Stari grad Dubrovnika
Old Town of Dubrovnik
Usage
Referring to the UNESCO World Heritage old walled city of Dubrovnik
Grammar Note
"Dubrovnika" is the genitive of "Dubrovnik" indicating possession. "Stari grad" exists in many Croatian cities
Dioklecijanova palača u Splitu
Diocletian's Palace in Split
Usage
Referring to the ancient Roman palace that forms the core of Split's old town
Grammar Note
"Splitu" is the locative of "Split". "u" for static location takes the locative case
Eufrazijeva bazilika u Poreču
Euphrasian Basilica in Poreč
Usage
Referring to the UNESCO World Heritage Byzantine basilica in Poreč, Istria
Grammar Note
"Poreču" is the locative of "Poreč". 6th century Byzantine treasure; fewer tourists in winter
Arena u Puli
The Roman amphitheatre in Pula
Usage
Talking about the remarkably well-preserved Roman amphitheatre in Pula
Grammar Note
In Croatian it is called "Pula Arena" or simply "Arena". Roman structure from the 1st century AD
Zračna luka Franjo Tuđman
Zagreb Franjo Tuđman Airport (ZAG)
Usage
Croatia's largest international airport, at Pleso about 17 km southeast of central Zagreb; an airport shuttle reaches the main bus station in around 30 minutes
Zračna luka Split
Split Airport (SPU)
Usage
The gateway to Dalmatia and very busy in summer; it sits at Kaštela about 24 km northwest of Split and only about 6 km from Trogir
Zračna luka Dubrovnik
Dubrovnik Airport (DBV)
Usage
At Čilipi about 20 km southeast of Dubrovnik's old town; airport buses run to the Pile Gate and to Gruž port
Zračna luka Zadar
Zadar Airport (ZAD)
Usage
Airport at Zemunik about 8 km east of Zadar, served mainly by low-cost carriers and a common starting point for Plitvice Lakes
Zračna luka Pula
Pula Airport (PUY)
Usage
The only passenger airport on the Istrian peninsula, about 6 km northeast of Pula and the entry point for Rovinj, Poreč and the rest of Istria
Zračna luka Rijeka
Rijeka Airport (RJK)
Usage
Located at Omišalj on the island of Krk rather than in the city; reaching Rijeka means about 30 km across the Krk Bridge by seasonal bus or car
Zračna luka Osijek
Osijek Airport (OSI)
Usage
The airport for the Slavonia region, at Klisa about 20 km east of Osijek; traffic is light and largely seasonal
Zračna luka Brač
Brač Airport (BWK)
Usage
A small airport on the plateau of Brač about 14 km from Bol, with scheduled flights only in summer; the Split ferry is normally the reliable route
Zagreb Glavni kolodvor
Zagreb Main Railway Station
Usage
The hub of Croatian Railways, facing King Tomislav Square about a 10-minute walk from Jelačić Square; trains leave here for Rijeka, Osijek and Split
Željeznički kolodvor Split
Split Railway Station
Usage
Right beside the ferry quay and the bus station, so transfers take only a few minutes on foot; overnight trains run to Zagreb. Note that Dubrovnik has no railway at all
Željeznički kolodvor Rijeka
Rijeka Railway Station
Usage
The main station on the Kvarner coast, just west of central Rijeka with trains to Zagreb; the port and the Korzo promenade are within walking distance
Autobusni kolodvor Zagreb
Zagreb Bus Terminal
Usage
Croatia's largest coach terminal, on Avenija Marina Držića a few tram stops from the main railway station, with services nationwide and to neighbouring countries
Autobusni kolodvor Split
Split Bus Station
Usage
Right next to the ferry quay and five minutes' walk from the old town; the hub for coaches to Dubrovnik, Zagreb and Zadar, which run far more often than trains
Autobusni kolodvor Dubrovnik
Dubrovnik Bus Station
Usage
Not in the old town but beside Gruž harbour; a city bus reaches the Pile Gate in about 15 minutes. With no railway here, all long-distance travel starts from this station
Autobusni kolodvor Zadar
Zadar Bus Station
Usage
About 1.5 km east of the old-town peninsula, with buses to Plitvice Lakes and Split; the old town is a 20-minute walk or a short city-bus ride away
Autobusni kolodvor Šibenik
Šibenik Bus Station
Usage
On the Šibenik waterfront within walking distance of the old town and cathedral; the transfer point for travellers heading to Krka National Park or the Kornati islands
Autobusni kolodvor Pula
Pula Bus Station
Usage
The hub of Istria's bus network, a few minutes' walk from the Arena, with services to Rovinj, Poreč and Rijeka
Trajektna luka Split
Split Ferry Port
Usage
Croatia's busiest passenger port; Jadrolinija ferries and catamarans leave for Hvar, Brač, Korčula and Vis. In summer the car queues are long, so arrive early
Luka Gruž
