Croacia's Essentials

About the destination: Often forgotten by tourist seeking the sun and coastline, Zagreb is an alluring destination on its own. The capital city of Croatia is a perfect mixture of Western and Eastern Europe. The sober Austro-Hungarian buildings are surrounded by chic restaurants and boutiques that contrast with the seedy pubs and loud beer halls. Zagreb offers a wide choice for visitors. From trendy art galleries to more traditional music halls and museums, and outdoor leisure, a lot of outdoor leisure. Maksimir Park, in the east, is filled with joggers, bikers and strollers. In the southeast of the city, we find Jarun Lake, where locals and tourists alike go to swim or sail and to, afterwards, dance the night away in a lakeside disco. Just a ride away on the shine new trams, we find Mt Medvednica that offers hiking, skiing and great views over the city. Either you are looking for a city break or a break from your lazy beach holidays, Zagreb won’t disappoint visitors in the slightest.

About the destination: Opatija is a town in western Croatia, just southwest of Rijeka on the Adriatic coast. MAIN TOURIST ATTRACTIONS • The Anglina Park. It is the building that marked the beginning of the tourist epoch in this town. • The Park of Sv. Jakov. It is a horticultural monument and is dividen into 60 fields and about 159 plants species grow there. • The fountain (Helios and Selena). It is located in a beautiful park opposite the imperial hotel near the church of St. Jacobs. • Maiden with the Seagull. • St. Jacov´s Church. • Monument to Friedrich Julius Schuller

About the destination: Zadar is a city in Croatia on the Adriatic Sea. It is the fifth largest Croatian city and is the centre of modern Croatia's Zadar county and the wider northern Dalmatian region. Zadar is located opposite the islands of Ugljan and Pašman, from which it is separated by the narrow Zadar Strait. Though all its destructions after WWII, Zadar has kept a rich heritage of world importance, visible in every step. The Roman Forum from the 1st century is a common place for locals to stroll, sit down amongst the ruins and enjoy a nice summer day. St. Donatus Church from the 9th century is one of the best preserved pre-Romanesque buildings in the world and the trademark of the city. The reconstructed Romanesque St. Grisigono Church from the 12th century is one of the most remarkable examples of the combination of different monuments in one. The church was built upon the ruins of an older one, and rebuilt after being bombed in WW2, in combination with a destroyed Benedictine convent in its back. The Romanesque St. Anastasia's Cathedral from the 13th century is very impressive. The tower can be climbed; from its top you have a beautiful view over the city of Zadar and its neighbouring islands. The Sea Organ is a favourite for locals and tourists alike. This man-made organ on Zadar's Riva works with the motion of the waves and 35 pipes to create a musical soundscape. The Sea Organ is the work of Croatian architect Nikola Bašić, who also created the nearby Greeting to The Sun. The city is known for its artists and galleries. There are around a dozen major galleries, and many smaller stores along the side streets. It has a major street for everyday upscale shopping for the locals, and even some tourists with a passion to buy. It is called Spire Brusine and runs through the middle of the old town. Zadar’s sunsets are legendary too, making it the perfect place to unwind for romantics, young and old.

About the destination: Split is the second-largest city in Croatia and the largest city in the region of Dalmatia, with about 250,000 people living in its urban area. It's located on the eastern shore of the Adriatic Sea and is spread over a central peninsula and its surroundings. A key transport hub within the region and a popular tourist destination, the city is connected to the Adriatic islands and the Apennine peninsula.

About the destination: George Bernard Shaw dubh Dubrovnik "an péarla de Adriatic, paradís ar an domhan", agus, go deimhin, d'fhéadfadh sé a bheith ar cheann de na cathracha is áille a fheicfidh tú riamh. Tógadh agus cónaíodh go príomha ag Veinéiseacha i Dubrovnik, agus tá draíocht uasal agus aontacht ailtireachta suntasach aige a tharraingíonn na mílte cuairteoirí gach samhradh. Bunaithe sa 7ú haois, sheas Dubrovnik i measc foraoise mór de chrainn dara, as a raibh a ainm aige. Tóg siúlóid ar bharr ballaí an tseanchathr le radhairc ar an seanbhaile agus an cósta máguaird. Díreach roimh dul amach as an seanbhaile trí gheata an iarthair, cas ar dheis chun cuairt a thabhairt ar Mhainistir na bhFrancachán agus na cloistreacha síochánta. Tá an ceann is sine de chógaisí na hEorpa taobh istigh den doras isteach, a bunaithe i 1371. I gcoirnéal thuaidh na seanbhail tá Cloister agus Músaem na nDomhnachánach, le poliptíoch le Titian. Tá Ard-Eaglais iontach de Ghlacadh na Maighdine Mhuire i lár Poljana Marin Držić agus is féidir a stóras a fhiosrú; féach ar an obair le Raphael. Tá uisceanna te, gile ag Dubrovnik; ná bí ag admháil é ó chian agus tóg tumadh ann. Is féidir leis na daoine cróga tumadh agus gréineadh ar na carraigeacha nó snámh timpeall ar bhallaí na cathrach agus daoine eile ag stánadh ón uachtar. Lonraíonn dúnfhallaí ildaite Dubrovnik i solas na maidine luí, ach tráthnóna luath, cuireann uisceanna gorma soiléir na farraige tú i gcuimhne ar shiúl ón gcathair agus a torann turasóireachta. Má tá tú in ann an pléascadh a sheasamh, d'fhéadfadh tú freisin píosa neamh a fháil.

About the destination: Within the boundaries of this heavily forested national park, 16 crystalline lakes tumble into each other via a series of waterfalls and cascades. The mineral-rich waters carve through the rock, depositing tufa in continually changing formations. Clouds of butterflies drift above the 18km of wooden footbridges and pathways that snake around the edges and across the rumbling water.