Discover Croatia

After more than a decade of civil and ethnic unrest, Croatia is once again emerging as an attractive tourist destination. With its magnificent coastline, 1,185 islands, islets and reefs, Roman ruins and picturesque medieval villages, it is fast becoming a rival to the magical Greek islands - alluring for lovers of fun, sun, local colour, great food and a little history.

After centuries of fighting for independence, and being sliced and diced geographically to suit political and ethnic divisions, Croatia has ended up arc-shaped. Its long Adriatic coastline forms the western leg, tapering to the unique ancient seaport of Dubrovnik in the south, while the land between the rivers Drava and Sava form the northern section. The capital, Zagreb, sits in-between.

The most prominent feature of Croatia's tourist industry is its Dalmatian coastline, which is indented with rocky cliffs, peninsulas and small inlets. Numerous good quality hotels and marinas have been resurrected or constructed in the past few years, and the Croatian province is once again beginning to enjoy a tourist boom reminiscent of its heyday in the 1930s. There is a special atmosphere to Croatian towns and villages, many of which are built on the sites of ancient Greek settlements dating from the 4th century BC. This, coupled with a welcoming and determined population, Mediterranean climate, scenic beauty and lush vegetation, is aiding Croatia's rise from the ashes of war into one of the world's tourist hotspots.

Getting There


By Air
Traveling by plane is a convenient and comfortable way to visit Dubrovnik. Many European companies have regular flights to Zagreb and from there the Croatian national carrier, Croatia Airlines, provides regular flights to Dubrovnik. The airport is called Cilipi and it is located about 18 km from the city center.

By Sea
Another pleasant way of traveling to Dubrovnik is by sea. There are international and coastal ferry lines arriving and departing from Dubrovnik. Jadrolinija is the main Croatian passenger ferry company, with the highest number of regular international and domestic lines. The other Croatian shipping and freight agency is Jadroagent Ltd.

By Rail
The rail network connects all major Croatian cities, except Dubrovnik. There are direct trains to Slovenia, Hungary, Italy, Austria, Switzerland, Germany, Bosnia-Herzegovina and other countries. Indirect connections also exist, conecting Croatia to almost all other European countries. If you plan to travel by rail the best way is to arrive to Zagreb or Split and take the bus from there to Dubrovnik.