Gruž Port, Dubrovnik
Usage
Dubrovnik's harbour, used by ferries and catamarans to the Elaphiti Islands and Mljet as well as cruise ships; the bus station adjoins it and the old town is 15 minutes away by city bus
Trajektna luka Gaženica
Gaženica Ferry Terminal, Zadar
Usage
The newer terminal about 3.5 km southeast of Zadar's old town; car ferries and international sailings depart here, while the old-town quay handles mainly catamarans, so always check which berth your ticket uses
Luka Šibenik
Port of Šibenik
Usage
The quay along Šibenik's waterfront, with local boats to the nearby islands of Zlarin, Prvić, Kaprije and Žirje
Luka Rijeka
Port of Rijeka
Usage
Croatia's largest cargo port and the passenger base for the Kvarner islands, with sailings towards Cres, Rab and Lošinj
Trajektna luka Supetar
Supetar Ferry Port, Brač
Usage
The gateway to Brač: car ferries from Split take about 50 minutes and island buses connect on to Bol and Zlatni Rat. This is the most frequent route to the island
Trajektna luka Stari Grad
Stari Grad Ferry Port, Hvar
Usage
The car-ferry port for Hvar island, about two hours from Split; Hvar town is a further 20 km by connecting bus or taxi. Do not confuse it with the harbour in Hvar town itself
Luka Hvar
Hvar Town Harbour
Usage
The harbour in the centre of Hvar town where catamarans from Split arrive; it is passenger-only, so drivers must use Stari Grad instead
Trajektna luka Vela Luka
Vela Luka Ferry Port, Korčula
Usage
The port at the western end of Korčula, served by car ferries and catamarans from Split; Korčula town is about 45 km across the island, roughly an hour by bus
Trajektna luka Dominče
Dominče Ferry Port, Korčula
Usage
The car-ferry berth about 3 km east of Korčula town, linking to Orebić on the Pelješac peninsula in about 15 minutes; foot passengers can also use the quay in Korčula town
Orebić
Usage
A town on the south coast of the Pelješac peninsula with the ferry crossing to Korčula, about two hours by road from Dubrovnik and facing Korčula's old town across the channel
Luka Ploče
Port of Ploče
Usage
A port town at the mouth of the Neretva with ferries to Trpanj on Pelješac; it lies near the southern end of the A1 motorway, midway between Split and Dubrovnik
Trajektna luka Valbiska
Valbiska Ferry Port, Krk
Usage
The ferry berth on the west coast of Krk, with crossings to Merag on Cres and to Lopar on Rab; the key link for island-hopping around the Kvarner
Drvenik
Usage
A small port on the southern Makarska Riviera; its car ferry to Sućuraj at the eastern tip of Hvar is the shortcut for drivers heading to eastern Hvar
Luka Vis
Vis Town Harbour
Usage
The main harbour of Vis island, about 2 hours 20 minutes by car ferry from Split or 90 minutes by catamaran; buses and excursion boats leave from here for Komiža and the Blue Cave
Pelješki most
Pelješac Bridge
Usage
A 2.4 km bridge opened in 2022 linking Komarna on the mainland with the Pelješac peninsula, letting traffic reach Dubrovnik without passing through the Bosnian corridor at Neum and its border checks
Krčki most
Krk Bridge
Usage
The bridge connecting the mainland to the island of Krk, and the road to Rijeka Airport; cars and buses cross directly, though the bura wind can force traffic restrictions
Autocesta A1
A1 Motorway
Usage
The main artery linking Zagreb, Zadar and Split and continuing to Ploče, also used by long-distance coaches; it is tolled, and since Croatia adopted the euro in 2023 the toll booths quote and take euros
Zagreb
Usage
Croatia's capital and largest city, inland on the Sava, split between the historic Upper Town and the 19th-century Lower Town; administratively it is its own unit, the City of Zagreb
Split
Usage
The largest city in Dalmatia and seat of Split-Dalmatia County, its old town built inside a Roman emperor's palace; with airport, port, buses and trains it is the base for island trips
Rijeka
Usage
The port city on the Kvarner Gulf and seat of Primorje-Gorski Kotar County; it has Croatia's biggest harbour and is known for its carnival and the Trsat castle
Osijek
Usage
The largest city of Slavonia and seat of Osijek-Baranja County, on the Drava, centred on the baroque fortress quarter of Tvrđa and the base for visiting Kopački Rit
Zadar
Usage
The main city of northern Dalmatia and seat of Zadar County; its peninsula old town holds Roman ruins and St Donatus church, and it is famous for the Sea Organ and as a base for Kornati and Paklenica
Dubrovnik
Usage
