Top 6 Places To Visit In Croatia This Summer To Avoid The Massive Crowds

Last Updated 15 hours in the past

Croatia is among the Mediterranean’s most visited vacationer locations, and in 2022 it turned the most sought-after destination across Europe. And it’s straightforward to see why!

But with 3.8 million tourists visiting Dubrovnik and three.1 million vacationers visiting Split annually, it can be extremely crowded, notably through the summer season months.

Despite this, Croatia remains to be dwelling to many hidden treasures, notably if you happen to go to one of many 78 islands within the Croatian archipelago.

With that in thoughts, listed below are six of the perfect locations to go to in Croatia if you wish to get off the crushed path and keep away from the huge crowds:

1. Zlarin

Zlarin is a small island with an enormous persona. It is situated near the mainland metropolis of Šibenik, making it straightforward to entry. And at simply 6km lengthy, it’s small however completely fashioned.

Visitors to Zlarin are drawn to its stone and pebble seashores, which are perfect for swimming, kayaking, snorkeling, or exploring on a stand-up paddleboard.

Zlarin’s predominant harbor is extremely picturesque, and the bars lining the harbor provide wonderful views whereas watching the small fishing vessels return to shore or the bigger yachts and catamarans dock.

Zlarin boasts 4 fortresses, however essentially the most spectacular of those is the St. Nicholas fortress, which is the one one situated at sea.

Constructed in 1525 to maintain the Ottomans from touchdown on the mainland, you would wish to take a ship or kayak to succeed in and discover the fortress.

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2. Sibenik

Sibenik is a metropolis book-ended by Split and Dubrovnik, which suggests many vacationers merely ignore this picturesque coastal metropolis. But that might be an enormous mistake. Sibenik has all the identical attraction and vibrancy as Split and Dubrovnik however with out the crowds.

Sibenik is a metropolis that has a wealthy historical past and boasts authentic cobblestone streets and Medieval structure.

History buffs ought to head straight to St. James Cathedral, a powerful and imposing constructing that may be a UNESCO World Heritage web site.

Other points of interest value exploring in Sibenik embrace the fantastically preserved nationwide parks that encompass town and the Renaissance structure of town’s Town Hall.

3. Stari Grad

Stari Grad is located on the northern facet of the favored island of Hvar.

While Hvar attracts loads of vacationers, many of those head to Hvar city and its well-publicized social gathering scene slightly than exploring the marginally additional afield Stari Grad.

This makes Stari Grad much less crowded and simpler to discover.

As nicely as being the oldest city on the island, Stari Grad can be one of many oldest in Europe, and it has a wealthy cultural historical past. Some of the streets and cobbled lanes in Stari Grad’s Old Town date again to 384 BC.

Stari Grad is dwelling to 2 world heritage websites, and for the insta-inclined, the picture-perfect historic Skor sq. is a must-visit location.

Amazing town of Hvar harbor aerial view, Dalmatia, croatia

4. Pag

If you’ve all the time fancied flying into area and taking your subsequent trip on the moon, then Pag might be an excellent different.

People go to Pag for its lunar-like landscapes, which function huge expanses of barren rock, however the island additionally has a lot extra to supply.

This massive island is the second-longest within the Adriatic and boasts a mixture of sand and pebble seashores excellent for sunbathers. Head into Old Town Pag to discover the ruins of a Franciscan monastery, and you should definitely pattern Pag’s largest and most well-known export: its scrumptious cheese.

If you’re trying to social gathering and are ready to courageous the crowds, then head to Zrce Beach within the city of Novalja. Home to the most well-liked nightlife on the island, Zrce Beach has an Ibiza-like ambiance, however this may be simply averted by staying elsewhere on this picturesque and eclectic island.

5. Silba

Spending time on Silba is like stepping again in time. Not solely is the island car-free, but it surely additionally doesn’t have a resort, which means that the one technique to keep right here is to lease an house or vacation let.

This signifies that the island by no means attracts huge crowds, and has a laid-back, bohemian really feel.

Silba is finest recognized for its shiny, scorching summer season days and for boasting a powerful 2570 hours of sunshine yearly. But once you’re carried out with lounging within the solar and paddling within the sea, you’ll additionally discover lots to discover in Silba.

Climb the winding staircase to the highest of the Tower of Love, which was in-built 1872 as an emblem of affection and loyalty.

Explore small fishing villages and unspoiled harbors. There are additionally a variety of wonderful diving and snorkeling spots on the southwestern coast which might be nicely value exploring.

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6. Zagreb

Finally, while Zagreb is Croatia’s capital metropolis, it doesn’t obtain the identical variety of guests because the extra widespread cities of Split and Dubrovnik.

Zagreb is widespread through the winter months, because of its Christmas markets and festivities; nevertheless, customer numbers dwindle in the summertime.

But this huge metropolis boasts much to attract tourists year-round. Here you’ll discover retailers, museums, parks and eating places at each flip.

Notable points of interest embrace Zagreb Cathedral with its twin spires and St Marks Church, which was constructed within the thirteenth century.

Boasting extra museums per sq. foot than another metropolis on the planet, Zagreb is named a metropolis of museums, so taking time to discover as many of those are doable is an effective way to spend the day on this fascinating metropolis.