Croatia in Summer: Best Food and Attractions

https://unsplash.com/photos/1VskzgDedmo László Tóth

Known as the Pearl of the Adriatic, Dubrovnik is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the most popular tourist magnet in Croatia. Its magnificent Old Town area is contained within sturdy Medieval walls measuring two kilometers and incorporating towers, fortresses, and cannons. The center is a living open-air museum that feels like a movie set. Actually, it was used as a shooting location for Star Wars: The Last Jedi and HBO’s famous series – Game of Thrones, which contributed to a surge in tourism.

Any excursion inside the Old Town will take you through the Pile Gate, built in 1537, and from high up its walls you can enjoy breathtaking rooftop views across the blue waters of the Adriatic Sea and the city. Some of the other fun attractions in Dubrovnik include the Stradun – a 300-meter white limestone walkway lined with shops, cafes, and boutiques, Fort Lovrijenac – the city’s most important fortress, and the Square of the Loggia – a historic gathering place full of old monuments. Dubrovnik shimmers with fairy tale magic that transforms it into a mesmerizing destination worth visiting.

The brainchild of Bosnian footballer Edin Džeko, EZZA Steak and Cocktail Bar is the newest gourmet restaurant to open in Dubrovnik. It is a fine-dining establishment designed for meat enthusiasts. EZZA features an al fresco terrace seating overlooking the Adriatic Sea and the Old Town complete with natural wicker chairs, wooden tables, and tile flooring. It also has a colorful and elegant front of the house made up of velvety leather furnishings, marbled counters, and polished wood furniture.

EZZA’s original idea was to create a fabulous dining space in the heart of Dubrovnik where visitors would get an extra flair for their steak accompanied by refined drinks. And the culinary team does just that by offering the best meat cuts imported from Argentina, Australia, Japan, and Scotland. Start your meal by ordering one of their classic aperitifs like Aperol spritz, Moscow mule, or hugo, and pairing it with delicate steak tartare, tuna tataki, or fried carpaccio. Moving on to the mains, you can relish a Wagyu ribeye from Australia or a tomahawk from Argentina highlighted by Biondi-Santi Tenuta Greppo Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 2015 from Tuscany.

https://unsplash.com/photos/nVoPJwI6BHs André Ferreira

The Kornati Islands are a collection of 140 uninhabited reefs and islets – the largest archipelago in the Adriatic Sea forming a part of the Kornati National Park. It is an idyllic treat for travelers looking to escape the mainland’s summer crowds. This gorgeous paradise consists of lush forests, jagged limestone rocks, and desert-like plains.

The area has diverse ecosystems with some of the region’s most vibrant marine life. Kornati National Park offers its visitors a host of activities like snorkeling, diving, swimming, hiking, recreational fishing, and wildlife watching. Some of the most notable landmarks that you will find here are Dry Stone Walls – a memorial created to honor the brave firefighters who lost their life during the Kornati tragedy trying to save the park from burning, Fortress Tureta – a fort from the Byzantine period, and Church of Our Lady of Tarac, dating back to the Middle Ages.

There are many old traditional taverns (Konoba) in the Kornati Islands region inviting you to savor fresh seafood with a scenic view. One of them is Konoba Opat, located in the magical Opat Bay. Owned and operated by the Božikov family since 1988, it has developed a reputation for being one of the top 10 dining places in Croatia. The tavern is a simple building made of stone and wood with a comfortable interior overlooking the bay. It is designed to be environmentally friendly and creates a cozy and hospitable ambiance. You can sit on the covered terrace and look at the turquoise blue waters while dining on flavorful delicacies.

The kitchen is run by Chef Ante Božikov, who serves a seasonally-changing Mediterranean menu by combining fresh fish and seafood with seasonal vegetables and herbs that grow around the islands. You can indulge in dishes like tuna carpaccio, clay oven-baked turbot on a bed of salt, roasted John Dory with truffles, scallops with pine nuts, and lobster risotto. After the meal, we suggest you move to their small open bar area to enjoy some simple craft cocktails and local homemade rakija (Croatian fruit brandy).

https://unsplash.com/photos/hcex9mYVYj4 Josip Ivankovic

Situated in Croatia’s vibrant Istria region, Pula is a historic city that should be on your summer travel itinerary. Besides its lovely seaside setting with several pristine beaches, the destination is famous for its well-preserved architecture. You can explore many ruins like the Roman Forum – an ancient square and the center of the city as well as the Temple of Augustus – a monumental column structure with sculptures.

Of all the numerous sights, nothing comes close to being as impressive as the Pula Arena. Built around the 1st century by Emperor Vespasian, it is one of the largest surviving Roman amphitheaters, rivaled only by the Colosseum in the Italian capital. Designed to host crowds of up to 25,000 people, it was used for entertainment like gladiator fighting and jousting. Today, this structure hosts up to 5,000 visitors for world-class concerts from stars like Elton John and Sting. You can also experience the thrill of a battle performance and witness real preserved clothes and weapons used by gladiators in the subterranean gallery.

