Top 5 Things to Do in Croatia

My friend and I spent 5 days traveling in Croatia in July 2024, from Dubrovnik → Split → Zagreb. We chose Croatia because it felt very safe (important since we were traveling as two women), and I wanted to see King’s Landing from Game of Thrones in real life. While it was a bit hot in July, we had an amazing time sightseeing and eating plenty of delicious and fresh seafood (I had the catch of the day almost daily). Here are the highlights from our trip:

1. Plitvice Lakes National Park

Why Visit:

Plitvice Lakes is famous for its stunning series of 16 terraced lakes connected by waterfalls. It’s Croatia’s oldest and largest national park, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Highlights:

• Walk along wooden boardwalks that wind directly over the water.
• Choose from several routes. We picked Program B, which took about 3–4 hours and was perfect for a half-day visit.

How to Go:

The park is a bit far from major cities, so we rented a car in Split and drove there on the way to Zagreb. Timed entry tickets are required, so book ahead on the official site.

2. Blue Cave

Why Visit:

Step inside a cave where sunlight reflects through the water, making the entire chamber glow a surreal shade of blue.

Highlights:

• The magical moment when your boat enters the cave and the sea shifts from dark to bright, shimmering blue.

How to Go:

We visited on a day tour from Split, but there are other tours that depart from different coastal towns.

3. Dubrovnik Old Town

Why Visit:

Built in the 7th century, Dubrovnik’s Old Town is one of the best-preserved medieval cities in the world. It’s a UNESCO site and contains several filming locations for Game of Thrones.

Highlights:

• City Walls → Walk on the walls that surround the city for incredible views of terracotta rooftops and the Adriatic. There is an entrance fee, but it’s included as part of the Dubrovnik Pass (which also lets you enter several museums).
• Walking Tours → We joined a Game of Thrones tour, which was fun even for non-fans like my friend.
• Cable Car → Ride up to Mount Srđ for a panoramic sunset view (tickets are pricey, but worth it for the beautiful sunset).

How to Go:

We flew directly into Dubrovnik and stayed in Old Town, which made it easy to enjoy the atmosphere day and night.

4. Diocletian’s Palace

Why Visit:

Built by Roman Emperor Diocletian in the 4th century as his retirement residence, this UNESCO site now forms the historic core of Split.

Highlights:

• See how the place evolved from a Roman palace to a medieval city, and now a vibrant city center.
• Listen to klapa singers (traditional Dalmatian a cappella groups) perform at the Vestibule.
• Wander through the underground cellars and check out the shops.

How to Go:

We stayed in Split and explored the palace area on a walking tour, which gave great context to the history.

5. Hvar

Why Visit:

A beautiful island with medieval charm and a relaxed Mediterranean vibe.

Highlights:

• Stroll through Hvar Town’s squares, shops, and seaside restaurants.
• Excursions to nearby attractions like Blue Cave and Srebrena (filming location for Mama Mia)

How to Go:

We visited Hvar for a few hours on the same day tour from Split. It was very hot in the afternoon so we mostly stayed near the port, but the atmosphere was so relaxing that I wished we had stayed overnight.