Nautical tourism in Croatia
World’s TOP Nautical Destination
Croatia is one of the best destinations for nautical tourism in the world. With 1244 islands, out of which 67 inhabited, and many gorgeous coastal towns, this European nautical attraction is a TOP destination for sea lovers. The coastal sea surface extends to 33,200 square kilometres with the coastal length of about 5,835 square kilometres...
Major Croatian cities are Zagreb (the capital), Split, Dubrovnik, Rijeka, Osijek, Zadar, Karlovac, Pula, Sisak, Knin, Gospić (the administrative centre of the largest Croatian county), Šibenik, Slavonski Brod, Mali Lošinj (the largest and most developed coastal town) and Vukovar (the largest river/inland port in Croatia).
Croatia has as many as eight national parks: the Brijuni, Kornati, Krka, Mljet, Paklenica, Plitvice Lakes, Risnjak, Northern Velebit. Some national parks can be reached by boat, like the Brijuni, Krka, Kornati and Mljet, others, like Risnjak or world-known waterfalls at Plitvice Lakes, are also near the sea and are suitable destinations when organizing day trips.
When talking about world heritage we should mention some sites that made it on this important list; the Plitvice Lakes national park, 1700-year-old Diocletian’s Palace in Split, Old City of the ”Pearl of the Adriatic” – Dubrovnik, the Euphrasian Basilica in Poreč, Historic City of Trogir, the Cathedral of St. James in Šibenik, built for 100 years without the use of concrete or cement and Stari Grad Plain on Hvar island.
With an average of 2600 sunshine hours Croatian coast is one of the sunniest on the Mediterranean, and the average sea temperature in summer varies from 25°C to 27°C.
Croatia became the 28th European Union member on July 1, 2013, and from April 1, 2009 has been a NATO member.
The currency is kuna. 1 euro equals 7,5 kunas. It is interesting to note that Croatians paid in kunas way back in the 10th century in the times of Croatian kings, and the oldest kuna was found in the oldest town in Croatia, Osor. This little town is 4000 years old.
There are around sixty marinas in Croatia with 17000 wet berths and 9000 dry berths and with additional 30000 berths in different ports. There is a continuous effort in marinas to enrich and provide the highest level of service, at the same time adapting to guests’ contemporary needs and wishes. They are situated in larger Dalmatian cities or beautiful island coves near the most interesting natural and cultural activities.
The most ferquent visitors to Croatia are Germans, Austrians, Italians and Slovenians, and from other continents Americans and Australians for whom Croatia in the last 5 years has become an essential destination.
Croatia has three great summer party destinations attended by hundreds of thousands of young people from all over the world; Zrće on Pag island, Garden festival in Tisno on Murter island and Ultra Europe Music Festival in Split and Hvar island.
Croatian Food
Croatia is one of the richest countries in the world in terms of its gastronomic offer due to an interesting geographical location. Easternmost Croatian cuisine offers meat delicacies such as kulen and kulenova seka sausages, dried sausages, bacon, cracklings, sarma (cabbage leaves stuffed with meat) and a variety of delicious biscuits.
Northern and central Croatia are rich in cabbage, potatoes, and one of the highest quality pumpkin oil in the world. It is also known for Zagorje strukli, stew and various specialties with turkey meat. Zagorje strukli are one of the inevitable delicacies of this part of Croatia. Many generations adore homemade cheese and cream even today and various stews with vegetables and bacon have raised many across this part of Croatia. Central Croatia has more of its specialties; a well-known prekmurska gibanica, Zagreb steak and baked ham.
Croatia has excellent quality meats prepared on the grill to achieve the best taste. Many guests in Croatia want to try cevapcici, raznjici and pljeskavica, however, they can’t always be found on the menu as they are not traditional Croatian dishes. These delicacies are more typical for neighbouring Bosnia and Herzegovina and other countries that belong to the Balkans.
The most famous Croatian cuisine is surely the one from the sea. Nearly 13 million foreign guests are delighted with Croatian Mediterranean cuisine rich in seafood, fish, squid and octopus but there can also be found homemade lamb under the bell (”ispod peke”) or on the grill.
Sea bream, sea bass, roosterfish, brill, red scorpionfish, sardine, mackerel, flounder, red mullet, dentex, tuna are only some of the fish you can find on the menu across Croatia’s Adriatic coast. Of course we mustn’t forget about stewed savory scampi or grilled scampi as well as various fish soups and stews.
Everyone who visits Croatia and the island of Pag has the opportunity to try some Pag cheese which is made from goat and sheep milk. Residents say that the secret ingredient of good taste comes from the wind that blows from Velebit Mountain and is mixed with salt from the Adriatic Sea.
It is with the help from this wind that some of the best types of prosciutto in the world are made: Istrian and Dalmatian prosciutto.
Croatia has its drinks that many tourists recognize as unique: medica (honey brandy), borovicka (berries brandy), sljivovica (plum brandy), jabukovaca (apple brandy), kruskovaca (pear brandy), high quality white and red wines, fantastic Croatian beer. There are many companies the produce excellent natural juices of the highest category. The most important Croatian drink is also the healthiest; it’s water. Croatia is one of the richest countries in the world with drinking water sources; as many as dozen excellent mineral water producers across the country come as no surprise. Surely the best known are Jana, still water, and Jamnica, sparkling water.
Croatian Mediterranean cuisine in addition to fish is also known for homemade pasta like fuzi and pljukanci, to mention more popular types. Istria is also famous for truffles – subterranean mushrooms which can only be detected with a help from specially trained dogs.
