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{{Short description|Tourism in Croatia}}{{Multiple issues|{{outdated|date=June 2021}}{{Cleanup rewrite|date=June 2021}}}}{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2021}}File:Dubrovnik june 2011..JPG|thumb|250px|right|DubrovnikDubrovnikTourism in Croatia () is a major industry of country's economy, accounting for almost 20% of Croatia's gross domestic product (GDP) as of 2021.WEB, Orsini, Kristina, Ostojić, Vukašin, Croatia's Tourism Industry: Beyond the Sun and Sea,weblink European Commission, European Union, 18 September 2021, The history of tourism in Croatia dates back to its time as part of Austria-Hungary when wealthy aristocrats would converge to the sea,WEB, BASKAR, BOJAN, Southbound, to the Austrian Riviera: The Habsburg Patronage of Tourism in the Eastern Adriatic,weblink Društvo antropologov Slovenije, University of Ljubljana, 18 September 2021, but had expanded greatly in the 1960s and '70s under the economic policies of the former Yugoslavia.JOURNAL, Kapusta, Armina, Wiluś, Robert, Geography of Tourism in Croatia, The Geography of Tourism of Central and Eastern European Countries, 2017, 109–147, Springer International Publishing, 10.1007/978-3-319-42205-3_4, 978-3-319-42203-9, Today, Croatia is one of the most visited tourist destinations in the Mediterranean, with a total of 11.2 million tourists visiting in 2021.Tourism in Croatia is concentrated in the areas along the Adriatic coast and is strongly seasonal, peaking in July and August.WEB,weblink Tourism statistics for Croatia, ec.europa.eu, European Commission, 2014, 10 September 2016,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20160827211833weblink">weblink 2016-08-27, dead, Eight areas in the country have been designated national parks, with an additional eleven as nature parks.WEB, Parkovi Hrvatske,weblink Parkovihrvatske.hr, 18 September 2021, Currently, there are ten sites in Croatia on the UNESCO List of World Heritage Sites.WEB, Properties inscribed on the World Heritage List (10),weblink UNESCO, 18 September 2021,

History

Since the late 1990s, Croatia has had one of the highest tourism growth rates in the world and this trend is expected to continue.Milan Oplanic, Tajana Čop & Ana Čehić Marić. "Olive tourism: understanding visitors' motivations", Acta Turistica, vol. 32, n° 2, December 2020, p. 141-167. See p. 152.Between 2012 (the year before Croatia joined the EU) and 2019, the number of annual tourist arrivals increased by 8 million.WEB, Number of arrivals in tourist accommodation in Croatia from 2006 to 2017* (in millions),weblink Statistica, 9 May 2019, 16 million foreign tourists - 4 times the country’s population - visited Croatia in 2018.Economists argue that Croatia's joining the EU made them a more desirable tourist location due to reinvestment in their economy, more open trade barriers, and lessened customs control.WEB, Five Years In, EU Membership Benefits Evident,weblink Total Croatia News, HINA, 9 May 2019, NEWS, Adrian, Bridge, Croatia in the EU: Q & A for holidaymakers,weblink The Telegraph, 9 May 2019, 5 February 2016, Its main attractions are a 1,104-mile-long Mediterranean coastline plus 1,185 islands, and a rich cultural and historical heritage.Only 15% of the coast, the main tourist attraction in Croatia, is urbanized, and plans are in progress to further develop Croatia's tourism sector.WEB,weblink Croatia – Travel and Tourism {{!, export.gov|website=www.export.gov|language=en|access-date=8 April 2018}} The Croatian Tourism Development Strategy aims at making Croatia a globally recognized tourist destination for all seasons, and is working towards that goal by building more luxury accommodations, including hotels and tourist services, or renovating older ones. Croatia also has one of the UNWTO's Sustainable Tourism Observatories, part of the organization's International Network of Sustainable Tourism Observatories (INSTO). The observatory is considered a commitment to monitoring and building sustainable tourism.WEB,weblink 2016 Annual Report, UNWTO,

Tourist regions

Tourism is largely concentrated on the coastal areas, which are shared among seven counties. Another characteristic is its high level of seasonality.The Croatian National Tourist Board has divided Croatia into six distinct tourist regions.

Istria

File:Poreč Basilica 4.jpg|thumb|Euphrasian BasilicaEuphrasian BasilicaFile:The Arena, Pula.jpg|thumb|right|Pula ArenaPula ArenaThe west coast of the peninsula of Istria has several historical towns dating from Roman times, such as the city of Umag, which hosts the yearly Croatia Open ATP tennis tournament on clay courts.WEB,weblink Konzum Croatia Open Umag, ATP World Tour, 9 June 2015, The city of Poreč is known for the UNESCO-protected Euphrasian Basilica, which includes 6th-century mosaics depicting Byzantine art.WEB,weblink Episcopal Complex of the Euphrasian Basilica in the Historic Centre of Poreč, UNESCO World Heritage Centre, 9 June 2015, The city plan still shows the ancient Roman Castrum structure with main streets Decumanus and Cardo Maximus still preserved in their original forms. Marafor is a Roman square with two temples attached. One of them, erected in the 1st century, is dedicated to the Roman god Neptune.Frommer's Eastern Europe, by Ryan James, Hana Mastrini, Mark Baker, 2009. Originally a Gothic Franciscan church built in the 13th century, the 'Dieta Istriana' hall was remodeled in the Baroque style in the 18th century.The region's largest city Pula has one of the best preserved amphitheatres in the world, which is still used for festivals and events. It is surrounded by hotel complexes, resorts, camps, and sports facilities. Nearby is Brijuni national park, formerly the summer residence of late Yugoslav president Josip Broz Tito.NEWS,weblink BBC News – Inside Tito's luxury playground, 9 June 2015, Roman villas and temples still lie buried among farm fields and along the shoreline of surrounding fishing and farming villages. The coastal waters offer beaches, fishing, wreck dives to ancient Roman galleys and World War I warships, cliff diving, and sailing.WEB,weblink Croatian coast: A great place to learn to dive, dead,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20110622104354weblink">weblink 22 June 2011, Pula is the end point of the EuroVelo 9 cycle route that runs from GdaÅ„sk on the Baltic Sea through Poland, Czechia, Austria, Slovenia and Croatia.File:Rovinj coast.jpg|thumb|left|Coastal view of RovinjRovinjThe town of Rovinj contains well-indented coastal areas with a number of small bays hidden within dense vegetation, open to naturists. Although the beaches are not specified as naturist, naturists frequent them.WEB,weblink Beaches in Rovinj, 9 June 2015, The interior is green and wooded, with small stone towns on hills, such as Motovun. The river Mirna flows below the hill. On the other side of the river lies Motovun forest, an area of about 10 square kilometres in the valley of the river Mirna, of which 280 hectares (2.8 km2) are specially protected. This area differs not only from the nearby forests, but also from those of the entire surrounding karst region because of its wildlife, moist soil, and truffles (Tuber magnatum) that grow there. Since 1999, Motovun has hosted the international Motovun Film Festival for independent films from the U.S. and Europe.WEB,weblink About festival, dead,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20090712072419weblink">weblink 12 July 2009, Grožnjan, another hill town, hosts a three-week jazz festival every July.file:Brijuni, old olive tree.jpg|thumb|1,600 y.o. olive tree on Veli BrijunVeli Brijun"Olive tourism"Oplanic, ÄŒop & Marić 2020, p. 142-143 is also on the increase in this region. Olive oil is among the most important agricultural activities in Istria and this region has therefore received a large part of the nation's effort in rejuvenating the olive oil manufacturing that began around the turn of the new millenium: renovating and renewing of olive grovesOplanic, ÄŒop & Marić 2020, p. 143, 149 (18,683 ha of olive groves in Croatia in 2018,Oplanic, ÄŒop & Marić 2020, p. 152 most of it near the coastOplanic, ÄŒop & Marić 2020, p. 153 yielding 5,000 tonnes olive oil / year), introduction of modern technologies in the production and processing of olives, storage of olive oil. Its olive oil has an exceedingly good reputation; in 2024 the olive oil guide Flos Olei has classed 69 Istrian producers among the 500 best producers worldwide."FLOS OLEI 2024 - Here are the 500 Farms included in the Guide ". See also Oplanic, ÄŒop & Marić 2020, p. 153. It is also a major part of the cultural history in the region, as witnessed by a 1,600 years old olive tree on the island of Veli Brijun (Brijuni National Park)."The olive tree on Brijuni", on np-brijuni.hr. As one of the forms of special interest tourismOplanic, ÄŒop & Marić 2020, p. 142, 143, 144, 145 and a form of gastronomy-related tourism, oleotourism is very common in rural areas where it generates additional income for olive growers who market their produce directly to consumers;Oplanic, ÄŒop & Marić 2020, p. 144 it also has a multifaceted education value;Oplanic, ÄŒop & Marić 2020, p. 142 and it extends the seasonality of tourism - and of associated seasonal labour - into the Autumn season.Oplanic, ÄŒop & Marić 2020, p. 149 The olive oil museum in the center of Pula includes a shop and allows for various activities (discovering, tasting, purchasing).

