Archive for 'Hiking in Croatia'

Croatia is increasingly famous as a destination for stunning landscapes beyond the crystal-clear seas, incredible rock formations, soft white sandy beaches, diverse marine life and more of her perfect and renowned seaside resorts and cities. In addition to these wonderful coastal scenes, there are plenty of jaw-dropping vistas and awe-inspiring places to be explored. So, on your next vacation in Croatia, be sure to pack your activewear and hiking boots and get out into all of that outstanding natural bounty.

If you have found a vacation rental in Karlovac and are looking for a wonderful daytrip destination that combines a bit of a stretch of the legs, incredible views of the amazingly lush Croatian landscape in this part of the country, a stunning ruin of a historic architectural gem in an impressive setting, fascinating local legend and much more besides then you should head towards Ružica Grad. This medieval castle fortress is one of the largest in Croatia and is entangled in tales of fairies and noblemen but is also one of the most picture-perfect places in the country and a must-see for those in search of hidden gems that are far from mass tourism.

The actual origins of the building are not properly known but, per local legend, the area in which the castle is located used to be the meeting place of fairies and where magic potions were made. That is, until a nobleman decided to build a fortified city right on top of their meeting place. The fairies were very upset and used their magic to fight back, ruining whatever the workers had built during the day overnight.

The Mljet National Park is a vast area of incredible protected natural beauty, which covers the entire north-western section of the Island of Mljet, not too far from the city of Dubrovnik. Put under protection in 1948, it was officially made a national park by the Croatian government in 1960. Bordered by two saltwater lakes known as Veliko and Malo Jezero, the Large and Small Lake, most of the area is covered in rich forestry and paints a vivid image with the lush greens set against the azure seas, rich blue lakes, and endless skies. Breathtakingly beautiful, peaceful, and a wonderful place to stretch your legs and have a bit of an adventure, it is an ideal spot for a day-trip if you have found a vacation rental in Dubrovnik and are looking to venture out of the city for some fresh air and refreshing views.

Lokrum is a Croatian island in the Adriatic Sea, just 600 metres off the coast of Dubrovnik. The first written record of the island comes from the 11th century when a Benedictine abbey and monastery were founded on the island and its name comes from their time on the island. The Benedictines began the tradition of planting exotic plants on the island and Lokrum comes from the Latin “acrumen”, meaning sour fruit.

Today the island is a natural paradise still dotted with lemons and oranges, that is a popular day-trip destination. Regular ferries depart from the Old City harbour in Dubrovnik and take visitors across to the island in just fifteen minutes. With a rich and fascinating history and an incredibly scenic setting, Lokrum is the perfect place to recharge your batteries once you have found a vacation rental in Dubrovnik and are a little tired from days of darting around the city.