Vis island, a bohemian getaway, has a fascinating history. It’s the most remote of the central Dalmatian islands, and served as a military base for the Yugoslav army – and, thus, was cut off from foreign visitors – from the 1950s until 1989. No wonder this island is probably not in your tour’s brochure.

The isolation of this island kept it away from modern development for years and drove much of the population to move elsewhere in search of work, leaving it underpopulated for many years.

There are numerous well protected bays that hide many pristine beaches preserved in authentic beauty. Grandovac Beach is one of the favourites and remains virtually uncrowded, even in summer. Just above the beach there is a small beach bar, where you can enjoy a drink or two in a nice friendly and relaxing atmosphere under the shade of pine trees. Ahh paradise!

Poreč is a town and municipality on the western coast of the Istrian peninsula, in Istria County, Croatia. It is an ancient Roman town that is almost entirely devoted to high-end resorts and boating, making it a bit more touristy than nearby Pula or Novigrad, but still substantially less busy than the well-known towns of Split or Dubrovnik. This is one of the best organised cities here with ample parking lots, a good traffic flow (even when it’s congested), and one of the cleanest towns in Istria.

The town’s main sight, the Episcopal Complex of Euphrasian Basilica, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Other top sights include roman temples, medieval town walls and fortresses, gothic, baroque and romanesque palaces.

The island is well known for its tradition of harvesting red corals and handmade coral jewelry.

Few people have heard of the green island of Zlarin, which is a treasure of the Sibenik archipelago and a pearl of the Adriatic Sea. It’s a union of nature guarding the soul of the Mediterranean, together with olives, the sea and green forests.

Although lesser known, getting to Zlarin is easy as the island is well connected via ferry ports with islands Zirje, Kaprije and Prvic as well as with Sibenik and Vodice on the Croatian mainland.

Explore this corner of the world and climb the highest spot on the island – Klepac Hill, which is 169 meters above sea level, offering you one of the most spectacular views out to the city of Sibenik, which is a mile away, and to the sandy beaches, gorgeous small bays and traditional Dalmatian fisherman villages of scattered along the island coast.

Whether it is heading inland to explore the Dinaric Alps or splashing through its turquoise waterfalls, Croatia has something for everyone to enjoy.

Kornati National Park encompasses 89 unforgettable islands, islets and reefs.

Covering an area of more than 30 square kilometres, it’s the 16th largest island in Croatia and the largest island in the eponymous Kornati islands archipelago. This is where you can embark on an adventure through the National

Park’s islands. A handy travel tip: you’ll need a valid ticket to sail through the National Park.

Here you can find a surprisingly diverse ecosystem and some of the region’s most vibrant marine life. Most visitors opt to explore Kornati National Park on a full-day boat trip from Zadar. Give our team a call on 1800 242 353 if you’d like to find out more about tours to the island’s National Park.

With the Greeks, Austrians and Venetians having owned the islands at one time or another that now make up Brijuni Islands National Park, this area is full of fascinating archaeological and historical sites to visit, including the Bronze Age hill-fort dating back to the 14th Century BC, Roman ruins, a Knights Templar church and dinosaur footprints which are also on display around the islands.

While many know about Krka National Park and Plitvice Lakes National Park, the Sjeverni Velebit National Park remains lesser known to many travellers. The Velebit Mountains are the largest range in the whole country and might require a little bit more hiking than planned for a Croatian holiday, however, they’re worth it!

Hajdučki kukovi and Rožanski kukovi, an endless range of rocky peaks with diverse and bizarre forms up to 200 metres high, are situated in the very centre of the national park. The park is the ideal destination for travellers who want to have an active day. Huge rocky areas and dense forests with equally beautiful wide meadows are all part of the total 30 mountain trails for walking, trekking or hiking and cycling routes leading you through isolated, varied panoramas.

Susak has no roads, no nightclubs, few tourist facilities; instead this mysterious island consists of one village, dusty hiking trails, vast fields filled with oregano plants and sandy beaches. A large portion of this area emigrated in the mid-20th century leaving the island with only 200 residents, who have a distinct Susak dialect even Croatians cannot understand.

It’s a little tricky to get to Susak too, which has kept most tourists away.

Croatia is full of surprises and fascinating stories. There is a lot more to explore than one can fit in a blog. We love discovering more interesting spots, letting our travellers explore Croatia like no one else.