Kvarner and Highlands

File:Opatija Statue.jpg|right|thumb|The seaside town OpatijaOpatijaOne of the most varying regions, the entire Kvarner Gulf provides striking scenery, with tall mountains overlooking large islands in the sea. Opatija is the oldest tourist resort in Croatia, its tradition of tourism ranging from the 19th century.WEB, 19th century – beginning of modern tourism and villas in Croatia,weblink The former Venetian island towns of Rab and LoÅ¡inj are popular tourist destinations. The island of Rab is rich in cultural heritage and cultural-historical monuments. Rab is also known as a pioneer of naturism after the visit of Edward VIII and Wallis Simpson.WEB,weblink Andrew Earnes goes island-hopping on the Croatian coast – on the cheap, the Guardian, 20 June 2009, 9 June 2015, The island offers nature, beaches, heritage, and events such as the Rab arbalest tournament and the Rab Medieval festival – Rapska fjera. With around 2600 hours of sunshine a year, the island of LoÅ¡inj is a tourist destination for Slovenians, Italians, and Germans in the summer months. Average air humidity is 70%, and the average summer temperature is {{convert|24|°C|0|abbr=on}} and {{convert|7|°C|0|abbr=on}} during the winter.WEB,weblinkweblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20101201045448weblink">weblink dead, 1 December 2010, About the island – Climate, 9 June 2015, The interior regions Gorski Kotar, Velebit and Lika have mountain peaks, forests and fields, many animal species including bears, and the national parks of Risnjak and Plitvice Lakes. The Plitvice Lakes National Park lies in the Plitvice plateau which is surrounded by three mountains part of the Dinaric Alps: PljeÅ¡ivica (Gornja PljeÅ¡evica peak 1,640 m), Mala Kapela (SeliÅ¡ki Vrh peak at 1,280 m), and MedveÄ‘ak (884 m).WEB,weblink Plitvice Lakes National Park–Basic Information, dead,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20160303210227weblink">weblink 3 March 2016, The national Park is underlain by karstic rock, mainly dolomite and limestone with associated lakes and caves, this has given rise to the most distinctive feature of its lakes. The lakes are separated by natural dams of travertine, which is deposited by the action of moss, algae, and bacteria. The encrusted plants and bacteria accumulate on top of each other, forming travertine barriers which grow at the rate of about 1 cm per year. The sixteen lakes are separated into an upper and lower cluster formed by runoff from the mountains, descending from an altitude of {{convert|636|to|503|m|0|abbr=on}} over a distance of some eight km, aligned in a south–north direction.File:Plitvice Lakes National Park (2).jpg|right|thumb|The Plitvice Lakes National ParkPlitvice Lakes National ParkThe lakes collectively cover an area of about two square kilometers, with the water exiting from the lowest lake to form the Korana River. The lakes are divided into the 12 Upper Lakes (Gornja jezera) and the four Lower Lakes (Donja jezera):WEB,weblink Plitvička Jezera.hr, dead,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20101228074456weblink">weblink 28 December 2010, Under the travertine waterfalls Cratoneuron moss sometimes grows, the moss gets encrusted with travertine and fresh moss grows further out, first a crag is formed but later a cave roof forms under the crag. If the water continues flowing the cave becomes progressively bigger. Limestone caves are present as well. The area is also home to an extremely wide variety of animal and bird species. Rare fauna such as the European brown bear, wolf, eagle, owl, lynx, wild cat, and capercaillie can be found there, along with many more common species. At least 126 species of birds have been recorded there, of which 70 have been recorded as breeding.

Dalmatia

{{see|Dalmatia}}

Zadar

{{see|Zadar County}}File:Zadar Sveta Stosija.jpg|thumb|right|Front detail on the Cathedral of St. Anastasia in ZadarZadarThis region caters to yachting and leisure travel. The Kornati National Park has hundreds of mostly uninhabited islands. Kornat, the biggest of the islands with a total area of {{convert|32525315|m²|0|abbr=on}}, comprises two-thirds of the park's land area. Although the island is 25.2 km long, it is no wider than 2.5 km.Jeanne Oliver (2005), Croatia, pg. 187, Lonely Planet Publications, {{ISBN|1-74059-487-8}} The park is managed from the town of Murter, on the island of Murter, and is connected to the mainland by a drawbridge.Zadar, the largest city in the region, gained its urban structure in Roman times; during the time of Julius Caesar and Augustus, the town was fortified and the city walls with towers and gates were built. On the western side of the town were the forum, the basilica and the temple, while outside the town were the amphitheatre and cemeteries. The aqueduct which supplied the town with water is partially preserved. Inside the ancient town, a medieval town had developed with a series of churches and monasteries being built.WEB,weblink Zadar, Croatia: The perfect break, Natalie Paris, Telegraph.co.uk, 9 June 2015, File:Chorvatsko pag01.jpg|thumb|left|Boating around the island of Pag ]]File:Nationalpark Paklenica Schlucht.JPG|thumb|right|The Great Gorge of Paklenica (Velika Paklenica) is a popular rock climbingrock climbingThe interior has mixed plains and mountains, with the Paklenica canyon as the main attraction. Paklenica National Park is the most visited climbing site in Croatia, and the largest in Southeast Europe. The close proximity of seawater allows tourists to combine climbing, hiking and water sports. There are over 360 equipped and improved routes of various difficulty levels and lengths within Paklenica's climbing sites.WEB,weblink Paklenica National Park: climbing, dead,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20100901090656weblink">weblink 1 September 2010, The main climbing season begins in spring and ends in late autumn. The park area contains 150–200 km of trails and paths intended either for tourists or mountaineers. The trails in the park are marked with boards and mountaineering signs.The island of Pag has one of the biggest party zones in Europe in the town of Novalja and Zrće. These beaches have all-hours discothèques and beach bars operating during summer months.WEB,weblink Island-hopping in Croatia, the Guardian, 20 June 2009, 9 June 2015,

