Croatia · best-of list
The 7 Best Outdoor Spots in Croatia
All 7 outdoor spots our route editors picked in Croatia, across 3 destinations, gathered in one list. Expect trails, beaches, parks and viewpoints, with Split contributing the most (3).
Our curated picks
7 outdoor spots in Croatia, grouped by destination. Destinations with the most picks come first; this is not a ranking.
Split 3 picks
Bačvice Beach
Split · On our Dalmatian Coast route
Sandy city beach where locals play picigin, a shallow-water ball game.
Photo: Filippo Gronchi · Google
Krka National Park
Split · On our Dalmatian Coast route
Travertine falls and boardwalks around Skradinski Buk, about an hour from Split.
Tip: Go early; buy tickets online in summer. Swimming is no longer allowed.
Photo: S.V. · Google
Marjan Hill
Split · On our Dalmatian Coast route
Forested park with stairs to viewpoints and paths to swimming coves.
Tip: Climb to Telegrin, the highest point, or swim at Kašjuni.
Photo: Praveen Natarajan · Google
Dubrovnik 2 picks
Banje Beach
Dubrovnik · On our Dalmatian Coast route
Pebble beach just outside Ploče Gate with views back to the old harbor.
Photo: Banje Beach Restaurant Lounge & Club · Google
Lokrum
Dubrovnik · On our Dalmatian Coast route
Forested island 15 minutes by boat, with peacocks, a monastery garden and rocky swim spots.
Tip: Last boat back is early evening; no overnight stays.
Photo: Diego Delso · CC BY-SA 3.0
Hvar 2 picks
Pakleni Islands
Hvar · On our Dalmatian Coast route
Pine-covered islets with coves; taxi boats leave from Hvar harbor.
Tip: Palmižana and Ždrilca are easy taxi-boat stops.
Photo: User: Stop_The_Lies · Public domain
Stari Grad Plain
Hvar · On our Dalmatian Coast route
UNESCO-listed ancient Greek field system, still farmed with olives and vines.
Photo: Carsten Steger · CC BY-SA 4.0
How we picked these
Every entry is a stop on at least one of TripsCircle's hand-curated routes, chosen by our route editors, who wrote the reason to go shown with each place. These are our curated picks, not a scored ranking: we haven't rated or reviewed them against each other. The list is grouped by destination, and within each destination places that appear on more routes come first.
Prices ($ to $$$$) and visit lengths are rough guides from our route notes, not quotes. Check opening hours before you go.
About this list
How did you choose the outdoor spots in Croatia?
Each one is a stop on a TripsCircle route that our editors built by hand, and each comes with a written reason to go. This page shows all 7 of them. They are curated picks, not a ranked score.
Which part of Croatia has the most outdoor spots on this list?
Split has the most (3 of 7), followed by Dubrovnik (2) and Hvar (2).
Are any of these free?
4 picks on this list are marked free in our route notes: Marjan Hill, Bačvice Beach, Banje Beach and Stari Grad Plain. Check ahead, since parking or special exhibits can cost extra.
More lists for Croatia
Best outdoor spots nearby
Turn this list into a plan
Open a curated route in TripsCircle, add the spots your crew wants, vote with polls and keep everyone on one shared itinerary.