World Guide

Croatia

Country · Europe, Southern Europe

Croatia
Photo: Bracodbk, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Located in Southern Europe, Croatia borders Slovenia, Hungary, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Montenegro. With a land area of 56,594 square kilometers and a population of about 3.9 million, the country features a mix of historic urban centers and natural landmarks.

Highlights

This guide covers 21 sights across the country. Historic architecture includes the Pula Arena, the Arch of the Sergii, and the Euphrasian Basilica. In Split, travelers visit Diocletian's Palace, the Cathedral of Saint Domnius, and the Temple of Jupiter. Dubrovnik features the Rector's Palace, the Dubrovnik Cathedral, and Lovrijenac. Other notable cultural sites are the Zagreb Cathedral, Mirogoj Cemetery, and the Grič Tunnel in the capital, along with the Šibenik Cathedral and Zadar Cathedral. For natural scenery, the country offers Plitvice Lakes National Park, Krka National Park, and Brijuni. Modern engineering and design landmarks include the Pelješac Bridge, the Sea organ, and the Monument to the Sun.

Food and drink

Local cuisine includes dishes such as Kulen, Pašticada, Soparnik, and Jota. Other traditional foods are Zagorski štrukli, Mlinci, Fusi, and Fritaja. Sweet items include Licitar, Pinca, and Rab cake, while Pag cheese is also a local specialty.

When to go

The climate at the capital, Zagreb, varies throughout the year. Winter months from December to February are cold, with highs between 4 °C and 7 °C and lows dropping to -3 °C. Spring brings warming temperatures, reaching 21 °C by May, though rainfall increases. Summer, from June to August, is the warmest period, with highs of 24 °C to 27 °C. September remains mild at 22 °C, while October and November cool down to highs of 16 °C and 10 °C respectively.

Practical notes

The official currency is the euro (EUR) and the primary language is Croatian. The country operates on UTC+01:00 time. Electrical outlets use plugs C and F with a voltage of 230 V. Traffic moves on the right side of the road.

Cities

Food and drink to try in Croatia

  • Licitar
  • Kulen
  • Pinca
  • Pag cheese
  • Zagorski štrukli
  • Mlinci
  • Pašticada
  • Soparnik
  • Jota
  • Fusi
  • Fritaja
  • Rab cake

Top sights in Croatia

  1. Diocletian's PalaceUNESCODiocletian's PalaceSplit
  2. Pula ArenaPula ArenaPula
  3. Plitvice Lakes National ParkUNESCOPlitvice Lakes National Park
  4. Pelješac BridgePelješac BridgeNeum
  5. Sea organSea organZadar
  6. Cathedral of Saint DomniusCathedral of Saint DomniusSplit
  7. BrijuniBrijuniPula
  8. Krka National ParkKrka National Park
  9. Zagreb CathedralZagreb CathedralZagreb
  10. Euphrasian BasilicaUNESCOEuphrasian Basilica
  11. Grič TunnelGrič TunnelZagreb
  12. Rector's Palace, DubrovnikRector's Palace, DubrovnikDubrovnik
  1. Lovrijenac · Dubrovnik
  2. Šibenik Cathedral · ŠibenikUNESCO
  3. Monument to the Sun · Zadar
  4. Mirogoj Cemetery · Zagreb
  5. Dubrovnik Cathedral · Dubrovnik
  6. Zadar Cathedral · Zadar
  7. Temple of Jupiter, Split · Split
  8. Arch of the Sergii · Pula
  9. Ivan Meštrović Gallery · Split

UNESCO sites in Croatia →

Weather by month

The warmest month is July, with an average high of 27 °C. Rain is spread fairly evenly through the year.

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Average high, °C471216212527272216105
Average low, °C-3-226111417171283-1
Rainfall, mm48516365851048598107888371
Rainy days8889151411910998

Temperatures and rainfall: 1981–2010 averages for Zagreb (4 km grid), from CHELSA. Rainy days: 2015–2024, NASA POWER.

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