Croatia's Dalmatian Coast and Islands

A man leaves St. Mary’s church in Poluotok, the old town section of Zadar, Croatia. The island town of Rogoznica is a favorite destination of yachtsmen. Pleasure craft rest at anchor in Zadar’s harbor, ferries in the distance.		Croatia Ferries Islands Zadar Harbor Zadar Nin Zadar to Split Makarska Riviera Olive Groves Plitvice Jezera Home	Croatia’s Dalmatian Coast and Islands Croatia belongs on the must-visit list for anyone who loves beautiful coastlines and travel by water. The tourist office promotes it with the line, “the Mediterranean as it once was.” It is certainly that. Decades under Tito's socialist rule — followed by years of war with Serbia when Yugoslavia broke up — put Croatia somewhat behind its Western European neighbors in development. To the visitor perhaps more than to the resident, that backwardness can be very charming. It’s not unlike traveling Germany’s “former East,” where communism held back progress and therefore preserved much of its quaintness by default. Despite the fact that the former Yugoslavia’s communist system held back its industrial and commercial development, Croatia was always open to Western visitors. Tourism thrived under Tito. It was the Balkan wars of the 1990s which crashed the tourism market. But that was then and this is now. Croatia today is a safe place to travel — the exceptionally casual attitude their drivers show toward the rules of the road and the occasional warnings to watch where you walk because of the possibility of stumbling upon a landmine notwithstanding. The welcome mat is certainly out for tourists from around the world.

A man leaves St. Mary’s church in Poluotok, the old town section of
Zadar, Croatia.

The island town of Rogoznica is a favorite destination of yachtsmen.

Pleasure craft rest at anchor in Zadar’s harbor, ferries in the distance.

Croatia

Croatia’s Dalmatian Coast and Islands Croatia belongs on the must-visit list for anyone who loves beautiful coastlines and travel by water. The tourist office promotes it with the line, “the Mediterranean as it once was.” It is certainly that. Decades under Tito's socialist rule — followed by years of war with Serbia when Yugoslavia broke up — put Croatia somewhat behind its Western European neighbors in development.

To the visitor perhaps more than to the resident, that backwardness can be very charming. It’s not unlike traveling Germany’s “former East,” where communism held back progress and therefore preserved much of its quaintness by default.

Despite the fact that the former Yugoslavia’s communist system held back its industrial and commercial development, Croatia was always open to Western visitors. Tourism thrived under Tito. It was the Balkan wars of the 1990s which crashed the tourism market. But that was then and this is now. Croatia today is a safe place to travel — the exceptionally casual attitude their drivers show toward the rules of the road and the occasional warnings to watch where you walk because of the possibility of stumbling upon a landmine notwithstanding. The welcome mat is certainly out for tourists from around the world.

Copyright © Don Douglas