13 Amazing Things To See And Do On Croatia's Dalmatian Coast

Trogir — which comes from the Greek "trogos," meaning male goat — is located 17 miles west of Split, and has a strange and rich history. Influenced by Hellenistic, Roman, and Venetian rule over the past 2,000 years, the town's winding medieval alleys, bright blue vistas, and open-air cafés make it a quintessential spot for a day trip. (The Dr. Who-obsessed will appreciate that an episode of the series was filmed here.)

Jutting from the island of Brač like an appendage, Bol offers prime topless sunbathing territory and incomprehensibly blue views of the Adriatic. Hop on a ferry from Split — it's only 40 minutes off the coast. Take in the pristine beaches before deciding where to set up camp, and get tanning.

From the 7 a.m. to the early afternoon, the market in Split buzzes with the sounds of locals bartering. The vendors, who've been schlepping their vegetables, oils, honey, fish, and more from the nearby islands and countrysides for decades, may be difficult for a lone tourist to understand, as their thick, local dialect coats even the basic Croatian you memorized and practiced. No worries, though — because pointing always works, and a satisfying picnic of local produce and cheeses on the seaside Riva promenade is worth the mayhem.

Home to the glowing Cetina River Canyon, the mountainous port-town is the ideal spot for picnicking, hiking, kayaking, and stumbling on unusually well-preserved medieval churches. There are several spots for renting kayaks along the water.

The ninth century Church of St. Donatus is the largest, best-preserved example of Byzantine architecture in Croatia. It's built on top of Zadar's first-century forum — the town's history spans three millennia! — and offers stunning views of the Adriatic. History nerds can also tour more religious structures from different eras of Zadar, including St. Anastasia's Cathedral and St. Mary's Convent.

Also located on the small island of Brač, like Bol, Supetar is a stunning and historically rich city, though a bit sleepy in the off-season. Tour around and visit the clock tower, mausoleum, churches, or just sit down at one of the cafés on the seaside promenade, order an espresso, and people watch until you're ready to switch to wine.

The rolling hills of Vis, a peaceful island hideaway 30 miles off the mainland, make for dream biking territory, which is fortunate, because that's the most efficient way to get around here. Allegedly, the ancient Greeks planted the first wine grape in Dalmatia on a Vis field around 3,000 years ago. Whether or not this is true, the local wine is exceptional, and should be enjoyed with fresh seafood, of which there is no shortage on the island.

The mountains in Makarska, a stunning coastal town, are the highest in Dalmatia. Mount Biokovo, at 1,762 metres high, offers sweeping views of the Makarska Riviera. For first time climbers, try any number of the guided tours offered by the park.

Connected to the mainland by two 16th century bridges that are definitely (probably) safe, Nin is a small island town with a very small cathedral: Church of the Holy Cross, a petite, pre-Romenesque chapel from the ninth century. History buffs will come for the tiny church, and stay for the crumbling town walls, boat remnants from the 11th century, and the coronation church of St. Nicholas, where Croatian kings were crowned for centuries.

Hoards of tourists come in and out of Dubrovnik each year, but very few will visit Zaton, a small bay town only 8km north of the city. While Zaton has fewer historic sites and essentially no club scene compared to its better known neighbor, the town has been a favorite camping spot among Croatians for hundreds of years.