Travel to Croatia: A Beginner's Guide  by Jeanne Oliver

Croatia has quickly become Europe's hottest destination, and for good reason. The rocky coastline continues for 1778 kilometres and includes pine-fringed coves, wide sandy beaches and cozy inlets. As if that weren't enough, there are a good 1185 islands that range from lush and wooded to stark and hilly. Yachties love the sailing opportunities, sunbathers have an incredible choice of beaches and scuba divers have a paradise of sea life to explore.

Beyond the pretty scenery, Croatia also boasts a fascinating history and cultural life.The walled city of Dubrovnik on its southern tip is a must-stop for Mediterranean cruises but the long coast is littered with remnants of Croatia's varied past.

The Romans swept through two thousand years ago, leaving an amphitheatre in Pula and Diocletian's Palace in Split. Long ruled by Venice, many ports along the coast bear the distinctive imprint of its former master. In southern Dalmatia, the towns of Hvar and Korcula resemble Little Venices without the canals. In Istria, the striking bell tower in Rovinj is modeled after that on St Mark's Square in Venice.

In contrast to the Italian-influenced coast, the Croatian interior was part of the Austro-Hungarian empire and looks it. Zagreb, Croatia's capital, has the kind of stately architecture that wouldn't be out of place in Vienna or Budapest. Plus,it has a small medieval quarter that vaguely resembles Prague.To the north of Zagreb, in the middle of green, rolling hills, lies Varazdin, Croatia's most underrated city. Lying too far from the coast to attract much tourism, Varazdin nevertheless boasts a stunningly well-preserved baroque center.

So, what to see first? Following is my personal list of highlights for a Croatian visit:

Dubrovnik
Byron called it the "Pearl of the Adriatic" for the magnificent curtain of walls surrounding a city paved in marble and strewn with Renaissance sculpture.

Hvar Town
In addition to the splendid harbor promenade and sculptured facades, it's becoming known for the best nightlife on the Adriatic.

Korcula Town
It resembles Hvar in some ways, especially the narrow cluster of streets,but iit lies on a narrow peninsula and is quieter.

Rovinj
Istria's prettiest little town, it retains the flavor of a traditional fishing port despite the heavy influx of tourists in recent years.

Plitvice Lakes National Park
It has to be seen to be believed. The 16 turquose lakes seem to glow and there are waterfalls everywhere. It's a UNESCO world heritage site.

Brela Beach
The idyllic coves, bordered with pine trees, stretch out like a long necklace of beaches. Forbes magazine recently named it one of the top twenty beaches in the world.

No matter where you go in Croatia, you'll find people eager to welcome tourists after the grueling war of the early 1990s. English is widely spoken and costs are comparatively reasonable compared to the rest of the European coast. So what are you waiting for?

Croatia's Dalmatian coast has become one of Europe's most exciting destinations but getting there can be tricky. If you're coming from outside Europe, be aware that there are no direct flights from North America to Croatia. You'll need to make a stop in another European city for a flight to Croatia. Fortunately there are more and more routes opening up. If you're coming from Italy however, the best bet is usually to take a ferry to Croatia. That's what most Italians do which is why there are more ferries than flights from Italy to Croatia.

In travelling to Croatia, there are four main entry points: Dubrovnik, Istria, Split and Zagreb. Let's take them in order.

Travel to Dubrovnik
It's Croatia's most beautiful spot and well connected by flight, ferry and train. Taking a flight to Dubrovnik is easier between March and October when the season begins to gear up but you'll find connections from London to Dubrovnik three times a week all year. To get to Dubrovnik from Italy, your only choice is Jadrolinija's Bari to Dubrovnik ferry which runs all year but more often in summer. There are buses to Dubrovnik from most other Croatian cities that run frequently and efficiently.

Travel to Istria
The main entry points in Istria are Umag, Rovinj, Porec, Pula and Rabac which are all connected by ferries to Italy but only in the summer season. In addition, there are buses to Pula from Venice and to Rovinj and Porec from Trieste. Recently Wizzair announced regular flights to Pula from Edinburg and Glasgow.

Travel to Split
Split is situated in the middle of the Dalmatian coast and makes an excellent entry point. There are non-stop flights to Split from London, Cologne, Frankfurt, Munich, Prague and Rome. If you're coming from Italy, you'll find frequent ferries all year from Ancona and less frequent ferries from Pescara. Split is connected by bus with most other Croatian cities as well as Ljubljana, Mostar and Sarajevo.

Travel to Zagreb
Zagreb is Croatia's capital and connected to most other European capitals by Croatia Airlines. The cheapest way to Zagreb from the UK is by Wizzair which just opened a new service from London to Zagreb. Other low-cost carriers include SNBrussels which has flights from Brussels and Germanwings which has cheap flights from Berlin, Cologne, Hamburg and Stuttgart. There are buses to Zagreb from other Balkan cities but the train is most convenient if you're coming from Ljubljana, Venice, Budapest or Vienna.

About the Author:
Jeanne Oliver has written all three editions of Lonely Planet's Croatia guidebook. To find out more about traveling to Croatia including accommodation, car rentals, ferry schedules and itineraries, visit Jeanne's website, Croatia Traveller