Croatia is more than just Dubrovnik and "Game of Thrones"-inspired tourism — set-jetting, as it is now called.
The northern snowcapped mountain regions are home to lakes of such vivid turquoise and pristine beauty that Plitvice was named a UNESCO World Heritage site. Inland Croatia is home to Vinkovci, the oldest town in Europe, established over 8,000 years ago. The seaside cities merge with the Adriatic in fascinating ways, like in Zadar, home to the Sea Organ that symphonizes ocean waves into a musical ebbing hum.
And of course, there are the islands, so celebrated in beauty that their siren songs have lured travelers to their shores for millennia, from ancient Greek heroes to present-day Croatia Yacht Week sailors.
Croatia is home to over a thousand islands that dominate the eastern Adriatic, ranging in size, population and inhabitability. Numerous and diverse, the islands present travelers with unique opportunities for exploration, relaxation and cultural experiences. Follow the guide below, starting in the north and winding southward, to embark on your own island-hopping expedition through Croatia’s best.