Visit the Dalmatia region of Croatia

by Kristen Johnson
(Wichita, Kansas (United States of America))

Along the Adriatic is a land of islands. Some are almost empty, some are picturesque, renaissance villages, and some look like Swiss mountain towns. Beyond the city boundaries is a magical land where there are olive trees and sandy shores.

The Dalmatia region of Croatia is famous because it encompasses the greater part the Croatian Coast. The coast has low mountains and foothills. There are some villages and towns. Outside of the coastal villages, there are long stretches of coastline that are completely deserted.


Zadar is Dalmatian's third largest city. The Venetian mansions and old architecture is surrounded by cold war buildings. The city energetic and fun, and there are beautiful churches. The church bells and organs add a soundtrack to the city.

Split and Dubrovnik each have an airport, which makes travel to Dalamatia easy. There are also ferries for the larger islands, and the boats have the advantage of beautiful views. To really experience Croatia and learn what the people are like, you should take the bus or the train.


Dubrovnik is an ancient area, and it will appeal to tourists who enjoy the freshness and the remarkable preservation this historic location. There you can visit Baroque churches, Venetian palaces and walk through narrow winding streets. When I was there, I found myself relaxing on the beach, looking at cities that were built long ago but seemed timeless. The best thing to do from Dubrovnik is to take a boat to reach the main island of Mljet. Although Mljet has appeared on maps for a long time, it feels uninhabited and almost wild.

Some of the lesser visited areas for tourists are still a lot of fun and very educational. Kvarner Bay is located just north of Dalmatia, and there are beautiful islands and warm, earthy fishing villages. The Opatija beach is lovely and seems like the kind of place where you might spot a celebrity or see a movie being filmed.

Northern Croatia has Istria, which is basically a large peninsula in northern Croatia.This is like a cheap version of Italy; people even speak Italian.

The jagged coastline of the Croatia hides villages, beaches, towns, churches, and pretty vistas. The country is dotted with villages and monuments. Some of the pretty areas are not even mentioned in vistor guides because people do not think that they are touristy, like Zagreb. However, the Mediterranean climate and lovely Austrian buildings (from the occupation) make Zagreb a gorgeous city to visit.