Å ibenik

File:HR-Sibenik-Kathedrale-01.jpg|thumb|right|220px|The Cathedral of St James is renowned for its architecture.]]This is another yachting region, dotted with islands, and centered on Å ibenik and the Cathedral of St James, a UNESCO World Heritage site.WEB,weblink The Cathedral of St James in Å ibenik, UNESCO World Heritage Centre, 9 June 2015, Several fortresses, remnants of the Renaissance era (which includes St. Nicholas Fortress) surround the city.The interior has the Krka National Park with waterfalls and religious monasteries.[Bradt Croatia: The Bradt Travel Guide, by Piers Letcher, Robin McKelvie, Jenny McKelvie. 2007] Skradinski Buk has attractions and facilities available among various footpaths, sightseeing tours and presentations, boat trips, restaurants and a museum.WEB, Rent a Boat, Yacht or Jet Ski in Dubrovnik, Croatia,weblink 2024-04-25, Garitransfer, en, RoÅ¡ki Slap, located near Miljevci, is the second most popular attraction of the Krka National Park in terms of numbers of visitors, and its cascades can be visited throughout the year. RoÅ¡ki Slap may be reached by excursion boat operated by the Krka National Park, although the falls can also be reached with a public road. Inside the park is the island of Visovac which was founded during the reign of Louis I of Hungary, home to the Roman Catholic Visovac Monastery founded by the Franciscans in 1445 near Miljevci village.Naklada Naprijed, The Croatian Adriatic Tourist Guide, pg. 208, Zagreb (1999)] The island can be visited by a boat tour from Skradinski Buk. The park also includes the Serbian Orthodox Krka monastery founded in 1345. File:Krka-falls.JPG|thumb|left|Waterfalls at Krka National ParkKrka National ParkThe area around the city of Knin has medieval fortresses and archeological remains. The recently discovered Roman town Burnum is 18 km far from Knin in direction of Kistanje, which has the ruins of the biggest amphitheatre in Dalmatia built in 77 AD, which held 8,000 people, during the rule of Vespasian.WEB,weblink .:: fragmenti ONLINE :::::::: f 1/I 2003. Burnum, Andrea Devlahović, 9 June 2015, The nearby villages Biskupija and Kapitul are archaeological sites from the 10th century where remains of medieval Croatian culture are found including churches, graves, decorations, and epigraphs.WEB,weblink Sv. Ante Knin, dead,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20070610054336weblink">weblink 10 June 2007,

Split

File:Diokletian Palace.JPG|thumb|right|The Cellars of Diocletian's PalaceCellars of Diocletian's PalaceThe coastal city of Split is also the second largest city in Croatia, and is known for its unique Roman heritage which includes UNESCO-protected Diocletian's Palace.WEB,weblink Historical Complex of Split with the Palace of Diocletian, UNESCO World Heritage Centre, 9 June 2015, The city was built around the well-preserved palace, which is one of the most complete architectural and cultural features on the Croatian Adriatic coast. The Split Cathedral stems from the palace.The Makarska Riviera is a stretch of coastline that offers beaches, clubs, cafes, kayaking, sailing, and hiking along the Biokovo range. Makarska, Brela, Omiš, and Baška Voda are the most popular.File:Trogir - Flickr - pululante.jpg|thumb|right|The historic old town of TrogirTrogirThe large islands of this region, include the town of Hvar, known for its fishing and tourism industries. Hvar has a mild Mediterranean climate and Mediterranean vegetation. The island promotes itself as "the sunniest spot in Europe", with over 2715 hours of sunlight in an average year.WEB,weblink Croatia, Island Hvar-Climate, dead,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20100819024813weblink">weblink 19 August 2010, Cultural and artistic events within the Hvar Summer Festival take place throughout the summer, from late June to late September. These events include classical music concerts performed by national and international artists, and performances by amateur groups from Hvar.{{citation |title= Tourist Board of City of Hvar |url=weblink |access-date= 14 July 2009 |archive-url=weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20090626044544weblink">weblink |archive-date= 26 June 2009 |url-status= dead }} The Gallery of Modern Art in Hvar is located in the Arsenal building, in the lobby of the historic Theatre of Hvar. The permanent display contains paintings, sculptures, and prints from the collection, and temporary exhibitions are organised within the museum project Summer of Fine Arts in Hvar.{{citation |title= The Hvar Heritage Museum |url=weblink |access-date= 14 July 2009 }}The Cathedral of St. Stephen and the Bishop's Palace have a Renaissance-baroque style, and a façade with three-cornered gable and a Renaissance Bell Tower in Romanesque style from the 16th century, created by Venetian artists.{{citation |last= Novak |first= Grga |author-link=Grga Novak |title= Hvar Kroz Stoljeća (Hvar Through the Centuries)|edition= 2nd |series= Historijski Arhiv – Hvar (Historical Archives of Hvar) |volume= I |year= 1960 |orig-year= 1924 |publisher= Narodni Odbor Općine Hvar (National Council of Hvar Municipality) |language= hr}}Other notable islands in the region include Brač, Čiovo, Šolta, and Vis.File:Goli.jpg|thumb|right|MljetMljetFile:Dubrovnik .jpg|thumb|right|The most popular view of DubrovnikDubrovnikThe old city of Trogir is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and contains a mixture of influence from the Hellenistic period, Romans, and Venetians with its Greek architecture, Romanesque churches, Renaissance and Baroque buildings.WEB,weblink Historic City of Trogir, UNESCO World Heritage Centre, 9 June 2015, Trogir is the best-preserved Romanesque-Gothic complex in Central Europe. Trogir's medieval core, surrounded by walls, comprises a preserved castle and tower and a series of dwellings and palaces from the Romanesque, Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque periods. Trogir's grandest building is the Cathedral of St. Lawrence, whose main west portal is a masterpiece by Radovan, and the most significant work of the Romanesque-Gothic style in Croatia. Another notable attraction is the Kamerlengo Castle.

