Croatia Mile after mile
of rocky shoreline, Over 1000 little islands dotting its coastline and waters as blue as you'll find anywhere in the world,
that, more or less is Croatia. To suggest the country's all about the coastline is doing its cities and towns a disservice.
These are brimming with Mediterranean culture, while for the adventurous, there are plenty of mountains, lakes and bird-rich
wetlands to enjoy. If you're ready to take a break from the norm and explore the less trodden tourist trail, this is the
holiday getaway for you. All along the coast, clear seas rush to meet cliffs, secluded coves and smooth pebble beaches. Inland,
Croatia is a jumble of picture-postcard towns - think cobblestone alleys, pastel washed houses and cafe culture aplenty. Here's
your chance to explore the beautiful Istrian peninsula, with its pretty hamlets and age-old stone houses. You'll also
get to visit the gorgeous "village in the clouds", which is definitely one to earmark for when the sun sets over
the villages and olive groves below, it's really quite something.
Zagreb Right on the
slopes of Mount Medvednica, cosmo-cool Zagreb mixes elegant 19th-century buildings with loads of culture and a buzzing cafe
scene. The best way to to make the most of a trip here is to go with a coach tour, followed up with a guided walk of the main
sights. These include St Marks Square and church, the Croatian Parliament building and the Medieval Lotrsak Tower.
Porec An old fishing harbour just north of Rovinj, Porec is the largest resort in Istria. It's
full of history, with its 15th century Venetian Tower and District Museum, but the main draw's the Basilica of Euphrasius
with its impressive bell tower and extravagant mosaics. Dating back to the 6th century and is a UNESCO world heritage site.
Mind you, there's still lots more to this place, with charismatic houses and ancient stone paved streets rubbing shoulders
with trendy cafe's, lovely restaurants and street painters, and in terms of the surroundings, think of green hills, vineyards
and olive groves backing pristine blue waters.
Opatija Back in the 19th century, Opatija
was the Austro-Hungarian answer to the Cote d'Azur. Nowadays the resorts main attraction is the Setaliste Franza Josefa
promenade. Shaded by trees and running north for two kilometres, it's a lovely way to explore the town. Elsewhere, there's
the Park Angiolina that's full of flowerbeds and exotic palms and if you're a foodie type, brace yourself as the seafood
here is some of the best on the Adriatic with catches of the day, lobster and shrimp all vying for a spot on your plate.