The walled city at Croatia's southern tip and seat of Dubrovnik-Neretva County, its old town a UNESCO site; there is no railway, so arrivals are by air, coach or boat
Pula
Usage
The port at the southern tip of Istria and the peninsula's largest city, built around a remarkably intact Roman amphitheatre, with boats to Brijuni National Park leaving nearby
Šibenik
Usage
A port at the mouth of the Krka river and seat of Šibenik-Knin County, with the UNESCO-listed Cathedral of St James and St Michael's fortress; the gateway to Krka National Park and the Kornati
Varaždin
Usage
A baroque town about 80 km north of Zagreb and seat of Varaždin County, briefly Croatia's capital in the 18th century; its castle and landscaped cemetery are the main sights
Karlovac
Usage
A town about 55 km southwest of Zagreb and seat of Karlovac County, known for the four rivers that meet there; it is the junction on the roads to Plitvice and the coast
Vukovar
Usage
A town on the Danube at Croatia's eastern edge and seat of Vukovar-Srijem County; devastated in the 1991 siege, its shell-scarred water tower is kept as a memorial
Slavonski Brod
Usage
A Slavonian city on the Sava and seat of Brod-Posavina County; Bosnia and Herzegovina lies across the river, and the border crossing and the A3 motorway make it a transit point
Sisak
Usage
A town about 50 km southeast of Zagreb at the confluence of the Kupa and the Sava, seat of Sisak-Moslavina County, with a distinctive triangular old fortress
Čakovec
Usage
Seat of Međimurje County in Croatia's far north, the centre of the region between the Drava and the Mura, close to both the Hungarian and Slovenian borders
Knin
Usage
An inland Dalmatian town, once the seat of the medieval Croatian kingdom, crowned by a large hilltop fortress and still a junction on the Zagreb-Split railway
Gospić
Usage
The main town of the Lika region and seat of Lika-Senj County, inland of the Velebit range and a practical stop on the way to Northern Velebit or Paklenica
Samobor
Usage
A small town about 25 km west of Zagreb, an easy bus day trip, known for its custard slice "kremšnita" and its old market square
Trogir
Usage
A UNESCO-listed old town built on an islet about 27 km west of Split; it is only 6 km from Split Airport, so many travellers stay here on arrival or departure nights
Solin
Usage
A town on Split's northern edge holding the ruins of Salona, capital of the Roman province of Dalmatia, reachable by city bus from Split
Makarska
Usage
A resort town backed by the Biokovo massif and the centre of the Makarska Riviera, about 60 km south of Split, with its pebble beaches right beside the harbour
Omiš
Usage
A town where the Cetina river meets the sea through a gorge, about 25 km southeast of Split; a pirate stronghold in the Middle Ages and now the base for rafting and zip-lining
Nin
Usage
An old town on a small island about 15 km northwest of Zadar, regarded as Croatia's first royal seat; it has the 9th-century Holy Cross church, working salt pans and shallow sandy beaches
Biograd na Moru
Usage
A seaside town about 28 km south of Zadar with the ferry to Tkon on Pašman island, and a base for the Kornati islands and Lake Vrana
Novalja
Usage
A town in the north of Pag island, next to Zrće beach and its summer clubs, so it draws a young crowd; reach it by the Pag bridge in the south or the ferry to Žigljen in the north
Cavtat
Usage
A seaside town in Konavle about 18 km south of Dubrovnik and close to the airport; small boats run to Dubrovnik's old town in summer, and it is quieter and cheaper to stay in
Ston
Usage
A town at the neck of the Pelješac peninsula, known for its medieval walls of over 5 km and its still-working salt pans; the oysters of Mali Ston bay are the local speciality
Rovinj
Usage
A town on Istria's west coast whose Venetian-looking old town rises to the church of St Euphemia; the most visited spot in Istria, about 40 km from Pula
Poreč
Usage
A resort town on Istria's west coast whose 6th-century Euphrasian Basilica is a UNESCO site, with an old town still laid out on its Roman street grid
Opatija
Usage
A Habsburg-era spa resort about 13 km west of Rijeka, with the 12 km Lungomare seafront promenade and rows of belle-époque villas below Mount Učka
Umag
Usage
A coastal town at Istria's northwestern tip near the Slovenian border, a convenient base for crossing to Trieste or Piran, and known for its summer tennis tournament
Dalmacija
Dalmatia
Usage
The southern coastal region running from Zadar to Dubrovnik, made up of the Zadar, Šibenik, Split and Dubrovnik counties and holding most of the major islands
