The DalmatianCroatia.

Skradinski Buk is the largest and most spectacular waterfall system in Croatia — 17 cascades descending 45.7 metres over 800 metres of the Krka river, the water a specific milky turquoise from calcium carbonate precipitation on the travertine formations. The wooden boardwalks thread through the cascade system at water level, through mist and spray. Swimming in and directly around the falls has been restricted since 2021 to protect the travertine ecosystem; a designated swimming area remains at the bottom of the system. The surrounding forest of narrow-leaf ash and white willow is the habitat for otters and European pond turtles.

Marjan is the pine-forested peninsula west of Split's old town — a 178-metre hill with medieval chapels cut into the rock face, jogging and cycling paths, and the finest panoramic view of the city: the Palace, the harbour, the islands of Brač, Šolta and Hvar on the horizon. The path up from Šperun neighbourhood takes 30 minutes through pine forest. At the summit, the full geography of the Dalmatian coast becomes legible — the long island of Brač directly across the channel, with Hvar behind it, and the distant outline of the Dinaric Alps behind the city. The café at the top (Vidilica) is the reward.

The Španjola Fortress (locally called Fortica) sits 100 metres above Hvar Town — a 16th-century Venetian fortification expanded by the Spanish (hence Španjola) during the Habsburg period. The climb from the town takes 20 minutes on a path that passes medieval ruins and terraced vineyards. The view from the top is the finest on Hvar: the Pakleni Islands (a scattered archipelago of pine-covered islets) spread to the southwest, Hvar Town's harbour and the long peninsula of the island extend to the east, and the channel between Hvar and the mainland is visible. Book the sunset view here before going to dinner.

Hvar Town has the largest square in Dalmatia — the Trg Sveti Stjepana (St Stephen's Square), 4,500 square metres of worn white limestone paved with centuries of footfall. The loggia and clock tower are Venetian; the Cathedral of St Stephen (16th–17th century) closes the square at the eastern end. The Arsenal on the north side of the square (1579) is the oldest community theatre in Europe still in use — built in the same building as the arsenal for Venetian galleys, the theatre occupies the upper floor and has been performing continuously since 1612. The building alone justifies a detour from the fortress path.

The Pakleni Islands (Paklinski Otoci) are a scattered archipelago of pine-covered limestone islets immediately west of Hvar Town — 16 larger islands and numerous smaller rocks, each with its own character. Palmižana (20 min, €5) has a botanical garden of exotic plants established by the Meneghello family in 1906, clear water for swimming, and a restaurant in the garden. Jerolim (10 min) is a naturist island. Marinkovac has Stipanska beach, the most popular. The water taxis run continuously from the Hvar Town harbour — no booking required, pay on board.

The Dubrovnik city walls are the most complete and best-preserved medieval city fortifications in Europe — a 1,940-metre circuit of walls ranging from 1.5 to 6 metres thick and up to 25 metres high, built between the 13th and 16th centuries, never breached by assault. The walls circuit gives a complete 360° view of the old city: terracotta rooftops (still largely original post-1667 earthquake reconstruction), the cathedral dome, the Adriatic to the south, and Mount Srđ to the north. Do it in the morning or early evening — the midday walk in summer is exhausting and crowded. The walls close at sunset.

The Stradun (also called Placa) is the main street of Dubrovnik's old town — a 300-metre limestone-paved boulevard running from the Pile Gate to the Clock Tower, flanked by identical Baroque buildings rebuilt after the 1667 earthquake. The limestone is so polished by centuries of foot traffic that it acts as a mirror in wet weather. The Stradun connects the city's two main squares (Luža and Gundulić's Poly) and its two main fountains (the Onofrio fountains of 1438, which still supply drinking water). At dawn, before the cruise ships disgorge, the Stradun is empty and extraordinary. After 10:00 in summer, it is a moving traffic jam of tourism.

The cable car from the edge of the old town to the summit of Mount Srđ (412m) takes 4 minutes and arrives at the most dramatic viewpoint over Dubrovnik: the complete old city spread below, the walls visible as a continuous ring, the terracotta rooftops, and the Adriatic opening south. At night, with the city lit and the cruise ships gone from the harbour, the view is the finest of Dubrovnik from any angle. The summit also has the 1812 Fort Imperial (used as a concentration camp in WWII, extensively documented) and a restaurant. The siege of Dubrovnik (1991–92) began when Serb and Montenegrin forces seized Mount Srđ on the first day.

Lokrum is a forested island 600 metres offshore — a nature reserve with a Benedictine monastery (12th century), a botanical garden, a salt lake (Dead Sea, sheltered for swimming), free-roaming peacocks descended from birds brought by Archduke Maximilian of Habsburg in the 1860s, and a reproduction of the Iron Throne from Game of Thrones (the production used the island for filming). The island has been a nature reserve since 1959 and no private ownership is permitted. The legend: anyone who privately owns Lokrum is cursed to die within a year — a tradition the Benedictines established after being expelled by Napoleon in 1808.

The Rector's Palace was the seat of the Rector of the Dubrovnik Republic — the head of government who was elected for a one-month term, was not permitted to leave the palace during that month, and could not be re-elected for two years. The office was deliberately constrained to prevent any individual accumulating power. The palace (15th century, Gothic-Renaissance hybrid, rebuilt multiple times after earthquakes and powder magazine explosions) houses the City Museum: paintings, furniture, costumes and the only portrait of a Rector in office (painted before the rule against self-glorification could be enforced). The atrium hosts concerts in summer — one of the finest chamber music venues in the Adriatic.

Banje Beach is the main beach closest to Dubrovnik's old town — a shingle beach (no sand) with a view of the city walls across the water. The public section is free; the private beach club section (Eastwest) charges €30+ for a sun lounger. The water is clear and deep from the shingle bottom — the Adriatic quality at its best. The view from the water looking back at the walls is the only place you can see the full length of the old city from the sea without a boat. Swimming here before your airport transfer is the correct final Dubrovnik act.