Northern Velebit National Park (Nacionalni park Sjeverni Velebit), Lika - Karlovac —
Forget about "Game of Thrones." You can explore the fictional kingdoms of Westeros without sword fights and scheming. Much of the fantasy series was filmed in Croatia. Thanks to the Croation National Tourist Board for help with this gallery. By Laura Ma, for CNN
The Northern Velebit National Park covers 109 square kilometers of a larger mountain range that bends around the Adriatic coast. It has designated trails for biking, hiking and horseback riding, and is also home to Croatia's deepest mountain cave. The Lukina jama plunges to a depth of more than 1,400 meters.
Northern Velebit National Park, Lika - Karlovac; +385 53 665 380; entry from $8 per person age 14+
Lighthouse Veli Rat, Dugi otok —
Lighthouse Veli Rat, Dugi otokVeli Rat lighthouse overlooks crystal clear Adriatic Sea waters on the southwestern cape of Dugi otok. You can visit the 42-meter-tall "Dalmatian guardian of the open sea" year round and stay overnight in the three-bed or four-bed suites.
Lighthouse Veli Rat, Road D109, Dugi otok; +385 21 390 609; from €649 ($895) per night
Trakošćan Castle, Central Croatia —
Trakošćan Castle, Central CroatiaAn hour's drive north from Zagreb, Trakošćan is a 13th-century fortress that was part of the northwestern Croatian defense system. Inside, the museum has a collection of books, paintings, furniture and weapons. There are scenic hiking trails along the 2.4-kilometer-long artificial lake
Trakošćan Castle, Trakošćan 1, Central Croatia; +385 42 796 281; entry from $5.50/adult, $2.70/child
Erdut, Slavonia —
Erdut, SlavoniaThe hilly vineyards above the Danube river have made Erdut a popular wine destination. The region is home to a 150-year-old oak barrel with a capacity of 75,000 liters.
Erdut, Slavonia; +385 31 595 001
Motovun-Montona, Istria —
Motovun-Montona, IstriaIn northern Istria, the village of Motovun-Montona overlooks the Mirna River Valley from its hilltop site. To the delight of foodies, the Motovun Forest along the river is rich in truffles.
Motovun-Montona, Istria; +385 52 681 726
Plitvice Lakes National Park (Plitvička Jezera), Lika - Karlovac —
Plitvice Lakes National Park (Plitvička Jezera), Lika - KarlovacThis UNESCO World Heritage Site has a system of 16 interlinked lakes surrounded by forests of beech, fir and spruce. The lakes are known for their distinctive colors, which can be turquoise, green, blue or gray. Panoramic electric trains and silent electric boats ferry visitors around the park.
Plitvice Lakes National Park, Plitvička Jezera, Lika - Karlovac; +385 53 751 015; entry from $10 per person per day
Greeting to the Sun (Pozdrav Suncu), Zadar —
Greeting to the Sun (Pozdrav Suncu), ZadarThis urban light installation by architect Nikola Bašić stands on Istarska obala, at the end of Croatia's Zadar Peninsula. The 22-meter-diameter circle is made up of 300 multi-layered glass plates level with the stone-paved waterfront. The solar-power light show is accompanied by the sound of waves and a "sea organ" after sunset.
Greeting to the Sun, Istarska obala, Zadar
Pula Arena, Pula, Istria —
Pula Arena, PulaThis Italian-style amphitheater sits northeast of the city of Pula. Construction of the arena is believed to have begun during Roman Emperor Augustus' reign (31 B.C.-14 A.D.) and would have accommodated about 23,000 spectators.
Pula Arena, Scalierova ulica 30, Pula; +385 52 351 333; entry from $7/adult and $3.50/student
Zlatni Rat beach, Brač
This white pebble beach changes length and shape depending on tides, current and winds, sometimes stretching 500 meters into the Adriatic Sea. Often referred to as the Golden Horn, the beach lies west of the center of Bol, a harbor town on the island of Brač.
Zlatni Rat beach, Pu Zlatnog rata, west of Bol town centre, Brač
This white pebble beach changes length and shape depending on tides, current and winds, sometimes stretching 500 meters into the Adriatic Sea. Often referred to as the Golden Horn, the beach lies west of the center of Bol, a harbor town on the island of Brač.
Zlatni Rat beach, Pu Zlatnog rata, west of Bol town centre, Brač
St. John Fort (Sveti Ivan), Dubrovnik —
St. John Fort (Sveti Ivan), DubrovnikPart of Dubrovnik's old wall, St. John Fort was once the main defense for the city and one of its most important fortresses. Often called Mulo Tower, the wall controlled entry to the old port from the southeast. For around $18 per adult and $6 per child, you can walk around the old city walls, which connect to Fort Minčeta and St. Luke Fort.
