Croatia, as a nation, is home to some truly unique and extraordinary sights. These fascinating attractions are a true wonder to behold and offer visitors the chance to pause, take a moment, and appreciate the magic of the experience. They also act as excellent touch stones and entry points into the rich history, heritage, and natural beauty of the country, which is just waiting to be discovered. So, look past the beaches and sun holidays, add these attractions to your bucket list, and come fall in love with the complexities and wonders offered by Croatia. Take this as your sign to book that villa in Croatia today...
Listen to the sound of the Adriatic by visiting Zadar's Sea Organ
The beautiful historic coastal town of Zadar is already an impossibly charming and relaxing place to spend some time but its wonderful good looks are further heightened by the unique attraction that is the Zadar Sea Organ. Located to the west end of the city's Riva, it was built as part of a project initiated by the architect Nikola Bašić along with a team of experts. Made up of steps flowing down into the sea, the lower steps allow water and air to flow in which is then funnelled into pipes below the steps before producing chime-like notes through the upper steps. Playing ever different combinations of the 7 chords of 5 tones that can be produced by the whistles, the hypnotic instrument makes sitting on the steps and looking out at the water an utterly magical experience. Be sure to listen for yourself if you book a vacation rental in Zadar.
Visit the lunar landscapes of Pag
While you're staying in your holiday rental in Zadar, we also recommend taking a trip out to the island of Pag. This incredible island has a distinct lunar-like appearance that caught the eye of sci-fi legend Ridley Scott for an historical supernatural horror series he was filming in 2017 and can be hiked and cycled and explored by visitors. Beyond this striking beauty, however, the island also boasts amazing beaches, famous parties, delicious cheese and wine, and more. So, if you come to take in its unique landscapes, you'll have plenty of other reasons to stick around!
Have the lush beauty of the Plitvice Lakes take your breath away
We have talked about the famous Plitvice Lakes on more than one occasion – and for good reason. This national park is an area of lush forestry, dramatic waterfalls, rivers, lakes, and more with paths and walkways all the way through it. It is impossibly bucolic and beautiful, especially in the summer, when the waters are jewel-toned wonders, and autumn, when the trees all around transform into an array of magical golden hues. Definitely one of the country's must-see attractions, especially for nature-lovers, it should immediately be added to your itinerary if you book a villa in Lika-Senj County but is also worth travelling a distance to see on a day trip even if you are staying elsewhere in Croatia.
Enter the magical world of the Blue Cave of Bisevo
If you book a vacation rental in Split-Dalmatien, meanwhile, you're likely to want to head out and explore the rugged and striking coastline and rich blue seas of the area. Here you will find the Blue Cave of Bisevo, one of the world's most intriguing natural phenomena and famous as one of the great natural beauties of the Adriatic. This is because, between around 11am and 2pm, sunlight enters the cave through a crack and illuminates the whole space with a magical blue light as it refracts on the water. Of course, this has become an incredibly popular tourist attraction, with queues of boats now lining up to take visitors in. As it is a bit of a trek to get there, we recommend not simply visiting the cave on its own but making a day of it and joining a tour of the islands in the area that will include the cave.
Experience some of the most unique museums in the world...
Intriguingly, Croatia happens to be home to a slew of some of the most unique museums in the world so if you're a fan of unusual attractions, then you'll be able to include plenty while on vacation in Croatia! From the Museum of Heartbreak in the capital of Zagreb to Froggyland, a museum of taxidermic displays of frogs doing all sorts of activities and in all kinds of costumes, there are some rather strange and wonderful things to see. For all of our posts on the interesting, amazing, and bizarre museums in Croatia, head to our blog for more guides.
Pay a pilgrimage to the Game of Thrones filming locations
Game of Thrones further popularised Croatia and Dubrovnik as tourist destinations. Serious obsessives may want to pay a pilgrimage to some of the iconic filming locations. For the full list of must-see spots, just check out our guide, also on our blog!