Istra
Istria
Usage
The heart-shaped peninsula in northwestern Croatia, with Pula, Rovinj and Poreč on the coast and hill towns such as Motovun inland; signage is often bilingual with Italian, and the area is known for truffles and wine
Kvarner
Kvarner Gulf
Usage
The gulf and coastal region between Istria and Dalmatia, centred on Rijeka and Opatija, with the islands of Krk, Cres, Lošinj and Rab
Slavonija
Slavonia
Usage
The eastern plain between the Sava and the Drava, Croatia's farming heartland centred on Osijek; far fewer tourists and noticeably cheaper than the coast
Lika
Usage
The sparsely populated upland region inland of the Velebit range, snowy in winter; both Plitvice Lakes and Northern Velebit national parks lie here
Hrvatsko zagorje
Hrvatsko Zagorje
Usage
The hilly region north of Zagreb between Mount Medvednica and the Slovenian border, dotted with castles such as Trakošćan and with thermal spas; an easy day trip from Zagreb
Gorski kotar
Gorski Kotar
Usage
The forested mountain region between Zagreb and Rijeka, home to Risnjak National Park and cool even in summer; the motorway and railway to the coast cross it
Pelješac
Pelješac Peninsula
Usage
A long narrow peninsula in southern Dalmatia known for its red wines, with Ston at the eastern end and Orebić at the western; the Pelješac Bridge has linked it directly to the mainland since 2022
Otok Hvar
Island of Hvar
Usage
A long Dalmatian island said to get the most sunshine in Croatia, with lavender fields, the UNESCO-listed Stari Grad Plain, and a nightlife scene in Hvar town
Otok Brač
Island of Brač
Usage
The island facing Split, quarried for its white stone; Bol on the south coast has the Zlatni Rat beach, and its summit Vidova Gora at 778 m is the highest point of any Adriatic island
Otok Korčula
Island of Korčula
Usage
A green southern Dalmatian island whose walled Korčula town has a fishbone street plan and the Moreška sword dance; it is also a white-wine producing island
Otok Krk
Island of Krk
Usage
One of the largest Kvarner islands and joined to the mainland by bridge, so no ferry is needed; Rijeka Airport is on the island, with Krk town and Baška beach as the main draws
Otok Cres
Island of Cres
Usage
A long thin Kvarner island known for its griffon vultures, joined to Lošinj by a bridge at Osor at its southern end; reached by ferry from Valbiska on Krk to Merag
Otok Lošinj
Island of Lošinj
Usage
The island south of Cres, long used as a health resort for its pine forests and mild climate; Mali Lošinj is the main town and a resident bottlenose dolphin population lives offshore
Otok Rab
Island of Rab
Usage
A Kvarner island whose old town is recognisable by its four bell towers, with rare sandy beaches at Lopar in the north; ferries run from Stinica on the mainland and from Valbiska on Krk
Otok Pag
Island of Pag
Usage
A bare, lunar-looking island famous for its sheep's cheese "paški sir" and its lace; the Pag bridge joins it to the mainland in the south, while a ferry serves Žigljen in the north
Otok Vis
Island of Vis
Usage
One of the farthest inhabited islands from the mainland; closed to foreigners as a military zone until 1989, so it stayed undeveloped and quiet, with Vis town and Komiža as its two settlements
Otok Mljet
Island of Mljet
Usage
A heavily forested island northwest of Dubrovnik whose western third is a national park with saltwater lakes; catamarans and ferries from Gruž call at Sobra or Pomena
Elafitski otoci
Elaphiti Islands
Usage
A chain of small islands northwest of Dubrovnik; Koločep, Lopud and Šipan are inhabited and virtually car-free, and scheduled boats from Gruž make them an easy day trip
Nacionalni park Plitvička jezera
Plitvice Lakes National Park
Usage
A UNESCO site in Lika where boardwalks thread 16 terraced lakes and their waterfalls; it sits midway between Zagreb and Zadar, two to three hours by bus from either, and has two entrances, Ulaz 1 and Ulaz 2
Nacionalni park Krka
Krka National Park
Usage
A river-canyon park inland from Šibenik centred on the Skradinski Buk falls, entered at Skradin or Lozovac; easier to reach for a day trip than Plitvice
Nacionalni park Kornati
Kornati National Park
Usage
A marine park of more than 80 mostly uninhabited islands; there are no residents or hotels, so visits are by day-boat excursions from Murter, Zadar or Biograd
Nacionalni park Paklenica
Paklenica National Park
Usage
Two limestone gorges in the southern Velebit, Croatia's main rock-climbing and hiking area; the entrance is at Starigrad-Paklenica about 45 km north of Zadar
