8 Nicest Small Towns In Croatia
Croatia's nicest small towns have it all, surrounded by the crystal-clear Adriatic Sea and the Dinaric Alps. In addition, these communities are close to the top cultural attractions, including key filming locations for Game of Thrones. Whether you are after the freshest seafood or Hollywood fandom, the crescent-shaped country in southeastern Europe is known for having the cleanest water in Europe and stays pleasantly warm in the summer for swimming. Spanning over 1,000 islands, Croatia has many beautiful seaside towns to visit, including UNESCO World Heritage Sites such as the Old Town of Trogir and the charming town of Korčula, clinging to the rocky Dalmatian coast.
Cavtat
Only 20 km southeast of Dubrovnik, Cavtat defines tranquil Mediterranean charm on a scenic spit of land in the southernmost part of Croatia, a countryside area of vineyards and traditional villages, such as Cavtat's, on the pine-covered peninsulas overlooking the jewel-toned Adriatic Sea. Despite close proximity to one of Croatia’s most visited cities, the town has a relaxed coastal rhythm, with mainstream and secluded beaches, such as the pebbled Plaža Cavtat or Kamen Mali, on the cusp of a peninsula.
About 6 km from Dubrovnik Airport and 30 kilometers from the Montenegro border, it is an easy day trip from the city via the Jadranska Magistrala, a scenic, at times precarious coastal highway, at its back door. Short airport transfers save time so you can unwind after a long journey. Attractions include boat rides, a scenic harbor promenade, and the peculiar Vlaho Bukovac House with painted walls, paintings, and furniture in the artist's cozy home, plus handmade details that make it feel like his spirit is living on. And after leaving Cavtat, it’s an easy hop to Dubrovnik to visit iconic Game of Thrones filming locations along the Old Town walls and Fort Lovrijenac.
Crikvenica
Some 100 km from Trieste and 30 km south of the Croatian port city of Rijeka, this resort town has relaxed coastal charm and the annual Blue Fish Week, making Crikvenica the best of both worlds. The popular Blue Fish Week in June celebrates maritime tradition, with participating restaurants across the Crikvenica Riviera serving dishes centered on oily ‘blue fish.’ Many come to eat their way through seafood dishes and Croatian delicacies, between lying on pebble and sandy Adriatic Sea beaches.
Derived from the word "crikva" for church, Crikvenica maintains the no-frills atmosphere of the early fishing village that originated from a 15th-century Pauline monastery near the Dubračina River. The monastery church was later renovated into Hotel Kaštel, a sweeping structure with authentic white architecture, decorating the coast at the town's center. Beyond the beach, travelers can take the Love Path to the nearby castle ruins, Gradina Badanj, and at sunset in the summer, hop on the Crikvenica Eye (a Ferris wheel) for a spin.
Korčula
It is easy to miss this elegant town clinging to a curved spit of land in the shadow of towering Dinaric Alps that define the Dalmatian coast and frame your travels in limestone and dolomite ridges on the northern cusp of Korčula Island. Korčula feels unbothered, lapped by the Adriatic Sea on three sides, encapsulating a laid-back, Mediterranean lifestyle and the rustic charm of the medieval settlement within the ancient walls, punctuated by the towering churches poised dramatically over the coastline. From the stone walls of the age-old port, explore the winding maze of palm-lined streets, popping in and out of galleries in the old town, and the 15th-century Saint Mark's Cathedral with panoramic bell tower views.
Maslinica
Maslinica is a visually stunning town with a remote feel along the picturesquely curving coastline on the west side of the island of Šolta. The Alberti, a prominent family in the area, constructed the Marchi Castle in 1708. Today, the sumptuous Martinis Marchi Heritage Hotel is a luxury five-star resort featuring 50 berths at the Martinis Marchi Marina for visitors and yachters. From the picturesque castle and the stone houses, travelers can venture out on a boat or on foot around coves and pine woods.
With its luxurious lodgings and a modern marina, the town remains a small fishing village at its heart, which appeals to yachters, water lovers, and tranquility chasers alike. Behind its exquisite landscapes and stunning sunsets lies a relaxed Dalmatian atmosphere, the charming village center, and a protected beach facing an archipelago of seven islets. If you are not up for the lively Beach Bar Punta, families can imbibe local vibes at an array of waterside eateries and lodgings for a restful night.
