Croatia is famous for many things – beautiful coast, stunning beaches, nature, and islands. This list can go on and on. And on top of every such list or articles about reasons to visit Croatia, you’ll probably find ‘rich history’ as one of the inputs. That’s the reason why we decided to write this article about the most famous old towns in Croatia.
Some of these were ruled by different cultures over the course of centuries, so it is reflected in their architecture nowadays. It’s easy to notice different influences in different regions of Croatia. For example, Istria had a strong Venetian influence throughout the centuries and nowadays looks different than any other part of Croatia. Dubrovnik, on the other hand, is one of the most well-preserved medieval cities in Europe. Split, a city located just 3 hours away from Dubrovnik, had a strong Roman influence.
This article will be a journey through Croatian history, through the history of the most famous regions in Croatia, and through the most famous Croatian old towns that were the centers of culture and development through the centuries. If you are a history lover and want to find out more about these historical towns, this article will be a great introduction to this topic.
So here’s the list of the most famous old towns in Croatia.
1. Dubrovnik Old Town We are starting this journey through history in southern Croatia, and in the most famous destination in Croatia. We believe that Dubrovnik doesn’t need a special introduction since it’s one of the most famous historic towns in Europe. Dubrovnik’s Old Town is one of the most iconic and best-preserved medieval cities in the world.
Walk the City Walls for stunning panoramic views of Dubrovnik Old Town and the surrounding Adriatic Sea.
Visit places like the Rector’s Palace , Sponza Palace , and Onofrio’s Fountain along the way.
Explore the narrow alleys that are almost as same as they were centuries ago.
Consider buying a Dubrovnik Pass (Dubrovnik Card) for easier exploration and potential savings.
Featured history tour:
2. Split Old Town From Dubrovnik, we are traveling a bit north, but still staying in the Dalmatia region. Split is the second-largest city in Croatia and the heart of the Dalmatia region. At the center of Split lies the stunning Diocletian’s Palace , a UNESCO World Heritage Site built by the Roman emperor Diocletian in the 4th century, and one of the best-preserved such Roman buildings in the world. Split is known for its history, but it’s also a great place for many other things, island-hopping adventures being just one of these.
When in Split, explore the ancient temples, courtyards, and underground cellars of Diocletian’s Palace.
Visit the Cathedral of St. Domnius , once Diocletian’s mausoleum, and nowadays the most magnificent church in Split.
Enjoy the vibrant atmosphere in local cafes, shops, and homes that blend with the ancient structures.
Featured history tour:
3. Trogir Old Town Trogir is yet another among the old towns in Croatia, located not so far away from Split. This rather small but stunning town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and when you visit it you’ll get a feel that you’re in an open-air museum of Romanesque, Gothic, Renaissance, and Baroque architecture.
Visit the beautiful Cathedral of St. Lawrence .
Walk the narrow old streets and enjoy a drink in the cafes located on the waterfront promenade.
Visit the Venetian fortifications and towers in Trogir.
Featured history tour:
4. Korčula Old Town Korčula Town is the central and most vibrant part of the Korčula Island. It has somewhat similar medieval architecture to Dubrovnik, and because of that, it’s often called ‘little Dubrovnik’. Korčula is simply a beautiful place, and it’s believed that the world’s famous explorer Marco Polo was born in this town.
Explore the fishbone-patterned streets that were designed that way to protect inhabitants from the strong winds.
Visit St. Mark’s Cathedral and the Marco Polo House .
Enjoy a glass of local wine at one of the seaside cafes in Korčula.
Featured history tour:
5. Rovinj Old Town Rovinj is one of the most romantic places in Croatia, located in Istria, the largest peninsula in Croatia. Rovinj had a strong Venetian influence and features colorful facades, stone streets, and has quite a unique vibe that we love.
Climb to the Church of St. Euphemia for panoramic views of Rovinj and its area.
Explore art galleries, boutique shops, and cozy cafes located in Rovinj alleys.
Enjoy a glass of wine by the sea.
Featured history tour:
6. Pula Old Town Pula is yet another town in Croatia, famous for its Roman influence. Just like Rovinj, Pula is located in Istria and has one of the best-preserved Roman amphitheaters in the world. Pula had a peculiar history during the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy period, and there are many fortifications built during this period that you can visit today. Zero Strasse is just one of and most famous among these.
Visit the Pula Arena , one of the best-preserved Roman amphitheaters in the world.
Explore ancient gates, forums, and the Temple of Augustus .
Discover the rich history of this city that blends Roman, Venetian, and Austro-Hungarian influences.
Featured history tour:
7. Šibenik Old Town As we are moving toward the end of this list of the most famous old towns in Croatia, we move back to Dalmatia, one of the most famous regions of Croatia. Šibenik is a town that is a bit less touristy than some other destinations, but still full of character as it has one of the most impressive cathedrals in Croatia and a maze of medieval streets.
Visit the Cathedral of St. James , a UNESCO World Heritage Site built entirely of stone.
Explore the four historic fortresses that once defended the city during the turbulent times.
Featured history tour:
8. Zadar Old Town Just a bit north of Šibenik lies Zadar, a city famous for many things. Alfred Hitchcock once said that Zadar has the most beautiful sunsets in the world. Zadar has a fascinating mix of Roman ruins, medieval churches, and modern art, and it’s a place where history meets innovation.
Explore the Roman Forum and visit the Church of St. Donatus .
Experience the unique Sea Organ and Greeting to the Sun art installations.
Featured history tour:
9. Motovun Old Town We decided to include one of the Istrian hilltop towns in this list of the Croatian old towns. Each of these is beautiful, and one of our favorite places in Istria. For this article, we chose Motovun , a hilltop town surrounded by vineyards and forests, and famous for truffles and medieval charm.
Walk along the ancient town walls.
Enjoy beautiful panoramic views of the Mirna River valley.
Motovun Film Festival was organized in this town for a long time, and it was one of the most famous film festivals in the region.
Featured history tour:
10. Zagreb Old Town Finally, we reach the last among the famous old towns in Croatia, and we decided to include Zagreb – Croatia’s capital, and a place where we spent 10 years of our lives. Our favorite activity during our Zagreb years was walking through its historic parts, especially its Upper Town. Zagreb is quite different than any other old town on this list and had a strong Austro-Hungarian influence, which is easily seen in the architecture and culture.
Walk the Upper Town at the evening when the gas lamps are lit for extra atmosphere. Visit the historic buildings of Zagreb and enjoy its cozy cafes.
Visit famous Zagreb landmarks like the Stone Gate , St. Mark’s Church , and Lotrščak Tower .
Enjoy the vibrant Tkalčićeva Street and views of the city from the Strossmayer Promenade .
Featured history tour:
Before you venture to any of the Old towns in Croatia There are many other historical places in Croatia , but we believe that the 10 old towns presented in this article are among the most famous ones. If you are going to visit Croatia, you’re probably going to visit at least one of these towns, and we hope this list helped you find the best historical place for you. All of the old towns in Croatia are simply beautiful, and it’s great that they are so diverse and have different influences, which reflect in their architecture and culture.
We also included featured history walks that you can find in most of these Croatian old towns. Booking any of these walks can enhance the overall experience of any place, and we suggest joining these if you want to learn more about the history from licensed guides.
Enjoy the historical places of Croatia!
