Spending a summer in Croatia is the definition of a great summer holiday! However, with over 100 coastal towns it may be hard to choose the right one, especially if it’s your first time to visit Croatia. As a local and someone who’s been going to the Croatian seaside from the age 1, I am sharing with you my top 9 coastal towns you have to visit in Croatia.
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Dubrovnik is the most popular coastal town in Croatia and for a good reason! It’s also one of my favourite places in Croatia that everyone has to visit at least once in a lifetime.
Often referred to as the Pearl of the Adriatic Sea, the Old Town of Dubrovnik was inscribed as the UNESCO World Heritage Site. Its medieval city walls are one of the best preserved in the world.
It is no surprise why it was used as a filming location for Game of Thrones, which only added up to the hype, and crowds.
Despite it being overcrowded and at times, very busy in the high season, Dubrovnik is a Croatian beach town you must add to your bucket list.
Split is the second largest city in Croatia and therefore a great place to visit.
Split was founded as the Greek colony of Aspalathos in the 3rd or 2nd century BC. In 305 AD it became the residential site of the Roman Emperor Diocletian who built the famous Diocletian’s Palace, which you can visit today.
It’s one of the easiest coastal towns in Croatia to reach via its international airport. From Europe there are many direct flights from major cities, and if you’re flying overseas, there are a lot of connecting flights via London, Amsterdam or Frankfurt.
Top Things to Do in Split
Here are the top things you can do in Split:
Visit Diocletian’s Palace – UNESCO World Heritage Site, free to visit
Rovinj has a rich history – from Roman times and being governed by the Republic of Venice to finally becoming a part of Croatia. Rovinj was under the Venetian rule for so long that it is often referred to as the Little Venice because of the similarity in the architecture.
It’s one of my favourite Croatian coastal towns, especially in Istria, which is such an underrated region.
Sibenik is a beautiful historic town on Croatia’s coast where the river Krka flows into the Adriatic Sea.
Sibenik is one of the oldest self-governing cities on the Adriatic and until the plague pandemic in the 17th century, it was the largest city on the entire eastern coast of the Adriatic.
Among locals Sibenik is often considered the most beautiful Croatian coastal town, so you definitely have to visit it.
Top Things to Do in Sibenik
Here are the top things you can do in Sibenik:
Explore the Old Town – make sure to visit the Cathedral of St. James
Trogir is a beautiful historic town and harbour on the Adriatic coast. The historic part of the city is situated on a small island between the Croatian mainland and the island of Ciovo.
Because of its outstanding beauty and Venetian architecture, the historic centre of Trogir has been enlisted in the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites in 1997.
If you ask a Croatian which coastal town is the most beautiful, the most likely answer will be Trogir (followed by Sibenik). You definitely have to add Trogir to your Croatia bucket list.
P. S. Trogir, alongside Dubrovnik, Split and Sibenik was used as a filming location for Game of Thrones.
Top Things to Do in Trogir
Here are the top things you can do in Trogir:
Explore the Old Town – don’t miss the Saint Lawrence’s Cathedral and its bell tower
Visit the Pula Arena – the only remaining Roman amphitheatre to have four side towers entirely preserved and is among 6 best preserved Roman amphitheatres in general
For some reason it took me so long to visit Primosten, but as soon as I stepped in, I fell in love. Actually, I feel in love already from the viewpoint which is overlooking the town of Primosten and nearby islands.
Primosten is a small town in North Dalmatia, very close to Sibenik and just over an hour drive from Split, so it’s definitely easy to visit.
Compared to all the other Croatian coastal towns mentioned in this blog post, Primosten is the most laid back one and is often considered as a resort town, though personally it is much more than that.
Primosten is close to Bukavac vineyard which is famous for producing some of the best wines in the region, particularly Babic wine.
Things to Do in Primosten
Here are the top things you can do in Primosten:
Enjoy the Views from Our Lady of Loretto
Explore the Old Town
Visit Prgin and Gracin Wineries and Taste Babic Wine
Miramare Hotel – next to Kolovare Beach, one of the best beaches in Zadar
Plitvice Lakes
Great Waterfall, Plitvice
Makarska
And last, but by no means least on our list of the best coastal towns you have to visit in Croatia is Makarska.
Makarska is often considered a party town, though it is much more than that! The town is the centre of the Makarska Riviera, a popular tourist destination under the Biokovo mountain.
It’s famous for its beautiful palm-fringed promenade with lots of cafes, bars and boutiques overlooking the harbour.
It’s a great base for exploring Dalmatia mainland and nearby islands too.
Hello! I’m Magdalena, a Travel Blogger based in London. Being a History Buff, I love exploring historical places and their cultural heritage, so if you’re into Culture Travel, you have come to the right place. I love sharing my travel stories with you to hopefully educate you, help you plan your travel and inspire you for your next destination.
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