CROATIA is no longer Europe’s best-kept secret. Our continental neighbours have loved going there for decades and now it’s on the map for Brits who are discovering that it rivals Greece for history, Italy for beauty and France for romance.

Last year record numbers were drawn to the country that’s so easy on the eye it has been dubbed “the new Greece”. Why? Because while large stretches of Mediterranean coastline have been given over to over-priced concrete resorts, Croatia’s timeless charms remain largely intact – and they’re affordable.

Along nearly 2,000km of sun-drenched coast you can expect to find fairytale cities, a laid-back ambience and a rich natural beauty to satisfy your wanderlust. The fact that all this can now be reached by direct charter flight from Inverness seals the Croatian package deal.

Popping the question?

The country’s crown jewel is Dubrovnik. Set on the Adriatic and overlooked by the Dinaric Alps, it’s easy to see why this handsome city port is gaining a reputation among loved-up couples as one of the top places to propose.

Even if getting down on bended knee isn’t on your agenda, there are plenty of other reasons to fall in love with this city – either on a mini-break or as the starting point for an exploration of the Dalmatian coast.

Although often described as a museum city, Dubrovnik is alive with architecture from the medieval, baroque and renaissance periods. The Old Town’s labyrinth of traffic-free streets is rather like a smaller Venice, with marble alleyways instead of canals. A stroll along the city walls or a cable car trip up Mount Srd give unbeatable panoramas of the city and beyond.

However, if it’s simply relaxation you need, Dubrovnik is full of gorgeous spots at which to sit and watch the world go by. Park yourself at one of the many sunny terraced cafés to enjoy a creamy gelato amid the red-roofed stone buildings, within sight of the sparkling sea.

As a Unesco World Heritage site – one of 16 throughout Croatia – Dubrovnik has the welcoming tourist infrastructure that you would expect from any top European destination. But as you drift among the smaller boltholes along the Dalmatian coast, you’ll discover exactly the same kind-hearted hospitality and attention towards visitors.

Along the rocky coastline, past olive groves, fig trees and medieval fishing villages, architectural gems vie for your attention in the time-warped towns of Split, Trogir and Sibenik. And as this is one of the sunniest coastlines in Europe, you’ll probably want to stop and cool off in some of the countless quiet, sapphire-blue bays.

Despite its swelling tourist status, this stretch of coastline is considered by many to be the most beautiful and unspoilt in the Med. Croatia provides some of the best holidays in the business without compromising its picture postcard status.
Makarska Riviera is just one example of a throbbing beach resort which embodies this mindful respect for the landscape. It has its fair share of quaint cobbled streets, a palm-fringed promenade and plenty of old-timer fishermen selling their catch straight from the boat, yet all this is teamed with chichi cafés, designer shops and glamorous yachts.

Get away

If crowds are not your thing, then in high season you might prefer a miniature, more low-key version of the same. Head for the unspoilt village of Drevnik, where you’ll find equally beautiful beaches guarded by the Biokovo mountain, with elegant baroque backdrops that you can enjoy in peace.
The Neretva delta is worth a detour. It’s one of the best preserved wetlands in Europe, and the ideal way for nature lovers to get first-hand experience of this spectacular wildlife haven is from small fishing boats.

Also not to be missed, if you have time, is a boat trip to at least one of Croatia’s 1,244 islands. Only around 60 are inhabited and several tend to crop up in lists of the top 10 places in the world to visit.

Croatia’s second biggest city, Split – a boisterous, thrilling historic draw in its own right – is the nautical gateway to the megastar of these islands, Hvar. With its line-up of chic waterfront cafés and restaurants, in peak season this magical off-shore treasure is the place to be seen for hipsters and celebrities alike.

For those who want to do more than pose and party, beyond the cocktail bars Hvar has cultural and natural delights that beg to be enjoyed. The island’s Stari Grad Plain recently won Unesco world heritage status for being the best preserved ancient Greek landscape in the Mediterranean. Hire a bike and inhale deeply as you meander round the lavender fields and vineyards or take a sea-kayak trip around the Pakleni islets.

King of the sandcastles

Further down the coast, the car-free island of Lopud, built around a picturesque bay, makes a peaceful getaway. Take a short trek through the herb-scented vegetation and end up at Sunj beach. Unlike many Croatian beaches which have pebbles underfoot, Sunj is a rare sandy gem, and very bucket and spade friendly.

Croatia, which is outside the Euro-zone, is by no means an expensive country to visit. A bottle of beer costs £1 and no-nonsense holiday fare such as pizza and pasta come in at around a fiver.

So, whether you seek sun, sea, culture or nature, now’s the time to book. Holidays in Croatia are hot, hot, hot.

Charter flights to Croatia

Visit Croatia the easy way by joining a special holiday charter to the Dubrovnik Riviera with Newmarket Holidays, flying direct from Inverness.

You will stay at two beautiful resorts, each just a few miles from Dubrovnik. You will have plenty of time to relax and explore at your own pace, but there will also be some tempting optional excursions. One takes in Dubrovnik, including the Old Town, the Sponza Palace and the Franciscan monastery. Another goes to the spectacular city of Mostar, in Bosnia, and to the atmospheric wetlands on the River Neret. A third includes a chance to see Montenegro and the Bay of Kotor, and there is also a boat trip to the gorgeous Elaphiti islands.

This seven-night holiday departs 4 June 2012. Prices, from £514, include airport-hotel transfers, services of a Newmarket tour manager and all government taxes and service charges. See newmarketholidays.co.uk or call 0843 316 1148.

Links

Croatian National Tourist Board
www.croatia.hr/en-GB/

Newmarket Holidays
www.newmarketholidays.co.uk

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