Dubrovnik

One of the best-known Croatian tourist sites is the fortified city of Dubrovnik with its Renaissance culture. The highlight is the Sponza Palace which dates from the 16th century and is currently used to house the National Archives.WEB,weblink Sponza Palace, DubrovnikCity.com,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20100414012417weblink">weblink 14 April 2010, live, 16 February 2010, The Rector's Palace is a Gothic-Renaissance structure that now houses a museum.WEB,weblink The Rector's Palace,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20090527112425weblink">weblink 27 May 2009, live, 16 February 2010, DubrovnikCity.com, WEB,weblink The Rector's Palace,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20100611210820weblink">weblink Dubrovnik Guide, 11 June 2010, live, 16 February 2010, Its façade is depicted on the reverse of the Croatian 50 kuna banknote, issued in 1993 and 2002.Croatian National Bank. Features of Kuna Banknotes {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090506012028weblink |date=6 May 2009 }}: 50 kuna {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110604014130weblink |date=4 June 2011 }} (1993 issue) & 50 kuna {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110604014137weblink |date=4 June 2011 }} (2002 issue). – Retrieved on 30 March 2009.The St. Saviour Church is another remnant of the Renaissance period, next to the Franciscan Monastery.WEB,weblink Monuments (1 to 5),weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20100714090903weblink">weblink 14 July 2010, live, 16 February 2010, Dubrovnik Online, WEB,weblink Franciscan monastery,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20100611210754weblink">weblink Dubrovnik Guide, 11 June 2010, live, 16 February 2010, WEB,weblink Franciscan Friary, Dubrovnik,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20100117091038weblink">weblink 17 January 2010, live, 16 February 2010, Sacred Destinations, The Franciscan monastery's library possesses 30,000 volumes, 22 incunabula, 1,500 valuable handwritten documents. Exhibits include a 15th-century silver-gilt cross and silver thurible, an 18th-century crucifix from Jerusalem, a martyrology (1541) by Bernardin Gučetić and illuminated Psalters. Dubrovnik's most famous church is St Blaise's Church, built in the 18th century in honor of Dubrovnik's patron saint. Dubrovnik's baroque Cathedral houses relics of Saint Blaise. The city's Dominican Monastery resembles a fortress on the outside but the interior contains an art museum and a Gothic-Romanesque church.WEB,weblink Church of St. Blaise, Dubrovnik,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20100120024503weblink">weblink 20 January 2010, live, 16 February 2010, Sacred Destinations, WEB,weblink Monuments (16 to 20),weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20100714093315weblink">weblink 14 July 2010, dead, 16 February 2010, Dubrovnik Online, A treasure of the Dominican monastery is its library with over 220 incunabula, numerous illustrated manuscripts, a rich archive with manuscripts and documents and an extensive art collection.WEB,weblink Dominican Friary, Dubrovnik,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20100102080947weblink">weblink 2 January 2010, live, 16 February 2010, Sacred Destinations, WEB,weblink Dominican Monastery,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20100104014716weblink">weblink Croatia Traveller, Oliver, Jeanne, 4 January 2010, live, 16 February 2010, WEB,weblink Monuments (21 To 22),weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20090725060316weblink">weblink Dubrovnik Online, 25 July 2009, dead, 16 February 2010, The main feature of Dubrovnik is its walls that run 2 km around the city. The walls run from four to six metres thick on the landward side but are thinner on the seaward side. The system of turrets and towers were intended to protect the city.WEB,weblink Dubrovnik's Walls,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20100104014840weblink">weblink 4 January 2010, live, 16 February 2010, Croatia Traveler, Oliver, Jeanne, An excursion along the coast south of Dubrovnik to the area of Ljuta offers daytime cruise excursions with scenic views including water streams, historic water mills and the mountain range east of the coastal plateau.Just off the coast of Dubrovnik is the forested island of Lokrum. The small island has a castle, a thousand-year-old Benedictine monastery, and a botanical garden initially started by Maximilian I of Mexico in the 19th century. Peacocks and peahens still roam the isle, descended from the original peafowls brought over by Maximilian.File:Korčula overview.jpg|thumb|left|Overview of Korčula ]] The nearby islands include the historical island of Korčula. The Catholic inhabitants of Korčula keep alive old folk church ceremonies and a weapon dance, the MoreÅ¡ka, which dates back to the Middle Ages.WEB,weblink "Blackened Faces and a Veiled Woman: The Early Korcula Moreska" by Harris, Max; Feldman, Lada Cale – Comparative Drama, Vol. 37, Issue 3–4, Fall-Winter 2003, {{dead link|date=July 2021}} Originally danced only on special occasions, in modern times there are performances twice a week for tourists.BOOK, Korčulanska Moreska, Dunin, Elsie Ivancich, 9789539547101, 2006, hr, The main town's historic sites include the central Romanesque-Gothic Cathedral of St Mark (built from 1301 to 1806), the 15th-century Franciscan monastery with Venetian Gothic cloister, the civic council chambers, the palace of the former Venetian governors, grand 15th and 16th-century palaces of the local merchant nobles, and the city fortifications.Further along the Adriatic are the forests of Mljet island. Over 72% of the island of {{convert|98.01|km2|sqmi}} is forest. Its geological structure consists of limestone and dolomite forming ridges, crests and slopes. A few depressions on the island of Mljet are below sea level and are known as blatine ("mud-lakes") or slatine ("salt-lakes"). During the rain seasons, all blatine are filled with water and turn to brackish during dry seasons.

Central and Northern Croatia

File:Trakošćan 2007.JPG|thumb|right|TrakošćanTrakošćan The northern part, with the hilly area of Zagorje and Međimurje, is dotted with castles and spas, and the old city of Varaždin. In Međimurje, there are spas and facilities for recreation in Vučkovec and around Sveti Martin na Muri, both in the northern part of the county and near the Mura. There are also more than 200 clubs for various sporting and recreational activities such as mountaineering, fishing, bowling, CB radio, parachuting and flying small aircraft, including unpowered gliders and powered hang gliders. Hunting also attracts numerous hunters in low game and birds.In Čakovec Castle, are the Međimurje County Museum and an art gallery. In the chapel of Sveta Jelena in Šenkovec, and in the Church of St Jerome in Štrigova, there are Baroque frescoes of Ivan Ranger dating between 1776 and 1786. Prelog is home to the beautiful Church of St James, built in 1761.File:Stari grad Zrinskih, Čakovec (2021).JPG|thumb|right|Zrinski Castle in Čakovec, Međimurje County, the northernmost part of Croatia]]Varaždin, with its monuments and artistic heritage, represents the best preserved and richest urban complex in continental Croatia. The Varaždin Old Town (fortress) is a medieval defensive building. Construction began in the 14th century, and in the following century the rounded towers, typical of Gothic architecture in Croatia, were added. Varaždin's Cathedral, a former Jesuit church, was built in 1647, has a baroque entrance, 18th-century altar, and paintings.WEB,weblink Varazdin – Historic Nucleus and Old Town (the Castle), UNESCO World Heritage Centre, 9 June 2015, Among festivals, the annual Špancir Fest begins at the end of August (lasts for 10 days).WEB, Home,weblink 2022-08-26, Špancirfest, en-US, At this time the city welcomes artists, street performers, musicians and vendors for what is called 'the street walking festival'. Varaždin is also the host of the "Radar festival", which hosts concerts at the end of summer.WEB,weblink Početna – Varaždinske barokne večeri, 9 June 2015, It has already hosted musical stars such as Bob Dylan, Carlos Santana,WEB, Kušter, Filip, SANTANA U VARAŽDINU Prije deset godina na Radar Festivalu zasvirao je gitaristički virtuoz, Solomon Burke i članovi legendarnih The Animalsa,weblink 2022-08-26, Varazdinski.hr, hr, the Animals, Manic Street Preachers, Solomon Burke among others.File:Marija Bistrica 12.jpg|thumb|left|upright|Altar of the Marija BistricaMarija BistricaThe Marian shrine of Marija Bistrica is the country's largest pilgrimage spot. Hundreds of thousands of pilgrims visit the site every year where the 14th-century church has stood. The church is known for the statue known as Black Madonna with Child, dating to the Ottoman invasion in the 16th century when the statue was hidden in the church and then lost for decades until its discovery. Behind the church is the process of "the Way of the Cross", in which pilgrims begin the trek that leads to Calvary Hill. Pope John Paul II visited the site in 1998 in his second tour of Croatia.Croatia by Vesna Marić, (2009)Central Croatia has some natural highlights, such as the Lonjsko Polje Nature Park. The southwest area is known for its forests and wilderness. Baroque churches are found throughout the area, along with other cultural architecture.

