Dalmatia
Dalmatia is region located on the very south of Croatia. It includes hundreds of Croatian islands (Photos Islands Croatia) as well as mountains Velebit, Biokovo and Sveti Ilija on Peljesac peninsula. Dubrovnik, Split, Trogir, Sibenik and Zadar are cities that are located on Dalmatian mainland as well as smaller places like Sinj suitable to visit and spend some nice time there. Being one of them, I can say that Dalmatians are very much Mediterranean people that often take daily routines in slow(er) motion and like to have their afternoon siestas. Cafe society is very vibrant in Dalmatia and it reminds one of the Italian cafe scenes.
Destinations in Dalmatia
Split– Capital of Dalmatia – a city with long cultural, political and sports tradition, built around Diocletian Palace. Split is one of the largest cities in Croatia and is the largest city on the Croatia Adriatic coast. The city was first settled when, at the end of the third century AD, the Roman Emperor Diocletian built his palace on the site of today’s Split..read more
Brela – Small place on Makarska Riviera famous for it’s Brela Beach. A popular destination in Dalmatia for people who love long pebble beaches and large pine trees right next to it. Brela is located between Split and Dubrovnik. See photos of Croatian Beaches, among the photo of a beach in Brela as well as a photo of waves at Brela.
Brac Island – famous for its marble quarries as well as Zlatni Rat beach. Brac is one of the largest islands in Dalmatia. It is separated from the mainland by the Brac Channel, from the island of Solta by Splitska Vrata and from the island of Hvar by the Hvar Channel. Brac has a good ferry and boat connections with Croatian mainland and it also has its own airport…read more + Photos from Brac
Dubrovnik – well known ‘pearl of Adriatic’ located in the deep south of Dalmatia. Dubrovnik is a city rich with culture and history so it is listed in UNESCO World Heritage List. Dubrovnik old town was built in the 13th century and remains almost untouched to the present day. Dubrovnik is the most popular destination in Dalmatia as well as in Croatia..read more + Dubrovnik Photos +Dubrovnik Travel Guide
Hvar – Central Dalmatian Island, famous for its lavender fields as well as Renaissance architecture. Hvar is the Dalmatian island located between Korcula Island and Island of Brac. It is well known in Croatia for it’s very specific and pleasant climate with a lot of sunshine, very few rainy days and almost no snow at all. … read more + Photos from Hvar
Korcula – The greenest, most independent and most interesting of Croatia’s 1,000 or so islands, Korcula was a favourite Greek holiday spot over 2,000 years ago. Korcula’s Old Town owes much of its architectural heritage when it was part of the Republic of Venice. Well known for Korcula Old Town and Moreska sword dance as well as for reputation to be a birthplace of Marco Polo
Lastovo – unspoiled and remote island in the Adriatic Sea. It has a rich underwater life as well as a lot of wooden covered areas. The island spreads over 50 square kilometres, famous for its fishing resources. Lastovo and its archipelago are the newest Nature Park of Croatia. Being for a long time closed for foreign visitors, this is an ideal place for peaceful vacation, far from the usual crowd of tourists
Mljet – Croatian national park, featuring pleasant nature and clear sea water. The Island of Mljet is situated a couple of hours boat ride east from Island of Korcula towards Dubrovnik. The National Park Mljet covers about 30 square kilometres of the area on the western bit of Island Mljet and is very popular for walking and cycling. Some parts of the National Park can be reached by car by ferry from Prapratno
Vis – remote island in Croatian Adriatic, famous for good fish and wine as well as Modra Spilja Cave at Bisevo Island. There are many vineyards and Vis has for centuries been famous for its wine. Visitors to the island will find the two small towns of Vis and Komiza full of history with wild mountain scenery and many donkey tracks that can be used for walking. Good restaurants offer locally caught fresh fish and lobsters served with the local wines .read more.
