Prague and Budapest are the most popular cities in Central Europe for foreign visitors. But these two now have a competitor in Zagreb, the capital of Croatia - Elle magazine called it the most beautiful city east of Paris. That might be a slight exaggeration, but let us assure you that Zagreb, without doubt, is a dazzling place.

With an average of 7 hours of sunshine per day throughout the year (12 hours in July), the city of Split is one of the sunniest cities in Europe. By its lush Mediterranean and subtropic vegetation (palms, agaves, cactuses) it has since time immemorial attracted people from all over the world.

Dubrovnik has a remarkable history. An independent, merchant republic for 700 years (abolished by Napoleon in 1806), it traded with Turkey and India in the East (with a consul in Goa, India) and had trade representatives in Africa (Cape Verde Islands). It even had diplomatic relations with the English court in the middle ages. (There is a letter from Elizabeth I on display in the City Museum in Dubrovnik). Its status was such that powerful and rich Venice was envious of this Croatian-Slav city.

The Makarska Riviera stretches for 60km, between the towns of Brela and Gradac, with the main town being, of course, Makarska. The Riviera is one of the most famous tourist locations along the Croatian coast and is also one of the most beautiful with countless sandy beaches, pine trees, sparkling water and peaceful bays. The area is also known for Biokovo Mountain, which overlooks the coastal area.

One reason, in our opinion, that the Croatian coastline is so beautiful is that it contains more than one thousand dazzling islands. If you were to look out to sea from anywhere along the Croatia coast, it would be unusual for you not to sea a green speck in the distance! Most of the islands, however, are small and uninhabited and there are therefore only 20 or so larger islands which are popular with tourists. We will therefore provide a description of some of these, starting from just off the Istrian coast and going all the way down to the islands near Dubrovnik.

The aura of medieval Croatia endures in the cobbled streets of Rovinj and the recently restored other-worldliness of Dubrovnik's Stari Grad. The country is also home to some of Europe's finest Roman ruins, including the immense palace of Diocletian in Split. Festivals and carnivals abound throughout the year. The weather and the beaches are as good as they always were and, if that's your bag, Croatia is still the place to get your gear off.