“A small country for a great vacation”, the “Mediterranean as it once was”, ‘’the country of one thousand islands’’, these are only a few of the slogans representing Croatia in the world. Each one is completely true, yet neither one of them embraces all the wonders and treasures of this country.

Croatia is a mitteleuropean country on the north coast of the Adriatic Sea, it shares land borders with Slovenia, Hungary, Serbia, Bosnia & Herzegovina and Montenegro and a sea boarder with Italy. 4,5 million inhabitants live on a territory of approximately 56 500 m². It is divided into 20 counties and the City of Zagreb, the capital. Zagreb is situated in the central part of the country, bringing the coast and the continent together with the main roads passing through it. The main regions are: Central Croatia, Slavonia, Istria and Dalmatia. The inland has the continental climate, while the coast has the Mediterranean one, of long, hot summers and mild winters. Croatia is divided into two parts by the mountain  chain of Dynarids, whose lines are parallel to those of the islands of the Adriatic coast; more than 1500 of them. Croatia has divided its history with the most of the neighbouring countries, which has left its influence on the culture and customs. The Central Croatia had long made part of the union with Austria and Hungary, hence the cities and gastronomy similar to the ones of the neighbours. Slavonija, the lowland, is a part of the Pannonian  valley, known as ‘’the granary’’ of Croatia. Most of Gorski kotar and Lika are highlands with a mountain climate. The winters are long and cold, and the summers are fresher than in the rest of the country. The coastal part, from Istria on the north to Dubrovnik on south had been under the influence of Italy, which can also be noticed from the customs, gastronomic specialties and the good knowledge of the Italian language. Croatia is known for its natural beauties: its 8 National parks and about 10 Nature parks make only a small part of the country that will undoubtedly take every visitor’s breath away.It also has numerous springs of potable water, and many thermal health centres situated across the whole country offer a solution to health difficulties, or simply a relaxation from the daily routine.

The traffic connections are excellent. You can come very fast from one part of the country to another via railroads, highways and passenger ships, and the air traffic gets ever more developed, not depending only on Zagreb ‘s airport. Croats, especially the younger generation, know foreign languages (English, German, Italian, French) so the foreign visitors find it easy to get around upon arrival.

The touristic season starts in spring, mostly around Easter and lasts until October, thanks to the mild Mediterranean climate. Visitors are mostly attracted by the coast, divided into Istria, Kvarner and Northern, Central and Southern Dalmatia, but the continental part is also packed with natural beauties and hidden treasures. The guests with greater experience prefer relaxing resorts like Opatija or the near towns of Istria, but they also visit the castles and the cultural monuments that reveal a culture that has bloomed in the continental Croatia for the last thousand years. The younger population mostly visits Pag, Hvar, Vodice and Makarska and the bigger cities like Zagreb, Split and Rijeka. The adventurers like less inhabited islands with their belonging light houses, hills and indomitable waves, while the parents with their younger children can choose among numerous little towns with well equipped beaches, offering a safe vacation. Along with its treasures of nature, Croatia is also famous for its success in sports; everyone agrees it is amazing for such a small country to defeat athletic giants at soccer, skiing, tennis, athletics and handball, but it is team play, fair play and love for sport that explain this kind of achievement.

The Croats are also known to be good hosts; they will prepare an extraordinary welcome for each of their guests – many visitors have become close friends with their hosts because of these positive experiences. In these times of globalization, internet and fast living everyone needs a break from their daily routine.