Other destinations in Dalmatia, among others include: National Park Krka, Peljesac Peninsula, Zadar, Sibenik, Sinj, Trogir...+ See Dalmatia Road and Ferry Map
Accommodation in Dalmatia:
Hotels in Dalmatia, Split Region:
- Palace Suites “Boasting the most sought-after location in Diocletian’s Palace on the Main Square of Split, Palace Suites provides luxuriously equipped accommodation with numerous amenities like flat-screen TVs and king-size beds.” Prices from €130 – Number of rooms: 8 – Check Palace Suites, Split availability
- Marmont Hotel “The brand new Marmont Hotel is located in the heart of the old town of Split, only one minute away from Diocletian’s Palace, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The hotel offers a powerful mix of modern and traditional.” Prices from €100 – Number of rooms: 22 – Check Marmont Hotel, Split availability
- Hotel Vestibul Palace “The Vestibul hotel is located in the heart of Diocletian’s palace, which makes it an ideal choice for both business people and tourists, having 1,700 years of Split’s history right before the door.” Prices from €30 – Number of rooms: 11 – Check Hotel Vestibul Palace, Split availability
All hotels in Dalmatia in Split Region – book here
Hotels in Dalmatia, Sibenik Region:
- Hotel Panorama
“Panorama Hotel is one of the most beautiful tourist facilities of the Sibenik Riviera, situated on a cliff above the Krka canyon, offering amazing panoramic views.” Prices from €41 – Number of rooms: 20 – Check Hotel Panorama, Sibenik availability
- Hotel Jadran
“In the historic town centre of Sibenik at the coastline, next to the UNESCO-protected Cathedral of St. Jacob, Hotel Jadran is located. It is an ideal accommodation for business people as well as leisure tourists from all over the world.” Prices from €57 – Number of rooms: 57 – Check Hotel Jadran, Sibenik availability - Hotel Ivan “Surrounded by pine wood, lush Mediterranean vegetation and offering diverse facilities, the comfortable Hotel Ivan is part of the Solaris Hotels Resort, which is 6 km away from Sibenik.” Prices from €85 – Number of rooms: 335 – Check Hotel Ivan, Sibenik availability
All hotels in Dalmatia, Sibenik Region – book here
List of all hotels in Sibenik
Hotels in Dalmatia, Zadar Region:
- Hotel Bastion “Hotel Bastion is a new 4-star hotel in the city centre of Zadar, within walking distance of many of the city’s sights, including the renowned sea organ.” Prices from €113 – Number of rooms: 28 – Check Hotel Bastion, Zadar availability
- Hotel Donat – Hotel Donat in Zadar enjoys a perfect location next to the crystal-clear sea and a marvellous beach, offering a wide diversity of sports, recreation and activity possibilities.” Prices from €41 – Number of rooms: 240 – Check Hotel Donat, Zadar availability
- Hotel Porto The Hotel Porto is located at the entrance to the city of Zadar. It takes only a 10-minute drive to reach it from the airport – it is the nearest city hotel to the airport. Prices from €35 – Number of rooms: 103 – Check Hotel Porto, Zadar availability
All hotels in Dalmatia, Zadar Region – book here
Hotels in Dalmatia, Dubrovnik Region:
- Hotel Vis
“The charming and comfortable Hotel Vis in Dubrovnik is an ideal choice for those who like to relax on the beach, as it is located directly on the stunning blue water of the Adriatic Sea.” Prices from €45 – Number of rooms: 158 – Check Hotel Vis, Dubrovnik availability
- Hotel Lapad
“Awarded for being one of the 30 most charming hotels in Europe, perfectly located on Dubrovnik’s Lapad Peninsula, Hotel Lapad features a superb pool surrounded by a terrace.” Prices from €55 – Number of rooms: 163 – Check Hotel Lapad, Dubrovnik availability
- Hotel Bellevue Dubrovnik “Situated on a spectacular cliff above Miramare Bay and offering magnificent sea views from all rooms, the Bellevue Dubrovnik is only 800 metres away from the Old Town.” Prices from €101 – Number of rooms: 93 – Check Hotel Bellevue Dubrovnik, Dubrovnik availability
All hotels in Dalmatia, Dubrovnik Region – book here
How to get to Dalmatia:
By Ferry: One can reach Dalmatia directly by ferries from Italy – from Ancona, Bari and Pescara, as well as by Jadrolinija ferries which are sailing along Dalmatian Coast from North Adriatic’s city Rijeka. Numerous local ferry lines connect Dalmatia mainland with its islands too.
By plane: Zadar, Split, Dubrovnik and Brac island have airports that are served by various airlines – see a page about Croatia flights.
By bus: Various and frequent bus services run from Zagreb Bus Station to the Dalmatian cities and towns as well as the coast. Also, there is a frequent bus service along Dalmatian coast that connects Dubrovnik with Split, Zadar and Rijeka as well as all other smaller and larger places along the route. See also Dalmatia Road and Ferry Map – South Part
By train: Train services run from Zagreb to Split and Zadar – check Croatia trains page
Dalmatia Travel Forum:
Ask questions and find answers about travelling to Dalmatia at our Dalmatia Travel Forum.
Split-Dalmatia County
In Split – Dalmatia County, by size the largest county in Croatia, situated in central Dalmatia, there are some 150,000 accommodation units available to tourists, 30,000 of which are in hotels, about 95,000 in private accommodation providers and the remainder in camps, nautical tourism harbours and other types of accommodation.
This region is accessible to tourists thanks to an excellent traffic infrastructure – motorways, an airport and a seaport.
Two cities – Split and Trogir – enjoy UNESCO protection. These are exceptionally attractive Riviera tourist areas in Trogir, Kaštel, Split, Omiš and Makarska. Also in this region are proven tourism hotspots – the islands of Brac, Šolta, Hvar and Vis.
An increasingly more frequent destination for tourists is the Dalmatian hinterland-the Zagora region, known for its rural tourism, ethnic offer, traditional customs, active holidays and more.
The highest concentration of accommodation capacity – about 40 per cent of the county’s hotel capacity and an equal percentage of camp capacity and private accommodation providers – is found on the Makarska Riviera.
That the “sun & sea” vacation concept continues to be predominant in the region, the content of which is continually enriched with numerous activities such as water sports, rafting on the Cetina River, bicycling on tended cycling trails and the like.