Slavonia

{{see|Slavonia}}Tourism in this region is just developing, mostly with spas. The area of Baranja has the Kopački Rit National Park, a large swamp with a variety of fauna and birds. It is one of the largest and most attractive preserved intact wetlands in Europe, hosting about 260 various bird species such as wild geese and ducks, great white egret, white stork, black stork, white-tailed eagle, crows, Eurasian coot, gulls, terns, common kingfisher, and European green woodpecker. Guided tourist visits by panoramic ships, boats, team of horses or on foot are available, with some packages offering the possibility of photographing or video-recording animals and birds.WEB,weblink Kopački Rit, 9 June 2015, File:Kulin (serviran).jpg|thumb|right|upright|Slavonian kulenkulenThe cultural center is the historical city of Osijek, with its baroque style buildings, such as the Church of St. Peter and Paul, a neo-Gothic structure with the second highest tower in Croatia after the Zagreb Cathedral.The Cathedral of St. Peter and Paul in Đakovo is the town of Đakovo's primary landmark and sacral object throughout the region of Slavonia.There are three major yearly events celebrating folklore in Slavonia and Baranja: Đakovački vezovi, Vinkovačke jeseni and Brodsko kolo.JOURNAL,weblink Studia Ethnologica Croatica, 4, 1, March 1993, Department of Ethnology and Cultural Anthropology, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Zagreb, 1330-3627, Baranja je "tvrd orah". Analiza istraživanja i popularizacije tradicijske baranjske folklorne glazbe, Baranja is "tough nut". Records and popularisation analysis of traditional Baranja folk music, Miroslava, Hadžihusejnović-Valašek, hr, 194, PDF, 12 February 2012, They present traditional folk costumes, folklore dancing and singing groups, customs, with a parade of horses and wedding wagons. During the Đakovački vezovi, the Đakovo Cathedral hosts choirs, opera artists, and art exhibitions are organized in the exhibition salon, and during the sports program, pure-bred white Lipizzan horses can be seen on the racecourse. Ilok and the war-torn city of Vukovar are also points of interest in the area.

Zagreb

File:HNK Zagreb.jpg|thumb|right|View of the Croatian National Theatre in ZagrebZagreb Like Prague or Budapest, Zagreb has a Central European feel to it, with a large and well-preserved old town on the hill and a 19th-century city center. The Croatian capital is also the country's largest cultural center, with many museums and galleries.The historical part of the city to the north of Ban Jelačić Square is composed of the Gornji Grad and Kaptol, a medieval urban complex of churches, palaces, museums, galleries and government buildings that are popular with tourists on sightseeing tours. The historic district can be reached on foot, starting from Jelačić Square, the center of Zagreb, or by a funicular on nearby Tomićeva Street.Around thirty collections in museums and galleries comprise more than 3.6 million various exhibits, excluding church and private collections. The Archaeological Museum consists of nearly 400,000 varied artifacts and monuments, have been gathered over the years from many different sources.WEB,weblink The History and Activities of the Archeological Museum, 2 July 2006! scope="col" | Site! class="unsortable" style="width:150px;" scope="col"| Image! scope="col" | Location! scope="col" | UNESCO data! scope="col" class="unsortable" | Description! scope="col" class="unsortable" | Shared with! scope="col" class="unsortable" | Ref(s)! scope="row"| Plitvice Lakes National Park! scope="row" | Historical Complex of Split with the Palace of Diocletian! scope="row" | Old City of Dubrovnik! scope="row" | Episcopal Complex of the Euphrasian Basilica in the Historic Centre of Poreč! scope="row" | Historic city of Trogir! scope="row" | Cathedral of Saint James! scope="row" | Stari Grad Plain! scope="row" | Stećci Medieval Tombstones Graveyards! scope="row" | (Venetian Works of Defence between 15th and 17th centuries: Stato da Terra – western Stato da Mar|The Venetian Works of defence between 15th and 17th centuries) ! scope="row" | Primeval Beech Forests of the Carpathians and Other Regions of Europe

weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20060518052905weblink">weblink >archive-date = 18 May 2006, The most famous are the Egyptian collection, the Zagreb mummy and bandages with the oldest Etruscan script	inscription in the world (Liber Linteus Zagrabiensis), as well as the coin collecting>numismatic collection. The Croatian Natural History Museum holds one of the world's most important collection of Neanderthal remains found at one site.WEB,weblink Croatian Natural History Museum, 2 July 2006, These are the remains, stone weapons and tools of prehistoric "Krapina man". The holdings of the Croatian Natural History Museum comprise more than 250,000 specimens distributed among various different collections.(File:Zagreb (29255640143).jpg|thumb|left|View of the city centre)There are about 20 permanent or seasonal theaters and stages. The Croatian National Theater in Zagreb was built in 1895 and opened by Franz Joseph I of Austria. The most renowned concert hall is the Vatroslav Lisinski Concert Hall, named after the composer of the first Croatian opera and built in 1973. Animafest, the World Festival of Animated Films, takes place every even-numbered year, and the Music Bienniale, the international festival of avant-garde music, every odd-numbered year. It also hosts the annual ZagrebDox documentary film festival. The Festival of the Zagreb Philharmonic and the flowers exhibition Floraart (end of May or beginning of June), the Old-timer Rally annual events. In the summer, theater performances and concerts, mostly in the Upper Town, are organized either indoors or outdoors. The stage on Opatovina hosts the Zagreb Histrionic Summer theater events. Zagreb is also the host of Zagrebfest, the oldest Croatian pop-music festival, as well as of several traditional international sports events and tournaments. The Day of the City of Zagreb on 16 November is celebrated every year with special festivities, especially on the Jarun Lake near the southwestern part of the city. Primary attractions North Croatia File:Trakošćan Castle 4.jpg|thumb|Trakošćan CastleTrakošćan Castle Trakošćan Castle is a castle built in the 13th century atop a hill in Trakošćan. Also known for exhibiting historic furniture, weapons, and paintings.WEB,weblink Castle Trakoscan – Welcome, www.icreativesite.com, www.trakoscan.hr, en, 8 April 2018, Central Croatia File:Plitvice Lakes National Park BW 2014-10-13 13-14-59.jpg|thumb|Plitvice Lakes National ParkPlitvice Lakes National Park Plitvice Lakes National Park is a forest reserve known for its terraced lakes connected by waterfalls.WEB,weblink Home page – Nacionalni park "Plitvička jezera", np-plitvicka-jezera.hr, en-US, 8 April 2018, South Croatia Paklenica is a national park in Starigrad featuring the karst river canyon, known for climbing and water sports.WEB,weblink Paklenica {{!, Hrvatska enciklopedija|website=www.enciklopedija.hr|access-date=8 April 2018}} Walls of Dubrovnik are defensive historic walls lining the city of Dubrovnik, famous for its views.WEB,weblink Walls of Dubrovnik • Dubrovnik city walls • Dubrovnik Old Town Walls, Walls of Dubrovnik, en-US, 8 April 2018, St. Blaise's Church is a Baroque church in Dubrovnik dedicated to the patron saint of Dubrovnik.WEB,weblink Discover Baroque Art – Virtual Museum – monument_BAR_hr_Mon11_7_en, www.discoverbaroqueart.org, 8 April 2018, Secondary attractions North Croatia St Mark's Church is a 13th-century styled church in Zagreb known for its medieval architecture.NEWS,weblink St Mark's Church in Zagreb, Croatia, Lonely Planet, 8 April 2018, en, Museum of Broken Relationships is an exhibit located in a baroque palace in Zagreb showcasing objects of former couples and sharing their stories.WEB,weblink MDC – Hrvatski Virtualni Muzeji • Muzeji, hvm.mdc.hr, 8 April 2018, Mimara Museum is an art museum in Zagreb once known for holding many masterpieces but now suspected of being largely fakes.WEB,weblink artnet.com Magazine Features – Super Art Gems of New York City, www.artnet.com, 8 April 2018, Croatian Museum of Naïve Art is an art museum in Zagreb showcasing pieces in the naïve art style.WEB,weblink The Croatian Museum of Naive Art, www.CDKWeb.com, Otvorena mreza -, www.hmnu.org, 8 April 2018, Central Croatia File:Anfiteatro de Pula, Croacia, 2017-04-17, DD 13-18 HDR PAN.jpg|thumb|Pula ArenaPula Arena Pula Arena is a Roman amphitheatre in the city of Pula known for being one of the most well preserved Roman amphitheatres.{{citation needed|date=September 2021}} Euphrasian Basilica is a cathedral in Poreč combining classical and Byzantine features in a complex structure that retains is atrium, baptistery, and episcopal palace.WEB,weblink Episcopal Complex of the Euphrasian Basilica in the Historic Centre of Poreč, Centre, UNESCO World Heritage, whc.unesco.org, en, 8 April 2018, South Croatia File:The Blue Grotto, Bisevo Island, Croatia.JPG|thumb|upright|right|Blue Grotto ]] Krka National Park is a national park along the Krka River known for its travertine waterfalls.WEB,weblink Krka National Park, Administrator, www.np-krka.hr, 8 April 2018, Ivan Meštrović Gallery is an art museum in Split showcasing the work of Ivan Meštrović.NEWS,weblink Meštrović Gallery in Split, Croatia, Planet, Lonely, Lonely Planet, 8 April 2018, en, Diocletian's Palace is a ruin from Roman emperor Diocletian located in the city of Split. The remains of the palace and its grounds make up the old town of Split today, housing shops, restaurants, and streets.WEB,weblink Diocletian's Palace, www.diocletianspalace.org, 8 April 2018, Cathedral of Saint Domnius is a Catholic cathedral in Split built from a Roman mausoleum and with a bell tower. It is the current seat of the Archdiocese of Split-Makarska.WEB,weblink Split-Makarska (Archdiocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy], Cheney, David M., www.catholic-hierarchy.org, 8 April 2018, Lovrijenac is a 16th-century fortress and theater along the Walls of Dubrovnik.NEWS,weblink Walls of Dubrovnik architecture • Dubrovnik fortress • Lovrijenac • Revelin Dubrovnik, Walls of Dubrovnik, 8 April 2018, en-US, Rector's Palace is a palace built in the Gothic style in Dubrovnik. It also has Renaissance and Baroque elements.JOURNAL, Katarina, Horvat-Levaj, Relja, Seferović, 23 May 2006, BAROQUE RECONSTRUCTION OF THE RECTOR'S PALACE IN DUBROVNIK,weblink Dubrovnik Annals, en, 10, 87–122, 1331-3878, War Photo Limited is a gallery in Dubrovnik dedicated to pictures depicting war and conflict taken by renowned photojournalists.WEB,weblink War Photo Limited, www.warphotoltd.com, 8 April 2018, Dubrovnik Cathedral is a Catholic cathedral. It is the seat of the Diocese of Dubrovnik.WEB,weblink Biskupija Dubrovačka, 14 October 2007, 8 April 2018, dead,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20071014205405weblink">weblink 14 October 2007, Dominican Monastery is a religious complex, Gothic style church, and museum founded in 1225 in Dubrovnik.WEB,weblink Dominican Monastery Museum, www.tzdubrovnik.hr, en-UK, 8 April 2018, Trsteno Arboretum is a 15th-century arboretum in Trsteno featuring several exotic plants.NEWS,weblink Trsteno Arboretum in Southern Dalmatia, Planet, Lonely, Lonely Planet, 8 April 2018, en, Zlatni Rat is a spit of land near the city of Bol known as a top European beach destination. Blue Grotto is a water logged sea cave known as a show cave for its glowing blue light that appears at certain day times.BOOK,weblink Croatia, Oliver, Jeanne, 2007, Lonely Planet, 9781741044751, en, Telašćica is a nature park on the Dugi Otok island known for wildlife.WEB,weblink Park prirode Telašćica, www.telascica.hr, hr, 8 April 2018, Church of St Donatus is a church in Zadar constructed in the 9th century known for its Byzantine architecture.NEWS,weblink 12 Top Tourist Attractions in Zadar & Easy Day Trips {{!, PlanetWare|access-date=8 April 2018|language=en}} Šibenik Cathedral is a Catholic cathedral in Šibenik known for its Renaissance architecture.BOOK,weblink Croatia, Bousfield, Jonathan, 2003, Rough Guides, 9781843530848, en, UNESCO World Heritage Sites The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has included the following Croatian sites on its World Heritage List:{|class="wikitable sortable"
150px)| Plitvička Jezera| 98; 1979; vii, viii, ix (natural)| Over time, water has flown over the natural limestone and chalk, creating natural dams which in turn have created a series of connecting lakes, waterfalls and caves. The nearby forests are home to bears, wolves and many rare bird species. | {{n/a}}		FIRST=UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE	WEBSITE=WHC.UNESCO.ORG,
150px)| Split| 97; 1979; ii, iii, iv (cultural)| The palace was built by the Roman emperor Diocletian at the turn of the fourth century AD, and later served as the basis of the city of Split. A cathedral was built in the Middle Ages inside the ancient mausoleum, along with churches, fortifications, Gothic and Renaissance palaces. The Baroque style makes up the rest of the area.| {{n/a}}		FIRST=UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE	WEBSITE=WHC.UNESCO.ORG,
150px)| Dubrovnik| 95; 1979; i, iii, iv (cultural)	Republic of Ragusa>Dubrovnik became a prosperous Maritime republics	during the Middle Ages, it became the only eastern Adriatic city-state to rival Republic of Venice>Venice. Supported by its wealth and skilled diplomacy, the city achieved a remarkable level of development, particularly during the 15th and 16th centuries. | {{n/a}}		FIRST=UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE	WEBSITE=WHC.UNESCO.ORG,
150px)| Poreč| 809; 1997; ii, iv (cultural)| The episcopal complex, with mosaics from the 6th century, is one of the best examples of early Byzantine art and architecture in the Mediterranean region and the world. It includes the basilica itself, a sacristy, a baptistery and the bell tower of the nearby archbishop's palace. | {{n/a}}		FIRST=UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE	WEBSITE=WHC.UNESCO.ORG,
150px)| Trogir| 810; 1997; ii, iv (cultural)	Ancient Greece>old Greeks, Ancient Rome	, and Venetians. It is the best-preserved Romanesque architecture>Romanesque-Gothic architecture	complex not only in the Adriatic Sea>Adriatic, but in all of Central Europe. Trogir's medieval core, surrounded by walls, comprises a preserved castle and tower and a series of dwellings and palaces from the Romanesque period	, Gothic period>Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque periods. | {{n/a}}		FIRST=UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE	WEBSITE=WHC.UNESCO.ORG,
150px)| Å ibenik| 963; 2000; i, ii, iv (cultural)	basilica with three apses and a dome (32 m high inside) and is also one of the most important Renaissance architecture>Renaissance architectural monuments in the eastern Adriatic.| {{n/a}}		FIRST=UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE	WEBSITE=WHC.UNESCO.ORG,
150px)| Hvar| 1240; 2008; ii, iii, v (cultural	colonies in antiquity>ancient Greek colonists in the 4th century BC, and remains in use today. The plain is generally still in its original form. The ancient layout has been preserved by maintenance of the stone walls over 24 centuries.| {{n/a}}		FIRST=UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE	WEBSITE=WHC.UNESCO.ORG,
150px)	Dubravka, Croatia>Dubravka, Cista Velika | 1504; 2016; iii, vi (cultural)| Stećak or the medieval tombstones are the monolith stone monuments found in the regions of the present Bosnia and Herzegovina, parts of Croatia, Serbia and Montenegro. The elementary tombstone groups are the laid and the upright stone monoliths.| Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Serbia		FIRST=UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE	WEBSITE=WHC.UNESCO.ORG,
150px)| Zadar, Å ibenik| 1533; 2017; iii, iv (cultural)	Italy, Croatia and Montenegro, spanning more than 1,000 kilometres between the Lombardy>Lombard region of Italy and the eastern Adriatic Coast. The introduction of gunpowder led to significant shifts in military techniques and architecture.| Italy, Montenegro		FIRST=UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE	WEBSITE=WHC.UNESCO.ORG,
150px)| Paklenica, Northern Velebit National Park | 1133; 2017; ix (natural)|This transboundary extension of the World Heritage site of the Primeval Beech Forests of the Carpathians and the Ancient Beech Forests of Germany (Germany, Slovakia, Ukraine) stretches over 12 countries. This expansion is related to the tree's flexibility and tolerance of different climatic, geographical and physical conditions.| Albania, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Germany, Italy, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Ukraine		FIRST=UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE	WEBSITE=WHC.UNESCO.ORG,

