Croatia

Located in the North Dalmatian countryside, the UNESCO World Heritage Site Plitvice Lakes National Park... (Nacionalni park Plitvička jezera) is one of the most beautiful protected areas in Europe. Old-growth mixed forest covers the 116 mi² (300 km²) area, which has 16 shimmering turquoise lakes arranged in cascades on dolomite and calc-sinter barriers. The lakes are fed by the Korani River’s river system, and are connected by more than 90 waterfalls (with a difference in altitude of up to 250 ft or 76 m). The forests and canyons serve as retreats for several threatened species of animal, including the brown bear, wolf, lynx, European otter, golden eagle and vulture. An extensive network of hiking trails (ca. 31 mi or 50 km), some of which are set out as nature trails, run through the national park. Electric boats are used on Lake Kozjak, which is the largest of the upper lakes. The unique natural landscape should either be experienced by taking a panoramic train journey or via the interesting walking tours led by a guide. Visitors should set aside at least a day to enjoy the national park. For those that wish to stay longer, there are hotels, a campsite, restaurants, stores and stalls. more

Shaped like a crab, this 35 mi² (91 km²) island constitutes the southern connection of the Kvarner... archipelago. Its eastern coast, which faces the mainland, has been made so smooth by the icy katabatic Bora wind that one would hardly believe the island’s interior is actually covered in lush vegetation. The town of Rab is the main settlement on the island, and is one of the most beautiful towns on the Croatian coast. A popular photo opportunity is the town silhouette of the four church towers, which rise up one after the other in a staggered arrangement along the Gornja ulica, which is the town’s upper street. Saint Marinus, founder of the microstate of San Marino, apparently hails from the town of Lopar on the island’s north coast. Nowadays, Lopar and its peninsula are famous for their idyllic sandy bays, which are partially reserved for nudists. With this, Rab follows an old tradition in the area: in 1936, the English King Edward VIII and his civilian lover bathed naked in a bay on the island of Rab. more

The Croatian capital (1 million inhabitants) developed from two hilltop settlements: the bishopric of... Kaptol and Gradec, where tradesmen and craftsmen lived. In the 19th century, the two separate towns were joined to form a single city under the name Agram, or Zagreb in Croatian. The 11th century Zagreb Cathedral, dedicated to the Holy Virgin’s Ascension, has twin spires which are 344 ft (105 m) in height, and is the central point of Kaptol’s historic town center; it is busy here in the mornings at the Dolac, which is the main farmer’s market in Zagreb. The Gradec area of the city is located around the 13th-century Church of St. Mark, draped in the sumptuous vesture of the baroque style. The lower part of the city forges the connection between the two hills with the ‘green horseshoe’, a park complex lined by classical buildings. All of the city’s major museums can be found here, including the Strossmayer Gallery of Old Masters, which is home to valuable paintings created by masters such as El Greco and Van Dyck. more