Must-see attractions in Croatia

  • Revelin fort overlooks the old town harbour

    Fort Revelin

    Dubrovnik

    The largest of the old-town forts sits separately from the city walls, overlooking the Old Harbour and the eastern entrance to the old town. Housed inside…

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    Dr Franjo Tuđman Bridge

    Dubrovnik

    When it opened in 2002 this 518m-long lopsided cable-stayed bridge cut the drive west from Dubrovnik by 20 minutes. Park at the lot on the far side of the…

  • The front of the Marin Držić museum

    Marin Držić House

    Dubrovnik

    Educational but not terribly interesting (unless you're a fan of 16th-century Croatian theatre), this small museum is devoted to Marin Držić (c 1508–67),…

  • The front of the Church of St Nicholas

    St Nicholas' Church

    Elafiti Islands

    Dedicated to the patron saint of sailors, St Nicholas attests to the times when Lopud was an important seafaring centre. Positioned on the waterfront,…

  • The front entrance to the Natural History museum

    Natural History Museum

    Dubrovnik

    Spread over four sparsely populated floors, this low-key museum has displays on invasive fish species, a very cool arrangement of seashells suspended in…

  • Fort Bokar seen from the Pile Gate drawbridge

    Fort Bokar

    Dubrovnik

    The westernmost tower of the city walls was built to protect the approach to Pile Gate.

  • Rupe museum is housed in the sturdy building of the former Republic's granary

    Ethnographic Museum

    Dubrovnik

    Inhabiting the 16th-century Rupe Granary, this museum contains mildly interesting exhibits relating to agriculture and local customs.

  • Synagogue

    Split

    Built into the western wall of Diocletian's Palace, Split's synagogue is the third-oldest synagogue in Europe that's still in use. Created out of two…

  • Vela Spila

    Korčula Island

    Spacious enough to make cave-dwelling seem like a viable accommodation option, this large domed cavern, high on a cliff above the harbour, has been…

  • Green Cave

    Vis Island

    When things began to get crazy-busy at the more impressive Blue Cave, tour operators started to market this much larger sea cave as a free alternative,…

  • Porta Caesarea

    Split

    This 1st-century eastern city gate was later engulfed by Salona as the city spread eastwards. Grooves in the stone road left by ancient wheels can still…

  • Veliki Revelin Tower

    Korčula Island

    The main entrance to the old city is through the southern land gate at the base of this tower. Built in the 14th century and later extended, this…

  • Marco Polo House

    Korčula Island

    Located in the skinny tower of the house that is purported to have been Marco Polo's, this tiny museum has a few displays, but perhaps the real appeal of…

  • Five Martyrs Basilica

    Split

    Just outside the ancient walls of Salona is this ruined basilica. It was built on the site of an early Christian cemetery where the remains of some of…

  • Batana Ecomuseum

    Rovinj

    This tiny museum is dedicated to the batana, a flat-bottomed fishing boat that stands as a symbol of Rovinj’s seafaring and fishing traditions. Although…

  • Theatre

    Split

    At Salona very little remains of the Forum, the large square that was the administrative, economic and religious centre of every Roman city. More…

  • Golden Gate

    Split

    The biggest and grandest of the city gates, this was the main processional entrance into Diocletian's Palace. Metal bars once blocked the outer entrance,…

  • Bronze Gate

    Split

    The most unassuming of the gates to Diocletian's Palace, this humble entrance once opened straight from the water into the basement. Look up and you'll be…

  • Episcopal Centre

    Split

    This section of the ruins of ancient Salona includes a three-aisled, 5th-century cathedral with an octagonal baptistery, and the remains of Bishop…

  • New Research on Split Cathedral

    Split

    Situated opposite the Cathedral of St Domnius, this exhibition features large-scale photos of architectural features of the cathedral along with technical…

  • Silver Gate

    Split

    Originally a double gate on the eastern wall of Diocletian's Palace, only the inner part of this portal remains, decorated with arches and niches that…

  • Marco Polo Museum

    Korčula Island

    One for the kiddies, this somewhat tacky display tells the story of Polo's extraordinary life by way of seven life-sized waxwork tableaux illustrating key…

  • Sea Gate Tower

    Korčula Island

    This small, crumbling tower has an inscription in Latin from 1592 stating, somewhat fancifully, that Korčula was founded after the fall of Troy. It now…

  • Small Governor's Tower

    Korčula Island

    This tower was built in 1449 to protect the port and the Governor’s Palace, which used to stand next to the town hall. It's not open to the public.

  • Iron Gate

    Split

    The high arches of this large double gate lead from Diocletian's Palace to the main city square.

  • New Gate

    Zadar

    This modest archway is the city's most important gate as it is the main tourist entrance from the handy footbridge across the harbour.

  • Large Governor's Tower

    Korčula Island

    Built in 1483, this conical tower protected the harbour and the Governor's Palace, which used to stand next to the town hall.

  • Town Gate

    Trogir

    The main northern entrance to the old town, topped by a statue of the Blessed Ivan Orsini, Trogir's first bishop.

  • Kanavelić Tower

    Korčula Island

    The renovated Kanavelić Tower has a semicircular profile topped with battlements. It's not open to the public

  • Baths

    Split

    The remains of the public baths of the ancient Roman city of Salona.

  • St Rok's Gate

    Zadar

    This humble gate is handy for reaching the ferries and excursion boats that line the harbour here.

  • Round Tower

    Poreč

    One of the city's Venetian-era towers; it once guarded the southeastern section of the city.

  • Northern Tower

    Poreč

    A ruined Venetian tower, located in the northeast corner of the old town.

  • Pentagonal Tower

    Poreč

    One of the Venetian towers, flanking the main entrance to the old town.

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