Croatia is a country of remarkable landscape diversity, where the turquoise sea meets mountain ranges, wild canyons and islands with unique shapes. From the southern Dubrovnik, through the islands of Hvar, Pakleni Otoci and the raw, lunar-looking Pag, to less obvious places inland — Croatia surprises not only with popular resorts but also with natural phenomena and unusual landforms.
Among the most distinctive highlights are the Cetina River with its canyons and turquoise water, the mysterious Eye of the Earth (Izvor Cetine), scenic trails around Omiš, as well as places wrapped in an aura of mystery such as the Pag Triangle (Paški Trokut) and the so-called “cosmic trail”. The Croatian islands also hide unique shapes best seen from above — like Galešnjak, the heart-shaped island that has become one of the most recognisable symbols of the Adriatic.
Below you will find the most famous and most interesting places in Croatia — coastline, islands, rivers and landscapes that show the many faces of this country.
Dubrovnik
The iconic city of Dubrovnik, often called the “Pearl of the Adriatic”. The Old Town, surrounded by ancient city walls, is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and offers a glimpse into medieval charm, narrow streets, baroque architecture and historic monuments.
You can walk along the city walls to admire the red roofs and the azure sea, discover filming locations from Game of Thrones, and enjoy local delicacies.
Hvar Island
A beautiful island with a charming harbour town of the same name — Hvar.
You can go for the Milna coastal hike, walking along the shore, stopping at beaches and beach bars. The route is easy and you can walk as long as you like, turning back whenever you wish. Even though it is a simple trail, it is better not to wear flip-flops but sandals with straps or sports shoes.
Pakleni Islands
Near the port of Hvar there are the Pakleni Islands, which you can reach by boat taxi — definitely worth a visit:
Cetina and the Eye of the Earth
This is the source of the Cetina River and the water is extremely cold. I have been practising ice-cold water baths for several years, but here it was really challenging — perhaps also because of the slight anxiety of having 150 metres of depth below me. Whether you decide to enter the water or not, the Eye of the Earth is absolutely worth seeing:
Pag Island
You can reach it by bridge (from the south) or by ferry. It is often called a “party island”, but it also offers surreal, moon-like landscapes.
This is the “Life on Mars” trail:
Along the way you can stop for a swim at beaches like this one:
At the end of this trail there is a very calm, quiet and beautiful spot:
The Pag Triangle – Paški Trokut
This is called the cosmic hike. The trail leads through complete wilderness, but in the middle you can find very intriguing things…
Here is a video from the hike and from the centre of the triangle, located in the middle of nowhere:
Galešnjak – the heart-shaped island
Is Galešnjak really heart-shaped? Yes, it is! We launched the drone to check and it truly is. I am not sure if it is worth travelling there just for this one island, but if you are driving along the coast and have a drone with you, it is definitely worth a short stop:
This was my third trip to Croatia — I managed to travel across the country in many directions, and still there are so many beautiful corners and islands waiting to be discovered. Highly recommended.
Malvina Dunder 
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