Veritas Food&Wine is a quaint family-run bistro nestled in the heart of Pula. It has a charming and welcoming atmosphere, enriched with wooden tables, metal chairs, and white tiled flooring, along with a unique dining experience of Istrian cuisine. A diet of fish, olive oil, local raw ham, and vegetables are the hallmarks of local fare. The menu at Veritas features a wide variety of specialty items that range from pasta to delicate seafood.

Diners can sample crispy pan-fried turbot with sautéed vegetables, oven-roasted scallops in garlic oil, char-grilled squid with spinach potato, scampi with black risotto, grilled pork chop with potato wedges in peppercorn sauce, and seafood linguine pasta. You can also pair your meal with a local wine like Istrian Malvasia – a balanced combination of pear, jasmine, and citrus fruits in your glass.

https://unsplash.com/photos/DtE3rCpbcpk Isabel Chase

Located in Bol on the south coast of Brac, Zlatni Rat Beach is Croatia's most photographed coastline spot. Popularly referred to as Golden Horn or Golden Cape, it is an unusual landform made up of fine pebbles that run 500 meters perpendicularly to the coast. Based on the wind patterns and ocean currents, the shape of the beach formation moves and changes from season to season.

Backed by a cluster of pine trees and overlooked by the rocky heights of Vidova Gora mountain, Zlatni Rat Beach juts out into the azure waters. It is a perfect summer oasis equipped with sunbeds and umbrellas to relax and take in the seaview. On top of that, it is Europe’s top destination for windsurfing, along with snorkeling, swimming, and paddle boating. Other attractions include jet skiing, banana boat rides, and kayaking. There are many small eateries lined along the shores, but the best for great al fresco dining is the Mali Raj restaurant.

Found directly behind Zlatni Rat Beach, Mali Raj is a tavern with one of the most beautiful settings in Croatia. It is nestled inside a time-honored building with an expansive outdoor garden complete with terraces, an old grove with olive and lemon trees, and a vineyard. The outside setting sells itself with its greenest grass, well-trimmed hedges, and stone troughs full of plants and flowers.

The kitchen team creates a menu based on traditional Dalmatian cuisine with meat and seafood specialties. You can start with exquisite appetizers like smoked ham, grilled shrimp in wine sauce, and mussels in garlic butter. For mains, we recommend their veal cutlet with vegetables, tagliatelle with lobster, grilled beef steak with oven-baked jacket potato, grilled Adriatic squid with chard and potatoes, and roasted lamb with Greek salad. They also offer a small wine list consisting of local labels that help enhance your meal. Mali Raj’s enchanting setting and proximity to the beach make it an ideal place to have a late lunch or early supper in Bol.

https://unsplash.com/photos/HjHnI35B4YY Spencer Davis

Split is Croatia’s second-largest city after Zagreb. More than half of it is a part of an ancient palace established for the Roman emperor – Diocletian. It is one of the most imposing antique structures in existence today. The Diocletian’s Palace was designed as a fortress rather than a summer residence, as it housed the emperor’s garrison, along with four monumental gates – three accessible by land and one directly opening into the Adriatic Sea.

After the palace was abandoned in the sixth century, local people flooded the gates and built over 220 houses, shops, restaurants, and other businesses. Today, the space forms a major part of the Old Town area and has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Within the colossal walls, visitors will find the magnificent Peristyle courtyard and the Cathedral of St. Domnius with an elegant Bell Tower. One of the fun activities to do here is to take a night tour to explore the illuminated ruins and attend a music concert or food festival during the day.

Portofino is an upscale popular restaurant located right next to the back walls of Diocletian Palace. Its beautiful outdoor terrace and unique combination of Dalmatian-Italian cuisine attract many guests. The place is designed like a Mediterranean trattoria with a shaded outdoor space made up of wooden picnic tables, patio chairs, and small diffused lamps. The interiors consist of soft sofas, brick-laden walls, and pearl-white color tones that create a calming atmosphere.

Portofino’s has worked out a special set lunch selection for the convenience of tourists, while the dinner menu is extensive with many complex flavourful dishes. Diners can find delicious foods, such as tasty bruschetta with pesto, crispy scallops sautéed in butte drizzled with pumpkin cream, tuna filet with julienne vegetables in a paprika cream sauce, shrimp pasta in arrabbiata sauce, and creamy risotto with clams. Do not miss out on decadent desserts like raspberry tart with almond flakes, lemon sponge cake with chocolate cream, and tiramisu with raspberry gel.

As you see, Croatia is a beautiful seaside country with some of the best stretches of coastline in Europe. It has plenty of tourist attractions ideal for history enthusiasts, nature lovers, active outdoor goers, and luxury travelers. With its rocky indented shores, thousands of uninhabited islands, and fascinating landmarks filled with remains of Roman and Venetian times, Croatia is a rewarding place that needs to be on your bucket list.

Would you like to spend your summer vacation in Croatia? What would your itinerary look like? Share your thoughts with our community in the comment section below. And don’t forget to check out our top restaurant reviews and latest food & travel guides.