Overtourism in Dubrovnik

Overtourism is a substantial issue in Dubrovnik Old Town.The city is reported to be the most touristed in EuropeWEB, 2023-06-16, How to escape the crowds in Europe’s most overtouristed city,weblink 2023-06-19, euronews, en, – more so than Venice and Barcelona - receiving 36 overnight tourists per resident per year. In 2019, the city welcomed almost 1.5 million overnight tourists against a population of just 41,000 people. Excessive visitors damage infrastructure and heritage sites, cause traffic jams and pollution, price out residents, and change neighborhood dynamics.WEB, Overtourism in Dubrovnik - Responsible Travel,weblink 2023-06-19, www.responsibletravel.com, en, There are several reasons for its popularity. The success of HBO series Game of Thrones, for which Dubrovnik was a major filming location, has attracted around 60,000 people to the city per year according to the Zagreb Institute of Economics.NEWS, 2019-04-10, Dubrovnik, Game of Thrones and overtourism – in pictures, en-GB, the Guardian,weblink 2023-06-19, 0261-3077, The city is also a popular stop on European cruise itineraries – in 2017, the city received 742,000 cruise tourists from 538 shipsWEB, Cruise lines' Dubrovnik deal seen as way to combat overcrowding,weblink 2023-06-19, www.travelweekly.com, en, – and the rise during the 2010s of European low-cost flights and affordable Airbnb listings.In response to overcrowding concerns, in 2016, UNESCO threatened to remove Dubrovnik Old Town’s World Heritage status unless it started to curb tourism numbers.WEB, Overtourism in Dubrovnik - Responsible Travel,weblink 2023-06-19, www.responsibletravel.com, en, In 2018 in an attempt to solve the overtourism problem, the city introduced staggered arrivals for cruise ships -- allowing only two to be in dock at one time - and limiting cruise arrivals into the historic core of the city to 4,000 per day, half the number recommended by UNESCO.WEB, Chan, Tiffany, 2021-04-16, Once Overrun, Dubrovnik Plans for Sustainability,weblink 2023-06-19, GSTC, en-US, Other measures to limit overcrowding introduced in 2018 included cutting 80% of souvenir stands and reducing outdoor seating at restaurants by 20%.WEB, Buckley, Julia, 2019-11-05, Croatian port of Dubrovnik may ban new restaurants,weblink 2023-06-19, CNN, en,