Nacionalni park Brijuni
Brijuni National Park
Usage
An archipelago off western Istria that served as Tito's summer residence, with Roman ruins and free-roaming animals; access is by the park's own boat from Fažana near Pula and needs booking in advance
Nacionalni park Mljet
Mljet National Park
Usage
The park covering the western end of Mljet, with two saltwater lakes open to the sea and a 12th-century Benedictine monastery on an islet in the larger one; entered at Pomena or Polače
Nacionalni park Sjeverni Velebit
Northern Velebit National Park
Usage
A park in the northern Velebit with trails such as the Premužić path and hut-to-hut hiking; snow can close the access roads outside the summer season
Park prirode Biokovo
Biokovo Nature Park
Usage
The limestone massif rising behind Makarska, topped by Sveti Jure at 1,762 m; a narrow toll road climbs it and a glass-floored skywalk juts out over the coast
Park prirode Kopački rit
Kopački Rit Nature Park
Usage
A wetland northeast of Osijek where the Drava meets the Danube, one of Europe's important waterbird breeding grounds, visited by boardwalk and small boat
Velebit
Velebit Mountains
Usage
Croatia's longest range, running about 145 km along the Adriatic and looking like a wall from the coast road; it is the source of the bura wind that can close roads in winter
Delta Neretve
Neretva Delta
Usage
The wetland around Metković and Opuzen between Split and Dubrovnik, a citrus-growing area where small boats run river tours; the coast road crosses this plain
Rijeka Cetina
Cetina River
Usage
A Dalmatian river rising in the Dinara range and reaching the sea at Omiš, cutting a deep gorge that is the region's main rafting, kayaking and canyoning route
Trg bana Josipa Jelačića
Ban Jelačić Square
Usage
Zagreb's central square and the main tram interchange, known locally as just "Trg"; the standard meeting point, with the Upper Town and Dolac market a short walk uphill
Zagrebačka katedrala
Zagreb Cathedral
Usage
Croatia's largest church, in the Kaptol quarter, its twin spires the symbol of the city; the 2020 earthquake damaged them and long-term restoration work continues
Dolac
Dolac Market
Usage
Zagreb's open-air market just above Jelačić Square, marked by its red parasols; produce is on the upper terrace and meat, cheese and fish in the hall below, and mornings are when it is busiest
Mirogoj
Mirogoj Cemetery
Usage
A monumental cemetery north of central Zagreb, known for its long ivy-covered arcades and domes and open to all faiths; buses run there from beside the cathedral
Dioklecijanova palača
Diocletian's Palace
Usage
The 4th-century Roman palace that is Split's old town; a UNESCO site but not a museum, with homes, shops and cafés inside, centred on the Peristyle courtyard
Marjan
Marjan Hill
Usage
The pine-covered hill west of Split's old town, laced with paths and viewpoints and walkable from the centre; the city's own place to stroll and swim
Zlatni rat
Zlatni Rat beach
Usage
The spit of shingle west of Bol on Brač, famous because wind and current keep reshaping its tip; about a 20-minute walk along the shore from Bol
Stradun
Usage
The main street through Dubrovnik's old town, also called Placa; a 300 m limestone avenue running from the Pile Gate in the west to the Ploče Gate in the east
Dubrovačke gradske zidine
Dubrovnik City Walls
Usage
The 2 km circuit of walls around the old town; the walk takes one to two hours, entry is ticketed and priced in euros since Croatia's 2023 changeover, and there is no shade, so early morning or late afternoon is easier
Lokrum
Usage
The island just off Dubrovnik's old town, about 15 minutes by boat from the Old Port; it has a botanical garden and monastery ruins, and overnight stays are not allowed
Morske orgulje
Sea Organ
Usage
A sound installation on the quay at the western tip of Zadar's old town, where waves push air through pipes under the steps; together with the neighbouring Greeting to the Sun it is the city's sunset spot
Pulska Arena
Pula Arena
Usage
The 1st-century Roman amphitheatre in central Pula, one of the few anywhere with all three outer tiers still standing, and still used for film festivals and concerts
Šibenska katedrala
Šibenik Cathedral
Usage
Formally the Cathedral of St James (Katedrala svetog Jakova), a UNESCO site built entirely of stone without timber or brick, known for the 71 carved heads around its exterior
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