The fascinating cities and islands and the tourism capacities, however, allow for the intensive development of congress and incentive tourism and a city break offer, and they are covering a growing portion of the tourism turnover.
Thanks to cultural and historical heritage and intensive investment some of the world renowned and proven tourist destinations – like the islands of Hvar and Brac and the Makarska Riviera – are now four-star destinations with an excellent reputation confirmed by numerous awards and top spots in the rankings of top destinations.
More info in Split-Dalmatia County at County’s Tourist Board: www.dalmatia.hr
- Sailing in Dalmatia – an introduction about sailing in Dalmatia
- Rivers in Croatia – Includes River Cetina, Zrmanja and Neretva – all located in Dalmatia
- Top Tourist Sights of Croatia
- UNESCO Heritage – all located in Dalmatia
- Fish and Fish Specialties of Dalmatia: Dalmatia with its large islands of Brac, Hvar and Mljet and hundreds of smaller islands is a unique area for a variety of fishes, fishing and maritime culinary culture. A famous Croatian Renaissance poet Petar Hektorovic; has written in a typical renaissance manner “Fishing and Fishermen’s Conversations”, one of the most original and realistic works of the sixteenth-century Croatian literature. It is an account of a three-day fishing trip with a detailed description of fisherman’s tools, what they have eaten and how they prepared the fish. read more
Dalmatia Travel News and Blogs:
Latest entries of travel news and events related to Dalmatia from Dalmatia Travel Blog – Also, there are entries about Dubrovnik, Zadar, Sibenik, Split, Hvar, Korcula
Dalmatian cuisine
The basic characteristics of Dalmatian cuisine are fresh ingredients, simple preparation with little intense spice and lots of mostly fresh herbs and wild plants. Dalmatia is, in fact, rich with Mediterranean herbs, such as sage, bay leaves, rosemary, basil, thyme … which give dishes from this region a special aroma … Read more » Dalmatian cuisineMakarska
The town, port and tourist centre of the Makarska Riviera lies between Biokovo Mountain, protected as a nature park, and the sea, among the cleanest in the entire Mediterranean. This area can boast of having long, splendid beaches, pine trees and olive groves. Interesting cultural and historic monuments, an extensive … Read more » MakarskaCycling along Dalmatian Islands – Croatia
This suggested journey of cycling along Dalmatian Islands takes you from the architecturally stunning Trogir near Split to the Renaissance city of Dubrovnik. En route, you will pass cycling numerous villages, tiny medieval walled towns and lovely quiet pebble bays set against a backdrop of pine forests and mountains. You … Read more » Cycling along Dalmatian Islands – CroatiaThe Best Campsites in Dalmatia
The Best Campsites in Dalmatia (according to ratings of the Croatian Camping Association): The Croatian Camping Association is a volunteer organization which brings together more than 200 providers of camping services. Campsites that were declared best in Dalmatia, are situated in beautiful locations, have a rich gastronomic and shopping offer and … Read more » The Best Campsites in DalmatiaDalmatia Road and Ferry Map
Dalmatia Road and Ferry Map Similar Info About Travel to Croatia You May Like: Road Works in Lika: Improvement of Bjelopolje-Donji Lapac Road The modernization of the Bjelopolje-Donji Lapac road, an important part of Lika roads, a section... Snow in Dalmatia Sudden snowfall in Dalmatia brought traffic at standstill in … Read more » Dalmatia Road and Ferry MapVis
Vis is an island in the central Dalmatia with area of about 90 km2. Limestone crests hils are covered with macchia and fertile valleys, covered with red soils and interspersed with sand dunes, are cultivated with vines. The main settlements on the island are Vis and Komiza. Good quality accommodation … Read more » VisNew Wind Farm in Croatia
Acciona Starts its First Wind Farm in Croatia With 30 Megawatts: Acciona SA (ANA), the Spanish developer of renewable, water and public infrastructure projects, started its first wind farm in Croatia as the country poised to enter the European Union seeks to boost clean energy. The 30-megawatt Jelinak wind farm … Read more » New Wind Farm in CroatiaHvar among Lonely Planet’s Top 10 Regions
Chosen by a panel of travel experts, Lonely Planet has named Hvar in its top 10 regions to visit in 2012. The Lonely Planet Best in Travel 2012 book, available on sale, puts Hvar Island at number five on the list. Here is an extract from the article: 5. Hvar, Croatia – … Read more » Hvar among Lonely Planet’s Top 10 RegionsSolana Nin – the new Salt Museum
A new salt museum was recently opened as addition to Nin salt evaporation pond . The museum offers a complete insight into the extraction of salt, which follows the same tradition as in Roman times. The sea water naturally falls through the pools of the ponds where it evaporates with the help of sun and … Read more » Solana Nin – the new Salt MuseumRafting on Zrmanja River
Zrmanja, one of the cleanest rivers in Croatia is hosting rafting enthusiasts in its unique canyon. A traditional regatta, which has made this karst river famous even outside the Croatian borders, will be held in April. The race lasts for two days, and the rafting descent trail takes 2-3 hours. The two-day … Read more » Rafting on Zrmanja River
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