Tourism statistics

{| class="wikitable"! Year! Total tourist arrivalsJOURNAL, 7 July 2011, Turizam u 2009.,weblink dead, Statistička izvješća, Croatian Bureau of Statistics, 1408, 1331-341X,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20110707094742weblink">weblink 7 July 2011, ! Total tourist nights! Change in tourist nights! Notes|1985| 10,125,000 | 67,665,000 | {{steady}}||1986| 10,151,000 | 68,216,000 |{{increase}} 551,000||1987| 10,487,000 | 68,160,000 |{{decrease}} 58,000||1988| 10,354,000 | 67,298,000 |{{decrease}} 862,000||1989| 9,670,000 | 61,849,000 |{{decrease}} 5,449,000||1990| 8,497,000 | 52,523,000 |{{decrease}} 9,326,0001990 Croatian parliamentary election>First democratic electionsEarly Log Revolution-related incidents|1991| 2,297,000 | 10,471,000 |{{decrease}} 42,052,000|Croatian War of Independence beginsSiege of Dubrovnik|1992| 2,135,000 | 11,005,000 |{{increase}} 534,000||1993| 2,514,000 | 13,208,000 |{{increase}} 2,203,000||1994| 3,655,000 | 20,377,000 |{{increase}} 7,169,000||1995| 2,610,000 | 13,151,000 |{{decrease}} 7,226,000|End of Croatian War of Independence|1996| 4,186,000 | 21,860,000 |{{increase}} 8,709,000||1997| 5,585,000 | 30,775,000 |{{increase}} 8,915,000||1998| 5,852,000 | 31,852,000 |{{increase}} 1,077,000||1999| 5,127,000 | 27,126,000 |{{decrease}} 4,726,000NATO bombing of Yugoslavia>NATO bombing of neighbouring FR Yugoslavia|2000| 7,137,000 | 39,183,000 |{{increase}} 12,057,000||2001| 7,860,000 | 43,404,000 |{{increase}} 4,221,000||2002| 8,320,000 | 44,692,000 |{{increase}} 1,288,000||2003| 8,878,000 | 46,635,000 |{{increase}} 1,943,000||2004| 9,412,000 | 47,797,000 |{{increase}} 1,162,000||2005| 9,995,000 | 51,421,000 |{{increase}} 3,624,000||2006| 10,385,000 | 53,007,000 |{{increase}} 1,586,000||2007| 11,162,000 | 56,005,000 |{{increase}} 2,998,000||2008| 11,261,000 | 57,103,000 |{{increase}} 1,098,000||2009| 10,935,000 | 56,301,000 |{{decrease}} 802,000Financial crisis of 2007–2008>Global financial crisis|2010| 10,604,116| 56,416,379|{{increase}} 115,379|ACCESS-DATE=18 APRIL 2017 ARCHIVE-URL=HTTPS://WEB.ARCHIVE.ORG/WEB/20180612113157/HTTPS://WWW.DZS.HR/HRV_ENG/PUBLICATION/2012/04-03-02_11_2012.HTM, dead, | 11,455,677| 60,354,275 |{{increase}} 3,937,896||2012|11,835,160|62,743,463|{{increase}} 2,389,188|URL-STATUS=DEADARCHIVE-DATE=12 JULY 2015, 11 July 2015, |12,433,727|64,818,115|{{increase}} 2,074,652||2014|13,128,416|66,483,948|{{increase}} 1,665,833|URL=HTTP://WWW.DZS.HR/HRV_ENG/PUBLICATION/2015/04-03-02_01_2015.HTMPUBLISHER=CROATIAN BUREAU OF STATISTICSISSUE=4.3.2, |14,343,323|71,605,315|{{increase}} 5,121,367|URL=HTTP://WWW.DZS.HR/HRV_ENG/PUBLICATION/2016/04-03-02_01_2016.HTMPUBLISHER=CROATIAN BUREAU OF STATISTICSISSUE=4.3.2, |20,120,300|78,049,852|{{increase}} 6,444,537|URL=HTTPS://WWW.DZS.HR/HRV_ENG/PUBLICATION/2017/04-03-02_01_2017.HTMPUBLISHER=CROATIAN BUREAU OF STATISTICSISSUE=4.3.2, |17,430,580|86,200,261|{{increase}} 8,150,409|URL=HTTPS://WWW.DZS.HR/HRV_ENG/PUBLICATION/2018/04-03-02_01_2018.HTMPUBLISHER=CROATIAN BUREAU OF STATISTICSISSUE=4.3.2, |18,666,580|89,651,789|{{increase}} 3,451,528|URL=HTTPS://WWW.DZS.HR/HRV_ENG/PUBLICATION/2019/04-03-02_01_2019.HTM PUBLISHER=CROATIAN BUREAU OF STATISTICS ISSUE=4.3.2, |23,566,146|91,242,931|{{increase}} 1,591,142|URL=HTTPS://WWW.HTZ.HR/HR-HR/PRESS/OBJAVE-ZA-MEDIJE/U-2020-GODINI-OSTVARENO-50-POSTO-NOCENJA-OD-REKORDNE-2019WEBSITE=HRVATSKA TURISTIčKA ZAJEDNICA, |7,800,000|54,400,000|{{decrease}} 36,842,931| COVID-19 pandemicACCESS-DATE=13 APRIL 2022 PUBLISHER=CROATIAN BUREAU OF STATISTICS, hr, |11,200,000|84,100,000|{{increase}} 29,700,000|ACCESS-DATE=7 FEBRUARY 2023 PUBLISHER=CROATIAN BUREAU OF STATISTICS, hr, |18,900,000|104,800,000|{{increase}} 20,700,000|ACCESS-DATE=30 JANUARY 2024 PUBLISHER=CROATIAN BUREAU OF STATISTICS, hr, |20,600,000|108,000,000|{{increase}} 3,200,000|

Arrivals by country

Most visitors arriving to Croatia on short-term basis were from the following countries of nationality:{| class="wikitable" style="color:white;"! style="width:5px; background:#00966E;" |Rank! style="width:130px; background:#00966E;" | Country! style="width:50px; background:#00966E;" | 2019! style="width:50px; background:#00966E;" | 2018! style="width:50px; background:#00966E;" | 2017Germany}} 2,881,284 2,783,513 2,617,378Slovenia}} 1,426,246 1,364,252 1,298,501Austria}} 1,385,004 1,369,709 1,237,969Italy}} 1,175,069 1,148,078 1,119,932Poland}} 932,678 929,184 757,523United Kingdom}} 859,189 821,114 596,444Czech Republic}} 742,248 755,104 688,953France}} 629,231 583,130 494,698United States}} 626,035 558,751 337,464Hungary}} 617,391 598,975 486,448 Netherlands}} 484,317 486,349 389,510 Slovakia}} 439,538 430,882 389,806Bosnia}} 433,467 395,469 333,039 Republic of Korea}} 403,613 408,110 377,779Spain}} 308,704 285,501 222,523Sweden}} 289,699 297,081 256,612 China}} 279,118 233,630 159,301 Switzerland}} 268,206 264,865 235,037Australia}} 217,190 217,341 149,829Belgium}} 211,155 210,193 182,556 ! colspan=2 | Total || 17,353,488 || 16,644,871 || 15,592,899

Acknowledgements

• Lonely Planet
  • Top destination of the year: 2005WEB,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20100225083024weblink">weblink Lonely Planet: Croatia Top Destination in 2005!, 31 January 2005, adriaticsunshine.com, 28 October 2023,
  • Top 10 countries in the world: 2024WEB,weblink Lonely Planet ranks Croatia in Top 10 countries in the world for 2024, croatiaweek.com, Croatia Week, 25 October 2023, 28 October 2023,

• National Geographic Magazine
  • Destination of the year: 2006WEB,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20071112051707weblink">weblinklast=Bowermaster

work=National Geographic Adventureaccess-date=28 October 2023,

• Wanderlust Reader Travel Awards
  • Most desirable country - Europe: 2023.

• Travel Leaders
  • Most popular European destination: 2012WEB,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20120108101424weblink">weblink Internicola, Dorene, Americans to travel farther, spend more in 2012, Reuters, U.S. edition, 30 December 2011, 28 October 2023,

• Travel News Market
  • Best destination for seven-day trips: 2024WEB, Croatia voted best 7-day trip destination in 2024,weblink croatiaweek.com, Croatia Week, 14 November 2023, 14 November 2023,

• teflSearch
  • Most popular tourist destination: 2015, 2016WEB, DrakÅ¡ić, Linda,weblink JoÅ¡ jedna potvrda: Hrvatska je najpoželjnija destinacija za odmor na svijetu, Večernji list, 17 June 2016, 28 October 2023, hr,

See also

• List of museums in Croatia
• Protected areas of Croatia
• List of World Heritage Sites in Croatia
• Industry of Croatia

References

{{Reflist|30em}}

External links

{{Wikivoyage|Croatia}}

• Croatia at the Lonely Planet website

{{Croatia topics|state=collapsed}}{{World Heritage Sites in Croatia}}{{Tourism in Europe}}