The Croatian coast is dotted with over 1000 islands. In a country like this one, there is really no reason to limit oneself to the road. And second to diving right in, what better way to spend quality time with the Adriatic than to take a Jadrolinija ferry from Kor?ula to Split? Jadrolinija is Croatia’s » Read more

Take a few minutes to practice the elementary Croatian language gems on our list below and shine with the Hrvatskas. DOBRO. DOUGH-bro. Great, good and well. “Dobro dan” means “good day” and “dobro ve?er” means “good evening.” In addition, “dobro” is a lot of fun to say. Try it out. HVALA. Hv-AH-la or VAH-la. Thanks. » Read more

We first read about picigin, Hrvatska’s national sport, while planning our trip to Split. At first exposure, the beach ball game seemed kind of silly. Once we saw it played on a shore at Ba?vice, however, we quickly became fans. A handball game often compared to volleyball, some claim that Ba?vice is the only spot » Read more

The rumors regarding Plitvice Lakes National Park match the velocity of its waterfalls. Guidebooks and even on-site hotel staff are full of misinformation. Even the park Web site is secretive, encouraging potential guests to refrain from contacting hotels directly. During a recent expedition within the park grounds, we were able to make some eye-opening discoveries. » Read more

When you’re done meandering through the narrow streets and climbing the old walls of Old Dubrovnik, retreat from the crowds to the island of Lokrum. A peaceful island of less than one square km, Lokrum is a nature preserve with no cars or human inhabitants. Save for an old fortress and a Benedictine monastery converted » Read more

A boat show was not on deck when my travel companion and I planned our trip to Split. However, when we blew into town last Friday, the millenia-old city had already set sail for the ninth annual Croatia Boat Show. When in Rome—or, err, what used to be Roman—do as the former Romans do. Many » Read more

When we slept with Toni Bokun and his family, the only two things separating our spotless, freshly painted double room (€45 in off season) from the Adriatic was a little stone palace—circa 1600—and a garden bursting with color. Tomato plants, strawberries, and tulips greeted us every morning outside of our window, through open doors and » Read more

Maybe it’s just us, but catching a flight from Budapest to Dubrovnik is a bitch at this time of year—unless one likes flying through London. After researching major airlines for half an hour, we decided to pack it in a train to Zagreb instead. At Kelati Station, the southeast train station in Budapest, we bought » Read more

One of Croatia’s tastiest baked treats is its sour cherry strudel, otherwise known as Štrudl od višanja. Or if salivating glands have got you tongue-tied, just point to the selection in the pastry case with the blood-red glaze oozing out its sides. Višnja pastries are a common sight in Croatian bakeries, markets, and even bus » Read more