Dalmatia, Croatia: 10 Best Places for Your Holiday

In this guide I will share with you Dalmatia, Croatia: 10 Best Places for Your Holiday. Dalmatia is one of the most popular vacation destinations in Croatia. There you will find beautifully clear beaches, romantic medieval towns, and numerous national parks to explore. In recent years, Game of Thrones fans have flocked here, as you can find filming locations for King’s Landing, Qarth, Meereen, and Braavos. Let’s now look at what to do in Dalmatia, where to stay, and what to see.

where to Stay in Dalmatia

In Croatia, you will find many beautiful hotels and pleasant apartments, if you prefer more privacy or prefer to cook for yourself. However, it is often important to book accommodation in advance, as the best options go quickly.

• Budget: Hostel Scala in Šibenik
• Mid-range: Guest House Bakica in Trogir, Apartments Silver Beauty in Rogoznica
• Luxury Accommodation: 🥇 Bifora Heritage Hotel, Dubrovnik President Valamar Collection Hotel

Dalmatia, Croatia: 10 Best Places for Your Holiday

1) Dubrovnik

Dubrovnik is one of Croatia’s most beautiful cities, located in southern Dalmatia, and boasts a magnificent historic core surrounded by mighty fortifications. In recent years, it has become a highly visited destination for Game of Thrones fans, who can find locations of famous scenes from King’s Landing, the capital of the Seven Kingdoms, in Dubrovnik. Read more in our article about Dubrovnik.

2) Šibenik

Šibenik is one of my favorite cities in Croatia, as it has a beautiful historic center that isn’t as crowded with tourists as Split or Dubrovnik. At the same time, there are many pleasant restaurants, cafes, and the narrow streets provide much-needed shade even at midday in the middle of a hot summer.

The historic town and port of Šibenik is located in northern Dalmatia, in the rugged and picturesque Šibenik Bay, into which one of the most beautiful karst rivers, Krka, flows. Šibenik is known as the city of fortresses; you’ll find four of them here.

The center of Šibenik is not large, but you will find many romantic historic streets and buildings here, the most iconic and valuable of which is Cathedral of St. James , which has been on the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage list since 2000.

3) Split

Head to Split early in the morning, otherwise you’ll be jostling among hundreds of other tourists. Split has an ideal location for exploring the surrounding area, which is why it is the most frequent destination for tourists. It lies on a peninsula between Kaštela Bay and the Split Channel, bordered on the west by the forested Marjan hill.

Split is not a small town; 180,000 inhabitants live here, and outside the historic center, there is growing modern development. Split has a history almost two thousand years old, which you can discover in the Old Town. In Split, you will find an extraordinary number of cultural monuments, among the most famous of which is the ancient Diocletian’s Palace, which was added to the UNESCO cultural heritage list in 1979.

If you are staying in smaller resorts, you will certainly be pleased by the wide range of restaurants. You’ll find everything from Asian cuisine to smaller vegan bistros and cafes with specialty coffee.

4) Trogir

Trogir is an example of a typical historic town in Dalmatia. It has a charming small historic center where you’ll find many boutiques and shops selling local jewelry. You’ll find artists selling original products and paintings, and just outside the historic center, there’s usually a fish and fruit market. The dominant feature is the local Cathedral of St. Lawrence with a tower, which you can climb for a small fee.

Since 1997, Trogir has been inscribed on the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage list. In 2018, the Trogir Soline ferry port was opened at the Soline location (west of the old town towards Seget Donji), serving transport to the islands of Drvenik Veli and Drvenik Mali.

5) Omiš

This peaceful town nestled in the rocks is somewhat different from other towns in Dalmatia. At first glance, you’ll be captivated by the gorge where the turquoise Cetina River winds. In Omiš, you’ll also find sandy beaches, a small ancient center, and a wild pirate past. It’s definitely worth heading to one of the viewpoints above the town to enjoy a breathtaking view of the bay. The diverse terrain will be enjoyed by adrenaline sports enthusiasts and families with children alike; you can go hiking or take a boat trip.

6) Korčula Island

Korčula Island is one of the most beautiful islands in Croatia. Although it is relatively small (measuring less than 30 kilometers in length and only 5 kilometers in width), it offers great activities for families with children, couples, and athletes. You’ll find numerous ancient monuments, a beautiful coastline, wineries, and (allegedly) the birthplace of Marco Polo. It is often nicknamed Marco Polo Island for this reason.

7) Hvar Island

Like Korčula Island, Hvar is suitable for all types of tourists. You’ll find great cultural and sports activities here, but you can also enjoy a purely relaxing vacation, which you can spend on one of the island’s beautiful beaches.

On Hvar Island, the city of the same name is particularly popular, often rated as the most beautiful city in Croatia. There you’ll find the famous Spanish Fortress, which offers one of the most beautiful views of the island.

8) Klis Fortress

Klis Fortress is a medieval fortress situated above the village of the same name at an altitude of 360 meters, built for defense against invaders. Thanks to its strategic location between two mountains, Kozjak and Mosor, the fortress played a significant role in the defense of all Dalmatia, especially against the Ottoman Empire and its raiders. In recent years, it has become popular primarily as a Game of Thrones filming location, where it represented the city of Meereen.

9) Punta Planka

A very popular spot for sunsets is Cape Planka, where northern and southern winds, cyclones and anticyclones, and sea currents strongly converge. A small and very photogenic church of St. John stands here, shrouded in legends.

One of them says that a ship carrying St. John of Trogir was shipwrecked here. To Greek sailors, it was known as Diomedes’ Cape; Homer writes in his “Iliad” that Diomedes himself, one of the greatest heroes of Greek mythology, sailed to it after the Trojan War.

10) Krka National Park

Krka National Park, located in central Dalmatia, is also very popular with tourists. Here you’ll find a system of rapids, cascades, and waterfalls, under which you can swim. When we visited the national park, we weren’t really in the mood for swimming because it was packed with people. Therefore, we recommend heading there right at opening time to enjoy the national park. Even with the high tourist interest, it’s truly a beautiful sight.

The park covers an area of 142 km², centers around the jade-green Krka River, and besides the waterfalls, there are many other attractions, including cycling paths and five medieval fortresses. One of the enjoyable activities in Krka National Park is a boat trip to the small island of Visovac, which was settled in 1445 by Franciscan monks and where a monastery with a library and preserved artifacts is located.