Things to Do in Dalmatia

Dubrovnik’s distinctive orange cable cars speed 2,500 feet (778 meters) in about three minutes, from the lower station just north of the city walls to the top of Mount Srđ. During the ride, you can enjoy peerless views of Dubrovnik’s terracotta rooftops, the coastline of Dalmatia, and archipelagos sprinkled across the Adriatic Sea.

Once a powerful fortress in the Venetian Republic, Zadar’s old town remains encircled by remnants of its defensive walls, some of which date back to ancient Roman times. Six different city gates provide entry into the walled section, each with a distinct architectural style and motif.

Overlooking the Adriatic Sea from a cliff-top perch, the St. Lawrence Fortress (Fort Lovrijenac) is a Dubrovnik icon. Thought to be around 1,000 years old, the 121-foot (37-meter) fortress was used to defend the city for centuries. Today, the fort is better-known for its theatrical shows, coastal views, and starring role in HBO’sGame of Thrones.

Constructed in 1537, this sturdy gate on the west wall of Dubrovnik’s Old Town was once locked nightly—and the wooden drawbridge leading to it was raised—to prevent intruders from gaining access to the city. More recently, the gate served as a filming location for Game of Thrones, as the site where King Joffrey was unceremoniously pelted with cow dung.

Flanked by two Corinthian colonnades, Peristyle Square (Peristil) is the central plaza of the town of Split and part of Diocletian's Palace, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. An 187-feet (57-meter) eye-catching belfry towers above the square; climb to the top for a stellar view of the sea.

Flowing for more than 60 miles (96 kilometers) from its source at Dinara on the Croatia–Bosnia and Herzegovina border all the way to the Adriatic Sea near Split, the Cetina River is a main player in Dalmatia’s adventure-sports scene. Its rushing rapids, waterfalls, and tunnels make it ideal for rafting and canyoning excursions.

As you glide into Hvar’s port, you cannot miss the imposing Spanish Fortress that crowns the island’s main settlement. Today’s facades date back to the 16th century, though the defensive site itself reaches back much further. From the top, visitors can enjoy views far across the Adriatic, making it one of Hvar’s most treasured landmarks.

Built into the limestone bluffs outside of Split, the imposing Klis Fortress(Tvrdava Klis) was once an important defensive stronghold between the Mediterranean and the Balkans. It housed the seat of many Croatian kings, though nowadays it’s better known as the film location for the fictional city of Meereen in the seriesGame of Thrones.

Dotted with pine trees and Mediterranean shrubs, Marjan is a hilly peninsula jutting out into the Adriatic Sea. A beautiful nature reserve in Croatia, some of Split's best beaches are here, along with important museums, such as Mestrovic Gallery and Museum of Croatian Archaeological Monuments.

With blue coral lagoons, dramatic limestone cliffs, and a fascinating saltwater lake, Telašćica Nature Park is one of Croatia’s most magical natural wonders. On the island of Dugi Otok in the Adriatic Sea, Telašćica offers visitors endless hiking, diving, swimming, fishing, and wildlife-viewing opportunities.

Stretching from Old Town’s western entrance at the Pile Gate to the harbor in the east, the Stradun (or Placa) was once a shallow sea channel that divided the small island on which Dubrovnik was built from the Republic of Ragusa on the mainland. In the 12th century, the Stradun was filled to create the main street in Dubrovnik’s Old Town.

Located inside the gates of Diocletian’s Palace, the Cathedral of St. Domnius ((Katedrala Svetog Duje) is a massive octagonal cathedral built in Roman times as the Mausoleum of Diocletian. The structure was converted to a church in the 7th century and mass is still held here today, making it one of the oldest Catholic cathedrals in the world still in use in its original structure.

There’s no better place to take in the essence of Hvar than in its main plaza while admiring the Cathedral of St. Stephen also known as the Hvar Cathedral. Set upon a backdrop of green hillside, the church you see today was built between the 16th and 17th centuries, with elements of an even older church still preserved inside.

Though the cathedral boasts a relatively humble interior, it is noted for its attractive altars, late Renaissance paintings, and 15th-century wooden choir stalls. For most, though, it’s the exterior that really leaves the biggest impression, with its scalloped rooftop and four-story, 17th-century bell tower that both grandly watch over the expansive limestone plaza that rolls out to the Adriatic Sea.

Revered for its endless beaches, idyllic coves, scenic valleys, fine wines, and seafood, Croatia’s Pelješac Peninsula juts out of the center of southern Dalmatia. Without the tourist-oriented resorts and the crowds of other coastal Dalmatian destinations, the Pelješac Peninsula is the perfect spot for a relaxing holiday.