Croatia Holiday

Located in south-eastern Europe, Croatia is ideally located close to the Mediterranean and borders Slovenia and Hungary to the north, Serbia to the north-east, Bosnia and Herzegovina to the east and Montenegro to the far south-east.

With its gorgeous stretches of coastline along the Adriatic, Croatia is known in some circles as one of the most beautiful parts of Europe.

The country's healthy tourism industry was interrupted by war in the early 1990s but has returned in full force and visitors are now making a beeline for Croatia's coastal and island resorts.

There are plenty of flight offers available this season, so tourists should find flights online and book that last minute holiday quickly before they are all snapped up.

Traditions and culture in Croatia

Croatian culture and traditions are rich and very distinctive, despite repeated invasions over hundreds of years. Croatian folklore is an important part of everyday life and there are songs, dances and costumes for every occasion in all parts of the country.

Dances in Croatia are very physically demanding - dancers have to sing at the same time as performing lively, vigorous movements. As part of the kolo dance, men and women perform in a circle to the music of violins or the tambura, a three- or five-string mandolin.

Croatian cuisine is very varied and region-specific. Mainland cuisine is more characterised by the earlier proto-Slavic and more recent contacts with the culinary traditions of Hungary, Vienna and Turkey, while the coastal region shows the influences of the Greeks and Romans, as well as of later French and Italian Mediterranean cuisine.

Recommended in Croatia

There are several sites worth visiting in Croatia that are on the World Heritage List, including the Old City of Dubrovnik, the Cathedral of St James in Sibenik and the historic city of Trogir.

Also well-deserving of a visit is the Episcopal Complex of the Euphrasian Basilica in the historic centre of Porec and Plitvice Lakes National Park, a stunningly beautiful pocket of wooded hills enclosing 16 turquoise lakes connected by waterfalls and cascades.

Mljet island in southern Dalmatia also comes heartily recommended. Over 72 per cent of the island is covered by forest and the rest is dotted by fields, vineyards and small villages.

Weather in Croatia

Croatia has a mixture of climates - the north and east experiences continental weather, while Mediterranean climes are typical along the coast. A highland climate can usually be experinced in the south-central region.

Destination checklist for Croatia

Croatia has a population of 4.4 million and its capital city is Zagreb.

The official currency is the kuna.

Croatian is the official language spoken, so a holiday guide with language phrases would be useful.

The country's international dialling code is +385. Croatia is just one hour ahead of GMT.