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Croatia, with its dazzling coastline, medieval towns and sparkling blue waters, has firmly established itself as a European tourism powerhouse. In 2024, this nation of just four million people welcomed a staggering 16.8 million visitors. And this isn鈥檛 a recent trend: people have been heading for vacations on the Adriatic coastline since the 1880s, when resorts proliferated along its breathtaking blue waters.

While Dubrovnik and coastal cities like Split have long been the poster child for Croatian tourism, seasoned travelers are increasingly turning their attention to lesser-visited alternatives along the Adriatic coast.

艩颈产别苍颈办, a charming coastal city with a rich history, offers visitors a more tranquil, genuine Croatian experience away from the overwhelming crowds. Here's why you should consider this unsung gem of Dalmatia for your next Adriatic adventure.

Why visit 艩颈产别苍颈办 now?

Gorgeous 艩颈产别苍颈办 has a history that鈥檚 just as rich as Dubrovnik鈥檚, with an old town that is undeniably more tranquil. Nestled in a sea inlet between Zadar and Split, the tiny city certainly shares similarities with Dubrovnik. Both were maritime trading hubs in the Middle Ages. Both were conquered by the Venetian Republic, and therefore contain a plethora of gorgeous Venetian-style architecture. And both, of course, are adjacent to the glorious Adriatic.

Charming 艩颈产别苍颈办 has a population of 34,000 locals and lacks the intense crowds of its Dalmatian coastal counterpart cities. Consequently, in addition to the idyllic beauty of its medieval architecture, there鈥檚 still the normalcy of everyday life here, with a lighter vibe in the air complementing the fresh sea breeze.

Top things to do in 艩颈产别苍颈办

Explore its extraordinary architecture

From the Riva, 艩颈产别苍颈办's seaside promenade, stairs sweep up to St James' Cathedral, an undisputed jewel of Dalmatian architecture and UNESCO World Heritage Site. This masterpiece, built between 1431 and 1536, showcases bright white stone mined from the neighboring islands of 叠谤补膷 and 碍辞谤膷耻濒补. What makes this cathedral particularly fascinating is its montage of architectural styles, with both Gothic and Renaissance features layered together, and the frieze of 71 carved heads that line the outer walls 鈥� caricatures of 15th-century locals in various expressions from hilarious to downright scary.

The compact center houses 22 elegant churches, with the Church and Monastery of St Lawrence standing out for its serene garden. The city's narrow alleys and passageways all flow upward toward St Michael's Fortress, a majestic hilltop stronghold that was first recorded as a church in 1066 and has been destroyed and rebuilt numerous times over the centuries.

Visit nearby beaches and Krka National Park

艩颈产别苍颈办's surroundings offer some of Croatia's most magnificent natural attractions. Krka National Park, with its stunning waterfalls and the remnants of the historic hydroelectric plant, is just a short drive away. You'll also find estuaries to swim in and great pebble beaches to lounge on, including Banj beach overlooking the old town, Rezali拧te beach a 10-minute drive east, and Olive Beach 15 minutes by car (or a quick boat ride from the Riva).

Experience a unique cultural heritage

Unlike many other Dalmatian coastal communities, 艩颈产别苍颈办 was not established as a Greek or Roman settlement. Instead, it was strategically founded by Croatian king Petar Kre拧imir IV in the 11th century, who selected the site for its defensive position. While it shares similarities with neighboring cities as a maritime trading hub later conquered by the Venetian Republic, 艩颈产别苍颈办 maintains a distinctive cultural identity.

This uniqueness extends to local traditions like the 艩ibenska kapa, or 艩颈产别苍颈办 cap, a prominent feature of St Michael's Day celebrations on September 29. During this annual event honoring the city's patron saint, locals proudly don traditional costumes, including the unmistakable orange cap with two rows of black embroidered decorations called bule. The 艩颈产别苍颈办 cap has been listed on the national intangible heritage list since 2008.

Unwind on a "secret" island

The dinky island of Zlarin is a 艩颈产别苍颈办 local secret. Many 艩颈产别苍颈办ers have weekend apartments on the island (which is a wonderfully car-free zone) and whizz over on their own dinghies to get away from "city" life for the weekend. For the rest of us there are four a day that pick up from 艩颈产别苍颈办鈥檚 little dock and drop off at Zlarin鈥檚 marina, taking just 25 minutes to make the crossing. It鈥檚 so secluded and peaceful, with crystalline waters in rustic little ports that dot the island鈥檚 coast.

Boats will also ferry you to the Kornati Islands, a beautiful archipelago and another of Croatia's epic national parks, with its distinctive bare, lunar-like landscape surrounded by crystal-clear waters.

Enjoy exceptional cuisine

艩颈产别苍颈办's gastronomic scene is another compelling reason to visit. The city boasts some outstanding restaurants that showcase the best of Dalmatian cuisine. , led by local chef Rudolf 艩tefan, offers a life-affirming tasting menu with modern twists on traditional dishes, attracting Croatia's jet set (soccer star Luka Modri膰 is known to visit when in town).

For more casual dining, serves creative dishes like tuna gnocchi and cheese steak sandwiches on its charming terrace. And pizza lovers shouldn't miss , a wonderful family-run restaurant often heralded as serving the best pizza in Croatia.

Discover its pioneering technological history

艩颈产别苍颈办 holds an impressive place in technological history. One of the world's first hydroelectric plants was built on the Krka River in 1895, the second of its kind following Nikola Tesla's at Niagara Falls. Local engineer, inventor and eventual mayor, Ante 艩upak, worked with his son to build this pioneering facility, making 艩颈产别苍颈办 the third city in the world with an alternating current street-lighting system, and the first with the complete system of production, distribution and transmission.

This achievement is celebrated annually on August 28 with the , when the whole city is illuminated 鈥� from the fortresses to the seafront and sometimes even the small sailing boats in the bay. The spectacle includes light installations, sculptures, fireworks, and concerts on the Riva, creating a festive atmosphere that's worth planning your visit around.

Where to stay

For a well-situated stay near the old town, choose the , where it's worth paying extra for a sea-view room. offers charm in a restored Renaissance palace right in the middle of the old town. For luxury seekers, is 艩颈产别苍颈办's leading boutique hotel, tucked away at the north end of the Riva.

How to pair a trip to 艩颈产别苍颈办 with popular Croatian destinations

艩颈产别苍颈办 is at the heart of the Dalmatian coast so traveling between it and other Croatian highlights is easy. 艩颈产别苍颈办 is a 50-minute drive from Zadar airport and a 55-minute drive from Split airport, both of which have regular connections to the capital, Zagreb, as well as European hubs.

Croatia's national bus operator, , runs direct routes between Zagreb and 艩颈产别苍颈办's main bus station located right on the seafront; the journey takes about three hours and costs around 鈧�24 (US$27) each way. Once in town, there's no need for transport as the bus station is just a few minutes' walk from the center, though be prepared for stairs: 艩颈产别苍颈办's old town features many steep climbs that map apps might not fully represent.

For those wanting to experience Dubrovnik, direct long-distance buses with Arriva Croatia and connect 艩颈产别苍颈办 to Dubrovnik in about four and a half hours. Book tickets in advance during summer months as routes can fill up quickly. One-way fares typically range from 鈧�27鈥�30 (US$31鈥�34), depending on the season.

Travelers with more time should consider visiting Split, just an hour south of 艩颈产别苍颈办 by bus or car. The journey to Split costs around 鈧�12 (US$13) and runs frequently throughout the day. This gives you access to another UNESCO World Heritage city with the remarkable Diocletian鈥檚 Palace, before potentially continuing on to Dubrovnik.