Croatia Sights: Roman Ruins, Lakes and Fortresses
Croatia’s sights are easiest to plan by region, since each one has its own gateway city. The currency is the euro, and every figure below is in euros. Seasons and opening hours shift during the year, so verify them on the venue’s page before you go.
Dalmatia: Split, Zadar and Hvar
Split’s Roman palace has no gate fee, and you can wander its alleys, courtyards and the Peristyle at any hour. The underground Substructures are ticketed at EUR 10, or EUR 8 for reduced fares, and open daily from 08:30 to 20:00. They close on 5 April. The cathedral, the bell tower, the treasury, the crypt and the Temple of Jupiter are sold separately, and sources disagree about their prices. The Split City Museum lists the Substructures tariff.
Zadar’s waterfront is free. The Sea Organ lets the sea play 35 pipes under about 70 m of steps, and the nearby Greeting to the Sun, finished in 2008, is a 22 m disc made from 300 glass plates with solar modules. Both are by Nikola Bašić. On Hvar, the Fortica fort costs EUR 12 or EUR 15 with the combined ticket.
Istria: Pula and Poreč
Pula’s amphitheatre is a Roman arena built of local limestone, and it charges EUR 10 for adults and EUR 5 for pupils and students in 2026. Opening times run from 08:00 to 22:00 in high summer to 09:00 to 17:00 in winter. The Euphrasian Basilica in Poreč contains Byzantine mosaics from the 6th century, and a ticket is about EUR 10 to EUR 11. Its hours conflict between listings, so ask locally before travelling.
The interior: Plitvice and Krka
Both parks are known for their travertine waterfalls, and both ask for seasonal fees. Plitvice is a UNESCO site. At Plitvice, the Lower Lakes end at the 78 m Veliki Slap, and adults pay EUR 40 in summer until 16:00, EUR 23 in the shoulder months and EUR 10 in winter. At Krka, adults pay EUR 40 in summer, EUR 20 in spring and October and EUR 7 in winter. Neither park allows swimming at its famous falls. Krka has a few marked bathing spots, and the park posts them. See the Plitvice rules .
Dubrovnik
The City Walls ring the Old Town for 1,940 m and cost about EUR 40 for adults at peak, which includes Fort Lovrijenac. A summer visit works best at opening time or late in the day, away from the cruise passengers. The Rector’s Palace is EUR 15 for adults, with a combined museum ticket at EUR 20. In the Old Town, bare chests and swimwear attract on-the-spot fines. Wheeled bags are discouraged on the stones. See the Dubrovnik museums page .
Slavonia: Vukovar Water Tower
Vukovar’s water tower, about 50 m tall, took more than 600 shell hits in the siege of 1991 and still stands. It serves as a memorial and a viewpoint over the Danube, and it deserves a quiet, respectful visit. Adults pay EUR 10 with the lift and EUR 8.50 on the stairs. Vukovar is far to the east, so give it a long day or a night.
Tours
Local guides and group tours are listed on Viator .
Read more: walking tours in Croatia and the 4-day plan .