Dubrovnik City Walls, Gundulićeva poljana 2, Dubrovnik; +385 20 638 800
Rovinj, Istria —
Rovinj, IstriaOn the western coast of Istria, Rovinj may be one of the last remaining original fishing ports on the Mediterranean. The old town juts onto an egg-shaped peninsula riddled with steep cobbled streets and piazzas. The Church of St. Euphemia (Crkva Sveta Eufemija) is the largest monument in the city. Its tower is a distinguished part of the old town's vista.
Rovinj, Istria; +385 52 811 566
Croatian National Theatre in Zagreb —
Croatian National Theatre in ZagrebThe theater opened to great ceremony in 1895 in Croatia's capital city. Designed by celebrated Viennese architectural firm Helmer and Fellner, the theater has hosted performers including Franz Liszt, Laurence Olivier and Vivien Leigh.
Croatian National Theatre in Zagreb, Trg marsala Tita 15, Zagreb; +385 14 888 418
Kingdom of Feštini Cave (Feštinsko kraljevstvo), Istria —
Kingdom of Feštini Cave (Feštinsko kraljevstvo), IstriaIn the heart of the Istria region, this cave features dripstone forms such as "the magician's hat," "Tower of Babylon" and "bat wings" -- a massive formation covered with a grapevine that feeds from water at the floor of the cave. You can explore the cave on paths that wind through its interior.
Kingdom of Feštini Cave, Mužini 15, Žminj, Istria; +385 91 561 63 27; entry from $7/adult and $4.50/student
Wine cellars (Vinski Podrum), Kutjevo —
Wine cellars (Vinski Podrum), KutjevoIn the Slavonia region, Kutjevo is the wine capital of Croatia. The town's wine cellars hold archival wine including the famous Kutjevo Graševina, pinot gris, white pinot, traminer and riesling.
Kutjevo, Slavonia; +385 34 255 288
Trogir —
TrogirThe medieval town center of Trogir is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Its rich culture stems from Greek, Roman and Venetian influences. A 30-minute drive west of Split, the Adriatic coastal city has many Romanesque churches and examples of Renaissance, Gothic and Baroque architecture.
Trogir; +385 91 541 38 69
Dubovac Castle (Stari grad Dubovac), Karlovac —
Dubovac Castle (Stari grad Dubovac), KarlovacThe castle was built on the hill overlooking the town of Karlovac as a defense and lookout point for the surrounding area. Construction of the fortress dates to the 13th century. It's been occupied by owners of various nationalities including Slavonian, French and Croatian.
Dubovac Castle, two kilometers west of Karlovac town center; +385 47 615 980; entry from $1.80 per adult
Belfry of St. Dominus (Sveti Dujam), Split —
Belfry of St. Domnius (Sveti Dujam), Split Adjacent to the Diocletian's Palace and Cathedral of St. Domnius, the 58-meter tall belfry has become an iconic structure in Split. You can climb the stairs inside the 14th-century tower for panoramic views of the city and palace ($2).
Diocletian Palace, Ulica Kraj Svetog Duje 5; +385 21 483 674
Kopački rit Nature Park, Slavonia —
Kopački rit Nature Park, SlavoniaIn Croatia's northeastern corner less than an hour's drive from the town of Osijek, Kopački rit Nature Park was formed by the Danube and Drava rivers. More than 2,000 species live in the park's floodplains. Guided tours include a birdwatching program (from $17.95 per person, per hour) and nature trails (from $11.50 per adult).
Kopački rit Nature Park, Ulica Šandora Petefija 33, Bilje, Slavonia; +385 31 285 370; $3.50 per person
Osijek, Slavonia —
Osijek, SlavoniaThe neo-gothic Church of St. Peter and Paul (Crkva sv. Petra i Pavla) dates to the 1890s. The red brick structure's multi-tiered spires have become a recognizable landmark in Osijek.
Church of St. Peter and Paul, Ulica Paul Pejačevića 1, Osijek, Slavonia; +385 31 310 020
Katedrala Sv. Jakova —
St. James' Cathedral (Katedrala sv. Jakova), ŠibenikThis religious monument was built between 1431 and 1535 by three successive architects. It's an engineering marvel built using only stone, with no mortar or other binding materials. The cathedral, unique in its blend of Gothic and Renaissance art, features 71 stone portraits around its exterior.
St. James' Cathedral, Sea promenade, Šibenik; $2.70 per person
