrovnik, Split, and other locations brought unprecedented global attention from 2011–2019.

Top Attractions in Croatia

Dubrovnik Old City

The 'Pearl of the Adriatic' — a perfectly preserved medieval republic enclosed by 2-km of stone walls up to 6 metres thick and 25 metres high, perched on a limestone promontory above the impossibly blue Adriatic — is Croatia's greatest treasure and one of the world's most beautiful walled cities. The wall walk, completed in 2 hours with sea views on one side and terracotta rooftops on the other, is among Europe's finest urban experiences.

Plitvice Lakes National Park

The UNESCO-listed park — 16 terraced lakes connected by 92 waterfalls in a cascade of turquoise, emerald, and blue water through beech and fir forests — is Croatia's most visited natural attraction and one of Europe's most beautiful national parks. The lakes' extraordinary colours come from minerals, algae, and moss; the wooden boardwalks traverse the lake surfaces and behind waterfalls for uniquely intimate encounters with the water.

Split — Diocletian's Palace

Roman Emperor Diocletian built his retirement palace on the Dalmatian coast in 305 AD — a walled complex of streets, temples, and imperial apartments that over 1,700 years has evolved into the living heart of Split, with apartments, restaurants, bars, and a cathedral (the former imperial mausoleum) within its Roman walls. Roughly 3,000 people live inside the palace walls today.

Hvar Island

Croatia's sunniest island — 2,726 hours of sunshine per year, guaranteed — combines a medieval Venetian town of Renaissance piazza, a 16th-century fortress, and lavender-scented hills with some of the Adriatic's most glamorous beach clubs and restaurants. The Pakleni Islands offshore offer secluded coves accessible by water taxi, and the Stari Grad Plain (UNESCO) preserves the Greek colonial field system from 384 BC.