Tourism in Croatia is a well-developed industry as Croatia is an attractive
tourist destination, particularly because of its extensive coastline
and well-preserved coastal Renaissance towns. In 2005, Croatia had 10 million
tourist visitors.
The interior of the country, with the exception of the capital Zagreb, the erstwhile
Baroque capital
Varaždin and a plethora of medieval
castles, has fewer tourist attractions. Eight areas in the country have been designated
national parks, and the landscape in these
areas is afforded extra protection from development.
Several companies run
flotillas of yachts along different
stretches of the coastline, which is also popular with divers.
The country is currently being advertised under the motto The Mediterranean As It
Once Was.
Tourist regions in Croatia
The Croatian Tourist Board has divided Croatia into eight distinct tourist regions:
1: Istria
The peninsula of Istria has the best tourist infrastructure
in Croatia. Its west coast has several historical towns dating from Roman times,
such as
Poreč (Euphrasian Basilica) and Pula (Amphitheater),
surrounded by large hotel complexes, resorts, camps and sports facilities. The interior
is quieter, very green and wooded, with dozens of tiny stone towns perched on hills,
such as
Motovun. The island group of Brijuni is a site
of luxury tourism.
2: Kvarner & Highlands
This is probably the most varied region. The entire Kvarner gulf provides
striking sceneries, with tall mountains right next to the sea, overlooking a dozen
large islands. The island of Pag has one of
the biggest party zones in Europe in the town of Novalja Tourist resorts
range from
Opatija and
Lovran, with their feel of Austro-Hungarian
imperial decadence, to the former
Venetian island towns of Rab and Lošinj.
The interior regions Gorski kotar, Velebit and Lika have vast
stretches of virginal nature, with mountain peaks, forests and fields, many animal
species including bears, and the national parks of Plitvice Lakes and
Risnjak.
3: Dalmatia - Zadar
This region is a yachting paradise. The Kornati National Park
has hundreds of mostly uninhabited islands. Aside from Zadar, a Roman town with
many monuments, there are many smaller coastal resorts. The interior has mixed plains
and mountains, with the impressive Paklenica canyon as
the main attraction.
4: Dalmatia - Šibenik This is another popular yachting region, dotted with
islands, and centered around Šibenik and its famous
cathedral. The interior has the Krka National Park
with its waterfalls and religious monasteries, and the city of Knin with its medieval
fortress and archeological remains.
5: Dalmatia - Split The large islands of this region, which such pearls as
the town of
Hvar or the resort of
Bol, would be its main attraction
if there was not the city of
Split and its unique Roman heritage,
the
Diocletian's Palace. There is also the
excellently preserved coastal town of Trogir, which boasts
of over ten churches, a cathedral, palaces and a fortress. The small town of Primošten is famous
throughout the country for its abundant vineyards and wine.
6: Dalmatia - Dubrovnik Probably the most famous Croatian site, the fortified
city of Dubrovnik is a breathtaking sight, but the
region has numerous attractive islands, ranging from the historical
Korčula to the untouched
forests of
Mljet.
7: Central Croatia The most interesting part of this large region is the
north, with the old city of Varaždin and the hilly
area of
Zagorje, dotted with castles and spas. The Marian shrine of
Marija Bistrica is the largest and most notable
pilgramage spot for the faithful in the entire country. The south has some natural
highlights, such as the nature park Lonjsko polje,
where it covers the area of the former Nazi Jasenovac concentration
camp. The southwest area is known for it's forests and wilderness,
especially. Baroque churches are found readily thoughout
the area, along with other cultural architecture. Much rebuilding is being done
in the areas destroyed during the Croatian war of independence.
8: Slavonia Tourism in this region is just developing, mostly with spas.
The area of Baranja has the national park of Kopački rit,
a large swamp with an incredible variety of fauna, especially birds. The cultural
center is the historical city of
Osijek, with other notable cities being
Đakovo and war-torn
Vukovar. Gastronomy specialities
are popular, with traditional Slavonian wines and cuisine being a unique part of
the region.
9: Zagreb Like Prague or Budapest, Zagreb has a Central European
feel to it, with a large and well-preserved old town on the hill and a 19th-century
city center. The Croatian capital is also the country's largest cultural center,
with many museums and galleries.
UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Croatia
United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has included
the following Croatian sites on its World Heritage List:
- Historical Complex of
Split with the Palace of
Diocletian
- Old City of Dubrovnik
- Plitvice Lakes National Park
- Episcopal Complex of the Euphrasian Basilica in the Historic Centre of Poreč
- Historic City of Trogir
- The Cathedral of St James in Šibenik