CROATIA

Croatia is a country shaped by the meeting of land and sea. Beyond its famous coastline, there is another side waiting to be explored — rugged mountains, crystal-clear rivers, ancient towns and roads that lead far beyond the Adriatic. In 2026, I travelled through Croatia as part of a Balkan road trip, discovering the landscapes and places that lie beyond the postcard view.

An aerial view of a coastal town with a large church in the foreground and a marina with boats in the background. The town has a dense cluster of buildings with red-tiled roofs, trees, and streets.
A rocky landscape with a tall cliff and a small waterfall, lush green trees, and a wooden boardwalk with people walking on it.
Aerial view of a coastal city with tightly packed buildings, many with red-tiled roofs, along a waterfront with boats docked at the pier, and surrounded by green trees.
Flowing waterfall cascading down a rocky cliff surrounded by lush green foliage and flowering plants under a clear blue sky.
A hillside fortress overlooking a town with red-roofed buildings, mountains in the background, and trees surrounding the area.
Aerial view of a coastline with dense green trees, old ruins on a hill, and a small town with colorful buildings along the water, with mountains in the background.
A picturesque coastal town with white buildings and red rooftops along a harbor, surrounded by lush green trees and a mountain range in the background at sunset.
Scenic view of a coastal town with colorful houses along a waterfront and lush green trees in the foreground, with hills and mountains in the background.
Aerial view of historic Croatian town on a peninsula, with red-tiled roofs, church steeple, and boats on dark blue sea.
Aerial view of a historic coastal town with red-tiled roofs, a prominent church tower, surrounding stone walls, and a marina with boats, on a small peninsula extending into the dark blue sea.
A serene landscape of a multi-tiered waterfall cascading down a rocky cliff surrounded by green trees, reflected in a calm body of water below.
Aerial view of a coastal Mediterranean town with red-tiled roofs, houses along a waterway, surrounded by green hills and a large body of water with distant mountains.