Croatia

By Jan Skov

Croatia has become one of Europe's hot destinations. The coastline is about 1800 kilometres with coves and inlets. There are 1200 islands, and a wide choice of beaches surrounded by lovely hills, impressive mountains and very clean waters. Apart from the scenery, Croatia also has a fascinating history and culture. Especially, the city of Dubrovnik in southern Dalmatia is a must-see. Two thousand years ago the Romans ruled the area and left an amphitheatre in Pula, Diocletian's Palace in Split, and many smaller remnants of that great culture. For years Croatia was then ruled by the Republic of Venice. In Dalmatia, the towns of Hvar and Korcula on the islands of the same names resemble the architecture of Venice, and in Istria, the bell tower in Rovinj is much like the tower of St Mark's Square in Venice.

Plitvice National Park

The Croatian interior was recently a part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Zagreb, Croatia's capital, has an architecture that resembles Vienna or Budapest, and it has a small quarter that resembles Prague.

Several national parks are of the utmost beauty and offer climbing, walking, rafting, or simply a relaxing stay in exquisite natural surroundings. One park deserves special recommendation: Plitvice National Park has to be seen to be believed. There are 16 lakes lying at different altitudes, and they are connected with waterfalls everywhere. The park has been a UNESCO world heritage site since 1979.

Croatia attracts many visitors and the most common accommodation in Croatia is a privately rented apartment or villa. Croatia offers a wide choice of holiday apartments, with classifications from 2 to 5 stars. The classification is done by the national tourist authorities, who are very strict and guarantee that whatever accommodation you rent, it will have a certain standard and will be inspected regularly by them.