1 | Vrbnik

1 hour from Rijeka

Definitely one of my favourites on this list. You can reach the town on Krk Island via car, a roughly 1 hour drive from Rijeka. You must explore the old streets of Vrbnik before moving on! There are countless passageways tucked under stone steps. Even one claiming to be the narrowest street in the world, which squeezes itself between a house and its overlapping boulder. Head down the side of the cliffs to the town’s hidden coves at the foot of the town and swim into the caves directly beneath.

2 |Rovinj

1 hour 30 mins from Rijeka

Ok, not so much a town as a small city, but I’m focusing only on the old town. Rovinj is a great place to wander around slowly. Make multiple stops as you explore the alleyways off of Grisia Street and go to some of the most picture-perfect bars and restaurant on the coast. Atelier Charm Cafe can be found down a narrow staircase leading to the shore. Enjoy a drink while the sea water laps over your feet. Male Madeline is another charming water side restaurant, as is Cafe Mediterranean.

Climb the town’s 60m high bell tower for a 360° view of Rovinj and the Istrian coast. The tower is said to be a miniature replica of the tower in Saint Marc’s Square in Venice. If it’s views you’re after head to the tower of St Euphemia looking out to sea.

Relax after a day spent walking around by heading out of the town centre to Golden Cape Park. Here, you can stroll through the pine forest to the best beaches in the bay, including Zlatni Rt Beach.

3 | Kotli

1 hour from Rijeka

An old mill town, abandoned since the 1960s has become a natural oasis. Visit in the summer rains or in the shoulder seasons to see the river and pools at their best. The limestone pools turn the waters of the Istria river an irresistible turquoise as it flows from one tiered pool to the other.

4 | Ston

1 hour from Dubrovnik

Ston and its little brother Mali Ston are two tiny villages trapped between mountains hiding in a bay on the Adriatic coast. Despite being connected by Europe’s version of the Great Wall of China (7km long) and turquoise bays, the lack of a beach has kept both villages off the tourist route. They are only a short drive north of Dubrovnik, and well worth the trip. Don’t feel you have to take part in the annual marathon along the ridge of the walls though!

5 | Grožnjan

1 hour 30 mins from Rijeka

A hill top town enclosed behind a medieval wall. Every angle of this town is beautiful. The cobbled alleyways widen on to squares with views to the sea and the coastal towns below. Every summer the town becomes a hub of creativity as it opens up international workshops for music, art and drama. Even if you don’t visit in the summer months, there are always boutiques and cafes to visit.

Tip: If you enjoy visiting Grožnjan, drive to the other hill top towns of Istria: Hum or Motovun.

6 | Trogir

40 mins from Split

Trogir’s old town sits on an island squeezed between the mainland and the larger island of Čiovo. The entire old town is a UNESCO heritage site and one of the best preserved medieval town in Europe. It was also used as a filming location in Game of Thrones.

The best thing you can do in Trogir, is to explore the old town and get a little lost. The maze of alleyways and unexpected views are a photographers’ dream.

Tip: If you have time, take a boat to the Blue Lagoon (Krknjasi Bay) and enjoy the crystal clear waters and uninhabited islands.

Read my Obidos post to see another of Europe’s best preserved medieval towns

7 | Veli Lošinj

3 hours 30 mins from Rijeka

On the mountainous Island of Lošinj is the small town of Veli Lošinj, once a captains town. Though the harbour is very small, the houses are as colourful as those in Burano, Venice. With peaceful coves and coastal walks this is the perfect place to escape the crowds.

Read my Venice post to see the colourful canal-side houses

The most scenic walks can be found along the promenade to the neighbouring village of Rovenska, climb the hill for a panoramic view of the bay from St John The Baptist or follow the coast path to the sister town of Mali Lošinj.

8 | Brela

1 hour from Split

Just a short drive south of Split is the coastal town of Brela, which has featured on numerous lists as one of the best beaches in the world.

The symbol of the town is the rocky island of Kamen Brela just next to the promenade. The tiny rock has spindly trees growing out of it and is easily swimmable too. Brela has miles of beautiful sandy beaches but my favourite is Podrace Beach for its sheltered cove. Walk along the pine forested headland as you weave between the beaches and don’t forget to take the coast road when you leave!

9 | Slunj & Rastoke

2 hours from Split

The neighbouring villages of Slunj and Rastoke follow the course of the Slunjčica River and have made quite a feature of it. Wheel houses and old mills turned into restaurants with waterfalls and natural pools for people to swim in. The villages are lined with wood-shingled houses and footbridges over the river. This is the perfect pit stop on the way to Plitvice National Park (25km away) and also a great place to go kayaking.

10 | Cigoc

1 hour 30 mins from Zagreb

Cigoc is also known as ‘The Stork Village’, as in March over 200 storks will nest on the villages’ roofs and chimneys before departing for their migration to Africa. Other than these feathery visitors the village is home to some of the best preserved traditional Croatian houses outside of an Ethnovillage. I would only recommend going here if you have lots of time as the villages is quite out of the way, near to the northern border of Bosnia & Herzegovina.

11 | Omis

1 hour from Split

This one is for the hikers, kayakers and conyoneerers. It’s not so much the town (though it is pretty), as the location that puts Omis on this list. Hike up to Mirabela or Starigrad Fortress for panoramic views. Better yet, climb the Via Ferratta to the top of the cliffs for a view directly above town. If you want a longer hike, take the trail to Kula Peak which grants you a view of the entire ridge line and the sea beyond.

As you can tell Omis is considered the outdoor adventure capital of Croatia but once upon a time it was home to pirates who would ambush ships passing by and then retreat up the river where they couldn’t be followed.

|Little Extras

|Trsteno

25 mins from Dubrovnik

A paradise in the form of a tiny fishermans’ village. Trsteno is also home to the 16th century arboretum which made the village so desirable. This is the place to rent an airbnb and gaze out over the waters of the tiny cove. It’s only a 25 minute drive north of Dubrovnik!

Tip: If you have time, visit Sjekirica Beach just 5 minutes up the coast and swim out to the rocky islet just off the beach. On the drive from Dubrovnik stop at Beach Gof which has lots of little caves and beaches between the spindly pines.

|Merag (Cres Island)

1 hour 30 mins from Rijeka

I had to include this hamlet (only a handful of houses), I mean just look at it! Whilst Cres isn’t the most popular of Croatia’s islands, it is one of the quieter ones. Explore the hamlet and the gaping cave behind it. After exploring the cave, drive for 15 minutes over to Plaža Krušćica bay on the other side of the headland and swim in the azure waters beneath the pines.