Split
Split in central Dalmatia is a common destination spot for most travellers to set off on a cruise of the islands. It also boasts the Roman palace of the emperor Diocletian, which is a World Heritage site. Split Summer Festival is a popular edgy festival that is keeps growing every year, so if you're up for some partying see the Split Summer Festival website.
Dalmatian islands
Croatia's Adriatic coastline is scattered with 1185 islands that are
surrounded by transluscent aquamarine waters. The Dalmatian islands are famous for their brightly-coloured flowers, dramatic cliff-lined coasts, vineyards and olive groves between quaint fishing villages. It's no wonder Croatia is hailed the 'new Greece'.
Book a tour with a sail company or catch a ferry from Split to the nearby islands of Brac, Hvar and Vis. Brac boasts Croatia's most famous beach, Zlatni Rat, with its 500-metre-long shingle near the town of Bol. Hvar is an upmarket party island, and Hvar town has a pretty Venetian harbour where Roman Abramovich leaves his yacht.
The more southern islands of Korcula and Mljet have a more relaxed vibe. Korcula is an ancient walled town where it's reputedly believed the 13th century Venetian explorer Marco Polo was born. Mljet is dominated by national park with pine forest covering more than 70 per cent of the island.
Dubrovnik
Lord Byron called Dubrovnik 'the pearl of the Adriatic' and it certainly lives up to its World Heritage-listed reputation as paradise that still stands strong after it was bombed in the Croatia-Serbia conflict of 1991. Take a walking tour around its Old Town centre of shimmering white marble surrounded by ancient walls.
Kvarnar islands
Prancing bottlenosed dolphins and flying vultures are the big attraction of the Kvarner Gulf islands, as well as hiking and climbiing in the national parks of Risnjak and Paklenice.
Get into the carny spirit at Croatia's biggest carnival is Rio in Rijeka. Running for more than four days in January and February, with parades and celebrations aplenty, it's worth checking out. See the Rijeka Carnival website.
Zagreb
Croatia's capital Zagreb is in central Croatia and has a distinctly different vibe to Dubrovnik. With a strong medieval history, you can see the Bloody Bridge where two settlements Gradec and Kaptol battled over the land. With trams, gardens and a mix of museums and architecture, Zagreb is slowly becoming a more desirable city to visit.