Motovun
Derived from the Celtic word "Montona," the "town in the hills" makes for a very special place to visit near the heart of Istria. Surrounded by vineyards and the lush Mirna River valley, Motovun has an ancient gate and well-preserved Venetian architecture, with some structures dating back to the 13th century, and truffles are sold in every souvenir shop.
One hour from Trieste, Italy, and three hours from Zagreb, many fly into Pula, where you can rent a car and be here in an hour. Regardless, the capital of truffles is a fascinating place to visit for any taste. Pay a small fee to climb the city walls and to walk along the narrow stone path for panoramic landscape views.
Rovinj
Noted for its intense scenic layering and aromas of freshly cooked truffle, the island town on Croatia's Istrian Peninsula was connected to the mainland only in 1763. Romantic Rovinj juts over a rocky coastline with a hilly peninsula in the Old Town. The medieval heart of town is a web of winding cobblestone alleyways and tight-knit piazzas, with rustic seafood konobas (taverns), punctuated by the Baroque St. Euphemia’s Basilica (1736) rising from a square at the highest point.
After taking in the sweeping city views, you can't miss the 1679-built Balbi's Arch, a stone archway with elaborate carvings of a winged lion. In the summer, all gravitate to the popular Mulini Beach, south of downtown. For a more secluded feel, head further down to the beach-fringed parkland on a peninsula, featuring wild shores and the Golden Cape. This scenic beach offers a cove-like atmosphere for swimming and relaxing, with serene views from the pebbles and sand, facing nearby islands.
Samobor
Samobor, a cantonal center under Napoleon, was later the hub for Croatian poets, writers, and politicians during the 19th-century Illyrian movement. The picturesque town between Zagreb and the Slovenian border boasts parks, museums, and baroque architecture, particularly around King Tomislav Square, with its landmark churches like Sv. Anastazije and the nearby Sv. Mihalja. The Samobor Carnival dates back to 1827, featuring traditional masquerade balls in February at the town hall.
The first spa opened in 1868, and the first public park, Anindol, in 1883, attracting weekenders, many via the narrow-gauge Samoborček, slowly shuttling from the capital until 1979. Just 20 km west of Zagreb, travelers continue to revel in the grandiose architecture and relaxed feel around the main square, laced by the Gradna Creek. See the hilltop Samobor Castle ruins, built during the reign of Ottokar II of Bohemia (1239-1272 CE), and try Samoborska kremšnita, a scrumptious custard cream cake.
Trogir
Initially just a small islet off Croatia’s Dalmatian coast, the city of Trogir later expanded from the Old Town, linked by a pair of bridges to the mainland and the sprawling island of Čiovo. Within barely 500 m from east to west, the medieval island town is a UNESCO World Heritage site, surrounded by the Adriatic Sea, creating a unique atmosphere to explore. Renowned for its 15th-century Kamerlengo Fortress, the town in the bay of Kaštela was under Venetian rule for nearly 400 years, since 1420.
Venetian influences become swiftly apparent along the maze of gleaming, narrow alleyways. From the palm-fringed monastery of St. Dominic to the 15th-century Cipiko Palace, a Venetian Gothic mansion, travelers can also take a boat tour to an underwater museum or simply stroll along the lush parkland fringe with sea views.
Cavtat is only 20 km southeast of Dubrovnik in the southernmost part of Croatia. Traveling north, Istria attracts Eurotrippers, being proximate to Italy, and cities like Pula provide an airport. Istria is the largest peninsula in the Adriatic Sea, with inland towns like Motovun, the hilltop capital of truffles, and coastal towns like Rovinj, initially an island connected to the mainland only in 1763.
Whether you are after the beaches, seafood, and sailing or medieval charm and moviedom appeal, these popular towns still retain a mysterious appeal for the eyes of the most curious. Exploring the shady winding streets with taverns, keep an eye out for gothic carvings, secret passages, and stone steps leading to the higher parts of town and soaring chapel towers.
