Croatia has had a long and varied history spanning back thousands of years. Occupations, invasions and other changes to the country have left behind a rich culture full of religious diversity, as well as a vibrant art and music scene that still exists today.
The two largest cities in Croatia are Zagreb and Split. Zagreb is the capital of Croatia and includes many historically significant attractions, impressive Baroque-style architecture, and excellent museums. Split is located on the Adriatic coast and is known for its ancient Roman ruins and beautiful Diocletian Palace. Other popular locations include Dubrovnik, Hvar, Istria, Trogir and Pula.
Croatia enjoys a temperate climate year-round with hot summers (22°C - 27°C) and mild winters (-2°C - 10°C). The most popular time to visit Croatia is late spring (May - June) or early fall (September - October) when temperatures are more comfortable and there’s less chance of rain.
Croatian cuisine is heavily influenced by centuries of occupation from surrounding countries. Ingredients such as lamb, beef, pork, vegetables, cheeses and seafood are used heavily within dishes often flavoured with an array of herbs such as rosemary, thyme, oregano, basil and bay leaves. Olive oil is also used extensively in Croatian cooking.
As of 2020, the population in Croatia is estimated to be around 4.1 million people and it covers a total area of 56 594km² (21 825mi²).
The official language spoken in Croatia is Croatian. German, Hungarian, Italian and Czech are also spoken in certain parts of the country but less frequently than Croatian.
One major benefit to visiting Croatia is that it won’t put too much of a dent in your wallet compared to other countries in Europe. Currency wise it uses the Kuna (HRK), though it’s common for vendors to accept major credit cards in larger cities such as Zagreb.