With 1185 islands to choose from, Croatia's Adriatic coast truly offers an embarrassment of riches. Whether your interest is lounging lizard-like in the sun, exploring ancient villages, hiking through lavender fields or partying until dawn, there's an island in Croatia for you. And you don't need your own yacht to see them! All of the following islands are easily reachable by regular ferries run by Jadrolinija, Croatia's largest ferry company. Let's start at the southern tip of Croatia and work our way northward.

Mljet Island
A good part of Mljet Island is pristine national park including two inland seawater lakes that present the very picture of tranquility. You can bike around the lakes, paddle or swim them or take a hike through the interior. Most people visit on a day trip from Dubrovnik, but there's no reason you can't stay overnight. There's only one hotel but a good amount of private accommodation.

Korcula Island
Large and forested, Korcula offers endless possibilities for exploration. Start in the Old Town, crowded onto a little peninsula and then explore some quiet islets around the main island via excursion boat. To get away from it all, stay in one of the interior villages.

Hvar Island
Unquestionably the trendiest of Croatian islands, it seems that everybody wants to head to Hvar. The old town is impossibly romantic, the harbor is the most delightful in the Adriatic and the nightlife. . .Suffice it to say that you'll find everything from chic cocktail bars to down 'n' dirty backpacker joints (although much more of the former). During the day, take a boat to the naturist islands that beckon offshore or traipse through the lavender fields that dot the interior.

Brac Island
The most accessible island from the Dalmatian coast, Brac is a favorite getaway for Croatian mainlanders. Cheaper and somewhat less crowded with foreigners, Brac Island's highlight is the unusual Zlatni Rat beach, a staple of Croatia's tourist brochures. Supetar is the main entry point and boasts an appealing "fishing port" ambiance.

Vis Island
Here is that special gem that is still relatively undiscovered, mostly because Vis Island is a long ferry ride from the coast. But it's so worth it. Neither hip nor chic (yet), Vis has the unspoiled nature, the swimming and diving possibilities plus two great villages. Vis Town has early Greek and Roman remnants and Komiza is the kind of charming fishing village that is rapidly disappearing from the Mediterranean. Think St Tropez about, oh, 100 years ago.

Dugi Otok
Also not on the tourist circuit, Dugi Otok is long and relatively flat compared to the other islands. Still, there's good swimming and a calm and peaceful atmosphere. It's main highlight is the Telascica Bay nature park with a saltwater lake and miles of rugged coastline.

Pag Island
All Croatians sigh over Pag Island as it produces the country's finest cheese, pungent and aromatic. Dry and flat, Pag Island still boasts a kind of offbeat beauty. The main town is Pag Town, with its straight, stone streets but party people will want to head to Novalja on the northern end of the island. At the first thought of summer, Novalja's main beach is transformed into a non-stop outdoor party with DJs, cocktail bars, foam nights and a regular circuit of theme events.

Cres & Losinj Islands
These two long thin islands are separated only by a narrow canal. Losinj in the south is much more developed for tourism with a range of hotels and a magnificent bay that is a center for windsurfing. Cres is much wilder and mostly devoted to fishing and sheep raising. Accommodation is somewhat limited in terms of both comforts and quantity but it's easy to stay in Losinj and visit Cres.

Rab Island
This is a pretty island near the northern coast with scenic Rab Town as its center. Tourism is very developed here largely because of the splendid sandy beaches in Lopar. Sandy beaches are a rarity in Croatia! This is the place for an easy, relaxing beach holiday.

Krk Island
With an airport receiving international flights right on the island, Krk is one of the easiest islands to reach. Desolate it isn't but you'll find a wide choice of places to stay on this large island. Visit the historic center, walled Krk Town but also Baska with its long stretch of pebbly beach and the hilltop village of Vrbnik.

By: Jeanne Oliver
Jeanne has written all four editions of Lonely Planet's guidebook to Croatia and now operates, http://www.croatiatraveller.com, an online guide to visiting Croatia with advice on what to see, where to stay, how to get around and how to get to Croatia. Her first visit to Croatia was in 1996 and she then wrote the first edition of Lonely Planet's guidebook to Croatia which was the first guidebook in English to the new country.

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Lowland region South East from Zagreb is called Turopolje. It is beautiful and fertile mass of fields and rivers with one hilly section - Vukomericke Gorice. Cultural, historical andarchaeological sites are plentifully. From prehistoric, Roman, Medieval and later times different sites and traces can be seen. Ethnological treasures found in national costumes, ways of stitching, songs, structure of old farmer units and so on are still being discovered and preserved.
Small wooden chapels are absolutely unique for Turopolje. Its rich history was marked with numerous manor houses belonging at one time or another to foreign and local nobility. One of the major natural resources are big oak forests. (Connection with wooden structures)
Velika Gorica is the main center. It is placed only 16 km South from Zagreb and is considered to be part of greater Zagreb. It's position is near the airport and close to big road junction. Velika Gorica is dynamic, fast growing town often neglected because of the capitals vicinity. In it's center is Turopoljski grad erected in 18Th century. That place was a seat of Noble Municipality of Turopolje. It has a long and proud history marking many laws, regulations and rules typical for this part of Croatia. Turopoljski grad today is a local museum with small but interesting collections.
Important and valuable site near Velika Gorica is Andautonija (Scitarjevo, 8 km NW from the town). It used to be political and military center of Illyrian tribe Andautonians and after they lost it became Roman municipium. Andautonija is hexagonal in plan with remnants of Roman building, parts of the road, spa, pottery, coins and so on. The traces of ancient Romans are found in many villages near Scitarjevo. They are worth visiting.
This is the place where Fiddler on the roof was filmed many years ago.
One of the greatest treasures of Turopolje region are wooden churches and chapels. It is believed that this way of building started already in the Middle ages and became more and more common in the years of Ottoman invasion and destruction. It was common, practical and desirable in 17 Th century to replace former church (made from brick) by wooden structures.
These churches and chapels are with no doubt most precious examples of traditional folk architecture. Very famous are Santa Barbara in Velika Mlaka, Holy Apostles in Busevec, on the Plesko field near the airport is chapel of the wounded Christ and so on.
Only five wooden sacral buildings have been preserved till today.
Kravarsko, Orle and Pokupsko are other three municipalities in the Turopolje region. Their past go to distant times.
Turopolje and Velika Gorica used to be very agricultural. In a manner it still is but with growth, spreading and nearby Zagreb it became center for local recreation and entertainment. It hosts small and big carnival, St Georges day in April, International Folklore Festival in June. Beer festival and so on.
Galzenica gallery and Kordic gallery offer interesting projects for art lovers. Museum of Turopolje (mentioned before) is a must to visit.
Near Velika Gorica is lake Cice and a village with same name. In the nice and warm weather it is a place to visit for swimming, water skiing and sun bathing.
Some parts of Turopolje were badly damaged in Homeland war but effort and industrious approach of local people already changed it. Section of Vukomericke Gorice became residential areas combined with previous weekend houses only. Many commercial facilities stretch with the road that connects Velika Gorica with Zagreb. Although it became indisputable part of metropolitan area so many charm is still preserved and it would be shame to miss it.

By: Josephine Boehm
Josephine Boehm is an Art Historian and author. If you want to read more of her writing visit her blogs: Guide to Croatia and Josephines art history blog. Her web site Croatia vacations is a great place to find short information about every major vacation resort in Croatia.

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