Croatia – detailed information about the country with photos. Attractions, cities of Croatia, climate, geography, population and culture.
Croatia (Croatian: Хорват). Hrvatska, Republika Hrvatska) — is a state in southern Central Europe in the northern part of the Mediterranean. This small country is washed by the warm waters of the Adriatic Sea and borders on the northwest with Slovenia, in the northeast – with Serbia and Ugorschina, in the south – with Montenegro and Bosnia, in the west has a maritime border with Italy. Croatia is divided into 20 counties and is a parliamentary republic. The majority of the population professes Catholicism.
Croatia is a small southern country with a rich cultural heritage, beautiful nature and delicious cuisine. It is a real pearl of the Adriatic with beautiful beaches in Istria and Dalmatia, warm emerald sea, charming ancient seaside towns, olive groves and peaks of the Dinaric Mountains. Croatia is one of the most popular vacation destinations in Europe, a country of amazing contrasts, where ancient Roman heritage is built on Old Slavic buildings, and Venetian architecture meets monumental Austrian and socialist buildings.
Geographically, Croatia is located in the south of Central Europe and occupies a part of the Balkan Peninsula. The country’s territory can be divided into the Adriatic coast, the Middle Danube Lowland, and the Dinaric Highlands. In terms of relief, most of Croatia is plains and lowlands. The Danube, Drava, Sava, and Mura rivers flow through its territory. Interestingly, about 60 percent of the rivers belong to the Black Sea basin. The largest lake is Vranske. The Plitvice Lakes are very picturesque.
Due to its geographical location, terrain and climate, Croatia’s nature is diverse and rich. Here you can see mixed forests, Mediterranean landscapes and alpine meadows.
The Adriatic coast is more than 1700 km long. There are many islands in its waters, the largest of which are Cres and Krk. The sea in Croatia is clean and warm. This makes Croatian resorts a very popular vacation spot. The most popular are Istria and Dalmatia.
In regional terms, Croatia is divided into:
Croatia’s climate is very diverse. The north of the country has a temperate continental climate, the coast has a warm Mediterranean climate, and the Dinaric Alps have a mountainous climate. In the central and mountainous regions, winters can be quite cold and snowy, while the coast is warm and humid. Summers are warm almost everywhere, and hot on the Adriatic coast.
The best time to visit depends on the purpose of your trip. If you want to focus on culture and sights, spring and fall (until November) are ideal. If the main goal is a beach vacation, then July-September is the best time (although the beach season lasts from May to October).
Before our era, the territory of Croatia was inhabited by descendants of the Impreso culture. By the beginning of our era, the entire territory of the country was conquered by the Romans. Croatian tribes came to these lands in the 7th century. They formed two principalities: Croatia and Pannonia. The Trpimirovic dynasty united the two principalities into a single Croatian Kingdom.
In 1102, the Kingdom of Croatia lost its independence after a union with Hungary. The Hungarians ruled Croatia until the early 16th century. Later, the north of the country was occupied by the Turks, Istria and Dalmatia were captured by Venice. Only the republic led by Dubrovnik retained its independence.
In 1526, most of Croatia became part of the Habsburgs. After the fall of the Republic of Venice, Istria and Dalmatia were added to their possessions. After World War I, Croatia became part of the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes, which was later renamed Yugoslavia.
In 1939, Croatia gained autonomy. In 1941, the pro-Nazi Croatian state was established under Pavelić’s leadership. After World War II, Pavelic’s regime collapsed and Croatia was again part of Yugoslavia until 1991. In 1991, the Croatian state declared independence. This led to a war that lasted until 1995. Croatia’s borders were finally established in 1998.
Map of Croatia
Croatia is divided into 20 županjas:
About 90% of the country’s population are ethnic Croats. Croats belong to the group of South Slavic peoples. They speak the Croatian language and profess Catholicism. Croats are very hardworking, patriotic and independent. Respect their traditions and culture, and avoid topics related to Yugoslavia and Serbia.
