The people have spoken: Croatia has been named the winner of Travel + Leisure’s “Destination of the Year” for 2016.
Croatia won over the heart’s of Travel + Leisure readers’ as 28% of them chose Croatia as “Destination of the Year” by voting in an online poll. You can read TCN’s account on the contest here.
Travel + Leisure claims that Croatia is a Mediterranean favorite, and that while Dubrovnik is the pearl of the Adriatic, there is much more to the country the further you stretch inland – where “you’ll discover one of the last unspoiled stretches in the region, where sheep roam the countryside to graze on wild sage, and locals sell homemade olive oil and cheeses.”
Of course Travel + Leisure mentions Game of Thrones as a big draw to Croatia in recent years, with tourists flocking to King’s Landing and Diocletian’s palace to catch a glimpse of the famous filming locations, but really, Croatia has much more to offer than that…
The magazine mentions Zagreb as “a bustling urban center along the Sava River with a rich history, 19th-century architecture, many preserved landmarks and museums, and a trendy new design district Martićeva.”
The national parks in Croatia “feature stunning lakes, caves, and tiered turquoise waterfalls created by the heavy limestone and chalk deposits in the water.”
And so far as Istria and our famous coast: “In the north, Istria has become an agritourism destination famous for award-winning wineries. The Dalmatian Coast might just be the most stunning coastline in all of Europe, drawing tourists to its pastoral calm, stone villages, and the homegrown hospitality of its locals. There are hundreds of isolated beaches on dozens of islands in the Dalmatians, and you might find yourself completely alone. The Jadrolinija ferry line serves dozens of ports, making island-hopping with a car easy and very affordable. For a more romantic excursion, sailboat charters in Split can take you to Hvar, Brač, Korčula, Via, or Mljet, which is home to a national park with stunning gorges and great hiking.”
And don’t worry, the magazine was sure to mention Croatia’s exquisite seafood, the “party scene on the island of Hvar” and Marco Polo’s famous birthplace – Korčula.
After an already stellar tourist season for 2016, this is just the icing on the cake. Congrats to you, Croatia!
You can read the full article here.
