Why Every Traveler Needs to Experience Croatia

Croatia is a country transformed.  Although it isn’t usually the thing to mention its storied history, you really need to if you’re to understand how the nation has turned from simply another Blakn country mired in conflict to how it stands today as one of Europe’s premier holiday destinations.  Part of this transformation is due to its unbelievable landscape and location that rivals the typical vacation powerhouses of Italy and Southern France, but also to its fabulous culture that has developed over millennia and integrated a vast number of disparate cultures from its occupation by Rome which comprised of the two provinces of Pannonia and Dalmatia, to its struggles against and adoption of some aspects of the Ottoman Empire.  Nowadays, it stands as a testament to what can be achieved when the right policies are put into place to help develop a nation into more than the sum of its parts.  In this post, we are focusing on Croatia as a must-visit travel destination and hopefully convincing anyone who may be on the fence why it is arguably one of the best locations in Europe to visit over the coming years.

It Has An Utterly Stunning Coastline

If you have never looked at the coastline of Croatia, you’re in for a treat.  Blessed with perhaps one of the more stunning chunks of land on the planet, it goes the entire length of the country and sits nicely against the gorgeous Adriatic Sea part of the overall Mediterranean Sea basin.  This also happens to be the same Adriatic Sea that adorns the Eastern coast of Italy and the destinations of Venice and San Marino, but in Croatia, you gain all of this and more but at a fraction of the cost (or at least with more variation of the expenses from affordable to the sky is the limit).  The best way to take advantage is to look at the different cruises around Croatia that take in the sights while offering you the ability to see more of this fabulous coast than if you were to try to go it alone.  Nonetheless, whatever way you choose to see the different parts and beaches, the fact remains that Croatia really is blessed with a coastline that really shouldn’t be missed or dismissed in favor of other, more well-known destinations.

Rich Historical Sites And Architecture Abound

As alluded to in the introduction, Croatia has always been at somewhat of a crossroads of history and, as such, has been shaped and formed according to whatever cultures came from and/or occupied its land.  While invasions and occupations aren’t exactly the sorts of things that most folks would associate with something positive, they undoubtedly have left an indelible mark on the culture that exists today, along with the requisite architecture that is left behind.  From the medieval Dubrovnik city walls (and the rest of that city as it happens) to Diocletian’s Palace, which was constructed on the orders of Emperor Diocletian at the end of the 3rd century as his retirement palace (yes, Croatia is so amazing that an actual famous Roman Emperor wanted to retire here!) Croatia is a history buff’s dream.  In fact, the country boasts no less than ten UNESCO World Heritage sites that are ripe for exploration, adding to what will quickly become an incredibly varied itinerary.

Delicious Local Cuisine Will Make You Wish You Had A Balkan Grandma

Balkan food isn’t usually celebrated in the same light as some of the other foundational cuisines of the region, like French and Italian, but that doesn’t mean it’s not equally delicious.  In fact, Croatia, in particular, is known for its heterogeneous cuisine as a result of the massive variation of others that it has adopted into its own.  Perhaps one of the more interesting aspects of Croatian cuisine (At least for the foodies out there) is that it varies significantly based on which regions you happen to be holidaying in.  For instance, the inland areas have more of a Slavic influence that has the touch of Turkish and Austro-Hungarian in how it’s prepared.  This means more use of ingredients like lard and various spices such as pepper and paprika.  The coastal regions, on the other hand, are far more shaped by the hands of the Romans and Greeks, giving it a decidedly more Mediterranean flair.  In practice, this means plenty of olive oil, fresh fish, and all of the herbs and species we usually associate with Mediterranean food.  To put it simply, if you enjoy this kind of mixture of cuisine, Croatia really won’t disappoint.

Diverse Outdoor Activities For Adventurers

Croatia isn’t only defined by its coastline, as utterly fantastic as it might be.  Venture inland and you will be met with a plethora of national parks and lakes to explore either by leisurely driving through them in a vehicle or opting for a slower form of travel via bicycle to foot.  Because of the climate, you are also going to be blessed with clement weather most of the year.  The fantastic thing about this nation’s countryside is that one day you could be walking around the various mountainscapes and feeling as tough as you are in the Swiss Alps, while the next day you might be trekking through an ancient woodland on land that was once walked on by the legionaries of the Roman Empire.

It’s More Affordable Than Other Europen Decisions

It’s fair to say that before Croatia became a vacation hotspot, it was far more affordable than it is today, which is perfectly natural, as when more tourists come, so does their money, which has an inflationary effect on the area.  However, it still remains one of the more affordable destinations in Europe, and your money can and should go a long way.  Moreover, because of the increase in tourism, you now have dramatically more options in terms of accommodation than you had in the past, meaning you can choose between staying in the lap of luxury or seeking out cheaper accommodation to suit a more frugal budget.

If this post hasn’t convinced you of the benefits of visiting this great country, we don’t know what will.  From the landscape to the history to the food, there isn’t much that you won’t cover when visiting.  The only downside is that you will really need to spend time creating a watertight itinerary so that you are able to fit everything in!