The largest airports are located in Zagreb, Split, Dubrovnik, and Pula. In Croatia, you can fly from London, Istanbul, Prague, Madrid, Dusseldorf, Frankfurt, Hamburg, Munich, Paris, Vienna, Moscow, Kyiv, Milan, Copenhagen, Stockholm, Oslo, Tokyo, Seoul.
The railway network connects all major cities in the country (except Dubrovnik). Croatia has direct rail routes from Austria, Slovenia, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Italy, Germany, Switzerland, and Greece.
The fastest and most economical way to travel within the country is by bus. The main points of international transportation are Split and Dubrovnik. The Adriatic coast of Croatia has regular ferry connections with Italian cities (Bari, Ancona, Venice).
Croatia has a pretty good road network, so a car is also a great way to get around.
Speed limit: 50 km/h – in settlements, 90 km/h – outside settlements, 130 km/h – on highways. Headlights must be on at all times of the day and all passengers must wear seat belts.
Dubrovnik – is the most popular city in Croatia. It is known for its magnificent old town, enclosed in a ring of mighty medieval walls, old houses with red tiled roofs, charming streets and beautiful views of the emerald waters of the Adriatic.
Diocletian’s Palace in Split is one of the most famous Roman buildings in Croatia. It was built by the Roman Emperor Diocletian overlooking the Adriatic Sea. Inside the walls there is a magnificent arcade courtyard, a cathedral with a beautiful bell tower. The old town of Split is also very interesting and is included in the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
Amphitheater in Pula or Arena — is the main attraction of Pula and the symbol of the city. This is a large amphitheater built in the 1st century during the time of Vespasian for gladiatorial battles simultaneously with the Colosseum. It is considered to be one of the 6 largest amphitheaters of the Ancient period. The Pula Arena could accommodate more than 20 thousand spectators. It is a large oval structure 130 meters long and 100 meters wide, built of limestone.
Khwar — is an ancient car-free city on an island in the Dalmatian region. The historic center consists of a spacious main square overlooking the 16th-century cathedral, a beautiful fishing harbor, and a hilltop fortress.
Plitvice — is one of the most beautiful places in Croatia. 16 emerald blue lakes connected by a series of waterfalls, surrounded by hills and forests.
Upper Town in Zagreb — is a medieval city with ancient monuments: the cathedral with a neo-Gothic facade and double spires, the Church of St. Mark with a colored tiled roof, the parliament building, and the 13th-century tower.
Kornati — an archipelago of 80 picturesque islands.
The ancient city of Zadar is famous for its Romanesque churches built between the 9th and 13th centuries.
Golden Horn — is one of the most famous beaches in Croatia on the southern coast of the island of Brac. Depending on the winds and currents, it moves and changes shape from season to season. The sea here is very warm and clear.
Korcula — is an ancient city in Dalmatia on the island of the same name. It is considered the birthplace of Marco Polo and is known for its medieval walls and towers.
Mljet — is a national park in the west of the island of the same name with picturesque nature and two salt lakes with turquoise water.
Rovinj — is one of the most picturesque cities in Istria. Its Old Town is famous for its Venetian architecture and colorful houses by the water.
Thanks to Croatia’s popularity as a tourist destination, finding accommodation is not a problem if you start looking in advance. There is a large selection of hotels, villas, and apartments, the concentration of which increases near the resorts. In general, the prices for accommodation in Croatia are close to European prices and slightly lower than, for example, in neighboring Italy.
Croatian cuisine is very rich and varied. It is a mixture of Mediterranean (Italian) and Eastern European cuisine. The Italian influence is strongest on the Adriatic coast, which is mixed with an abundance of fish and seafood. In Istria, you can try dishes with truffles. Eastern Croatia is famous for stews, soups, goulash and meat dishes. Traditional products include olive oil, wines and cheeses.
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